Butch gets a Top 5 Win

[sjt18]

and out of this schedule. It is not an easy one.

Last year was maybe one game harder than usual... this year's schedule is actually pretty normal for UT. The East overall is weaker than it was just a few years ago... so I am not sure you can claim even that.

 

[ITSGR82BATNVOL]

Hard to argue with facts. Butch has elite potential, our fans are our only enemy at this point! Support him fully Volnation. Butch's tenure will mirror Serrano's work on the diamond.

IF the Pearl haters had one brain between them (which they don't), we would likely be considered among the best nationally in the three major men's sports, in the near future.

 

[sjt18]

Negavol says he's gonna go down swinging....

Butch had a collection of QBs to work with that ranged from undertalented to true freshmen. On defense he had maybe the slowest defense in college football since teams were all white. Not sure how competitive you expected Butch to be in the SEC in his first season with so many albatrosses hanging around his neck.

So I am the negavol but you are the guy taking shots at the players? Gotcha. I am a UT fan... not a Jones fan. I am only a Jones fan as an extension of being a Vol fan and only in as much as he helps the Vols to become great again. If you want to get your feelings hurt because I think Vol success is more important than some blind allegiance to Jones or any other coach... then tough.

That is a false statement about the QB's. All four have legit SEC talent if they get good support around them and good coaching. I actually think the O will come along.

The second statement is ridiculously false. At a very bare minimum, UT's D was more talented and as fast as Vandy and Mizzou. Both of those teams though were well coached and performed well. Were they "fast" as SEC D's go? Absolutely not. Were they anything like as slow as you claim? Absolutely not. Let's boil it down to this. They were beaten FAR more because they were out of position than because they were just outrun, outquicked, or overpowered.

 

[SGMVols]

Last year was maybe one game harder than usual... this year's schedule is actually pretty normal for UT. The East overall is weaker than it was just a few years ago... so I am not sure you can claim even that.

This year's SEC East will be the worst since the divisions were first created. There isn't a single team that doesn't have a major question mark to resolve.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

Counting ourselves, that leaves four other teams that will be in the top 5: bamer, USCe, and OK we play. I doubt UGA, Mizzou or gators make any where near top 5. And we won't play FSU in regular season.

 

[sjt18]

I get trying to keep people realistic, but it can't be fun being a fan when some of the people on here are always so negative. Where's the fun in that? Keep your expectations realistic, but dang people... try to be optimistic, it won't kill you. Have a beer and relax.

I am neither pessimistic or optimistic. I AM realistic and hopeful.

I HOPE that what we saw in '13 was simply a function of transition to Jones' way of doing things. It IS very possibly the case.

As a manager, I have a way of doing things. When I take over a facility, I don't look for quick results and usually take heat for it early on from bosses that want to see immediate and tangible improvements. I have a way of doing things that has worked and I trust. So I take the short term heat but in a year or so... permanent, institutional changes have been made that pay consistent dividends even if I leave. USUALLY, it involves personnel changes.

I can sympathize and relate to what Jones is going through. I am on the other side of something similar in my current job.... but the expectations cannot be lowered regardless. I won't sugarcoat what we saw in '13. It was not good.

 

[Burger]

I am neither pessimistic or optimistic. I AM realistic and hopeful.

I HOPE that what we saw in '13 was simply a function of transition to Jones' way of doing things. It IS very possibly the case.

As a manager, I have a way of doing things. When I take over a facility, I don't look for quick results and usually take heat for it early on from bosses that want to see immediate and tangible improvements. I have a way of doing things that has worked and I trust. So I take the short term heat but in a year or so... permanent, institutional changes have been made that pay consistent dividends even if I leave. USUALLY, it involves personnel changes.

I can sympathize and relate to what Jones is going through. I am on the other side of something similar in my current job.... but the expectations cannot be lowered regardless. I won't sugarcoat what we saw in '13. It was not good.

It's tolerable though with the circumstances. I'd let the man do another year of his job before I judge him.

 

[sjt18]

This year's SEC East will be the worst since the divisions were first created. There isn't a single team that doesn't have a major question mark to resolve.

I'd agree except I think UGA has a solid roster of talent. They will always have a coaching question though as long as Richt is there. IMHO, he is a product of the Peter Principle... leaders usually rise to the level of their incompetence and then stay there.


Your point is why I keep saying that Jones has a tremendous opportunity if he can take advantage of it. The East is a jumbled up mess waiting for someone to take over.

 

[sjt18]

It's tolerable though with the circumstances. I'd let the man do another year of his job before I judge him.

You know me by now. I may judge what someone HAS done... but avoid judging what they WILL do. That's the problem I generally have with posters here regardless of where they come down on issues.

 

[Daloth]

I find it pretty hilarious that we keep seeing posts saying... We know he can recruit, but can he coach? YES nega's!!!!! We have proof he can coach also. He will prove it again this year with a couple more quality wins and finally a bowl win, which we need desperately in order to get the train rolling with a little more speed.

Is that proof in the vandy or UF losses? We have proof he can both win and lose games he shouldn't. That means nothing.

 

[rcvol]

A major sign of a good coach is an ability to pull off a major upset in thier first season - even if the overall season is a losing one. Thus it is huge that CBJ got a great win in 2013 with the win over USC, who ended the season ranked #4 in the final AP poll.

In fact, in the 15 years since 1998, TN has only beaten 3 other teams that ended up in the top five of the final AP poll. ONLY 3 in 15 years!

2001 UF (final AP #4)
2003 Miami (final AP #5)
2007 UGA (final AP #2).

That's it.

And Butch Jones comes in, with a rag tag roster and beats the #4 team in the final AP poll!

Butch Gets It!
:rock:

College Football Rankings 2000's

No way South Carolina lets us sneak up on them again. Ain't happening, especially in Columbia.

 

[JohnnyBall]

and out of this schedule. It is not an easy one.

And it won't be in 15 ...and 16 ...and 17......

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

So UT's roster in your opinion was worse than 5.6 SEC opponents?

Hey - I was never good at math! :mf_surrender:

Butch is going to get this thing turned around! :rock2:

 

[ImportedVoL]

Is that proof in the vandy or UF losses? We have proof he can both win and lose games he shouldn't. That means nothing.

Florida had not fallen yet when we played them, in fact we are the team that took them down.. they never recovered from the injuries in that game.. And if the same people doubting him now hadn't thrown such a hissy fit over QB he would not have had to start peterman... and we all know that would have been a much different game had he not been forced to do that.

And vandy was not the pushover many of you would try to press on the rest of us...

The USC win overshadows both of those losses by a large amount.. both of the losses were against teams chosen very close to us in the points margin.. but the win was against a team that was supposed to destroy us..

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

Florida had not fallen yet when we played them, in fact we are the team that took them down.. they never recovered from the injuries in that game.. And if the same people doubting him now hadn't thrown such a hissy fit over QB he would not have had to start peterman... and we all know that would have been a much different game had he not been forced to do that.

And vandy was not the pushover many of you would try to press on the rest of us...

The USC win overshadows both of those losses by a large amount.. both of the losses were against teams chosen very close to us in the points margin.. but the win was against a team that was supposed to destroy us..

This

 

[sjt18]

UF was not a good football team when UT played them... just no one knew it yet. I am not talking about talent either. The evidence points to Muschamp just being a subpar leader.

UT may not have been ready to beat them by then... but they were already a bad team just waiting to be exposed.

 

[sjt18]

BTW, I respect Jones for taking a shot with Peterman. It was a gutsy call that didn't work out. You have to respect the guts... but that decision probably cost UT a shot at winning that game. Worley did some good things when he came back in despite being in desperation mode for the whole second half.

 

[Warrior_Vol_74]

I agree with some other posts about Worley being hurt. If he doesnt get hurt and we do not start Peterman against Florida (Worley starting every game) we would have been in a bowl game.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Last year was maybe one game harder than usual... this year's schedule is actually pretty normal for UT. The East overall is weaker than it was just a few years ago... so I am not sure you can claim even that.

I think this season's schedule is at least as difficult as last season's. Our OOC schedule is much tougher than last seasons top to bottom and Florida is bound to improve. UGA and Mizzou will probably take a slight step back (probably Vandy too) and Ole Miss is an easier draw than Auburn. However, Ole Miss is no pushover: they beat LSU last season as return pretty much everything.

But it's hard to compare USU, Arky State, and UTC to last season's AP, WKU, and USA. OU could likely be better than Oregan last season.

They key to getting a bowl game will be beating one of Mizzou, USCe, UF, or UGA. I think the chances of that are about as even as last season.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

So, of the final top 9 ... we faced 5 of em?

 

[GrowVol]

So I am the negavol but you are the guy taking shots at the players? Gotcha. I am a UT fan... not a Jones fan. I am only a Jones fan as an extension of being a Vol fan and only in as much as he helps the Vols to become great again. If you want to get your feelings hurt because I think Vol success is more important than some blind allegiance to Jones or any other coach... then tough.

That is a false statement about the QB's. All four have legit SEC talent if they get good support around them and good coaching. I actually think the O will come along.

The second statement is ridiculously false. At a very bare minimum, UT's D was more talented and as fast as Vandy and Mizzou. Both of those teams though were well coached and performed well. Were they "fast" as SEC D's go? Absolutely not. Were they anything like as slow as you claim? Absolutely not. Let's boil it down to this. They were beaten FAR more because they were out of position than because they were just outrun, outquicked, or overpowered.

So does being "outrun and outquicked" mean slower or faster? Your post seems contradicting......As fast, but outrun,etc. So your saying we where slower at the positions assigned? right?

 

[Doyle Hargraves]

And if the same people doubting him now hadn't thrown such a hissy fit over QB he would not have had to start peterman... and we all know that would have been a much different game had he not been forced to do that.

You honestly believe that griping fans "forced" Butch to change QBs?
Do you think that decision was made to give the fans what they wanted or to teach them a lesson?
If you answer yes to either question, then Butch needs to be fired now.

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

I could buy that if otherwise they were competitive.

When you have two well coached games vs 4 blowouts/Vandy loss/UF loss/USA win then you are being very generous in saying the "jury is still out".

I am not sure what you think you are helping by pointing out that UT failed to beat the better teams during Fulmer's decline. That's pretty much part and parcel to his decline. He beat the weaklings and lost to the better coaches and programs... until the weaklings started catching up too.

Has it ever occurred to you that the players were physically and mentally spent towards the end of the year!!! We had no depth! But you continue with your asinine assessments.

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

So, of the final top 9 ... we faced 5 of em?

A number of bowl teams played zero top 10 teams! TN was 1-4 v. Top 10 teams in 2013.

 

[Neyland Law Vol]

Also, Please do not underestimate how good of a program SC has become. That was a huge win Butch got for TN in October.

The Ol’ Ball Coach has turned around a dormant program that has finished with 11 wins the last three seasons, and coming off another 11-2 season, Spurrier is declaring the Gamecocks the ‘national champions of bowl season’, via ESPN.com.

“We’re looking for any kind of championship we can find around here. We don’t have many. It’s amazing how we found ways to win this year. It just seemed like we kept having good things happen to us ever since we left Knoxville [a 23-21 loss to Tennessee on Oct. 19].

“There’s going to be about 11 of us who are somewhere around 11-2 or 12-2, so we’ll see how it all shakes out [referring to final top 25],” Spurrier said. “But I’m going ahead and declaring us the national champion of the bowl season.”

Spurrier’s Gamecocks beat the Fiesta Bowl winner (UCF), Orange Bowl winner (Clemson) and the Cotton Bowl winner (Mizzou). With that, the Gamecocks beat three top 15 teams.

The only three programs in college football to have the kind of success South Carolina has had in three straight seasons has been Alabama, Oregon and Stanford.

Steve Spurrier: I