How do you guys feel about the bowl game?

[Panthro]

I feel excited!
Joe Milton gets dumped on a lot around here, but I like watching him play. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do against a very good defense. He knows he could use more good film for scouts, and I think we see that on NYD.
Also excited to see Nico get some time in the second half.

 

[Pappy]

Do we have Defensive Backs available for the game? That is alarming for the Bowl Game. Otherwise, I think we would smoke them with our whole roster available.

I read somewhere that Iowa has agreed to only run the ball..no passes

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

I can’t speak for everyone, of course, but I have little interest in this game. I live in Florida but decided not to go unless Nico (our second team QB) was named the starter.

So not really a Vol fan but a Nico fan...awesome

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

That would work if I wasn’t on message boards and listening to Knox sports radio 24/7 to see what players we are keeping, losing to portal, draft and getting on signing day. To me, all of those things (and Nico - our future) are tons more important that what Joe can do against a vaunted Iowa defense and what our subpar depleted defense does against a bad Iowa offense.

So Joe deserves no respect or loyalty after staying and giving his all for Tennessee?

You know if he had opted put like so many others, there is little doubt people like you would dog him about that.

Some of yall.....

 

[Vfl2407]

So Joe deserves no respect or loyalty after staying and giving his all for Tennessee?

You know if he had opted put like so many others, there is little doubt people like you would dog him about that.

Some of yall.....

Love Joe. It should be his decision to start or not.
i just won’t travel and pay the money to see him play. But will watch and root for him on tv.
There are levels of excitement in fandom.
I love Joe for his loyalty but he is now our past. Nico is our future and I am off the charts excited to see him play.

 

[DarkVolder]

I think we lose. I think our players and coaching staff have packed it in for the year we have taken too many portal hits and some guys are skipping the bowl game. Iowa’ offense is challenged but they have a pretty good defense they will give Joe and our offense problems and they will get up for playing against a SEC opponent.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Uninterested, really. I guess it's a measure of how popular football is that we still even have bowl games, given how completely
meaningless nearly all of them are. "Hey, let's go to Shreveport to play another 6-5 team...and see who wins." Whoppee. Plus
many of the best upperclassmen are now opting not to play in the games. They're post-season exhibitions, essentially.

The meaningless comment is so off base.

Were all the games once we were out of the SEC Championship race meaningless? Do you think any of those or the bowl game are meaningless to the guys on the field at practice sweating and bleeding, giving their all for Tennessee?

Some fans amaze me at how much we demand to be entertained and often while giving so little for that entertainment. We often hear how spoiled athletes are today but imo many ofbthe fans are just as spoiled.

 

[dalton_vol]

Used to be.
But now the bowl games are just exhibitions and practices for the next season unless you’re in the playoffs.

yeah, the bowl games are a joke now. you just need a .500 records to in one. every city has them, the best players don't play for fear of getting hurt. Us fans cheer all year, spending a bunch of money during the season and at the bowl game just to see most of our starters and star athletes end up not playing. it used to be a very proud moment for a team to play in a bowl game, but like you say, it's just a way to get more practice time and then play a glorified scrimmage.

 

[dalton_vol]

I think we lose. I think our players and coaching staff have packed it in for the year we have taken too many portal hits and some guys are skipping the bowl game. Iowa’ offense is challenged but they have a pretty good defense they will give Joe and our offense problems and they will get up for playing against a SEC opponent.

agreed, our team has been hit pretty hard and we already struggle offensively as does our secondary.

 

[GAVol]

Wrong. Bowl games matter big time. Why some of you think they don’t is baffling.

You’re reading my post wrong.

 

[CSVol]

That would work if I wasn’t on message boards and listening to Knox sports radio 24/7 to see what players we are keeping, losing to portal, draft and getting on signing day. To me, all of those things (and Nico - our future) are tons more important that what Joe can do against a vaunted Iowa defense and what our subpar depleted defense does against a bad Iowa offense.

Is it a football game?
Are The University of Tennessee Volunteers playing?

If the answer to either question is yes, I most likely am going to watch. If the answer is yes to both, I’m definitely watching. And spare me the blowout of a bad team BS. Knocking back cold ones and watching my VOLS stomp the mess out of anybody sounds like a perfect New Year’s Day.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

I’m looking forward to the last opportunity to watch the team play against another team until next season. Curious to see how the young guys do on defense and Sampson at RB1 for a full game.

 

[temptn]

Do we have Defensive Backs available for the game? That is alarming for the Bowl Game. Otherwise, I think we would smoke them with our whole roster available.

.
I thought everyone wanted our entire defense gone. Now you got your wish.

 

[temptn]

I don't understand how Iowa doesn't have even one player transfering out. That can't be right? Especially considering how putrid their offense was...how do you not have players leaving to try and find better opportunity???

.
Maybe they are not that great.

 

[Vfl2407]

I don't understand how Iowa doesn't have even one player transfering out. That can't be right? Especially considering how putrid their offense was...how do you not have players leaving to try and find better opportunity???

True.
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a team that was so different offensively and defensively. My favorite shirt was the Iowa fans in the stands wearing ones that said PUNT. I laughed.

 

[coachJOTHheupel]

That would work if I wasn’t on message boards and listening to Knox sports radio 24/7 to see what players we are keeping, losing to portal, draft and getting on signing day. To me, all of those things (and Nico - our future) are tons more important that what Joe can do against a vaunted Iowa defense and what our subpar depleted defense does against a bad Iowa offense.

Some of our fans LOVE below-average QB play. There's no other explanation.

 

[FBtime]

Not gonna lie...I am blown away at the level of indifference from some people. The Vols play a football game, a bowl game on Jan 1st. It's the last chance you will get to see them play a real game for 9 months. I don't remember who played in the Citrus bowl last year either but I damn sure know who played in the Orange bowl! I will be watching from kickoff to the final seconds and I just don't understand how all Vol fans aren't doing the same.

 

[FBtime]

Under two weeks until the game. How do you Vols feel about the Citrus Bowl game at this point?

Tenn has taken a decent roster hit from the portal, especially in the secondary.

Iowa on the other hand has been basically untouched to this point by portal madness and none of the defensive players who are sure-fire NFL picks have opted out for Iowa either.

Still feel that your speed will be too much for Iowa and win the day for UT?

Question for YOU...Iowa has not played a P5 team with an offense even remotely close to as good as ours (17th). Does that worry you at all? That your defense while, good, may be propped up by playing 5 teams ranked 100+ in total offense and no team better than 59th?

 

[DarkVolder]

Not gonna lie...I am blown away at the level of indifference from some people. The Vols play a football game, a bowl game on Jan 1st. It's the last chance you will get to see them play a real game for 9 months. I don't remember who played in the Citrus bowl last year either but I damn sure know who played in the Orange bowl! I will be watching from kickoff to the final seconds and I just don't understand how all Vol fans aren't doing the same.

LSU beat Purdue 63-7 in last years Citrus bowl.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I think we lose. I think our players and coaching staff have packed it in for the year we have taken too many portal hits and some guys are skipping the bowl game. Iowa’ offense is challenged but they have a pretty good defense they will give Joe and our offense problems and they will get up for playing against a SEC opponent.

Of course you think this way

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Not gonna lie...I am blown away at the level of indifference from some people. The Vols play a football game, a bowl game on Jan 1st. It's the last chance you will get to see them play a real game for 9 months. I don't remember who played in the Citrus bowl last year either but I damn sure know who played in the Orange bowl! I will be watching from kickoff to the final seconds and I just don't understand how all Vol fans aren't doing the same.

We have some lame fans. How in the world anyone who calls themselves Vol fans aren’t extremely excited about this bowl is baffling. Two NY6 bowls in a row??? 5 years ago if anyone said we would be playing in back to back NY6 bowls in year 2 and 3, it would have been met with laughs and condescension.

 

[Dansky]

Under two weeks until the game. How do you Vols feel about the Citrus Bowl game at this point?

Tenn has taken a decent roster hit from the portal, especially in the secondary.

Iowa on the other hand has been basically untouched to this point by portal madness and none of the defensive players who are sure-fire NFL picks have opted out for Iowa either.

Still feel that your speed will be too much for Iowa and win the day for UT?

I just hope we don’t make their QB look like a heisman trophy winner. They are a well coached team on defense. We need to have a good game on offense with no turnovers and we should win.

 

[rocketskates]

I feel good about it, but then again, unless it's the NC or playoff bowl games are always the same approach for me. Watch it, enjoy it, whatever happens will happen--it doesn't affect much otherwise. Last year was a little special with it being the Orange Bowl.

 

[DarkVolder]

We have some lame fans. How in the world anyone who calls themselves Vol fans aren’t extremely excited about this bowl is baffling. Two NY6 bowls in a row??? 5 years ago if anyone said we would be playing in back to back NY6 bowls in year 2 and 3, it would have been met with laughs and condescension.

The Mizzou loss and especially the Florida loss really tainted the season. We should’ve finished 10-2 or 9-3.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

I feel like we couldn’t have drawn a more boring opponent. I’ll watch, but expecting a snoozer.

I'll watch and enjoy every score from Tennessee, every sack by Pearce, every interception, every punt return by Williams, just pretty much every play. It's a long time til 2024 season, enjoy the last game for several months.