Today's game is an inflection point

#26
#26
UTFranklinVol said:
Yeah unfortunately today's game is THAT big.

I expect that Tennessee will be up 21-0 very early in this game. not predicting a win but I expect Heupel to empty the playbook and be extremely aggressive today since we don't have the playoff to prepare for.

I think the stakes for this game are enormous given what the post-mortem of our season will be in both cases. I can't remember ever a time when the Vanderbilt game defined our season.

if we win, we have a decent win on our resume and a 9-3 regular season with a chance for a 10 win season and a chance for a moderately respectable bowl game in Florida. we still choked away 3 games but we have SOMETHING to hold on to. something to say 2023 was the floor of Huepel's career and we don't go below that floor.

if we lose, we didn't beat ANY D1 team with a winning record or any ranked teams. Finish 8-4 and get the Dukes Mayo bowl or Music City bowl. I don't think it's hyperbole to say the season would be an abject failure and a gigantic step backward.i really begin to worry about some of our higher level recruits if this happens. People like to say well what would Tennessee's record be if we had Indiana's schedule or Texas A&M. but if you can't manage to beat Vanderbilt on your home field those hypotheticals make you look kind of silly.

Here is to hoping Josh Huepel takes care of business and understands the assignment.

GB🍊!
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Re: "Yeah unfortunately today's game is THAT big."

No one game is ever "THAT big".
 
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#30
#30
UTFranklinVol said:
Yeah unfortunately today's game is THAT big.

I expect that Tennessee will be up 21-0 very early in this game. not predicting a win but I expect Heupel to empty the playbook and be extremely aggressive today since we don't have the playoff to prepare for.

I think the stakes for this game are enormous given what the post-mortem of our season will be in both cases. I can't remember ever a time when the Vanderbilt game defined our season.

if we win, we have a decent win on our resume and a 9-3 regular season with a chance for a 10 win season and a chance for a moderately respectable bowl game in Florida. we still choked away 3 games but we have SOMETHING to hold on to. something to say 2023 was the floor of Huepel's career and we don't go below that floor.

if we lose, we didn't beat ANY D1 team with a winning record or any ranked teams. Finish 8-4 and get the Dukes Mayo bowl or Music City bowl. I don't think it's hyperbole to say the season would be an abject failure and a gigantic step backward.i really begin to worry about some of our higher level recruits if this happens. People like to say well what would Tennessee's record be if we had Indiana's schedule or Texas A&M. but if you can't manage to beat Vanderbilt on your home field those hypotheticals make you look kind of silly.

Here is to hoping Josh Huepel takes care of business and understands the assignment.

GB🍊!
Click to expand...
I doubt Heupel understands the assignment as well as you. Regardless of the outcome today, the program won't be taking a step backwards as you suggest.
 
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#31
#31
sami said:
The perfect meeting spot for all the nega-trolls on gameday morning to prepare their "told you so's" just in case.
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Last game of the season. End of the season. No playoff on the line. Win or lose probably won’t affect which bowl. Because of the above, players are probably spunt and with NIL and portal, there’s the lack of loyalty. This game may be larger for Vandy so, I can see the difference in motivation playing a roll in the outcome.
 
#32
#32
I'm back and forth about this game. I actually think Vandy Pimp will dance early to the tune 21 - 10. Then Heup lights a fire the Vols rectal cavity, and we see game for the ages, still iff about who wins it, but it will be epic.
 
#34
#34
#1fulmerite said:
Last game of the season. End of the season. No playoff on the line. Win or lose probably won’t affect which bowl. Because of the above, players are probably spunt and with NIL and portal, there’s the lack of loyalty. This game may be larger for Vandy so, I can see the difference in motivation playing a roll in the outcome.
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It absolutely will affect bowl destination
 
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#35
#35
UTFranklinVol said:
Yeah unfortunately today's game is THAT big.

I expect that Tennessee will be up 21-0 very early in this game. not predicting a win but I expect Heupel to empty the playbook and be extremely aggressive today since we don't have the playoff to prepare for.

I think the stakes for this game are enormous given what the post-mortem of our season will be in both cases. I can't remember ever a time when the Vanderbilt game defined our season.

if we win, we have a decent win on our resume and a 9-3 regular season with a chance for a 10 win season and a chance for a moderately respectable bowl game in Florida. we still choked away 3 games but we have SOMETHING to hold on to. something to say 2023 was the floor of Huepel's career and we don't go below that floor.

if we lose, we didn't beat ANY D1 team with a winning record or any ranked teams. Finish 8-4 and get the Dukes Mayo bowl or Music City bowl. I don't think it's hyperbole to say the season would be an abject failure and a gigantic step backward.i really begin to worry about some of our higher level recruits if this happens. People like to say well what would Tennessee's record be if we had Indiana's schedule or Texas A&M. but if you can't manage to beat Vanderbilt on your home field those hypotheticals make you look kind of silly.

Here is to hoping Josh Huepel takes care of business and understands the assignment.

GB🍊!
Click to expand...
IMG_7401.jpeg

Misewable.
 
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#36
#36
BernardKingGOAT said:
It absolutely will affect bowl destination
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Yes, it will affect bowl destination but won't define the season and won't affect recruiting significantly.

The real "inflection point" was the SCOTUS ruling that amateur athletes could receive NIL pay and the portal system.

Just this past week Kiffin said something to the effect that the days of a home state kid "giving it all for the school" were past history. The major factor in roster building now is how much money is available to distribute.
 
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#39
#39
BernardKingGOAT said:
I doubt Heupel understands the assignment as well as you. Regardless of the outcome today, the program won't be taking a step backwards as you suggest.
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Translated to LotM: "I'm soft and weak and dont know football. I don't care what Heupel does from now on. He can lose every game from now til he dies because he took over a dumpster fire. Thats all that matters to me. I love him more than the university. Im mediocre and Im fine with mediocrity."
 
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#41
#41
J C Higgins said:
Yes, it will affect bowl destination but won't define the season and won't affect recruiting significantly.

The real "inflection point" was the SCOTUS ruling that amateur athletes could receive NIL pay and the portal system.

Just this past week Kiffin said something to the effect that the days of a home state kid "giving it all for the school" were past history. The major factor in roster building now is how much money is available to distribute.
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There are probably still a few guys who want to give their all for the home state U, but the number has decreased significantly because of NIL
 
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#42
#42
SayUWantAreVOLution said:
It's like having a daughter grow up. I'm not ready for Vandy to look like this.......
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BruisedOrange said:
Wonderful analogy!

In the '60s "Made in Japan" was synonymous with cheaply manufactured. But in the '70s when the petro-economy changed (just as NIL changed the SEC economy), gradually--then all of a sudden--cars made in Japan were recognized for their efficiency, value, and quality.

Gradually--then all of a sudden--the word (expletive) "Vandy" is not synonymous with failure, ineptitude, or fielding 1 or 2 star players with no supporting cast. Today's Vandy is a team to be reckoned with.

Big Orange traditionalists may cast their traditional aspersions at Vandy to stoke good feelings pre-game, but understand that it they get a strike on that cast, it may be more Musky than bluegill they have to reel in. So set your drag accordingly!

Today's game is a legitimate and earned battle for mid-upper level predator status in the SEC food chain. I think for SEC teams right now, like corporations in the '80s, you're either moving up or you're moving down.

[history lesson/off]
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Those are terrible analogies.

More like your neighbors daughter gets out of rehab and you just hope your boy doesn't get an STD.

More like a KIA. They occasionally have a year that matches their competitors performance standards, but you find out it's still substandard by the time the warranty expires.
 
#43
#43
I want to beat Vandy and I think we can but it's not sackcloth and ashes time if we don't. This is Vandy's best team in like 75 years, it won't be any shocker if they win and we'll be 8-4. The preseason over/under for this team was 8.5 in most betting houses meaning the odds of a 9th regular season win was always a toss up for this team.
 
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#44
#44
Rickyvol77 said:
Vandy was never at any point going to make the playoffs and those with a brain knew this
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Though a long shot. Definitely wasn’t a never gonna happen. Kansas beating Utah, UCF beating BYU, Pitt beating Miami, LSU beating OU, Auburn beating The Gumps and if Candy won. They would for sure be in. Again long shot, but not impossible.
 
#45
#45
unfrozencvmanvol said:
I want to beat Vandy and I think we can but it's not sackcloth and ashes time if we don't. This is Vandy's best team in like 75 years, it won't be any shocker if they win and we'll be 8-4. The preseason over/under for this team was 8.5 in most betting houses meaning the odds of a 9th regular season win was always a toss up for this team.
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Here's the funny part...

"This is not your average Vandy team. They are very good and to say they're not is stupid. You don't get to 9-2 in the SEC by sucking. Their only losses are to Alabama and an excellent Texas team. Their wins are way better than ours."

Same poster: "If we lose to Vanderbilt Huepel will be on the the hot seat going in to the 26 season. We should never lose to Vanderbilt".
 
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#46
#46
Behr said:
Here's the funny part...

"This is not your average Vandy team. They are very good and to say they're not is stupid. You don't get to 9-2 in the SEC by sucking. Their only losses are to Alabama and an excellent Texas team. Their wins are way better than ours."

Same poster: "If we lose to Vanderbilt Huepel will be on the the hot seat going in to the 26 season. We should never lose to Vanderbilt".
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Just a bit inconsistent ain't it?
 
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#47
#47
I have no doubt that if we get up big early we go conservative and lose. In Heupel’s defense, last week we come out after halftime throwing.
 
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