Truce....

[sjt18]

Ok...I've said my piece, and had my fun. Josh Heupel was not who I wanted, and I still believe we left opportunities on the table. That being said, we could have...and have (recently) done much worse. All joking, griping and Nega-Vol'ing aside, I truly hope Coach Heupel exceeds my reasonably lowered expectations by a country mile. And he very well may.

I have long stated reasonable and achievable goals for this program. I do not suggest we are anywhere near being in the playoff picture, nor should we expect we deserve a coach that will in the short-term take us there. However, a new coach can get me fully in his corner with just a few simple achievements.

1. Improve- Develop players. Creatively Scheme. Do more with less (this may be important around here for a while)
2. Beat who you are supposed to.
3. Compete with our Big-3 rivals. Avoid the blowouts. Come home with your shield, or on it. Be prepared, avoid embarrassment, play like a champion, and I will support you.
4. Continue to revisit point number 1.

As long as we are wandering in the wilderness of NCAA sanctions, that is all I ask. Use this time to establish your system, recruit to it, and prepare for the day the sanctions are lifted...because that is when the clock really starts.

I remember Josh Heupel and the 2000 season well. He has been around programs that win at a high level. I hope it translates here. Keep it respectable and I, along with many others with get on board.

Go Vols.

One thing that nudges me a little "positive" on the hire is offensive personnel. I'm out of work sick and had a chance to watch Heupel's O and Hooker's highlights. They look tailor made for each other. The WR class from last year and other skill players should be excited to play in this O.

As simple as it sounds, it seems he just tries to find ways to get playmakers the ball in space.

First job is figuring out how to keep players in the fold... but the way his O works that's much more critical on D. UT has plenty of potential playmakers on O. We may still lose but it should be a lot more fun to watch if they're scoring points in bunches.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Make Saturday Great Again!

 

[VaBornVol]

At this point, put up or shut up.
Not thrilled, as i think there we better candidates out there. I dont see him being the one to propel UT to Conference Championships, but he is a lot better than the last one. At this point the product on the field will be the only story i believe. How many years of pre-season excitement and hype that just all led to the same disappointment?
At least UT should be interesting to watch. The offense could go back to the levels it was in the Dooley days (as bad a HFC as he was, Dooley had some fun offenses) and watching the games might actually be somewhat entertaining. If he can at least be the guy that took UT from fighting Vandy for worst in SEC, to at least mediocre with some good flashes in there...

Good post. This is exactly where I am too

 

[DaddyChad]

Honestly I don’t think it can get worse than Pruitt. I think the next few years will be rough with the defections and sanctions and probably impact in recruiting but I can’t see this team being more painful to watch than our offense with JG at the helm with every damn person in the stadium but Pruitt knowing we’re screwed if he starts. Pruitt’s defense also was mediocre at best.

It was just nauseating to watch this team and see how outcoached and under prepared we were.

 

[sona]

I'm convinced there were hires available to be made that wouldn't have required a concerted effort to pump up the fanbase. It isn't close to what I hoped for and isn't exciting in any way for me personally.

Consider me Missouri, because he's going to have to show me. Not at all impressed with our new AD either.

I am going to refrain from posting super negative crap at this point. I am happy for those genuinely excited about the hire, I am just not there.

 

[Fightmaker]

I still don’t know how we didn’t even make any contact with Kiffin or Freeze. Zero contact

I think Josh Heupel’s main and alarming weakness is going to be his recruiting.

There are very obvious reasons as to why we would choose not to make contact with either of them.

 

[MWAVolfan]

With this hire I'm officially done caring. Being pissed about a program that just doesnt care anymore is a one-sided relationship. From now on my default expectation is UT is an 0-8 trash level SEC program. If they continue to lose, good for them, I hope Heupel rolls around naked in al his millions. He got the contract, good for him. The rich just get richer while the poor get to watch crappy football. If Tennessee manages to actually win, it will never make up for the last decade of sadness. I just hope it's not like Butch where we were good for a couple weeks before crashing again.

Either way, no emotional capital will be spent on UT athletics any more. The pandemic showed me that sports are silly and its just rich people making money off the rest of us. As long as people show up to games it will all be the same thing.

From now on win or lose and I will feel nothing for UT. It's just not that important to the people that matter so it wont be important to me either.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

While some patience is needed in the end wins will determine things, fun offenses and all folks were ready for Dooley and the no defense sunseri squads to hit the road. I like to score points, hell I love to score points but at some point the wins got to come or it's get's old. Still got to play defense and recruit quality folks at the LOS and be able to coach them up, if he can do that it can work. If he can't do the latter, it won't. In 4-5 years we better be winning alot more than losing because scoring points won't be enough and shouldn't be enough. But I like what he said about the LOS today I hope he takes it to heart, I think he realizes this a power 5 football league and you gonna have to be big strong and fast as a team. I would never settle for a 6-6 year in and year out record but we scored 30 plus a game. But make no mistake we need more offense and I am all for it, we just need to have the same intensity on the other side of the ball and we have to win the LOS! GBO!

 

[yabbadabbado]

With this hire I'm officially done caring. Being pissed about a program that just doesnt care anymore is a one-sided relationship. From now on my default expectation is UT is an 0-8 trash level SEC program. If they continue to lose, good for them, I hope Heupel rolls around naked in al his millions. He got the contract, good for him. The rich just get richer while the poor get to watch crappy football. If Tennessee manages to actually win, it will never make up for the last decade of sadness. I just hope it's not like Butch where we were good for a couple weeks before crashing again.

Either way, no emotional capital will be spent on UT athletics any more. The pandemic showed me that sports are silly and its just rich people making money off the rest of us. As long as people show up to games it will all be the same thing.

From now on win or lose and I will feel nothing for UT. It's just not that important to the people that matter so it wont be important to me either.

I suspect after today this is the position of many more.

 

[VolInNW]

With this hire I'm officially done caring. Being pissed about a program that just doesnt care anymore is a one-sided relationship. From now on my default expectation is UT is an 0-8 trash level SEC program. If they continue to lose, good for them, I hope Heupel rolls around naked in al his millions. He got the contract, good for him. The rich just get richer while the poor get to watch crappy football. If Tennessee manages to actually win, it will never make up for the last decade of sadness. I just hope it's not like Butch where we were good for a couple weeks before crashing again.

Either way, no emotional capital will be spent on UT athletics any more. The pandemic showed me that sports are silly and its just rich people making money off the rest of us. As long as people show up to games it will all be the same thing.

From now on win or lose and I will feel nothing for UT. It's just not that important to the people that matter so it wont be important to me either.

Sadly, I'm right with you. Not going to pile on any longer, and I sincerely hope the pumpers are correct. Just hard to really care.

 

[ptcarter]

Agree with OP, I also think the offense will be much improved. He has better recruits than anywhere he has been except OK right now on offense. We won’t have bad QB play anymore that is for sure. To me a good QB elevates the program more than any other position.

I am so happy I don't have to watch JG get hammered for holding the ball too long, or turning it over. Yes, I know - we've beat that horse to death, but putting in context the quote above - The Wienke/Chaney school of QB development was unimpressive to me. I mean.. early in the season, I saw a young Ole Miss QB match Alabama blow for blow until very late in the game. And then JG get's (was it 3?) pick 6s against Kentucky. Surely what's his name (our new coach) can fix that.

 

[volmoon]

Looming violations are poor lures for game fishing.

 

['Boro-vol]

I am not trying to be rude, but when you state "I believe we left opportunities on the table" what are you referring to? Surely you are not suggesting that White deliberately intended to "rope a dope" this process just to hire his coach.
I think that is the problem with the perception. I think he swung big, took some chances and didn't get the few responses he wanted. He went with a solid hire, someone that he knows, someone that coaches with integrity and exciting brand of football. So I am not really sure what you mean, its like some of us fans are suggesting we know better than our new AD who has been around this type of stuff his entire life. It just confuses me.

Three coaches that had signaled interest in the job at one point or another, were reportedly not even contacted. All would have brought something to the table.

But since you brought it up...using an expensive search firm only to hire the coach you had hired at your previous job at the very least causes me to question the AD. He’s not infallible, and we can question what he does when it seems suspect.

 

[RobertPellitt]

Three coaches that had signaled interest in the job at one point or another, were reportedly not even contacted. All would have brought something to the table.

But since you brought it up...using an expensive search firm only to hire the coach you had hired at your previous job at the very least causes me to question the AD. He’s not infallible, and we can question what he does when it seems suspect.

Three coaches that had signaled interest in the job at one point or another, were reportedly not even contacted. All would have brought something to the table.

But since you brought it up...using an expensive search firm only to hire the coach you had hired at your previous job at the very least causes me to question the AD. He’s not infallible, and we can question what he does when it seems suspect.

What information are you relying on?
I never said White was infallible. The fact that UT hired a search firm is proof that he swung for the fences. I have seen nothing reputable that Kiffin wanted the job. If he left Ole Miss after one year is he really any different than when he was here? Plus I could make strong arguments that Heupel is more successful than Kiffin. He did beat him twice.
Freeze was never going to happen. If he was not toxic he would already have a job.
Chadwell? He has far less success than Heupel.

 

['Boro-vol]

What information are you relying on?
I never said White was infallible. The fact that UT hired a search firm is proof that he swung for the fences. I have seen nothing reputable that Kiffin wanted the job. If he left Ole Miss after one year is he really any different than when he was here? Plus I could make strong arguments that Heupel is more successful than Kiffin. He did beat him twice.
Freeze was never going to happen. If he was not toxic he would already have a job.
Chadwell? He has far less success than Heupel.

Your mind is made up. That’s great. It’s not up to me to change your mind, and you are suitably uninformed as to be unable to change mine. My advice? Take my OP as intended, and move on from what I said that you don’t like. Common ground. Agree to disagree. Whatever you wish to call it.

 

[RobertPellitt]

Your mind is made up. That’s great. It’s not up to me to change your mind, and you are suitably uninformed as to be unable to change mine. My advice? Take my OP as intended, and move on from what I said that you don’t like. Common ground. Agree to disagree. Whatever you wish to call it.

The point I’m really making is that you have assumed a lot. The worst assumption is that you claim to know things you can’t possibly know. The second worst assumption is that you know more than a well qualified Athletic Director. I assume you really do know these things.

 

[DaddyChad]

You're going to get UCF caliber playing level talent with a hope on Heupel's part he can develop them into SEC type players. A tall bill to fill. He's not known as being particularly successful on the recruiting trail even at UCF. So however long he lasts in Knoxville, do not expect a bevy of talent to be in the cupboard once he's gone. This will be a Dooley or worse recovery of talent once this subsides. My prediction and I hope I'm wrong and I'll eat a trough of crow if I am. But this ends when many SEC schools, just not Bama put more of their fans in seats at Neyland than Big Orange fans. This begins in season two for Heupel. The UT administration won't care as long as revenue stays up at a certain level, but more Gamecock fans in Neyland than Big Orange should be an anathema but it's on it's way IMO.

I mean UCF beat Auburn with UCF talent, they damn near beat LSU with UCF talent.

 

[ProudVOLfan]

Ok...I've said my piece, and had my fun. Josh Heupel was not who I wanted, and I still believe we left opportunities on the table. That being said, we could have...and have (recently) done much worse. All joking, griping and Nega-Vol'ing aside, I truly hope Coach Heupel exceeds my reasonably lowered expectations by a country mile. And he very well may.

I have long stated reasonable and achievable goals for this program. I do not suggest we are anywhere near being in the playoff picture, nor should we expect we deserve a coach that will in the short-term take us there. However, a new coach can get me fully in his corner with just a few simple achievements.

1. Improve- Develop players. Creatively Scheme. Do more with less (this may be important around here for a while)
2. Beat who you are supposed to.
3. Compete with our Big-3 rivals. Avoid the blowouts. Come home with your shield, or on it. Be prepared, avoid embarrassment, play like a champion, and I will support you.
4. Continue to revisit point number 1.

As long as we are wandering in the wilderness of NCAA sanctions, that is all I ask. Use this time to establish your system, recruit to it, and prepare for the day the sanctions are lifted...because that is when the clock really starts.

I remember Josh Heupel and the 2000 season well. He has been around programs that win at a high level. I hope it translates here. Keep it respectable and I, along with many others with get on board.

Go Vols.

Solid! I agree

 

[DD4ME]

Ok...I've said my piece, and had my fun. Josh Heupel was not who I wanted, and I still believe we left opportunities on the table. That being said, we could have...and have (recently) done much worse. All joking, griping and Nega-Vol'ing aside, I truly hope Coach Heupel exceeds my reasonably lowered expectations by a country mile. And he very well may.

I have long stated reasonable and achievable goals for this program. I do not suggest we are anywhere near being in the playoff picture, nor should we expect we deserve a coach that will in the short-term take us there. However, a new coach can get me fully in his corner with just a few simple achievements.

1. Improve- Develop players. Creatively Scheme. Do more with less (this may be important around here for a while)
2. Beat who you are supposed to.
3. Compete with our Big-3 rivals. Avoid the blowouts. Come home with your shield, or on it. Be prepared, avoid embarrassment, play like a champion, and I will support you.
4. Continue to revisit point number 1.

As long as we are wandering in the wilderness of NCAA sanctions, that is all I ask. Use this time to establish your system, recruit to it, and prepare for the day the sanctions are lifted...because that is when the clock really starts.

I remember Josh Heupel and the 2000 season well. He has been around programs that win at a high level. I hope it translates here. Keep it respectable and I, along with many others with get on board.

Go Vols.

check his temperature - I fear he may have the Rona

 

['Boro-vol]

The point I’m really making is that you have assumed a lot. The worst assumption is that you claim to know things you can’t possibly know. The second worst assumption is that you know more than a well qualified Athletic Director. I assume you really do know these things.

You know what you do when you assume....

Again, we’ll agree to disagree. Have a GREAT day!

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I still don’t know how we didn’t even make any contact with Kiffin or Freeze. Zero contact

I think Josh Heupel’s main and alarming weakness is going to be his recruiting.

Read some publications rather than the stuff some post on here. He will be able to recruit well at Tennessee

 

['Boro-vol]

Read some publications rather than the stuff some post on here. He will be able to recruit well at Tennessee

Like I said before...anyone that can fog a mirror can recruit to mid-pack in the SEC here. In fact, all of the stiffs we’ve been saddled with over the last decade have done so. What they haven’t done is develop the players they brought in. Hopefully that changes

 

[RobertPellitt]

You know what you do when you assume....

Again, we’ll agree to disagree. Have a GREAT day!

The irony here is you don’t even understand you are the one making the assumption. Good night to you sweetheart.

 

[rdk4121]

I think he can get it done, but it will depend on two things, defense and recruiting. He has to find a coordinator that can succeed on the defensive end, and he has to get some assistants that can recruit.

I believe we will be better next year overall. We have at least a semi experience head coach now, he's already gone through the growing pains we watched Pruitt go through, he just did it somewhere else.

The offense should be able to 1. Put up points and 2. Stay on the field longer. The defense won't have to be on the field the entire game, which will hopefully help mitigate whatever depth issues arise next year. The question is can he do more with less? If he is able to make us competitive, then the recruits will follow suit. We can't afford a lag in results and therefore recruiting this year.

I believe him Heupel, and I'm supporting my Vols either way.

 

['Boro-vol]

The irony here is you don’t even understand you are the one making the assumption. Good night to you sweetheart.

You’re really not very good at this. Take a look at the very last sentence of your previous post to me.

Better yet, don’t...just go to bed.