Why the VOLS will be the team you dont wanna play

[VolBeef88]

I think the VOLS will be the team you "don't wanna play" this year. The reason is clear. UT is a very strong tradition rich program that embarrassed itself and its fans last year. They have a ton of talent that did not achieve last year and those kids and coaches have pride as well and can read how they are not up to par. I look for UT to be a very, very dangerous team in 2006.



That is what I heard some sports folks on a radio station in Dallas say. They picked UT to be the team that shocks a bunch of talking heads. I tend to agree with them, if I were a fan of another team I would be very worried about UT this year. Think wounded bear.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

are you sure the people in Dallas were not talking about the other UT?

Are any of you really getting the sense that your friends and acquaintences who support Bama, UGA, UF or LSU are really worried about the UT game this year? I'm not getting that when I talk to people. I don't hear anyone, other than a few Yella Hammers, saying that their team will kick UT's a$$ this year. At the same time, I don't know any diehard fans of those schools who do not expect their team to beat UT this year.

 

[tidwell]

I've never heard any fans of any of those schools say they expected to lose any game, no matter the year.

 

[GAVol]

You definitely haven't spoken to any UGA fans. They are extremely anxious about how their QB play.

 

[vader]

I could give a rat's posterior how the other fan's feel about our game. I hope we shock some people into noticing us.

 

[hohenfelsvol]

The tone will be set with the CAL game. Come out strong and opponents will start getting worried. Before that all we will hear for the most part is same ole fan to fan trash talking about crappy year and how we suck. Am hoping to shut up critics and opposing big mouth fans. No matter from what state.

 

[rexvol]

I hope we are the wounded bear, but do we have the horses? animal metaphors abound

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

You definitely haven't spoken to any UGA fans. They are extremely anxious about how their QB play.

I know you are down there and have a bigger sampling but among my GA friends they all seem to think that the Tereshinski/Swafford question will be dealt with well before the UT game and whoever they have at the helm should be able to handle the Vols.

 

[jakez4ut]

are you sure the people in Dallas were not talking about the other UT?

Are any of you really getting the sense that your friends and acquaintences who support Bama, UGA, UF or LSU are really worried about the UT game this year? I'm not getting that when I talk to people. I don't hear anyone, other than a few Yella Hammers, saying that their team will kick UT's a$$ this year. At the same time, I don't know any diehard fans of those schools who do not expect their team to beat UT this year.

i have been getting the question "how y'all gonna be this year?"...and i don't have an answer....and they don't either or they wouldn't have asked.

I think fans in general of other schools don't necessarily pencil a W next to the TN game....but probably a ?....i don't think anyone will count us out next season, well, at least until it would become evident that we were out of it....I think UF, UGA, Bama, and LSU are all a bit wary of that game, UGA because of their qb situation, but the other three have to come to Knoxville....and i don't think any fan in thier right mind would assume that will be a road trip W.

Just as i never assume a trip to Tuscaloosa, GAinesville, AThens etc....are going to be W's....playing on the road in the SEC is just tough...and i do look for us to have a bit of a chip on our shoulder this season....it'll be interesting to see if we can actually use that to our advantage.

 

[VolBeef88]

are you sure the people in Dallas were not talking about the other UT?

Are any of you really getting the sense that your friends and acquaintences who support Bama, UGA, UF or LSU are really worried about the UT game this year? I'm not getting that when I talk to people. I don't hear anyone, other than a few Yella Hammers, saying that their team will kick UT's a$$ this year. At the same time, I don't know any diehard fans of those schools who do not expect their team to beat UT this year.

Very sure. They were going over teams that they think will stink it up and shock people. They were saying that fans and talking heads have UT down but they (the announcers) think that by the time a team plays UT they will be very weary. And I have to say that none (or very few) of those teams fans ever give UT credit any year.
I do think a team (such as UT) who is used to winning and is a pride rich, tradition rich program is very dangerous after a huge melt down year.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

The tone will be set with the CAL game. Come out strong and opponents will start getting worried. Before that all we will hear for the most part is same ole fan to fan trash talking about crappy year and how we suck. Am hoping to shut up critics and opposing big mouth fans. No matter from what state.

IMO the Cal game will play a psychological factor only if we lose. Other than USC, there is little respect for Pac10 teams among most SEC fans. If UT beats Cal it will be expected. It the Vols lose to Cal it will make them look more vulnerable. Right now UT does nto need to lok vulnerable. IMO the Vols lost several games last year because the opponenets "believed" enough. At least half the teams on UT's schedule should "know" that they are going to get beat before the first kickoff so that playing the game is just a formality.

 

[TBALLVOL]

Man, I would love to jump on that Band Wagon!..but everytime i jump on a Vol Vehicle it seems to always break down. I think this year I'm just going to demand that the Volunteers prove to me every game that they belong. At this point I feel more comfortable waiting for the second shoe to drop than to think about having to fix a flat.

 

[hohenfelsvol]

IMO the Cal game will play a psychological factor only if we lose. Other than USC, there is little respect for Pac10 teams among most SEC fans. If UT beats Cal it will be expected. It the Vols lose to Cal it will make them look more vulnerable. Right now UT does nto need to lok vulnerable. IMO the Vols lost several games last year because the opponenets "believed" enough. At least half the teams on UT's schedule should "know" that they are going to get beat before the first kickoff so that playing the game is just a formality.

That's why we also need to win with authority. I still believe we had talent last year and this year to do it. Undeveloped talent and bad coaching stiffled the offense. Two things that I think we'll get fixed this year. Looking forward to 02Sep when all turns from anticipation to "Give him Six!"

 

[WA_Vol]

Based on polls and preaseason hype, here is the list of teams you dont want to play in the SEC:

1. Auburn
2. Florida
3. LSU
4. Georgia
5. Arkansas
6. UT
7. Alabama
8. South Carolina

 

[bigdaddy]

I am sure that the 2000 era Huskers probably thought the same thing. Like many have said before we wont really know what to expect until we get started. We we have a since of pride this year, looks so. Does the team feel like they have something to prove, sounds like it. But I heard a lot of trash last year and look what happened. THe poster above said it right, they need to come out and prove they deserve to be on the field every week.

 

[therealUT]

I am sure that the 2000 era Huskers probably thought the same thing. Like many have said before we wont really know what to expect until we get started. We we have a since of pride this year, looks so. Does the team feel like they have something to prove, sounds like it. But I heard a lot of trash last year and look what happened. THe poster above said it right, they need to come out and prove they deserve to be on the field every week.

Not exactly sure of where you were going with your reference to Nebraska. Please clarify.

 

[bigdaddy]

Well, my thinking is that Nebraska was a team competing for champs year in anout through the late 90's. Then they fell off the map (in a since). They missed one bowl game in 2005 for the first time in years and got beat by many teams in thier conf. that are comparable to Vandy. Is anybody really that scared of Neb these days? I am guessing that the fans of Neb felt that they would come back like a wounded animal or out of the ashes like a Phoenix, but that has yet to happen. It is a nice story but the reality is UT has to prove themselves on a weekly basis. Everyone is looking at UT a ? or a W in my opinion and we are no longer feared by anyone (esp. in the SEC). And that is my view of what happened to Neb. Do that make any since?

 

[VolBeef88]

I am sure that the 2000 era Huskers probably thought the same thing. Like many have said before we wont really know what to expect until we get started. We we have a since of pride this year, looks so. Does the team feel like they have something to prove, sounds like it. But I heard a lot of trash last year and look what happened. THe poster above said it right, they need to come out and prove they deserve to be on the field every week.

I don't think the Huskers a comparable. There was a lot more than 1 bad season that caused the demise of the Huskers. They also didn't fall in 1 year it was gradual and due to HC changes. Also there whole offensive strategy has changed. Huge difference in the two programs.

 

[bigdaddy]

I would agree that the way we got to this point is different but the fans expectations are the same. Right now, I will believe it when I see it. UT has had a steady decline as well. As for HC changes, well that is a whole other debate. The programs are similar in thier "fall from grace"

 

[VolBeef88]

I would agree that the way we got to this point is different but the fans expectations are the same. Right now, I will believe it when I see it. UT has had a steady decline as well. As for HC changes, well that is a whole other debate. The programs are similar in thier "fall from grace"

I don't see the similarities at all. As far as decline. We are a year removed from an SEC east title where we took an undefeated Auburn to the very end at the SECCG. Last year was a huge flop and is unacceptable by all. But I think you, I and a whole bunch of folks will be happy come football season. Yes, we have a lot to prove but I think they will. Not based on what I want but rather what I think will happen.

 

[bigdaddy]

I don't see the similarities at all. As far as decline. We are a year removed from an SEC east title where we took an undefeated Auburn to the very end at the SECCG. Last year was a huge flop and is unacceptable by all. But I think you, I and a whole bunch of folks will be happy come football season. Yes, we have a lot to prove but I think they will. Not based on what I want but rather what I think will happen.

I hardley call our past 7 years as our best. And you can look at other teams like OU, NEB, Penn St. they have all struggled to get back to the levels that they once had. We are not one the the perennial powerhouses in D1 football. We haven't been since our last NC. UT has done nothing so far to show me that we will be some massive force in the SEC. The ball bounced the right way for us two years ago and the wrong way last year. I think we have been flopping since Kelly Washington opened his big mouth. They have an uphill battle this year and nobody is putting a L next to UT in the SEC at this point.

 

[West Columbia Gamecock]

I'm just glad that it will only be fifteen minutes from my house this year.

 

[allvol]

I would agree that the way we got to this point is different but the fans expectations are the same. Right now, I will believe it when I see it. UT has had a steady decline as well. As for HC changes, well that is a whole other debate. The programs are similar in thier "fall from grace"

This is what I would describe as a decline into mediocrity...

1988 10-2
1989 9-2-1
1990 8-4-1
1991 3-8
1992 6-5-1
1993 8-5
1994 8-3-1
1995 9-2-1
1996 6-6
1997 6-5
1998 8-5
1999 6-6
2000 5-7
2001 6-6

That 2001 team finished with 6 losses, all close games. The talent level was worse than the Vols in 2005. However....

2002 11-2
2003 12-1
2004 13-0
2005 12-1

includes 4 straight conference championships and 2 national championships

 

[bigdaddy]

I'm just glad that it will only be fifteen minutes from my house this year.

I will be there and I hope we get a night or late afternoon game. I had a blast the last time in Columbia.

 

[bigdaddy]

I dont recall Neb going 13-0 in 2004?