Drown your sorrows here

[Checker_the_Shire]

Tennessee just isn't a good football program, period. They are more on par with Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina, and Kentucky.

You only have two wins in Gainesville in over 20 tries? That is pretty ridiculous, only bottom feeders do that kind of stuff.

We need to be more like Ole Miss or Arkansas, and just stop worrying about competing for top level. Alabama, Florida, and Georgia are just an entirely different level of playing field than Tennessee and history shows that.

I wouldn’t put Florida on par with UGA and Bama. They had good runs in the early 90s and mid 00s, but I wouldn’t call them elite. They’re above us for sure, but not elite. You’re right though, at this stage in the game TN is not close to that. They’re mid-major at best. I think Heupel is a great fit, but in order for him to take us to the next level, he needs someone on the field to run the schemes he draws up, and Milton isn’t that—even with a decent o-line. The reason we were stellar last year is because we had Hooker there who extend the plays and make what Heupel drew up an actual reality. We have a potential stud in the wings with Nico who can do that too, but he’s not ready for the Bamas and UGAs of the world with this o-line protecting him. I mean could you imagine how banged up he’d be after last night? Joe is many things, but a little man he is not. I think it’s time for all of us to accept that this season will be 8-4 at best and 7-5 at worst, and know that next year will be better.

 

[volbound1700]

I wouldn’t put Florida on par with UGA and Bama. They had good runs in the early 90s and mid 00s, but I wouldn’t call them elite. They’re above us for sure, but not elite. You’re right though, at this stage in the game TN is not close to that. They’re mid-major at best. I think Heupel is a great fit, but in order for him to take us to the next level, he needs someone on the field to run the schemes he draws up, and Milton isn’t that—even with a decent o-line. The reason we were stellar last year is because we had Hooker there who extend the plays and make what Heupel drew up an actual reality. We have a potential stud in the wings with Nico who can do that too, but he’s not ready for the Bamas and UGAs of the world with this o-line protecting him. I mean could you imagine how banged up he’d be after last night? Joe is many things, but a little man he is not. I think it’s time for all of us to accept that this season will be 8-4 at best and 7-5 at worst, and know that next year will be better.

I don't agree with everyone putting it all on Milton. It was the defense that dug us into a hole not getting off the field early on and not tackling. The key with teams like Alabama and Georgia is they recruit elite players (notably on the line).

We kept missing prospects in our class. We recruit ok but not at their level. These programs can have serviceable QBs like Milton and still win games (think McElroy for Alabama).

I would be alright with team trying Nico if that works out but I don't think that is going to solve the problems. Most of the issues yesterday were NOT Milton.