Wes Rucker Nails It.

[kcvols1]

Great read.

Rucker: It couldn’t happen again. Until it did.

Tennessee lost to Alabama at Tuscaloosa, 37-20, after a 99-yard interception from Alabama's defensive back, echoing another TN vs. AL game six years ago.

www.wbir.com

 

[rjd970]

Heupel’s teams just aren’t as sharp away from Neyland Stadium, especially in true road environments. If that doesn’t change, we’ve seen the ceiling for this program with this staff.

But this can’t keep happening in Tuscaloosa, Athens and Gainesville. Every time Tennessee takes a double-digit loss in any of those places, the scales shift. Heupel is responsible for this, and he’s got to make the tough staff and player decisions required for any Head Ball Coach to produce a championship-caliber product. If he doesn’t get those decisions right, eventually decisions will be made for him. That’s how this works.

Unfortunately, both these are true.

Fortunately, Heupel deservedly has the latitude to fix it.

 

[KittenVol]

Unfortunately, both these are true.

Fortunately, Heupel deservedly has the latitude to fix it.

But probably not the attitude to fix it.

 

[GoVols64]

The lack of road productivity is puzzling. The process on the road is pretty close to being at home outside of sleeping in a hotel and in unfamiliar surroundings. The travel isn't typically that big of a deal in the SEC either. Something in the players and coaches is causing anxiety or lack of mental toughness/focus in harsh environments. Teams coming into Neyland get the same thing I suppose but good teams find a way to overcome.

 

[wmcovol]

Heupel’s first two trips, while totally outmanned, played pretty well in Tuscaloosa. Vols were in the game in middle of 3rd qtr both games. Saturday was one of the worst games they’ve played since he’s been coach. Unfortunately they were trending for that kind of performance with Miss St & Ark games.

 

[Mason]

FINISH STRONG!! No cake walks in SEC play this year!

 

[tennrich1]

Maybe an outlier but the LSU game in 2022 at LSU was pretty strong on the road. Idk…we’ll see going forward. And the win last year at Oklahoma was positive as well. JMO…but I think we have other more important issues than road weariness . Idk

 

[Volbrando]

he nailed the last paragraph - things have to change eventually, or they'll change for him basically

 

[sonofUT62]

he nailed the last paragraph - things have to change eventually, or they'll change for him basically

Yes. If he isn’t exhausting every avenue to make this program as successful as possible then he’s stealing.

 

[Skooter]

Heupel’s first two trips, while totally outmanned, played pretty well in Tuscaloosa. Vols were in the game in middle of 3rd qtr both games. Saturday was one of the worst games they’ve played since he’s been coach. Unfortunately they were trending for that kind of performance with Miss St & Ark games.

Reality is though with the penalties stopping drives early and the huge mistake before the half, we were down 10 and had them pinned on the 1 foot line as momentum had shifted, pretty early in the 3rd. Well in the game. We had also just dropped a pass which would have had us in fg range to cut it to 7.

 

[Volador]

Execute or be executed

 

[SubVet676]

And the chorus grows louder.

 

[cgrish]

The lack of road productivity is puzzling. The process on the road is pretty close to being at home outside of sleeping in a hotel and in unfamiliar surroundings. The travel isn't typically that big of a deal in the SEC either. Something in the players and coes is causing anxiety or lack of mental toughness/focus in harsh environments. Teams coming into Neyland get the same thing I suppose but good teams find a way to overcome.

Ark. didn't seem to have any problem at all playing in Knoxville a couple of Sat. ago. only 1 penalty the entire game, but very good play offensively. There has to be some reason we play so poorly on the road. Whatever we have been doing in game prep for road games needs to be thrown out the window and try something else.

 

[JohnnyJava]

It also happened right before half in the North end zone at the 2003 Georgia game. Fumble return for ~100 yards for the TD. UT was not competitive in the second half of that game. We fought back in the second half of this game. Much improved fighting spirit

 

[volgr]

But probably not the attitude to fix it.

This. Heupel is showing no urgency to fix it.

 

[kcvols1]

It also happened right before half in the North end zone at the 2003 Georgia game. Fumble return for ~100 yards for the TD. UT was not competitive in the second half of that game. We fought back in the second half of this game. Much improved fighting spirit

Oh, I was there!

Completely agree.

 

[kcvols1]

And the chorus grows louder.

I mean, I guess you could read it that way.

At least there’s a single sheet of music involved.

 

[GoVols64]

Ark. didn't seem to have any problem at all playing in Knoxville a couple of Sat. ago. only 1 penalty the entire game, but very good play offensively. There has to be some reason we play so poorly on the road. Whatever we have been doing in game prep for road games needs to be thrown out the window and try something else.

Exactly what I am trying to sort out too. The week of prep should not be different save jumping on a plane Thursday or Friday. Maybe it is as simple as confidence to win in tough games..... By now you'd think that is there.

 

[TCNC53]

he nailed the last paragraph - things have to change eventually, or they'll change for him basically

Who’s going to change things for him? Danny White? Nope - not happening. Haslam - see previous Nope. Heupel is here until he doesn’t want to be or Danny White leaves and takes him with him. It’s that simple. So people can fuss about his play calling, his conservative approach, his team’s lack of discipline, poor performance on the road, his weight or his scruffy face, etc., but ladies and gents, he’s not going anywhere, and deep down inside in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want him on that wall - you need him on that wall. Have a bourbon and relax. It’s all going to be OK. OK? GBO!

 

[SubVet676]

Who’s going to change things for him? Danny White? Nope - not happening. Haslam - see previous Nope. Heupel is here until he doesn’t want to be or Danny White leaves and takes him with him. It’s that simple. So people can fuss about his play calling, his conservative approach, his team’s lack of discipline, poor performance on the road, his weight or his scruffy face, etc., but ladies and gents, he’s not going anywhere, and deep down inside in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want him on that wall - you need him on that wall. Have a bourbon and relax. It’s all going to be OK. OK? GBO!

Heupel has the offensive scheme to make a serious playoff run. I would never use “wall” and our defense in the same post. More like “curtain”.

I had a bourbon, I am relaxed. It is not going to be OK with the way things are.

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

The lack of road productivity is puzzling. The process on the road is pretty close to being at home outside of sleeping in a hotel and in unfamiliar surroundings. The travel isn't typically that big of a deal in the SEC either. Something in the players and coaches is causing anxiety or lack of mental toughness/focus in harsh environments. Teams coming into Neyland get the same thing I suppose but good teams find a way to overcome.

They sleep in a hotel in downtown Knoxville the night before home games too

 

[wmcovol]

This. Heupel is showing no urgency to fix it.

Well, he didn’t ask me but I’ll still tell him he better well damn fix it. They pissed away a real opportunity Saturday. Bama is good but they ain’t great.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Ark. didn't seem to have any problem at all playing in Knoxville a couple of Sat. ago. only 1 penalty the entire game, but very good play offensively. There has to be some reason we play so poorly on the road. Whatever we have been doing in game prep for road games needs to be thrown out the window and try something else.

It's possible that Heupel’s offense just isn't suited for noisy road environments. By far our biggest road win was 2022 LSU which was an 11 a.m. kick and the crowd was a non-factor.

 

[volfeeva]

Great read.

Rucker: It couldn’t happen again. Until it did.

Tennessee lost to Alabama at Tuscaloosa, 37-20, after a 99-yard interception from Alabama's defensive back, echoing another TN vs. AL game six years ago.

www.wbir.com

It's a great article and to the point, but I don't see anything changing . By now we've all seen the same thing for 4 years now . Just adjust to a 10-2 ceiling and be happy because it's better than we had under Dooley, Butch, Cornbread. And one of these years maybe we find ourselves playing for a NC

 

[SubVet676]

It's a great article and to the point, but I don't see anything changing . By now we've all seen the same thing for 4 years now . Just adjust to a 10-2 ceiling and be happy because it's better than we had under Dooley, Butch, Cornbread. And one of these years maybe we find ourselves playing for a NC

Post deleted. I agree.