This is about respect

[MACGRUDER]

Take a moment and think about yourself. You have a life, a job, probably a family. Dozens of hobbies, interests, or distractions that occupy your free time. But I’m betting, like me, you’ve been here for awhile. Putting off sleep, time with loved ones, or slacking in your professional career - just to get the latest take. Clicking and refreshing at a maddening rate over the last few weeks - hoping to get the smallest bit of insight into what the future holds for the University of Tennessee. Many of you will be reading this post within minutes of me posting it. That, in itself, says a lot about you. You’re a fan. A true fan. You’re reading a post on a forum in the early hours of the morning pertaining to the team of which you are a fan. No one is holding a gun to your head to read this or similar posts. You do it on your own- late, late at night, or in the wee hours of the morning, when you could (and likely should) be sleeping, because you are a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Similarly, you attend games. Pay for merchandise. Organize and attend tailgates or viewing parties to see your favorite team play. Your hard earned money and invaluable time is dedicated to this team because you love them. They are, and have been, a part of your life. Probably for many years. They were probably a part of your upbringing. Your parents poured the same dedication into the team as you now do, so it’s a family tradition. Or, maybe you went to school in Knoxville and embraced the culture and became entranced by what it meant to be a Volunteer fan. Or maybe you’re even miles away, have never and potentially will never, attend a game at Neyland in person - but this team, this tradition...somehow still took hold of you.

Because you’re here, and you’re invested, and you love this team. And if you’re like me or thousands of other Volunteer fans - right now, in this very moment, you’re sick. Whether it’s the stomach, or the heart, or the soul, or whatever you want to call it. Right now it hurts to be a fan of this team. All of that passion, the investment in time, money, mental and emotional energy....it’s a payment we make on a daily, if not hourly basis. It’s something we give up willingly, in good faith, because we love this team, this tradition, this identity of being Volunteer fans. But in the last several days, it’s obvious our investment isn’t being respected. Our commitment isn’t being reciprocated. Our energy, our love, our blind devotion to this team is being tested in the absolutely most horrendous of ways.

With intentional indifference. Those in charge of this coaching search have shown their hand for the second time in three days that they don’t care about us in the same way we care about them. We stand here, begging, for the same passion and devotion to this University that we pour into it on a daily basis, by people paid multiple times our salaries, and instead of positive reinforcement or reciprocation of our desires - we’re met with laziness, tone-deaf solutions, and haughty condemnation that they, not us, know what’s best for us. They don’t care about our pain, or our lost hours of sleep, our mental weariness that comes with supporting a sinking ship. They see dollar signs. And lazy faithfulness. Because we’ve always been faithful. So why try? They’ve been comfortable for a long time.

And I’m sick of it. Our fans aren’t front-runners. We’ve been here through some awful years. We’ve stood by and eagerly handed our money to morons whose only interest is to line their own pockets. There was a time, not that long ago, when the orange and white struck fear into any foe dumb enough to line up on the opposite side of the field. When any pundit jawing numbly to an audience had to say our name with reverence. But those days are behind us. Now, we’re a punchline. And apparently were going to continue to be. Locally and nationally.

So what do we do? If our program doesn’t love us the way we love it - we have to walk away. I’m willing to do that, and though my post count and join date aren’t as impressive as many on here, I can assure you all that I’ve loved this team since I was old enough to know what a football was. And if what happens tomorrow is what I think is going to happen, I’m going to do that. Because the University- or at least those running it, who intend to run it for many more years, don’t love us the way we love them.

 

[chattaboogie]

Very well said. I'm in the exact same state of mind.

 

[photovol]

Take a moment and think about yourself. Many of you will be reading this post within minutes of me posting it. That, in itself, says a lot about you. You’re a fan. A true fan. You’re reading a post on a forum in the early hours of the morning pertaining to the team of which you are a fan. No one is holding a gun to your head to read this or similar posts. You do it on your own- late, late at night, or in the wee hours of the morning, when you could (and likely should) be sleeping, because you are a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Similarly, you attend games. Pay for merchandise. Organize and attend tailgates or viewing parties to see your favorite team play. Your hard earned money and invaluable time is dedicated to this team because you love them. They are, and have been, a part of your life. Probably for many years. They were probably a part of your upbringing. Your parents poured the same dedication into the team as you now do, so it’s a family tradition. Or, maybe you went to school in Knoxville and embraced the culture and became entranced by what it meant to be a Volunteer fan. Or maybe you’re even miles away, have never and potentially will never, attend a game at Neyland in person - but this team, this tradition...somehow still took hold of you.

Because you’re here, and you’re invested, and you love this team. And if you’re like me or thousands of other Volunteer fans - right now, in this very moment, you’re sick. Whether it’s the stomach, or the heart, or the soul, or whatever you want to call it. Right now it hurts to be a fan of this team. All of that passion, the investment in time, money, mental and emotional energy....it’s a payment we make on a daily, if not hourly basis. It’s something we give up willingly, in good faith, because we love this team, this tradition, this identity of being Volunteer fans. But in the last several days, it’s obvious our investment isn’t being respected. Our commitment isn’t being reciprocated. Our energy, our love, our blind devotion to this team is being tested in the absolutely most horrendous of ways.

With intentional indifference. Those in charge of this coaching search have shown their hand for the second time in three days that they don’t care about us in the same way we care about them. We stand here, begging, for the same passion and devotion to this University that we pour into it on a daily basis, by people paid multiple times our salaries, and instead of positive reinforcement or reciprocation of our desires - we’re met with laziness, tone-deaf solutions, and haughty condemnation that they, not us, know what’s best for us. They don’t care about our pain, or our lost hours of sleep, our mental weariness that comes with supporting a sinking ship. They see dollar signs. And lazy faithfulness. Because we’ve always been faithful. So why try? They’ve been comfortable for a long time.

And I’m sick of it. Our fans aren’t front-runners. We’ve been here through some awful years. We’ve stood by and eagerly handed our money to morons whose only interest is to line their own pockets. There was a time, not that long ago, when the orange and white struck fear into any foe dumb enough to line up on the opposite side of the field. When any pundit jawing numbly to an audience had to say our name with reverence. But those days are behind us. Now, we’re a punchline. And apparently were going to continue to be. Locally and nationally.

So what do we do? If our program doesn’t love us the way we love it - we have to walk away. I’m willing to do that, and though my post count and join date aren’t as impressive as many on here, I can assure you all that I’ve loved this team since I was old enough to know what a football was. And if what happens tomorrow is what I think is going to happen, I’m going to do that. Because the University- or at least those running it, who intend to run it for a lot more years, don’t love us the way we love them.

Did I see a tear?

 

[Alto1]

Take a moment and think about yourself. Many of you will be reading this post within minutes of me posting it. That, in itself, says a lot about you. You’re a fan. A true fan. You’re reading a post on a forum in the early hours of the morning pertaining to the team of which you are a fan. No one is holding a gun to your head to read this or similar posts. You do it on your own- late, late at night, or in the wee hours of the morning, when you could (and likely should) be sleeping, because you are a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Similarly, you attend games. Pay for merchandise. Organize and attend tailgates or viewing parties to see your favorite team play. Your hard earned money and invaluable time is dedicated to this team because you love them. They are, and have been, a part of your life. Probably for many years. They were probably a part of your upbringing. Your parents poured the same dedication into the team as you now do, so it’s a family tradition. Or, maybe you went to school in Knoxville and embraced the culture and became entranced by what it meant to be a Volunteer fan. Or maybe you’re even miles away, have never and potentially will never, attend a game at Neyland in person - but this team, this tradition...somehow still took hold of you.

Because you’re here, and you’re invested, and you love this team. And if you’re like me or thousands of other Volunteer fans - right now, in this very moment, you’re sick. Whether it’s the stomach, or the heart, or the soul, or whatever you want to call it. Right now it hurts to be a fan of this team. All of that passion, the investment in time, money, mental and emotional energy....it’s a payment we make on a daily, if not hourly basis. It’s something we give up willingly, in good faith, because we love this team, this tradition, this identity of being Volunteer fans. But in the last several days, it’s obvious our investment isn’t being respected. Our commitment isn’t being reciprocated. Our energy, our love, our blind devotion to this team is being tested in the absolutely most horrendous of ways.

With intentional indifference. Those in charge of this coaching search have shown their hand for the second time in three days that they don’t care about us in the same way we care about them. We stand here, begging, for the same passion and devotion to this University that we pour into it on a daily basis, by people paid multiple times our salaries, and instead of positive reinforcement or reciprocation of our desires - we’re met with laziness, tone-deaf solutions, and haughty condemnation that they, not us, know what’s best for us. They don’t care about our pain, or our lost hours of sleep, our mental weariness that comes with supporting a sinking ship. They see dollar signs. And lazy faithfulness. Because we’ve always been faithful. So why try? They’ve been comfortable for a long time.

And I’m sick of it. Our fans aren’t front-runners. We’ve been here through some awful years. We’ve stood by and eagerly handed our money to morons whose only interest is to line their own pockets. There was a time, not that long ago, when the orange and white struck fear into any foe dumb enough to line up on the opposite side of the field. When any pundit jawing numbly to an audience had to say our name with reverence. But those days are behind us. Now, we’re a punchline. And apparently were going to continue to be. Locally and nationally.

So what do we do? If our program doesn’t love us the way we love it - we have to walk away. I’m willing to do that, and though my post count and join date aren’t as impressive as many on here, I can assure you all that I’ve loved this team since I was old enough to know what a football was. And if what happens tomorrow is what I think is going to happen, I’m going to do that. Because the University- or at least those running it, who intend to run it for a lot more years, don’t love us the way we love them.

#emptyneyland2018
Yeap I’ve repeated this in many threads and will continue to do so.
Again, #emptyneyland2018.

 

[OWB]

You’re reading a post on a forum in the early hours of the morning pertaining to the team of which you are a fan. No one is holding a gun to your head to read this or similar posts. You do it on your own- late, late at night,

Actually, Freak does hold a gun to our heads, so we have to read all the posts. Can you imagine? Reading ALL the posts on this site for the last 14 years? This break might just be what some of us need after all. :blink:

 

[JohnnyBanana]

Actually, Freak does hold a gun to our heads, so we have to read all the posts. Can you imagine? Reading ALL the posts on this site for the last 14 years? This break might just be what some of us need after all. :blink:

That sounds atrocious. You must be virtually blind at this point.

 

[OWB]

That sounds atrocious. You must be virtually blind at this point.

Yeah, there's a lot wrong with me.

 

[JohnnyBanana]

Yeah, there's a lot wrong with me.

Haha. There's a lot wrong with all of us. If it's any consolation your work is much appreciated.

 

[RollerVol]

yep, I could be doing something else...buy why...

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Evergrenevol]

Take a moment and think about yourself. You have a life, a job, probably a family. Dozens of hobbies, interests, or distractions that occupy your free time. But I’m betting, like me, you’ve been here for awhile. Putting off sleep, time with loved ones, or slacking in your professional career - just to get the latest take. Clicking and refreshing at a maddening rate over the last few weeks - hoping to get the smallest bit of insight into what the future holds for the University of Tennessee. Many of you will be reading this post within minutes of me posting it. That, in itself, says a lot about you. You’re a fan. A true fan. You’re reading a post on a forum in the early hours of the morning pertaining to the team of which you are a fan. No one is holding a gun to your head to read this or similar posts. You do it on your own- late, late at night, or in the wee hours of the morning, when you could (and likely should) be sleeping, because you are a fan of the Tennessee Volunteers.

Similarly, you attend games. Pay for merchandise. Organize and attend tailgates or viewing parties to see your favorite team play. Your hard earned money and invaluable time is dedicated to this team because you love them. They are, and have been, a part of your life. Probably for many years. They were probably a part of your upbringing. Your parents poured the same dedication into the team as you now do, so it’s a family tradition. Or, maybe you went to school in Knoxville and embraced the culture and became entranced by what it meant to be a Volunteer fan. Or maybe you’re even miles away, have never and potentially will never, attend a game at Neyland in person - but this team, this tradition...somehow still took hold of you.

Because you’re here, and you’re invested, and you love this team. And if you’re like me or thousands of other Volunteer fans - right now, in this very moment, you’re sick. Whether it’s the stomach, or the heart, or the soul, or whatever you want to call it. Right now it hurts to be a fan of this team. All of that passion, the investment in time, money, mental and emotional energy....it’s a payment we make on a daily, if not hourly basis. It’s something we give up willingly, in good faith, because we love this team, this tradition, this identity of being Volunteer fans. But in the last several days, it’s obvious our investment isn’t being respected. Our commitment isn’t being reciprocated. Our energy, our love, our blind devotion to this team is being tested in the absolutely most horrendous of ways.

With intentional indifference. Those in charge of this coaching search have shown their hand for the second time in three days that they don’t care about us in the same way we care about them. We stand here, begging, for the same passion and devotion to this University that we pour into it on a daily basis, by people paid multiple times our salaries, and instead of positive reinforcement or reciprocation of our desires - we’re met with laziness, tone-deaf solutions, and haughty condemnation that they, not us, know what’s best for us. They don’t care about our pain, or our lost hours of sleep, our mental weariness that comes with supporting a sinking ship. They see dollar signs. And lazy faithfulness. Because we’ve always been faithful. So why try? They’ve been comfortable for a long time.

And I’m sick of it. Our fans aren’t front-runners. We’ve been here through some awful years. We’ve stood by and eagerly handed our money to morons whose only interest is to line their own pockets. There was a time, not that long ago, when the orange and white struck fear into any foe dumb enough to line up on the opposite side of the field. When any pundit jawing numbly to an audience had to say our name with reverence. But those days are behind us. Now, we’re a punchline. And apparently were going to continue to be. Locally and nationally.

So what do we do? If our program doesn’t love us the way we love it - we have to walk away. I’m willing to do that, and though my post count and join date aren’t as impressive as many on here, I can assure you all that I’ve loved this team since I was old enough to know what a football was. And if what happens tomorrow is what I think is going to happen, I’m going to do that. Because the University- or at least those running it, who intend to run it for many more years, don’t love us the way we love them.

I empathize with everyone’s pain, because I love my University and the Vols. There are a couple of things you can do during hard times like this.

You can drive yourself crazy by reading all the fictitious information, lies and uninformed opinions that are disseminated on this board 24/7. People can also drive themselves crazy by thinking they can control things they have no control over.

Not sure what you mean by saying, “they don’t love us like we love them...?” How about the drunk students who behaved classlessly at the game last night. How about the libelous behavior and hateful writings on the rock? Is that showing love and respect?

You can back away from this board and start enjoying this holiday season with your friends and loved ones. That will bring some peace of mind. Or you can continue to live here and be miserable. It's your choice.

“Character is defined by how one responds to adversity.”

 

[Iam4utalways]

You had me until it sounded like you wanted me to stop being a Vol fan.

Pass.

Bah bah Vol sheep.

Will riot for Vols.

We need a picket line in front of Neyland.

Somebody go chain yourself to Neyland.

 

[Vol4Life2007]

If it weren't for the kids that have put their faith in TN to develop them into NFL talent I would hang it up. I am so embarrassed to be associated with TN and it hurts. I have to support these kids who have sacrificed for us though!

 

[Sgt.Rock]

No one is holding a gun to your head to read this or similar posts... Your hard earned money and invaluable time is dedicated to this team because you love them. They are, and have been, a part of your life. Probably for many years. They were probably a part of your upbringing. Your parents poured the same dedication into the team as you now do, so it’s a family tradition. Or, maybe you went to school in Knoxville and embraced the culture and became entranced by what it meant to be a Volunteer fan. Or maybe you’re even miles away, have never and potentially will never, attend a game at Neyland in person - but this team, this tradition...somehow still took hold of you.

Because you’re here, and you’re invested...right now, in this very moment, you’re sick. Whether it’s the stomach, or the heart, or the soul, or whatever you want to call it. Right now it hurts to be a fan of this team... it’s obvious our investment isn’t being respected. Our commitment isn’t being reciprocated. Our energy, our love, our blind devotion to this team is being tested... with intentional indifference. Those in charge..have shown their hand for the second time in three days that they don’t care about us...We stand here, begging, for the same passion and devotion...by people paid multiple times our salaries... we’re met with laziness,...and haughty condemnation that they, not us, know what’s best for us.

And I’m sick of it. Our fans aren’t front-runners. We’ve been here through some awful years. We’ve stood by and eagerly handed our money to morons whose only interest is to line their own pockets. There was a time, not that long ago, when the orange and white struck fear into any foe dumb enough to line up on the opposite side of the field...those days are behind us. Now, we’re a punchline.
So what do we do?...we have to walk away. I’m willing to do that...Because the University- or at least those running it, who intend to run it for many more years, don’t love us the way we love them.

Well said and I am in total agreement. A couple of days ago I went back on my own convictions and said I would tolerate even Kiffen coming back (I hold much of the craphole we are in now starting with his total sabotage of Tennessee when he came in, ran off all our long term people for his, then a year later takes everyone and goes away). I never dreamed a coach search could go so bad again.

When you used to go to a high school dance and ask five different pretty girls to dance and they all turn you down it is the most horrible feeling in the world--and this coach search feels the same way. This time I am not content to dance with the ugly girl just to be dancing.

This latest debacle called Tennessee football and those that run it has used up all of my passion, devotion, and dedication. As Louis Grizzard once said, "they tore out my heart and stomped that sucker flat." I have no more to give, and I'm too old to hold out for a 10 year fix, which is what it seems like.

In the late 90's I was on top of the world as a college football fan. I yearn to feel that again, but alas I can't keep waiting and will have to search for that feeling elsewhere, because there are those running things now who have no idea what it felt like to be a Vol fan in those years past.

Average is not good enough, and they have worn me down. I will be finding something else to do on Saturdays, or at least another team and school that acts like it wants my support. To say that is like getting a divorce after 30 years of marriage, but it is something that may have to be done by me to maintain my sanity.

That doesn't mean I'm won't be peeking in the window and asking the ex, "Is it time to come home yet?" But there has to be something change at Tennessee before that can happen.

 

[TnAngler]

You had me until it sounded like you wanted me to stop being a Vol fan.

Pass.

Bah bah Vol sheep.

Will riot for Vols.

We need a picket line in front of Neyland.


Somebody go chain yourself to Neyland.

Go chain yourself, show your true support.

 

[mrbluesky]

I hear you, Rock. I've thought the same thing myself. But I can't bring myself to cheer for anyone else. Been following the Vols for nearly 50 years now.