People forget that even during Majors and Fulmer eras

[volbound1700]

Tennessee was great at putting up 9-10 win seasons but only got one National Title 1998 and 5 SEC Championships (only 4 outright). SEC also wasn't as strong during that era or as big.

That was during a span of 1977-2008. Tennessee has always been what we have been this year. We rarely take home the trophy (like Alabama) but we tend to win a lot of games.

Now, we were even worse from 2009-2020 than normal in that we couldn't even get 10 wins. We have two 10 win seasons in 4 years under Heupel. Heupel has us back to Fulmer and Majors era.

I know we all want Saban Alabama or Kirby Smart Georgia but that hasn't been us historically. We will likely need to wait for a 1985, 1989, 1997, or 1998 type season where every team is down a little and we have all the pieces together.

 

[madbamahater]

I think it is reasonable to say that all programs would think a 10 win season year in and year out is what they're looking for. This means you are in the mix yearly and if luck has it's way eventually you'll be crowned.

It's unreasonable to expect to go 11-1 or 12-0 each season and if you only win 7 or 8 games that treading on average with no shot.

With 9 wins you have a shot, with 10 wins you're likely in the playoff, especially if you're an SEC team.

I do not think that moving forward there will be so many teams sitting with 9 and 10 wins as there was this year. The field was unconventionally crowded.

 

[LittleVol]

Tennessee was great at putting up 9-10 win seasons but only got one National Title 1998 and 5 SEC Championships (only 4 outright). SEC also wasn't as strong during that era or as big.

That was during a span of 1977-2008. Tennessee has always been what we have been this year. We rarely take home the trophy (like Alabama) but we tend to win a lot of games.

Now, we were even worse from 2009-2020 than normal in that we couldn't even get 10 wins. We have two 10 win seasons in 4 years under Heupel. Heupel has us back to Fulmer and Majors era.

I know we all want Saban Alabama or Kirby Smart Georgia but that hasn't been us historically. We will likely need to wait for a 1985, 1989, 1997, or 1998 type season where every team is down a little and we have all the pieces together.

No. This is a free market economy in college football now.

Fans need to donate more to NIL, and not just travel in force.

And we need to create a better coaching environment to help maximize our talent better.t Ethan Davis should have 30 catches.
Mike Matthews needed at least 5 targets against OSU.

Nobody is asking to be Urban Meyer or Nick Saban great, but we need to walk in EVERY GAME knowing that we have the capability to win.
We didn't have that against UGa or OSU. We were beat from the start because they knew how to stop our offense and Heupel can never adjust out of that.

Nobody cares that we historically don't win championships every 5 years. Its the past.
Make the moves needed to become competitive every game is all any reasonable fan should want.

 

[TheFlash1971]

Historically 9-10 wins is considered good here. Occasional SEC title berth. Now it just comes down to wether the school wants to spend the money they make off the TV contracts to invest in the program to win National Titles, If they do we will have a great coach with a great staff. Is what it is.

 

[volbound1700]

I think it is reasonable to say that all programs would think a 10 win season year in and year out is what they're looking for. This means you are in the mix yearly and if luck has it's way eventually you'll be crowned.

It's unreasonable to expect to go 11-1 or 12-0 each season and if you only win 7 or 8 games that treading on average with no shot.

With 9 wins you have a shot, with 10 wins you're likely in the playoff, especially if you're an SEC team.

I do not think that moving forward there will be so many teams sitting with 9 and 10 wins as there was this year. The field was unconventionally crowded.

I get that but Tennessee is bad compared to rivals at getting actual trophies such as SEC Championships and National Titles. Most our success was Neyland era.

 

[Cartervol]

No. This is a free market economy in college football now.

Fans need to donate more to NIL, and not just travel in force.

And we need to create a better coaching environment to help maximize our talent better.t Ethan Davis should have 30 catches.
Mike Matthews needed at least 5 targets against OSU.

Nobody is asking to be Urban Meyer or Nick Saban great, but we need to walk in EVERY GAME knowing that we have the capability to win.
We didn't have that against UGa or OSU. We were beat from the start because they knew how to stop our offense and Heupel can never adjust out of that.

Nobody cares that we historically don't win championships every 5 years. Its the past.
Make the moves needed to become competitive every game is all any reasonable fan should want.

People brag on our NIL... We still seem stuck behind the same teams it was suppose to even the field out for.

 

[volbound1700]

I think it is reasonable to say that all programs would think a 10 win season year in and year out is what they're looking for. This means you are in the mix yearly and if luck has it's way eventually you'll be crowned.

It's unreasonable to expect to go 11-1 or 12-0 each season and if you only win 7 or 8 games that treading on average with no shot.

With 9 wins you have a shot, with 10 wins you're likely in the playoff, especially if you're an SEC team.

I do not think that moving forward there will be so many teams sitting with 9 and 10 wins as there was this year. The field was unconventionally crowded.

This was a weird year. I think a 4 team playoff would have been fine this year but the extended playoff was likely needed in 2022 and 2023.

 

[Orangecrush#27]

No. This is a free market economy in college football now.

Fans need to donate more to NIL, and not just travel in force.

And we need to create a better coaching environment to help maximize our talent better.t Ethan Davis should have 30 catches.
Mike Matthews needed at least 5 targets against OSU.

Nobody is asking to be Urban Meyer or Nick Saban great, but we need to walk in EVERY GAME knowing that we have the capability to win.
We didn't have that against UGa or OSU. We were beat from the start because they knew how to stop our offense and Heupel can never adjust out of that.

Nobody cares that we historically don't win championships every 5 years. Its the past.
Make the moves needed to become competitive every game is all any reasonable fan should want.

Exactly. Did Clemson do anything b4 dabo got there? No. The past doesn’t matter, the only 2 coaches with nattys right now, are Kirby and dabo, we have an opening to take the next step if we can get the right pieces together

 

[OrangeInKy]

Exactly. Did Clemson do anything b4 dabo got there? No. The past doesn’t matter, the only 2 coaches with nattys right now, are Kirby and dabo, we have an opening to take the next step if we can get the right pieces together

Clemson had some success in the past, not sure how far back you want to go. Hatfield and Ford eras had success including a national title. Bowden had a couple good years but mostly mediocre, had Dabo on staff. Dabo didn't just show up and create Clemson football. Doesn't make your point less valid, but false to say Clemson didn't do anything before Dabo for there.

 

[orangepenez]

Really enjoying hearing about everyone’s journey as a Vol. Thank you all for sharing. I was born a Vols fan in ‘79. My dad went to school on the hill and we had season tickets my whole childhood. Been going to games longer than I can remember and being a die hard fan has been the one constant part of my identity that’s never changed. I watch every Saturday regardless of who’s the coach or whether we’re playing Kent St or bama on the TSIO. Growing up going to games during the Majors and Fullmer years, my expectations are perhaps loftier than they should be. The Vols dominating was the only dynamic I knew growing up so it’s what I came to expect, for better or worse. I absolutely despise the direction that college football has taken with NIL, free agency and now private equity buying into programs. It is sucking the soul out of something that’s remained more pure than most other things that have been corrupted by greed, money and power. I will continue to watch every Saturday because it’s part of my DNA but my bvs is starting to take its toll. My disdain for this new era of college football is kinda forcing me to be less invested in the game and, consequently, the Vols. It’s sad but there is still nothing I look forward to more despite what it’s become. I will never stop believing that the Vols can be elite. We have the history, tradition, facilities, money and most importantly, the fanbase to do it. The Heupel days are SOOOOO much better than the Dooley, Butch and cornbread days. But he better upgrade the coaching staff with some guys that can land and develop talent or he’s going to join the ranks of the aforementioned losers and it could happen real fast. Momentum goes both ways. His system doesn’t work with B team players. GBO!!

 

[TheFlash1971]

Really enjoying hearing about everyone’s journey as a Vol. Thank you all for sharing. I was born a Vols fan in ‘79. My dad went to school on the hill and we had season tickets my whole childhood. Been going to games longer than I can remember and being a die hard fan has been the one constant part of my identity that’s never changed. I watch every Saturday regardless of who’s the coach or whether we’re playing Kent St or bama on the TSIO. Growing up going to games during the Majors and Fullmer years, my expectations are perhaps loftier than they should be. The Vols dominating was the only dynamic I knew growing up so it’s what I came to expect, for better or worse. I absolutely despise the direction that college football has taken with NIL, free agency and now private equity buying into programs. It is sucking the soul out of something that’s remained more pure than most other things that have been corrupted by greed, money and power. I will continue to watch every Saturday because it’s part of my DNA but my bvs is starting to take its toll. My disdain for this new era of college football is kinda forcing me to be less invested in the game and, consequently, the Vols. It’s sad but there is still nothing I look forward to more despite what it’s become. I will never stop believing that the Vols can be elite. We have the history, tradition, facilities and money to do it. The Heupel days are SOOOOO much better than the Dooley, Butch and cornbread days. But he better upgrade the coaching staff with some guys that can land and develop talent or he’s going to join the ranks of the aforementioned losers and it could happen real fast. Momentum goes both ways. His system doesn’t work with B team players. GBO!!

Well said , Ditto

 

[JohnWardForever]

Excuses are just that.......THIS is a new era in CFB. Only the BEST will survive and prosper. Are we that? Nope. Will we be that under current conditions? NOPE.

 

[wmcovol]

Clemson had some success in the past, not sure how far back you want to go. Hatfield and Ford eras had success including a national title. Bowden had a couple good years but mostly mediocre, had Dabo on staff. Dabo didn't just show up and create Clemson football. Doesn't make your point less valid, but false to say Clemson didn't do anything before Dabo for there.

Clemson 1980s-90s had a fundraising program called IPTAY. What it really meant was It’s Probation Time Again Yall

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

We also got our ass handed to us by Nebraska, ironically by a score of 42-17, in 1997. And that was a badass football team loaded with elite talent. Our program had been building towards that game for decades and we got shellacked in front of the entire nation. It’s a long way to the top, if you want to rock and roll, and unfortunately…..we took our lumps this Saturday. Buckeye fans definitely know the feeling, too. 31-donut against Clemson ring a bell for any Buckeye lurkers? We will be back. It may not be next year. But we will build on the foundation that has been laid and get back in that spot again. Guarantee it! The BaseVols had to take some brutal L’s before they lifted the trophy, too. 0 CWS wins in 2021, lost to an inferior Notre Dame team with one of the best teams ever assembled in 2022, swept by LSU in the CWS in 2023 before putting it all together and taking the title in 2024.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

Tennessee was great at putting up 9-10 win seasons but only got one National Title 1998 and 5 SEC Championships (only 4 outright). SEC also wasn't as strong during that era or as big.

The SEC was absolutely strong and certainly had plenty of NFL talent from 92 on. Not too mention the hof players from the 80's. No need to pretend we didn't earn what we won during those days.

Huepel has reached the Majors level, maybe, but he is not near having us at peak Fulmer level. That's pretty disrespectful.

And how rough this league is now is certainly no excuse. He has to be better or we need someone who can be better.

 

[ForMyLosses]

Tennessee was great at putting up 9-10 win seasons but only got one National Title 1998 and 5 SEC Championships (only 4 outright). SEC also wasn't as strong during that era or as big.

That was during a span of 1977-2008. Tennessee has always been what we have been this year. We rarely take home the trophy (like Alabama) but we tend to win a lot of games.

Now, we were even worse from 2009-2020 than normal in that we couldn't even get 10 wins. We have two 10 win seasons in 4 years under Heupel. Heupel has us back to Fulmer and Majors era.

I know we all want Saban Alabama or Kirby Smart Georgia but that hasn't been us historically. We will likely need to wait for a 1985, 1989, 1997, or 1998 type season where every team is down a little and we have all the pieces together.

You ain’t wrong. It’d be awesome to be optimistic but everyone was having a down year except Texas Georgia(lowkey was a down year for them too) and the Vols in the sec. With NIL it’s just going to be an arms race so best of luck on having any of the big spenders having a down year.

 

[camp_steveo]

Loser mentality

 

[Nicovfl8]

Tennessee was great at putting up 9-10 win seasons but only got one National Title 1998 and 5 SEC Championships (only 4 outright). SEC also wasn't as strong during that era or as big.

That was during a span of 1977-2008. Tennessee has always been what we have been this year. We rarely take home the trophy (like Alabama) but we tend to win a lot of games.

Now, we were even worse from 2009-2020 than normal in that we couldn't even get 10 wins. We have two 10 win seasons in 4 years under Heupel. Heupel has us back to Fulmer and Majors era.

I know we all want Saban Alabama or Kirby Smart Georgia but that hasn't been us historically. We will likely need to wait for a 1985, 1989, 1997, or 1998 type season where every team is down a little and we have all the pieces together.

Good point man, wish everyone could think like this

 

[Subzero]

Exactly. Did Clemson do anything b4 dabo got there? No. The past doesn’t matter, the only 2 coaches with nattys right now, are Kirby and dabo, we have an opening to take the next step if we can get the right pieces together

If I recall, it took Dabo a little time before he had the great championship run. I believe it was a butt whipping against West Virginia that forced him to fire his DC and hir Venebles. I think WVA put 70 on them. Prior to that, he had good seasons, but couldn't close the deal on championships. I believe this is where the term "Clemsoning" came from.

 

[CAVPUT]

Loser mentality

Why? Hey, I've been waiting for our program to reach the mountain top since 1965, Hope your luck is better, but at some point, you need to accept who and what you are.