Win or lose where do you stand?

#26
#26
utfantilidie said:
Since I posted from the beginning I felt similarities between this season and the 98 season which I had season tickets (only time ever) I was wondering will you be okay if we lose close or are you tired of excuses as I am? I mean nearly fifteen years out of the last twenty years we been a laugher up on the hill. Just wondering.
Click to expand...


I will still be totally on the Heupel train if we lose by two scores.

Bama is still very talented and very well coached. Thinking this is a sure thing is not being realistic. Thinking a win is likley also not realistic.
Thinking a win is possible is realistic


Im hoping for the ball to bounce our way and the refs to be unbiased.

With regards to the refs...we are a hot commodity right now and the SEC knows we are a cash generating fan base. I hope this helps the fellers in stripes to call it down the middle.

Also, the mustard bottles at the concession stands are much larger this year. They would actually hurt if a person were to be struck by one...just saying 🤓
 
  • Like
Reactions: I4Vols, volwindy, Proud Army Wife and 4 others
#29
#29
I would survive if we lose. But, I would hope for at least 2 OTs! But, I believe we win. Now, winning in 2 OTs ...Boy Howdy!
 
#31
#31
VFL-82-JP said:
This, see here, this is how our expectations change over the course of a season.

Up front I need to say: not picking on Zues. He reflects most of us. We're all doing this. He simply provided an opportunity to discuss it.

Here was Zues (and many of us) Just four games ago, right before we played Pitt:



And this was his summary after the game:



Totally fair comments, all of them. But very different from saying "meh, 10-2 sounds great, but IMO we need to beat Bama or UGa."

Here was Zues just two weeks later, leading into the Florida game:



And here was him two weeks after that, going into LSU:



These are not the pronouncements of a fella who thinks 10-2 is just okay, but we really need to beat Bama or UGa.

...

Again, I have to emphasize--NOT picking on Zues. This is all of us (well, many of us). We're moving the goalposts of our expectations.

And that's okay. It's perfectly fine. Folks reassess and refocus their goals all the time, in all walks of life. Football fandom is no different.

But it is also useful to remain grounded, to remember what came before, to not ENTIRELY lose sight of the pre-season expectations and what success would look like.

Because we're already there. We're smack dab in the middle of success. We are striding forward at a heady pace toward championship football.

It may not come this year. That's okay, because we can all tell it is coming.

Thanks, Zues, for representing the rest of us here. No negativity intended, at all.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...

LOL
 
#35
#35
Loss? Sadly, I expect we will. But I will remain grateful to the team and coaches for generating the excitement, and just continuing Vol-loving.

Win? I will be thrilled at the idea we knocked off the Gators and Tide in the same season. Thus, would grill either or both, 16oz lamb chops, or 10oz bison ribeye steaks. I haven't decided what the sides will be yet, but the beverage will probably be something new to me, but something I'm dumb enough to try at least once. What? Garlic Coca Cola. And yes, the stuff really does exist. 10 Most Unique Soda Flavors Worldwide
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: kcvols1 and Wezcoast
#36
#36
17Vols said:
The hard truth is this, we don’t have the roster, yet, to beat bama or uga. but I think we can give them a run for their money, and if we do that the recruits will come. We’re already seeing better talent in this 23 class, and that’s what we need to close the gap. it will be an upset if we beat bama or uga right now, but hopefully soon we’ll have a team that’s expected to win these games. I would only be disappointed if we beat ourselves this weekend, bad penalties, costly mistakes, dropped balls, things like that. having said all that, I know we’re an underdog here, but I really think we have a strong chance of winning straight up.
Click to expand...

The voice of reason....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wezcoast, 17Vols and cgrish
#40
#40
VFL-82-JP said:
This, see here, this is how our expectations change over the course of a season.

Up front I need to say: not picking on Zues. He reflects most of us. We're all doing this. He simply provided an opportunity to discuss it.

Here was Zues (and many of us) Just four games ago, right before we played Pitt:



And this was his summary after the game:



Totally fair comments, all of them. But very different from saying "meh, 10-2 sounds great, but IMO we need to beat Bama or UGa."

Here was Zues just two weeks later, leading into the Florida game:



And here was him two weeks after that, going into LSU:



These are not the pronouncements of a fella who thinks 10-2 is just okay, but we really need to beat Bama or UGa.

...

Again, I have to emphasize--NOT picking on Zues. This is all of us (well, many of us). We're moving the goalposts of our expectations.

And that's okay. It's perfectly fine. Folks reassess and refocus their goals all the time, in all walks of life. Football fandom is no different.

But it is also useful to remain grounded, to remember what came before, to not ENTIRELY lose sight of the pre-season expectations and what success would look like.

Because we're already there. We're smack dab in the middle of success. We are striding forward at a heady pace toward championship football.

It may not come this year. That's okay, because we can all tell it is coming.

Thanks, Zues, for representing the rest of us here. No negativity intended, at all.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
Too much sense. 😁
 
  • Like
Reactions: kcvols1, SAPPER 5 and VFL-82-JP
#42
#42
17Vols said:
The hard truth is this, we don’t have the roster, yet, to beat bama or uga. but I think we can give them a run for their money, and if we do that the recruits will come. We’re already seeing better talent in this 23 class, and that’s what we need to close the gap. it will be an upset if we beat bama or uga right now, but hopefully soon we’ll have a team that’s expected to win these games. I would only be disappointed if we beat ourselves this weekend, bad penalties, costly mistakes, dropped balls, things like that. having said all that, I know we’re an underdog here, but I really think we have a strong chance of winning straight up.
Click to expand...
I am no longer certain just how much credence we should be giving the high school recruiting star-rating services.

Just a few short weeks ago, in the spring and summer, there were plenty of folks on these pages, folks who follow recruiting closely in the recruiting forum, who were saying Florida and LSU continue to have significant roster advantages over our Vols. That they WAY out-talent us.

On the other side of the coin, we were also told that we significantly out-talent Pitt.

Well, Pitt was the closest of those three games. By far.

So what good is following the recruiting stars?

Seems to me, every year there's an Iowa or Mizzou or (this year) Kansas that has an abysmal recruiting ranking history, who find ways to make gold out of dross.

This year, we seem to be one of those teams.

I'm not saying Hendon isn't one of the best QBs in the country--in my estimation he IS the best. And our receivers are right up there with the best in the country, too. And our defensive line. And just one tier below those stand-outs, we also have very good, very solid fellas in all the position groups.

But apparently--especially with all the defections (or discrete invitations to leave) that came with Pruitt's departure--our roster doesn't grade out very high, as a whole.

And yet here we are.

So who is to say, really, whether we have the roster to beat Bama and UGa? Right now, this season, not in the future after more rebuilding, but now?

It has famously been said that it's the Jimmies and Joes, not the Xs and Os. I think it's both. And I think you have to consider the coaching staff AMONG the Jimmies and Joes, if you want to follow that philosophy.

The four most important positions on a college football team today are: QB, head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator. After those four, the fifth is probably the place kicker (often the team's highest scorer, though not in Heupel's scheme).

So are we short of the talent needed to challenge the Tide and Dawgs? I don't know. I honestly don't know about all these star ratings and class rankings.

I just know it FEELS like we're in a pretty good position right now to start challenging the best teams in the nation.

Go Vols!
 
  • Like
Reactions: SAPPER 5, RavinDave, Volosaurus rex and 2 others
#44
#44
DC_Vol said:
I think we’ve got an outside shot at beating Alabama, but I don’t expect we will win this game. Their talent and depth is well ahead of where we are right now.

I’m worried about the meltdown that will happen if we do lose this game.

I expected an 8-9 win season this year. Initially expected Alabama and Georgia to be certain losses. I expected we’d take 2 of 3 from Florida, Pitt, and LSU. And have an outside chance of one loss between USC, Vandy, Kentucky, and Mizzou.

As far as I’m concerned, we’re playing with nothing to lose now. 9 wins is close to a sure thing. 10 is possible. A win against Bama would exceed all expectations.
Click to expand...
I agree! 15 months ago we were in the cellar. I hope and pray that White, Heupel, Hendon, et al have caught lightning in a bottle and we can pull off a David vs Goliath win Saturday. I have nothing but praise for our 2 and 3 star players and our transfers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Proud Army Wife, norriscraftbasser, LadyVolette and 1 other person
#45
#45
As long as we don’t get embarrassed my perception of the coach and team doesn’t change. With a loss we still control our own destiny in the east. If Alabama looks like they are on a whole other level which I don’t expect to happen, then you worry about more than just the Georgia game too. If we win, even by 1 point under the luckiest of circumstances. I will be unbearable to deal with for all the non-Tennessee fans I know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SAPPER 5, SATX VOL and LadyVolette
#46
#46
I honestly thought 8-4 at the beginning of season with losses to FL, LSU, Bama, and UGA. Obviously I was totally wrong! 10-2 is the floor now and to me should put CJH in the CoY conversation.

I think we have a real shot at beating Bama this weekend.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volbrando and Jeff Clark
#47
#47
I will be very happy with 8-4,the SEC is a tough conference where any given Saturday can see an upset. That said think there's a real possibility we do better than that. If we go 0 for the rest of the season I'm still a vol fan!
 
#48
#48
If nothing changes, we should only be underdogs vs Bama and UGA, and if i'm being honest, I don't think we are better (yet) than either of them. They are both very deep, and maybe that's the only difference between them and us, but that is a big difference. If we end the season and those are our only two loses, I am ecstatic, and it will be a miraculous job by Heupel and staff. I know there are no "moral victories", but I want to see us being competitive. I'm not conceding either game, I know that we have enough talent, and anything can happen, but I'm also trying to be realistic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Proud Army Wife, SAPPER 5 and cgrish
#50
#50
So say this team has a 98 feel and I think it has an 85 feel to it. 9-1-2. If there had been a playoff Tennessee would have won a National Championship that Season if they could have gotten in to it. They were hot. This team is building momentum as the season progresses.

The 98 team was solid on both sides of the LOS. The 85 defense got better as the season progressed. We gave up 16 points against UCLA in the last 4:28 minutes of the game. Lost to Florida at Gainesville. Beat/Trash #1 Auburn and Bo, Tied GA Tech in a rain storm. The Miami game we all know. Dickey of course replaced Robinson. 16-14 beat Alabama.

I think this season is a mix of both those teams and moving in the right direction.
I think we win Saturday No matter who they start at QB.
All we are hearing from the other camp is QB, Defense Schemes, and a little more respect. Tennessee is not talking anything which is a good indicator of where they are at in this moment.
RG coach speak this week was a classic head game maneuver

Planning works both ways and I am betting on the Silent one carrying a Big Stick.
Believe Half of what you see and Nothing of what you hear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kcvols1
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top