How long a vol fan and do you care anymore?

[Sgt.Rock]

60 years plus, since I first saw my Mom and Dad in animated conversation about an exciting trip they were taking the next day, a three hour trip to Neyland and a Tennessee home game (and a stop at Cas Walker's on the way home). A lifetime of ups, downs, pride, disappointment, and wearing orange with a power T. Vol fan till I die, but last night was certainly a downer

 

[SamuraiVol74]

Since 1974. Win, lose, or draw and throughout all of the garbling (my own), moaning (my own) and coaching carousels of recent years, they will never lose me.

 

[tbh]

Early 40s here, and I've been watching Vols games since elementary school. Been attending home games (along with some away games and bowls) since 2011. With each year that has passed, I've gotten to the point where the game outcome (positive or negative) doesn't affect me all that much. I see the game as just that: a game...it's entertainment. Tailgating at home games is by far the highlight of the day, along with the P.O.T.S.

The days of letting the outcome (win or lose) of a game played by a bunch of random young adults affect me have faded. If the Vols find a way to win, cool. If they lose, bummer. Life goes on.

I don't see any reason to throw any additional financial (beyond ticket purchases and getting to the games) or emotional capital (beyond generating a reasonable amount of noise at appropriate times) at a team of paid mercenaries, which is what the sport has become. If others care to do so, that's obviously their own prerogative as it is mine to decline to do so. In the big picture, it's just not  that important to me anymore, and that importance is fading year by year as the game's metamorphosis continues.

 

[Rocky Top T]

62 years old and always a Vol. My soul hurts when we lose, especially getting embarrassed

 

[Mid Tenn Vol]

Been a fan for thirty years. 98 seems like an eternity ago. I still care, I still yell at the tv. Last night completely did me in. I never wanted a game to be over with so bad. We were completely outmatched and bad scheme. This teams identity hasn’t been good all year. It smacked us in the face last night. We still have a long ways to go to crack the top 5.

 

[ntxVOL]

60yrs old, always been a Vol fan. Some get to pick their team, I was born into this. There was never any other choice.

These kind of disappointments are part of it. I think every true CFB fan has them at some point. Maybe some more than others, it stings more when expectations are high.

If a fan quits on their team, they weren't really a fan to begin with. The Vols are a loyal bunch and we should all be proud of that fact.

 

[LargeOrange1]

That's a ridiculous overreaction to losing a game in which we were 7 point underdogs.

We were NOT even a little competitive.....thats the issue. The Vols looked like on both sides of the ball.

 

[teeball]

Been a fan for 59 years and no, I do not care as much if Tennessee loses. I still don’t like it but it doesn’t wreck my entire weekend like it used to (stupidly, of course). However, this NIL and portal situation is becoming an issue for me and slowly dampening my enthusiasm. Players making hundreds of thousand of dollars and bouncing from school to school is not what college sports is about to me. I have never enjoyed professional sports near as much as college sports but now the two are becoming the same. That’s my 2 cents (or maybe I should say my 2 mil in order to keep up with the times).

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

I dont feel any better after sleeping on it. I have severe doubts Heupel can get this program to the promise land. Good guy and good coach, but I just dont know if he is good enough. Last night was a huge red flag, no pun intended.

Totally agree. He ain't the only coach that isn't good enough either.

 

[BowlBrother85]

We were NOT even a little competitive.....thats the issue. The Vols looked like on both sides of the ball.

I agree. It's just not the kind of loss that I lament. Ohio State is the better team.

Losing to Arkansas on the other hand .....

 

[robcovol]

I have been a Vols fan since the 1990 Cotton Bowl. I can’t imagine not being a Vols fan. They make my happy, break my heart, nearly give me a heart attack and all other emotions. I wouldn’t root for anyone else. Last night was disappointing, but that’s why we have a next year.

 

[temptn]

For the last 20 years there have been a handful of teams that were national champions. Tennessee won it almost 30 years ago. If your only acceptable season is a national championship then you are going be disappointed most of the time.

 

[TennEddie]

Been a fan for over 70 years.
I have always felt that Vol fans get the least amount
of benefits, considering the number and enthusiasm
of its fan base , than any team in the country.

 

[Go aeiou]

Early 40s here, and I've been watching Vols games since elementary school. Been attending home games (along with some away games and bowls) since 2011. With each year that has passed, I've gotten to the point where the game outcome (positive or negative) doesn't affect me all that much. I see the game as just that: a game...it's entertainment. Tailgating at home games is by far the highlight of the day, along with the P.O.T.S.

The days of letting the outcome (win or lose) of a game played by a bunch of random young adults affect me have faded. If the Vols find a way to win, cool. If they lose, bummer. Life goes on.

I don't see any reason to throw any additional financial (beyond ticket purchases and getting to the games) or emotional capital (beyond generating a reasonable amount of noise at appropriate times) at a team of paid mercenaries, which is what the sport has become. If others care to do so, that's obviously their own prerogative as it is mine to decline to do so. In the big picture, it's just not  that important to me anymore, and that importance is fading year by year as the game's metamorphosis continues.

yeah, change happens.
College football is not going to be the same.
I started listening to games around age 7 (1959). season tickets 1989-2010.
This change seems to have happened overnight. The best teams are bought. Can't blame the players though. The most some of them will make in thier life.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

If you have to ask yourself if you care anymore then you aren’t a true fan. I have been a Vol since 1985. The only way I will ever stop caring about the Vols of when the good lord calls me home.

 

[Vol865]

32 and I love Tennessee Football but I've grown pretty apathetic to a program that milks every dollar possible out of their fans and never does well on the biggest stages. Still think Heupel is a great coach. Still have faith in Nico as a QB. I just don't really get pissed about it anymore.

 

[MEDVOL]

Vol fan for the 30+ years I’ve been on this Earth. Drove to Columbus yesterday and froze my toes off last night.

I’ve felt pretty disheartened about our team many, many times over the past 10-15 years. Sat through so many heartbreaking losses to UF. Watched us get stomped by UGA and Bama. Also watched us break curses against UF and Bama. Nail biter at A&M. Tax Slayer Bowl wins and soul crushing defeats to Oklahoma and even Vandy. I also remember the late 90’s and early 2000’s where wins over UK, Vandy, Miss State, etc were a given.

I’m feeling alright this morning. Par on the state of things. We’re not terrible, but not elite. Yet.

 

[tbh]

yeah, change happens.
College football is not going to be the same.
I started listening to games around age 7 (1959). season tickets 1989-2010.
This change seems to have happened overnight. The best teams are bought. Can't blame the players though. The most some of them will make in thier life.

True. I'm not blaming them. On the contrary, I wholeheartedly agree that players (from any socioeconomic background) would be bonkers to turn down real money and build a more secure future for themselves (hopefully). I just don't personally care to participate in the annual "Big Orange GoFundMe" begging exercise.

 

[sgtwebb1]

62 years old. Been a fan about 54 of those years. The day I stop caring about the vols will be they day they put me six feet under the ground.

Same age, and I've been a Vol since I was 6 yrs old.
Dad was a huge Vol fan, he raised us right.
All 4 of my grown kids are Vol fans, and their kids are growing up going to games and being raised as Vols.

HELL YEAH I still care.

 

[BowlBrother85]

I have been a Vols fan since the 1990 Cotton Bowl. I can’t imagine not being a Vols fan. They make my happy, break my heart, nearly give me a heart attack and all other emotions. I wouldn’t root for anyone else. Last night was disappointing, but that’s why we have a next year.

I've been a Tennessee fan since I was 8 years old in 1981. My dad took me to my first game at Neyland, which was a night game against Iowa State during the 1982 World's Fair. We went to the fair during the day, and then the game at night. That was a special time in the history of Knoxville .... even though we almost lost to a really bad team. The final score was 23-21. It wasn't pretty. This time of the year really makes me miss my dad. He was a good man. Huge Tennessee fan.

I digress. LOL.

My point is .... stick with your team during the rough times, and it makes the great times all the more satisfying.

 

[OrangeCola]

we would I NOT care anymore?

 

[Chad F]

Been a Vol for over 40 years. Still care. Just not as much as I used to.

At some point, the same old bumbling, fumbling, and folding when the lights are the brightest gets old.

 

[SCRocket]

Win or lose I’ll always be a Vol.

 

[OldVolMan]

Vol fan for 62 years, For 50 of those years I took every loss very hard. But, maybe because I have finally learned “that it is just a game”

I accept the losses, oh I get disappointed for sure, but a loss does not devastate me any longer. Love to still follow them, watch them on TV. But, no longer spend my money on going to the games, I enjoy them for lot less money relaxed in my old faithful recliner.

With all the issues with my family, friends and this crazy world we live in it just makes me look at it as “just a ball game.” A loss does not really affect my everyday life, and a win certainly does not improve the quality of my life. I think the way I see the college game going has helped me put a true value on the game.

 

[PharmDVFL]

37 year old here. I’ve been a fan for as long as I remember. My first game was the 1997 senior day game against Vanderbilt. I remember walking up the ramp after going thru gate 10 and peaking between the upper and lower decks seeing the field for the first time. Chills thinking about it. I'm a graduate of the University of Tennessee. I still care quite a bit, but I have to admit that I care less than I used to. Having kids and a wife will do that to you I guess.