Coalition of the Realists

#176
#176
Recoil said:
First things first- I sincerely hope Tennessee pulls off a historic upset in Norman this Saturday night. I'll be in orange on my couch hanging on every play. I have stated previously we will lose this game...in spite of how hard we collectively cheer for the Big Orange.

So, in light of the anarchy that will undoubtedly consume this board around 10pm ET Saturday night, I was hoping to go ahead and start a thread for all of us who saw this loss coming.

We'll call it the 'Coalition of the Realists'. We are passionate about Tennessee football, love the school, and want nothing more than for our team to be relevant again. And with that, we recognize that we simply aren't there yet. In some circles, this description is what is known as a 'Negavol'.

If you meet the above criteria, please come on in and announce your presence now before the game even begins.

That way, if the Vols do win, we collectively admit we were wrong on all accounts and grossly underestimated CBJ and the team. However, if/when the Vols do lose, we won't have to engage in any amateurish gloating or I told you so's.

This won't end well...
Click to expand...

There is nothing "realistic" about the bolded statement above. That is a PURE faith statement. To say some that may or may not happen "WILL" happen... is FAITH... not realism.

It is likely that OU wins. They have talent. They have experience. But I wish folks like you would stop acting like this was a WCU vs Bama type of mismatch. It isn't. A UT win would be a big upset... it wouldn't be a miracle.

Honestly, folks like you don't deserve a better team. You talk yourself into being satisfied with losing.... which makes you a "loser".
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#178
#178
sjt18 said:
There is nothing "realistic" about the bolded statement above. That is a PURE faith statement. To say some that may or may not happen "WILL" happen... is FAITH... not realism.

It is likely that OU wins. They have talent. They have experience. But I wish folks like you would stop acting like this was a WCU vs Bama type of mismatch. It isn't. A UT win would be a big upset... it wouldn't be a miracle.

Honestly, folks like you don't deserve a better team. You talk yourself into being satisfied with losing.... which makes you a "loser".
Click to expand...

Thank you, for the insult. Luckily, I was blessed to wear the orange while at UT. Hope you had the same chance. That's why I'm capable of being a realist. I've seen it first hand, and also added a couple caveats in the OP that basically said 'I hope I'm dead wrong.'

It is always easy to react emotionally. I get and respect that.

The rational portions of your post are spot on. Great job on those.

So, to put you on the spot- will we win Saturday? Yes or No? No nuance and no sunshine. Call it. You've clearly (in your mind) called me out. So...?
 
#179
#179
If this was November I would have more hope. The young ones will get schooled - blocking techniques - angles - power - and maybe even some speed thrown in. BUT it will be a learning experience and help against UF and the others......Just my opinion.
 
#180
#180
Recoil said:
Thank you, for the insult. Luckily, I was blessed to wear the orange while at UT. Hope you had the same chance. That's why I'm capable of being a realist. I've seen it first hand, and also added a couple caveats in the OP that basically said 'I hope I'm dead wrong.'

It is always easy to react emotionally. I get and respect that.
Click to expand...
Not really an "emotional" reaction any more than yours was an "emotional" opening post.

The rational portions of your post are spot on. Great job on those.
Click to expand...
:hi:

So, to put you on the spot- will we win Saturday? Yes or No? No nuance and no sunshine. Call it. You've clearly (in your mind) called me out. So...?
Click to expand...

I will give you the ONLY rational answer to that question.

Ready for it?


I..... don't.... KNOW.

That is the one and ONLY rational, objective answer to that question right now.

What do I think is most likely? Most likely based on the relative state of both teams... OU wins. Realistically... UT has the talent if things break their way and they play very well to win. Again, this isn't an ASU vs Michigan or Ga Southern v UF type of situation.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#181
#181
BigOrangeTrain said:
A realist would say we have a 50% chance of winning. Why? The game has to be played. Regardless of what two teams are playing, each team has a 50% chance to win.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid I can't back this logic. This isn't a coin flip and there are factors that weight the probability of the outcome far more than just the randomness of two variables making it a 50/50 chance.

I would agree that .01% represents too great a mismatch.
 
#182
#182
I love the Vols and always will despite what anyone else thinks of me. When I post, I give my honest opinion of what I realisticly think will happen, or how I really feel about a particular topic. I don't post what I really want to happen, or try to fit in with the rah-rah crowd. I just call it like I see it. I'm also a patient person that understands that Rome wasn't built overnight, and our football team isn't going to return to winning SEC championships and contending for national championships overnight. Some of y'all don't like it, but Butch is 100% correct when he says "its a process". I coach basketball on the high school level and understand the hard work and total commitment it takes to be successful on any competitive level of any sport. The Vols are on their way back to competing for titles again if people will just try to have a little patience and temper some of those crazy expectations that some people have for the team this year. I always support the team, and in the past few years, have spent hundreds of dollars on overpriced tickets to attend games I didn't think we would win. I still sported my Vol apparel to the games with pride, screamed at the top of my lungs on big 3rd and 4th downs, and occasionally got griped at for standing too much. I love the Vols just as much as any sunshine pumping Vols fan, but give realistic opinions on the team. All that said... I'm in for the Coalition of Realists on this board. If we beat OU on Saturday night, I will be ecstatic and gladly eat crow, because I just don't think our team is there yet in their development. Especially on the offensive and defensive lines. Hope I'm wrong...Go Vols!
 
#183
#183
sjt18 said:
Not really an "emotional" reaction any more than yours was an "emotional" opening post.

:hi:



I will give you the ONLY rational answer to that question.

Ready for it?


I..... don't.... KNOW.

That is the one and ONLY rational, objective answer to that question right now.

What do I think is most likely? Most likely based on the relative state of both teams... OU wins. Realistically... UT has the talent if things break their way and they play very well to win. Again, this isn't an ASU vs Michigan or Ga Southern v UF type of situation.
Click to expand...

At least I was willing to take a stand and lay out my realistic expectation. We lose. Do you expect us to win? I'd say, judging by your post above, that is a resounding 'no'.

That doesn't make you a negavol, just a realist.
 
#184
#184
Realists, defeatist whatever you want to call yourself is irrelevant none of us have anything to do with determining the outcome. As I have said before most people give us no shot at any top 5 team, last year, this year, or most likely next year. The thing is it will happen, UT defeating a top 5 team and most likely Sooner than later!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#185
#185
UT_Dutchman said:
Realists, defeatist whatever you want to call yourself is irrelevant none of us have anything to do with determining the outcome. As I have said before most people give us no shot at any top 5 team, last year, this year, or most likely next year. The thing is it will happen, UT defeating a top 5 team and most likely Sooner than later!
Click to expand...

I hear and respect your opinion. But why does mine make me a defeatist? Why assume if I'm not full-blown, Jim Jones orange koolaid drinking and sunshine pumping, I'm pulling for defeat? This is at the core of my argument. You can expect defeat and hope for victory at the same time...particularly in a matchup like this.

For about the 8th time, I'll eat my crow gladly, with a second helping if Butch and the team pull this off.
 
#186
#186
Recoil said:
So sad. Not once did I call for a loss. I HOPE for a win.

Sunshine pumper, IMO. Not a club member, go back to your flock.
Click to expand...

"I have stated previously we will lose this game...in spite of how hard we collectively cheer for the Big Orange."

My reading comprehension may not be great but "we will lose" sounds like your calling for a loss.
 
#187
#187
If we lose, I hope its by 10 points or less.

Regardless of the score (W or L), I hope we don't lose any starters due to the remaining season's challenges.
 
#189
#189
Recoil said:
So sad. Not once did I call for a loss. I HOPE for a win.

Sunshine pumper, IMO. Not a club member, go back to your flock.
Click to expand...

In your first paragraph you said that you previously stated that UT would lose.
Sorry, I don't have a flock to go back to.
On the other hand, you're the one that is so insecure that you have to have a coalition. Oh wait, I see you're calling it a club now.
That's so precious. Will you have secret passwords and handshakes too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#190
#190
VOODOOVOL said:
In your first paragraph you said that you previously stated that UT would lose.
Sorry, I don't have a flock to go back to.
On the other hand, you're the one that is so insecure that you have to have a coalition. Oh wait, I see you're calling it a club now.
That's so precious. Will you have secret passwords and handshakes too.
Click to expand...

200.gif
 
#191
#191
bcartervol98 said:
It would FAR surpass the Stoerner miracle in my books. In 98 we were supposed to beat the Razorbacks.

The closest thing to it in my eyes would be the Miami win in the Sugar bowl BUT we WERE in the Sugar Bowl already lol. To me beating Oklahoma would far surpass anything that has happened in my 44 years of bleeding orange!
Click to expand...

Surely you didn't miss the Miracle at South Bend? Or Clausen at Miami? Or Travis Stephens running all over FL at the Swamp?

To me, those were much bigger than the possibility of beating these guys.
 
#192
#192
Recoil said:
Not true. Realists just don't ride the emotional roller coaster without a lap belt like the sunshine pumping, orange koolaid drinking crowd. That's the only difference.
Click to expand...

These same sunshine pumping koolaid drinkers are the same ones who will be calling for Butch Jones' head if the Vols don't beat the #4 team in the country on the road.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#195
#195
VOODOOVOL said:
In your first paragraph you said that you previously stated that UT would lose.
Sorry, I don't have a flock to go back to.
On the other hand, you're the one that is so insecure that you have to have a coalition. Oh wait, I see you're calling it a club now.
That's so precious. Will you have secret passwords and handshakes too.
Click to expand...

If we get a secret handshake then we can start a message board called "Volmasons" instead of Volnation.:) Sorry couldn't help it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#196
#196
DenmarkVol said:
Surely you didn't miss the Miracle at South Bend? Or Clausen at Miami? Or Travis Stephens running all over FL at the Swamp?

To me, those were much bigger than the possibility of beating these guys.
Click to expand...

Wait, those were certainly big games but are you calling them big upsets? When we beat FL in '01 we were a top 5 team. We can debate the Vegas line in the calling it a big upset but when two top 5 teams play it can't be THAT big an upset. For the MASB it was #13 vs #6. The Miami win would have been the biggest upset you listed and even then TN was #18 going in and was a 10 win team before it was over.

For THIS team to go on the road and take down the #4 team would, as far as pure "upset" is concerned, be bigger than any of those you named.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#197
#197
hndog609 said:
Wait, those were certainly big games but are you calling them big upsets? When we beat FL in '01 we were a top 5 team. We can debate the Vegas line in the calling it a big upset but when two top 5 teams play it can't be THAT big an upset. For the MASB it was #13 vs #6. The Miami win would have been the biggest upset you listed and even then TN was #18 going in and was a 10 win team before it was over.

For THIS team to go on the road and take down the #4 team would, as far as pure "upset" is concerned, be bigger than any of those you named.
Click to expand...

Exactly the reason I see it as I do.
 
#198
#198
I just want our boys to play hard. I will not melt down nor call for anyone to be fired if we lose. I will drink an extra beer (or three) and go to sleep. I'm going to hope and cheer for every play. Get out of there with our dignity and our health. Go Vols!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top