This year will be a success if...... Be a disappointment if........

[igotworms]

We've beat Florida, LSU, and bama, I'm already happy. That said, we don't need to slip against KY or south Carolina.

They won't

 

[rocketskates]

The only way that this season would be a disappointment is if we lost out which isn’t gonna happen. Many people were saying 8-4 would be a success for Heupel’s second season. Pretty incredible that we are predicted to make the playoff by the talking heads.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Let it roll, baby, roll.

 

[TNHopeful505]

This year, I just wanted to close the gap against the Big 3.

Obviously, we have done that.

I have zero doubt this team will finish strong. Georgia does not scare me one bit. Could we lose? Sure. But there are no thoughts of "thats a for sure loss."

Heupel has completely changed how I look at this program.

 

[volfan102455]

People's expectation has changed as the season has transpired. This team has over-achieved at this point. No one expected to be 7-0 at this point.

That has given folks hope of what could possibly happen and some now have the bar as SEC champions and participating in the playoffs. And while that does seem possible - what this team has achieved is incredible at this point.

 

[VolArmy74]

We broke Bama's 15 year winning streak. Success is already achieved. Going in I thought 9-3 would be a great regular season and I still do. Even though we'd have to be upset at this point to make it there. If you told me 9-3 and a win over Alabama, I'd have been over the moon. Moving the goal posts from preseason expectations to define success seems unfair to me. You're penalizing Heupel for exceeding expectations if you now say 11-1 is the expectation.

 

[Jdw2920]

I’ll be honest after watching the first game on defense I thought we would be lucky to win 6 maybe 7 games. Now I think we legit should go 11-1 at worse.

 

[JohnWardForever]

As I started thinking about this year's season BEFORE the season even started looking at all the VolNation posts and what people thought what the season would bring etc.... etc.....

MOST Vol fans had the same line of thinking that Tennessee had a 5-2 record W(Candy, 3Non conference, Mizzou) L(UGA Bama) all the rest of the 5 games were "toss ups". Again MOST vol fans thought 3-2 in those games maybe 4-1 with losses to LSU and maybe FU or Pitt and Kentucky etc..... and all the other combinations.

SOoooooooooo....This season will be a success if what? My thought is that this season will be a success going 10-2 and playing in the Sugar, Cotton or Orange bowl New Years Six bowl. Yes I know this means we lose to Kentucky, UGA or USCe. I know others will have different expectations and their reasoning. I am just trying to remember what I expected before the seasons snapped VERY hopeful but realistic,

This season is a failure if we lose to UGA AND USCe AND Kentucky ( I highly doubt we will but injuries (heaven forbid) or other things could happen. I might throw in there a loss to a bowl team like Clemson or Micheegan or TCU.

Let me hear your thoughts as to what you think this season is? Is not getting into the playoffs 11-1 team and MAJOR disappointment? Losing in the SEC championship to Bama by like 21 points? Or this year has been great no matter how the last 5 games go 1-4 or what?

Geeze, this season is Already a success. Everything ahead is Gravy. Uh huh huh.

 

[tennesseecoyote]

I was hoping this year, just to win 8/9 games, go to a Florida bowl, and maybe beat one of the big 3 (likely Florida). For example, I made a side bet with a friend that the Vols would have over 8 wins in the regular season. Wow. I look like Einstein now!

Now to only win 9 games means, we lost to Kentucky, Georgia, and probably South Carolina. I can sorta see this scenario if Hooker gets hurt somewhere.

What would be successful here out, lose only one game, either Georgia or the SEC championship, play in one of the big bowls. We're back!!

Time to break the bank on a new $80 million contract for Heupel, undefeated, playoff, national championship!

 

[vegasvolfan]

As I started thinking about this year's season BEFORE the season even started looking at all the VolNation posts and what people thought what the season would bring etc.... etc.....

MOST Vol fans had the same line of thinking that Tennessee had a 5-2 record W(Candy, 3Non conference, Mizzou) L(UGA Bama) all the rest of the 5 games were "toss ups". Again MOST vol fans thought 3-2 in those games maybe 4-1 with losses to LSU and maybe FU or Pitt and Kentucky etc..... and all the other combinations.

SOoooooooooo....This season will be a success if what? My thought is that this season will be a success going 10-2 and playing in the Sugar, Cotton or Orange bowl New Years Six bowl. Yes I know this means we lose to Kentucky, UGA or USCe. I know others will have different expectations and their reasoning. I am just trying to remember what I expected before the seasons snapped VERY hopeful but realistic,

This season is a failure if we lose to UGA AND USCe AND Kentucky ( I highly doubt we will but injuries (heaven forbid) or other things could happen. I might throw in there a loss to a bowl team like Clemson or Micheegan or TCU.

Let me hear your thoughts as to what you think this season is? Is not getting into the playoffs 11-1 team and MAJOR disappointment? Losing in the SEC championship to Bama by like 21 points? Or this year has been great no matter how the last 5 games go 1-4 or what?

I think losing any game we should win takes away from winning any of the toss up games or games we weren't expected to win. That said, I had us going 7-5 to 9-3 with the understanding it was possible we did more if our receivers played as well as they did last year and our DL, OL, and LBs played as good if not better.

If you had told me all that would be true but our secondary and run game would be worse and we would be 7-0 headed into the Kentucky game, I would have said you were crazy. Looks like all those things are true, the run game has been good enough and we have somehow played so well on Defense and in the red zone that we have kept everyone but Bama and what should not include Florida from putting up more than 30 points in a game.

That all said, my expectations have changed. We are 7-0 and we beat Bama, Florida, destroyed LSU on the road and beat Pitt on the road too when they were semi healthy (until the second half).

Even though I think we should not do worse than 10-2 from this point, I'm still concerned that our secondary is not only horrendous but the are depleted. If we lose 3 of the next 5 games because of that unit, I will not deem the season as a failure. 9-3 with a potential 10th win in a bowl game is a huge jump from last year.

My hopes would be that the Ls would come from KY and Georgia. Missouri played Georgia tough, so who knows how it will go with us. SC on the road also could be a handful. All this said, Georgia is a huge game for us this year whether we win or lose to Kentucky. We can give up one game and beat them and still go all the way. I hope Florida exposes them.

Anyways, so I am going with 9-3 is going to feel way worse than it should, but I will be pleased with it. Especially if we win the bowl game. 10-2 is what I expect. 11-1 is borderline expected, but almost unfair. Noone should have is at 12-0 as an expectation.

 

[BanditVol]

I started out a little different than what you describe.

Kentucky, we always beat. I count on it. Because we always do it.

So for me, the season began with me already believing we had a lock on at least 7: Ky, Mizzou, Vandy, USCe, and the 3 cupcakes.

So 7-2. Going in. Then the questions were, Pitt...Florida...LSU.

My head said 8-4 was a fair expectation. My heart said we'd get 2 of those three, so 9-3.

Never did I ever suspect in advance that we would sweep them.

And then Bama? Wow.

So, for me, we went from an 8-4, maybe 9-3 expectation to, now 11-1 or 12-0. My head says 11-1, my heart says 12-0.

God bless Josh Heupel, all his coaches, and every single one of the lads for shifting our world that dramatically.

From here on, we're playing with house money. As long as we win all of those last 3 regular season matches.

Go Vols!

This was what I thought also preseason

Season is already a success...expectations are now 11-1 or better

 

[Stephen Gray]

I think losing any game we should win takes away from winning any of the toss up games or games we weren't expected to win. That said, I had us going 7-5 to 9-3 with the understanding it was possible we did more if our receivers played as well as they did last year and our DL, OL, and LBs played as good if not better.

If you had told me all that would be true but our secondary and run game would be worse and we would be 7-0 headed into the Kentucky game, I would have said you were crazy. Looks like all those things are true, the run game has been good enough and we have somehow played so well on Defense and in the red zone that we have kept everyone but Bama and what should not include Florida from putting up more than 30 points in a game.

That all said, my expectations have changed. We are 7-0 and we beat Bama, Florida, destroyed LSU on the road and beat Pitt on the road too when they were semi healthy (until the second half).

Even though I think we should not do worse than 10-2 from this point, I'm still concerned that our secondary is not only horrendous but the are depleted. If we lose 3 of the next 5 games because of that unit, I will not deem the season as a failure. 9-3 with a potential 10th win in a bowl game is a huge jump from last year.

My hopes would be that the Ls would come from KY and Georgia. Missouri played Georgia tough, so who knows how it will go with us. SC on the road also could be a handful. All this said, Georgia is a huge game for us this year whether we win or lose to Kentucky. We can give up one game and beat them and still go all the way. I hope Florida exposes them.

Anyways, so I am going with 9-3 is going to feel way worse than it should, but I will be pleased with it. Especially if we win the bowl game. 10-2 is what I expect. 11-1 is borderline expected, but almost unfair. Noone should have is at 12-0 as an expectation.

I feel like our run game is the inverse of the traditional play action pass. Instead of looking running to open the pass we kind of pass and that opens up more running lanes. It’s a fun team to watch.

 

[rocky top buzz]

Do we consider 2016 a success? Got the Gator losing streak off our back and had a all-time miraculous win against uga. But lost to South Carolina and Vanderbilt to finish 8-4. So personally to me that season as a whole was a disappointment.

My definition of success before the season and now certainly have changed. Obviously to win it all is the present goal and is attainable. Before the season I wouldn't have predicted a loss to any of the remaining teams except georgia so worse than 11-1 would be a disappointment now even though 9-3 in August would have seemed great. Ultimately if UT plays in a NY6 or better bowl game it's a great season, and if not then it will be a missed opportunity...

BUT even if it is a missed opportunity this team is ahead of schedule. They don't have the depth that bama and georgia have and so to do what they have done this year is amazing and I'll say right now, if UT doesn't win a national championship in the next 4 years that will be a disappointment. The coaches are in place and the recruits are coming.

 

[Vol737]

I thought if we got through September 4-0, we would be 10-2 at worst. Looks like that or better is a real possibility now. The fact we’ve taken down FLA, LSU and Bama…this is already an insanely successful season, especially against the backdrop of the last twelve years. I think HypeL is like hypertension….he’s the silent killer in the SEC. More victims to come.

 

[Matt2496]

I think if we drop any game we’re not supposed to (Mizzou, Vandy, or SC), this season will be a failure. If we go 10-2 with losses to Kentucky and Georgia, I’d still be ecstatic at that season. Of course 11-1 with just a loss to Georgia would be an amazing season.

 

[JoAllan]

This year will be a failure if Tennessee loses to KY & SC regardless of the rest of the season. Could still be a good season….. however in no way can you beat Bama, Florida, LSU and Georgia…….then lose to KY and SC

But that isn’t happening!!

This season will be successful if Tennessee finishes at least 10-2…….and that or better should happen.

This season will be freakin outstanding if Tennessee only loses to Georgia.

If Tennessee goes to the playoff…..holy cow.
If Tennessee wins the SEC and goes to the playoff…….”is this the best 2 year turnaround of all time”?

If any loss happens folks are going to be disappointed. If somehow Tennessee loses 2 games I think some folks will be almost bitter……….however baring a complete meltdown Tennessee will have a successful season……..especially given where Tennessee has come from.

 

[BenGrimm]

At this point the drain is already a success by recent standard.

While I don’t think we should lose to anyone else other than UGA, I’m not going to cry too much about it.

Unless the wheels completely come off like in 2016 but I just don’t see that happening.

 

[Vol8188]

I thought 8-4 was a really good season a couple of months ago. This has been insane

 

[norrislakevol]

I think losing any game we should win takes away from winning any of the toss up games or games we weren't expected to win. That said, I had us going 7-5 to 9-3 with the understanding it was possible we did more if our receivers played as well as they did last year and our DL, OL, and LBs played as good if not better.

If you had told me all that would be true but our secondary and run game would be worse and we would be 7-0 headed into the Kentucky game, I would have said you were crazy. Looks like all those things are true, the run game has been good enough and we have somehow played so well on Defense and in the red zone that we have kept everyone but Bama and what should not include Florida from putting up more than 30 points in a game.

That all said, my expectations have changed. We are 7-0 and we beat Bama, Florida, destroyed LSU on the road and beat Pitt on the road too when they were semi healthy (until the second half).

Even though I think we should not do worse than 10-2 from this point, I'm still concerned that our secondary is not only horrendous but the are depleted. If we lose 3 of the next 5 games because of that unit, I will not deem the season as a failure. 9-3 with a potential 10th win in a bowl game is a huge jump from last year.

My hopes would be that the Ls would come from KY and Georgia. Missouri played Georgia tough, so who knows how it will go with us. SC on the road also could be a handful. All this said, Georgia is a huge game for us this year whether we win or lose to Kentucky. We can give up one game and beat them and still go all the way. I hope Florida exposes them.

Anyways, so I am going with 9-3 is going to feel way worse than it should, but I will be pleased with it. Especially if we win the bowl game. 10-2 is what I expect. 11-1 is borderline expected, but almost unfair. Noone should have is at 12-0 as an expectation.

We finished off Bama with walk ons playing in the secondary. We should be fine.

 

[Savannahbayvol]

If we go 1-11 and the 1 is the Turd it's a success. Everything else is icing on the cake.

 

[peyton4heisman]

10+ wins is successful
11-1 is ideal
Losing to any of USCe, Mizzou, Vandy is a failure in a way. Still beat Bama but will feel a lot like 2016 for me.

I don’t think you grasp the concept of the word “ideal”.
Ideal would be perfection at this point.
10-11 wins minimum at this point is a success in my mind. less than 10 means we drop 3 of 5 and that’s a complete failure.

 

[Dudleys87]

A win Saturday and the Vols are undefeated in October.

When is the last time we could say that?

 

[jim pique]

Volteacher,We are bowl eligible after week six.We are now 7-0.What part of successful are you missing?Sure,everybody wants 12-0,or 11-1,but, we have been successful already.Is your name Eyeore?

 

[iuvol]

They have raised the bar by going 7-0, beating BAMA and putting us in the picture for a NC run. So anything less that 11-1 will disappoint, of course I will still be excited about our future.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

This is a great discussion and shows how far we’ve come and how much Heupel has changed the culture in Knoxville. Pre season, I bet most fans would have been ecstatic about an 8 (possibly 9!) win season. Now, if we win 8 or 9 this season, it will be a major disappointment.

This shows winning is great and comes with a price. RAISED EXPECTATIONS.

Coach Rick Barnes has done the same thing with UT MEN. Anything short of a sweet 16 under him is now a pretty big disappointment