We are Tennessee

[General Jack]

I know this subject has already been discussed ad nauseum, so I’m going to write about how I feel right now because I know many of you understand.

We are Tennessee. Tennesseans, especially East Tennesseans are known for being independent, self sufficient, and above all, tough. We are the Volunteers. I would be living in Tejas now instead of Texas if it wasn’t for Tennessee.

What has been happening for a few years now, and I’ll admit, I was in denial for a while and still on the fence as recently as last Friday, culminated Saturday in the most humiliating loss I personally remember – and I’ve been watching since Bill Bates and Reggie White wore the orange. Its one thing to lose, everybody loses…

…but people, we got beat down. Humiliated. Florida kicked our dog and laughed while they did it. Then they smacked our wife and grabbed her ass while we tended to our dog. And Urban Meyer’s eyes gleamed the whole while. Tim Tebow was so joyfully intoxicated he gave glorious man love to a teammate. I can steal hear the announcers chortle, “Oh my!” every time Tebow touched the ball. And I hate it.

I hate to dwell on anger and such a gut wrenching subject, but our fan base and University leadership holding on to that simmering, raw, noxious anger is the only way things are going to change. I’m not going to forget about that loss. And I’m not going to forget about the fact that our program’s legacy is slowly and steadily being tarnished in front of our eyes. And I'm not going to have the wool pulled over my eyes any longer by the incompetent leadership we have at the helm of our beloved football program.

Tennessee is not supposed to get beat down like that. Those responsible should be help accountable. Maybe, maybe, if it were truly an aberration it could slide, but its no aberration. Arkansas, freakin' Arkansas beat us like a rented mule last year. Vandy beat us 2 years ago. Teams routinely waltz out of Neyland with a win these days.

And what's more, when was the last time you saw a Tennessee team come out looking for blood? Maybe the Cal game last year, but unfortunately that was the aberration over the last 3 years... It was mentioned on the sports animal today that not so long ago, Tim Tebow's antics in the fourth quarter would have been squashed via John Henderson's foot or Al Wilson's forearm. Our guys just took the beating on the field, our fan based took the beating emotionally.

Historically, any way you slice it, Tennessee is a top 10 college football program, all time. We deserve much, MUCH better than what we’ve gotten over the past 5 years.

It is so crystal clear to me that Fulmer has got to go ASAP. I don’t know if he’s getting apathetic, or if he’s really just that stubborn and ignorant. I'm guessing the latter. The guy won’t change his MO even as the college football world passes us up. We keep trending lower and lower... again, we just had our worst loss in 26 years. The last time Tennessee was beat like we were Saturday was back in an era where 7-4 was a good year. And now… we’re back.

So back to the drawing board, Fulmer has got to go, he has GOT to go. His leadership of this program is an insult to me, my family, and home (Knoxville Tennesse).

Go Vols. And go (away) Fulmer. And thanks for listening.

 

[overseasorange2]

I agree. Nobody fears the Orange & White anymore. We routinely, particularly in big games, get so far behind from dumb mistakes that it is not even entertaining to watch. I do not mind losing sometimes, but getting wiped off the field is ridiculous for a program with the facilities and finacial backing of UT. There is no excuse, except poor coaching. If my performance was that good(?), my comany would have fired me 5 years ago, and rightfully so. :yes:

 

[jaxvol]

Good post.

I agree that Tennessee doesn't strike fear in anyone. If anything the other teams see blood in the water. Look at what Vandy and UK have done against us.

When is the last time you saw a UT player get up in the grill of a fellow player for missing an assigment? Al Wilson?

When is the last time a UT coach, other than Trooper, showed real energy on the sideline?

Anyone?.......Anyone?.....

 

[Cartervol]

We all feel that way general. The sting of this defeat will resinate throughout the whole year. Anytime we beat somebody this year it will come up. No matter how good a year we have it will come up.

Sadly we won't be making any midseason changes though. Unless this season continues on its downard spiral. Phil will win enough games to get us somwhere around 7-5,8-4,9-3 would be along shot at this point.

Obviously mediocrity has become normal under fulmer not the exception. The football program is being run like big business not like a elite program with high standards.
If mike hamilton doesn't do something after this year then he should go to. Yeah he hired pearl. But even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.

 

[TennesseeT]

You want some cheese with all that wine General Jack. I doubt very seriously that any fan out there feels worse than the coaches or the players and if by some chance they do then that fan should seriously take a closer look at the important things in life. Bottom line is fans get to gloat in someone else's accomplishments when "we" succeed and then get to pull back and criticize to no end when "we" lose. It's the best of both worlds!

 

[Lexvol]

You want some cheese with all that wine General Jack. I doubt very seriously that any fan out there feels worse than the coaches or the players and if by some chance they do then that fan should seriously take a closer look at the important things in life. Bottom line is fans get to gloat in someone else's accomplishments when "we" succeed and then get to pull back and criticize to no end when "we" lose. It's the best of both worlds!

Perhaps that is the real disconnect TennesseeT. Fans don't see things getting any better and start to wonder how "badly" the coaches and players actually feel about losing. If it was that hard on them, maybe they would do something about it.

It is the continuous nature of the special teams failures and turnovers that lead me to believe that they simply care much more about "proving they can get it done" than they do about the direction of this program.

 

[TennesseeT]

Thinks for making my point! You and the rest of the fans have bagged this season because it cannot be perfect and a perfect season allows you to live someone else's accomplishments to the fullest. You do no care about this year, the players, the coaches, or their families. You only care about whether or not you will have that perfect season again so you can get all warm and fuzzy about what someone else did! And all the you's were not pointed at you but the general attitude on this board.

 

[Lexvol]

Thinks for making my point! You and the rest of the fans have bagged this season because it cannot be perfect and a perfect season allows you to live someone else's accomplishments to the fullest. You do no care about this year, the players, the coaches, or their families. You only care about whether or not you will have that perfect season again so you can get all warm and fuzzy about what someone else did! And all the you's were not pointed at you but the general attitude on this board.

I care much more about the reputation of the program than I do a single player, coach or their families. Do they?

 

[overseasorange]

It's called acountability. I do not really care why it has not been fixed....it's just that it's not. No matter how many times the coach thinks we are on the correct path. The proof is in the results. We are NOT getting it done, so it's time to try someone who can. My CEO does not care what I did 10 year ago, he wants to know what I will do for him in the future. I think Phil is probably a nice person, but business is business. He is paid rather highly for results. It is not happening...not even close(59-20):frown:

 

[General Jack]

You want some cheese with all that wine General Jack. I doubt very seriously that any fan out there feels worse than the coaches or the players and if by some chance they do then that fan should seriously take a closer look at the important things in life. Bottom line is fans get to gloat in someone else's accomplishments when "we" succeed and then get to pull back and criticize to no end when "we" lose. It's the best of both worlds!

So I don't have a right to be upset? I should just take the putrid product we're seeing and be happy with it? Great advice TennesseeT, its that kind of attitude that breeds the kind of crap we're seeing on the field. If you can stomach what we saw Saturday... then there is no point in us carrying on a debate.

No, I don't believe that the coaches feel worse than the fans. If they did, we would be competing for a championships rather than a repeat of 2005. And if the coaches do feel as bad as us died-in-the-wool fans, they must just be plain ignorant and stubborn, because we are STILL making the same mistakes we have for years. And the rest of the SEC is passing us by further each year.

I still supported Fulmer until Saturday. However, it is now plain as day that he needs to go. I love the VOLS and support the program, but the man is incapable of restoring us to a championship level. If he was, we wouldn't be losing the way we are now.

 

[vol4eva]

It's obvious Fulmer is doing it HIS way. He is stubborn, and has said he will do what he thinks will win a game. Fulmer is certainly payed high enough. He is killing this football program slowly. I get sick of hearing we're working like heck to get better. He has said that many times over the years, and nothing has changed. He actually said it again on VolCalls monday night. I hate his excuses for performances like saturday.:banghead2:

 

[Lexvol]

Thinks for making my point! You and the rest of the fans have bagged this season because it cannot be perfect and a perfect season allows you to live someone else's accomplishments to the fullest. You do no care about this year, the players, the coaches, or their families. You only care about whether or not you will have that perfect season again so you can get all warm and fuzzy about what someone else did! And all the you's were not pointed at you but the general attitude on this board.

If this board was about personal accomplishments I would be happy to make a list for you.

If you are happy going to the games, drinking a few beers, having vienna sausage on the grill, throwing down some fried potatoes with mustard and watching the Vols get their butts handed to them, that is certainly your choice.

 

[DC Vol]

And it's definitely within every fan's right to feel admonishment when their team that they not only have time and money invested in, but emotions as well. Alumni can't feel a sense of humiliation that their school just got handled?


And by your point, NO PLAYER on the field can feel a sense of pride when they see military aircraft fly overhead as part of pre-game festivities. Aren't they feeling a sense of pride in accomplishment by what others have done? I personally get more sense of pride when I know others are proud of what I've done, than I personally get in doing them. It's supposed to be part of a team mentality, but apparently not all of our guys grasp that.

 

[kiddiedoc]

I know this subject has already been discussed ad nauseum, so I’m going to write about how I feel right now because I know many of you understand.

We are Tennessee. Tennesseans, especially East Tennesseans are known for being independent, self sufficient, and above all, tough. We are the Volunteers. I would be living in Tejas now instead of Texas if it wasn’t for Tennessee.

What has been happening for a few years now, and I’ll admit, I was in denial for a while and still on the fence as recently as last Friday, culminated Saturday in the most humiliating loss I personally remember – and I’ve been watching since Bill Bates and Reggie White wore the orange. Its one thing to lose, everybody loses…

…but people, we got beat down. Humiliated. Florida kicked our dog and laughed while they did it. Then they smacked our wife and grabbed her ass while we tended to our dog. And Urban Meyer’s eyes gleamed the whole while. Tim Tebow was so joyfully intoxicated he gave glorious man love to a teammate. I can steal hear the announcers chortle, “Oh my!” every time Tebow touched the ball. And I hate it.

I hate to dwell on anger and such a gut wrenching subject, but our fan base and University leadership holding on to that simmering, raw, noxious anger is the only way things are going to change. I’m not going to forget about that loss. And I’m not going to forget about the fact that our program’s legacy is slowly and steadily being tarnished in front of our eyes. And I'm not going to have the wool pulled over my eyes any longer by the incompetent leadership we have at the helm of our beloved football program.

Tennessee is not supposed to get beat down like that. Those responsible should be help accountable. Maybe, maybe, if it were truly an aberration it could slide, but its no aberration. Arkansas, freakin' Arkansas beat us like a rented mule last year. Vandy beat us 2 years ago. Teams routinely waltz out of Neyland with a win these days.

And what's more, when was the last time you saw a Tennessee team come out looking for blood? Maybe the Cal game last year, but unfortunately that was the aberration over the last 3 years... It was mentioned on the sports animal today that not so long ago, Tim Tebow's antics in the fourth quarter would have been squashed via John Henderson's foot or Al Wilson's forearm. Our guys just took the beating on the field, our fan based took the beating emotionally.

Historically, any way you slice it, Tennessee is a top 10 college football program, all time. We deserve much, MUCH better than what we’ve gotten over the past 5 years.

It is so crystal clear to me that Fulmer has got to go ASAP. I don’t know if he’s getting apathetic, or if he’s really just that stubborn and ignorant. I'm guessing the latter. The guy won’t change his MO even as the college football world passes us up. We keep trending lower and lower... again, we just had our worst loss in 26 years. The last time Tennessee was beat like we were Saturday was back in an era where 7-4 was a good year. And now… we’re back.

So back to the drawing board, Fulmer has got to go, he has GOT to go. His leadership of this program is an insult to me, my family, and home (Knoxville Tennesse).

Go Vols. And go (away) Fulmer. And thanks for listening.

Couldn't have put it better, myself.

Oh, and as to TennesseeT: first, many of us are not just "fans," but also alumni who call Tennessee "home." Rarely, if ever, do we "gloat" as Floridians do, but rather we take pride in our accomplishments and the accomplishments of our great Alma Mater. By the same token, we have a right to voice our extreme displeasure with the leadership and execution of our athletic teams.

It is blatantly obvious to anyone with an educated and open mind that this ship is sinking, if it isn't already sunk. Our fear is that any further slippage will result in years of frustration as we try to build back up to a level of national respect.

So, we'll drink our "whine" until changes are made. You just keep on sippin' the Kool-Aid while the Vols join Kentucky, Vandy, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State in the cellar.

 

[VOLnFLORIDA]

I know this subject has already been discussed ad nauseum, so I’m going to write about how I feel right now because I know many of you understand.

We are Tennessee. Tennesseans, especially East Tennesseans are known for being independent, self sufficient, and above all, tough. We are the Volunteers. I would be living in Tejas now instead of Texas if it wasn’t for Tennessee.

What has been happening for a few years now, and I’ll admit, I was in denial for a while and still on the fence as recently as last Friday, culminated Saturday in the most humiliating loss I personally remember – and I’ve been watching since Bill Bates and Reggie White wore the orange. Its one thing to lose, everybody loses…

…but people, we got beat down. Humiliated. Florida kicked our dog and laughed while they did it. Then they smacked our wife and grabbed her ass while we tended to our dog. And Urban Meyer’s eyes gleamed the whole while. Tim Tebow was so joyfully intoxicated he gave glorious man love to a teammate. I can steal hear the announcers chortle, “Oh my!” every time Tebow touched the ball. And I hate it.

I hate to dwell on anger and such a gut wrenching subject, but our fan base and University leadership holding on to that simmering, raw, noxious anger is the only way things are going to change. I’m not going to forget about that loss. And I’m not going to forget about the fact that our program’s legacy is slowly and steadily being tarnished in front of our eyes. And I'm not going to have the wool pulled over my eyes any longer by the incompetent leadership we have at the helm of our beloved football program.

Tennessee is not supposed to get beat down like that. Those responsible should be help accountable. Maybe, maybe, if it were truly an aberration it could slide, but its no aberration. Arkansas, freakin' Arkansas beat us like a rented mule last year. Vandy beat us 2 years ago. Teams routinely waltz out of Neyland with a win these days.

And what's more, when was the last time you saw a Tennessee team come out looking for blood? Maybe the Cal game last year, but unfortunately that was the aberration over the last 3 years... It was mentioned on the sports animal today that not so long ago, Tim Tebow's antics in the fourth quarter would have been squashed via John Henderson's foot or Al Wilson's forearm. Our guys just took the beating on the field, our fan based took the beating emotionally.

Historically, any way you slice it, Tennessee is a top 10 college football program, all time. We deserve much, MUCH better than what we’ve gotten over the past 5 years.

It is so crystal clear to me that Fulmer has got to go ASAP. I don’t know if he’s getting apathetic, or if he’s really just that stubborn and ignorant. I'm guessing the latter. The guy won’t change his MO even as the college football world passes us up. We keep trending lower and lower... again, we just had our worst loss in 26 years. The last time Tennessee was beat like we were Saturday was back in an era where 7-4 was a good year. And now… we’re back.

So back to the drawing board, Fulmer has got to go, he has GOT to go. His leadership of this program is an insult to me, my family, and home (Knoxville Tennesse).

Go Vols. And go (away) Fulmer. And thanks for listening.

say what? why are east tennesseans tougher.....be careful how you profile. you could cause a civil war on here. Nashvegas and Memphis are dominated by UT grads, medical and law professionals.....carrying the economy of our great state. be careful!

 

[TennesseeT]

And it's definitely within every fan's right to feel admonishment when their team that they not only have time and money invested in, but emotions as well. Alumni can't feel a sense of humiliation that their school just got handled?


And by your point, NO PLAYER on the field can feel a sense of pride when they see military aircraft fly overhead as part of pre-game festivities. Aren't they feeling a sense of pride in accomplishment by what others have done? I personally get more sense of pride when I know others are proud of what I've done, than I personally get in doing them. It's supposed to be part of a team mentality, but apparently not all of our guys grasp that.

I really don't want to compare a football GAME to military actions especially when people are giving their lives for the freedoms others.

 

[AllVolYall]

Thinks for making my point! You and the rest of the fans have bagged this season because it cannot be perfect and a perfect season allows you to live someone else's accomplishments to the fullest. You do no care about this year, the players, the coaches, or their families. You only care about whether or not you will have that perfect season again so you can get all warm and fuzzy about what someone else did! And all the you's were not pointed at you but the general attitude on this board.

Thanks for the advise Dr Phil :crazy:

 

[UT IE 95]

When is the last time a UT coach, other than Trooper, showed real energy on the sideline?

Anyone?.......Anyone?.....

Johnny Long makes TT look comatose on the sidelines. But I don't care about the bouncing around and chest bumping. I'd rather see some guys make pass catches and running good routes personally.

 

[coffeevol]

Thinks for making my point! You and the rest of the fans have bagged this season because it cannot be perfect and a perfect season allows you to live someone else's accomplishments to the fullest. You do no care about this year, the players, the coaches, or their families. You only care about whether or not you will have that perfect season again so you can get all warm and fuzzy about what someone else did! And all the you's were not pointed at you but the general attitude on this board.

We do not do it to feel warm and fuzzy, we do not watch every game to have the feeling of living off someone elses accomplishments. WE DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE PRIDE IN THE PROGRAM!!! We are alum, fans, boosters, and Tennesseans. We take pride in a well prepared team going to battle, not for us but for the whole state and all who support. So there again it is called being a fan and maybe you should try it sometime.

 

[TEwinschamp]

TennesseeT, have you ever gone to a movie and paid the $8 or $9 to see it and it turned out to be a terrible movie and went and told a lot of your friends not to go see it? You might not be able to compare the military to football, since we're paying to watch the game, But the point is someone else is doing the actions and we're watching. Unfortunatly there are those in this country who are treating our military as we are the VOLS, and that is a total disgrace to this country. that's another subject for another board... But you're right, they are giving their lives for us to be free. But the point was we feel pride for what others are doing while we watch and cheer them on. I have had the unfortunate experience of coaches ruining a season in football, and still feel the frustration after 6 years, and will for years to come when I think back on that year. So I'm sure these players are getting very frustrated with not being able to win by doing what the coaches tell them to do. That is all they can do unless they have some a player with extreme talent that can do it all, but we don't nor won't as long as we're an average team. I believe most everyone on this board, other than those that come in to give us a hard time that are fans of other teams, are still behind our VOLS, just not the coaches who continue to NOT coach.

 

[VOLnFLORIDA]

Thanks for the advise Dr Phil :crazy:

lol:lol:lol:lol:

 

[Fayettevol]

I hate to dwell on anger and such a gut wrenching subject, but our fan base and University leadership holding on to that simmering, raw, noxious anger is the only way things are going to change. I’m not going to forget about that loss.
So back to the drawing board, Fulmer has got to go, he has GOT to go. His leadership of this program is an insult to me, my family, and home (Knoxville Tennesse).

You seriously need to get a life man. :lolabove:

You want some cheese with all that wine General Jack. I doubt very seriously that any fan out there feels worse than the coaches or the players and if by some chance they do then that fan should seriously take a closer look at the important things in life. Bottom line is fans get to gloat in someone else's accomplishments when "we" succeed and then get to pull back and criticize to no end when "we" lose. It's the best of both worlds!

The absolute best post on here this week.:clapping:

 

[General Jack]

You seriously need to get a life man. :lolabove:

Well then same to ya, because the only thing that makes us different is our views on the current coaching regime, and I don't have my head stuck in the sand. You obviously have a vested interest in the program or you wouldn't be here or care.

The absolute best post on here this week.:clapping:

You're right, that is a good post. Reasonable people can appreciate success and criticize failure. It those who accept failure, or blindly follow a failing regime that I don't understand.

 

[awebb7]

If I invest my money, I want results and I want to gloat. When I don't get results for my investment, I want a solution.

 

[Fayettevol]

Well then same to ya, because the only thing that makes us different is our views on the current coaching regime, and I don't have my head stuck in the sand. You obviously have a vested interest in the program or you wouldn't be here or care.

No, we are very different: I don't base my life and my happiness -- nor define MY successes and failures -- on the performance of a team of post-adolescents. When they win, it spices up the week. When they lose, I don't take it as a personal insult on me, my family, my state or anything else. It's just an entertaining game to me -- much like coming to this board and watching grown men whine, groan and moan about a football team over which they have zero control (but think that they do).

Nothing more, nothing less.:thumbsup: