Are we the Penn State of the SEC?

[GVF]

When we beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl they weren't elite and frankly aren't elite anymore. They are back to their pre watson/TL era of being pretty good but not elite.

Taken is perspective, Clemson is still pretty darn good. They just can't afford the portal to stay at the top.

 

[McDad]

Alabama was most definitely not elite this year, and they weren’t really elite in 2022. They were close but that wasn’t one of Saban’s better teams. LSU wasn’t elite either. Nor was Clemson.

We have beaten a few big names, but none of the teams were elite when we beat them.

Ironic, huh?

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Ironic, huh?

Not really. If they had been elite, we probably would have lost.

 

[bpalmer28]

Good program that will win 9-10 games a year but can't beat the elite programs in big games?

I mean historically that's what Tennessee has always been. We should be averaging 9-10 wins per year and occasionally make a run at the SEC/Natty when stars align.

 

[lukeneyland]

maybe at least they won a playoff game

Lol I’d love to have gotten SMU. Y’all are idiots

 

[McDad]

Not really. If they had been elite, we probably would have lost.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

OSU 20 PSU 13 so I would say we’re more like Indiana

At Penn St

 

[GAV4L]

Lol I’d love to have gotten SMU. Y’all are idiots

Should've done better in the regular season then and not lost to a bad Arkansas team

 

[GAV4L]

Taken is perspective, Clemson is still pretty darn good. They just can't afford the portal to stay at the top.

I don't disagree, but the point is we've struggled and haven't beaten any elite teams. Just pretty good teams. Which is not a bad place to be, but fans always want to see the program take that next step and we seem stuck at "pretty good"

 

[JohnWardForever]

NO. Psu handled bidness....

 

[GAV4L]

Honestly speaking ..... I don't agree with this perspective.

Going to the "Gasparilla Bowl" is much more in line with getting a participation trophy, than being a participant in the actual tournament being played to decide the National Championship.

If you are suggesting that Tennessee didn't belong in the 12 team field? I disagree with that as well. Some posters like to think that their perspective is the only one which is reasonable. Let's be honest .... it's not.

Tenneesee belonged in the 12 team field.

But put it this way, would we have made a 4 team playoff this year?

No.

So to say "we made the playoff this year" as a statement that the program is on the rise isn't totally accurate since the field is simply expanding.

The 2022 team was better than this one but didn't make the playoffs.

Not saying we're in a bad place at all, we're not, but to say that "we made the playoffs so everything is on schedule and we're on the rise" isn't quite right either.

We're pretty much stuck where we've been under Heupel, but that is a much better place than we've been for a decade and a half so it is okay for now.

 

[JohnWardForever]

His contract says he's allowed to lose road games.

So when Hype loses at home, (Next Year) prolly twice, he gone?

 

[JohnWardForever]

Not really. If they had been elite, we probably would have lost.

I tink that's what he meant..........

 

[McDad]

So when Hype loses at home, (Next Year) prolly twice, he gone?

Yes.
He will be shot by firing squad on the T at the 50 immediately after.

Some of yall absolutely love drama and chaos.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Should've done better in the regular season then and not lost to a bad Arkansas team

This prevented a UT home game, which would have been totally different in the first round. Then you still advance to play a Top 5 team, them off a bye. Same result as osu.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Yes.
He will be shot by firing squad on the T at the 50 immediately after.

Some of yall absolutely love drama and chaos.

NO. Hate drama. However Uga comes to Knoxville and so does Okie & Arkie, and both will be improved...Two home losses is a real possibility.

 

[YankeeVol]

Haven't checked it in a while, but UT used to be an 7-8 win per year level program. We've never averaged 9-10 wins per year. Don't think PSU is a good comparison either. They have a .690 all-time winning percentage. UT is .671. We're closer to Indiana(.676) and Nebraska(.677) in that regard.

Indiana has a .422 winning % bud...

517-715-44 overall

PLUS, we're still above UGA (.667)

 

[McDad]

NO. Hate drama. However Uga comes to Knoxville and so does Okie & Arkie, and both will be better....Two home losses is a real possibility.

It may. 3 wins can happen, too.

It costs nothing to be optimistic.

 

[GAV4L]

Indiana has a .422 winning % bud...

517-715-44 overall

That seems more sensible.

Maybe he looked up their men's basketball team all time record by accident lol

 

[JohnWardForever]

It may. 3 wins can happen, too.

It costs nothing to be optimistic.

Totally. Right now that is just pretty dang difficult.......My favorite race car just got beat by 10 laps.

 

[McDad]

Totally. Right now that is just pretty dang difficult.......My favorite race car just got beat by 10 laps.

Be mentally tougher. Any knucklehead can be optimistic when it's all going right. That's nothing special. The hard part is to be confident in the face of despair.
Next season is gonna be great!

 

[JohnWardForever]

Be mentally tougher. Any knucklehead can be optimistic when it's all going right. That's nothing special. The hard part is to be confident in the face of despair.
Next season is gonna be great!

Yeah well that's all fine and good and positive and Naive. (I used to think Tennessee was going to beat bama every year, then 11 went by and I realized that the best team usually wins) If you have 400 HP, you ain't beating 500 HP much.... Optimistic is a wonder trait, but realistic will keep you grounded. This University and this Fan Base deserve to be top 5-10 every year and not on paper, on the field. "Mentally tough" so thinking your team is going to win regardless is "mentally tough" LOL And do NOT insinuate I am a knucklehead. I can aim below the belt too. But its Christmas.

 

[McDad]

Yeah well that's all fine and good and positive and Naive. If you have 400 HP, you ain't beating 500 HP much.... Optimistic is a wonder trait, but realistic will keep you grounded.

Your choice. I have to be realistic on the things I can control and impact me and my family. I choose to be optimistic on things I cannot control and have no impact.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Your choice. I have to be realistic on the things I can control and impact me and my family. I choose to be optimistic on things I cannot control and have no impact.

Ut sports must have an impact on you, you are here on Christmas eve eve. Anyways, after 40 years as a Vol Fan, I've learned to be realistic. And realistic is Tennessee wasn't really that good this year, and at least half of the best players are gone. Better to be realistic and surprised than optimistic and disappointed. I'm gone now. So have a good one, Merry Christmas. Not every quote gets an answer.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Tenneesee belonged in the 12 team field.

But put it this way, would we have made a 4 team playoff this year?

No.

So to say "we made the playoff this year" as a statement that the program is on the rise isn't totally accurate since the field is simply expanding.

The 2022 team was better than this one but didn't make the playoffs.

Not saying we're in a bad place at all, we're not, but to say that "we made the playoffs so everything is on schedule and we're on the rise" isn't quite right either.

We're pretty much stuck where we've been under Heupel, but that is a much better place than we've been for a decade and a half so it is okay for now.

Stuck where we have been under Heupel? That is a weird comment. I wouldn't blame Heupel if he bolted. This is an ungrateful fan base.