THE SKY IS NOT FALLING

[Gandalf]

The team didn’t lay down against OSU. They got beat by a vastly better team.

They got beat by a better team but yes, too many were not putting in the effort. Saw it with my own eyes.

 

[Berry4Heisman14]

Can you clarify?
If his friends get us in the playoffs every year, you want to fire them?

If you’re happy with how our receivers, OL, and DBs have been the past few years then good for you

 

[Starchief13VFL]

We need a better NIL fund. 11 mill per yr gets you what you see. Osu has 22 mill roster. Thier 3rd best receiver is better than anyone we have . We make opps qb look like hiesman candidates.. We need a roster turnover at several positions.

How much you trowing in? I do a monthly, albeit not as much as I’d like to. If every bitcher contributes we’d be golden

 

[Vol4ever]

Josh has got to replace some assistants. Stubbornness to upgrade and let his friends go will cost him in the long run

He is not changing them and I agree with you.

 

[Volfan1000]

Man this football forum is so doom and gloom right now. Yes we got absolutely embarrassed Saturday night. Yes I was angry at players, coaches, and the world for about 24 hours. But after really taking in the situation and taking a step back I feel like we have had an insanely great season that so many people are taking for granted. People are talking about CJH not being the guy, us never being able to be elite for this reason or that, even contemplating their fandom (which is unfathomable to me) because we just won 10 games and made the CFP but were embarrassed by Ohio State in our worst game of the season by far. Fun fact, Peyton Manning's last game of his Tennessee career, a Vol legend and whom many consider the greatest QB to ever play at UT, was a 42-17 blowout loss to Nebraska. Nico is a redshirt FREASHMAN. But I see many people say how Nico will never be a great player?

Lets breakdown a few of the first seasons for the best QBs in recent Tennessee History shall we?

Peyton Manning (Freshman Year) - 11 games, 61% completion percentage, 1141 Pass Yards, 11 Tds, 6 Ints, -23 yards Rush, 1 Rush Td, 8-4 record

Josh Dobbs (Junior Year) - 13 games, 2291 Pass Yards, 59% Completion Percentage, 15 Pass TDs, 5 Ints, 469 Rush Yards, 8 Rush Tds, 9 - 4 Record (Dobbs had played in 10 games for UT at this point and ended the previous year as the starter)

Hendon Hooker (Sophomore at VT) - 11 games, 61% completion percentage 1555 Pass yards, 13 Pass Tds, 2 Ints, 356 rush yards, 5 Rush Tds, 8 - 5 Record

Nico Iamaleava (Redshirt Freshman) - 13 games, 2616 pass yards, 63.8% completion percentage, 19 tds, 5 ints, 358 Rush yards, 3 Tds, 10 - 3 Record (Yes I get the Defense was awesome this year at times for him)

Now lets check out how Coach Josh Heupel Compares in his first 4 seasons versus some of UT's Best in their first 4 seasons.

Phillip Fulmer - 1992: 4 -4, 1993: 9 - 2, 1994: 8 - 4, 1995: 11 - 1

Johnny Majors - 1977: 4 - 7, 1978: 5 -5. 1979: 7 - 5, 1980: 5 - 6

Josh Heupel - 2021: 7 - 6, 2022: 11 - 2, 2023: 9 - 4, 2024 10 - 3 - All while being under pretty insane NCAA sanctions that greatly restricted his recruiting especially in the first two seasons of his tenure

We are also still under those sanctions till 2028 although most of the impact was already dealt with in 2021 and 2022.

Josh Heupels 2022 recruiting class with Nico was also Tennessee's First Top Ten class since 2015. LET ALL THAT SINK IN.

Was the Ohio State game a huge disappointment? Yes. Did the defense have one of their worst games of the year? Yes. Did the team have one of their worst games of the year? Yes.

But we were without our best player Dylan Sampson, with less athleticism, coming off stretch where our first top ten class in 7 years is just now at the most sophomores and we have been hampered in recruiting, on the road, at night, against a really good team despite the Michigan loss. They played really good and we played really really bad. There is a talent gap imo and there is a money gap. We undoubtably have to spend more in NIL I agree. But also these powerhouse programs take time to build and we need to stack recruiting classes together. Other programs like LSU spent about the same as OSU did in NIL as well but had way worse of a season so is that really the issue? I think only time will tell. We aren't there but we are close and if you take a step back and look at the numbers we actually might be in the best position statistically we ever have been, outside of the General of course. So no the sky is not falling and Josh Heupel has this program in an incredible spot right now with some serious dudes coming in down the line. It wasn't the ending we all wanted but at the end of the day. I didn't expect to win a national championship this year, but my goal for the team was for them to make the playoffs and we even beat Bama and Florida in the process. HELL OF A SEASON in my opinion and Nico and the boys will only get better! There is a BRIGHT future on Rocky Top so cheer up and enjoy the great years to come! GO BIG ORANGE!

Chicken Little would have given this thread two thumbs up for the story reference.

 

[Vol865]

They exceeded my expectations this year. With that said, status quo isn't going to get us any further than exactly where we are. That game reminded me of getting beat 49-10 by Bama in 2016 and how big the talent gap was and how much better coached they were. I'm definitely not suggesting to do anything with Heupel, but it wouldn't bother me at all if Banks took a HC job and I think it's imperative that we find a new OL and DB coach and get more creative on offense and get back to things that made the 2022 team successful as far as playcalling and scheme goes. 2 TEs is predictable. Need to be primarily in 11 personnel. If we need better WRs, go get them. We better get some OL too.

 

[sigmundoooz]

Man this football forum is so doom and gloom right now. Yes we got absolutely embarrassed Saturday night. Yes I was angry at players, coaches, and the world for about 24 hours. But after really taking in the situation and taking a step back I feel like we have had an insanely great season that so many people are taking for granted. People are talking about CJH not being the guy, us never being able to be elite for this reason or that, even contemplating their fandom (which is unfathomable to me) because we just won 10 games and made the CFP but were embarrassed by Ohio State in our worst game of the season by far. Fun fact, Peyton Manning's last game of his Tennessee career, a Vol legend and whom many consider the greatest QB to ever play at UT, was a 42-17 blowout loss to Nebraska. Nico is a redshirt FREASHMAN. But I see many people say how Nico will never be a great player?

Lets breakdown a few of the first seasons for the best QBs in recent Tennessee History shall we?

Peyton Manning (Freshman Year) - 11 games, 61% completion percentage, 1141 Pass Yards, 11 Tds, 6 Ints, -23 yards Rush, 1 Rush Td, 8-4 record

Josh Dobbs (Junior Year) - 13 games, 2291 Pass Yards, 59% Completion Percentage, 15 Pass TDs, 5 Ints, 469 Rush Yards, 8 Rush Tds, 9 - 4 Record (Dobbs had played in 10 games for UT at this point and ended the previous year as the starter)

Hendon Hooker (Sophomore at VT) - 11 games, 61% completion percentage 1555 Pass yards, 13 Pass Tds, 2 Ints, 356 rush yards, 5 Rush Tds, 8 - 5 Record

Nico Iamaleava (Redshirt Freshman) - 13 games, 2616 pass yards, 63.8% completion percentage, 19 tds, 5 ints, 358 Rush yards, 3 Tds, 10 - 3 Record (Yes I get the Defense was awesome this year at times for him)

Now lets check out how Coach Josh Heupel Compares in his first 4 seasons versus some of UT's Best in their first 4 seasons.

Phillip Fulmer - 1992: 4 -4, 1993: 9 - 2, 1994: 8 - 4, 1995: 11 - 1

Johnny Majors - 1977: 4 - 7, 1978: 5 -5. 1979: 7 - 5, 1980: 5 - 6

Josh Heupel - 2021: 7 - 6, 2022: 11 - 2, 2023: 9 - 4, 2024 10 - 3 - All while being under pretty insane NCAA sanctions that greatly restricted his recruiting especially in the first two seasons of his tenure

We are also still under those sanctions till 2028 although most of the impact was already dealt with in 2021 and 2022.

Josh Heupels 2022 recruiting class with Nico was also Tennessee's First Top Ten class since 2015. LET ALL THAT SINK IN.

Was the Ohio State game a huge disappointment? Yes. Did the defense have one of their worst games of the year? Yes. Did the team have one of their worst games of the year? Yes.

But we were without our best player Dylan Sampson, with less athleticism, coming off stretch where our first top ten class in 7 years is just now at the most sophomores and we have been hampered in recruiting, on the road, at night, against a really good team despite the Michigan loss. They played really good and we played really really bad. There is a talent gap imo and there is a money gap. We undoubtably have to spend more in NIL I agree. But also these powerhouse programs take time to build and we need to stack recruiting classes together. Other programs like LSU spent about the same as OSU did in NIL as well but had way worse of a season so is that really the issue? I think only time will tell. We aren't there but we are close and if you take a step back and look at the numbers we actually might be in the best position statistically we ever have been, outside of the General of course. So no the sky is not falling and Josh Heupel has this program in an incredible spot right now with some serious dudes coming in down the line. It wasn't the ending we all wanted but at the end of the day. I didn't expect to win a national championship this year, but my goal for the team was for them to make the playoffs and we even beat Bama and Florida in the process. HELL OF A SEASON in my opinion and Nico and the boys will only get better! There is a BRIGHT future on Rocky Top so cheer up and enjoy the great years to come! GO BIG ORANGE!

The results of the game should not be a mystery to anyone. Rivals recruit rankings tell the simple story.

OSU Tennessee
2024 5 14
2023 4 10
2022 4 17
2021 2 22
2020 5 11

It's the Jimmies and Joes not the Xs and Os.
The above numbers line up perfect in columns until you hit "Save", but you get the point.

 

[Cartervol]

His dumb friends who pretend to be SEC football coaches are part of the reason the Vols aren't ranked inside the top 10 in recruiting.

They're not the best recruiters.. That's the biggest thing i see. Should be a few sopts higher and i don't know why we sat on our hands and let all the good skill guys in the portal get away. We need some speed on the outside that we really don't have right now..

 

[feathersax]

No. They literally sucked all year but at least they had the intestinal fortitude to put up a fight when it mattered most. More than I can say for the Vols.

It's so disappointing it makes me sick.

Maybe next year cjh will get some dogs that will fight when it's time to.

Hope Santa puts something nice under your tree. Have a big glass of egg nog.

 

[temptn]

 

[Batman1948]

Man this football forum is so doom and gloom right now. Yes we got absolutely embarrassed Saturday night. Yes I was angry at players, coaches, and the world for about 24 hours. But after really taking in the situation and taking a step back I feel like we have had an insanely great season that so many people are taking for granted. People are talking about CJH not being the guy, us never being able to be elite for this reason or that, even contemplating their fandom (which is unfathomable to me) because we just won 10 games and made the CFP but were embarrassed by Ohio State in our worst game of the season by far. Fun fact, Peyton Manning's last game of his Tennessee career, a Vol legend and whom many consider the greatest QB to ever play at UT, was a 42-17 blowout loss to Nebraska. Nico is a redshirt FREASHMAN. But I see many people say how Nico will never be a great player?

Lets breakdown a few of the first seasons for the best QBs in recent Tennessee History shall we?

Peyton Manning (Freshman Year) - 11 games, 61% completion percentage, 1141 Pass Yards, 11 Tds, 6 Ints, -23 yards Rush, 1 Rush Td, 8-4 record

Josh Dobbs (Junior Year) - 13 games, 2291 Pass Yards, 59% Completion Percentage, 15 Pass TDs, 5 Ints, 469 Rush Yards, 8 Rush Tds, 9 - 4 Record (Dobbs had played in 10 games for UT at this point and ended the previous year as the starter)

Hendon Hooker (Sophomore at VT) - 11 games, 61% completion percentage 1555 Pass yards, 13 Pass Tds, 2 Ints, 356 rush yards, 5 Rush Tds, 8 - 5 Record

Nico Iamaleava (Redshirt Freshman) - 13 games, 2616 pass yards, 63.8% completion percentage, 19 tds, 5 ints, 358 Rush yards, 3 Tds, 10 - 3 Record (Yes I get the Defense was awesome this year at times for him)

Now lets check out how Coach Josh Heupel Compares in his first 4 seasons versus some of UT's Best in their first 4 seasons.

Phillip Fulmer - 1992: 4 -4, 1993: 9 - 2, 1994: 8 - 4, 1995: 11 - 1

Johnny Majors - 1977: 4 - 7, 1978: 5 -5. 1979: 7 - 5, 1980: 5 - 6

Josh Heupel - 2021: 7 - 6, 2022: 11 - 2, 2023: 9 - 4, 2024 10 - 3 - All while being under pretty insane NCAA sanctions that greatly restricted his recruiting especially in the first two seasons of his tenure

We are also still under those sanctions till 2028 although most of the impact was already dealt with in 2021 and 2022.

Josh Heupels 2022 recruiting class with Nico was also Tennessee's First Top Ten class since 2015. LET ALL THAT SINK IN.

Was the Ohio State game a huge disappointment? Yes. Did the defense have one of their worst games of the year? Yes. Did the team have one of their worst games of the year? Yes.

But we were without our best player Dylan Sampson, with less athleticism, coming off stretch where our first top ten class in 7 years is just now at the most sophomores and we have been hampered in recruiting, on the road, at night, against a really good team despite the Michigan loss. They played really good and we played really really bad. There is a talent gap imo and there is a money gap. We undoubtably have to spend more in NIL I agree. But also these powerhouse programs take time to build and we need to stack recruiting classes together. Other programs like LSU spent about the same as OSU did in NIL as well but had way worse of a season so is that really the issue? I think only time will tell. We aren't there but we are close and if you take a step back and look at the numbers we actually might be in the best position statistically we ever have been, outside of the General of course. So no the sky is not falling and Josh Heupel has this program in an incredible spot right now with some serious dudes coming in down the line. It wasn't the ending we all wanted but at the end of the day. I didn't expect to win a national championship this year, but my goal for the team was for them to make the playoffs and we even beat Bama and Florida in the process. HELL OF A SEASON in my opinion and Nico and the boys will only get better! There is a BRIGHT future on Rocky Top so cheer up and enjoy the great years to come! GO BIG ORANGE!

Well said BO

 

[Batman1948]

I ain't buying no excuses.

A lot of hard working Tennessee football fans paid hard earned money to watch the Vols lay down, roll over, and beg for a belly rub.

GTFO if you think people will ever load up and travel for that **** ever again. Not until the Vols beat Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on the road.

Not until they win some big road games. I won't be traveling to get embarrassed by a team that lays down with no fight.

I am going on 55 years and I have been a die hard my whole life. I always will be, but no way I will spend money on that ****.

Are you telling us that you had orange turds in your diaper?

 

[Chad F]

Losing is one thing. Getting curb-stomped is another. Just being competitive would have made a difference in the sentiment among the fanbase.

But we weren’t. Not even close.

Still a lot of work to do to get this program where it should be.

 

[BigBadVol]

I ain't buying no excuses.

A lot of hard working Tennessee football fans paid hard earned money to watch the Vols lay down, roll over, and beg for a belly rub.

GTFO if you think people will ever load up and travel for that **** ever again. Not until the Vols beat Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on the road.

Not until they win some big road games. I won't be traveling to get embarrassed by a team that lays down with no fight.

I am going on 55 years and I have been a die hard my whole life. I always will be, but no way I will spend money on that ****.

LOL! Then don’t. Awfully immature for a 55 year old but you be you.

 

[Hank Bukowski]

Josh has got to replace some assistants. Stubbornness to upgrade and let his friends go will cost him in the long run

This all day long.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

I ain't buying no excuses.

A lot of hard working Tennessee football fans paid hard earned money to watch the Vols lay down, roll over, and beg for a belly rub.

GTFO if you think people will ever load up and travel for that **** ever again. Not until the Vols beat Alabama, Florida, and Georgia on the road.

Not until they win some big road games. I won't be traveling to get embarrassed by a team that lays down with no fight.

I am going on 55 years and I have been a die hard my whole life. I always will be, but no way I will spend money on that ****.

My brother in law and I had planned on going to Athens this year. But after the Arky debacle and lackluster play after we decided not to. We both figured we’d get skull dragged. I almost went to Columbus…..

 

[savannahfan]

No, the sky is not falling, it HAS FALLEN! We the people got a wakeup call the other night and now many are getting over the rosy take that has been had for the last year and are now looking at what's ahead for the future and don't see much to cheer about.

 

[savannahfan]

We need a better NIL fund. 11 mill per yr gets you what you see. Osu has 22 mill roster. Thier 3rd best receiver is better than anyone we have . We make opps qb look like hiesman candidates.. We need a roster turnover at several positions.

Hey! Money can't buy a damn thing unless you can identify the best talent. Surely with the money we have available, we can get a couple of guys that are worth what we will/can pay.

 

[easttnbuck]

Also I think I heard they are favored against Oregon. Too many Vol fans took the Michigan game and thought we would be the same. What those same people failed to realize is that’s a huge rivalry game.

I tried telling everyone about the rivalry game and how records mean nothing, and was told to be quiet.

The vols have no rivalry that is comparable to that thing. Iron bowl maybe does, but records mean nadda

There is literal countdown clocks in both teams facilities everywhere as to when they play again.
Vols would have better off had Ohio State win, and vols would have gotten a game vs Penn State or ND probably

 

[heath.hinkle]

Sitting there in the bleachers listening to them talk about Oregon and it was still the first quarter.

Hell no.

Something needs to change. No fight. No sense of urgency. Lack of motivation. Lacking pride.

What a bad way to end a good season.

When you hear the term "players coach" you should expect lack of mental/physical toughness(notice I placed mental first). Didn't list discipline as that too is mental.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

It's not all sunshine either. Despite the 10 wins and playoff spot, there are cracks in the foundation that can't be ignored. These issues have all been discussed the last two seasons. Next season will be very telling for the Heupel era. The state of a football program can be a very fragile thing. Just as an example, which program is trending better? Florida or Tennessee?

 

[Bleeding.Orange]

It's not all sunshine either. Despite the 10 wins and playoff spot, there are cracks in the foundation that can't be ignored. These issues have all been discussed the last two seasons. Next season will be very telling for the Heupel era. The state of a football program can be a very fragile thing. Just as an example, which program is trending better? Florida or Tennessee?

Bro.... That is an insane one... Which program is trending better? The one who just made the playoffs or the one who barely made a bowl game and almost fired their coach? That is genuinely laughable hahahahaha

 

[Bleeding.Orange]

No, the sky is not falling, it HAS FALLEN! We the people got a wakeup call the other night and now many are getting over the rosy take that has been had for the last year and are now looking at what's ahead for the future and don't see much to cheer about.

Lol Fans like this can't be satisfied right here. If you are so doom and gloom about it, DONT WATCH. Literally in the best spot we have been in 20 years and all anyone wants to do is complain. Go find someone else to root for if you can't be happy with success and a tad bit of failure

 

[Vfl2407]

Josh has got to replace some assistants. Stubbornness to upgrade and let his friends go will cost him in the long run

Coaches and major and small business owners throughout the land are littered with this decision or lack of decisions.
No one thinks THEIR friends have done bad things or are incompetent. So they make no changes and never improve.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

Bro.... That is an insane one... Which program is trending better? The one who just made the playoffs or the one who barely made a bowl game and almost fired their coach? That is genuinely laughable hahahahaha

Your reading comprehension is what's laughable, bro.