What equals success in 2016? What must Butch do?

[volsportsfan]

Bruin is right. 7 wins keeps Butch's job. Like it or not folks.

Now, on to my thoughts this year. We are not done losing in my opinion. Between mizz, sc, and Kentucky, we will lose one more game.

All you people expecting us to win out are in for a big surprise. We will make a bowl game, but chances are we are not winning out.

And I support Butch. Good coach. Don't know if he'll be a great one or not, but he's a good one.

I've come to realize that what we did in the 90's and early 2000's rarely ever happens. This conference and college football in general has gotten so competitive. Unless a great one comes along ( a saban or a Meyer ), your fan base has to lower expectations. Great ones hardly ever come along because so many teams are out there looking for one. Football has become a monster that almost every university wants to win at. Too much money involved for universities pass on trying to make their football team great.

UT is simply caught up in the meat grinder that is college football. Lower your expectations just a little, or you will hardly ever be happy/content with your favorite college team.

 

[BeecherVol]

We would not go to Atlanta in that scenario. The Gators aren't going to lose 3 conference games.

Pretty much. UF is a year ahead of schedule (if you bought JM being their guy.) The scenario for UT winning the east in the future is beating UF first and UGA.

 

[KBVol]

Pretty much. UF is a year ahead of schedule (if you bought JM being their guy.) The scenario for UT winning the east in the future is beating UF first and UGA.

Only chance Tennessee has to win the East in the future is to back into the SECCG. Can't/won't beat Florida, surely that's abundantly clear by now, no?

 

[08Vol]

End the streaks against UF and UA. I don't think Butch will get it done. I think by the end of 2016 everyone realizes we've been dealing with a snake oil salesman. Butch will be fired in the middle of 2017 a game or two after losing to UF

 

[VolFootballnut]

Only chance Tennessee has to win the East in the future is to back into the SECCG. Can't/won't beat Florida, surely that's abundantly clear by now, no?

+100

When the streak ends against Florida it will come as a complete surprise most likely. I think Tennessee has a better chance of beating a rebuilding Alabama team at home in 2016 than Florida at home.

 

[sjt18]

Beat UF and Bama. Win the East.

 

[volboy81]

At least 10 regular season wins will be a success...anything less, I'll be disappointed
We beat FL & AL in Kville...

 

[tm3]

What equals success in 2016? What must Butch do?

Wear orange.

Tell players that he loves them.

Come up with some catchy slogans.

Continue to explain his decisions in clear, concise language.

Be the moral victory champion of the Eastern Division.

 

[VolFootballnut]

What equals success in 2016? What must Butch do?

Wear orange.

Tell players that he loves them.

Come up with some catchy slogans.

Continue to explain his decisions in clear, concise language.

Be the moral victory champion of the Eastern Division.

Winning 10 games in 2016 is the surest sign of success

 

[sjt18]

Anything less that 9-10 wins in 2016 will be trouble for Butch

Nine wins will be an underperformance of the roster he has.... and the time he's had.

Va Tech will the be weakest OOC opponent UT has had in some time.

The complaint about youth SHOULD be gone. Most of UT's two deep will consist of Sr's, Jr's, and experienced Sophs.

UT will still be better than UGA and the bottom half of the East. Jones MUST beat UF. NO MORE EXCUSES OR BLUNDERS.

IMHO from 1000 miles away.... UT should beat 6 East opponents and NEEDS to beat UF as well. They should win all 4 OOC games. UT then has TAM and Bama.

It isn't a low bar... but he should win 10 games next year... if his plan has worked and he can coach.

 

[EZE]

How many different ways can a dead horse be beaten?

And the thing is, EVH can continue to beat the Hades out it, but it still pulls no weight.

I find it amusing that people want to crap all over the possibility of a 9-win season THIS YEAR. Given that we haven't won anywhere close to that many games in around 7 years, I will take it. Especially given the fact that we have been in every game with a chance to win.

 

[KBVol]

+100

When the streak ends against Florida it will come as a complete surprise most likely. I think Tennessee has a better chance of beating a rebuilding Alabama team at home in 2016 than Florida at home.

We have a better chance to beat the Patriots than we do the Gators.

 

[sjt18]

Win 2 of 3 against GA, FL or Bama

No. He MUST beat UF. There are no championships without beating UF. The streak is well past ridiculous.... as were his first two losses to UF.

That is a MUST win game for Jones.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

I would take 10-2 in 2016 with losses to Alabama and Florida. UT could still go to the SECCG

If we lose to Florida & Alabama then we would need three losses from Florida to still make the championship game.

I'd look at next year as a four game season. Virginia Tech & the big 3. I don't see either of the four really being a physical mismatch. We will have senior quarterback and I really hope we can get three out of four if not all four. We have a legitimate shot at it, I think. The other 8 games I fully expect to win. That would be one heck of a season. Then there's the matter of facing a top notch team from the West in Atlanta. I'm not going in expecting to win the SEC, but playing for it will be a very good thing for us. Another step in the right direction. 9 wins this year. 11 or more next year. I also hope we're good enough to work our future qb into the mix. 2017 will see us with top notch talent everywhere and a new quarterback to break in. I want whoever it is to play some next year if possible. That may be getting too far ahead, but that's what I'm thinking about.

 

[sjt18]

Only chance Tennessee has to win the East in the future is to back into the SECCG. Can't/won't beat Florida, surely that's abundantly clear by now, no?

No. UT will at some point break the streak. In fact, I would call that the new test for any current or future UT HC. They MUST beat UF.

 

[VolFootballnut]

If we lose to Florida & Alabama then we would need three losses from Florida to still make the championship game.

I'd look at next year as a four game season. Virginia Tech & the big 3. I don't see either of the four really being a physical mismatch. We will have senior quarterback and I really hope we can get three out of four if not all four. We have a legitimate shot at it, I think. The other 8 games I fully expect to win. That would be one heck of a season. Then there's the matter of facing a top notch team from the West in Atlanta. I'm not going in expecting to win the SEC, but playing for it will be a very good thing for us. Another step in the right direction. 9 wins this year. 11 or more next year. I also hope we're good enough to work our future qb into the mix. 2017 will see us with top notch talent everywhere and a new quarterback to break in. I want whoever it is to play some next year if possible. That may be getting too far ahead, but that's what I'm thinking about.

Playing Virginia Tech is like playing Arkansas. VT's program has slipped considerably.

 

[sjt18]

10 wins to make everyone happy

7 wins to keep his job

Next year? That may or may not be realistic... but realistic should be that 7 wins gets him a pink slip next fall.

Seven wins would mean that UT has a lower standard for Jones in year 4 than it had for Dooley in year 3. That should be acceptable to no one.

 

[sjt18]

How many different ways can a dead horse be beaten?

Where are the over supply of threads about expectations for '16?

 

[Eddie Vol Halen]

No. UT will at some point break the streak. In fact, I would call that the new test for any current or future UT HC. They MUST beat UF.

We were spoiled by Fulmer with Bama because I think this is the new reality.

Beating FL has to be the #1 priority of the Tennessee head football coach.

It will make me sick for the rest of my life thinking about the last two losses to the Gators. Really unpleasant memories that should not have been.

 

[VolFootballnut]

We were spoiled by Fulmer with Bama because I think this is the new reality.

Beating FL has to be the #1 priority of the Tennessee head football coach.

It will make me sick for the rest of my life thinking about the last two losses to the Gators. Really unpleasant memories that should not have been.

I wouldn't mind Alabama being taken off the Tennessee schedule as the regular SEC West opponent and put former rival Auburn in that spot. Tennessee could play Alabama every 4-5 seasons.

 

[mercuryvol]

45-0 over the next three seasons or dismantle the program. Truly the blindest fans in the SEC. Questions:How much $ does it take and WHO do you hire to turn the program around in the next year after you can Jones? I'm serious.

 

[BeecherVol]

Only chance Tennessee has to win the East in the future is to back into the SECCG. Can't/won't beat Florida, surely that's abundantly clear by now, no?

We have had 2 really good shots back to back and haven't gotten it done. If UT beats them in the near future they will have to beat a better football team than the 2 it has lost to recently.

 

[KBVol]

No. UT will at some point break the streak. In fact, I would call that the new test for any current or future UT HC. They MUST beat UF.

In the next decade? Next generation? Before the year 2525?

I watched the 1998 game last night on the SECNetwork. Even back then, 17 years ago, one of the announcers said "Florida knows they can beat Tennessee while Tennessee is hoping they will beat Florida"....absolutely nothing has changed since.

Even in that game, it took 5 Florida turnovers and a missed chip shot fg in overtime on the road for Florida to lose to Tennessee. This streak is like no other.....I don't see an end to it anytime soon. Jmo.

 

[sjt18]

We were spoiled by Fulmer with Bama because I think this is the new reality.

That is a loser mentality that I refuse to have... it is repugnant.

I would say just the opposite. UT is close on talent. IMHO, Jones and staff outcoached Bama last Saturday. No tricks. They just matched wits with them and even had Bama somewhat frustrated. They only allowed Bama 117 yds on the ground. Only ULM held them to fewer total yds while losing 34-0 :dunno:

Bama scores 32 ppg vs the SEC... UT held them to 19. They avg 422 ypg of O vs the SEC... UT held them to 364.

I have been peeved since Saturday with all the people here "glowing" in a moral victory. However, this wasn't a physical mismatch like we are used to seeing vs Bama. This was two teams slugging it out on a relatively equal plain. This was definitely a shift in reality.

I am more confident Jones can end this streak than the UF streak. He seems to be just as psyched out by UF as Fulmer was.

Beating FL has to be the #1 priority of the Tennessee head football coach.

First... yes. Only priority? No.

It will make me sick for the rest of my life thinking about the last two losses to the Gators. Really unpleasant memories that should not have been.

If Jones had beaten Muschamp then I think I could have stomached the loss to McElwain. There was no excuse for the other two losses. None.

HOPEFULLY, we will never see the Jones again who coached against UF and OU this year.

 

[govols105]

Bottom line he must beat Florida and VA Tech. And no reason to lose to bama at home.