People who are expecting 8 or more wins won't get it. We don't have a DL rotation, no second string linebackers, or defensive backs. Our offense has no experience at any position but OL, and running back. Our OL is elite, but our backs are merely average. This is a 5-7 win year, but 7 is more likely. We need some development miracles to compete with everyone.
DISCLAIMER: This is all in jest, a bit of needling. Just so the hypersensitive know.
GOOD Vols fans all, of every sort,
Give ear unto my song;
And if you find it wondrous short,--
It cannot hold you long.
Among us there was a man,
Of whom the fanbase might say
That still a Vols fan he was and,--
Wore his orange and white each day.
A kind but doubting heart he had,
To comfort and dismay friends and foes;
More often he insisted on being sad,--
When he donned his team colored clothes.
And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound,
But this was Smokey, a hound of high pedigree.
The dog and man at first were friends;
But when a pique began,
The dog, due to Burgers constant doubtings,
Went mad, and bit the man.
Around and around the Neyland Stadium seats;
The doubting Burger ran,
And swore the hound had lost their wits,
To bite him who was a really good fan..
The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To poor ole Burgers eye;
And while he swore the dog was mad
He swore that he himself would die.
But soon a wonder came to light,
That showed the rogue he lied;
Burger recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died.
--Apologies to Oliver Goldsmith--
