What needs to happen next year

#1
UTFranklinVol

UTFranklinVol

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#1
This year was pretty good but if Tennessee is to actually be a playoff contender and not a pretender these are the things I need to see to believe it:

1. Growth and maturity of players. Next man up needs to be a reality. We don't need any fans saying "well we lost all our OL or all or DBs or all our WRs" etc next year will be Heupel's 5th season and he's had plenty of time to recruit his type of player and coach them up. Our recruiting hasn't been stellar but it hasn't been terrible either we should have star players replacing star players already.

2. Growth and maturity of coaching staff. We must and I mean absolutely must go on the road and beat Bama at their place. For all the success Heupel has had, he can't win big games on the road in the SEC. We also need to take care of Georgia at home once and for all. Winning the games that decide championships is where this team needs to get to next. The scheduling Gods do not favor us next year so it's time to man up and not make excuses about playing tough teams on the road. Just be mature enough to get the job done.
 
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#2
#2
I am not worried, and really look forward to next season.

And turning on the radio and not hearing neutral Nancy sounding giddy when the other team scores.
 
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#4
#4
UTFranklinVol said:
This year was pretty good but if Tennessee is to actually be a playoff contender and not a pretender these are the things I need to see to believe it:

1. Growth and maturity of players. Next man up needs to be a reality. We don't need any fans saying "well we lost all our OL or all or DBs or all our WRs" etc next year will be Heupel's 5th season and he's had plenty of time to recruit his type of player and coach them up. Our recruiting hasn't been stellar but it hasn't been terrible either we should have star players replacing star players already.

2. Growth and maturity of coaching staff. We must and I mean absolutely must go on the road and beat Bama at their place. For all the success Heupel has had, he can't win big games on the road in the SEC. We also need to take care of Georgia at home once and for all. Winning the games that decide championships is where this team needs to get to next. The scheduling Gods do not favor us next year so it's time to man up and not make excuses about playing tough teams on the road. Just be mature enough to get the job done.
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It is the ignorance by all our so called fans with their prognostications concerning the trend analysis WITHOUT comparing his first two classes to these last 2 classes that give the whole fanbase the stupid look. Still a year away from them being upperclassmen, and the rest of our roster management in and out of the portal will also be key. Especially post spring.

Anybody attempting rational futuristic looks forward and making judgements about staff and squad withou lt being in the building and on the fields are exposing themselves.
 
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#5
#5
UTFranklinVol said:
This year was pretty good but if Tennessee is to actually be a playoff contender and not a pretender these are the things I need to see to believe it:

1. Growth and maturity of players. Next man up needs to be a reality. We don't need any fans saying "well we lost all our OL or all or DBs or all our WRs" etc next year will be Heupel's 5th season and he's had plenty of time to recruit his type of player and coach them up. Our recruiting hasn't been stellar but it hasn't been terrible either we should have star players replacing star players already.

2. Growth and maturity of coaching staff. We must and I mean absolutely must go on the road and beat Bama at their place. For all the success Heupel has had, he can't win big games on the road in the SEC. We also need to take care of Georgia at home once and for all. Winning the games that decide championships is where this team needs to get to next. The scheduling Gods do not favor us next year so it's time to man up and not make excuses about playing tough teams on the road. Just be mature enough to get the job done.
Click to expand...
Sent to CJH. His reply:
heupel-gbo.gif
 
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#8
#8
Focus on building a dominant OL and a great defense. It's hard to do, but this is the only way Tennessee will beat the likes of Georgia, Ohio State, and Texas. It worked for Michigan last year and it will work for us too if we can do it. That's all a QB like Nico needs to win a natty. Sure, it'd be nice to have one of the best WRs in the country - but you have to be realistic. There aren't many Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith types available.
 
#9
#9
PACKERVOL said:
Increase our NIL budget to around $20 - $25 million.
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Pretty much this. Fairly wide talent gap between where we are right now and where we want to be. Need top 5 classes with some major talent in the portal as well.
 
#10
#10
Saw my first game in 1945 and I am damn sure a Vol fan for life. If one is so discouraged after the distance we have come with CJH, then maybe you shouldn’t be a fan. I think many of us were disappointed, but a fan doesn’t quit when a 10 win or even 5 win season comes Long.
 
#12
#12
THEONLYTENISEE said:
Need to replace OC, WR, and O Line coaches.
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It’s hard to do that all in one season though. If we don’t see a gradual overhaul of at least half of our staff in the next 3 years I think 2022 will be the best we’ll ever be. We’re just now getting some resemblance of stability, or at least the closest thing you can get to stability in today’s college football landscape. Give Heupel some time to make the necessary changes. Now if none are made by the time Nico is gone it may be time for Danny to tell Heupel if he doesn’t make some changes that he’ll do it himself
 
#13
#13
VawlIn said:
It’s hard to do that all in one season though. If we don’t see a gradual overhaul of at least half of our staff in the next 3 years I think 2022 will be the best we’ll ever be. We’re just now getting some resemblance of stability, or at least the closest thing you can get to stability in today’s college football landscape. Give Heupel some time to make the necessary changes. Now if none are made by the time Nico is gone it may be time for Danny to tell Heupel if he doesn’t make some changes that he’ll do it himself
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Some time? Year 4 and yet to start a HS O line player recruited under Heupel.
 
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#14
#14
THEONLYTENISEE said:
Some time? Year 4 and yet to start a HS O line player recruited under Heupel.
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I’m not happy with where we’re at either. I think Elarbee and Martinez should be the first ones to go, and I think Martinez needs to go today since every DB in the starting lineup were guys he brought in. Let’s at least give Elarbee a full spring and summer cycle to get his guys ready. Then if we don’t see marked improvement by the end of the 2025 season can him too along with any other position coach whose players aren’t playing at a championship level. Outside of Umarov we didn’t really sign any SEC caliber OL up until the 2023 class. Masai Reddick, Brian Grant, Vysen Lang, and Mo Clipper weren’t exactly guys that I was expecting to ever make an impact in the SEC. Let’s see what he’s able to do with the guys he’s recruited after we became a relevant program again and had a couple of years to work with them

Update: because really if we’re being honest with ourselves Sampson, Pearce, Josephs, and MAYBE Telander and both Carters are the only HS guys that have panned out for us, and everyone but the first three have been hit or miss. Boo go absolutely torched against Georgia but has definitely shown his elite potential at times and Telander and Carter have both been exposed in the passing game. Rickey Gibson could probably be thrown in there as well
 
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#17
#17
GUNTERSVOL said:
It is the ignorance by all our so called fans with their prognostications concerning the trend analysis WITHOUT comparing his first two classes to these last 2 classes that give the whole fanbase the stupid look. Still a year away from them being upperclassmen, and the rest of our roster management in and out of the portal will also be key. Especially post spring.

Anybody attempting rational futuristic looks forward and making judgements about staff and squad withou lt being in the building and on the fields are exposing themselves.
Click to expand...

Excellent post. We have a level of stupidity on here that defies logic. I honestly wonder how many of these folks function in society.
 
#18
#18
Boston Vol said:
Why must we beat Bama on the road? Is the season a complete failure if we lose that game, no matter what else happens next season? Would you take a Bama loss in Tuscaloosa if it meant a UGA win in Knoxville?
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It's not a about the season being a failure it's about seeing the next steps forward in the program. They've done everything else and this is the next step. I expect us to beat Georgia because we have mastered winning big games at home. I want to see them win the big games on the road because that's what champions do. It's not about success or failure it's about seeing progress and since they've done everything else already then progress means winning the big road games.
 
#19
#19
UTFranklinVol said:
This year was pretty good but if Tennessee is to actually be a playoff contender and not a pretender these are the things I need to see to believe it:

1. Growth and maturity of players. Next man up needs to be a reality. We don't need any fans saying "well we lost all our OL or all or DBs or all our WRs" etc next year will be Heupel's 5th season and he's had plenty of time to recruit his type of player and coach them up. Our recruiting hasn't been stellar but it hasn't been terrible either we should have star players replacing star players already.

2. Growth and maturity of coaching staff. We must and I mean absolutely must go on the road and beat Bama at their place. For all the success Heupel has had, he can't win big games on the road in the SEC. We also need to take care of Georgia at home once and for all. Winning the games that decide championships is where this team needs to get to next. The scheduling Gods do not favor us next year so it's time to man up and not make excuses about playing tough teams on the road. Just be mature enough to get the job done.
Click to expand...
Elarbee has to go.
 
#20
#20
VOLINVONORE said:
Saw my first game in 1945 and I am damn sure a Vol fan for life. If one is so discouraged after the distance we have come with CJH, then maybe you shouldn’t be a fan. I think many of us were disappointed, but a fan doesn’t quit when a 10 win or even 5 win season comes Long.
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What are you talking about? When did anyone talk about quitting? I'm talking about making the next necessary steps forward. I have 2 degrees from UT I will never not be a fan.
 
#21
#21
Manchester Vol said:
8-5 Season next year with win over Iowa in the bowl
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I don't see that at all. I can definitely see us rolling into Tuscaloosa 6-0. We know how to win big games at home so I ain't scared of Georgia and all the other games should be very winnable.

The only questions are Bama and Florida and it's high time we beat Bama in Tuscaloosa.
 
#22
#22
Looking forward to next year....Football, Basketball or any sport...Very few win when it's their first time in...I tend to think that some of it may have been that the moment was just too big for them..From getting off the bus until getting back on...we looked like a deer in headlights...Some may hate what I'm about to say but on our way back to our locker room..when they were crowding us and barking at us..we looked timid...there should have been a fight..win or loose show some b@##$, some dog and some love for the power T.,,stand your ground, bark back...Let em' know you ain't no s@#! and your here to roll and win.....because you can!
 
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