I just Google'd Best university athletic facilities and read several articles. No mention of Tennessee anywhere. I think we have nice facilities, but we probably do not understand the true nature of what we are up against with regard to recruiting the best players and coaches. We are good, but I suspect we think we are bigger/better/more respected/more famous than we really are. This is more evidence that Tennessee fans, while wonderful in many respects, are often considered deluded.
Best College Athletic Complexes (PHOTOS)
TheDailyBore.com: Best College Football Facilities in the Country
Best BCS Facilities In College Football by Conference: With Honorable Mentions | Bleacher Report
Football
Heck, ESPN put us at #3 in the SEC.
2012 Facilities rank - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN
Tennessee didn't even make the top-20 in this list, although several other SEC schools did:
Universities With The Best College Sports Programs
This one doesn't have UT in the top-four of the SEC:
Top 10 Most Athletic Colleges
And this, frankly, is why we should be careful about getting what we wish for:
When Colleges Recruit Athletes, Everyone Loses - Forbes