Turning point in 2015 season

[Shades]

butch-jones-reveals-tennessee-vols-turning-point-in-2015

“When we lost to Arkansas, I could see the hurt and the pain in the young men’s eyes in that locker room, and the clutter and distraction started to creep into our football program. You have to give your players one day off a week, and we give ‘em Sundays off ‘cause we want them to be able to go to church and spend time with their families when they come in, and then we meet on Mondays.

“Well, I called an 8 o’clock team meeting that Sunday night. It was about 7:40, and everyone in the room, and there was an eery coldness in the building, and our players were asking, ‘What’s going on?’ I walked in the room and said, ‘Sit up, I need to talk to you. I’ve got to be honest with you. If you know me, I’m always upfront and honest with you, and I need you to hear me talk.’

“And then I said, ‘The truth of the matter is … we’re a really good football team. And we just went through the most difficult schedule in college football. If we can stay afloat, if we can keep our leadership, if we can bond together, we’re gonna go on a run here, and we’re gonna like our body of work.’”

Jones continued, saying the team’s response to that meeting was exactly what he hoped to see.

“That Monday we came out and we had our best practice,” he said. “Then we retook our team picture for a new season, and we finished the season winning six in a row. I believe that’s the longest winning streak here since 2003. Then back-to-back bowl wins for the first time since ’95, ’96.

“I think there’s a lot of things to be proud of, but I thought that was the defining moment, because if you don’t have character and leadership in your program, you know (what happens). They had every chance to listen to all the distractions, and they didn’t. It galvanized us. And I think that’s when this football team and this football program took the next step.

“Leadership was born.”

There were several very tough periods in the 2015 season; close losses to Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama. But leadership was born in the 2015 season during those tough periods, that has prepared this team for the 2016 season.

I am not an insider, but I bleed orange. Let there be hype for 2016, that is OK. Yeah we need to beat Florida, Georgia, Alabama and prove it on the field; I believe we will. Regardless of the challenges of the past two or three years, we have a group of young men that are ready to bring the heat this year. There is a swag and confidence exuding from the 2016 Vols. I love it. Sept 3 cannot come soon enough. 2016 Vols are gonna kick some a** this year.

 

[Black Diamond Vol]

4th and 9(?) right before halftime against UGA. I was prepared to get a jump on postgame traffic if we don't convert there. But we did, and the rest (of the season) is history.

 

[TAF]

That Arkansas game was rife with mediocre execution...I've watched it a couple times this off season and it blows me away how lacking of energy the Team was the entire game (after the opening kickoff return).

I watched live a different energy Team in Tampa in January...

I can't wait to do that again!

 

[Shades]

Orange Swarm. 12-0. Dig.

 

[vol-un-tear]

That fumble recovery on the kickoff against Georgia after we scored was huge!

 

[KBVol]

Look, they way the team played coming back from 21 down to Georgia was great.....I'm still thrilled with the win and have rewatched it 3-4 times. Just a great comeback win. And the way they competed and nearly pulled off a big upset in Tuscaloosa made me very proud of our beloved Vols. Major kudos to the coaches and staff for giving the eventual national champs a scare and probably the best game they got all year, along with Clemson in the title game.

But let's keep it real here....a huge factor, undoubtedly the biggest, most important factor in the 6 game win streak was who we played.....Kentucky, South Carolina, North Texas, Missouri, Vandy.....the 5 regular season teams were a combined 18-44 (.291). Compare that to the combined record and win percentage of the 4 very good teams we played and lost to earlier in the season, Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama...43-11 (.796).

Of course, we played a 10 win Northwestern team to complete the six game win streak in Tampa, and I won't minimize that at all, given how we completely dominated them....but we can all agree that they were completely overmatched physically and athletically by Tennessee.

Flame away if you must, but that's just the truth as I see it. We didn't fold up, we came back and turned what could've been a season-wrecking loss into a positive, learned from, grew from it and started winning....but playing the weakest part of our schedule helped immensely.

 

[AstonRoyal]

4th and 9(?) right before halftime against UGA. I was prepared to get a jump on postgame traffic if we don't convert there. But we did, and the rest (of the season) is history.

If we didn't convert there, we'd be talking about Butch on the hot seat right now

 

[edyeary]

4th and 9(?) right before halftime against UGA. I was prepared to get a jump on postgame traffic if we don't convert there. But we did, and the rest (of the season) is history.

Beat me to it dude. On the field turning point for sure.

 

[vik]

4th and 9(?) right before halftime against UGA. I was prepared to get a jump on postgame traffic if we don't convert there. But we did, and the rest (of the season) is history.

The 2014 game at South Carolina should have taught you:
Never leave before the game is over. Never. Not ever.

 

[Fred_Jones]

4th and 9(?) right before halftime against UGA. I was prepared to get a jump on postgame traffic if we don't convert there. But we did, and the rest (of the season) is history.

I rewatched that game today. It was 4th and 9. The play before was the one where Dobbs got slapped in the head but no call. Von fell down and caught a 4th and 4 pass on the same drive.

 

[volfan102455]

There was a difference in how the team played against Georgia. The attitude of the players was very different even when they were down by 21 and most had given up the game.

Yes the latter part of the schedule was easier than the front part of the schedule. But if a team loses confidence, believes they are destined to fail - they will lose to teams they should beat.

If one is going to hype up teams that start easy and win and still consider them good teams when they lose during the tough stretch - they should not belittle the accomplishments of a team that plays the tough teams early and loses and then wins when they get to the soft part of their schedule. It is the same thing.

The fact is that the Tennessee team that played the latter part of the year was a very different team in attitude and focus.

I really don't understand why some seem content on trying to find a negative out of every positive.

 

[armchair]

Seriously, Butch: I love ya, man, but don't start sounding like 'Ole Phil, who in his last several years was always talking about how impressive his Vols were down the stretch. Fact is, we have a front-loaded schedule, every year, and the back half of the schedule is weak. I don't want to hear anymore how great we were by beating vandy, kentucky and north texas and after losing to florida and bama for the 15th straight time.

 

[UT-Rex]

But let's keep it real here....the 4 very good teams we played and lost to earlier in the season, Oklahoma, Florida, Arkansas and Alabama...43-11 (.796).

Flame away if you must, but that's just the truth as I see it.

No need for flames, imo. A cool 17 pts/4 games, 12 pts/ 2 playoff teams -- we gave 'em some good competition.

 

[volfan102455]

The 2014 game at South Carolina should have taught you:
Never leave before the game is over. Never. Not ever.

Yes, that includes not turning the TV off if you are watching at home as well. I get alerts on my phone of scores when the football and basketball games end. I turned the TV off and waited and waited and waited - I ended up turning the TV back on in time to see the play that tied the game in regulation.

 

[KBVol]

There was a difference in how the team played against Georgia. The attitude of the players was very different even when they were down by 21 and most had given up the game.

Yes the latter part of the schedule was easier than the front part of the schedule. But if a team loses confidence, believes they are destined to fail - they will lose to teams they should beat.

If one is going to hype up teams that start easy and win and still consider them good teams when they lose during the tough stretch - they should not belittle the accomplishments of a team that plays the tough teams early and loses and then wins when they get to the soft part of their schedule. It is the same thing.

The fact is that the Tennessee team that played the latter part of the year was a very different team in attitude and focus.

I really don't understand why some seem content on trying to find a negative out of every positive.

I gave the team and coaches full marks for rebounding after the bad Arky loss, for the great comeback win vs Georgia and the great effort/near upset of Alabama. But the elephant in the room is change in difficulty of schedule. Kudos to them for taking care of business and doing what they should've done. If you want to call it negative to point it out in a thread that discusses the "turnaround" and the streak then fine, call it negative...but it should also be called something else....the truth.

 

[KBVol]

No need for flames, imo. A cool 17 pts/4 games, 12 pts/ 2 playoff teams -- we gave 'em some good competition.

Well said. We were close, oh so very close to having a very special season. A fourth down stop here, a made field goal there, a first down conversion here. I do think the difference in strength of schedule was a major factor, but the coaches and players deserve a lot of respect for holding it together and turning it around.

 

[fade route]

Seriously, Butch: I love ya, man, but don't start sounding like 'Ole Phil, who in his last several years was always talking about how impressive his Vols were down the stretch. Fact is, we have a front-loaded schedule, every year, and the back half of the schedule is weak. I don't want to hear anymore how great we were by beating vandy, kentucky and north texas and after losing to florida and bama for the 15th straight time.

Most of your posts are garbage, but the 2nd half of this one is true and I agree.

 

[ajvol01]

Most of your posts are garbage, but the 2nd half of this one is true and I agree.

The 1st half of this post is true.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

September 26th, 2015: The day the 10 year Erik Ainge Curse ended, On that day 10 years prior, I washed my hands concerning Ainge after he threw that pick 6 against LSU on that Monday night.

 

[golf437]

Seriously, Butch: I love ya, man, but don't start sounding like 'Ole Phil, who in his last several years was always talking about how impressive his Vols were down the stretch. Fact is, we have a front-loaded schedule, every year, and the back half of the schedule is weak. I don't want to hear anymore how great we were by beating vandy, kentucky and north texas and after losing to florida and bama for the 15th straight time.

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[livefaith]

That Arkansas game was rife with mediocre execution...I've watched it a couple times this off season and it blows me away how lacking of energy the Team was the entire game (after the opening kickoff return).

I watched live a different energy Team in Tampa in January...

I can't wait to do that again!

I went to 2 live games this year. OU & Arky. The difference in that stadium between those two games was about as divergent as you can get. The fan base had lost its energy too.

 

[Biopsyman]

I thought it was when Jones burned the chart

 

[TAF]

I went to 2 live games this year. OU & Arky. The difference in that stadium between those two games was about as divergent as you can get. The fan base had lost its energy too.

I made it down to:

Oklahoma = ELECTRIC Atmosphere until the last, failed pass completion in overtime...ALL energy sapped walking out of the Stadium

Georgia = Typical BIG home Game atmosphere... Cautious optimism @ game time...frustration for the 1st 22 minutes...building to an AMAZING finish

Outback Bowl = Tennessee Swagger was OFF THE CHARTS...being part of that Vol Walk and then walking back to our entrance gate and watching Northwestern getting off a bus to a crowd of about 7...looking very small, slow and scared...Tampa was magical.

I'm hoping Bristol will be the same way...

And Atlanta, then Tampa again...of course.

 

[KBVol]

I thought it was when Jones burned the chart

Do we know that he actually did burn/get rid of it?? Please tell us you know it for a fact or we're likely to suffer another stinging, unnecessary loss in 2016.

 

[ru4real-really?]

a lot of what if's and second guessing so I guess ot's OK to offer another:

If we had played the season from start to finish the way we drubbed Northwestern, we would have been in the playoff's and very well could have won the whole thing!

KEEP IT GOING VOLS!