Talent Gap is closing (not there yet) and…

#1
UTK

UTK

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#1
I think it will continue to close. However the last puzzle this staff has to put together is how to win big games on the road in hostile environments . They’ve done it twice (LSU 2022, OU 2024) I’m not counting Pitt, Kentucky/Vandy. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s what championship programs do. We shall see. If this game was played in Neyland I think we win a close one. The road woes continue to haunt us.
 
#4
#4
UTK said:
I think it will continue to close. However the last puzzle this staff has to put together is how to win big games on the road in hostile environments . They’ve done it twice (LSU 2022, OU 2024) I’m not counting Pitt, Kentucky/Vandy. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s what championship programs do. We shall see. If this game was played in Neyland I think we win a close one. The road woes continue to haunt us.
Click to expand...

Smart is Heupel's kryptonite.
 
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#5
#5
UTK said:
I think it will continue to close. However the last puzzle this staff has to put together is how to win big games on the road in hostile environments . They’ve done it twice (LSU 2022, OU 2024) I’m not counting Pitt, Kentucky/Vandy. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s what championship programs do. We shall see. If this game was played in Neyland I think we win a close one. The road woes continue to haunt us.
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They've definitely got to put this "can't win the big ones on the road" reputation to rest. There's a number of reasons for those losses, but one thing is for certain - Tennessee will have to decisively shake off that reputation if they ever want to ascend back to the top tier of the sport, both in public perception and in fan perception.
 
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#7
#7
A championship culture where you expect to win the big game is the next step for this program. It took time to overcome a decade of suck which took a lot to overcome that culture and lowered expectation. We now have built a solid winning culture again with 10+ wins. Next is to breakthrough to a championship culture where you expect to win the SEC and really make a run at the National Title every year.

Winning is a culture that has a strong pull.
 
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#8
#8
UTK said:
I think it will continue to close. However the last puzzle this staff has to put together is how to win big games on the road in hostile environments . They’ve done it twice (LSU 2022, OU 2024) I’m not counting Pitt, Kentucky/Vandy. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s what championship programs do. We shall see. If this game was played in Neyland I think we win a close one. The road woes continue to haunt us.
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You shouldn’t count OU 2024. Because they are Pitt/Kentucky/Vandy bad in 2024
 
#9
#9
GVol1966 said:
You shouldn’t count OU 2024. Because they are Pitt/Kentucky/Vandy bad in 2024
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Eh I don’t like to retroactively take away wins like that. At the time it was a big game, OU had everything to play for and it was night in a hostile environment.
 
#10
#10
UTK said:
Eh I don’t like to retroactively take away wins like that. At the time it was a big game, OU had everything to play for and it was night in a hostile environment.
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You said big wins on the road.
Every road game in the SeC is a hostile environment
But every win isn’t a big win!
Some are just taking care of business like you should
 
#11
#11
ATLVols said:
A championship culture where you expect to win the big game is the next step for this program. It took time to overcome a decade of suck which took a lot to overcome that culture and lowered expectation. We now have built a solid winning culture again with 10+ wins. Next is to breakthrough to a championship culture where you expect to win the SEC and really make a run at the National Title every year.

Winning is a culture that has a strong pull.
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We’re going to get there. Huep has us at the door to the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
 
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#13
#13
The gap is closed IMO. We weren’t good enough to overcome UGA’s home field advantage and the referees tonight but on a neutral field we would beat anybody
 
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#16
#16
UTK said:
I think it will continue to close. However the last puzzle this staff has to put together is how to win big games on the road in hostile environments . They’ve done it twice (LSU 2022, OU 2024) I’m not counting Pitt, Kentucky/Vandy. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s what championship programs do. We shall see. If this game was played in Neyland I think we win a close one. The road woes continue to haunt us.
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Kentucky 2021 should count. They were ranked, they won 10 games, and they were chomping at the bit to get a piece of us in a rare moment where they had the better team on paper.
 
#17
#17
UTK said:
I think it will continue to close. However the last puzzle this staff has to put together is how to win big games on the road in hostile environments . They’ve done it twice (LSU 2022, OU 2024) I’m not counting Pitt, Kentucky/Vandy. It’s not an easy thing to do. But it’s what championship programs do. We shall see. If this game was played in Neyland I think we win a close one. The road woes continue to haunt us.
Click to expand...
Recruited talent gap is closing, but I'm not sure the developed talent gap is closing at the moment.
 
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#18
#18
Godfatha said:
Arkansas more talented than us? That loss was inexcusable and is the reason we're out of the playoffs.
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One still has to consider it was Nico's second true away night game. He had to go through some growing pains, but I see him playing much more confidently these last few weeks.
 
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#21
#21
I think next season is make or break for Josh Heupel. If our offense doesnt find some answers next season and improve and if we dont drastically improve penalties/undisciplined play...I dont know how you sell Heupel going forward.
 
#23
#23
volgr said:
I think next season is make or break for Josh Heupel. If our offense doesnt find some answers next season and improve and if we dont drastically improve penalties/undisciplined play...I dont know how you sell Heupel going forward.
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lol. Guy’s about to have 2 double digit win seasons in 4 years after inheriting sanctions and 44 lost players from those sanctions. Seat isn’t even lukewarm
 
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#24
#24
SGMVols said:
lol. Guy’s about to have 2 double digit win seasons in 4 years after inheriting sanctions and 44 lost players from those sanctions. Seat isn’t even lukewarm
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He seems to be stuck though and his offense looks like crap. If not for some amazing defensive performances this season, it's a rough year. Next year is year 5, does he look like a coach at the end of next season that can get us a SEC or National title? If not, how do you sell him long term?
 
#25
#25
volgr said:
He seems to be stuck though and his offense looks like crap. If not for some amazing defensive performances this season, it's a rough year. Next year is year 5, does he look like a coach at the end of next season that can get us a SEC or National title? If not, how do you sell him long term?
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He has the literal #1 overall player in the country coming in 2026 and he’s a qb. That’s certainly something you can sell.
 
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