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With all that I have read about firing coaches and the status of the program I wanted to put in my $.02.
Stephens gets my vote of the coach that must go if I can only vote once. The decline in the O-line has been evident under JRS. Even if Sanders is ultimately reponsible he can't do his job for him. And using that logic Fulmer is ulitimately responsible for everything that happens. O-line coach is one of the most critical position in our program.
Back to Sanders. He was not qualified to be OC at Tennessee when he was hired in 98. However he has done an ok job within the constraints that Fulmer puts on him. If you want to run a Tennessee offense it all comes down to line play. If you can't run the football it's not going to be pretty. I think he did a pretty good job of developing the freshman QB's and even Claussen looks like he is well prepared. Sanders actually put in a couple of new plays in the SC game that led to touchdowns. That's right Dandy Randy actually outschemed someone. I think he takes way too much blame.
As for the Vandy game: it was ugly but it was a win. For whatever reason that has become Fulmer's style--take it or leave it. He plays close, a lot of times ugly, games. He wins those and all other games at an 80% clip.
I don't know what anyone's problem could be with this year aside from the Notre dame loss. We should never lost that game and it still stings me that we did. However, my goal for this team at the beginning of the year was 9 wins and SECC game. With this team 8 wins was acceptable but 9 or more would be a great year.
Mission Accomplished.
What happens is people take the good and run with it. Earlier in the year I saw some of the same people who predicted a 7-4 type season before it started, were talkiing about Heisman trophies and BCS Standings. Now all of a sudden an SECC game appearance is not good enough any more.
Expectations of the fans have gotten way out of wack and it's starting to hurt the program. Apparently competing for SEC Championships every year is not good enough. I guess we need to win the NC every other year. It's far beneath our team and fans to travel to bowl games anymore unless it's a BCS bowl. I remember the old Vol fans who would be 40,000 strong traveling across the country to watch their beloved Vols play in a low tier bowl game. Back then we just wanted to suppport the team. Now teams like South Carolina have more fans travel to bowl games then we do. I envy the Gamecocks. They still have the dream that they can chase those magical seasons of competing for and winning a championship. They follow their team everywhere in the hopes that maybe someday if all the planets and the stars and moon will align and they too can win a National Championship. To them I say... be careful what you wish for.
Stephens gets my vote of the coach that must go if I can only vote once. The decline in the O-line has been evident under JRS. Even if Sanders is ultimately reponsible he can't do his job for him. And using that logic Fulmer is ulitimately responsible for everything that happens. O-line coach is one of the most critical position in our program.
Back to Sanders. He was not qualified to be OC at Tennessee when he was hired in 98. However he has done an ok job within the constraints that Fulmer puts on him. If you want to run a Tennessee offense it all comes down to line play. If you can't run the football it's not going to be pretty. I think he did a pretty good job of developing the freshman QB's and even Claussen looks like he is well prepared. Sanders actually put in a couple of new plays in the SC game that led to touchdowns. That's right Dandy Randy actually outschemed someone. I think he takes way too much blame.
As for the Vandy game: it was ugly but it was a win. For whatever reason that has become Fulmer's style--take it or leave it. He plays close, a lot of times ugly, games. He wins those and all other games at an 80% clip.
I don't know what anyone's problem could be with this year aside from the Notre dame loss. We should never lost that game and it still stings me that we did. However, my goal for this team at the beginning of the year was 9 wins and SECC game. With this team 8 wins was acceptable but 9 or more would be a great year.
Mission Accomplished.
What happens is people take the good and run with it. Earlier in the year I saw some of the same people who predicted a 7-4 type season before it started, were talkiing about Heisman trophies and BCS Standings. Now all of a sudden an SECC game appearance is not good enough any more.
Expectations of the fans have gotten way out of wack and it's starting to hurt the program. Apparently competing for SEC Championships every year is not good enough. I guess we need to win the NC every other year. It's far beneath our team and fans to travel to bowl games anymore unless it's a BCS bowl. I remember the old Vol fans who would be 40,000 strong traveling across the country to watch their beloved Vols play in a low tier bowl game. Back then we just wanted to suppport the team. Now teams like South Carolina have more fans travel to bowl games then we do. I envy the Gamecocks. They still have the dream that they can chase those magical seasons of competing for and winning a championship. They follow their team everywhere in the hopes that maybe someday if all the planets and the stars and moon will align and they too can win a National Championship. To them I say... be careful what you wish for.
epper: <----what is this?
