Why are so many here scared of high expectations?

[ronbobdone]

I have only made a few posts as I usually just read what others have to say. I have followed the VOLS for 56 years. This is the best I have ever felt about our chances during the years. In 98 I had doubts due to the change from Manning to Martin. Everything fell our way and we won the NC. This year, I feel we will be 12-0 or at the worst 11-1. I am not allowing for injuries. We are deep enough to cover most injuries, with the exception of Dobbs. I just feel good about this year!

 

[Iam4utalways]

This is a good year to see how great the Vols can be.

 

[Nocleats]

Stop with this fiction.

Nobody expected anything from us in 2014. We were the only team in college football replacing all our starters along the offensive and defensive lines. We were planning to play 20+ true freshmen. Most said we would not reach a bowl game. That team exceeded expectations by going 7-6.

In 2015 you had a few blowharts like myself predicting a 10-2 season plus maybe an upset victory in the SEC championship game. However, most had us predicted to finish second in the east. Guess where we finished? 2nd in the east. The AP and coaches poll had us as the #25 team in the preseason poll. Guess where we finished at the end of the season? #22 and #23 respectively in the AP and coaches poll. Vegas had the over/under on our regular season win total at 7.5 games. Guess what? We won 8 games.

So you're completely wrong about this team falling short of expectations the last 2 years. In fact, if we look objectively, they slightly EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS both seasons.

This right here!!!
Add to that injuries that were way beyond normal amounts, yes they happen and yes deep teams overcome, but the Vols weren't deep. They still aren't at some positions.

People have forgotten just how bare the cupboard was here.. Between Kiffin running off almost 20 underclassmen and then unbalanced recruiting by Dooley, then some of those players leaving one way or the other, CBJ inherited a team that resembled one that had been dismembered by the NCAA , maybe worse..

Add now the fact that 3 teams in the SEC have, according to the experts, had better ranked recruiting classes the last 4 years, and 2 more in FSU and Clemson who only play a 3 game season for the most part, but people somehow expect and will be downright put out if the Vols don't win a Natty? That's my point

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

I am starting to think the OP's agenda is to set everyone up to agree with these lofty unrealistic expectations and force them to be critical of CBJ after the season if the team goes 9-3 or fails to win the East. It appears OP wants ammo to claim TN should fire CBJ and wants to be able to point back at other poster's agreeing with him on these lofty expectations pre season as his grounds after the fact. Im not falling for it.

CBJ will most likely improve the win total again this year (9-3 or better) as he has done each year he has been the HC at TN. It took Fulmer till his fifth season to win the East and he had a much easier head start. Clearly it is not the end of the world if we don't win the East this season.

 

[Wildasamink16]

I'm so optimistic you could call me Optimus prime! And I know 120 is special and they will transform into some bad mamajamas! Cfp🏆 Gbo and that's all🎤drop

 

[chargervol]

I seldom agree with D4H. But he isn't completely off base here. WAY too many Vol fans settle for less than they should and excuse subpar performance.

The problem is, that's not the basis of this thread.
There's many ideas of what will cause the hot seat, and that's fine.
This thread was just another way for d4h to tell everyone else they have to think like he does or they're all stupid.

 

[Remy]

Only someone that cares for the Vols rather than checking out during tough times, could begin to answer correctly.

Misery is the answer. The bigger the wave the harder the crash.

And others are consumed by the statistics. And yet find the odds are in our favor to have a breakout NC year.

See you in Tampa.

... or "bigger the wave" the longer the ride and fun factor!! From a guy that surfed Maui at 60, plan to do it again at 70 and 80. Been a Vol fan since the days of having a Swamp Rat playing QB for UT. Any wave after the age of 50 is a big wave ... or so says a tshirt I have that says that in small fine print under the big block letters BIG WAVE SURFER. This season is going to be special for Vol fans, let's enjoy it, step out of misery, and into liquid and have fun!! E'erybody Wang Chung tonight!!

 

[ntxVOL]

I'm not young. I've been following the Vols for a very long time.

When you excuse falling short of expectations or accept anything less than perfection.... you have a 2nd tier frame of mind. Saying that you can achieve "perfect" execution is not delusional.... and even if it were saying so excuses striving for something less.

I am not sure yet that Jones is capable of winning championships. But I see nothing in his words or behavior that suggests he is satisfied with either falling short of expectations or being satisfied with anything less than perfection.

sjt, I know you are not young, that post was directed towards d4h.

To sit here in July and expect a perfect season just seems unreasonable to me. We can only hope.

We all should strive for perfection in everything we do but the reality is we are all still human and will make mistakes. It is even more delusional IMO to expect perfection from a group of college kids. They don't have to be perfect to win, they just have to be good enough. The 98 team was only perfect on the scoreboard.

:hi:

 

[volfanbill]

I am starting to think the OP's agenda is to set everyone up to agree with these lofty unrealistic expectations and force them to be critical of CBJ after the season if the team goes 9-3 or fails to win the East. It appears OP wants ammo to claim TN should fire CBJ and wants to be able to point back at other poster's agreeing with him on these lofty expectations pre season as his grounds after the fact. Im not falling for it.

CBJ will most likely improve the win total again this year (9-3 or better) as he has done each year he has been the HC at TN. It took Fulmer till his fifth season to win the East and he had a much easier head start. Clearly it is not the end of the world if we don't win the East this season.

The head start Butch has right now with a pitiful East is beyond anything Fulmer could have ever dreamed of. Your post needs blue paint. Lots of it.

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

The head start Butch has right now with a pitiful East is beyond anything Fulmer could have ever dreamed of. Your post needs blue paint. Lots of it.

Head start for Butch? He started at the back of the line with no head start. Any advantage Butch has now over his rivals is because he built this team over the last three years. Fulmer inherited a loaded roster that was championship ready in 93 and it took him five seasons to even win an East championship.

The distance Butch has taken this program from dumpster fire to SEC Contender in 3 short years is remarkable.

 

[BearCat204]

I am starting to think the OP's agenda is to set everyone up to agree with these lofty unrealistic expectations and force them to be critical of CBJ after the season if the team goes 9-3 or fails to win the East. It appears OP wants ammo to claim TN should fire CBJ and wants to be able to point back at other poster's agreeing with him on these lofty expectations pre season as his grounds after the fact. Im not falling for it.

CBJ will most likely improve the win total again this year (9-3 or better) as he has done each year he has been the HC at TN. It took Fulmer till his fifth season to win the East and he had a much easier head start. Clearly it is not the end of the world if we don't win the East this season.

His agenda is to throw as much **** against the wall as possible. If we go undefeated he will be here babbling about how he knows football and if he's wrong he will either blame CBJ, deflect, or just leave. He makes these claims as to somewhat paint anyone who is reasonable as not wanting the Vols to achieve.

 

[volfanbill]

Head start for Butch? He started at the back of the line with no head start. Any advantage Butch has now over his rivals is because he built this team over the last three years. Fulmer inherited a loaded roster that was championship ready in 93 and it took him five seasons to even win an East championship.

The distance Butch has taken this program from dumpster fire to SEC Contender in 3 short years is remarkable.

Thanks for not reading. Hopefully when you're studying law, you actually read what was written a lot better for your client's sake.

 

[JC61]

I'm not young. I've been following the Vols for a very long time.

When you excuse falling short of expectations or accept anything less than perfection.... you have a 2nd tier frame of mind. Saying that you can achieve "perfect" execution is not delusional.... and even if it were saying so excuses striving for something less.

I am not sure yet that Jones is capable of winning championships. But I see nothing in his words or behavior that suggests he is satisfied with either falling short of expectations or being satisfied with anything less than perfection.

While you have made some solid points in this thread, and generally do in most posts, the "perfect" angle is a little much. Nothing and no one on this earth is perfect; while perfection is indeed a goal it is hardly attainable. I expect our VOLS to compete and give their level best on every play, in every game...which is not to say be "perfect". This year, and last year as well, I expect them to be in a position to win every game. I do not think that is having a "2nd tier frame of mind".

Now, if perfect is to address the final record - even teams that manage to go undefeated cannot be anointed as having "perfect execution" through the course of a season. It is interesting to look at modern era coaches / teams for perfection. Among active coaches, Pettersen and Meyer (2 different schools) are the only 2 who managed to coach perfect teams more than once. Even the mighty Saban has only managed 1 "perfect" season. Nebraska, Auburn and OSU are the only schools w/ more than 1 "perfect season in the past 20ish years.

If it relates to conference wins, well that is attained by various teams throughout each season - but most lose OOC or bowls to wreck a "perfect" season.

Finally, if it is soley related to being "The" Champion...well, there are plenty of "imperfect" teams that have met the metric.

 

[sjt18]

The problem is, that's not the basis of this thread.
There's many ideas of what will cause the hot seat, and that's fine.
This thread was just another way for d4h to tell everyone else they have to think like he does or they're all stupid.

I guess I should have limited my agreement to the title of the thread.

I think it is unworthy of a Vol fan to expect less than greatness.

I disagree with him that ANY of Jones' teams have "overachieved". UT lost the games it was undermanned in for '13 plus a poorly coached loss to Vandy. The UT loss to a terrible UF team in '14 plus the loss to a VERY middling Mizzou team were bad losses. UT's losses to UF and Ark last year were bad losses.

IMO, there are at least 5 losses in games UT should have won over the past 3 years and maybe 1 win that should have been a loss if you give USCe more credit than I do in '13.


People can lay blame anywhere they like.... but UT has underachieved by 1 to 2 games per year for the past 3 years.

 

[chargervol]

I guess I should have limited my agreement to the title of the thread.

I think it is unworthy of a Vol fan to expect less than greatness.

I disagree with him that ANY of Jones' teams have "overachieved". UT lost the games it was undermanned in for '13 plus a poorly coached loss to Vandy. The UT loss to a terrible UF team in '14 plus the loss to a VERY middling Mizzou team were bad losses. UT's losses to UF and Ark last year were bad losses.

IMO, there are at least 5 losses in games UT should have won over the past 3 years and maybe 1 win that should have been a loss if you give USCe more credit than I do in '13.


People can lay blame anywhere they like.... but UT has underachieved by 1 to 2 games per year for the past 3 years.

Oh,there was nothing wrong with your response. I was saying it directed toward him, not you.
Your response just made sense and I thought it was worthy of a debatable thread, while acknowledging the real reason behind his thread.

 

[sjt18]

While you have made some solid points in this thread, and generally do in most posts, the "perfect" angle is a little much. Nothing and no one on this earth is perfect; while perfection is indeed a goal it is hardly attainable. I expect our VOLS to compete and give their level best on every play, in every game...which is not to say be "perfect". This year, and last year as well, I expect them to be in a position to win every game. I do not think that is having a "2nd tier frame of mind".

Now, if perfect is to address the final record - even teams that manage to go undefeated cannot be anointed as having "perfect execution" through the course of a season. It is interesting to look at modern era coaches / teams for perfection. Among active coaches, Pettersen and Meyer (2 different schools) are the only 2 who managed to coach perfect teams more than once. Even the mighty Saban has only managed 1 "perfect" season. Nebraska, Auburn and OSU are the only schools w/ more than 1 "perfect season in the past 20ish years.

If it relates to conference wins, well that is attained by various teams throughout each season - but most lose OOC or bowls to wreck a "perfect" season.

Finally, if it is soley related to being "The" Champion...well, there are plenty of "imperfect" teams that have met the metric.

Perfect in the football sense though isn't like a "perfect" 2X4 much less moral perfection.

Perfect is executing successfully. No student has ever had "perfect" knowledge, right? But many have achieved perfect scores. No surgery had ever been "perfect" in every detail.... but aren't most "perfectly" successful? (We hope)

Perfection even in this sense is rare. But the teams that are "most perfect" are those that strive for perfection. They're also the ones capable of winning championships.


I'll confess that I have a kneejerk response to people who say the equivalent of "no one's perfect" as a way of excusing a lack of effort, will, or execution.

 

[tvolsfan]

My question is simple. Why?

The most obvious reason is the correct one. If we except to win the SEC and go 9-3, the season is a flop. If we expect to go 9-3 and go 9-3, the fans can tell themselves there's nothing to worry about. Lower expectations means there is more room to avoid addressing any tough questions about the future of the program.

 

[RxVol37055]

Not scared, just seasoned.

We remember 2005 or 2006 when we were preseason #2

The only thing fun about that year was playing NCAA on my Xbox because our team was great.

Didn't playout that way on the field.

Scared, again NO.

GBO

 

[tvolsfan]

We needed a miracle come back to beat UGA and a miracle stop to beat USCe. Works both ways dude.

There was no excuse for not routing USC after the 17-0 start, and it took some fluky plays for us to get so far behind Georgia in the first place.

 

[tvolsfan]

we got the worst QB play in the history of the world.

I can think of at least three years since 2005 that would arguably fit this description.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

... or "bigger the wave" the longer the ride and fun factor!! From a guy that surfed Maui at 60, plan to do it again at 70 and 80. Been a Vol fan since the days of having a Swamp Rat playing QB for UT. Any wave after the age of 50 is a big wave ... or so says a tshirt I have that says that in small fine print under the big block letters BIG WAVE SURFER. This season is going to be special for Vol fans, let's enjoy it, step out of misery, and into liquid and have fun!! E'erybody Wang Chung tonight!!

Hey, I remember Dewey Warren. UT's first real passing QB (first UT QB to pass for over 1000 yds in a season).

 

[VolFootballIsLife]

The problem is, that's not the basis of this thread.
There's many ideas of what will cause the hot seat, and that's fine.
This thread was just another way for d4h to tell everyone else they have to think like he does or they're all stupid.

Yep. It is and has been quite annoying for some time. The comment he made about going 15-0 and it being "easy" made me laugh. Since when has running the table in the toughest conference in CFB been easy for any team...not to mention a program who hasn't competed for a divisional tithe in a decade. I have my share of hope and optimism but to type that nonsense is just plain ridiculous. Everyone knows 15-0 is possible Bc anything is possible. But to scream it's inevitability from a mountain top is actually just cowardly. He is hedging his bets bc if it happens, he is a "psychic" and if it doesn't he can be labeled no worse than being a hopeful "fan".

His constant ramblings and baited statements are simply the equivalent of tossing hand grenades over the wall and watching the affects unfold. He loves the attention and is basically comparable to media types offering click bait.

Please explain to me how beating UF and ALA at home along with UGA and A&M on the road is easy! Winning all 4 is quite possible but easy??? C'mon man!!

 

[VonVol]

His agenda is to throw as much **** against the wall as possible. If we go undefeated he will be here babbling about how he knows football and if he's wrong he will either blame CBJ, deflect, or just leave. He makes these claims as to somewhat paint anyone who is reasonable as not wanting the Vols to achieve.

I think his agenda is to get attention. No different than that Homer Gator poster. He starts a thread like this because he knows he's been outed as a fair weather fan and knew questioning the way others follow the team would get a big response. He has made wrong prediction after wrong prediction. Lives in an Xbox world of how football works. But I hope we go 15-0 and in a few years when he's old enough, I'll buy him a beer to celebrate.

 

[VolinMC]

I'm Excited and energized for the 2016 edition of the Vols, while not completely forgetting the humbling seasons of recent past.

If Team 120 can stay healthy....I expect to see a very good football team.....championship or no championship

Go Vols

This all day long. Well said.

 

[JackBombero]

The year 2005.