Apathy

#5
#5
No. Not even close yet. Not even remotely close.

Go back to 2009-2013. 7-6, 6-7, 5-7, 5-7, 5-7. The transition through Kiffin to Dooley (and Butch's first year too). You want apathy, go take a seat just after that 44-14 loss to Alabama in 2012, year three of O'Dools McRommel. Spent the whole offseason of that year blah blah blahing about Tyler Bray and whipping Florida, only for Florida to beat the hell out Tennessee and watch the Vols freaking faceplant into 0-4 with nothing left to play for. All that talk about turning a corner, well, UT turned a corner alright. 3-4, and 0-4 in the SEC, and nothing positive to look forward too. THAT was apathy.
 
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#7
#7
#1fulmerite said:
How many of you remember when apathy set into the entire program? Are we headed back in that direction?
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When Neyland starts having a sizeable showing of opposing fans, we can have the discussion.

With that said, Danny White is doing nothing to help things with the experience in and outside the stadium.
 
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#8
#8
#1fulmerite said:
How many of you remember when apathy set into the entire program? Are we headed back in that direction?
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I'm only going to speak from my personal POV. Why on Earth do you think Tennessee would return to what it was pre-Danny White? Danny White has proven in every program he's willing to invest what it takes to compete at the highest level. Just last year for the first time Tennessee was #3 in the SEC in terms of dollars being invested strictly into football. Our current recruiting class is material evidence of that additional investment. And we're not going backwards in terms of that. Let's wait and see how we do in the portal this cycle and what happens the rest of the season before we start crying 'Apathy.'

We can still win 9 games this year in a year where that was the ceiling of most fans' expectationns going into the season. I know we've played better than that at times and it's led to some goal post moving (but thankfully not tore down). Theoretically we're not eliminated from the playoffs. A lot would have to go our way, but it's still a little silly to cry 'Apathy' in a year where a playoff berth or NY6 Bowl berth is still possible.

Josh Heupel has risen to this level coaching at programs with not a lot of talent and coaching those guys up to a high level. His 5'10" QB from UCF is starting for the Browns this year. I'm excited to see what he does with elite talent. This roster is good, but fans are well-aware that there are areas where we are weaker.

We are in really good shape for a 5-star CB in the 2027 class. Think about how long it's been since we've had the sort of budget to land a 5-star CB. What I said was true of Heupel just now is also very true of Willie Martinez. He puts 2-stars in the league as starting corners.
 
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#12
#12
Coming into the year most on here including myself predicted either an 9-3 or 8-4 season. Right now we're on pace for exactly that. I'm not thrilled we're 6-3 but I'm far from shocked. This season is going how I expected it too. We have a damn good HC in Heup. We have a great class coming in. I'm far from apathetic. I think we are going to contend for the SEC in 2026.

Step back from the ledge.
 
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#13
#13
Apathy? Not even close yet. If the wheels fall off this season and next, possibly. We still theoretically could go 9-3. A bowl win puts us at 10-3. That's a good season in my book and is doing better than off-season expectations.
 
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#15
#15
I will admit being a little checked out for the rest of this year since we can no longer get any meaningful prize. Now its CFP or nothing. Sure some meaningless bowl is probably fun for some of the players and being in one gives us extra practice time, so that is good but otherwise, what does it matter?

Pretty much dead as far as "the season" goes though - there is no "season" left - only 2 games of interest.

I cant help but watch the Florida game and hope we finally drain the swamp in spite of everything. Same with destroying Vandy just to ensure they stay in their proper place (as an anchor for Smokey to piddle on).

IF we get it, wont be super excited about a 9-3 season but I wont be massively upset either. Mostly looking to next year, who we have recruiting, etc.
 
#16
#16
Gandalf said:
I will admit being a little checked out for the rest of this year since we can no longer get any meaningful prize. Now its CFP or nothing. Sure some meaningless bowl is probably fun for some of the players and being in one gives us extra practice time, so that is good but otherwise, what does it matter?

Pretty much dead as far as "the season" goes though - there is no "season" left - only 2 games of interest.

I cant help but watch the Florida game and hope we finally drain the swamp in spite of everything. Same with destroying Vandy just to ensure they stay in their proper place (as an anchor for Smokey to piddle on).

IF we get it, wont be super excited about a 9-3 season but I wont be massively upset either. Mostly looking to next year, who we have recruiting, etc.
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That’s how I feel. We got in last year and the gap between the elite and us was shown.

We are a worse team and that gap got bigger, not smaller.

I have no real interest in the rest of the season unless there is some reason/investment in the future of the program.
 
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#17
#17
JMSqb11 said:
When Neyland starts having a sizeable showing of opposing fans, we can have the discussion.

With that said, Danny White is doing nothing to help things with the experience in and outside the stadium.
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So last night was my first game in a few years...what is with the crazy maze/barrier system around the stadium? Getting in and out was nuts. Also, I was trying to follow the scores of a couple other games and I had no cell signal or wifi connection all night.
 
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#18
#18
The thing that bothers me the most is looking at today’s AP top 25 and there are so many teams ahead of us that were absolute train wrecks just a few years ago. So somehow their coach and their program figured out a way to be in the top 20, 15 or even top 10 and we aren’t there. How does Virginia, Miami, Vandy, Memphis, etc, etc end up ahead of Tennessee? Five years and there is a legitimate chance if we lose to Florida and/or Vandy that we won’t even be ranked end of season. Say what you want but the Vols aren’t exactly moving forward and are being passed by teams that were laughing stocks less than five years ago.
 
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#19
#19
obxvol said:
The thing that bothers me the most is looking at today’s AP top 25 and there are so many teams ahead of us that were absolute train wrecks just a few years ago. So somehow their coach and their program figured out a way to be in the top 20, 15 or even top 10 and we aren’t there. How does Virginia, Miami, Vandy, Memphis, etc, etc end up ahead of Tennessee? Five years and there is a legitimate chance if we lose to Florida and/or Vandy that we won’t even be ranked end of season. Say what you want but the Vols aren’t exactly moving forward and are being passed by teams that were laughing stocks less than five years ago.
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Miami is pretty simple. They hired a Top 10-15 coach who is an alum. Even for his shortcomings, Mario is on the verge running the ACC if Clemson doesn’t bounce back and FSU continues to falter. Georgia Tech will fade once King leaves.
 
#21
#21
GAVol said:
Good Lord, people are fragile.
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This isn't the college football we grew up with. Just going 8-4 or 9-3 and making a bowl is not a good season anymore. If you are traditionally a top 15-20 program, the new water mark is making the playoffs. To me, its now equal to college basketball, if you don't make the tournament, its not a successful season. That was a very winnable game last night, as the rest of the season will be. Big lost opportunity last night with an amped up crowd and atmosphere. Just the way it is.
 
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#22
#22
anbailey76 said:
This isn't the college football we grew up with. Just going 8-4 or 9-3 and making a bowl is not a good season anymore. If you are traditionally a top 15-20 program, the new water mark is making the playoffs. To me, its now equal to college basketball, if you don't make the tournament, its not a successful season. That was a very winnable game last night, as the rest of the season will be. Big lost opportunity last night with an amped up crowd and atmosphere. Just the way it is.
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That’s a completely different argument. Successful/unsuccessful is different from apathy.
 
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#25
#25
College Football Playoff is the basic threshold, much like the NCAA basketball tournament. Sweet 16 or Final 4 lurks in there as well.

Apathy sets in when your record eliminates your appearance in the playoff and many think that happened after the Alabama debacle. But the media bought into a two loss team with a soft strength of schedule being one of 3 or 4 SEC teams in the playoff.

Was a longshot, but with a third loss, no SEC teams with 3 conference losses is going to the playoffs. Not much to play for now but pride in the program, not sure Heupel gets that, he embraces tradition, more so out of deference to the fan base, but Florida is a recent rival with the division of the conference in 1992, Vanderbilt has been a rival from the day they started playing football in the south. Going through the motions this month will get you 7-5 and a one way ticket to the Music City Bowl or worse given the apathy that is settling into this clown show Heupel is directing these days.
 
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