I am not gifted with the psychic abilities with which so many of you seem to believe you are endowed. Unlike Darth Vol and Franklin Pierce, I don't presume that I can predict the future. However, I will say this: I believe many of you naysayers and Holly/coaching staff haters will be sorely disappointed when what you believe will happen (and on some level what you actually want to happen so you can continue to troll internet message boards) doesn't, in fact, actually happen.
I have no idea whether this team will make it to the final four or title game. Neither do any of you. But did you ever think of actually supporting the team and coaching staff instead of relentlessly putting them down? They haven't played a single game and ALREADY people are criticizing and complaining. People who do that aren't fans; they are ***holes. You know, sometimes people can become so demoralized by the constant criticism and naysaying that they won't perform like they otherwise might be able to. If you are constantly being told that you aren't good enough, that you aren't going to get anywhere, and being told that by the people who are supposed to be supporting you the most, then those predictions become something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. I doubt that any of the players or the coaches read this board or any other (or then again, during a quiet moment, they may), but the tone of the fan base is out there, internet forum or not.
The Tennessee fan base is in so many ways amazing, but some factions are absolutely ridiculous. It's pre-season. Shut the hell up with the negativity and support the team. Encourage them like other normal fan bases. I don't know of any fan base that has more than a few outliers who act the way some Tennessee fans do; it seems the Tennessee fan base is permeated with these idiots. If you are a fan, cheer the team on. Have high expectations for these players and coaches, because I'm telling you, they ARE capable. Instead of tearing them down (individually and as a team/coaching staff), build them up. Instead of constantly talking about what you think they can't or won't do, discuss what they can and will do. You know, people tend accomplish a lot more when they feel supported, encouraged, and appreciated, and it is the job of the fan base to support, encourage, and appreciate. Don't take the wind out of their sails before they even get started. And then if something doesn't go the way it is supposed to once play beings, talk about it, criticize the aspects that went wrong, and be upset about it, but don't bash. Don't demean. Don't demoralize. That isn't what a true fan does, even when things go wrong. The coaches and players know far better what they are doing, and they each have far more on the line, than any of you do.
Unless Holly stops landing quality recruits or has a couple of losing seasons, she isn't going anywhere. Get over the coaching staff bashing. She has accomplished far, far more than most head coaches with only two complete seasons under their belts. She doesn't yet have the head coaching experience that those to whom she is being compared (somewhat unfairly) have (and no matter how you cut it, being an assistant, particularly to someone like Pat Summitt, is not the same as being the head coach). However, she is a very good coach and there is no reason to think that she won't continue to get better and better.
