Why did UT lose?

[Backwards K]

There is so much pressure on Hooker that if he doesn't play perfect, the Vols struggle. He had a great game statistically but, the missed opportunities on several more deep balls were hard to overcome. The game could have been put away before the half had Hooker been his normal self. Vols need an SEC level running back to pick up some of the slack.

 

[LTVol]

Tennessee lost because of a combination of all of the above (except "Music City Bowl bad mojo"...that was funny, though). One play never defines a game. However, people who say "one play never defines a game," in the context of another person complaining about a bad call are either missing the point or just throwing up a red herring. If I complain about a bad call after the game, and someone responds with "Well, you can't blame the loss on one call when they had lots of opportunities to win the game," that is fallacious thinking. It is an example of "whataboutism." It is avoiding the topic at hand by raising a different topic. Complaining about a call and pointing out blown opportunities are two different topics. Bringing up other plays is merely a distraction towards the bad call. It should be acknowledged that the call was blown and it was devastating towards Tennessee's odds to win the game at that particular time. What happened before the call is irrelevant to how bad the call was. It was an atrocious call, one of the worst I have ever seen as a UT fan.

On the other hand, as Heupel said in presser, you only get better by focusing on what you have control over. Theres absolutely nothing that can be done about bad ref calls, but plenty can be done to improve on strategy and implementation to avoid such losses in the future.

 

[Bigorange123]

 

[UTK]

THIS. We could have won this game in spite of everything had we just gotten 15 yards in the last series and Heupel calls 2 bombs. He's an idiot.

Acting like that the FG woulda been automatic is a bit silly

 

[Bighorn67]

The one play that stands out to me is the horrible tackling on the 65 yard touchdown by their tight end. We had 5 guys around him, none of which made sure to knock him out of bounds. THAT play was the difference to me. We had 2 chances to stop them after we scored in the 4th and couldn’t do it.

 

[Volinnooga]

A loser culture still exists here. The team doesn’t win when the big spotlight is on, even when the opponent is entirely beatable. Winners win. Losers lose.

You sound like the one with the loser mentality. If you can’t see how far this team came from last year, you just don’t want to see it. Sure there were mistakes made by the team and CJH said he didn’t handle the OT offensive calls as he should, but it was a fantastically positive season. But go ahead with your negativity if that’s the only opinion you can muster.

 

[Chad F]

You sound like the one with the loser mentality. If you can’t see how far this team came from last year, you just don’t want to see it. Sure there were mistakes made by the team and CJH said he didn’t handle the OT offensive calls as he should, but it was a fantastically positive season. But go ahead with your negativity if that’s the only opinion you can muster.

I’ve given lots of credit to CJH for what he managed to do this year, but a strong organizational culture takes time to build, and you can destroy it in very short order. This team still has a long way to go mentally as well as with team depth. It was evident often last night, even when the officiating was working against us.

I don’t understand the propensity to simply attack folks on here rather than engage in a simple discussion. You disagree? Go ahead and make your points. Over my years on this site, I’ve given credit to others who have pointed out something I didn’t see or think about - Your points above are well considered, and I agree with the progress. I’m simply pointing out there is still a long way to go with fixing the damage that Pruitt and his predecessors did. No need to add childish “you’re the one with the loser mentality” comments to this thing. But it’s the age of the internet, I suppose.

 

[Volinnooga]

I’ve given lots of credit to CJH for what he managed to do this year, but a strong organizational culture takes time to build, and you can destroy it in very short order. This team still has a long way to go mentally as well as with team depth. It was evident often last night, even when the officiating was working against us.

I don’t understand the propensity to simply attack folks on here rather than engage in a simple discussion. You disagree? Go ahead and make your points. Over my years on this site, I’ve given credit to others who have pointed out something I didn’t see or think about - Your points above are well considered, and I agree with the progress. I’m simply pointing out there is still a long way to go with fixing the damage that Pruitt and his predecessors did. No need to add childish “you’re the one with the loser mentality” comments to this thing. But it’s the age of the internet, I suppose.

I think I engaged you and explained why I thought you were incorrect. Sorry if I didn’t do so the way you wanted me to, but I don’t think your original post gave CJH credit for anything. Where is the credit in a post that says “ Loser culture still exists here…Wiiners win, losers lose”. That’s why I disagreed with your post.

 

[Boone&Crockett]

Defense was bad, didnt agree with how they handled the last series in regulation but in the past few years Tennessee has rolled over for teams and they dont do that anymore, they may have lost and they may have lost other games this year but they give every team they played all they wanted and more and that is something we havent done in recent years and that mentality will lead to wins eventually.

 

[first time caller]

A loser culture still exists here. The team doesn’t win when the big spotlight is on, even when the opponent is entirely beatable. Winners win. Losers lose.

What a loser you are. Turn in your orange card.

 

[Chad F]

I think I engaged you and explained why I thought you were incorrect. Sorry if I didn’t do so the way you wanted me to, but I don’t think your original post gave CJH credit for anything. Where is the credit in a post that says “ Loser culture still exists here…Wiiners win, losers lose”. That’s why I disagreed with your post.

No big deal. I just think name calling is ridiculous, regardless of context. It happens way too much here among fellow fans. I give CJH plenty of credit elsewhere. He did more than I thought he could or would in year #1, but I guess I should realize no one reads all the other stuff I post here -HA!

CJH is fighting to establish the right culture. If you look at a program like Bama (gross), they have a well-established culture that forces accountability to each other as well as to the program, coaches included. We seem yo be on the right track, but there’s a lot more work to do. CJH needs time yo do that and he hasn’t completely cracked it yet. For example, us laying down to a not very good Florida team earlier this year was a hangover from our past culture of falling apart against the Gators. Hosevrr, us actually putting away teams early that we outmatch (TTech, SA) is a sign of improvement because in previous years we’d screw around and play down to their level for 2/3 of the game.

 

[Chad F]

What a loser you are. Turn in your orange card.

@Volinnooga - Case in point. See above. Oh well - HA!

 

[tripplg]

Other….Out scored.

 

[vol05]

THIS. We could have won this game in spite of everything had we just gotten 15 yards in the last series and Heupel calls 2 bombs. He's an idiot.

“Hes an idiot” So i guess the reason you weren’t on the sidekine was what?? Covid related ? Huh branio?

 

[dduncan4163]

At the end of the day it's impossible to win if the refs want u to loose. We were ROBBED plain and simple

 

[Volunteer forever]

Why did UT lose? Because UT

 

[TNnative]

We no doubt have to be concerned about Heupel in close games next year.

He beat KY, but we weren't clutch in the other three.

Was the one thing I wondered about with him as I noticed every game UCF lost was close. We are well coached, but Heup has lost a lot of close games going back to UCF.

You know something? It's football. You win some, you lose some, and you keep building and improving. Every decent program in college football has had to do that. It's called reality.

Some of you seem to have the mindset of 12-0 or start up another search. Now obviously, LSU seems to be playing that game, and I am looking forward to seeing how Brian Kelly thrives in that kind of lunacy.

Maybe I am not marching to the same beat as all you "concerned" folks. But as long as Heupel is putting before us a competent team? I hope we stick with him. Rather than pay buyouts or have another dramatic announcement from Donde Plowman and Randy Boyd, or whoever is the talking heads at the time.

You know? (And I know this sounds like a broken record). If we were this fussy about our play by play announcer, the kesling Curse could finally come to an end. Is he retiring this year? Come on Santa Claus, bring us a new one. Oh, yeah Christmas is over. Dammit!

 

[TNnative]

At the end of the day it's impossible to win if the refs want u to loose. We were ROBBED plain and simple

That last call on the OT touchdown makes that hard to argue with dduncan. But had we held onto that TE, and had someone covering 29 better with his two dodgy knees? (That guy is a Helluva Player). We may have still been robbed. But it would have been a little harder.

 

[TNnative]

Their best WR is a Top 50 NFL prospect, AT is 3-4 round potential. Their next guy up had 217 yards rec. and he was injured to capture bowl MVP. Agree we should ran away with it in the 2nd qtr.

They gave Thompson MVP? Makes sense. He played his guts out.

 

[TNnative]

I’ve given lots of credit to CJH for what he managed to do this year, but a strong organizational culture takes time to build, and you can destroy it in very short order. This team still has a long way to go mentally as well as with team depth. It was evident often last night, even when the officiating was working against us.

I don’t understand the propensity to simply attack folks on here rather than engage in a simple discussion. You disagree? Go ahead and make your points. Over my years on this site, I’ve given credit to others who have pointed out something I didn’t see or think about - Your points above are well considered, and I agree with the progress. I’m simply pointing out there is still a long way to go with fixing the damage that Pruitt and his predecessors did. No need to add childish “you’re the one with the loser mentality” comments to this thing. But it’s the age of the internet, I suppose.

Actually, I refer to it (many times) as the idiotnet. And on certain days, (just not always the same days) we are all the idiots.

Al Gore Jr was the guy who "took the inititative to create" the internet. And I always felt he was an idiot. So, the result of the internet becoming the idiotnet? Kinda makes sense. Have a nice day, and Happy New Year.

 

[Vol Main]

Huepel needs to learn the value of a field goal once in a while instead of 4th and out

During early and middle periods of a game, I think you take the three points. Later, if a win absolutely requires six plus one points, if you have to have them, then go for the TD. Unless or until that time comes, take the three and let them add up. A team needs scores for momentum. At the end of the game, three points taken or left on the field are too often the difference between winning or losing.

 

[VolsFan-TX]

THIS. We could have won this game in spite of everything had we just gotten 15 yards in the last series and Heupel calls 2 bombs. He's an idiot.

There were multiple receivers on those two plays. Hooker could have have thrown short or medium routes to get the yardage allowing for a shorter FG, but elected to throw deep twice. Neither play had only deep routes. Perhaps the primary receivers were the go routes, but not sure.

 

[De La Cloobs]

Game is a blur honestly but didn’t Hooker have an open man twice at end of game. Absolutely agree we could’ve probably got into Fg range easier and managed time better.

Burrell is terrible but some PIs were trash calls as well.

The play calls at times were suspect, but in Heup's defense, if the players execute, he looks like a genius. Those last two bombs were strange calls but if Hooker does what he's supposed to, Heupel is seen as the second coming.

 

[Doberman]

The play calls at times were suspect, but in Heup's defense, if the players execute, he looks like a genius. Those last two bombs were strange calls but if Hooker does what he's supposed to, Heupel is seen as the second coming.

All true. But, bombs have to be the lowest percentage plays in football.

Whether it was CJH or Hooker, it wasn’t smart.

 

[DaddyChad]

All true. But, bombs have to be the lowest percentage plays in football.

Whether it was CJH or Hooker, it wasn’t smart.

Wasn’t smart bc over the course of a season they’re low percentage plays, right? So we should just play the high percentage plays regardless correct? Deep plays were open, they were there. Our fans want to rant without having any idea what the defense was in.

You going to be mad every time we take a shot downfield?