Player Appreciation Thread

#1
AllVol11717

AllVol11717

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2011
Messages
3,217
Likes
4,968
#1
How about a thread for how much we appreciate not just one of these young men in orange and white, but ALL of them. They each go out there and put their body on the line for a coach that has proven time and time again to be inept. Sure there have been mistakes made by the players, but they own up to their mistakes and try to get better the next week.

These kids give their everything for our university, most of them knowing this is their last stop for football, and they deserve to be acknowledged for getting out there and working their @$$es off.

Bray has taken a lot of heat after every loss this season whether it was his fault or not but he has tried his best to hang in there. I think it's obvious that him and Dooley weren't remotely on the same page, ever, and that Bray has had to experience the Dooley tragedy more closely than probably anyone else. Every one of these guys deserves an appreciation thread in my opinion if not for the fact of surviving the Dooley era of UT football, which is probably only comparable to spending time as a POW in Vietnam.
 
#2
#2
In a way I agree with you but another part of me says these players have quit on several occasions. I guess if I were coached by a bunch of clowns it might be hard not to quit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#4
#4
if these players have been giving maximum effort under dooley, just wait until a new coach gets a hold of them.

dooley deserves every bit of vitriol that can be thrown at a coach. no question about it.

but, the players need to look themselves in the mirror as well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#5
#5
This team will go down as the worst team in UT history. From the coaches down to the players, it's difficult to support any of them IMO
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#6
#6
99gator said:
if these players have been giving maximum effort under dooley, just wait until a new coach gets a hold of them.

dooley deserves every bit of vitriol that can be thrown at a coach. no question about it.

but, the players need to look themselves in the mirror as well.
Click to expand...

I will agree with you. Several players have quit in different games throughout the season and it has showed, but to be fair it's hard to keep the fire burning when your coach doesn't even appear to want to win.
 
#8
#8
AllVol11717 said:
I will agree with you. Several players have quit in different games throughout the season and it has showed, but to be fair it's hard to keep the fire burning when your coach doesn't even appear to want to win.
Click to expand...

at some point, there is personal pride that should kick in.

i know the coaching is terrible.

but, let's get real here. if the team that showed up against, florida, georgia, and mississippi state showed up yesterday......win or lose, tennessee doesn't get embarrased.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#10
#10
99gator said:
at some point, there is personal pride that should kick in.

i know the coaching is terrible.

but, let's get real here. if the team that showed up against, florida, georgia, and mississippi state showed up yesterday......win or lose, tennessee doesn't get embarrased.
Click to expand...

They have the talent to destroy vandy.. So many of them are just so mentally weak...
 
#11
#11
I just don't get why we all have to give the players a big hug and tell them thanks and be forced to say all these nice things about Dooley to prove we are "classy fans" or some BS like that. Dools was hired to do a job, paid well for it, and he failed miserably at it. The players are getting a free education to come play football for a (once) prestigious university. Why do I have to thank them for putting a crappy product on the field? I just don't get it. If some of you want to score moral points with other posters, be my guest but you get nothing form me but the honest truth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#12
#12
99gator said:
at some point, there is personal pride that should kick in.

i know the coaching is terrible.

but, let's get real here. if the team that showed up against, florida, georgia, and mississippi state showed up yesterday......win or lose, tennessee doesn't get embarrased.
Click to expand...

I think it's because in games like UGA, UF, MSU, and USCe they gave it their all only to come up short and that has exhausted them mentally, given them the "Even our all isn't enough mentality" and the coaches have done nothing to reverse and have in fact expanded that mentality.
 
#13
#13
We lost to Vandy. No appreciation at all for anything associated with that debacle last night. Talented but fragile team. Ridiculous thread.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#14
#14
fade route said:
I just don't get why we all have to give the players a big hug and tell them thanks and be forced to say all these nice things about Dooley to prove we are "classy fans" or some BS like that. Dools was hired to do a job, paid well for it, and he failed miserably at it. The players are getting a free education to come play football for a (once) prestigious university. Why do I have to thank them for putting a crappy product on the field? I just don't get it. If some of you want to score moral points with other posters, be my guest but you get nothing form me but the honest truth.
Click to expand...

It's not about moral victories, I'm as pissed as anyone about how this season goes, but these players have had to endure close games where they give it their all only for something bad to happen and then see their coach thrown them under the bus with zero accountability to himself. Also you have to see that there is an immense amount of talent on this team and they chose to attend this university over several others, the least you can do is show some respect and get your head out of your ass to understand that this situation is much harder on them, especially since in the scope of things it's just a damn game.
 
#15
#15
fade route said:
I just don't get why we all have to give the players a big hug and tell them thanks and be forced to say all these nice things about Dooley to prove we are "classy fans" or some BS like that. Dools was hired to do a job, paid well for it, and he failed miserably at it. The players are getting a free education to come play football for a (once) prestigious university. Why do I have to thank them for putting a crappy product on the field? I just don't get it. If some of you want to score moral points with other posters, be my guest but you get nothing form me but the honest truth.
Click to expand...

Exactly
 
#16
#16
Easiest reply ever! I love the Tennessee Vols Players Past, Present and Future. I see areas where I am thankful for Dooley(VFL, New Building) having been here as well, but "he gotta go". Players. We APPRECIATE your dedication, service and desire to lift the Vols out of the mire. Vols FOR LIFE. The players like Z Rogers, Couch, Lathers, Tiny, CP, AJ, and MANY others have been exciting to watch. For all scout team and 2nd, 3rd, 4th teamers. Thanks too!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#17
#17
I'm sorry... most of these guys have played football since pop warner days... they know how long the season is... and if they can't personally get "up" to stomp an in-state rival just like the previous 20 some odd teams have done in the past... then that's on them.
99gator is right... personal pride should kick in.

Sure they have played tough and came up on the losing side of some games this year, but that should be all the more reason to come out firing on all cylinders last night.

this doesn't mean I "appreciate" them any less... just don't want to celebrate mediocrity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#18
#18
CornfromJar said:
I'm sorry... most of these guys have played football since pop warner days... they know how long the season is... and if they can't personally get "up" to stomp an in-state rival just like the previous 20 some odd teams have done in the past... then that's on them.
99gator is right... personal pride should kick in.

Sure they have played tough and came up on the losing side of some games this year, but that should be all the more reason to come out firing on all cylinders last night.

this doesn't mean I "appreciate" them any less... just don't want to celebrate mediocrity.
Click to expand...

And this isn't a celebration of them, it is more of a purple heart for surviving one of the worst coaches to date in SEC football
 
#19
#19
AllVol11717 said:
And this isn't a celebration of them, it is more of a purple heart for surviving one of the worst coaches to date in SEC football
Click to expand...

POW? Vietnam? Purple Heart? Do you know this guy?

kellen_winslow_display_image.jpg
 
#20
#20
I would say thanks to the OL, Patterson, the RBs, Lathers, and Johnson. Maybe One or two of the DL. Plus Rivera and Bartholomew and Rogers.

Watching Gameday Final, I am beginning to think we would've been better off even hiring Lou Holtz instead of Dooley.
 
Last edited:
#21
#21
Kills me watching Tajh Boyd throw for 400 yards and rush for 100 against NC State, a team that got the VN, including myself, all hyped up over the season.
 
#23
#23
In the game of football, coaches have more influence on the outcome of the game more than any sport. A great coach with average players can do wonders. These players went into every game with a huge disadvantage.

They are down now. They probably feel worse than we do. It's up to the AD now to do right by these young men and find them a great coach.

Go Vols!
 
#24
#24
I will be there Saturday for no other reason than to support the Seniors. They didn't deserve this mess that has been Tennessee Football for the last 4 years. As for this coaching staff, I would be ecstatic if Dooley and Sunseri were not at the game this weekend.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top