I truly think we are probably top ten but not at the level of schools like OSU, Texas, Oregon, Georgia and maybe a few others. We got a head start but some of those massive universities passed us up as they have dramatically more alumni and $$$. We do have a rabid fan base but the NIL money can’t come from the school as of now. Looks like revenue sharing is coming but not yet. OSU reportedly spent in excess of 20 million for this year’s team. It’s not a coincidence that’s where the talent is going. Recruiting is just not what it used to be. You need great coaching and talent evaluation as it’s unlikely we will ever have one of the top 5-10 budgets to buy talent. I just feel like Heupel has exceeded his roster talent and would hope we learned our lesson about constantly firing coaches. Literally only one team can win a National Championship per year. We qualified for the freaking playoffs and were the laughingstock of college football 4 years ago. I’m glad most of these toxic people don’t work for themselves because they would all be fired by themselves. Heupel is a great person and ambassador for our university and I like the way he conducts himself. I’d rather have a Mark Richt type decent human than a POS human like Urban Meyer and win a national championship. Maybe it’s my age but how about we show a little grace and be thankful for all the good that this coaching staff has accomplished. I know it’s a lot happier way to live.
I didn’t mean to high jack your post Jake I liked what you said and just started being an old man and rambling.
I get that
...
I do think in a one game vacuum against a program like OSU is easy to fall victim to all the things we still need to do, to get to that level.
As some time goes on and you continue to look at the track record... Our floor has gone from 5 wins a year to 9 wins a year in less than 5 years. And really it's been that way since year 2.
I think if you're expecting championships every year, that's just unrealistic. But to be relevant every year in championship competition.. Conf and/or national.... Well, I think we're there.
Yesterday sucked. But our fans showed up, and have, for the past 3 years. I think back to playing at Pitt, LSU, OU the bowl games... We are one of those programs.
We're just not quite there on the field/roster wise when compared to the actual elite programs in today's college football. And that's ok. I didn't think we're were before this year started either.
All of the things we were all excited about a week ago about this program and athletic department still exist today, reinforced by a playoff appearance by the football program.
Losing isn't fun. Especially when you get your butt kicked like we did.
But in 1997 we received a similar butt kicking and or coaching staff took note, made changes, and we won the whole damn thing the next season.
I expect this staff should and will do something similar, at least in terms of how to use a loss like this to get better.
I'm still sick about it. I won't watch anything college football related until the next game.
But I'm still very happy and excited about what's coming.
GBO
merry Christmas and happy new year.
) I love the Vols and football in particular. It pains me when we have a season that ends 10-3 and we have so many posters that forget just a few years ago when we were 3-9 or hoping to get a Music City Bowl invite and were excited when we did. Yeah. There is tons of room for improvement but the bishing and hating on our coaches and players is not something I am up for reading and certainly not combating right now. I will be back, but my mental health demands I not wallow in the hating and self loathing that this board will be for the next bit. I look forward to seeing your posts in a few months. Take care.
