Keeping It Together

[orange+white=heaven]

So now we find out what this 'special' group of players are really made of. I've been proud of this team's eagerness to play together this season. That spirit pulled them up from a first half at Georgia, and looked for sporadic moments as though it might serve them well enough to overcome athleticism Saturday.

Injuries, a tough tough loss, and an ill advised late night on the town from a team leader, have been a sand blaster to the polished orange glow this weekend.

Character from adversity. We've all heard it.
Right now, this moment, is the time for this team to step up and loudly show by example what sets 2006 apart from 2005.

The Times Free Press's Mark Weidmer put it this way...

Now there are distractions where singular focus ruled the Big Orange landscape for nine straight weeks. Now there is doubt and disappointment where once there was only desire and drive to succeed.

I'm looking for focus this week. I'm looking for the character that has made me proud thus far, to prove to be greater than the weight of circumstance that is right now tugging at this team.

Someone told me earlier today....
"you know, these kids tend to forget and move on from tough times more easily than us old folks..."
Half of me thinks that is a good thing, half of me thinks that is part and parcel of what undid the Volunteers last year.

I think the leadership now is as good as it has been in some time. This, though, is a really critical moment.

I considered making my first post since the game more in line with others..(the plays of the game, the deficiencies of talent...) But what I'm really interested to see, is how this group handles this next few days. I want to see that there really has been a change of character from last season.A little late season adversity has struck.
This is the place in the season where the tough question gets answered....

 

[doozer]

i agree 100% with you. good post.

 

[Lexvol]

So now we find out what this 'special' group of players are really made of. I've been proud of this team's eagerness to play together this season. That spirit pulled them up from a first half at Georgia, and looked for sporadic moments as though it might serve them well enough to overcome athleticism Saturday.

Injuries, a tough tough loss, and an ill advised late night on the town from a team leader, have been a sand blaster to the polished orange glow this weekend.

Character from adversity. We've all heard it.
Right now, this moment, is the time for this team to step up and loudly show by example what sets 2006 apart from 2005.

The Times Free Press's Mark Weidmer put it this way...


I'm looking for focus this week. I'm looking for the character that has made me proud thus far, to prove to be greater than the weight of circumstance that is right now tugging at this team.

Someone told me earlier today....
"you know, these kids tend to forget and move on from tough times more easily than us old folks..."
Half of me thinks that is a good thing, half of me thinks that is part and parcel of what undid the Volunteers last year.

I think the leadership now is as good as it has been in some time. This, though, is a really critical moment.

I considered making my first post since the game more in line with others..(the plays of the game, the deficiencies of talent...) But what I'm really interested to see, is how this group handles this next few days. I want to see that there really has been a change of character from last season.A little late season adversity has struck.
This is the place in the season where the tough question gets answered....

Attaboy O+W. This is gut check time, especially for a bruised defense.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Good post but attitude alone is not going to elevate a running back or rebuild the OL and DL. There are your problems folks.

 

[Lexvol]

Good post but attitude alone is not going to elevate a running back or rebuild the OL and DL. There are your problems folks.

Hillbilly, I would settle for a rebuilt DL at this point. I need something tangible from this group. This thread is really more about this UT team bowing their backs and validating their 7-2 record. In that respect it is right on.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Good post but attitude alone is not going to elevate a running back or rebuild the OL and DL. There are your problems folks.

No, attitude will not grow new linemen.
We are going to have to play the games with the players that we have.
My point is simply this.
How the Volunteers stand up to this moment, when goals that have been targets since the end of last season are no longer attainable, will define in large measure my assessment of the progress that has been made in rebuilding this team from the season in Hell.

'Billy, this is the time where questions about changes that you yourself would dearly love to see made, get answered.

 

[OrangeSquare]

Keep beating the drum Billy, maybe Hat will come back and agree with you.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I hear what you are saying o+w=h. Realistically though, the people who support the status quo have already seen enough of a turn around from last year that no one is going to force drastic changes. A lot of the questions that I have right now concern UT's ability to recruit against the rest of the SEC, particualrly against UF and UGA. AND what happens to Cut. Obviously, that is all stuff to be determined after the season ends.

I know I'm a little chippy today, but at least I haven't been whining about losing like a lot of posters (and I don't mean you).

 

[volwarren]

So now we find out what this 'special' group of players are really made of. I've been proud of this team's eagerness to play together this season. That spirit pulled them up from a first half at Georgia, and looked for sporadic moments as though it might serve them well enough to overcome athleticism Saturday.

Injuries, a tough tough loss, and an ill advised late night on the town from a team leader, have been a sand blaster to the polished orange glow this weekend.

Character from adversity. We've all heard it.
Right now, this moment, is the time for this team to step up and loudly show by example what sets 2006 apart from 2005.

The Times Free Press's Mark Weidmer put it this way...


I'm looking for focus this week. I'm looking for the character that has made me proud thus far, to prove to be greater than the weight of circumstance that is right now tugging at this team.

Someone told me earlier today....
"you know, these kids tend to forget and move on from tough times more easily than us old folks..."
Half of me thinks that is a good thing, half of me thinks that is part and parcel of what undid the Volunteers last year.

I think the leadership now is as good as it has been in some time. This, though, is a really critical moment.

I considered making my first post since the game more in line with others..(the plays of the game, the deficiencies of talent...) But what I'm really interested to see, is how this group handles this next few days. I want to see that there really has been a change of character from last season.A little late season adversity has struck.
This is the place in the season where the tough question gets answered....

Good post I think lac of depth at D line and youth throught the team has hurt us in big games injuries at key spots and you are 7-2 but look out next year.

 

[Lexvol]

I hear what you are saying o+w=h. Realistically though, the people who support the status quo have already seen enough of a turn around from last year that no one is going to force drastic changes. A lot of the questions that I have right now concern UT's ability to recruit against the rest of the SEC, particualrly against UF and UGA. AND what happens to Cut. Obviously, that is all stuff to be determined after the season ends.

I know I'm a little chippy today, but at least I haven't been whining about losing like a lot of posters (and I don't mean you).

I am no fan of CPF. In fact, last year definitely set the program back a few years. Face it, UT had better personnel on the O line, the same players at skill positions, and a championship defense.

All that being said Randy Sanders is gone, and this team has overacheived. CPF's fingerprints are no longer all over the offense. Next year, the chorus may begin again, and I will be singing in the choir if we don't compete for an SEC crown.