Where I'm at with TN football

#26
#26
I will continue to donate to my Alma Mater, but those donations are going to be going down until I start seeing a better quality.

I am no big money donor but I have talked to some other guys who donate as much as I do and they have the same feeling.

Everyone who says "be a Bama fan" or your a "negavol" can kiss my ass. I love this University as much as anyone, but the lack of coaching is pathetic. Could I do better, HELL NO, but I am also not paid millions of dollars to do it.

Quit making excuses, when did TENNESSEE fans start making excuses. WE ARE TENNESSEE, Boise State beat them basically at their house, with 2 and 3* talent, but yet our players looked dazed and confused. We are averaging -14.5 yards a game rushing in S.E.C. play, PATHETIC. Our O-Line started all of last year and look worse this year.

If Dooley does not make it to ATL next year I will start donating to Academics. I am also certain many other boosters/donors will start doing the same. Dooley has given me no reason to believe he is right for the job, save recruiting, Tennessee sells itself.
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#27
#27
Nothing has given me a reason to think firing Fulmer was a good decision. I know the Phil haters will still rabidly defend that or talk abotu it being in the past. but hey we are where we are as a result of that. All one needs to do is look at LSU and know what sort of a defense we might have now had we had patience as fans and boosters. It still fills sorta like justified karma to me.

I like Dooley though, and watching what he's trying to do I do think he is the right man for it right now. I wonder about some of the staff though myself. I feel bad for Dooley, he knows what's wrong, but still struggling with these players and staff to get it done.

I just want to hear less about this WR or this QB, or this great running back etc being recruited.... and more about recruiting for offensive line...denfensive line, .more about recruiting linebackers etc....

We have really got to establish the backbone of this team, before we worry about the flash. Even when TN has been not so great I can never remember our lines looking so thin.
 
#28
#28
gvol said:
NO WAY!

I am just adding up the years of tickets, etc. Well over 20K, but not per year. Don't want to mislead. Granted, that is over a 23 year period...but 23K would nicely have helped pay mortgages, groceries, etc. I have made sacrifices to spend the over 1K per year I've shelled out...even at times when I didn't have it.

I'm not in any high donor seats...I'm the average income Vol fan who was THRILLED to get my seats way back when.
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Do you donate for the "privilege" of season tickets?
 
#29
#29
I have read all of your post and could not agree with you all more. I appreciate all of the donors and even though I did not go to school at UT,I bleed orange and am very passionate about the Vols. I have supported CDD from the beginning. I understand that he came in at an unbelievable bad time for UT. I don't expect him to work miracles and I understand that he needs time, but last night was just embarrassing. Yeah that was a talented team we played but a very poorly coached one. Sadly, I think we were a little more poorly coached than them. I can take losing and I can accept when we have bad coordinators or position coaches, but the lack of fire and enthusiasm was hard to watch. Frankly we should have beat them, plain and simple.
I like CDD and will support him until he is no longer here, whether it be 2 more years or 25, but if this is the level that we are at in 2014, I believe we should not renew his contract. Its just business. He seems like a great guy and I really don't want think of him as our Mike Shula. Maybe we are just destined to wonder through the wilderness for a long time like many other schools have but as someone posted earlier, THIS IS TENNESSEE!!

GO BIG ORANGE!!!!
 
#30
#30
23K and you still pay for parking? You should qualify for a parking pass,I do and the 11 street garage is rocking. Team stinks but the Copper Cellar is still there and is quality..eat, drink, enjoy all but the game.
 
#31
#31
Fijivol72 said:
you speak the truth and most of us who have spent many dollars supporting this program know it. Here is the problem caused by the inept hiring of MH, when is the right time to pull the plug on this loser???
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If you're referring to Dooley as "this loser" its pretty safe to say that is completely 100% unfair. The man inherited a mess. You want to justify canning Dooley, you have to put some serious talent under his belt and he has to completely screw up. Then it makes sense. But rebuilding in the SEC is one of the toughest things to do. I don't see how any other coach could do much better, especially considering the injuries and tough times this team has had to endure in these past few seasons.
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#32
#32
I have been season ticket holder for longer than I care to remember. Seen most everything. This team has the talent but dont seem to have the drive nor the coaching. I wont spend this kind of money to go watch Buffalo. We keep making the excuse that we are young but best I can tell is we go lit up by a soph qb with some freshman wr?? I wont but the season tickets any longer but will still watch when the game is on tv. My tickets for the rest of the year are for sale.
 
#33
#33
I'm not sure what is considered a big money donor, but I do donate for tickets, as well as annual giving, and what I give is big money to me. It requires sacrifices that I have willingly made for my alma mater and for the opportunity to watch the Vols play. So while I do not look at it as a business investment or anything like that, I hate to feel that my money is being wasted. I have heard lots of people saying that their reply to this year's calls and emails is going to be "no."

I think Dooley has walked into a hornet's nest, and that will buy him some time, but he's going to have to pick up the pace. I understand the losses, though I expected to go 7-5 and hoped to be pleasantly surprised by 8-4, but I continue to be concerned about the lack of progress, players not playing up to potential and the overall defeatist attitude and apathy. We do not look or play like winners, and we give up easily, quitting while there is still a good chance to win. Part of that is youth, but part of it is a poor attitude and part of it is coaching. A stellar recruiting class is a must, IMO. At this point, I just hope we can keep our players healthy and finish the season with a better attitude and outlook. JMO.
 
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#34
#34
gvol said:
After spending well over $20,000 as a season ticket holder for 23 years, I've gotten to experience many wonderful things with the Vols. For over 20 years, I only missed 3 home games.

BUT, it gets harder and harder to continue to subject myself, and my finances, to this type of play. For the past 6 or so seasons, the rationality gets harder and harder to justify. Will I give up my tix...probably not, but for the first time, I'm thinking about it.

After driving 5 hours to Ktown yesterday, spending $150 for gas, $20 for parking, $20 for refreshments, $50 for pregame grilling supplies, driving 5 hours home (getting home around 3:30 AM)...if I step back and look at the investment it's quite honestly stupid. Had considered getting a room for the night...glad I didn't wase that money, too. That's not even factoring in the ticket costs.

Losing the game is one thing. Watching the struggles we have is another. I can take the FLA phantom catch much better than what we have now. It's one thing to be angry over being robbed, it's another to see the quality of play being where it is.

I don't think Dooley is the wrong guy for TN. I like and suport him, and feel that he will eventually get us to a higher level. How high, who knows. I'm not holding my breath for championships anytime soon...I just want to be competitive and have SOME quality wins. I do wonder if his coaching staff is right for the job, though. But, in the end, the HC is a reflection of his staff.

Youth has been an excuse for a couple of years, but how long can we keep going to that well?

After watching a defense get gashed all night by a team that is not all that superior at HOME, just horrible. We didn't look like we were confident nor "pumped up" for the game last night...that's inexcusable when you're playing at home, at night on national TV against an East opponent. Inability to adjust or put together any kind of scheme to prevent big plays over the top...unreal.

NO running game. Period. No defensive backfield. Poor blocking, poor pass rush, dropped balls, fumbles, poor center play, confusion in getting plays in or set up. Jeez. Although our O-Line is primarily sophomores, most have many starts under their belts. I don't expect them to be perfect, but I also don't expect them to snap the ball into the ground or over the QB's head. I also expect them to open up SOME holes to run through. SOME, not NONE.

A five hour drive home after this type of performance gives alot of time to think about the the "worthwhile-ness" of attending the games. Right now, I have to say it isn't worth the cost nor the time and exhaustion of the trip.

Will I return, I'm sure I will, I'm sure I'll keep kicking myself for doing the same thing, over and over. Not sure if I'll make the investment in the LSU game, though.

But, it begs the question of when enough is enough. I'm sure I'm not the only "long distant" season ticket holder and regular attendee of the games that are questioning their logic on this Sunday after another meltdown in Neyland.

UT is my Alma Mater, and I'll support it forever. I'm a VFL, and no doubtedly will fall back into the "we'll be better next week/year" syndrome...but right now, all that's going through my mind is "I spent how much money and how much time and energy for THAT?"

If things don't turn around fairly quickly on the competitiveness level, attendance is only going to get lower and lower. Not many people will want to pay the price to watch us beat up the Montana's, Vandies and Kentuckies of the college football world...and get manhandled by everyone else.


Yeah, this is a rant. Still don't feel any better.
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We can all rant and rave, and complain, hurt, yes, even get sick about what we are seeing, but until the seats get empty, and the trustees begin to see $$ not walking through the turnstyles, nothing will change.....$ Talks, Fertilizer walks...It will be painful to be a part of, but until it hits bottom, and someone with a serious mindset says "no more" we will be a middle of the pack, 7-5, 8-4 (if we soften the schedule again) for many years to come....Saban turned around a penalized, down program, and in two years, had them going....We blame freshmen, while we watch a freshman running back at S.C. run like a demon...Why can other teams have freshman like that and we can't...?Because we lack the kind of top of the line coaching that players like, and want to play for....I will continue to pull for them, wear my Orange, cheer them on, but this last weekend, I dropped about $500 I don't really have right now, for something I think would rank around midget wrestling....I love you, but I won't be abused by you any more...:no: :mf_surrender:
 
#35
#35
I basically agree with all the above posts. I'm still wondering what other SEC schools are charging for the privilege of purchasing season tix? Granted Cinn had a good team when the agreement to play them was made, but the rest of the non-conf was/is a joke. MTSU, Buffalo, Montana, please. And to think we ran from North Carolina, which for me actually added another $200 to the cost of the ticket package this year. I bet we (UT fans) are paying more, and we are clearly getting less in return.
 
#36
#36
Wow, I thought there would be several unrealistic fans ranting and raging out if we lost to GA but this is ridiculous. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and think about where all the "pundits" and media picked the Vols before the season started. The one's that cover the program picked us to finish 4th in the SEC East with a 6-6 record (some said 7-5). Think about what has transpired, lost our top 2 defensive players before the season ever started (Jackson and Lathers), lost our best offensive weapon in the first series of the 3rd game (Hunter), and have now lost our QB and starting RB . Even with that, we still can finish 6-6 and 4th in the East. Bottom line, Rome wasn't built in a day. Even with all the adversity, Dooley is basically doing what everyone predicted before the season. IMO, next season is the year we should finish 7-5, 8-4 or even 9-3 (depending on how many breaks go against us since we seem to have some pretty bad Karma right now). Anyone that talks about firing Dooley should have a stiff Jack Daniles on the rocks. We must give the guy enough time to recruit his own players for 4 years. Personnally, I like what he is doing and think he will get this turned around. Remember, even Alabama had some 2-9 seasons not too long ago.
 
#37
#37
Wow the original poster has spent well over $500,000 on TN football the last 23 years. In the last 23 years I have invested $500,000 and purchased a jet boat and join the Vol Navy once each year. I sent my son and daughter to college; given a bunch to various charities and built a nice house. I guess it simply depends on where you place your money! Go Vols!
 
#38
#38
orangetaz said:
If you cant support your team win or lose go become a Bama fan.See ya,and wouldnt wanna be ya.
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have you spent the amount of money the OP has spent for this program i bet he is not the only fan who has spent thousands of dollars on ut and bet others feel the same way
 
#39
#39
Season tix contribution for bryant denny end zone seats are $80 per seat. At Neyland the cost is $500 per seat. Even I'm smart enough to know we are not getting much return, in terms of quality product on the field, when compared to bama. Don't get me wrong, I hate bama, but Tennessee Fund donors are getting screwed. I'm calling to cancel my future donations tomorrow. The leadership at UT will do NOTHING as long as the money keeps streaming into the system. Once they see the numbers drop they will be forced to make a change. That is the ONLY factor/variable they will consider. If you don't believe that, then keep donating and believing that things will improve.
 
#40
#40
D'burg vol fan said:
Season tix contribution for bryant denny end zone seats are $80 per seat. At Neyland the cost is $500 per seat. Even I'm smart enough to know we are not getting much return, in terms of quality product on the field, when compared to bama. Don't get me wrong, I hate bama, but Tennessee Fund donors are getting screwed. I'm calling to cancel my future donations tomorrow. The leadership at UT will do NOTHING as long as the money keeps streaming into the system. Once they see the numbers drop they will be forced to make a change. That is the ONLY factor/variable they will consider. If you don't believe that, then keep donating and believing that things will improve.
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that donation won't get you seats at bama.

and I should have known what to expect when the OP starts with how much money he spends
 
#41
#41
1985Vols said:
Wow, I thought there would be several unrealistic fans ranting and raging out if we lost to GA but this is ridiculous. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and think about where all the "pundits" and media picked the Vols before the season started. The one's that cover the program picked us to finish 4th in the SEC East with a 6-6 record (some said 7-5). Think about what has transpired, lost our top 2 defensive players before the season ever started (Jackson and Lathers), lost our best offensive weapon in the first series of the 3rd game (Hunter), and have now lost our QB and starting RB . Even with that, we still can finish 6-6 and 4th in the East. Bottom line, Rome wasn't built in a day. Even with all the adversity, Dooley is basically doing what everyone predicted before the season. IMO, next season is the year we should finish 7-5, 8-4 or even 9-3 (depending on how many breaks go against us since we seem to have some pretty bad Karma right now). Anyone that talks about firing Dooley should have a stiff Jack Daniles on the rocks. We must give the guy enough time to recruit his own players for 4 years. Personnally, I like what he is doing and think he will get this turned around. Remember, even Alabama had some 2-9 seasons not too long ago.
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I think you missed the op's point. He is not calling for anyone's head. Like the OP, I have a long drive every weekend. 3 1/2 hours one way for me. It's is a long time to reflect. Me and my buddy had this same conversation Saturday night. I love the Vols and enjoy watching them play. I would think it is safe to say that no one enjoys watching us get beat by all of our rivals though. Those that are lucky enough to live a little closer can't understand where the op or myself is coming from. It is a huge investment in time and money to come the these games. It's 5 o'clock mornings heading out and after midnight getting home almost every home game. It is a hard trip even when we win. When we lose, it's almost unbearable. Unfortunatley, the current state of our program does not leave the optimism one needs in order to keep making these trips across the state. It doesn't mean I don't love the Vols. I wont miss a game on tv, and all family events will still be planned around the UT schedule. What it means is that the negatives of the trip out weigh the positives so badly that I can't talk myself into making it next week. You don't feel the same emotional attachment when watching a game on tv as you do in the stadium. So, when we lose, it wont sting as much. I don't expect us to win every game. In fact, we haven't lost a game this year that I didn't expect us to lose coming in to the season. Being able to say that does not make traveling all day and spending $200 to watch us lose at home any easier. When the losses quit hurting, you know it's been a while since you won a game win any meaning to it. That's where i'm at right now. So, like the op, I am quesitoning weather or not it's all worth it. In saying all this, I'm sure by the start of next season, my emotions will have changed and I will once again have my tickets in hand believing that this will be the year we turn it around.
 
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#42
#42
gvol said:
After spending well over $20,000 as a season ticket holder for 23 years, I've gotten to experience many wonderful things with the Vols. For over 20 years, I only missed 3 home games.

BUT, it gets harder and harder to continue to subject myself, and my finances, to this type of play. For the past 6 or so seasons, the rationality gets harder and harder to justify. Will I give up my tix...probably not, but for the first time, I'm thinking about it.

After driving 5 hours to Ktown yesterday, spending $150 for gas, $20 for parking, $20 for refreshments, $50 for pregame grilling supplies, driving 5 hours home (getting home around 3:30 AM)...if I step back and look at the investment it's quite honestly stupid. Had considered getting a room for the night...glad I didn't wase that money, too. That's not even factoring in the ticket costs.

Losing the game is one thing. Watching the struggles we have is another. I can take the FLA phantom catch much better than what we have now. It's one thing to be angry over being robbed, it's another to see the quality of play being where it is.

I don't think Dooley is the wrong guy for TN. I like and suport him, and feel that he will eventually get us to a higher level. How high, who knows. I'm not holding my breath for championships anytime soon...I just want to be competitive and have SOME quality wins. I do wonder if his coaching staff is right for the job, though. But, in the end, the HC is a reflection of his staff.

Youth has been an excuse for a couple of years, but how long can we keep going to that well?

After watching a defense get gashed all night by a team that is not all that superior at HOME, just horrible. We didn't look like we were confident nor "pumped up" for the game last night...that's inexcusable when you're playing at home, at night on national TV against an East opponent. Inability to adjust or put together any kind of scheme to prevent big plays over the top...unreal.

NO running game. Period. No defensive backfield. Poor blocking, poor pass rush, dropped balls, fumbles, poor center play, confusion in getting plays in or set up. Jeez. Although our O-Line is primarily sophomores, most have many starts under their belts. I don't expect them to be perfect, but I also don't expect them to snap the ball into the ground or over the QB's head. I also expect them to open up SOME holes to run through. SOME, not NONE.

A five hour drive home after this type of performance gives alot of time to think about the the "worthwhile-ness" of attending the games. Right now, I have to say it isn't worth the cost nor the time and exhaustion of the trip.

Will I return, I'm sure I will, I'm sure I'll keep kicking myself for doing the same thing, over and over. Not sure if I'll make the investment in the LSU game, though.

But, it begs the question of when enough is enough. I'm sure I'm not the only "long distant" season ticket holder and regular attendee of the games that are questioning their logic on this Sunday after another meltdown in Neyland.

UT is my Alma Mater, and I'll support it forever. I'm a VFL, and no doubtedly will fall back into the "we'll be better next week/year" syndrome...but right now, all that's going through my mind is "I spent how much money and how much time and energy for THAT?"

If things don't turn around fairly quickly on the competitiveness level, attendance is only going to get lower and lower. Not many people will want to pay the price to watch us beat up the Montana's, Vandies and Kentuckies of the college football world...and get manhandled by everyone else.


Yeah, this is a rant. Still don't feel any better.
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My recommendation is to continue going, b/c in a few years UT will undoubtedly ask for an even larger donation for you to renew your season tix, and you'll have to give them up so that Clayton Homes, Pilot, or Dish Network can scoop them up..
 
#43
#43
We are an average team now. We will be better next year, but still may just be a 7 to 8 win team. We should be significantly better in 2 years, but for now we are 6-6 and very, very average. If you have to go for a winner, you may want to pull for someone else for a couple of years and then check back later.
 
#44
#44
One of the unheralded big mistakes by UT one the last couple of decades was expanding the stadium to over 100,000. Support for the team was clearly a hell of a lot softer than everybody assumed it was. Now it makes us look like shat when we "only" draw 94,000 to watch a team that's been disastrous for half a decade.

If you don't want to go, stay home. Don't whine about the money you're spending when you're spending less than a thousand bucks a year. What's your cell phone bill look like?
 
#45
#45
joshc said:
We are an average team now. We will be better next year, but still may just be a 7 to 8 win team. We should be significantly better in 2 years, but for now we are 6-6 and very, very average. If you have to go for a winner, you may want to pull for someone else for a couple of years and then check back later.
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This thread is not about who one roots for. It's about weather or not it makes sense to attend every game or just watch from home. You know, kinda like what most fans do. By the way, do you have season tickets? I'm not being a jerk but rather just asking if you have any idea where we are coming from on this.
 
#46
#46
Vercingetorix said:
One of the unheralded big mistakes by UT one the last couple of decades was expanding the stadium to over 100,000. Support for the team was clearly a hell of a lot softer than everybody assumed it was. Now it makes us look like shat when we "only" draw 94,000 to watch a team that's been disastrous for half a decade.

If you don't want to go, stay home. Don't whine about the money you're spending when you're spending less than a thousand bucks a year. What's your cell phone bill look like?
Click to expand...

Yeah, but at least my cell phone works correctly.....:thumbsup:
 
#47
#47
i feel for you season ticket holders,i wish i was one of them., but i feel i invested as much emotionally as you guys have money wise. i understand the long trips, but i havent been there as much as you guys have. hell after being a fan since the early 90's ive finally went to o&w game, went to my first game (montana),and went down in july just to go walk on campus... it tears me up after every loss, hell im still mad about the georgia just as if it just ended. this was one game that i thought, the coaching staff didnt have a clue... now i like dooley, he says all the right things, but im tired of the talk i want to see progression, not regression. im sick of hearing excuses after excuses from the fans.we're too young, not enough talent.. that game to me saturday was all on the coaches. unprepared, no intesity. horrible game plan offense and defense, no halftime adjustments, nothing. we just looked like a team going through motions.now thats not what i want my vols to look like, and im sure you guys dont either,but this is how its gonna be if things dont get shaken up a little bit, now i like dooley, and want him to do great here, but if he dont shake this staff up. i see no reason why we should expect this team to do any better next year. im not a negavol, im just a realist..i love the vols and you will hard pressed to find a bigger fan than me,the vols are my life. and will continue to be, but something has to happen, tired of seeing this display of football on the field.. im not doen on the players, they chose to come here and im greatful they did.. just down on the staff...
 
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