What is a "NegaVol"?

#52
#52
Supposedly I'm a negavol, I just don't know which category I fall into. I was a negavol because I predicted a fortunate to make a bowl season. Then I was a negavol because I was unhappy with the gameplan, playcalling and decisions that decided the Florida game. I was also called a negavol because while excited about Dobbs' potential future, I pointed out that he didn't beat any teams that would be considered good by any stretch of the imagination.
 
#53
#53
Supposedly I'm a negavol, I just don't know which category I fall into. I was a negavol because I predicted a fortunate to make a bowl season. Then I was a negavol because I was unhappy with the gameplan, playcalling and decisions that decided the Florida game. I was also called a negavol because while excited about Dobbs' potential future, I pointed out that he didn't beat any teams that would be considered good by any stretch of the imagination.

Somebody hug this wreck. :huggy:
 
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#54
#54
Supposedly I'm a negavol, I just don't know which category I fall into. I was a negavol because I predicted a fortunate to make a bowl season. Then I was a negavol because I was unhappy with the gameplan, playcalling and decisions that decided the Florida game. I was also called a negavol because while excited about Dobbs' potential future, I pointed out that he didn't beat any teams that would be considered good by any stretch of the imagination.
You may accually fit into both catagories. Lol

Let's do a test. Give your prediction for next yr, then see if you can say something good about this season and next season.
 
#57
#57
You may accually fit into both catagories. Lol

Let's do a test. Give your prediction for next yr, then see if you can say something good about this season and next season.

There's only two losses that should happen, but I expect 3-4 losses next year.

Good this season- the defense progressed as the season went on. The secondary is really really good and the front seven got better with each week.

Next year. The skill positions are set on offense. Great receiving corps, the addition of Kamara to Hurd will create a very scary running back corps. It just all hinges on the offensive line. I have no idea if they really can improve that much or not. And the defense will just get better. The defense "should" be flat out scary to everyone on our schedule.
 
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#60
#60
Good solid non-negative post. Feels good doesn't it.

I agree with most of it. We go as far as our o-line takes us. If they can improve enough to be 5-7 best in SEC, that will allow our skill guys to really show out. Our defense will be nothing short of NASTY.
 
#61
#61
I guess by definition I'm not a negavol afterall...bummer. I am happy when we win or exceed expectations.
The expectations you mention are often unrealistic. "We are better than "x" team. We are UT.

I am unhappy when we lose games we shouldn't.
By what standard? Actually realistic, or we should never lose to "x" team. There are some that feel if we get beaten by certain teams, irregardless of the situation, it is unacceptable. If we put on the uniform and go on the field....

I am unhappy when coaches don't perform. I am unhappy when the team gives less than their best effort.
See above comments

I actually found posts from the Dooley timeframe that are 100% VERBATIM the same excuses people are making for Butch. I hope, truly hope, Butch and Co. succeed, but it drives me crazy to hear the same excuses year after year, coach after coach. It is ridiculous. Look up some of the posts from 2010-2012.

Most telling of all. That much research to prove you were right about everyone letting that slack coach/player/fan get away with being terrible. It doesn't create credibility with your stated hope of success when you immediately talk about people making excuses for the coaches.

Believe it or not; it is actually possible to support the team irregardless of who is the coach or what the record is. There were many teams in the 80's when I was there that had decent records, but looked horrible getting there. I cheered each win and took each loss in stride.

Constantly looking for something to be wrong is a very simplistic definition of a NegaVol. Very quick to point out a "told you so" if things aren't going perfectly.
 
#62
#62
A negaVol is anybody you disagree with who you're too stupid to converse with.
 
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#64
#64
Good solid non-negative post. Feels good doesn't it.

I agree with most of it. We go as far as our o-line takes us. If they can improve enough to be 5-7 best in SEC, that will allow our skill guys to really show out. Our defense will be nothing short of NASTY.

I think you're missing the overall point.

All 99% of negavols really are are posters who point out there are still some serious flaws and concerns with both the team and the coaching staff.
 
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#65
#65
Believe it or not; it is actually possible to support the team irregardless of who is the coach or what the record is. There were many teams in the 80's when I was there that had decent records, but looked horrible getting there. I cheered each win and took each loss in stride.

Constantly looking for something to be wrong is a very simplistic definition of a NegaVol. Very quick to point out a "told you so" if things aren't going perfectly.

supporting the team and pointing out flaws of said team can go hand and hand together. Pointing out actual flaws does not make one a negavol. It just makes some posters unhappy, queasy and nervous so they throw that term out there instead of trying to prove the "negavol" wrong.
 
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#66
#66
This seems like as good a time as any to pose this question. I've noticed over the years that you can place a large portion of the fan base into one of two catagories. In Season NegaVols, and Off Season NegaVols. The first group spends the off season making predictions of 10-2 or SEC Champs, calling anyone who disagrees a NegaVol; while the offseason NegaVols call them sunshine pumpers and make predictions such as 5- or 6-6.

Once the season starts and we start taking losses, the Off season NegaVols become Kool-Aid drinkers as they defend the staff from the relentless attacks comimg from the former Sunshine Pumpers, who are now the In season NegaVols.

The threads "What Happened to all the doom and gloom?" and "call me whatever, I only see 2 possible losses in 2015" are a great illustration of this.

So my question is which of these are the REAL NegaVols?

I like the premise of this discussion. Preseason I was one of the fans saying why would we settle for 5-6 wins. That will never be a successful season here. During the year I often was critical of Butch and staff for ultra conservative play calling. Yet at this point I'd probably have to concede that 7-6 wasn't a complete failure. Especially considering how we ended and with the emergence of Dobbs and others.

I will stand by what I said though in that at tn we should never be so down that we go into a season saying that 6 wins is a success. And though I was blasted for this in the offseason... It was not unrealistic for us to win 8 games plus go to a bowl game (which is what I said we should consider a success). Simply put... Had Dobbs played all year I think we get it done. I believe we definitely win against Florida with Dobbs. And also have a much greater chance at winning against Oklahoma and uga. Hell we outscored bama from the time Dobbs came in.

So Op... What type of negavol am I?
 
#67
#67
you can't pin a certain record as successful or not for every single season. Each season is unique in its own way. You can say Tennessee should never be in position for a 7 win season to be considered successful. But based on the myriad of factors that Butch inherited, it's unfair to act like this season was a failure because they "only" achieved seven wins. Extremely tough schedule, inexperienced roster that wasn't very deep and a team still coming together would've made it tough for anybody. It's not like Saban went 12-0 his second season at Alabama. Oh wait.

Seriously though, Tennessee was in a much bigger hole than the Alabama team Saban inherited and all disasters aren't created equal. Now the flip side is that starting next year, Butch has lost the ability to use the talent/youth/depth excuse. It will be completely out the window and we finally get to see what kind of game day coaching staff we have.
 
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#68
#68
I like the premise of this discussion. Preseason I was one of the fans saying why would we settle for 5-6 wins. That will never be a successful season here. During the year in often was critical if Butch and staff for ultra conservative play calling. Yet at this point I'd probably have to concede that 7-6 wasn't a complete failure. Especially considering how we ended and with the emergence of Dobbs and others.

I will stand by what I said though in that at tn we should never be so down that we go into a season saying that 6 wins is a success. And though I was blasted for this in the offseason... It was not unrealistic for us to win 8 games plus go to a bowl game (which is what I said we should consider a success). Simply put... Had Dobbs played all year I think we get it done. I believe we definitely win against Florida with Dobbs. And also have a much greater chance at winning against Oklahoma and uga. Hell we outscored bama from the time Dobbs came in.

So Op... What type of negavol am I?

One that ignores that offense wasn't the problem with the UGA game. Hurd rushed for 117. Worley threw for 264 and 3 TDs with 0 INTs. We let Gurley get 208 yards on us.

You're one of the fans I talked about in my post earlier in the thread.

I will stand by what I said though in that at tn we should never be so down that we go into a season saying that 6 wins is a success.

Tough. If you did any research or literally LOOKED at the state this program was in when Dooley was fired, you would understand how 6 wins plus a bowl win was a successful season. You're still gauging everything on the late 90s successes. UT is returning 19 of 22 starters from this year. That's a good thing... for next year. That's a giant indication of how bare our team was when we only lose 4 seniors in a year.

Our schedule was (and almost always is) one of the hardest in the country. 6 wins isn't unreasonable. Nobody who says this season was a success goes and looks at the Florida game and says "Good job, Tennessee! Well played game."

You also weren't paying attention in the fall when it was reported, numerous times that Dobbs isn't consistent whatsoever in practice. We saw his lackluster passing ability in the Vanderbilt game.

There's an unwillingness to see things from the middle ground. It's all extremist views. There's also people who insist they know better than our coaches when it comes to player personnel. Newsflash: You don't. Try to remember that the goal was to redshirt Dobbs this year.

Stop with the "We're Tennessee" crap.

We played, as everyone on earth is aware, 22-23 true freshmen this year in one of the hardest conferences, against one of the hardest schedules. What did you expect? There were so few instances of us getting blown out and giving up this year compared to when Dooley was around. That's so hard for freshmen to come in and lose important games, but keep fighting. No one is happy with moral victories, but everyone is tired of the incessant negativity. At least point the negativity at the issues with our team.
 
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#69
#69
What it truly is:

People that don't believe that everything is perfect and they aren't afraid to point out bad things.

What the idiots definition of it is:

People that drag down recruiting and wish the coach fired because they question his decision making.

The so called "positive crowd" are the first to get ugly and name call when a nega questions the stupidity of a stupid decision. They like to try and squash any and all opposing thoughts. They are content to float in a sea of sameness with other like minded dolts.


I'm negative and don't mind that one bit. How I deliver my point is fine by me and I don't care what any slappy on here thinks about it. Nor should any positive peeps care what anyone else thinks about them.
 
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#71
#71
I think you're missing the overall point.

All 99% of negavols really are are posters who point out there are still some serious flaws and concerns with both the team and the coaching staff.

Not at all. The point in this thread was to demonstrate how over-used the term has become.

Granted, there are some on this board that will predict the team to struggle just to go 5-7 due to lack of talent, then rip the staff for loosing to UGA by 3. But most fans are not being negative, they're trying to be honest.
 
#72
#72
Not at all. The point in this thread was to demonstrate how over-used the term has become.

Granted, there are some on this board that will predict the team to struggle just to go 5-7 due to lack of talent, then rip the staff for loosing to UGA by 3. But most fans are not being negative, they're trying to be honest.

You're right. There is a difference between a negavol and a realist. The realists on here criticize the team when there are things in need of improving, but praise the successes (which a lot of people on here do).

You're blind if you insist that there aren't dip****s who dwell on every single negative thing and ignore any facts to make their **** talking relevant.
 
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#73
#73
This seems like as good a time as any to pose this question. I've noticed over the years that you can place a large portion of the fan base into one of two catagories. In Season NegaVols, and Off Season NegaVols. The first group spends the off season making predictions of 10-2 or SEC Champs, calling anyone who disagrees a NegaVol; while the offseason NegaVols call them sunshine pumpers and make predictions such as 5- or 6-6.

Once the season starts and we start taking losses, the Off season NegaVols become Kool-Aid drinkers as they defend the staff from the relentless attacks comimg from the former Sunshine Pumpers, who are now the In season NegaVols.

The threads "What Happened to all the doom and gloom?" and "call me whatever, I only see 2 possible losses in 2015" are a great illustration of this.

So my question is which of these are the REAL NegaVols?
"Nega-Vol" -- 1) has unlimited ability to look into the future
2) Knows how the coaches think at all times
3) Doesn't understand why an 18 year old Freshman is not beating the socks off a 23 year old red-shirt senior, Obviously the coaches don't know how to coach or develop players
4) Knows the back-up QB would be better than the starter
5) Knows when a play called was a bad call, and woulda/shoulda called this
6) Knows the results of the next 3 seasons
7) Knows who would be a better coach
8) Can look at a HS Highlight film and predict the college career of every HS player in America

Or

"Nega Vol" -- a plain ole whiney brat who has never worked for anything in his life, and expects perfection from everyone!
 
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#74
#74
The realists on here criticize the team when there are things in need of improving, but praise the successes (which a lot of people on here do).

Yes but when people disagree which things need improving (which is often the case) then a whole bunch of "realists" quickly become negavols because most people view themselves as realists in the first place and will view whoever does not agree with them as negavols. Which is why just about anyone who has been on this forum for some amount of time has been called a negavol at one time or another.
 
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#75
#75
Yes but when people disagree which things need improving (which is often the case) then a whole bunch of "realists" quickly become negavols because most people view themselves as realists in the first place and will view whoever does not agree with them as negavols. Which is why just about anyone who has been on this forum for some amount of time has been called a negavol at one time or another.

Sometimes I take the negavol thing positively. what does that mean?
 

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