Do the players believe ...?

#1
goldvol

goldvol

VolNation's Lesser Poobah
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#1
Do our players believe that they can beat the Sooners this weekend in Norman?

I know--the kneejerk reaction is "of course; Butch Jones has them believing". But stepping back for a moment taking off the orange shades, is it really that simple?

Now, I really like a saying I recently heard from Butch Jones that you "earn the right to win" by how you practice and study. I also think that even if they're not at the point of believing at the moment, the way the game plays out could help or hurt. Although unlikey, if we have another heartwrenching ending, like they did against LSU and UNC, it could only hurt. However, if they catch a couple breaks and somehow pull out a miracle in Norman, it could be the moment that they realize that they can play with the big boys.

Let me know what you think, gentlemen.
 
#4
#4
Big Orange 98 said:
if you don't believe you can win any game than you don't need to be playing football
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To me, there's a big difference between believing you have a chance to win, and believing that you can impose your gameplan and execute on the field.

I'm sure Dooley's players thought they had a chance to win, but do you really believe that they thought they actually would win?

Also, I remember watching the video of Fulmer in the locker room playing Florida. The way he spoke to those players was basically saying, "you gentlemen are some of the best players in the country; go out there and show them how to play football"
 
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#6
#6
The big difference with Jones vs Dooley.. Play to win and play every snap like its your last regardless of the score.. It is an expectation
 
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#10
#10
casetopia said:
"I don't know how many people in this country believe. That really doesn't matter either.
It only matters what these men in this room believe. How about taking it to the field and getting it done like a TN football team is capable of doing." - Phil Fulmer, 2001

This speech never gets old.

Fulmer Pre-Game Speech, 2001, vs Florida. - YouTube
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Thanks for posting! This is the one I referenced above.
 
#16
#16
I think that the players go to bed tonight thinking about how great it's going to be coming back to Knoxville and the fans waiting for them to celebrate a win.
 
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#17
#17
casetopia said:
"I don't know how many people in this country believe. That really doesn't matter either.
It only matters what these men in this room believe. How about taking it to the field and getting it done like a TN football team is capable of doing." - Phil Fulmer, 2001

This speech never gets old.

Fulmer Pre-Game Speech, 2001, vs Florida. - YouTube
Click to expand...

That 2001 team was amaizing. Every single defensive starter, and I think 8 offensive starters, ended up playing in the NFL.
 
#19
#19
Kelly, Bates, and the boys don't think they can win, they expect to win. Not only win but humiliate their opponents.
 
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#21
#21
I think they do. The team is playing with a confidence that I haven't seen in a while. I just hope they stay away from the coalition of the realists.
 
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#23
#23
One of the benefits of youth is "ignorance and arrogance"...not saying our guys are ignorant, but my point is, I think they are just arrogant enough and inexperienced enough to really believe they can go up against anybody, and I like that. Problem is, they also can be very hard to build confidence in once they lose it. I have watched enough football over the years to know anything can happen, despite what statistics and experts say, so although I know on paper it appears to be a huge mismatch, I still have hope. We have enough talent and speed, but experience is a big factor, im hoping luck will make up the difference.
 
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#24
#24
The thread is relevant to the way Jones recruits: recruiting players that have the habit of winning. Expectations can be fairly well founded if the habit is instilled. In this light the new blood might have more confidence than the upperclassmen.

Edit: The competitiveness last year against UGA and USC is on Jones coaching though. I think the upperclassmen probably know what he is getting at in talking about "the habit of winning.:
 
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#25
#25
1allvol said:
One of the benefits of youth is "ignorance and arrogance"...not saying our guys are ignorant, but my point is, I think they are just arrogant enough and inexperienced enough to really believe they can go up against anybody, and I like that. Problem is, they also can be very hard to build confidence in once they lose it. I have watched enough football over the years to know anything can happen, despite what statistics and experts say, so although I know on paper it appears to be a huge mismatch, I still have hope. We have enough talent and speed, but experience is a big factor, im hoping luck will make up the difference.
Click to expand...

I feel pretty much the same. With hard work and some luck, our confidence would be soaring
 
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