What will it take to get your pride (confidence/swagger) back as a fan?

[NEWDAYVOL]

So much negativity.

I think for most....
We have to beat Pitt.
We have to beat Florida.

At that point fans will feel a lot better/like we are turning the corner.

Then to get fully back we need to beat Alabama. I think we can slip up in another game (just have an off game - it happens, it's college football)...LSU, South Carolina....

I think beating Georgia @ Georgia is too much to ask this year. But if we can win a game like @ Pitt, beat Florida, and somehow beat Alabama at home...even with a loss at LSU or a slip up somewhere else and finish 10-2 (which probably means a top 7 national ranking)....I think most fans will feel like Tennessee football is back and feel pretty good going forward. That's my take...

But for you doom and gloomers what will it take (in your own words) to make you feel good about the program?

 

[Woke]

Imo by definition if we don’t beat Pitt and FL we haven’t “turned the corner” and are still rebuilding

 

[Brave Volunteer]

A win over a top 15 team would be a great starting point.

 

[sjt18]

Win the games you are "supposed" to win... like Pitt. Then win your share of the toss ups and one of the "likely losses" once in a while.

I suspect that UF will come into K'ville 3-0. I hate UF but they're likely to unmask UK this week. They will have been more tested but possibly more banged up too.

No loss collapses the program by itself... but UT needs to win that game to boost the build. UF has talent but they're still trying to figure things out. They're where UT was for the first few games last year trying to figure out the pieces and where they go.

 

[sjt18]

A win over a top 15 team would be a great starting point.

Probably get a shot at that next week. I think UF will beat UK.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Win the games you are "supposed" to win... like Pitt. Then win your share of the toss ups and one of the "likely losses" once in a while.

I suspect that UF will come into K'ville 3-0. I hate UF but they're likely to unmask UK this week. They will have been more tested but possibly more banged up too.

No loss collapses the program by itself... but UT needs to win that game to boost the build. UF has talent but they're still trying to figure things out. They're where UT was for the first few games last year trying to figure out the pieces and where they go.

I want to see what Richardson looks like against a team that will hit him and how they look vs an offense that is going to pound on them a little bit. I’m not ready to go all in on the Gators yet. If Rodriguez was playing I’d lean UK.

 

[VOLtaism]

I have never seen the fan base more positive and certainly behind this team and coach. This Pitt game is a key indicator for the rest of the season, perfect game for UT. They are top 50 team and the game is on the road. Basically, if they can't beat this Pitt team they can't expect to beat any SEC teams, thats just the hand they have been dealt. I think we road race them scoring 45 to 50 points, surely the defense can hold them for less. UT by 14.

 

[sjt18]

I want to see what Richardson looks like against a team that will hit him and how they look vs an offense that is going to pound on them a little bit. I’m not ready to go all in on the Gators yet. If Rodriguez was playing I’d lean UK.

For me it is more UK being overhyped than UF having arrived.

 

[kcvols1]

If we go 4-0 heading into the LSU game, that will go a long way toward flipping that script.

I think we’ve all been burned so many times we’re anticipating the trauma as a self-preservation mechanism.

We’re competitive with everyone on our schedule. Next step is to start winning big games, not just competing.

That said, we’re all for the Vols every game!

 

[Hoosier_Vol]

My "pride" never left

 

[RDU VOL#14]

For me it is more UK being overhyped than UF having arrived.

I think that’s there too . There’s actual film on Richardson now. Film of him in this offense and I don’t think people are taking that into consideration enough yet. I’m not ready to make Tony Richardson the chosen one yet. I feel the same way about Levis as well.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

Never lost my love for Tennessee. Have not even been close. What is this you speak of?

 

[joevol33]

It's not about pride for a few, they're legit trolling with all the negative stuff. I guarantee if we beat Florida, there's a couple who will be in every thread making excuses for Florida, and saying we got lucky. Stay tuned, you'll see. Even with me saying this, they can't resist to bash us, and slobber over other teams, especially Florida and Georgia.

 

[JRich]

I wouldn't say I am negative, just more of a realist.

Tennessee football is 8-42 against ranked opponents over the last ten years. Getting this line over .400 would make me feel better about the program. I like Heupel, I like the offense, but I also see a lot of deficiencies that will prevent them from reaching the top. BTW, he went 1-4 against ranked opponents last season.

Before anyone bashes me over the schedule, LSU and Texas A&M play Bama every year also, and Georgia has only recently been dominant. Tennessee can't even beat Florida when they are down.

 

[TNinSC]

so after reading your post, you know what the fanbase wants... but then you list scenarios for salvaging "pride" in the program...if we lose to pitt and florida, does your pride vanish?

 

['Boro-vol]

Not sure where this is coming from. Everyone I know has been looking for the opportunity to feel this positive, and be as proud of the direction of the program as we are right now. That said, we are not in the position to compete with ‘Bama and UGA just yet. Competing, looking prepared, beating those we are favored to beat (PITT), and stealing one every now and then is what we should expect, and learn to enjoy. The rest will come.

 

[sjt18]

I think that’s there too . There’s actual film on Richardson now. Film of him in this offense and I don’t think people are taking that into consideration enough yet. I’m not ready to make Tony Richardson the chosen one yet. I feel the same way about Levis as well.

Agree. I think it probably comes down to what both want to do on O and how that plays into the opponent. Both want to run. UF had 283 yds for a 7.26 ypc against a likely overrated Utah D. UK only had 50 yds and averaged under 2 ypc vs Miami. I think Utah is overrated generally and specifically on D... but they're a lot better than Miami of Ohio on their worst day.

Something I've thought since Levis' pre-season "love" is that his receivers are going to hurt him. We will see that this week. UF is far more talented in the secondary than what they faced last week.

 

[sjt18]

so after reading your post, you know what the fanbase wants... but then you list scenarios for salvaging "pride" in the program...if we lose to pitt and florida, does your pride vanish?

I wonder what pride actually has to do with it.

I will feel much better about the direction of the program and pace of building if UT beats Pitt and UF. I won't feel as good if they lose one. I will have questions if they lose both.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

So much negativity.

I think for most....
We have to beat Pitt.
We have to beat Florida.

At that point fans will feel a lot better/like we are turning the corner.

Then to get fully back we need to beat Alabama. I think we can slip up in another game (just have an off game - it happens, it's college football)...LSU, South Carolina....

I think beating Georgia @ Georgia is too much to ask this year. But if we can win a game like @ Pitt, beat Florida, and somehow beat Alabama at home...even with a loss at LSU or a slip up somewhere else and finish 10-2 (which probably means a top 7 national ranking)....I think most fans will feel like Tennessee football is back and feel pretty good going forward. That's my take...

But for you doom and gloomers what will it take (in your own words) to make you feel good about the program?

Some will never find it.

And for some of those, they simply never had it. Never did, never will.

For others, they had it at one point, but lost it. And it stayed lost so long they can't find their way back to it. Maybe a Top 10 win or two will help them remember how...but I'm not holding my breath for them.

Pity, but that's part of the frailty of the human condition.

Stay strong! Go Vols!

 

[TNinSC]

I wonder what pride actually has to do with it.

I will feel much better about the direction of the program and pace of building if UT beats Pitt and UF. I won't feel as good if they lose one. I will have questions if they lose both.

the best way that i can put it is, "i like the direction that i believe the program is going in."

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

OP: It doesn't take 10-2 to feel like the program has turned a corner.

8-4 keeps the momentum and will be further improvement. 9-3 would feel like a "turn the corner" moment, IMO because TN hasn't had that regular season record since 2007. starting 4-0 makes getting to 9-3 much more plausible.

 

[Teezy]

So much negativity.

I think for most....
We have to beat Pitt.
We have to beat Florida.

At that point fans will feel a lot better/like we are turning the corner.

Then to get fully back we need to beat Alabama. I think we can slip up in another game (just have an off game - it happens, it's college football)...LSU, South Carolina....

I think beating Georgia @ Georgia is too much to ask this year. But if we can win a game like @ Pitt, beat Florida, and somehow beat Alabama at home...even with a loss at LSU or a slip up somewhere else and finish 10-2 (which probably means a top 7 national ranking)....I think most fans will feel like Tennessee football is back and feel pretty good going forward. That's my take...

But for you doom and gloomers what will it take (in your own words) to make you feel good about the program?

So much negativity.

I think for most....
We have to beat Pitt.
We have to beat Florida.

At that point fans will feel a lot better/like we are turning the corner.

Then to get fully back we need to beat Alabama. I think we can slip up in another game (just have an off game - it happens, it's college football)...LSU, South Carolina....

I think beating Georgia @ Georgia is too much to ask this year. But if we can win a game like @ Pitt, beat Florida, and somehow beat Alabama at home...even with a loss at LSU or a slip up somewhere else and finish 10-2 (which probably means a top 7 national ranking)....I think most fans will feel like Tennessee football is back and feel pretty good going forward. That's my take...

But for you doom and gloomers what will it take (in your own words) to make you feel good about the program?

I feel great about the program right now. I’m actually just thankful we aren’t sitting here discussing how much longer the rebuild will take and what system needs to be perfected by the coaches. We are actually entering games with a chance to win unlike other coaches rebuilds in the last 10-13 years. This time during Pruitt’s tenure we just suffered the worst loss in TN history. Now we win 59-10 and getting younger players much needed experience. People underestimate how important that is. That’s how you build a reloading program and not a rebuilding one (with exceptional recruiting as well). Heupel is surpassing expectations, but I believe we should still be as patient as we were for Pruitt or Butch.

 

[Mccage]

So much negativity.

I think for most....
We have to beat Pitt.
We have to beat Florida.

At that point fans will feel a lot better/like we are turning the corner.

Then to get fully back we need to beat Alabama. I think we can slip up in another game (just have an off game - it happens, it's college football)...LSU, South Carolina....

I think beating Georgia @ Georgia is too much to ask this year. But if we can win a game like @ Pitt, beat Florida, and somehow beat Alabama at home...even with a loss at LSU or a slip up somewhere else and finish 10-2 (which probably means a top 7 national ranking)....I think most fans will feel like Tennessee football is back and feel pretty good going forward. That's my take...

But for you doom and gloomers what will it take (in your own words) to make you feel good about the program?

Never lost mine!

 

[LittleVol]

So much negativity.

I think for most....
We have to beat Pitt.
We have to beat Florida.

At that point fans will feel a lot better/like we are turning the corner.

Then to get fully back we need to beat Alabama. I think we can slip up in another game (just have an off game - it happens, it's college football)...LSU, South Carolina....

I think beating Georgia @ Georgia is too much to ask this year. But if we can win a game like @ Pitt, beat Florida, and somehow beat Alabama at home...even with a loss at LSU or a slip up somewhere else and finish 10-2 (which probably means a top 7 national ranking)....I think most fans will feel like Tennessee football is back and feel pretty good going forward. That's my take...

But for you doom and gloomers what will it take (in your own words) to make you feel good about the program?

It will take more than one good season.
We need to win an SEC , or a National Championship.

This is possible at Tennessee

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

My pride for TN is not tied to any game. It never left and it never will. I will always love TN regardless of the W/L record. I am as proud to be a TN fan today as I was in 1998.