For the first time in almost two decades I don't feel intimidated going to Gainesville

[ConantheVolbarian]

For almost 20 years, I've felt dread when it came to the prospect of playing Florida in the Swamp but I'm feeling way more confident this year. I'm not calling for a 50-0 rout by any means because we've all seen strange things happen against Florida, but at least we know our head coach won't do stupid stuff to ruin our chances to escape with a win. I can't wait to see how 2023 goes. It could be a magical season with a little luck and if we can avoid the injury bug.

 

[Jaws]

You’ll still be nervous. It’s Florida. In Gainesville.

 

[ConantheVolbarian]

You’ll still be nervous. It’s Florida. In Gainesville.

Actually I'm not this year. That's the difference. I actually feel confident we'll find a way to win because Dooley, Lyle, or Bammer wont be snatching victory from the jaws of defeat for us.

 

[OffTackleVol]

You’ll still be nervous. It’s Florida. In Gainesville.

Nope, sorry Bud. It's gonna be a thumping.............

 

[LadyinOrange]

You’ll still be nervous. It’s Florida. In Gainesville.

Y'all aint my daddy's Florida. Not even close. And you know it.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

I'm absolutely nervous about it. A Florida team that was worse than Tennessee already beat Heupel handily in Gainesville once.

This won't be an easy win. Florida tends to have their best game of the year against us.

 

[Doberman]

Always a slobber knocker. I expect another one.

It’ll be a long while before I get overly confident going into Gainesville.

(Vols by fiddy )

 

[joevol33]

You’ll still be nervous. It’s Florida. In Gainesville.

 

[lukeneyland]

I don’t think I’ll ever not be nervous about a game there. But we took over Death Valley and they’ve got no QB. I could really do with a cathartic stomping of them

 

[stolitonic]

I have never gone into a UF game in my adult life not "nervous"

I don't see that streak being broken this year.

 

[DaddyChad]

I felt confident going into Carolina last year too. Just saying nothing is an easy win in the sec.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I felt confident going into Carolina last year too. Just saying nothing is an easy win in the sec.

Perhaps that' a good way of putting it. It is more like going to play at South Carolina now. Has more that feel than the Swamp trips of old.

Sure, anything can happen in SEC play. Well, we're always going to ruin Kentucky's day, but other than that, anything can happen. Heh.

But this feels mostly like going to an away game in South Carolina or Arkansas or Mississippi. The Gators have lost a lot of their bite.

Go Vols!

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Let's do our talking on the field. Florida still has a 60% blue chip ratio (higher than ours). They are not devoid of talent and that is a tough place to play. It will not be an easy game. Let's do less yappin' this year pre-game and put on more steam!

 

[Jaws]

Nope, sorry Bud. It's gonna be a thumping.............

Possibly, maybe even probably so.

But you’ll still be nervous.

 

[Jaws]

Y'all aint my daddy's Florida. Not even close. And you know it.

Agree, not at the moment.

But you’ll still be nervous.

 

[wmcovol]

Tennessee gets Florida early every year when theyre confident & excited. They will be this year. Vols never get the gators that have packed it in & quit like others do.

 

[Chad F]

I never felt intimidated. I just knew that, even if we were to somehow win, we’d play timidly and try to give the game away. This was a mental issue - and until I see us run through 2 or 3 wins in a row, I’ll have a hard time believing we’re over it.

But I agree, it feels like we’ve got the right leadership in place to change that.

 

[barrylee]

Can't say I won't feel trepidation but I at least know that we now have a coach who absolutely expects to win.

Unlike all the other coaches we employed who were hoping..

 

[OrangeTsar]

I often think Florida is the most dangerous when we expect them to be down going Into the season.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Let's do our talking on the field. Florida still has a 60% blue chip ratio (higher than ours). They are not devoid of talent and that is a tough place to play. It will not be an easy game. Let's do less yappin' this year pre-game and put on more steam!

This ^^^

 

[Volador]

I don't care if Florida loses 12 games in a row prior to us arriving in Gville. They are Florida, and like many teams in the SEC, they have had our # for decades, so impossible to feel confident in the swamp. Less intimidated maybe, but just hard to relax for a second with all those swamp things in the bleachers and gators on the field. Hope we clean house though!!

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I often think Florida is the most dangerous when we expect them to be down going Into the season.

Which seems like every year lately.

 

[volsrock09]

I'm absolutely nervous about it. A Florida team that was worse than Tennessee already beat Heupel handily in Gainesville once.

This won't be an easy win. Florida tends to have their best game of the year against us.

I agree with you. I can see both sides. This is a worse team than the 2021 Gators (at least how they were playing early that year) but it is in Gainsville. The game last year in Knoxville should've been a 2-score win minimum that dwindled to 5 points before a last second failed hail-mary attempt. Until UT begins to win more games against UF, ill always be anxious until the clock hits 00:00 with UT on top.

 

[Rifleman]

Offense is going to be somewhere between very good and epic every year with CJH. We need to see the defense improve a lot or road SEC games* will remain tough.

While I think we did make progress year one to two, some 2022 Vols D ranks were concerning:

Team Passing Efficiency Defense - 66th
Total Defense - 91st
1st Downs Defense - 120th (huge problem)
Passing Yards Allowed - 127th

* I consider all Vandy games home games.

 

[KeyVol14]

You’ll still be nervous. It’s Florida. In Gainesville.

You still a fan of Billy?