What will define a successful season?

#1
General Jack

General Jack

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#1
There's been much debate over Fulmer's new contract, and obviously the pro/anti Fulmer discussions have been ongoing for several years now. It got me to thinking, what should we define as a successful season? I'm curious to see what the nation thinks... and then revisit after the season. I'm assuming it will follow the party lines, but it could be interesting.

We have 2 consensus top 3 rated recruiting classes making significant contributions this year. I'm going with achieving any one of the following:

  • final ranking in the top 10
  • BCS bowl appearance, or
  • regular season record of 10-2 (would necessitate beating at least two of florida, georgia, auburn and alabama)
I realize this list does not include winning a championship, and some may disagree that a season could be a success without one. I'm torn, but for discussion sake I will say that we could consider '08 to be a success without a championship.

However, I would caveat the above list by saying 10-2 would be somewhat marginalized if the 2 losses were to florida and alabama.

Further, it would be marginalized if we lost our bowl game to a team we should beat.
 
#5
#5
It's a tough question because there are many differant ways to define a season as a success....

To me...the minimum for the distinction of success would be double digit wins and NO blowout losses...I say this because in order to reach double digits we would have to win at least 2 from the "BIG 4" games this year(UF,UGA,BAMA, Auburn)...plus we would have to avoid any upsets which is getting harder and harder in the SEC...

After that...winning the bowl game...which would most likely be a very decent one against a legit opponent if our record is 10-2....is definitely the next step in defining a successful season...

Next....winning 3 out of the "BIG 4" games is the next step because this would likley put us for no less than a tie for the SEC East...and...with a 11-1 record at that point...we would most likely win the tie breaker and go to Atlanta...

At this point it would be hard to call the season anything but a success...considering nobody is giving us a shot at the East this year....So an SEC championship, BCS bowl game, National championship....would all be icing on the cake....


I know I got a little long winded there....but to reiterate my minimums...since that was probably the point of this thread.....

Minimum: 10-2, win 2 of the "BIG 4" games, NO blowout losses, NO upset losses
 
#7
#7
blamie said:
It's a tough question because there are many differant ways to define a season as a success....

To me...the minimum for the distinction of success would be double digit wins and NO blowout losses...I say this because in order to reach double digits we would have to win at least 2 from the "BIG 4" games this year(UF,UGA,BAMA, Auburn)...plus we would have to avoid any upsets which is getting harder and harder in the SEC...

After that...winning the bowl game...which would most likely be a very decent one against a legit opponent if our record is 10-2....is definitely the next step in defining a successful season...

Next....winning 3 out of the "BIG 4" games is the next step because this would likley put us for no less than a tie for the SEC East...and...with a 11-1 record at that point...we would most likely win the tie breaker and go to Atlanta...

At this point it would be hard to call the season anything but a success...considering nobody is giving us a shot at the East this year....So an SEC championship, BCS bowl game, National championship....would all be icing on the cake....


I know I got a little long winded there....but to reiterate my minimums...since that was probably the point of this thread.....

Minimum: 10-2, win 2 of the "BIG 4" games, NO blowout losses, NO upset losses
Click to expand...

Good answers, that was the kind of analysis I was hoping for. We are pretty much on the same page as far as a base line (10-2), which, as we have both noted, would including beating at least 2 of florida, georgia, auburn and alabama.
 
#9
#9
Fine Vol said:
George Bush out of office.
Click to expand...

So we can install one of the even MORE socialist candidates that are running?

You might be amazed... but both of those guys represent a drop off from the current administration in every respect... especially Obama. He's an empty suit being held up by media hot air. Had the media been as critical of him as even the usual Dem candidate... he wouldn't have won the nomination.
 
#12
#12
No offense guys, but can we stay on topic? I'd like to discuss VOLS football, not politics in this thread.
 
#14
#14
Agree with your answer General Jack.

Basically, I want them to continue to improve the overall results from last year... which were improved over 2006... which were improved over 2005. After winning 10, winning the East, and getting a nice NYD bowl win over a quality team... without Bolden, Taylor, and McCoy no less.... they need to get a BCS bowl, championship, or top 10 finish.

One caveat. I'm not sure I can call any season a true success until the streak against UF ends... so maybe add that as a qualifier for me.
 
#15
#15
Win the SEC. I really don't care how it's done just that another banner flies. Sure, winning the rivalry games is big but I'd still like to see a title.
 
#16
#16
sjt18 said:
One caveat. I'm not sure I can call any season a true success until the streak against UF ends... so maybe add that as a qualifier for me.
Click to expand...

I'm with you there. Losing to florida sours many other successes. I'd almost settle for 9-3 if it included beating the gators.
 
#17
#17
So far we are evenly split on whether or not we have to win the SEC to have a "successful" season.
 
#18
#18
In the eyes of the athletic director, a season with losses to Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Alabama is a successful season as long as we can squeak by Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Jerry's Kids.
 
#19
#19
At least a SEC championship. A NC is kind of unrealistic at this moment. And a BCS Bowl WIN would be nice too.

McCain sucks *cough* :)
 
#20
#20
I think a 2 loss season is a success even if we do lose to Alabama and UF. It would suck losing to our two biggest rivals, but if we win every other game (including the bowl which could still be BCS with that record) I'd feel a little better about everything. That would at least tell me we are continuing to improve from the horrible 2005 season, and the trend would be upward despite some tough losses.
 
#21
#21
Vol423 said:
In the eyes of the athletic director, a season with losses to Florida, Georgia, Auburn and Alabama is a successful season as long as we can squeak by Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Jerry's Kids.
Click to expand...

Which brings up one of the reasons I created this thread, to see how much different the nation's expectations are from our illustrious AD.

What are your expectations?
 
#22
#22
I’m not expecting to win a NC this year, but “all I want for Christmas” this year is some payback for the two lopsided loses last year :banghead2: , I would like to see an absolute beat down on FL and Bama, something that leave them saying “What the heck was that? They came in here and kicked our butts all over the field.”



and a SEC title, I’m not asking for to much am I? :tease2:
 
#23
#23
TreeGreen said:
I think a 2 loss season is a success even if we do lose to Alabama and UF. It would suck losing to our two biggest rivals, but if we win every other game (including the bowl which could still be BCS with that record) I'd feel a little better about everything. That would at least tell me we are continuing to improve from the horrible 2005 season, and the trend would be upward despite some tough losses.
Click to expand...

If we lose to both of those teams again in the same season, we don't deserve a BCS Bowl.
 
#25
#25
TreeGreen said:
I think a 2 loss season is a success even if we do lose to Alabama and UF. It would suck losing to our two biggest rivals, but if we win every other game (including the bowl which could still be BCS with that record) I'd feel a little better about everything. That would at least tell me we are continuing to improve from the horrible 2005 season, and the trend would be upward despite some tough losses.
Click to expand...

See...that's an interesting point...and I have to agree....

I would say a good criteria for defining success this year and in years to come would be simply to continue to prove that 2005 was an abomination rather than a trend....

We've averaged roughly 9.5 wins a season this decade if the "outlier" of 2005 is left out...

So if we continue to put that travesty behind us by fielding competitive teams...and by competitive I mean what I described in my first post in this thread....to me that's a good, general definition of success this year and beyond
 
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