What Scenario can butch win with saturday?

[Daloth]

I got to thinking about this, and I can't think of a scenario where Butch and his staff can really win with even a large portion of fans no matter the outcome.

If he blows UK out, then the question is, where was this all year (or at least last week)?

If he Barely beats UK, then "We almost got beat by UK this looks terrible to recruits."

If we lose to UK, then we lost to KY for the second time in thirty years, something Dooley only did with an injured and sick QB and nobody else giving a damn.

This isn't a fire butch/whatever thread, this is me asking, is there any possible way for Butch to actually make people happy this week? Even winning at this stage isn't a surefire way.

 

[CountVolcula]

If he wins, he maintains the wait and see from most fans

He loses, then he just drove the first nail in his own coffin

This team is talented enough to beat Kentucky. This game will reflect very poorly on the staff if they lose

 

[LA Vol]

Everybody will be a LOT less happy if we lose. Losing to Vandy and UK in back-to-back weeks is not something anybody wants to see.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

If he wins by, say, 10-14 points, he avoids the humiliation of losing to Kentucky as well as the criticisms of "he barely beat Kentucky" and, conversely, "where was this all season?" (in the aftermath of a convincing victory). It would also help if we seize the momentum early with our running game and Josh were able to throw one or two touchdown passes as well, thereby avoiding a nail-biter finish.

 

[TennesseeOrange]

I'm down on the staff right now, and Kentucky won't really change any of that. I'd still like to see this team crush UK though. Definitely would leave a more positive taste in the mouth. Beat UK, close with a strong top 10 recruiting class, and I think some of us negative fans will be more content.

 

[Remy]

a win is a win is a win is a win ... this group of Vols needs to take the field and produce a win ... that is the requirement week in and week out ... You don't see Les Myles giving us back a W when LSU took the field against us with no time on the clock to produce a win during Dooley's tenure did ya? I can't recall Gus Malzahn returning that gift of a W that fell out of the heavens for his win against Georgia ... Did anyone see Richt returning Georgia's W when Pig fumbled this year in OT??? sheesh .. just win ... get a W ... I could give a rats axx the "quality" of it, just make it happen ...

 

[orangebloodgmc]

I would have no problem with us blowing them out. If anyone whines about where has this been all season, the simple response is that this is the most experienced our freshman qb (and wr's and db's) have been all season. And the coaches have absolutely no reason to be "plain vanilla" with the play-calling.

 

[TennesseeOrange]

If he wins by, say, 10-14 points, he avoids the humiliation of losing to Kentucky as well as the criticisms of "he barely beat Kentucky" and, conversely, "where was this all season?" (in the aftermath of a convincing victory). It would also help if we seize the momentum early with our running game and Josh were able to throw one or two touchdown passes as well, thereby avoiding a nail-biter finish.

Screw that. Crush them by 35. The questions will be "Where was this against Vandy?" and "How come we didn't compete a little more against those Top 10 teams?"

I think we all realize this staff has to learn and adjust to the SEC, it doesn't come over night. I'd rather see a glimmer of progress and hear those questions than deal with a close win and apathy.

 

[BeecherVol]

Fair or unfair the only way the game really means much is if you lose.

Ask Dooley what a loss to KY does for you.

 

[give_him 6]

I think he can win by calling this year zero.

 

[Boca Vol]

Fair or unfair the only way the game really means much is if you lose.

Ask Dooley what a loss to KY does for you.

This.

Win the game, put a bow on the 2013 season, and toss it in the back of the attic.

Winning by any margin is all that's really needed at this point and even then it doesn't prove anything.

 

[gardners_51609]

If he wins Saturday he would have done 2 things that have not been done since '09, beat a ranked opponent and win an away game outside of the state of Tennessee. Not to mention win 2 SEC games that has not happened since 2010. FOr the sake of sanity, finances and volnation we need to stop complaining and at least give this guy some time.

 

[Sudden Impact]

His demeanor along the sideline is an indicator for me. There are too many questions about this season to formulate a solid opinion of him and staff as coaches. Several peaks and valleys, no bowl however you look it. What happens with recruiting and the time spent between year 1 and 2 will speak volumes.

We are losing the battle in the trenches. Our QB and DB play suffers because of it. Win the D*** line of scrimmage battle both sides of the ball.

 

[JFBanicki]

If we win he still has my support, regardless of whether its by 10 TDs or by a last second score to win by 1. I really don't count this year against him after the mentality Dooley bred in the locker room, he's playing mostly Dooley players and most of his first class was players Dooley had brought in.

Next year will be different, even though he will still have mostly a Dooley team, this staff has had a year to coach those players up and coach that losing is expected mentality out of those players.

Now if we somehow lose, then this staff better do anything it takes to win as many games as possible next year. The only way we can lose is with bad play calling and bad coaching and the loss would be 100% on the staff.

 

[BeecherVol]

This.

Win the game, put a bow on the 2013 season, and toss it in the back of the attic.

Winning by any margin is all that's really needed at this point and even then it doesn't prove anything.

Yep.

Win, grab a couple more recruits and get ready for April.

 

[NEVolFan]

Scary situation.... I have a feeling the seniors just want it to end, and the young guns don't know any better. KY will play em close and could win this one.

 

[RollerVol]

If he doesn't want to have a bad winter just don't even think about losing to Kentucky. The only possible saving grace would be a top ten recruiting class.
Of course he still needs 3-4 years to compete for the SECC.
GO BUTCH!
GO VOLS!

 

[Doyle Hargraves]

If he wins Saturday he would have done 2 things that have not been done since '09, beat a ranked opponent and win an away game outside of the state of Tennessee. Not to mention win 2 SEC games that has not happened since 2010. FOr the sake of sanity, finances and volnation we need to stop complaining and at least give this guy some time.

What's so wrong with giving him time and complaining when it is warranted?

 

[NEVolFan]

I will be more proud of Butch if he rotates next years O-line into the game.... a lot on Sat. That would show that he gets it.

 

[Volumnus 2011]

I got to thinking about this, and I can't think of a scenario where Butch and his staff can really win with even a large portion of fans no matter the outcome.

If he blows UK out, then the question is, where was this all year (or at least last week)?

If he Barely beats UK, then "We almost got beat by UK this looks terrible to recruits."

If we lose to UK, then we lost to KY for the second time in thirty years, something Dooley only did with an injured and sick QB and nobody else giving a damn.

This isn't a fire butch/whatever thread, this is me asking, is there any possible way for Butch to actually make people happy this week? Even winning at this stage isn't a surefire way.

What a bunch of armchair quarterbacks think about Butch isn't important. There are several logical thinking fans that will be happy with a win with Kentucky to take us into the offseason. That being said, those logical fans will be VERY unhappy with a loss.

So yes, Butch wins with a win against Kentucky.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Screw that. Crush them by 35. The questions will be "Where was this against Vandy?" and "How come we didn't compete a little more against those Top 10 teams?"

I think we all realize this staff has to learn and adjust to the SEC, it doesn't come over night. I'd rather see a glimmer of progress and hear those questions than deal with a close win and apathy.

I also will take a rout of our opponent any day of the week and twice on Sunday. However, the original poster posed a hypothetical question regarding what scenario would render Butch impervious to criticism in this situation and I gave him my answer.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

IMO Butch has already won regardless of the outcome of the UK game. He led us to a win over the #11 team and probable SEC east champion. Yes he made some bad decisions in the Vandy game, but last time I checked first year head coaches playing with a true freshman QB, very young revivers and the toughest schedule in school history get a little slack.

I will be upset if we lose against UK. And I will complain and probably cuss a little it and probably blame the loss on everything from global warming to bad coaching. Then I will regain my composure and realize this season was a success regardless. Then I will look forward to NSD and next season when we will be better. GO VOLS!

Some are worried about the seniors just packing it in, well after suffering through Fooley and the schedule this year I wouldn't really blame them. Maybe they are just worn out? Who knows. I don't think they will do that though. I think they will come to play. And if we play good, sound football then UK will be an easy win.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

What's so wrong with giving him time and complaining when it is warranted?

The problem with part two of your question is that, quite simply, the complaining from this forum is almost incessant. I am extremely old-school and proud of it, so I consider it to be in exceedingly poor taste to "air our dirty laundry in public." Continuously bashing our players and coaches in an internet forum may not be as "public" as sending a moving van to Bill Battle's house in the middle of the night, but it still falls squarely in the aforementioned category. Our job as fans is to support our TEAM, pure and simply. When the day comes that I can no longer steadfastly support this program, it will be the day I am planted six feet under. To those who adhere to the lame excuse of "I support the team but I reserve the right to bash our coaches anytime I want to," I would say that, yes, you have the constitutional right to do so, but why on God's green earth do you choose to waste so much negative energy in the process? Besides, the "support" of our hypercritical faction is drowned out by their constant complaining. And, yes, I categorically reject the notion that the "Legions of the Miserable" are more truly defenders of the faith than the more optimistic segment of our fanbase.

 

[KYVolFan]

Find 22 players who can; remember the snap-count, block, tackle, run their routes, catch passes, carryout their blocking assignments, run through holes and not fumble the ball, return punts and kickoffs, punt and kick the ball effectively and put those same guys on the field. You see, there is nothing to it.

Nothing in winning football has changed since the General was commanding the sidelines.

Now, here's hoping our Vols stoop a mudhole in the iddy biddy kiddy cats.

 

[rickyyrs]

I got to thinking about this, and I can't think of a scenario where Butch and his staff can really win with even a large portion of fans no matter the outcome.

If he blows UK out, then the question is, where was this all year (or at least last week)?

If he Barely beats UK, then "We almost got beat by UK this looks terrible to recruits."

If we lose to UK, then we lost to KY for the second time in thirty years, something Dooley only did with an injured and sick QB and nobody else giving a damn.

This isn't a fire butch/whatever thread, this is me asking, is there any possible way for Butch to actually make people happy this week? Even winning at this stage isn't a surefire way.

We probably have the worst QB play in the SEC. We have no playmakers. Our OL is overarted. If our OL is as good as it is suppose to be then line up and run it down KY throats. I think it will be a close game because of our QB play.