“Everything School” > Elite Football School

[adam.vol]

I was primarily football.. then Admiral and Grant got me into the basketVols and I’ve been hooked ever since.. basketball is exciting too, and it’s really awesome that we can be entertained and cheer pretty much all year long when you throw in baseball too

I wonder if our fan base would be larger if we won a couple championships in football as opposed to winning in all sports. There have to be some new Vols fans out there because of Rick Barnes and Tony Vitello. Kim Caldwell has my admiration for the start she’s had in her first year.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

To me, if we're not elite in football, nothing else matters. Losing in football and saying "yeah well our baseball team won the natty" doesn't really do it for me. Sounds like a consolation prize.

Yep. And when we make the investment it takes to be elite in football it will be obvious to see for all. It will be evident in our staff hires and in our high school recruiting. Same goes for what we get out of the transfer portal.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

If you answer was elite football, we have the wrong AD. I have always lIked all the mens and women's sports. I think they made a big mistake when they hired a separate women's AD because it petted the Mens and women's program against each other. and both suffered. White is taking care of both and doing it very well.

 

[PowerWookie]

As long as we get some some nattys in the mix I’m good

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

gotta be honest with you, I know more people of other teams and even other fans I meet all over the country really only care about football, which kind of makes me more invested in it so I can trash talk and brag haha

If we win in other sports, I love it and I'm always happy and excited for it.

But when we win in football, it feels like my life has purpose again and everything is actually right with the world...

Jesus loves you, man.

 

[stolitonic]

No offense to anyone intended, but I would gladly trade one football.NC for never winning a game in another sport for the next two decades.

Basketball and baseball have been unwatchable for me for the last 20 years at all levels. Just can't do it

Football is starting to quickly careen out of control also. Might as well win one before the whole deck of cards collapses.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

If there is enough NIL money and resources for us to be elite in all of these sports at the same time then the "everything" school is great. But I have a suspicion that football needs more money or whatever it takes to get recruiting up a notch or two to match what Texas, UGA, Bama, and OSU are doing.

 

[BenGrimm]

I’ll admit I’m a bandwagon fan for basketball ball. If they are are bad, I don’t watch and just shrug it off. If they are good I watch the big match ups and of course the tourney.

The only baseball I actually watched was the finals of the CWS and the first two games were just on in the background while I did other things. Otherwise I barely kept up. It was fun and I’m glad they are kicking A, but it’s just a blip on my radar.

Now, when football was bad I still watched up until the Butch’s last year. At that point I started turning it off and it hurt to do that. I would still follow the score on my phone and get mad they were playing so awful.

So… if the question is would I sacrifice Basketball and Baseball for a guaranteed elite Foofball team, the answer is yes.

 

[Starchief13VFL]

We are def not an elite football school right now.

If 11/9/10 wins plus making the CFP is not “elite” in your eyes, what exactly is “elite”?

 

[AstonRoyal]

Jesus loves you, man.

Not religious but I know this comes from love so I appreciate ya!

 

[Volizona]

I’m on board with this new ‘everything’ school environment. I helps ease the pain of ending the football season on a sour note a little easier to deal with knowing you have other successful team’s seasons to look forward to.

 

[UTwild82]

Unless we are winning multiple NCs in football, give me everything school. I don't even have to care about pro sports, other than watching the Super Bowl and somewhere in the ball park of 20 Braves games a year.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

There was a time when UT won the All sports trophy on a regular basis and we weren't necessarily "elite" in football. Then we went and hired Doug Dickey as AD.

 

[GAV4L]

We are a baseball school until we make a final 4

 

[Chad F]

Our football program is still not seriously in the conversation as a championship contender. Sure, we made the playoffs this year, but other than a impressive showing by our fans subjecting themselves to visiting an icy rust belt state in the winter, we showed no pulse. When we meet actual elite teams (Georgia, Ohio State, and - until the last three seasons- Alabummer), we consistently lose. Often badly. Our reputation is that we can’t win big time games on the road. And we sleepwalk into at least one bad loss every season against an inferior opponent.

The Vols are trending the right way with Coach Heupel, but for right now we’re stuck in that 2nd tier. Not sure when we’ll take that step.

But, hey, it’s better than the Dooley-Butch-Pruitt years. GBO!

 

[sami]

I've always been as big a fan of UT hoops as a football fan, and I jumped on the baseball bandwagon a few years ago with Tony V., so count me on the "everything" side. As much as I want natty's in both football and basketball, having an administration that supports the programs, great coaches, and teams competing for the big prize every year in all three sports is perfect for me.

 

[Tenacjim]

Football was always my first love as far as UT sports and I lived and died with every win or loss. I became a HUGE basketball fan during the Ernie and Bernie years and stuck with it loyally through all of the ups and downs. Losing the Elite 8 games (especially the one to Michigan St) were just as heartbreaking to me as the most frustrating football losses (LSU 2001 STILL chaps my ass). I jumped into baseball during the 1995 season and casually followed them through the years. i became a HUGE baseball fan since CTV arrived and have watched every game religiously the past 4 years. Losing to ND in the 2022 Supers broke my heart as much as any football game. I firmly believe we should have one the National Title that year.

I also follow the Lady Vols basketball and softball teams. I find being a fan of many sports somewhat soothing when things go south for football (which other than 1998, seems to be inevitable). Moving past the OSU loss was much easier with the basketball team’s success (although the Florida beatdown brought back some of those OSU vibes). Thankfully, there is plenty of season left and baseball will ramp up before we know it.

It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol! GBO!

 

[Volizona]

If most fans could choose the team that wins the next Natty, it would be football, basketball and then baseball, but the reality in terms of winning one is that it’s the other way around with baseball, basketball and then football.