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#23,505
#23,505
OrangeBlitz said:
Gentlemen...Ladies...various and sundry...

I am a long time lurker and only occasional poster, but the current iteration of our beloved Volunteers have coaxed me into making a...statement? Plea? Something. I'll turn 50 years old next month, born and raised in Knoxville, but currently living in Chattanooga. So, I have been here through many changes. I sat on my grandfather's porch and listened to John Ward paint pictures in my mind as Coach Majors led our team to victories. I endured two generations of pessimism, as my dad and granddad would seemingly accept defeat after 7 or 8 minutes of the first quarter were gone and we weren't up 21-0. I lived through the Fulmer years, when we enjoyed much success, including an evening in early January where I not only watched my team secure a national championship, but also gave a certain young lady a first kiss. 22 years later, we're still kissing and it's just as sweet. I've watched us endure the lean years, better left unspoken, where my heart was ripped from my chest more times than I'd care to remember. And here we are. Barely begun into what, I hope, will prove a long and successful run under the leadership of Coach Heupel.

I don't take losses quite as hard as I used to, but some things still remain the same. I hate Florida. Don't get me wrong...I also have strong dislike for Alabama, and Georgia, but I hate Florida. I suppose it's the remnant of those years where the championship of the east lay through them. Often we prevailed, but many times we did not and, each of those times, I'd have to listen to the unbearably smug Coach Spurrier. I hate Florida. As we approach game time next Saturday, I know what will happen. My logical brain, which reassures me that this team is not other teams, just because we've lost in terrific fashion before doesn't mean we will again, and curses do not, in fact, exist, will give way to my BVS shackled heart. It tells me that Richardson, or some heretofore unknown backup will throw for 550 yards, rush for 275, gain 180 return yards, kick 3 FGs (one of 60 yards), and personally set concession sales records. Then, the week after they have shamed us, this powerhouse will fade back into obscurity, never having another decent game.

I don't want to be like this. I want to live in a rational world where we don't crap the bed anytime we play Florida. But the struggle is real. I don't think we have anything to worry about come Saturday, but I've thought that before. I guess we'll see. And that's the thing. We will see...together. I can rest assured that many of you know what I'm talking about. We are a family, of sorts. Often dysfunctional, always irrational, but generally there for one another through good times and bad. So, if we revert to form and, somehow, lose this game, we'll lick our wounds and proceed to cheer for the Volunteers next week. If, as I really expect, we'll go out and execute our game plan and come away with a victory, we'll celebrate, sigh in relief, and proceed to cheer for the Volunteers next week. Either way, I'm glad we're in this together. I'm glad I am southern by birth and a Volunteer by the grace of God. I'm glad that we should finally be able to start a streak of our own. Have I mentioned that I hate Florida?
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if you hate Florida, quit giving them credit for wins when they have yet to even play the game. Our problem has been an administration that absolutely selected coaches that no other prestigious program would hire. Where is anyone clamoring for Dooley/Butch/Pruitt? I acknowledge Fulmer lost some heartbreakers, but Florida will always be loaded with talent. Heupel is our equalizer. We have something special and we need to enjoy it. (I am also a Knoxville area transplant to Chattanooga) Oh, I hate anyone the Vols play.
 
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#23,511
#23,511
OrangeBlitz said:
Gentlemen...Ladies...various and sundry...

I am a long time lurker and only occasional poster, but the current iteration of our beloved Volunteers have coaxed me into making a...statement? Plea? Something. I'll turn 50 years old next month, born and raised in Knoxville, but currently living in Chattanooga. So, I have been here through many changes. I sat on my grandfather's porch and listened to John Ward paint pictures in my mind as Coach Majors led our team to victories. I endured two generations of pessimism, as my dad and granddad would seemingly accept defeat after 7 or 8 minutes of the first quarter were gone and we weren't up 21-0. I lived through the Fulmer years, when we enjoyed much success, including an evening in early January where I not only watched my team secure a national championship, but also gave a certain young lady a first kiss. 22 years later, we're still kissing and it's just as sweet. I've watched us endure the lean years, better left unspoken, where my heart was ripped from my chest more times than I'd care to remember. And here we are. Barely begun into what, I hope, will prove a long and successful run under the leadership of Coach Heupel.

I don't take losses quite as hard as I used to, but some things still remain the same. I hate Florida. Don't get me wrong...I also have strong dislike for Alabama, and Georgia, but I hate Florida. I suppose it's the remnant of those years where the championship of the east lay through them. Often we prevailed, but many times we did not and, each of those times, I'd have to listen to the unbearably smug Coach Spurrier. I hate Florida. As we approach game time next Saturday, I know what will happen. My logical brain, which reassures me that this team is not other teams, just because we've lost in terrific fashion before doesn't mean we will again, and curses do not, in fact, exist, will give way to my BVS shackled heart. It tells me that Richardson, or some heretofore unknown backup will throw for 550 yards, rush for 275, gain 180 return yards, kick 3 FGs (one of 60 yards), and personally set concession sales records. Then, the week after they have shamed us, this powerhouse will fade back into obscurity, never having another decent game.

I don't want to be like this. I want to live in a rational world where we don't crap the bed anytime we play Florida. But the struggle is real. I don't think we have anything to worry about come Saturday, but I've thought that before. I guess we'll see. And that's the thing. We will see...together. I can rest assured that many of you know what I'm talking about. We are a family, of sorts. Often dysfunctional, always irrational, but generally there for one another through good times and bad. So, if we revert to form and, somehow, lose this game, we'll lick our wounds and proceed to cheer for the Volunteers next week. If, as I really expect, we'll go out and execute our game plan and come away with a victory, we'll celebrate, sigh in relief, and proceed to cheer for the Volunteers next week. Either way, I'm glad we're in this together. I'm glad I am southern by birth and a Volunteer by the grace of God. I'm glad that we should finally be able to start a streak of our own. Have I mentioned that I hate Florida?
Click to expand...

Awesome.
 
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#23,513
#23,513
Bassmaster_Vol said:
This is what concerns me… we always cave under pressure.
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Someone better give Hooker a Xanax. He plays too tight and sails balls when he's had time to think about how many people will be watching him. God help us if Peyton finds him in the locker room before the game.

He needs the John Henderson pregame routine.
 
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#23,518
#23,518
Jimmy Football said:
Not just a football program, a championship football program.

It’s really disgraceful.
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When I was in school and would go to the games, I always noticed the old-timers who lived through national titles and Heisman trophies and top 5 finishes and how dejected they looked. As bad as Tennessee got, it was due to incompetence; they weren’t poisoned like the Buffs were. My advisor sat on the committee that self-imposed the harshest recruiting restrictions imaginable and used to brag to me that he’d helped kill the football program. After all, a university was supposed to be about SCHOLARSHIP, not silly athletic competition. Always found that tremendously myopic.
 
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#23,520
#23,520
Florida-SEC play incoming. The offense wasn't firing on all cylinders in last year's game. Will be interesting to see what kind of running game we have or whether there is some level of a dink and dunk pass game we are going to see. The down field pass game seems installed. Gotta think the D is relatively improved. Tempting to get out in front of things with a prediction. Got to like the Vols chances though.
 
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#23,521
#23,521
BigSteve09 said:
Someone better give Hooker a Xanax. He plays too tight and sails balls when he's had time to think about how many people will be watching him. God help us if Peyton finds him in the locker room before the game.

He needs the John Henderson pregame routine.
Click to expand...
Exactly. See Ole Miss last year and Pitt just 2 weeks ago. He has to come out cool and dialed in
 
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#23,525
#23,525
NMVol said:
Florida-SEC play incoming. The offense wasn't firing on all cylinders in last year's game. Will be interesting to see what kind of running game we have or whether there is some level of a dink and dunk pass game we are going to see. The down field pass game seems installed. Gotta think the D is relatively improved. Tempting to get out in front of things with a prediction. Got to like the Vols chances though.
Click to expand...

tenor.gif
 
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