Thoughts on the 2019 Volunteers

[claimjumper steve]

I've been a lurker on sports forums, but I've been a Vol fan for over 30 years so here goes some thoughts about the season.
1. Tennessee is an average team playing and average team in the Gatorbowl. We started out a dysfunctional team but unlike other years righted the ship with wins (although not overwhelming) to end the season. We should be happy for this considering how we started out.
2. We didn't get any signature wins this year (unlike last year!), but we won games we had to win to end up with a respectable 7-5 record.
3. The emergence of our defense (especially Bituli) was a huge factor.
4. CJP is doing great with his learning curve and will do better next year (even though we have a harder schedule. I only regret the bassackwords way we acquired a decent coach.
5. We need to take indiana seriously. They have put the fear in championship Big Ten teams before.
6. JG probably didn't cost us any real games, but he did win at least 2 outright for us. He is a gamer that bleeds orange and has shed his blood on the field many times for us. I don't know if he is the final solution but the matrix of Him, Maurer and Shrout gives me some confidence.
just some thoughts from a longtime vol fan that doesn't claim to know much about football. I just love Smokey and Rockytop

 

[chuckb1448]

BYU: JG

 

[1vol8]

My thoughts on the 2019 Vols are exactly what I thought going into the season. The 2019 class has proven, so far, to be the class that started the turn around and restored pride in a fan base. Imo, future classes are only joining in on what they started.

 

[RollerVol]

we're bowling...that's my thought right now...

GO BIG ORANGE...BEAT THE HOOSIERS!

 

[CINCYVOL]

BYU: JG

That is lazy on your part. JG did miss some opportunities in that game but he didn't get ran over from the 5 yard line giving up the winning score. O-line, D-line, and loss of Bituli and Thompson cost the VOLS that game, along with one blown assignment in the secondary ( missing Bituli and Thompson).

 

[05_never_again]

That is lazy on your part. JG did miss some opportunities in that game but he didn't get ran over from the 5 yard line giving up the winning score. O-line, D-line, and loss of Bituli and Thompson cost the VOLS that game, along with one blown assignment in the secondary ( missing Bituli and Thompson).

JG missed a ton of throws in that game, and his pick early in the third quarter set up their only regulation TD. Meanwhile the defense played great. JG was a gigantic factor in us not winning that game.

 

[Vol524]

We finished the year a better than average team. We showed vast improvement on D and O line play. If you win on a regular basis there is no such thing as a Signature win. You should win ALL the games. Signature wins are for teams that usually lose. We appear to have moved past that. Some of the teams we beat have losing records. In part because we beat them. Too make things simple, the staff and team over looked Ga. State, We had BYU beat and made some major mistakes that cost us the game. We lost to FL, GA, and Bama. They were better than us at the time. We won the rest of the games. Some of which we were not expected to win. This team learned to WIN and pulled together to end the season on a positive note. After the start we had I don't think they could have done much better. I am impressed with the pride and effort they show.

 

[chuckb1448]

That is lazy on your part. JG did miss some opportunities in that game but he didn't get ran over from the 5 yard line giving up the winning score. O-line, D-line, and loss of Bituli and Thompson cost the VOLS that game, along with one blown assignment in the secondary ( missing Bituli and Thompson).

I'm guilty as charged, yet it doesn't take away from my opinion

 

[claimjumper steve]

JG missed a ton of throws in that game, and his pick early in the third quarter set up their only regulation TD. Meanwhile the defense played great. JG was a gigantic factor in us not winning that game.

I'll grant you that JG probably cost us the BYU game. But the colossal errors of the whole team cost us the GSU game. Looking back we deserved it. These 2 early losses lit a fire under the team and unlike Dooley and Jones teams we fought back. I'm starting to like the no hype "aight" coach!

 

[WoodsmanVol]

2019 is what it is and almost over. We just got a bowl game to play.
2020 is soon coming with its own challenges and is already well on the way.
I find myself saying, "Oh for goodness sake!"
I believe the Vols are finally and fully awake.
They're going to rock and roll, rattle and shake.
There's going to be a Vols Quake, a Vols Quake.
2019 is what it is and almost over. We just got a bowl game to play.
2020 is soon coming with its own challenges and is already well on the way.
We got a rumbling, rolling, ground heaving Vols Quake heading this way.

 

[CR-vol]

We finished the year a better than average team. We showed vast improvement on D and O line play. If you win on a regular basis there is no such thing as a Signature win. You should win ALL the games. Signature wins are for teams that usually lose. We appear to have moved past that. Some of the teams we beat have losing records. In part because we beat them. Too make things simple, the staff and team over looked Ga. State, We had BYU beat and made some major mistakes that cost us the game. We lost to FL, GA, and Bama. They were better than us at the time. We won the rest of the games. Some of which we were not expected to win. This team learned to WIN and pulled together to end the season on a positive note. After the start we had I don't think they could have done much better. I am impressed with the pride and effort they show.

You say that about signature wins with an air as if we are Bama or LSU. We're a losing team and have been for many years. We need some signature wins next year on our (hopefully) road back to relevancy.

 

[Vol524]

You say that about signature wins with an air as if we are Bama or LSU. We're a losing team and have been for many years. We need some signature wins next year on our (hopefully) road back to relevancy.

You are living in the past. My past goes way beyond yours obviously. I can remember when we were great. But do yourself a favor and come to the present. We DO NOT have a LOSING record. You can feel like a loser if you want. I don't care what happened last year or the year before that. The only way to get over thinking like a loser is to win and move on from it. I do have a swagger if that is what you mean by an AIR. I have never liked losing at ANYTHING. We are not Bama or LSU but we should not live in fear of them. If you do you will never beat them. Our day is coming. Being a winner and highly competitive doesn't come from a mind set of WE ARE LOSERS. You are wrong about NEEDING signature wins. We just need wins. They are all IMPORTANT. No one win means more than the other. You can not place an opponent on a pedestal by saying they would be a signature win. Just go beat their azz for crying out loud.

 

[CrybabyVol]

My thoughts on the 2019 Vols are exactly what I thought going into the season. The 2019 class has proven, so far, to be the class that started the turn around and restored pride in a fan base. Imo, future classes are only joining in on what they started.

You're proud of last year?

 

[CrybabyVol]

I've been a lurker on sports forums, but I've been a Vol fan for over 30 years so here goes some thoughts about the season.
1. Tennessee is an average team playing and average team in the Gatorbowl. We started out a dysfunctional team but unlike other years righted the ship with wins (although not overwhelming) to end the season. We should be happy for this considering how we started out.
2. We didn't get any signature wins this year (unlike last year!), but we won games we had to win to end up with a respectable 7-5 record.
3. The emergence of our defense (especially Bituli) was a huge factor.
4. CJP is doing great with his learning curve and will do better next year (even though we have a harder schedule. I only regret the bassackwords way we acquired a decent coach.
5. We need to take indiana seriously. They have put the fear in championship Big Ten teams before.
6. JG probably didn't cost us any real games, but he did win at least 2 outright for us. He is a gamer that bleeds orange and has shed his blood on the field many times for us. I don't know if he is the final solution but the matrix of Him, Maurer and Shrout gives me some confidence.
just some thoughts from a longtime vol fan that doesn't claim to know much about football. I just love Smokey and Rockytop

Great post. Completely agree with one and two. Don't really agree or disagree with three. I'm not sure what you mean by CJP's learning curve in four. Do you mean his learning curve in transitioning from DC to HC? We don't need to be hiring people who have "learning curves." As to five, we will obviously take them seriously but the game means nothing to our future. We could blow them out or get blown out, and it wouldn't matter. I completely disagree on six. JG was awful against good teams. This is the problem in my over 30 years of being a fan. We get lulled into a false state of confidence after playing the weak/back half of our schedule.

 

[LittleVol]

My thoughts.
The defense was not very good-at first.

They improved....everyweek.
Until by the end of the season only UGA and Auburn had a better defense in the whole conference.
Nigel Warrior. Daniel Bituli. Bryce Thompson. Henry To'oto'o. Aubrey Solomon can play for any teams in college.


Jennings was a man on a mission. Best WR we've ever had. The impact he had on this team, makes him so. Most competitive and clutch WR Tennessee has ever had!

I loved the QB room... succeeding together when individually they weren't enough...this year.

 

[BigOrangeAl 1979]

We should have went 9-3

 

[I40flyer]

There are 78 bowl slots, we have been able to get one! Now, that's all that matters. CJP has delivered what so many Vol fans wanted, a BOWL GAME. Winning the SEC, or playing for a NATY etc. wasn't what they talked about all season, no, the talk, the hope was getting a bowl game-any bowl game. A we got one, what more could anyone want? Jacksonville is going to overwhelmed by VOL fans for the Gator Bowl, a sell out is likely-we got what we wanted. I just hope Thursday, Jan 2, 2020 everyone is still as excited as they are now-we should win by no less than 23 points-wooooooweeeee

 

[claimjumper steve]

Great post. Completely agree with one and two. Don't really agree or disagree with three. I'm not sure what you mean by CJP's learning curve in four. Do you mean his learning curve in transitioning from DC to HC? We don't need to be hiring people who have "learning curves." As to five, we will obviously take them seriously but the game means nothing to our future. We could blow them out or get blown out, and it wouldn't matter. I completely disagree on six. JG was awful against good teams. This is the problem in my over 30 years of being a fan. We get lulled into a false state of confidence after playing the weak/back half of our schedule.

I don't claim to know a thing about football. But what I know is this the past few years under Butch we packed it in the last few games. We had every reason to do so this year, but instead of losing to these inferior teams, we figured out a way to win. I thin this is a big change. On the hearsay account I have worked with a local football coach who grew up with the Pruits. He says the Rainsville native and his Dad are great people and tough coaches. Phil Fulmer types that might not be great with the media but believe in solid teams built from the ground up!

 

[CR-vol]

You are living in the past. My past goes way beyond yours obviously. I can remember when we were great. But do yourself a favor and come to the present. We DO NOT have a LOSING record. You can feel like a loser if you want. I don't care what happened last year or the year before that. The only way to get over thinking like a loser is to win and move on from it. I do have a swagger if that is what you mean by an AIR. I have never liked losing at ANYTHING. We are not Bama or LSU but we should not live in fear of them. If you do you will never beat them. Our day is coming. Being a winner and highly competitive doesn't come from a mind set of WE ARE LOSERS. You are wrong about NEEDING signature wins. We just need wins. They are all IMPORTANT. No one win means more than the other. You can not place an opponent on a pedestal by saying they would be a signature win. Just go beat their azz for crying out loud.

Lol you are the Tennessee fan caricature guy on SEC shorts. If we beat Alabama or Florida next year everyone will be calling those signature wins. And that's exactly what they are. Nothing wrong with that either. We desperately need some signature wins because we havent beaten anyone worth a **** in a long time. I'm from a mindset here that a 10 win season is disappointing. I've been watching them for 40 some years and those are the expectations that I have. A 7-5 season ain't nothing to have any swagger about. Until we beat some good teams the team hasnt earned that. I'm not knocking anything they did this year because I did see the progress but we have a loooooong ways to go yet.

 

[claimjumper steve]

Lol you are the Tennessee fan caricature guy on SEC shorts. If we beat Alabama or Florida next year everyone will be calling those signature wins. And that's exactly what they are. Nothing wrong with that either. We desperately need some signature wins because we havent beaten anyone worth a **** in a long time. I'm from a mindset here that a 10 win season is disappointing. I've been watching them for 40 some years and those are the expectations that I have. A 7-5 season ain't nothing to have any swagger about. Until we beat some good teams the team hasnt earned that. I'm not knocking anything they did this year because I did see the progress but we have a loooooong ways to go yet.

I'd rather have 5 wins over average teams than 1 "signature" win over a good team followed by pathetic losses to losers. Jus sayin'

 

[CR-vol]

I'd rather have 5 wins over average teams than 1 "signature" win over a good team followed by pathetic losses to losers. Jus sayin'

I would too but I'm not happy with any loss. All I was saying is acting like we got swagger over a 7/5 season is a tad premature. The stuff of SEC shorts caricatures lol.

 

[Vol524]

Lol you are the Tennessee fan caricature guy on SEC shorts. If we beat Alabama or Florida next year everyone will be calling those signature wins. And that's exactly what they are. Nothing wrong with that either. We desperately need some signature wins because we havent beaten anyone worth a **** in a long time. I'm from a mindset here that a 10 win season is disappointing. I've been watching them for 40 some years and those are the expectations that I have. A 7-5 season ain't nothing to have any swagger about. Until we beat some good teams the team hasnt earned that. I'm not knocking anything they did this year because I did see the progress but we have a loooooong ways to go yet.

Then stop calling them losers. Are we undefeated? NO But we are not losers. The swagger is mine. Has nothing to do with UT at all. I agree we have a looooooong way to go but looking backward will not get us there. I think we both want the same thing. Sure there are two or three good teams we have to play next year. But beating one of them is just a win. Don't give the competition the honor of calling them a Signature win. As for not beating anyone worth a **** in a long time. We beat several teams that will be bowling this year. We didnt beat an elite team this year but that doesnt mean all the teams we beat sucked. As for me being the Tennessee fan caricature guy on SEC shorts. SMH You have NO IDEA who or what I am. I really dont give a rats azz what you think. You think like a loser.

 

[Vol524]

I would too but I'm not happy with any loss. All I was saying is acting like we got swagger over a 7/5 season is a tad premature. The stuff of SEC shorts caricatures lol.

VERY VERY rarely will you win all the games. If that happens great. So are you going to call the Vols losers if they go
9-3 or 10-2? You were the one that brought up an apparent AIR about what I said. You must have never competed in something. If you look at you competition in awe of them, you are already beat. That is the point I was trying to make. I am done trying to explain winning and a winning attitude to you.

 

[CR-vol]

Lighten up a little. I never called our team losers and I proudly wear orange every day of the year practically. I'm just not happy with the 5 losses and no I wasn't happy when we went 10-2 either although fanbase swagger was justified back then. I'm hopeful once this ship gets fully turned around we won't have any games that we consider automatic losses. Even when we were good there was always either Florida or Alabama with a streak against us. It was always weird how when we were world beaters Vandy would play us to the wire too, they always have. I want to see these things come to an end.

 

[Vol524]

You say that about signature wins with an air as if we are Bama or LSU. We're a losing team and have been for many years. We need some signature wins next year on our (hopefully) road back to relevancy.

Just to remind you. Sounds like you called us a losing team and have been for years. No biggie. Later