These are pretty good times

[DarkVolder]

I admit I’ve been upset as anyone over the last two weekends the blow out losses to Mizzou and Georgia. Maybe getting blown out by Georgia wasn’t so much a shocker considering the way they have owned us since 2017 but losing by nearly to 30 to Dorkwitz and Mizzou really stings. But taking everything in account since Heupel arrived in 2021 things are pretty good and pretty stable I mean we have had far worse three year stretches of UT football since 2008 like from 2010-2012 under Dooley we had three straight losing seasons and won just five SEC wins losing to Kentucky and Vanderbilt god that was a rough stretch. I’m going to be thankful that the program is much better than just 3 years ago at the end of the mostly terrible Pruitt regime. Some of you guys need to back off the ledge a little and realize the sky isn’t falling here and what Heupel has accomplished considering the absolute dumpster fire he walked into is really amazing. I know as a coach in the SEC it’s a brutal business yes you’re paid handsomely but the pressure to win every game is insane in this brutally tough SEC. Recruiting is going well and we have a chance to win 9 games and finish in the top 25 again back to back seasons that’s been years since we accomplished that. We won 11 games last year won the orange bowl and beat Bama and was number 1 for a week have some of you guys forgotten that? This was always a transition year and we knew the limitations of Joe and to be honest he has played pretty good he hasn’t imploded like I thought he might he’s been steady not great but not terrible either. Next season will tell alot as Heupel gets mostly his recruits in his system and of course it will be Nico’s team finally. Tomm is thanksgiving and let’s be thankful for the job Heupel has done and he has made us relevant again and no longer a bottom feeder and just struggling to get bowl eligible to any bowl now we expect it. Now let’s go crush Vandy by 40 Saturday and send the seniors off right. Go Vols!!!

 

[jonnon111]

Ahhh! refreshing realistic look at the state of the program. It wasn't ideal, but far from as bad as it has been.
We are judging CJH on the standard of the program, which is further than any of the previous coaches. Usually we just wanted the previous guys to make a bowl game. Now, we wanna beat top 10 teams consistently. Still work to do, but I am happy with how far we have come by year 3.

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

All of that negativity is a choice. Tennessee is obviously headed upwards. Certainly better than we've looked in some time. All of the whining and complaining is unwarranted, but it is understandable depending on the person who's doing it. Happy Thanksgiving, and GoVols.

 

[tennrich1]

Actually …the Vols fans I talk to, fellowship with, sit with at games, etc DO NOT feel a sense of doom and gloom. IMO that group is very small but vocal. And I guess I’d remind Volnation…hopefully our lives have real, immeasurable, eternal things to be abundantly thankful for. As much as I enjoy Vols sports…I have come to realize in my life just how low on the proverbial totem pole Vol sports actually is. Now…let’s beat Vandy and enjoy a fun bowl destination. Go Vols!

 

[temptn]

Georgia has been beating everyone handily (two plus years now) and maybe Missouri is pretty good.

 

[temptn]

. Now, we wanna beat top 10 teams consistently..

.
Pretty high bar considering there are only about 3-5 teams that beat top ten "consistently".

 

[SpookyAction]

People are disappointed with a "probable" 8 win regular season.

We have definitely moved up in the CFB world.
It is nice to be a good program again.
Now we need to build the roster to be solid from Fr to Sr.

 

[NEWDAYVOL]

IT'S GREAT TO BE A VOL FAN!!!

I was just about to make a similar post yesterday. Guys we are ranked in everything. Wasn't Football, Basketball, and Baseball all ranked #1 at some point last year? Even on a down year which most of us saw coming we are still RANKED in football and are having as good of a year or better as our record stands NOW as we have had in 11 of the past 15 seasons. I think Basketball will be a top 5 team. Baseball will probably be what top 10 in 2024? Woman's Basketball is always ranked. 120 FBS teams would love to be us. Is any program in the country as solid as we are in the 4 major college sports right now? I am sure we are killing it in some Olympic sports as well (that I don't really follow).

If you're miserable being a Vol fan...that is your own fault.

 

[Smokey7]

Look at all the downs years and terrible records Johnny Majors had yet he was considered one of the best coaches in Tennessee history. Let Heupal have time.

 

[DarkVolder]

IT'S GREAT TO BE A VOL FAN!!!

I was just about to make a similar post yesterday. Guys we are ranked in everything. Wasn't Football, Basketball, and Baseball all ranked #1 at some point last year? Even on a down year which most of us saw coming we are still RANKED in football and are having as good of a year or better as our record stands NOW as we have had in 11 of the past 15 seasons. I think Basketball will be a top 5 team. Baseball will probably be what top 10 in 2024? Woman's Basketball is always ranked. 120 FBS teams would love to be us. Is any program in the country as solid as we are in the 4 major college sports right now? I am sure we are killing it in some Olympic sports as well (that I don't really follow).

If you're miserable being a Vol fan...that is your own fault.

I know right! Every sport is really strong right now across the board and doing well.

 

[DarkVolder]

Look at all the downs years and terrible records Johnny Majors had yet he was considered one of the best coaches in Tennessee history. Let Heupal have time.

Very true. I loved Coach Majors he had some big wins and great seasons but also some very bad losses and bad seasons. Heupel is still a young coach just completing his 6th season including his 3 seasons at UCF he does need time. With the crazy expectations and demand to win now that the fans have these days Johnny would’ve been fired after the 1979 season.

 

[KeyVol14]

I was more upset with how non competitive we looked in the 4 losses. But alot of the limiting factors was key injuries at crucial positions we couldn't afford. Offense should get back in rhythm with Nico and I expect the WRs to be better as well especially with Mike Matthews coming in. Hopefully they can land some playmakers in the portal

 

[Rocky Top T]

People are disappointed with a "probable" 8 win regular season.

We have definitely moved up in the CFB world.
It is nice to be a good program again.
Now we need to build the roster to be solid from Fr to Sr.

I'm not. Predicted 8-9 wins. I'm disappointed we don't show up on the road sometimes

 

[General Jack]

Good thread. I haven't forgotten 2010-2020, I'll never forget it unfortunately. During that span, even in our best year (with a stacked roster) our best finish was 9-4. There's a good chance we finish with that same 9-4 record this year... have to keep things in perspective and appreciate the success. While this year was disappointing compared to last year, this year was a reasonable result considering the circumstances. Our trajectory continues to be an upward trend despite a little bit of a set back this year.

 

[DarkVolder]

I'm not. Predicted 8-9 wins. I'm disappointed we don't show up on the road sometimes

That is becoming a worrisome trend that we need to improve on.

 

[Gandalf]

Except for Florida, its been a pretty good season, all things considering where we were when CJH started and that we lost so much talent to NFL last year.

I am really looking forward to the reign of the $8 million dollar man to begin next year!


NICO SUAVE! (thats an 80-90s reference for all you youngsters)

 

[ReelfootVol]

I just hope some of the shade tree quarterbacks/coaches on this site do not run CJH off before he gets a fair chance to turn this program completely around. Lets face it , when he took over he had nothing to work with............no depth, only fair recruiting, players leaving for other programs, a roster of about 65 players etc. I think he has done an excellent job no longer than he has been here. Just look at our list of commitments it has many more 4/5 star players than I have seen in years. I just hope they are not all run off by all the negativity written daily on Vol Football Forum !!!! Just figure what our record for the year will be if we win our bowl game.

 

[Smokey7]

Very true. I loved Coach Majors he had some big wins and great seasons but also some very bad losses and bad seasons. Heupel is still a young coach just completing his 6th season including his 3 seasons at UCF he does need time. With the crazy expectations and demand to win now that the fans have these days Johnny would’ve been fired after the 1979 season.

The world of College Football isn't anything like it use to be either. We need stability and that takes time and patience.

 

[Vol737]

The losses don’t really bother me as I expected us to take a step back. What does bother me is that we only scored one offensive touchdown against GA, Mizzou and aTm and only two against FLA and Bama. Then there’s the fact we got shut out in the second half in three of those losses…not even competitive. We had no idea how to score, nobody could make a play of consequence and we were entirely predictable and easy to defend against. That’s where my concern lies.

 

[Volsfaninva917]

Look at all the downs years and terrible records Johnny Majors had yet he was considered one of the best coaches in Tennessee history. Let Heupal have time.

I agree JH needs at least 3 more years simply because he doesn't have a long enough stop yet to show tendencies good or bad. However this is a much different time than when JM was here, he would have probably been fired. Coaches and now players make too much money and there's too much failure money involved. Should be performance-based like the NFL.

 

[CAVPUT]

Actually …the Vols fans I talk to, fellowship with, sit with at games, etc DO NOT feel a sense of doom and gloom. IMO that group is very small but vocal. And I guess I’d remind Volnation…hopefully our lives have real, immeasurable, eternal things to be abundantly thankful for. As much as I enjoy Vols sports…I have come to realize in my life just how low on the proverbial totem pole Vol sports actually is. Now…let’s beat Vandy and enjoy a fun bowl destination. Go Vols!

Well said. Holidays are always a little bittersweet. You look around and with each passing year, faces of friends and loved ones go missing. Your start to value and see things differently. All these "distractions" just seem trivial... because, as you pointed out, they are. You've developed a rather healthy perspective and one key to peace and contentment.

 

[Cartervol]

It's definitely in a better place than when cornbread was here. The UF loss was the worst of the year. The no show at Missouri was concerning also. The other two teams exposed our limited playcalling ability. The good teams really didn't have to play Tennessee honest. Didn't have a QB that fit the system well. The defense was slow to adjust in a few of those games, and i've yet to see much improvement from a secondary that these coaches have had 3 years to work with. You beat Vandy, hopefully win a bowl game and recruit better.. A lot of holes to fill in a thin roster. Heupel isn't using the portal for instant fixes as he said so this process will take some time. If it's going to go the slow route then they can't look like they did in a few of those games. That gives opposing coaches something to negative recruit you with. You have to show up for these better teams at least and put up a fight.