2006 Top 25

#26
#26
(bleedingorange @ Jan 6 said:
I cant believe u guys are talking about winning out next year, thats ridiculous. This team just needs to start learning how to play football again for goodness sake. Our offense was one of the worst in the NCAA, they are losing several LInemen, we dont have any receivers with any heart, and a QB who just went through the worst season imaginable. I think its safe to say we just need to start from scratch and learn the fundamentals of the game first. Maybe the coaching changes will help, they sure cant hurt. Start with discipline and execution, something this team hasnt had in a long time, and everything else should work itself out. It might take a few years of mediocre seasons, but its something u got to have before u can become a winner again. Its a shame it got this bad to start with, thats a whole different ball game though.
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My point was not that I think we can or will win out. It was that IF we do then we would not find our self in the Aubie role due to strength of schedule. Aubie had a very week non conf and thus it hurt them. But your right we have a lot to do before we can even think about NC. I do think we will have the talent to win the East if we get things right. But we will see.
 
#29
#29
It all starts at practice guys, these kids got to want to win for the team not themselves. Until these players start playing for UT instead of that name on the back of their jersey this past season is just the beginning of things to come in knoxville, and of course a head coaching change.
 
#32
#32
(bleedingorange @ Jan 6 said:
I bet nobody has the bighead this year
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Our two toughest games will be UF and LSU, both in Knoxville. If there is significant learning and improvement I have no problem envisioning a 10 or 11 win season. Is that big-headed?

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#33
#33
I agree with those who say that preseason polls mean nothing at this point. For one thing, we don't know yet if Texas' QB Young is going to go NFL or stick around. If he stays, got to like their chances. I really doubt he will, though. After the Rose Bowl, he's probably a top five pick and that's lots of millions of $. If he does go NFL, Texas is still good, but probably not top three or even five.

Where it makes a difference is in August because the higher you are to start the less likely you are to get passed by someone if more than two go undefeated. Plus, the higher you are one loss doesn't necessarily kill you for BCS at-large purposes.

For both UT and UF, the obvious clear goal is to get to and win the SECCG. That takes care of the BCS bowl issue and the only way you can get screwed by polls is if the race for the second spot in BCS rankings is on the line between two undefeated or one-loss teams (See Auburn, 2004-2005).

As to Tennessee not being ranked, I have to admit some surprise at that. Yes, you suffer a little defensively but you have studs to come in there (don't you?). Offense ought to be better with more experience at QB. Plus you get a more favorable schedule. If I were voting, I think I'd put you in at around #12 or so. Then again, I honestly would have Florida higher than #7 so what do I know, right?
 
#34
#34
(bleedingorange @ Jan 6 said:
I cant believe u guys are talking about winning out next year, thats ridiculous. This team just needs to start learning how to play football again for goodness sake. Our offense was one of the worst in the NCAA, they are losing several LInemen, we dont have any receivers with any heart, and a QB who just went through the worst season imaginable. I think its safe to say we just need to start from scratch and learn the fundamentals of the game first. Maybe the coaching changes will help, they sure cant hurt. Start with discipline and execution, something this team hasnt had in a long time, and everything else should work itself out. It might take a few years of mediocre seasons, but its something u got to have before u can become a winner again. Its a shame it got this bad to start with, thats a whole different ball game though.
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Half empty? Or half full?

We return a bunch of great defensive players, a running back who turned a bunch of heads at the end of the season, receivers with speed who just need to be COACHED, a QB who played well as a freshman but struggled as a sophomore with a 2-QB system and a lack of good coaching, a redshirt QB who was very highly-touted as a recruit, a new OC with a fairly impressive resume of QB's (Google "Manning" for details), a head coach with SEC and National championships, a team with a history of "overperforming" low expectations, and an army of Orange-clad fans ready to fire up the grills, pour the Jack, and head into next fall KNOWING that it will be a good year.

Am I saying that we're going to "win out" next year? Of course not. It would be far-fetched for almost any team to predict that this far in advance. Especially with some rebuilding to do, and QB questions to be answered. But, do I think we could??? See 1998 for your answer.
 
#35
#35
If is the big question hillbilly. Probably the biggest game will be the Cal, season opener, everyone will want to see if UT has solved their problems, is Cutlcliffe the UT saviour, Is Ainge back to form. Alot will be riding on that first game. Cal and aint going to come in here and lay down, UT will have to score pts. to beat um. If UT loses that game, everyones mentality will go right back to this years. They must start off well this coming season, we all know that the clapper cant fix problems when they start.
 
#36
#36
(VolBeef88 @ Jan 6 said:
I understand your thought process because of AU. But with a schedule like ours it wont be the same. If we find a way to win out we will be in the NCG. But that is a very big if.

Sept. 2 CALIFORNIA KNOXVILLE TBA *
Sept. 9 AIR FORCE KNOXVILLE TBA
Sept. 16 FLORIDA KNOXVILLE TBA *

Sept. 23 MARSHALL KNOXVILLE TBA
Sept. 30 at Memphis Memphis TBA

Oct. 7 at Georgia Athens TBA *
Oct. 21 ALABAMA KNOXVILLE TBA *

Oct. 28 at South Carolina Columbia TBA *
Nov. 4 LSU KNOXVILLE TBA

Nov. 11 at Arkansas Fayetteville TBA
Nov. 18 at Vanderbilt Nashville TBA
Nov. 25 KENTUCKY KNOXVILLE TBA
Dec. 2 SEC Championship Atlanta TBA *
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One thing that jumps out at me is I just noticed there is no Bye week before Florida. There appears to only we one BYE week next season. Did I miss the memo on this one?
 
#37
#37
That's 14 games UT will have if we're looking at a Peach/Sugar/National Championship run.
 
#39
#39
That's 14 including a bowl game if we make it to Atlanta... Which I believe we have a real shot at doing. Meyer is still working the kinks out at Florida. South Carolina is still short on talent. Georgia just got exposed and needs to do a smidge bit of rebuilding.
 
#40
#40
(milohimself @ Jan 6 said:
That's 14 including a bowl game if we make it to Atlanta... Which I believe we have a real shot at doing. Meyer is still working the kinks out at Florida. South Carolina is still short on talent. Georgia just got exposed and needs to do a smidge bit of rebuilding.
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So that makes us the clear cut favorite huh
 
#41
#41
(milohimself @ Jan 6 said:
That's 14 games UT will have if we're looking at a Peach/Sugar/National Championship run.
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(milohimself @ Jan 6 said:
That's 14 including a bowl game if we make it to Atlanta... Which I believe we have a real shot at doing. Meyer is still working the kinks out at Florida. South Carolina is still short on talent. Georgia just got exposed and needs to do a smidge bit of rebuilding.
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:eek:k: Thanks for that. It's nice to read positive thinking. I appreciate the dissenting opinions that I read, but I could sure do with a bit more of the positive to digest....
 
#42
#42
(bleedingorange @ Jan 6 said:
So that makes us the clear cut favorite huh
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'Round hyah it does. Of course, I'll cut off my own fingers before I'll type that I think Alabama, Georgia, or Florida is going to do anything good.
 
#43
#43
(kiddiedoc @ Jan 6 said:
'Round hyah it does. Of course, I'll cut off my own fingers before I'll type that I think Alabama, Georgia, or Florida is going to do anything good.
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I bet the SEC will be very different this coming season. Florida and Auburn have to be the clear cut favorites to make it too Atlanta, with LSU not too far behind. Georgia and Alabama are losing key offensive players so nobody knows what will happen with them. Might I add Alabama is losing pretty much their entire defense too. Alot of teams will be going through a rebuilding year. As for us hell i dont know what too think, just wait and see i guess.
 
#44
#44
(Volman130 @ Jan 6 said:
Do you have to :horse: in every thread on this board?
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When you have nothing to else to say....then yes, he does. :birgits_giggle:

 
#45
#45
By the time the season rolls around, we'll start about 18-20....That's the way I figure it...I think we'll come out of the gate swinging for the fence too.....The schedule next year is definitely in our favor...We've just got to play with a lot more passion and have more of a "want to win" attitude and a swagger that was missing this year....Definitely need to come out and beat our first opponent and show that we've got an offense....Is this year the year we start out with Cal? Or is that next year? Not sure
 
#48
#48
(VolBeef88 @ Jan 6 said:
I understand your thought process because of AU. But with a schedule like ours it wont be the same. If we find a way to win out we will be in the NCG. But that is a very big if.

Sept. 2 CALIFORNIA KNOXVILLE TBA *
Sept. 9 AIR FORCE KNOXVILLE TBA
Sept. 16 FLORIDA KNOXVILLE TBA *

Sept. 23 MARSHALL KNOXVILLE TBA
Sept. 30 at Memphis Memphis TBA

Oct. 7 at Georgia Athens TBA *
Oct. 21 ALABAMA KNOXVILLE TBA *

Oct. 28 at South Carolina Columbia TBA *
Nov. 4 LSU KNOXVILLE TBA

Nov. 11 at Arkansas Fayetteville TBA
Nov. 18 at Vanderbilt Nashville TBA
Nov. 25 KENTUCKY KNOXVILLE TBA
Dec. 2 SEC Championship Atlanta TBA *
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I see 9 gimmes in that schedule

CAL didn't beat anyone this year. Look at their cake schedule and see for yourself. They will be better next year than they were this year, but that isn't saying much.

AF lost to Army, Navy, and BYU this past year, along with everyone else. A tune up game before Florida.

Marshall, is absolutely awful. Gone are the days of Moss, Leftwich, and Pennington.

Memphis. I know they almost beat us with their back up backfield this year, but they will have to try that again next year as Williams and Avery are graduating.

UGA. Does anybody think that Joe Tereshinski III can beat us? Shockley barely put up enough offense this past year to beat us.

BAMA. I have said it before. Without Croyle, their offense is going to be even more anemic in 2006.

Arkansas, Vandy, Kentucky. No Mustain, Cutler, and then its Kentucky again.

We played awful this year and we were still only a handful of plays away from being 8-3. If we clean up special teams, that schedule looks awful charitable next season.
 
#49
#49
Their status in the Pac-10 is still unconfirmed... They started to show some promise on O but are losing some really talented linemen.
 
#50
#50
The schedule is definitely more favorable, and not having to go to a hostile environment for the first 4 weeks will be good for an offense trying to find its way. I think you're nuts if you see 9 gimmes, but I definitely think it's a much more favorable schedule.
 
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