What is up with the UT fanbase?

[ConantheVolbarian]

I get on here and on the facebook group and it seems like half the fanbase has forgotten what UT football is all about. These are the people who say you are embarrassing if you say anything critical about Jones or the team. I've also seen them rationalize the lack of results with "The SEC is tough" and "Most teams would be happy with an 9-4 record". Have we been in the wilderness so long that people have forgotten that UT is one of the greatest football programs of all time? UT football has won 6 national titles and is at or near the top in a number of categories lncluding bowl appearances and victories and we are only 2nd to Alabama in SEC championships. What's my point? A 9-4 season with losses to Vandy and USCjr would have been seen as very mediocre a decade ago. So why is it ok now? Why are people irrationally defending it? In my opinion, it's a cause for concern. Do we really want to become content with just being mediocre?

 

[UTblood4life]

:blue font: we just worry bout Lyles buy out after next yr lol

 

[ChismsHeadband]

I have a few thoughts:

1) The internet has made everything an argument. 25% are sensible one way, 25% sensible the other way, and the last 50% are just crazy, loud idiots in every direction.

2) Something tells me you're not hearing the other side if you're using terms like "irrational". I doubt there were too many vehemently defending Butch &co this year, with the losses to Bama (by that much), SC, and Vandy. They were probably saying, let's not fire him just yet.

3) You have very high standards for this program. That's good. But there are people out there that can be happy with a 9-win season without the amount of disappointment you yourself and surely others obviously endure. Don't hold it against them.

4) I'm probably what you'd consider the "they" and "them" in 2 and 3 respectively.

 

[TheSpartan]

The freebie on the schedule is part of it. Now we got 1 free win every year making it look like this program is remotely close to where it has been historically.

In the same vein, it is now much easier to collect a bowl win than it was in the past.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

The main problem with Butch is he thinks he does no wrong. He believes his philosophy will work in the SEC when in reality, it came back to haunt him. It might have worked in the Big East but the SEC is a whole different ball game where you have faster and more talented players at each position. You're hired to be a HC at a big time program like Tennessee where expectations are high to make necessary decisions to help your team become better whether it's hiring better coordinators, firing coordinators, changing up the offense/defense.

As of right now, we've seen no hints or indication that Butch will go after a proven OC instead of being "loyal" to his buddies and giving them a chance. Your job is basically on the line! Go out there and hire coaches who know what they're doing. Just hand them the keys and let them do their job and run the offense. Butch doesn't have to be a control freak in order to win. The SEC isn't about making friends, it's about winning.

You're right OP, Tennessee is one of the best football programs in the country with a rich tradition of winning. We have a great supportive fanbase who dedicates their lives to watching Tennessee play football in Neyland Stadium every year. Our expectations now have dropped tremendously. Losing to Vandy & South Carolina wasn't acceptable back in the day but it's like it's no big deal now. If some of our fans are happy with 9-4 seasons and getting to a bowl game every year, that's their preference. It doesn't mean that the rest of us should accept mediocrity.

I appreciate everything Butch has done to get our program back at a respectable level but we've seen all we needed to see that he's not the guy to lead us into the future. After Dooley was fired, he was exactly what we needed at the time but those days are over with now. 2017-2018 season will make or break his future here at Tennessee. If Butch hasn't learned from his mistakes by now then he never will.

 

[RTVFL89]

It is pretty damn ridiculous how some people on here are hoping for our head coach's failure this next year. Yeah, how great that would be to set our program back 3-4 years. If National Championships are y'all's only idea of success then we've been mediocre since '99. 3 straight bowl wins is pretty damn good if you ask me.

 

[golf437]

I get on here and on the facebook group and it seems like half the fanbase has forgotten what UT football is all about. These are the people who say you are embarrassing if you say anything critical about Jones or the team. I've also seen them rationalize the lack of results with "The SEC is tough" and "Most teams would be happy with an 9-4 record". Have we been in the wilderness so long that people have forgotten that UT is one of the greatest football programs of all time? UT football has won 6 national titles and is at or near the top in a number of categories lncluding bowl appearances and victories and we are only 2nd to Alabama in SEC championships. What's my point? A 9-4 season with losses to Vandy and USCjr would have been seen as very mediocre a decade ago. So why is it ok now? Why are people irrationally defending it? In my opinion, it's a cause for concern. Do we really want to become content with just being mediocre?

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Iam4utalways]

It's embarrassing for a player to field a question the day before our bowl game in regards to "Vol fans telling other Vol fans to boycott the MCB". That's embarrassing!

The truth of the matter is there was a poll taken and 8 "Vol fans", voted to boycott, while one other posted "Boycott!", while that is such a small #, it did give truth to the questioned asked to RG.

Don't act like there is a large amount of fans that are thrilled with 2016 results, that's not the case.

The timing was off to make a move with the HC position even with the bad loss to Vandy. Is going 2-2 vs Vandy enough to get a coach fired? Yes. So why didn't Jones get left in Nashville? All the good he has done is not the reason. The reason is the perception of high profile coaches that if they came in would they get what they would consider a "fair shake". Maybe stability isn't what coaches are looking for, maybe it's just a big payday. Either way to run the HC position like a revolving door, well it's hard for me to believe we could keep attracting quality coaches to fill the job since Butch was 3rd or 4th offered, and Dooley was 3rd of 4th offered and Kiffen was 3rd or 4th offered. Why couldn't we get our 1st choice? Was it the money or was it the job, maybe a combination of both? I don't know but it happened.

To allow Butch a 5th year is a statement to other coaches that even tho he didn't get it done we aren't gonna go off half cocked and hit the reset button premature.

It remains to be seen if Butch can get it done, evidence is stacking against him, but he still could pull it off due to the talent that he has recruited to the team.

Get it together Butch!

Go Vols!

 

[volfannbama]

opcorn:

 

[Other_Guy]

I've been a UT fan since 02 and have witness zero conference championships but plenty of losing seasons, beatdowns from rivals and hype that fails. So pardon me if I don't know what UT football is all about and I'm happy about back to back 9 win seasons.

 

[volfan102455]

Did we really need yet another thread about this?

 

[Brasszilla]

Did we really need yet another thread about this?

the horse has already been beaten to mush by now lol its incredible really :ermm:

 

[kentucky sucks]

I've been a UT fan since 02 and have witness zero conference championships but plenty of losing seasons, beatdowns from rivals and hype that fails. So pardon me if I don't know what UT football is all about and I'm happy about back to back 9 win seasons.

So it's not Rohan Davey's momma after all...

 

[508mikey]

The main problem with Butch is he thinks he does no wrong. He believes his philosophy will work in the SEC when in reality, it came back to haunt him. It might have worked in the Big East but the SEC is a whole different ball game where you have faster and more talented players at each position. You're hired to be a HC at a big time program like Tennessee where expectations are high to make necessary decisions to help your team become better whether it's hiring better coordinators, firing coordinators, changing up the offense/defense.

As of right now, we've seen no hints or indication that Butch will go after a proven OC instead of being "loyal" to his buddies and giving them a chance. Your job is basically on the line! Go out there and hire coaches who know what they're doing. Just hand them the keys and let them do their job and run the offense. Butch doesn't have to be a control freak in order to win. The SEC isn't about making friends, it's about winning.

You're right OP, Tennessee is one of the best football programs in the country with a rich tradition of winning. We have a great supportive fanbase who dedicates their lives to watching Tennessee play football in Neyland Stadium every year. Our expectations now have dropped tremendously. Losing to Vandy & South Carolina wasn't acceptable back in the day but it's like it's no big deal now. If some of our fans are happy with 9-4 seasons and getting to a bowl game every year, that's their preference. It doesn't mean that the rest of us should accept mediocrity.

I appreciate everything Butch has done to get our program back at a respectable level but we've seen all we needed to see that he's not the guy to lead us into the future. After Dooley was fired, he was exactly what we needed at the time but those days are over with now. 2017-2018 season will make or break his future here at Tennessee. If Butch hasn't learned from his mistakes by now then he never will.

iirc Neyland lost to Vandy in 1948 -- why wasnt he roasted by the fans ?

 

[508mikey]

Did we really need yet another thread about this?

I would say until Sept 4th there could be at least 500 more of them

 

[Teeman]

OP hasn't been reading this message board. It's full of people who hate to lose more than they like to win. Very few are happy with the way things turned out, but there is a big difference of opinion on where to go from here.

 

[fade route]

The main problem with Butch is he thinks he does no wrong. He believes his philosophy will work in the SEC when in reality, it came back to haunt him. It might have worked in the Big East but the SEC is a whole different ball game where you have faster and more talented players at each position. You're hired to be a HC at a big time program like Tennessee where expectations are high to make necessary decisions to help your team become better whether it's hiring better coordinators, firing coordinators, changing up the offense/defense.

As of right now, we've seen no hints or indication that Butch will go after a proven OC instead of being "loyal" to his buddies and giving them a chance. Your job is basically on the line! Go out there and hire coaches who know what they're doing. Just hand them the keys and let them do their job and run the offense. Butch doesn't have to be a control freak in order to win. The SEC isn't about making friends, it's about winning.

You're right OP, Tennessee is one of the best football programs in the country with a rich tradition of winning. We have a great supportive fanbase who dedicates their lives to watching Tennessee play football in Neyland Stadium every year. Our expectations now have dropped tremendously. Losing to Vandy & South Carolina wasn't acceptable back in the day but it's like it's no big deal now. If some of our fans are happy with 9-4 seasons and getting to a bowl game every year, that's their preference. It doesn't mean that the rest of us should accept mediocrity.

I appreciate everything Butch has done to get our program back at a respectable level but we've seen all we needed to see that he's not the guy to lead us into the future. After Dooley was fired, he was exactly what we needed at the time but those days are over with now. 2017-2018 season will make or break his future here at Tennessee. If Butch hasn't learned from his mistakes by now then he never will.

Hey VFJ, I have a honest question. You used to be a staunch Butch defender and at some point you flipped. I'm curious to know what was the deciding factor for you - SC or Vandy loss? Something else? Again, honest question, no bait here.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

As of right now, we've seen no hints or indication that Butch will go after a proven OC instead of being "loyal" to his buddies and giving them a chance.

Being "loyal to his buddy" produced the 2nd highest scoring offense in the SEC this past season. How terrible that is.

 

[Evet Vols]

I get on here and on the facebook group and it seems like half the fanbase has forgotten what UT football is all about. These are the people who say you are embarrassing if you say anything critical about Jones or the team. I've also seen them rationalize the lack of results with "The SEC is tough" and "Most teams would be happy with an 9-4 record". Have we been in the wilderness so long that people have forgotten that UT is one of the greatest football programs of all time? UT football has won 6 national titles and is at or near the top in a number of categories lncluding bowl appearances and victories and we are only 2nd to Alabama in SEC championships. What's my point? A 9-4 season with losses to Vandy and USCjr would have been seen as very mediocre a decade ago. So why is it ok now? Why are people irrationally defending it? In my opinion, it's a cause for concern. Do we really want to become content with just being mediocre?

We have added three bowl appearances and wins in the past three years to TN's rich history. This year had the 2nd most wins in the SEC. We dropped two games that we should have won but the sky isn't falling. We are back to where we were a decade ago. We just need to get back where we were 15-20 years ago. The starters will be primarily JRs and SRs and know how close they have been. They know what it feels like to beat Uga and Fl just need to keep working to be the best. They are now a ranked team which they weren't for several years. Butch has TN back to being respected by rivals again and has beaten them all except Bama so far.

 

[volnpowell]

It is pretty damn ridiculous how some people on here are hoping for our head coach's failure this next year. Yeah, how great that would be to set our program back 3-4 years. If National Championships are y'all's only idea of success then we've been mediocre since '99. 3 straight bowl wins is pretty damn good if you ask me.

1. Like other poster said, they make schedule for 1 or 2 give me wins in there.

2. Nobody said National Championship or bust, but did say expect to win East our share (imo that is every 3 years) and most would probably say win SEC every 5 years or so, make playoffs every 5 to 6 years or so.

 

[KBVol]

I get on here and on the facebook group and it seems like half the fanbase has forgotten what UT football is all about. These are the people who say you are embarrassing if you say anything critical about Jones or the team. I've also seen them rationalize the lack of results with "The SEC is tough" and "Most teams would be happy with an 9-4 record". Have we been in the wilderness so long that people have forgotten that UT is one of the greatest football programs of all time? UT football has won 6 national titles and is at or near the top in a number of categories lncluding bowl appearances and victories and we are only 2nd to Alabama in SEC championships. What's my point? A 9-4 season with losses to Vandy and USCjr would have been seen as very mediocre a decade ago. So why is it ok now? Why are people irrationally defending it? In my opinion, it's a cause for concern. Do we really want to become content with just being mediocre?

Boy are you about to get it. The Nancies are coming with their excuses, their "you're not a fan" and with their long knives out.....

 

[KBVol]

It is pretty damn ridiculous how some people on here are hoping for our head coach's failure this next year. Yeah, how great that would be to set our program back 3-4 years. If National Championships are y'all's only idea of success then we've been mediocre since '99. 3 straight bowl wins is pretty damn good if you ask me.

....see what I mean? Lol

 

[Remy]

I get on here and on the facebook group and it seems like half the fanbase has forgotten what UT football is all about. These are the people who say you are embarrassing if you say anything critical about Jones or the team. I've also seen them rationalize the lack of results with "The SEC is tough" and "Most teams would be happy with an 9-4 record". Have we been in the wilderness so long that people have forgotten that UT is one of the greatest football programs of all time? UT football has won 6 national titles and is at or near the top in a number of categories lncluding bowl appearances and victories and we are only 2nd to Alabama in SEC championships. What's my point? A 9-4 season with losses to Vandy and USCjr would have been seen as very mediocre a decade ago. So why is it ok now? Why are people irrationally defending it? In my opinion, it's a cause for concern. Do we really want to become content with just being mediocre?

Were it required, I'd take a few decades of beating UF & UGA same season if it meant losing to Vandy and USCe with a smile on my face.

 

[njvols]

I get on here and on the facebook group and it seems like half the fanbase has forgotten what UT football is all about. These are the people who say you are embarrassing if you say anything critical about Jones or the team. I've also seen them rationalize the lack of results with "The SEC is tough" and "Most teams would be happy with an 9-4 record". Have we been in the wilderness so long that people have forgotten that UT is one of the greatest football programs of all time? UT football has won 6 national titles and is at or near the top in a number of categories lncluding bowl appearances and victories and we are only 2nd to Alabama in SEC championships. What's my point? A 9-4 season with losses to Vandy and USCjr would have been seen as very mediocre a decade ago. So why is it ok now? Why are people irrationally defending it? In my opinion, it's a cause for concern. Do we really want to become content with just being mediocre?

Don't think anyone thinks it's acceptable if this is a high water mark...or losing to Vandy or SC. But, what if we traded GA/FL for Vandy/SC in losses...then I don't think we'd be any happier..." we can beat easy teams, but not our chief rivals?" Legit question. That being said, looking at where we came from where had 5 of 6 seasons losing record from 2008-2013, I think it shows a reasonable "build"...as long as we keep moving forward. IF UT gets the right AD, Jones gets the right OC, who can develop one of our QB's, I think can make a case that will continue in right direction. Need ONE of the QB's to be a rainmaker next season.

 

[Evet Vols]

Boy are you about to get it. The Nancies are coming with their long knives out.....

NegaVols just sometimes need to be reminded how bad TN got because they chased off Fulmer. Butch came into a mess and you can't wave a magic wand to fix it.