Left in the Dust

[VolBeef88]

Funny how no body was saying that recruiting means nothing when we were leading the SEC in that category. Now we're behind the 8-ball but it's okay 'cause it don't mean nothin'.

What's funny is how we can have the worst year in 17 by going 5-6 and still land a top 25 class.
Funny how it is SO early and yet people are already in panic, the sky is falling mode.
Funny how the season has not even started and dooms dayers are out in force.
Funny how kids change their minds ALL THE TIME and switch schools.

 

[cd12]

Funny how no body was saying that recruiting means nothing when we were leading the SEC in that category. Now we're behind the 8-ball but it's okay 'cause it don't mean nothin'.

Yeah its kinda like the non conference schedule! The games are meaningless, unless we win!

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

What's funny is how we can have the worst year in 17 by going 5-6 and still land a top 25 class.
Funny how it is SO early and yet people are already in panic, the sky is falling mode.
Funny how the season has not even started and dooms dayers are out in force.
Funny how kids change their minds ALL THE TIME and switch schools.

If you bother to check you will see find that to be the lowest ranked recruiting class for UT in years. As said by others, a bad year on the field will not net a stellar class. CPF has been doing less with more for years. The only reason we have been in it for many of his years, particularly since '98, is that we have been more athletic than other teams and our superior athletes offset the fact that we were being outcoached. If we can't continue to haul-in those top athletes in we are screwed. Maybe Cutcliffe will pick-up right where he left off but that is an awful lot to ask.

I just read an article in the Nashville City Paper this morning where Fulmer was quoted saying that he hopes this season will be better but we have a really tough schedule and he doesn't want to make predictions. I really don't think he even believes it will get turned around this year.

 

[VolBeef88]

If you bother to check you will see find that to be the lowest ranked recruiting class for UT in years. As said by others, a bad year on the field will not net a stellar class. CPF has been doing less with more for years. The only reason we have been in it for many of his years, particularly since '98, is that we have been more athletic than other teams and our superior athletes offset the fact that we were being outcoached. If we can't continue to haul-in those top athletes in we are screwed. Maybe Cutcliffe will pick-up right where he left off but that is an awful lot to ask.

I just read an article in the Nashville City Paper this morning where Fulmer was quoted saying that he hopes this season will be better but we have a really tough schedule and he doesn't want to make predictions. I really don't think he even believes it will get turned around this year.

All but last year that was CPF standard statement. Last year was about the ONLY year I can ever remember him making any kind of statment about how good we could be. He is as many of you continue to state on hear a very boring interview.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Why say anything at then? Don't tell me how Oklahoma, Penn St, ND and Nebraska have all had their ups and downs in recent history. Don't tell me how tough the schedule is this year and how we could be a better team even without a much improved record. From what little CPF is saying, I just get the impression that he is trying to set low expectations because he does not think we will be much better. JMO

 

[jakez4ut]

Why say anything at then? Don't tell me how Oklahoma, Penn St, ND and Nebraska have all had their ups and downs in recent history. Don't tell me how tough the schedule is this year and how we could be a better team even without a much improved record. From what little CPF is saying, I just get the impression that he is trying to set low expectations because he does not think we will be much better. JMO

i think he's hedging his bets a bit myself as well. but who can blame him? Volbeef is right about one thing, last year was the first time i've ever heard him come out and say things like "there's a reason why we're so highly ranked".

that was out of the norm for him, and we all know it. Before last year, all you ever got from him was what we are getting now...ho hum, tough schedule, hope we stay healthy etc. etc, etc....

if i were him, i'd be hesitant to come out and say anything either....

 

[kiddiedoc]

If you bother to check you will see find that to be the lowest ranked recruiting class for UT in years.

Come on, guys. Common sense tells you that a bad year on the field is going to probably lead to a sub-par recruiting class. If I asked each of you at the end of last season how you thought we'd do recruiting-wise, and an option was that we'd land "the lowest ranked class in years," who wouldn't choose that option? Last season was last season. Not a one of us can change it, nor can we change that it led to a less-than-stellar recruitment. But, one year of below-average recruiting will not kill a program, especially when it has a red-shirted top-5 class ready to mature.

All in all, there's no reason to panic about recruiting for next year, at this point. There is ALL KINDS of time left, kids change their minds (a lot), and most of the top players won't dare commit this early (too many variables). If we can "right the ship" and win, say, 10 games and play for or win the SEC, don'tcha think that Fulmer and the gang will return to their recruiting greatness? On the other hand, if we drop the opener and go on to lose 3 or 4 rivalry games in the SEC, that's another story. THAT'S when we should start worrying.

 

[rwemyss]

:biggrin2: :hi:

 

[GVF]

The top players are committing early, just look at the lists. UF does not have a bunch of no star guys, look at texas, look at usc. I think your thinking fits the way things used to be, it's a different recruiting world now.

And these guys have a senior year of HS ball left to play. Those committ lists mean squat right now. Over half will change their minds to to various circumstnaces. They're not hedging schools right now. They're hedging their talent against the others trying to stack up and see who'e scared of who and will go somewhere else and leave their scholly alone. Their senior performances will change those lists from the recruiter perspective. Nothing is on paper. UF/LSU/ UGA/UT etc. right now...Yeah we like you and want you so go ahead and commit. By signing day...We'll offer a scholly to you and you and you, the rest go somewhere else or try to walk on, or go to JC, get qualified and we'll talk in 2 years.

 

[rwemyss]

I agree... half these guys will go the Mitch Mustain route because they saw all the press he got from such a stunt... If recruiting rankings meant squat we would have won about 6 national titles in the 90s.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

If recruiting rankings meant squat we would have won about 6 national titles in the 90s.

Therein lies the rub. If Spurrier or Richt had those recruiting classes do you think they would have squandered them with a handfull of 8-win seasons and SECCSG losses? Heck no they wouldn't. Because they have a provedn track record of getting the most out of their players. Our head coach, and I say this as objectively as I can, is not known for getting the most out of his players. Many blue chippers come to UT to wither on the vine or never reach their potentials. Now, Richt and Meyer, and pretty soon Spurrier, will be the ones getting those top classes. If Fulmer couldn't beat 'em with top athletes, why does any right thinking person believe that he can beat 'em with less? It just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, I don't beleive in the magic dust.

 

[hatvol96]

Therein lies the rub. If Spurrier or Richt had those recruiting classes do you think they would have squandered them with a handfull of 8-win seasons and SECCSG losses? Heck no they wouldn't. Because they have a provedn track record of getting the most out of their players. Our head coach, and I say this as objectively as I can, is not known for getting the most out of his players. Many blue chippers come to UT to wither on the vine or never reach their potentials. Now, Richt and Meyer, and pretty soon Spurrier, will be the ones getting those top classes. If Fulmer couldn't beat 'em with top athletes, why does any right thinking person believe that he can beat 'em with less? It just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, I don't beleive in the magic dust.

We don't have a handful of SEC Championship game losses. Our beloved head coach hasn't led us to that many.

 

[rwemyss]

Therein lies the rub. If Spurrier or Richt had those recruiting classes do you think they would have squandered them with a handfull of 8-win seasons and SECCSG losses? Heck no they wouldn't. Because they have a provedn track record of getting the most out of their players. Our head coach, and I say this as objectively as I can, is not known for getting the most out of his players. Many blue chippers come to UT to wither on the vine or never reach their potentials. Now, Richt and Meyer, and pretty soon Spurrier, will be the ones getting those top classes. If Fulmer couldn't beat 'em with top athletes, why does any right thinking person believe that he can beat 'em with less? It just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, I don't beleive in the magic dust.

That is pure speculation, and you know it. There is no way to say "Richt and Spurrier would have DEFINITELY done better with these players!" Rankings don't account for the mettle of a player... hell, numbers don't either. Wins are what counts, and we have been bringing home a hell of a lot of those in the last 15 years.

 

[jakez4ut]

Therein lies the rub. If Spurrier or Richt had those recruiting classes do you think they would have squandered them with a handfull of 8-win seasons and SECCSG losses? Heck no they wouldn't. Because they have a provedn track record of getting the most out of their players. Our head coach, and I say this as objectively as I can, is not known for getting the most out of his players. Many blue chippers come to UT to wither on the vine or never reach their potentials. Now, Richt and Meyer, and pretty soon Spurrier, will be the ones getting those top classes. If Fulmer couldn't beat 'em with top athletes, why does any right thinking person believe that he can beat 'em with less? It just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, I don't beleive in the magic dust.

i can agree with this....even in the 90's when it was just us and Florida, it never ceased to amaze me how many of our players were making it in the NFL, but the superstars ar Florida wouldn't. yet they were winning SEC title afte SEC title....

development of talent at TN has been in question for a long time now....nothing new there imo.

but i do agree that in June, with signing day 8 months away, it's still early, and no reason to get worked up.........yet. still alot to happen both on and off the feild.

 

[hatvol96]

That is pure speculation, and you know it. There is no way to say "Richt and Spurrier would have DEFINITELY done better with these players!" Rankings don't account for the mettle of a player... hell, numbers don't either. Wins are what counts, and we have been bringing home a hell of a lot of those in the last 15 years.

We have parlayed all those wins into a grand total of two SEC titles.

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Wins are what counts, and we have been bringing home a hell of a lot of those in the last 15 years.

Furthermore you can argue the quality of wins and most importantly championships won. In the end, a championship is what you are measured by.

 

[rwemyss]

We have parlayed all those wins into a grand total of two SEC titles.

It all depends on how you measure success big guy... we've been down this road before.

 

[jakez4ut]

That is pure speculation, and you know it. There is no way to say "Richt and Spurrier would have DEFINITELY done better with these players!" Rankings don't account for the mettle of a player... hell, numbers don't either. Wins are what counts, and we have been bringing home a hell of a lot of those in the last 15 years.

yeah, it's speculation, but it's reasonable to believe that Spurrier, especially in the 90's given that our recruiting usually was better than their's, and was proven to be that way when you looked at NFL rosters in the time period, that had a Spurrier had that same talent, he could have at least accomplished the same feats he did with supposed less talent. Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying UF was devoid of playmakers or blue chippers, but on paper, the talent between TN and UF, TN had the edge. We all knew it back then, and it hasn't changed now, Spurrier out coached Fulmer in the 90's...that's no secret....so to say that Spurrier got more from less, isn't exactly untrue. And last year's USC game was defintely an example of that.....they defiinitely didn't have the talent we supposedly had last year, yet they won....

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Don't get me wrong, i'm not saying UF was devoid of playmakers or blue chippers, but on paper, the talent between TN and UF, TN had the edge.

What about the differing offensive system(s)?

 

[hatvol96]

It all depends on how you measure success big guy... we've been down this road before.

There's a huge difference between being a winner and being a champion. I agree with the philosophy Bob Stoops advances. If you aren't playing to win championships, you shouldn't be playing at all. If you choose to measure a program on the number of wins it can rack up against the bottom of the SEC and nonconference opponents, that's your prerogative. I choose to use how many championships we win as the measuring stick.

 

[bigorange79]

This is why Tennessee needs to beat Cal. This game is BIG and I mean in recruiting. West Coast exposure...we need it

I agree, IMO we've got to beat Cal just to bring back some excitement in our program. Our last good game was vs. LSU last year - that's been a long, long time...

 

[rwemyss]

There's a huge difference between being a winner and being a champion. I agree with the philosophy Bob Stoops advances. If you aren't playing to win championships, you shouldn't be playing at all. If you chose to measure a program on the number of wins it can rack up against the bottom of the SEC and nonconference opponents, that's your prerogative. I choose to use how many championships we win a the measuring stick.

Dang... I was just about to say how much I LOOOOOVE winning "cahmpionships." :lol:

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Championships should always be the goal for any program....I would hope no one is complacent with eastern division titles.

Who braggs about winning the SEC East....other than a South Carolina, UK or Vandy?

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

but i do agree that in June, with signing day 8 months away, it's still early, and no reason to get worked up.........yet. still alot to happen both on and off the feild.

I will agree with that. It's just that recruiting and early commitments are about the only thing happening right now. Obviously, after last year, we are not going to have a bunch of four and five star recruits making early commitments to UT. However, several of our conference rivals are stacking up some pretty nice looking classes. Maybe they'll have terrible seasons and half those kids will de-commit? I sure hope so. In the meantime there is not much positive news for Vol fans. I'm pretty much a one-sport person and that sport is cfb. I have to post about it, read about it, talk, about it, etc. It's my compulsion. As soon as something good happens with regard to the team I'll be all over it.

 

[hatvol96]

Dang... I was just about to say how much I LOOOOOVE winning "cahmpionships." :lol:

It's been so long since the current head coach delivered one, I temporarily forgot how to spell the word.