I'm terrified that I am watching the 2016 Vols all over again

#1
UTFranklinVol

UTFranklinVol

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#1
we are no longer developing, no longer taking steps forward. Heupel accomplished nothing in 2025 that he hadn't already done and in fact went backwards with that loss to OK.

in 2016 we peaked midway through the season and as you all remember that's when the wheels came off the bus.

and I'm not hearing the same old arguments about recruiting restrictions or losing Nico or injuries on defense. those are not excuses for a 5th year coach to crutch around on.

Tennessee is in deep deep danger if we don't have a plan to completely turn this ship around next year because with the new schedule we may never get on track again under Heupel.
 
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#2
#2
I get the comparison and see what you're saying.
To me, this next game or two is going to tell us a lot.

In 2016, you could tell Butch had lost the locker room and team. Lets see how this squad responds.
 
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#3
#3
UTFranklinVol said:
we are no longer developing, no longer taking steps forward. Heupel accomplished nothing in 2025 that he hadn't already done and in fact went backwards with that loss to OK.

in 2016 we peaked midway through the season and as you all remember that's when the wheels came off the bus.

and I'm not hearing the same old arguments about recruiting restrictions or losing Nico or injuries on defense. those are not excuses for a 5th year coach to crutch around on.

Tennessee is in deep deep danger if we don't have a plan to completely turn this ship around next year because with the new schedule we may never get on track again under Heupel.
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Good Lord this board never ceases to amaze lol we lost because of three turnovers and an inconsistent kicker and blew the lead against Georgia. We have been in every single game this year. This isn’t 2016 and NIL has changed everything
 
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#4
#4
I do think it’s fair to say that your starting QB and safety leaving the final day of spring practice and losing your two best defensive backs to injury can have a pretty serious impact on a football team.

I do think that this process was always going to take a LONG time to get the program back where it needed to be.

I also do think that there are several red flags that have popped up in the last couple of years that absolutely have to be addressed. Heupel is going to have to grow and adapt in the next 12-24 months or he will have run his course. I think he can, but we will see.
 
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#5
#5
Govol111 said:
I do think it’s fair to say that your starting QB and safety leaving the final day of spring practice and losing your two best defensive backs to injury can have a pretty serious impact on a football team.

I do think that this process was always going to take a LONG time to get the program back where it needed to be.
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Nah nah, didn't you see what he said? He doesn't want to hear arguments about any of that. And clearly 6-3 is unacceptable.
 
#6
#6
landscapingvol said:
Good Lord this board never ceases to amaze lol we lost because of three turnovers and an inconsistent kicker and blew the lead against Georgia. We have been in every single game this year. This isn’t 2016 and NIL has changed everything
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you basically just proved my point that we now have a lack of discipline and execution and stopped developing and lost games that were 💯 winnable.
 
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#7
#7
Govol111 said:
I do think it’s fair to say that your starting QB and safety leaving the final day of spring practice and losing your two best defensive backs to injury can have a pretty serious impact on a football team.

I do think that this process was always going to take a LONG time to get the program back where it needed to be.

I also do think that there are several red flags that have popped up in the last couple of years that absolutely have to be addressed. Heupel is going to have to grow and adapt in the next 12-24 months or he will have run his course. I think he can, but we will see.
Click to expand...
we went 10-2 in Heupel's 2nd year. he already proved it doesn't take a long time to rebuild.

but he was playing with someone else's playes which is cause for grave concern because he can't do it with his own prize recruits.
 
#8
#8
UTFranklinVol said:
we are no longer developing, no longer taking steps forward. Heupel accomplished nothing in 2025 that he hadn't already done and in fact went backwards with that loss to OK.

in 2016 we peaked midway through the season and as you all remember that's when the wheels came off the bus.

and I'm not hearing the same old arguments about recruiting restrictions or losing Nico or injuries on defense. those are not excuses for a 5th year coach to crutch around on.

Tennessee is in deep deep danger if we don't have a plan to completely turn this ship around next year because with the new schedule we may never get on track again under Heupel.
Click to expand...
Nico give me more money has given heupel the convenient scapegoat he needed to cover up his questionable coaching! He needs to send Nico a royalty check!
 
#12
#12
UTFranklinVol said:
we are no longer developing, no longer taking steps forward. Heupel accomplished nothing in 2025 that he hadn't already done and in fact went backwards with that loss to OK.

in 2016 we peaked midway through the season and as you all remember that's when the wheels came off the bus.

and I'm not hearing the same old arguments about recruiting restrictions or losing Nico or injuries on defense. those are not excuses for a 5th year coach to crutch around on.

Tennessee is in deep deep danger if we don't have a plan to completely turn this ship around next year because with the new schedule we may never get on track again under Heupel.
Click to expand...
You don't think Brazzell has improved and developed over last year? Staley, Matthews, Redmond, Farooq, Spillman, Perlotte, Heard, Perry, Bishop. They have developed plenty of players over last year and since the start of the season. If you can't recognize the improvement of Redmond since the UGA game you aren't paying attention. He had a very good game last night. Farooq had a big step up last night also.
 
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#14
#14
UTFranklinVol said:
we went 10-2 in Heupel's 2nd year. he already proved it doesn't take a long time to rebuild.

but he was playing with someone else's playes which is cause for grave concern because he can't do it with his own prize recruits.
Click to expand...
2024 playoffs were less than a year ago and we have fans posting stuff like this
 
#15
#15
UTFranklinVol said:
we are no longer developing, no longer taking steps forward. Heupel accomplished nothing in 2025 that he hadn't already done and in fact went backwards with that loss to OK.

in 2016 we peaked midway through the season and as you all remember that's when the wheels came off the bus.

and I'm not hearing the same old arguments about recruiting restrictions or losing Nico or injuries on defense. those are not excuses for a 5th year coach to crutch around on.

Tennessee is in deep deep danger if we don't have a plan to completely turn this ship around next year because with the new schedule we may never get on track again under Heupel.
Click to expand...
2016 was a problem because Butch built to/for that year being the "big" year with no real path or plan to follow it up. 2017 was going to be a complete rebuild, regardless. By going 8-4, he put himself in an impossible situation where the rebuild year of 2017 had to be better than 2016 and that just wasn't possible. Do you think Butch Jones could have had the 2016 team where Heupel has this team today if Dobbs had transferred before the season?

Heupel has built a stable program that will have plenty of good players next year. By all accounts, next year is his best recruiting class. I don't know what next year will look like, but it won't be 2017.
 
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#16
#16
Most all teams have an off year at some point, and I’ll agree and argue the point that our coach should not be fired, but this year may or may not get a pass.
* yes we lost our starting QB & Safety to the portal
* yes, we have lost a couple of key defensive players to injuries.
* yes, we for the most knew it would be a bit of a rebuilding year and lots of people around were thinking 8-4
Where are we?
We should have beaten GA and found a way to lose an almost certain win
We made enough mistakes against AL to make it appear a lopsided loss
We made terrible mistakes last night that gave away a game to an inferior opponent.

If we look at the wins, we are a pulse beat away from a record of 3-5 with both wins against Arkansas & Miss State in jeopardy until the final moments, leaving us with wins against Syracuse, ETSU, and KY.
So, is the glass have full or half empty?
 
#17
#17
Auburn just fired Hugh Freeze. Auburn is the new Tennessee. Auburn has problems. Tennessee football is fine. Yes absolutely fine. Not perfect but in fine shape.
 
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#18
#18
farmdogvol said:
You don't think Brazzell has improved and developed over last year? Staley, Matthews, Redmond, Farooq, Spillman, Perlotte, Heard, Perry, Bishop. They have developed plenty of players over last year and since the start of the season. If you can't recognize the improvement of Redmond since the UGA game you aren't paying attention. He had a very good game last night. Farooq had a big step up last night also.
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they've developed enough to have the most dropped passes in the SEC. and our run game last year was supreme this year they can only run against hopeless bad competition.
 
#19
#19
Caz said:
Most all teams have an off year at some point, and I’ll agree and argue the point that our coach should not be fired, but this year may or may not get a pass.
* yes we lost our starting QB & Safety to the portal
* yes, we have lost a couple of key defensive players to injuries.
* yes, we for the most knew it would be a bit of a rebuilding year and lots of people around were thinking 8-4
Where are we?
We should have beaten GA and found a way to lose an almost certain win
We made enough mistakes against AL to make it appear a lopsided loss
We made terrible mistakes last night that gave away a game to an inferior opponent.

If we look at the wins, we are a pulse beat away from a record of 3-5 with both wins against Arkansas & Miss State in jeopardy until the final moments, leaving us with wins against Syracuse, ETSU, and KY.
So, is the glass have full or half empty?
Click to expand...
we just had an off year in 2023. how many off years are we supposed to have???
 
#20
#20
DeerPark12 said:
2016 was a problem because Butch built to/for that year being the "big" year with no real path or plan to follow it up. 2017 was going to be a complete rebuild, regardless. By going 8-4, he put himself in an impossible situation where the rebuild year of 2017 had to be better than 2016 and that just wasn't possible. Do you think Butch Jones could have had the 2016 team where Heupel has this team today if Dobbs had transferred before the season?

Heupel has built a stable program that will have plenty of good players next year. By all accounts, next year is his best recruiting class. I don't know what next year will look like, but it won't be 2017.
Click to expand...
nico transferring was the best possible thing that could have happened to Heupel. it's not an example of "what if" it happened to Butch Jones. that would be like saying what if Josh Dobbs transferred and Butch ended up getting jalen hurts out of the portal in return.
 
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