Is it just me or?

[utVolFanInVA]

I wonder if there had been a VolNation in 1998 if the fan base would have been so critical throughout the season, talking about how lucky we got here and how we can't beat better teams playing like we did there, just endlessly complaining.

This season reminds me of 1998 with the grind it out run game and lock down defense, which will keep us in any game against anyone. Clean up the penalties and drops and this season has a great chance to become really special.

I was on campus in 1998 and yes there was criticism all over the place. The internet was in its prepubescent phase and had not taken over the world yet.

The 1 pt win against a McNabb led Syracuse team to open the season was an eye opener that our D (or 3rd and Chavis) needed work.

The OT win against a Spurrier led Florida team in the second game was a relief after Florida had owned Fulmer in the previous 4 years. D saw great improvement.

Then there was the miracle against Arkansas (the Stoerner gift). Most impractical TN win I have witnessed in person.

And lastly the gift that Weinke did not play the Fiesta bowl. Not sure TN wins that one with Weinke in the game.

Even though TN won the Championship, TN did not dominate the year and required several lucky breaks to pull it off. And no way would I ever give that Championship up just because TN was lucky!!

The current TN team is just so frustrating due to shooting themselves in the foot. Potential is a terrible word and TN has a lot of it. Just need to see it on the field consistently.

 

[Elhanan]

I think it’s the expectation of a powerful highflying offense then getting a slow churning run machine lead by an amazing defense.

If Hype keeps this up he’ll really show how versatile he is as a coach. The SEC is grouped tight this year too so every game feels like a grind.

 

[tn4elvis]

We‘re not bad but I don’t think we’re really a playoff caliber team. Of course we won’t turn it down if we get invited but I take great satisfaction in our wins over Bama and Florida. And if we can somehow muster a win against Georgia I’d be more excited about having beat the evil three in the same season than making the playoffs

I think most of us feel the same way. Beat the evil three all in the same year is like winning the lottery for us. A playoff invite would be the cherry on top.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

The penalties are mental execution errors. I agree with that. I wouldn’t call that lack of mental toughness. I’d call it lack of discipline. Tennessee is 14th in the SEC in penalties per game and 12th in penalty yards per game. That’s bad, and it is extremely frustrating when a false start or illegal formation ruins the momentum of a lengthy drive.

Yes, the players lack discipline, but they are really REALLY tough.

Ok maybe I'm using the wrong terminology, but at least we see eye to eye on the meaning behind it.

 

[vegasvolfan]

We aren’t a bad football team but we haven’t been a consistent team either. Lately it seems like we are off in some areas, we fix that and then the next week we are off in others.

If we can just get everyone on the same page then we could really see some great football.

For now it’s just frustrating

Indeed, you can’t be bad with Nico, Sampson, Mays, McCoy our entire defense and emerging players like Kitselman on your team, but it only takes a few bad to average players to keep a group of guys from being great. It is a shame, because we could be the best team in college football if certain guys were playing better.

As far as consistency goes, it seems to me we have consistently been off at OL and receiver all year. It has been my opinion that Nico has taken way too much heat, throughout the year.

The FG kicker seems to be the only new issue.

 

[Other_Guy]

No one thinks they're a bad team. Just borderline playoff worthy because they keep flirting with disaster

 

[tn4elvis]

We are very undisciplined with all the penalties and mistakes and several players that are not having the type of year many expected. QB8 is serviceable, and that’s about it. Defense and Sampson are responsible for our record

Ol has to get some credit for Sampson . They just don’t pass block very well

 

[mudhen]

Name one team that isn’t in that same boat right now.

Oregon.

 

[Volfan2012]

Tennessee is a very good football team that just needs everyone to execute their part of the game. WR's are our weakest position right now they can't catch a ball right in their hands. Offensive line comes and goes terrible first half strong second half. We need to get it together getting late in the season players have to step up to their roles. We need a kicker that can make those chip shots hopefully just a bad night can't take much more of what our kicker did last night.

 

[rocytop2624]

We‘re not bad but I don’t think we’re really a playoff caliber team. Of course we won’t turn it down if we get invited but I take great satisfaction in our wins over Bama and Florida. And if we can somehow muster a win against Georgia I’d be more excited about having beat the evil three in the same season than making the playoffs

You don't think we are a playoff caliber team.

Even if we win out in the regular season?

 

[KoachKrab127]

Tennessee is a very good football team that just needs everyone to execute their part of the game. WR's are our weakest position right now they can't catch a ball right in their hands. Offensive line comes and goes terrible first half strong second half. We need to get it together getting late in the season players have to step up to their roles. We need a kicker that can make those chip shots hopefully just a bad night can't take much more of what our kicker did last night.

I agree with everything you said except one thing. 44 yard kicks are not “chip shots.” There’s no excuse for missing the 34 yarder, no excuse whatsoever, but if he only made one of those 40+ kicks and went 2 for 3 on the day, I would not have been disappointed.

 

[rocytop2624]

Oregon.

Heupel recruited there Heisman finalist QB to UCF. Dillon Gabriel.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I blame the internet.

Don't get me wrong, we've had petulant crybabies throughout the history of this program, but back in the old days, when you know, people had to talk to other people face to face, a whining Karen of a fan would at least get publicly shunned by the people around them when they acted up. Over time, most of them grew up, or at least learned hide their immaturity.

Today, there's no real penalty for letting one's every little angst and temper tantrum flow directly from the amygdala of their brain to a page on the internet for the world to see. No stops in between, and no real social policing. "I'm just telling it like it is," is their mantra. What that really means is, "I'm not responsible for controlling my mouth."

They don't care if most of us look at them as children. They simply don't care.

Thankfully, they're easy to ignore.

Go Vols!

 

[sami]

I was on campus in 1998 and yes there was criticism all over the place. The internet was in its prepubescent phase and had not taken over the world yet.

The 1 pt win against a McNabb led Syracuse team to open the season was an eye opener that our D (or 3rd and Chavis) needed work.

The OT win against a Spurrier led Florida team in the second game was a relief after Florida had owned Fulmer in the previous 4 years. D saw great improvement.

Then there was the miracle against Arkansas (the Stoerner gift). Most impractical TN win I have witnessed in person.

And lastly the gift that Weinke did not play the Fiesta bowl. Not sure TN wins that one with Weinke in the game.

Even though TN won the Championship, TN did not dominate the year and required several lucky breaks to pull it off. And no way would I ever give that Championship up just because TN was lucky!!

The current TN team is just so frustrating due to shooting themselves in the foot. Potential is a terrible word and TN has a lot of it. Just need to see it on the field consistently.

I remember 1998 very well. Go back and look at CFB Champs from year to year, and you'll see a lot of luck and breaks were required to win, more often than not.

Today, with all the parity and the hideous officiating it's going to take a lot of luck, good health, and breaks for anyone to survive and win. The days of the Saban like machines is over and done.

 

[sami]

I blame the internet.

Don't get me wrong, we've had petulant crybabies throughout the history of this program, but back in the old days, when you know, people had to talk to other people face to face, a whining Karen of a fan would at least get publicly shunned by the people around them when they acted up. Over time, most of them grew up, or at least learned hide their immaturity.

Today, there's no real penalty for letting one's every little angst and temper tantrum flow directly from the amygdala of their brain to a page on the internet for the world to see. No stops in between, and no real social policing. "I'm just telling it like it is," is their mantra. What that really means is, "I'm not responsible for controlling my mouth."

They don't care if most of us look at them as children. They simply don't care.

Thankfully, they're easy to ignore.

Go Vols!

This x 1000.

 

[OldVolMan]

I think Nico is still adjusting to the SEC. Yes, he is 8 & 1 as a starter.
Beating Iowa in a bowl game that is not a do or die game, plus they are no where close to an SEC team.

Then first three games this year were cupcakes compared to SEC teams. So, he has only had 4 SEC games. And, in my opinion he has gradually shown improvement in each of those. I thought last night he was in more command of the offense and looked more comfortable. If you add the dropped passes we blow them out, and his stats are off the charts.

The added pressure of coming out of high school being the #1 QB, all the publicity and expectations on him, and then start of this year be put in the Heisman Race, can you imagine.
I don’t see how he could even sleep at night.

I would like to see Nico to be more of the “coach of the team” and hold players accountable. I think he will when he gets 100% of his confidence. I remember reading what a player say, “coming of the field after I made a mistake, I had rather face the coach than Brett Favre.”

I‘m confident the best to come for Nico is just around the corner.

 

[loservol]

Yes, e is still having to learn on the job.

 

[Baseball25]

Are people extremely deluded into thinking we are a “bad” football team.. We’ve only lost 1 game. College football this year is rivaling the 2007 chaos year and we have ONE loss. Are there improvements to be made? Absolutely. The last 2 games we left 21-28 points off the board because of execution. I’m seeing fans just trash every player and coach already and it’s pretty damn frustrating. I hate to say it, but it’s just plain ungrateful considering where we were just 3 years ago.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just gullible. I see potential for this team to get clicking and we see some real greatness.

I wouldn't say they are a bad team, yet, but definitely mediocre. Consider this.........if everyone is available on the starting roster for Ky and UT the talent level is not equal. Now, consider that Ky was without TEN starters by the end of the game. This is NOT a good team. With a roster depleted like that a good team would have won by four or five touchdowns at least. Every game is a struggle. Can't even score most of the time. Game after game after game is a struggle. Good teams will not struggle like that. They will not.

The Oklahoma fans tell me this is what cost Josh his job at Oklahoma. Had all kinds of talent but the offense, continually, struggled. They see that same pattern carrying on here. Talent but no results with it. Scheme problems.......I don't know but haven't seen an offensive team that won't produce like this one in quite a while.

 

[PowerWookie]

This team is on the margin of greatness. We can all see it and I think the players know it. So that itself is frustrating to everyone.

Hopefully execution will continue to improve and we will truly become an epic unit before the year is over

 

[vegasvolfan]

Are people extremely deluded into thinking we are a “bad” football team.. We’ve only lost 1 game. College football this year is rivaling the 2007 chaos year and we have ONE loss. Are there improvements to be made? Absolutely. The last 2 games we left 21-28 points off the board because of execution. I’m seeing fans just trash every player and coach already and it’s pretty damn frustrating. I hate to say it, but it’s just plain ungrateful considering where we were just 3 years ago.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just gullible. I see potential for this team to get clicking and we see some real greatness.

Who is saying we are a bad team? We have issues, but we are so good everywhere else we find a way to win. We had some really ugly games when we won the NC. I was at that horrid Auburn game.

 

[Sarms58]

You don't think we are a playoff caliber team.

Even if we win out in the regular season?

If we win out we’re by definition a playoff team. But I don’t see us beating Georgia (or Texas in the SECCG).

 

[first time caller]

It would help if Tennessee would stop with the silly penalties like ripping players helmet off after the whistle. We also got away with one from Norman-Lott when he wasn't even in the game!

 

[KoachKrab127]

I was on campus in 1998 and yes there was criticism all over the place. The internet was in its prepubescent phase and had not taken over the world yet.

The 1 pt win against a McNabb led Syracuse team to open the season was an eye opener that our D (or 3rd and Chavis) needed work.

The OT win against a Spurrier led Florida team in the second game was a relief after Florida had owned Fulmer in the previous 4 years. D saw great improvement.

Then there was the miracle against Arkansas (the Stoerner gift). Most impractical TN win I have witnessed in person.

And lastly the gift that Weinke did not play the Fiesta bowl. Not sure TN wins that one with Weinke in the game.

Even though TN won the Championship, TN did not dominate the year and required several lucky breaks to pull it off. And no way would I ever give that Championship up just because TN was lucky!!

The current TN team is just so frustrating due to shooting themselves in the foot. Potential is a terrible word and TN has a lot of it. Just need to see it on the field consistently.

Also, in 1998, the internet was bashing Tee Martin like crazy after the Auburn game. Everyone was saying we would get drilled by Georgia, because Tee can’t complete a pass, and we just lost Jamal Lewis.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I wouldn't say they are a bad team, yet, but definitely mediocre. Consider this.........if everyone is available on the starting roster for Ky and UT the talent level is not equal. Now, consider that Ky was without TEN starters by the end of the game. This is NOT a good team. With a roster depleted like that a good team would have won by four or five touchdowns at least. Every game is a struggle. Can't even score most of the time. Game after game after game is a struggle. Good teams will not struggle like that. They will not.

The Oklahoma fans tell me this is what cost Josh his job at Oklahoma. Had all kinds of talent but the offense, continually, struggled. They see that same pattern carrying on here. Talent but no results with it. Scheme problems.......I don't know but haven't seen an offensive team that won't produce like this one in quite a while.

Having receivers drop wide open passes for TD’s is not a scheme problem. Missing 3 field goals after dropping those TD passes is not a scheme problem. We should have had, at a minimum, 41 points last night due to dropped passes and missed field goals. I don’t know how you can call that a scheme problem.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

When your out rushing your opponents pretty much every week you line is not terrible. Yes, we have room to improve on the mental mistakes and in pass protection at times. But we do a lot of things well also. Nico played well last night, he only had a few bad throws and if our receivers don’t drop them 3 in their hands we have a totally different outcome and outlook. We are getting closer but it’s time Nico and our WR’s start clicking. Our receivers have to catch the catchable balls, that has to change and I think it will. GBO