This game was the best thing that could have happened to this team!

[bigl3327]

Was App St. as good of a team as they looked Thurs night? Probably not. Were they as bad as 99% of our fan base thought they would be? Definitely not.
While this was not a team from one of the big 5 conferences, it is still a team that is accustomed to winning. A team that expects to win. A team that only lost 2 games last season (one of those being to a team that played for a National title). This thread will be overlooked by most, but those who played football, who understand the game of football will appreciate this thread. I don't want to offend anyone, but if the last time you started in a game was middle school, and are a causal watcher of the sport, that probably doesn't include you.
Last season we were App St. so to speak. We were ahead in games that many felt we should not have been. Games that from an effort and stat line vantage we deserved to win, but somehow managed to lose. As the season progressed, we learned how to win.
We opened this season with great expectations, and a lot of media hype. Something no one on this team has experienced before on the collegiate level. The players couldn't even go to class without being constantly surrounded and questioned about football. Then they come out to play a game that seems to be scripted by Mr. Murphy himself. (I'm referring to Murphy's law, not Eddie Murphy.) Did they play well? Not by any means. But, they faced more adversity in one game than they may face in any other this season and came away victorious. Now the fan base has turned on the coaches and players. The national media has turned their backs on them and labeled them as overrated. All the hype and lofty expectations ended in the first 4 quarters of play. 4 quarters that ended with a win.
A huge victory would have proven nothing. In fact, it would have made the hype and distractions even greater leading up to a game being played in front of the largest crowd in college football history. Now this team is back in comfortable territory. Back to focusing on football. Back to depending on each other. Back to playing with a chip on their shoulder. Back to feeling like they have something to prove. Back to needing to silence the doubters. Back to right where they need to be. Oh, and currently undefeated in the process, because when all is said and done, all that matters is wins and losses.

 

[TAF]

 

[Evet Vols]

Good post op. TAF probably can only read picture books.

 

[Kinger]

Our guys definitely faced adversity and came out with a victory

 

[alavolfan]

Nice positive read and here's hoping they improve from this game to the next...we won, and we found a way to do it, but l didn't like a lot that l saw on Thurs. night.

 

[AdmiralVFL98]

Good post. There is definitely something to being a team that finds a way to win. That's what we did, on a day when we didn't have our best stuff (for whatever reason.) I would much rather be the team that won rather than the team that deserved to win. Let's see what the coaches can do to improve from week one to week two, because at the end of the season this win will be insignificant if we keep being the team that figures out a way to come out on top.

 

[hillbillysmokey]

OP. Post is just......




Spot on. Well said

 

[DiderotsGhost]

I agree.

We played like crap, no doubt about it, but when you look at what put us behind, it wasn't that App State was "controlling the game." We were making careless mistake after careless mistake. Eliminate all the errors in this game and we win 24-6 or something along those lines.

The other thing is that our terrible start put us in a bad position. App State's strategy was to use the clock as much as possible to reduce the number of possessions. If we had gone up 14-0 or 10-0, they wouldn't have been able to use that strategy. They would've had to start using the passing game, and our secondary was eating them alive. The early fumble and touchdown put them in the driver's seat.

Overall, the game wasn't as bad for us as all the doom-and-gloom Vols are making it out to be. Get rid of the mistakes and the game isn't nearly as close. All the same, our guys need to get focused, because there were way too many mental errors in that game. I hope it was a wake-up call.

 

[NomadVol]

Was App St. as good of a team as they looked Thurs night? Probably not. Were they as bad as 99% of our fan base thought they would be? Definitely not.
While this was not a team from one of the big 5 conferences, it is still a team that is accustomed to winning. A team that expects to win. A team that only lost 2 games last season (one of those being to a team that played for a National title). This thread will be overlooked by most, but those who played football, who understand the game of football will appreciate this thread. I don't want to offend anyone, but if the last time you started in a game was middle school, and are a causal watcher of the sport, that probably doesn't include you.
Last season we were App St. so to speak. We were ahead in games that many felt we should not have been. Games that from an effort and stat line vantage we deserved to win, but somehow managed to lose. As the season progressed, we learned how to win.
We opened this season with great expectations, and a lot of media hype. Something no one on this team has experienced before on the collegiate level. The players couldn't even go to class without being constantly surrounded and questioned about football. Then they come out to play a game that seems to be scripted by Mr. Murphy himself. (I'm referring to Murphy's law, not Eddie Murphy.) Did they play well? Not by any means. But, they faced more adversity in one game than they may face in any other this season and came away victorious. Now the fan base has turned on the coaches and players. The national media has turned their backs on them and labeled them as overrated. All the hype and lofty expectations ended in the first 4 quarters of play. 4 quarters that ended with a win.
A huge victory would have proven nothing. In fact, it would have made the hype and distractions even greater leading up to a game being played in front of the largest crowd in college football history. Now this team is back in comfortable territory. Back to focusing on football. Back to depending on each other. Back to playing with a chip on their shoulder. Back to feeling like they have something to prove. Back to needing to silence the doubters. Back to right where they need to be. Oh, and currently undefeated in the process, because when all is said and done, all that matters is wins and losses.

I hope you are right. I do. I think most of the sky is falling crowd hopes you are right. Here is this the thing. Insulting them doesn't prove your point, it just shows you can be as juvenile as them. Secondly, if you are wrong and they are right you look incredibly naive and juvenile. Neither group can know for sure and clearly the spin is on to push the narrative one way or the other. I actually prefer to hear both arguments without name calling because there is truth on both sides.
Don't ruin your great post on your points with taking shots at each other. Have a healthy debate and move on.
That said, the game gave me pause, and I rewatch games for schemes but haven't played since high school so I'm only partially qualified to give analysis (just joking-I don't rewatch for schemes, I'm married with kids) still joking, we have a lot to clean up.
The reason I am not panicking is because I have never seen a Coach Jones team come out of the gate like that so I'm also staying positive. But please let's agree that they looked bad at points in the game, if you can't agree with that then .... witty juvenile response.

We got this, Go Vols!

 

[NomadVol]

I agree.

We played like crap, no doubt about it, but when you look at what put us behind, it wasn't that App State was "controlling the game." We were making careless mistake after careless mistake. Eliminate all the errors in this game and we win 24-6 or something along those lines.

The other thing is that our terrible start put us in a bad position. App State's strategy was to use the clock as much as possible to reduce the number of possessions. If we had gone up 14-0 or 10-0, they wouldn't have been able to use that strategy. They would've had to start using the passing game, and our secondary was eating them alive. The early fumble and touchdown put them in the driver's seat.

Overall, the game wasn't as bad for us as all the doom-and-gloom Vols are making it out to be. Get rid of the mistakes and the game isn't nearly as close. All the same, our guys need to get focused, because there were way too many mental errors in that game. I hope it was a wake-up call.

Agree with this post 100%.

 

[Biopsyman]

Was App St. as good of a team as they looked Thurs night? Probably not. Were they as bad as 99% of our fan base thought they would be? Definitely not.
While this was not a team from one of the big 5 conferences, it is still a team that is accustomed to winning. A team that expects to win. A team that only lost 2 games last season (one of those being to a team that played for a National title). This thread will be overlooked by most, but those who played football, who understand the game of football will appreciate this thread. I don't want to offend anyone, but if the last time you started in a game was middle school, and are a causal watcher of the sport, that probably doesn't include you.
Last season we were App St. so to speak. We were ahead in games that many felt we should not have been. Games that from an effort and stat line vantage we deserved to win, but somehow managed to lose. As the season progressed, we learned how to win.
We opened this season with great expectations, and a lot of media hype. Something no one on this team has experienced before on the collegiate level. The players couldn't even go to class without being constantly surrounded and questioned about football. Then they come out to play a game that seems to be scripted by Mr. Murphy himself. (I'm referring to Murphy's law, not Eddie Murphy.) Did they play well? Not by any means. But, they faced more adversity in one game than they may face in any other this season and came away victorious. Now the fan base has turned on the coaches and players. The national media has turned their backs on them and labeled them as overrated. All the hype and lofty expectations ended in the first 4 quarters of play. 4 quarters that ended with a win.
A huge victory would have proven nothing. In fact, it would have made the hype and distractions even greater leading up to a game being played in front of the largest crowd in college football history. Now this team is back in comfortable territory. Back to focusing on football. Back to depending on each other. Back to playing with a chip on their shoulder. Back to feeling like they have something to prove. Back to needing to silence the doubters. Back to right where they need to be. Oh, and currently undefeated in the process, because when all is said and done, all that matters is wins and losses.

Stop!!!! Apply state is and was a joke... Should have been beat them like a drum.. We should not bring our program down to their level as equals.... We are not Appy

 

[orangegrass]

Who created the hype? The Media. Who believed the hype? The Fans. Who built up the expectations? The Media. Who whipped those expectations into a foam? The Fans. Now let the tear down begin!!! That is what the media does. What do a bunch of retired, washed up, wanna be players and coaches know about a team really. They are not at practice, they are not in meetings with players and coaches, and they don't ever see anything other than what a coach let's them see. YET, they speak as experts! The Fans act like these guys know everything there is to know. How stupid is the fan? This is what the media does, pump them up and then deflate them. Build up, tear down. And the fans go right along with it. That makes us fans just useful idiots for the media to play with and sell their product.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I hope you are right. I do. I think most of the sky is falling crowd hopes you are right. Here is this the thing. Insulting them doesn't prove your point, it just shows you can be as juvenile as them. Secondly, if you are wrong and they are right you look incredibly naive and juvenile. Neither group can know for sure and clearly the spin is on to push the narrative one way or the other. I actually prefer to hear both arguments without name calling because there is truth on both sides.
Don't ruin your great post on your points with taking shots at each other. Have a healthy debate and move on.
That said, the game gave me pause, and I rewatch games for schemes but haven't played since high school so I'm only partially qualified to give analysis (just joking-I don't rewatch for schemes, I'm married with kids) still joking, we have a lot to clean up.
The reason I am not panicking is because I have never seen a Coach Jones team come out of the gate like that so I'm also staying positive. But please let's agree that they looked bad at points in the game, if you can't agree with that then .... witty juvenile response.

We got this, Go Vols!

I tend to believe that game 1 was a combination of lack of focus (looking beyond Thursday to Bristol), not being mentally prepared for how good App State was going to be, and the result of a fairly non-physical pre-season camp in an effort to avoid injury. This team didn't just get UN talented all of a sudden. It was 100% mental. Anyway, it's over and done with and we are 1-0, not 0-1. Volnation just needs to take some comfort in that for now and we'll see what happens next Saturday.

Stop!!!! Apply state is and was a joke... Should have been beat them like a drum.. We should not bring our program down to their level as equals.... We are not Appy

What dream world do you live in?? I agree that we are a far more talented team but App State is NOT a "joke." They went 11-2 last year. They won their conference. They returned a ton of starters. They have a veteran QB. They are well coached. They play hard. They play tough! They are ranked HIGHER than some of the teams in our very own conference! They came into our stadium with a chip on their shoulder and flat out wanted it more than we did. You saying they are a "joke" is flat out juvenile and uninformed! STOP with the whole "We are Tennessee, we are SEC" horse crap.

 

[Volfreak1964]

I tend to believe that game 1 was a combination of lack of focus (looking beyond Thursday to Bristol), not being mentally prepared for how good App State was going to be, and the result of a fairly non-physical pre-season camp in an effort to avoid injury. This team didn't just get UN talented all of a sudden. It was 100% mental. Anyway, it's over and done with and we are 1-0, not 0-1. Volnation just needs to take some comfort in that for now and we'll see what happens next Saturday.

Its like the D came alive on apps last drive!

 

[NomadVol]

I tend to believe that game 1 was a combination of lack of focus (looking beyond Thursday to Bristol), not being mentally prepared for how good App State was going to be, and the result of a fairly non-physical pre-season camp in an effort to avoid injury. This team didn't just get UN talented all of a sudden. It was 100% mental. Anyway, it's over and done with and we are 1-0, not 0-1. Volnation just needs to take some comfort in that for now and we'll see what happens next Saturday.

Honestly Brave, I hadn't thought about the non-physical pre-season camp. That is a good point. Still excited for the Bristol game, nervous but excited. We put on a show their with the whole world watching and all of the hand wringing is mute.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Its like the D came alive on apps last drive!

Overall our D played pretty well. Appy State only scored because of a short 30 yard drive off of a muffed punt return that should've never happened and 1 big play where we had a DE trying to cover a receiver. Other than that we held them in check the rest of the game.

 

[NomadVol]

I actually expect more people to watch now hoping we lose so they can talk more crap about us. Many in our own conference want us to lose. Why is there such fear of us becoming great again. The hate from our own conference makes it hard to root for the SEC all the time.

 

[TNnative]

I tend to believe that game 1 was a combination of lack of focus (looking beyond Thursday to Bristol), not being mentally prepared for how good App State was going to be, and the result of a fairly non-physical pre-season camp in an effort to avoid injury. This team didn't just get UN talented all of a sudden. It was 100% mental. Anyway, it's over and done with and we are 1-0, not 0-1. Volnation just needs to take some comfort in that for now and we'll see what happens next Saturday.



What dream world do you live in?? I agree that we are a far more talented team but App State is NOT a "joke." They went 11-2 last year. They won their conference. They returned a ton of starters. They have a veteran QB. They are well coached. They play hard. They play tough! They are ranked HIGHER than some of the teams in our very own conference! They came into our stadium with a chip on their shoulder and flat out wanted it more than we did. You saying they are a "joke" is flat out juvenile and uninformed! STOP with the whole "We are Tennessee, we are SEC" horse crap.

One way Appy State was a joke where Tennessee was not? Conditioning. I kept saw many Tn fans mindlessly thinking Appy State players were taking dives when they cramped up during the game.

Truth was the hottest day they trained in at Boone was around 82 degrees, while Tennessee trained regularly in the high 90s and higher. The staff at ATC: the nutrition experts, managers, and trainers had Tennessee's players prepared for that night far better than Appy State's staff. This was their win, and the coaches and players owe them a huge thank you.

But yeah, you are right. People strutting around like constipated roosters just because they wear orange fan gear need to face reality; Yes, Appy State is in the Sun Belt, but they are head and shoulders above the majority of that conference. They don't have the finances or prestige a power 5 school might. Then again, neither did Tennessee before Robert Neyland got here. But if you aren't ready for them, they will show you their resolve.

But as long as we act arrogant and disrespect opponents, we don't deserve to celebrate the victories. All we do is reap the ridicule wherever it comes from.

 

[TNnative]

I actually expect more people to watch now hoping we lose so they can talk more crap about us. Many in our own conference want us to lose. Why is there such fear of us becoming great again. The hate from our own conference makes it hard to root for the SEC all the time.

Our SEC rivals are going to take whatever we give them.

If we win, they will stick out their chests and use it as proof of SEC dominance.

And if we fail, they make jokes. Just as many of us do to them when the opportunity arises. Fear of us becoming great again? Man, get real.

 

[chuckb1448]

Who created the hype? The Media. Who believed the hype? The Fans. Who built up the expectations? The Media. Who whipped those expectations into a foam? The Fans. Now let the tear down begin!!! That is what the media does. What do a bunch of retired, washed up, wanna be players and coaches know about a team really. They are not at practice, they are not in meetings with players and coaches, and they don't ever see anything other than what a coach let's them see. YET, they speak as experts! The Fans act like these guys know everything there is to know. How stupid is the fan? This is what the media does, pump them up and then deflate them. Build up, tear down. And the fans go right along with it. That makes us fans just useful idiots for the media to play with and sell their product.

Buddy they herd us like Cattle whether we like to admit it or not. They exploit everything now, just take a quick look at the Trump Bashing taking place on the internet world, we all know what they are doing but we still pause at times and think "hey they could be right."

Now scoot over and let me have some of that Salt Lick....... "Moooooooo":crazy:

 

[rickyyrs]

Was App St. as good of a team as they looked Thurs night? Probably not. Were they as bad as 99% of our fan base thought they would be? Definitely not.
While this was not a team from one of the big 5 conferences, it is still a team that is accustomed to winning. A team that expects to win. A team that only lost 2 games last season (one of those being to a team that played for a National title). This thread will be overlooked by most, but those who played football, who understand the game of football will appreciate this thread. I don't want to offend anyone, but if the last time you started in a game was middle school, and are a causal watcher of the sport, that probably doesn't include you.
Last season we were App St. so to speak. We were ahead in games that many felt we should not have been. Games that from an effort and stat line vantage we deserved to win, but somehow managed to lose. As the season progressed, we learned how to win.
We opened this season with great expectations, and a lot of media hype. Something no one on this team has experienced before on the collegiate level. The players couldn't even go to class without being constantly surrounded and questioned about football. Then they come out to play a game that seems to be scripted by Mr. Murphy himself. (I'm referring to Murphy's law, not Eddie Murphy.) Did they play well? Not by any means. But, they faced more adversity in one game than they may face in any other this season and came away victorious. Now the fan base has turned on the coaches and players. The national media has turned their backs on them and labeled them as overrated. All the hype and lofty expectations ended in the first 4 quarters of play. 4 quarters that ended with a win.
A huge victory would have proven nothing. In fact, it would have made the hype and distractions even greater leading up to a game being played in front of the largest crowd in college football history. Now this team is back in comfortable territory. Back to focusing on football. Back to depending on each other. Back to playing with a chip on their shoulder. Back to feeling like they have something to prove. Back to needing to silence the doubters. Back to right where they need to be. Oh, and currently undefeated in the process, because when all is said and done, all that matters is wins and losses.

I think you are right. But Appy St. was ranked higher than 6 other SEC teams. Texas A/M, Miss St., Kentucky, Florida, Vandy and Missouri. We play 5 of these teams.

 

[ILOVEMYBIGVOLS]

I agree.

We played like crap, no doubt about it, but when you look at what put us behind, it wasn't that App State was "controlling the game." We were making careless mistake after careless mistake. Eliminate all the errors in this game and we win 24-6 or something along those lines.

The other thing is that our terrible start put us in a bad position. App State's strategy was to use the clock as much as possible to reduce the number of possessions. If we had gone up 14-0 or 10-0, they wouldn't have been able to use that strategy. They would've had to start using the passing game, and our secondary was eating them alive. The early fumble and touchdown put them in the driver's seat.

Overall, the game wasn't as bad for us as all the doom-and-gloom Vols are making it out to be. Get rid of the mistakes and the game isn't nearly as close. All the same, our guys need to get focused, because there were way too many mental errors in that game. I hope it was a wake-up call.

I agree with everything you said,BUT if you play the if and game, we could come up with all the scenario on how they lost those tight games last year. Yes, they had some bad breaks,but that still don't change the fact it happened. UT should have won easily! Instead what I saw was a poorly coached, none motivated team that played soft. They should have shown why they deserve the #9 ranking,but they gave all the critics ammo to say that they are not. I still think this is a very talented team, however they coaches and players better pull their heads out of their butts or it will be another long season.

 

[TNnative]

I agree with everything you said,BUT if you play the if and game, we could come up with all the scenario on how they lost those tight games last year. Yes, they had some bad breaks,but that still don't change the fact it happened. UT should have won easily! Instead what I saw was a poorly coached, none motivated team that played soft. They should have shown why they deserve the #9 ranking,but they gave all the critics ammo to say that they are not. I still think this is a very talented team, however they coaches and players better pull their heads out of their butts or it will be another long season.

Trying to live up to a meaningless ranking and a truckload of hype is a trap. Throw in opening with a very good team from a mediocre conference, and the perception of how good you are is going to disappoint the mindless masses.

Truth is Cam's fumble started the dominoes falling. Jalen, trying to get the momentum reversed with a big play on special teams, got tossed by a rule many will never like or respect. And a large portion of our players on the bench hung their heads because they knew they would not play that night.

Nearly every team that has played for championships has had to face that down at least one game per season. But the Vols did it in the end. They get to grow as a team and learn from some mistakes without taking a loss. Most teams don't get away with that.

I am taking this season one game at a time. I am not gonna worry about what the media and other teams or their fans think. Or what a group of people at the sports bars think. Or the stinking polls. What I will concern myself with is how the team performs going forward, and what the selection committee thinks of them.

Should they have won easily? Had they started strong, of course. Will they be watching that game film, and correcting their mistakes? They better, because where Appy State fell short, the rest of the teams on the schedule will not.

 

[photovol]

Just how many bricks does Butch Jones have left?:blink:

 

[colorado king]

They're college kids, playing a game.

An f-ing game.

The sky is falling crowd needs to get a life. There is way more to it than football.

The Vols will be fine.

ETA: Good post OP. I like your logic, and voice of reason. GBO!