The cost of being a fan............

[oregonvol]

Is arkansas demanding answers why he isnt there?

I have a feeling Arkansas fans would be demanding alot of answers if their AD had hired Butch Jones instead of a guy who went to the Rose Bowl three years in a row.

 

[99gator]

I tell you waht if every #$#$ quote "Negavol" gives you positive reinforcement where we all say YOU are right
this search was different WILL you PLEASE back up and realize that our current coach and his staff was not at ALL hyped up as a potential coach when we were looking

So maybe just maybe you could realize when looking at this board that alot of the people being called "negavols "
are Boosters and Saeson ticket holders

I made a post on 11.19.12 that this guy was rumored as a candidate.

 

[BandVOL]

Mentioned does not equal hyped up

There was ZERO reaching out to Boosters and all of this was super secret and a complete failure of communication from the PR and marketing department even TODAY

I will tell you that even Dooley's hire was handled better
It's OK ...They think they are going to have their commitment checks by the end of the year? NOT going to happen and then when they are due in March...Then watch Hart freak out and "suddenly' want to reach out to the Boosters

 

[bluetickhound16]

I have never seen any florida fan suggest that they have a right to know how a coaching search was conducted.

Never

Because when Florida needs a coach the AD looks around for a minute or two... Decides on their first choice and BAMMO! Said coach is announced shortly thereafter to the adoring praise of an undivided fanbase smug in the knowlege that said coach will not have to travel more than fifty miles in any direction to land the best recruits in the country.... Rational and realistic fanbase patiently endures one subpar season without complaint because its a sure bet that the mighty Gators will once again return to their rightful place atop the CFB world as they always have and always will. The rest of the nation trembles in fear knowing that the program that invented college football has once again procured the cream if the coaching crop to guide its team to yet another crystal football for the trophy case.
Meanwhile, us hillbillies here in east Tennessee continue to pick our noses and blame everyone under the sun because we actually thought we could hire a top level coach to lead us back to mediocrity....

 

[99gator]

Mentioned does not equal hyped up

There was ZERO reaching out to Boosters and all of this was super secret and a complete failure of communication from the PR and marketing department even TODAY

I will tell you that even Dooley's hire was handled better
It's OK ...They think they are going to have their commitment checks by the end of the year? NOT going to happen and then when they are due in March...Then watch Hart freak out and "suddenly' want to reach out to the Boosters

Every coaching hire is super secret.

No one seeks out the opinion of the average fan when making a hire

 

[bluetickhound16]

Every coaching hire is super secret.

No one seeks out the opinion of the average fan when making a hire

A competent AD would have taken notice of the situation and squashed the Gruden rumors before they ever got close to becoming what they became.... I agree that the AD doesn't need to consult the fanbase or keep us completely abreast of every detail concerning a coaching search but Hart was absolutely silent in any regard, except to be seen at basketball games and banquets. Our AD seemingly has no concern whatsoever for the fanbase and i imagine that disrespect will come back to haunt him should Things continue to go as they have gone for the past five or so years....

 

[duuuuuuuuuuuuude]

Imo, this is all about gruden.

People convinced themselves that he wanted to coach Tennessee and spread rumors saying he wanted the job and woud take it.

Now that he isn't the coach, those people look stupid and dishonest and have to place blame someone.

Enter hart and cheek

This, exactly.

All of the "news reports" quoted by OP couched their reports by saying "sources tell WIMP-TV that..." Saying that anonymous and possibly untrustworthy sources tell you something is not the same thing as saying that something is true. It's terrible journalism IMO, but the media outlets use the dodge that they're not reporting that X has happened, they're reporting that there are rumors that X has happened.

If you look at the stories themselves, what you see is a giant echo chamber. VQ (IIRC) reported that Gruden had been offered. VQ ain't CBS news, isn't held to the same standards as CBS, and most likely published the piece to force the AD to either confirm or issue a denial. But then you get sources all across the nation citing the VQ report, and suddenly VQ becomes their "source." It's sloppy all around, but the true believers suddenly see not just the VQ piece, but 25 other articles citing the VQ piece, and suddenly it's gospel. Uhhhhh, no.

Again, it's terrible journalism, but I can understand why the news outlets do it. When you've got a fanbase that's demanding to know every detail about the coaching search in real-time -- a demand that is historically unprecedented, by the way -- you either sling out the slop or you lose page-clicks and advertising dollars. We got crappy reporting, but maybe we deserve it for creating the atmosphere that required it.

We have met the enemy and he is us.

 

[BandVOL]

It's too easy to blame the Press here
Notice the difference between how the AD at Georgia and Florida handle their fans
Note the weekly shows with Georgia's Coach talking about exciting recruiting and a positive spin...even when the players at GA were making BAD Headlines The AD DID NOT BACK AWAY

If you want Great fans Here is something YOU need to remember Attitude reflects leadership

 

[duuuuuuuuuuuuude]

It's too easy to blame the Press here

Well, in fairness, I was also blaming gullible fans with unreasonable expectations. But when the first sentence of the OP is:

Journalists with ESPN and the NFL all ran stories of Gruden possibly coaching at UT. WREG-TV, a CBS affiliate in Memphis, reported that Gruden had an offer "in hand".

...then maybe it's legit to talk about the media's role in this. Call me crazy.

 

[82_VOL_83]

It's funny how the lower 90% of donors think they are owed something. First of all, UT is a business. It is run like a business and therefore it's books are not open for general public scrutiny unless you get a court order under the FOIA. Second, when the peeps that get a season ticket every year start thinking of the money that they spend as an investment, they are simply showing the value of the public education system. It isn't an investment, it is a donation. There is a big difference and people should educate themselves on this difference. Last, we aren't owed anything. If you don't like the way the AD is handling a situation, then STOP DONATING. It is really very simple. Just don't give them money. When they call to ask why tell them. Write letters, make phone calls, write editorials, but stop thinking that the people that run that University owe you anything. Hart answers to the top boosters....period. When they say jump, he says how high. When you as a fan become one of the top 1% of the boosters, then you get to make decisions and be in the know. Until then, just donate or don't donate and pull for the team or don't pull for the team. That is ALL you can do. This being owed mentality is endemic to the American Public today. It invades every facet of our lives. Grow up and stop being a victim.

 

[SolidRockGolf]

I have never seen any florida fan suggest that they have a right to know how a coaching search was conducted.

Never

Their posts leave me scratching my head. How can they be so immature.

Was our fanbase born with a freaking silver spoon in their mouth. When we start winning again it will be great but to cry and moan everyday on here demanding EVERYTHING and claiming the team owes you is just STUPID. Their efforts are to win just like your expectations. Just because they don't do it how you want is dumb.

 

[82_VOL_83]

Well, in fairness, I was also blaming gullible fans with unreasonable expectations. But when the first sentence of the OP is:



...then maybe it's legit to talk about the media's role in this. Call me crazy.

It is legit, but at the same time, don't feel like you are being abused when UT doesn't open their doors to address every rumor out there.

 

[duuuuuuuuuuuuude]

It is legit, but at the same time, don't feel like you are being abused when UT doesn't open their doors to address every rumor out there.

I suspect you're being sarcastic, but just in case you're not:

No. No, I don't. UT doesn't have an obligation to address every lunatic rumor started on a message board somewhere.

 

[SolidRockGolf]

A competent AD would have taken notice of the situation and squashed the Gruden rumors before they ever got close to becoming what they became.... I agree that the AD doesn't need to consult the fanbase or keep us completely abreast of every detail concerning a coaching search but Hart was absolutely silent in any regard, except to be seen at basketball games and banquets. Our AD seemingly has no concern whatsoever for the fanbase and i imagine that disrespect will come back to haunt him should Things continue to go as they have gone for the past five or so years....

They only became big to you and others here (maybe some people in Knoxville). It was on the news and reported but it wasn't heavily talked about or people discussed it in passing. Those in the Gruden thread set themselves up for a major let down. They were played over and over by trolls and for some reason think its someones fault.

A lot of posters with level heads predicted this. Even the threads you are posting now.

 

[82_VOL_83]

I tell you waht if every #$#$ quote "Negavol" gives you positive reinforcement where we all say YOU are right
this search was different WILL you PLEASE back up and realize that our current coach and his staff was not at ALL hyped up as a potential coach when we were looking

So maybe just maybe you could realize when looking at this board that alot of the people being called "negavols "
are Boosters and Saeson ticket holders

But obviously either don't use spell check or just didn't pass 8th grade engrish.......

 

[82_VOL_83]

Mentioned does not equal hyped up

There was ZERO reaching out to Boosters and all of this was super secret and a complete failure of communication from the PR and marketing department even TODAY

I will tell you that even Dooley's hire was handled better
It's OK ...They think they are going to have their commitment checks by the end of the year? NOT going to happen and then when they are due in March...Then watch Hart freak out and "suddenly' want to reach out to the Boosters

Stop being a victim.....don't donate. In about 2 years when we are winning, get back IN LINE for season tickets.

 

[SolidRockGolf]

Imo, this is all about gruden.

People convinced themselves that he wanted to coach Tennessee and spread rumors saying he wanted the job and woud take it.

Now that he isn't the coach, those people look stupid and dishonest and have to place blame someone.

Enter hart and cheek

This^

The clan members aren't happy.

 

[Vol_Doc]

This Gruden stuff is destined to live on like Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories. Our grandchildren will talk about it. Sad, but true.

 

[rockytop9808]

They only became big to you and others here (maybe some people in Knoxville). It was on the news and reported but it wasn't heavily talked about or people discussed it in passing. Those in the Gruden thread set themselves up for a major let down. They were played over and over by trolls and for some reason think its someones fault.

A lot of posters with level heads predicted this. Even the threads you are posting now.

The people who got all riled up about Gruden are the same ones pissed at a grown man for not leaving a school where he's established himself to come to Tennessee. In other words, people with the intelligence of four-year-old children.

 

[duuuuuuuuuuuuude]

The people who got all riled up about Gruden are the same ones pissed at a grown man for not leaving a school where he's established himself to come to Tennessee. In other words, people with the intelligence of four-year-old children.

Richard Ayoade speaks the troof.

 

[82_VOL_83]

A competent AD would have taken notice of the situation and squashed the Gruden rumors before they ever got close to becoming what they became.... I agree that the AD doesn't need to consult the fanbase or keep us completely abreast of every detail concerning a coaching search but Hart was absolutely silent in any regard, except to be seen at basketball games and banquets. Our AD seemingly has no concern whatsoever for the fanbase and i imagine that disrespect will come back to haunt him should Things continue to go as they have gone for the past five or so years....

Why is it that you and others refuse to believe the statements made by several including Guden's agent that Hart didn't talk to Gruden. The boosters were handling this and the Haslam's decided that they didn't want him. Hart was probably told to keep his mouth shut. STOP BEING A VICTIM. You lead yourself down a primrose path and then got pissed when you found out is wasn't true. If you want to complain, write Jim and Bill a letter and see how that works out for you.

 

[82_VOL_83]

The people who got all riled up about Gruden are the same ones pissed at a grown man for not leaving a school where he's established himself to come to Tennessee. In other words, people with the intelligence of four-year-old children.

Wrong, different situation entirely. Gruden did not have the connections to UT that Martin did. When your neighbor won't help you with a problem that is one thing. When your family blows you off, that is a different story entirely.

 

[SolidRockGolf]

The people who got all riled up about Gruden are the same ones pissed at a grown man for not leaving a school where he's established himself to come to Tennessee. In other words, people with the intelligence of four-year-old children.

The funny part about the Tee Martin scene is that a lot of posters didn't want CDD to hire him last year when he was coming from Kentucky.

Now they think he's the best thing since sliced bread and then get upset that he didn't come.

His best option is to sit at USC for atleast 2 years and build a good resume there. It will definitely help him climb the coaching later.

 

[rockytop9808]

Wrong, different situation entirely. Gruden did not have the connections to UT that Martin did. When your neighbor won't help you with a problem that is one thing. When your family blows you off, that is a different story entirely.

I didn't know he was related to you.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Journalists with ESPN and the NFL all ran stories of Gruden possibly coaching at UT. WREG-TV, a CBS affiliate in Memphis, reported that Gruden had an offer "in hand". How is any of that the fault of fans or as they are so lovingly called.....OGs? I doubt if CBS gets its info from message boards. Furthermore, when did the Athletic Depts policies and procedures become something that is none of the fans business? Must be when they stopped charging for tickets or maybe when the school declined private donations and federal or state funding. I admit that sometimes we, as fans, have lofty expectations, but is that any different from other fans across the country?
There are some real issues with the university and the Athletic Dept that really hinder this football programs ability to compete for players and coaches. That seems obvious and not even up for discussion. Just look at the downward spiral over the last few yrs. What those problems are remain a mystery and fans deserve to know why their monetary, not to mention emotional, investments are not paying the dividends that are expected. I hope CBJ will stop this runaway train and everyone will support this team going forward. But to accuse the fans of wanting too much is not only absurd, but insulting as well. Fans are the life blood of every team and should never have a ceiling placed on their expectations, unless it is not the goal of the team to be the absolute best at what they do.

What their goal is (and it's working) is to drive expectations so low within the fanbase that an 8 win season is ok. After what the program has gone through the last 5-7 years most fans just want to be over .500. A liberty bowl bid or a music city bowl bid looks better and better as time passes with no bowl. It has become such that if you have a higher expectation than a coach from the big east (no offense to our current coach), then you are delusional and a nega-vol.