What equals success in 2016? What must Butch do?

#1

Eddie Vol Halen

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#1
We've played 7-games already and the Vols are 3 - 4. One classic victory over Georgia and three of the most frustrating losses to good teams in recent memory. I consider the Florida loss far, far worse than Wyoming for a variety of reasons - compounded by the loss last year too.

I'm assuming that we will win out now. I honestly don't care if we win each game (except North Texas) by 1 point as it will help establish that Butch can win close games.

With this preface, what does success look like in 2016? What does Team 120 need to achieve to know that we have finally arrived?

I'd be willing to give more slack if not for the way we have lost these games. Right now, Butch has some serious, serious question marks about his credentials on Saturdays. I said early and often that losing to Florida and Arkansas with Team 119 would raise legitimate concerns and scrutiny. His elite work from Monday - Friday has, frankly, come apart in the majority of the big moments on Saturdays including Alabama. I firmly believe he has made a mistake managing Medley and the kickers and that was primarily how we lost the Bama game. If it takes 4-years to implement his particular culture, and we're going to be in the hunt and in the mix from Team 120 to Team 130, I accept that, and let's start rolling. If it was truly this was the first time he had a Top Ten team, and he had to learn how to deal with that, fine. But OJT is OVER now.

Two absolute essentials for Team 120 for me:

Win the East
Beat Florida
 
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#3
#3
Get to Atlanta is my idea of success but that still might be a little much. 9+ wins and 2 of 3 versus Florida, Georgia and Bama.
 
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#4
#4
The 2016 team must win games they can win without snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. They must be put in a position to win by the coaches and that might mean actually having a plan to take advantage of skills.
 
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#5
#5
Wyoming? Random?

If you measure wher the program is today there is little question the UF and OU losses set the team back a few steps.
A win against Bama could have set a lot of things right. The UGA win was great but I want to see where they are at year end. Butch doesn't seem to struggle with Richt's style much at all. UT dominated the stats in that game.

Winning the East. 4th year. Time to have developed a winner. Plus, it will be back to a three horse race. Vandy, UK, SC, and Missouri are all well below those three in terms of talent.
 
#6
#6
Playing on both Saturdays and Sunday's in the same season with no bye weeks and a roster of 85 freshmen, this team would have to win both the college playoff and the super bowl on consecutive days or members of this board would be calling for Butch's head.

I'll take a winning record (9+ preferred) and 2/3 from the three big rivals, and I'm good.
 
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#8
#8
2016.
UT could do that this year. They will be favored on all remaining schedule. A bowl win would be 9.

Matching that next year likely means UT loses to UF and Bama again.

I would take 10-2 in 2016 with losses to Alabama and Florida. UT could still go to the SECCG
 
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#9
#9
He already had a top 15 level talented team this year, and if he finishes 9-4, low-end top 15 is where he'd likely finish. Next year's team is top 10 level. Better get 10+ wins.
 
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#10
#10
8-9 regular season wins should be the least.

Tennessee needs to get to a place where 9/10 wins are expected every year. Do that consistently and every few years you will have breakout years of winning upwards of 11 or 12 or more.

The main goal, of course, is competing at a high level and giving yourself a chance. They are getting back to that. How do I know? Because they have had the lead going into or have gained the lead in the 4th quarter agaisnt top competition in the country.

Moral victories? No. Hell no. Progress and what we desperately cried for under Dooley? Yes. Hell yes.

Can Butch get them truly over the hump? Idk. Jury is out. Is he working to get them there? Yes and they're close.
 
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#12
#12
Some expectations will depend on if we lose any Juniors to the big money lure of the NFL.

O and D lines will both be much better next year so Hurd and AK will both run much better and we should be hard to stop on the O side of the ball.

If the NFL gets Sutton and JRM that could hurt us some so hopefully their backups will step it up and play very well.

I think Barnett will be pissed at this season and his lack of production so I expect he'll work even harder this offseason to make a serious statement next year that he's a great pass rusher and can seal the end too.

I expect to beat floriDUHHH and alaBummer, WIN the SEC East and have a serious shot to Win the SEC Championship.

Might even make it into the National Championship playoffs if a little luck and no injuries hurt us so bad like they have this year and last year.

I will never forget that so far this season we are only 10 or 12 good plays away from being undefeated and ranked in the top 5 nationally.

Our Vols will make those critical plays next season.

We're going to be a VERY dangerous team next season and I think CBJ and DeBord and all our coaches have finally learned to never take their foot off the gas and play to stomp people on both sides of the ball the entire game.

Key word next year...Aggressive, every play all game long.

Book your rooms in HOTlanta for next year folks because our Tennessee footVol team will be in the SEC Championship game with team 120.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!
 
#13
#13
We've played 7-games already and the Vols are 3 - 4. One classic victory over Georgia and three of the most frustrating losses to good teams in recent memory. I consider the Florida loss far, far worse than Wyoming for a variety of reasons - compounded by the loss last year too.

I'm assuming that we will win out now. I honestly don't care if we win each game (except North Texas) by 1 point as it will help establish that Butch can win close games.

With this preface, what does success look like in 2016? What does Team 120 need to achieve to know that we have finally arrived?

I'd be willing to give more slack if not for the way we have lost these games. Right now, Butch has some serious, serious question marks about his credentials on Saturdays. I said early and often that losing to Florida and Arkansas with Team 119 would raise legitimate concerns and scrutiny. His elite work from Monday - Friday has, frankly, come apart in the majority of the big moments on Saturdays including Alabama. I firmly believe he has made a mistake managing Medley and the kickers and that was primarily how we lost the Bama game. If it takes 4-years to implement his particular culture, and we're going to be in the hunt and in the mix from Team 120 to Team 130, I accept that, and let's start rolling. If it was truly this was the first time he had a Top Ten team, and he had to learn how to deal with that, fine. But OJT is OVER now.

Two absolute essentials for Team 120 for me:

Win the East
Beat Florida

How many different ways can a dead horse be beaten?
 
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#14
#14
Some expectations will depend on if we lose any Juniors to the big money lure of the NFL.

O and D lines will both be much better next year so Hurd and AK will both run much better and we should be hard to stop on the O side of the ball.

If the NFL gets Sutton and JRM that could hurt us some so hopefully their backups will step it up and play very well.

I think Barnett will be pissed at this season and his lack of production so I expect he'll work even harder this offseason to make a serious statement next year that he's a great pass rusher and can seal the end too.

I expect to beat floriDUHHH and alaBummer, WIN the SEC East and have a serious shot to Win the SEC Championship.

Might even make it into the National Championship playoffs if a little luck and no injuries hurt us so bad like they have this year and last year.

I will never forget that so far this season we are only 10 or 12 good plays away from being undefeated and ranked in the top 5 nationally.

Our Vols will make those critical plays next season.

We're going to be a VERY dangerous team next season and I think CBJ and DeBord and all our coaches have finally learned to never take their foot off the gas and play to stomp people on both sides of the ball the entire game.

Key word next year...Aggressive, every play all game long.

Book your rooms in HOTlanta for next year folks because our Tennessee footVol team will be in the SEC Championship game with team 120.

#BrickbyBrick...VFL...GBO!!!


I think Sutton and Reaves Maybin will both go Pro and they'll be difficult to replace.
 
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#16
#16
End at least one of these long streaks UF and Bama have on us. Tired of hearing about them.. Next year is Butch's defining year.
 
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#18
#18
If next year's team doesn't get off to a better start than this year's team, Butch's Rocky Top is going to become a slippery slope.
 
#20
#20
I'm just tired of the moral victories. To me, that's like a participation trophy. Anyone who says we should be winning 9-10 games per year is INSANE. If Butch truly wants an elite program we better be a championship contender every year. 9-10 wins every year would make bama fans sick, for example.

As of now, Butch is 15-17, same as Dooley at this point during his tenure. 1-8 vs Alabama, Florida and Georgia. And he's doing it with elite talent, which is why I worry.

He coaches too conservative, has proven that when given the opportunity to make an elite hire that he will just go off and hire another friend (DeBord) and he's doing so at the expense of the program.

Wonder what excuse he will be using next season.
 
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#21
#21
More concerned with finishing out 5-0 this season, starting with Ky.. Amazing how we spend all off season looking forward to the season and then three to five games into the season we begin the how do you think we will do next year. Enjoy the games Volnation and the improving product we are showing on the field.
 
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#24
#24
I'm just tired of the moral victories. To me, that's like a participation trophy. Anyone who says we should be winning 9-10 games per year is INSANE. If Butch truly wants an elite program we better be a championship contender every year. 9-10 wins every year would make bama fans sick, for example.

As of now, Butch is 15-17, same as Dooley at this point during his tenure. 1-8 vs Alabama, Florida and Georgia. And he's doing it with elite talent, which is why I worry.

He coaches too conservative, has proven that when given the opportunity to make an elite hire that he will just go off and hire another friend (DeBord) and he's doing so at the expense of the program.

Wonder what excuse he will be using next season.

Lol. You trollin? Or just that crazy? Yeah...no moral victories....

Because there's absolutely NO difference in getting blown out every game and being on pay-per-view every week as compared to CBS games and national recognition while being in every game until the very last play.

AV
 
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