Will Florida still have a mental edge over us next year?

[ConantheVolbarian]

What do you guys think? I think it's worth asking because we have ended streaks against Florida several times in the past and it didn't change the dynamic in the series at all. I'm talking about the dynamic where we have to struggle to win a game against a vastly inferior team and if there's any way to lose the game we probably will. This past season is a good example of that. We just missed the playoff and barely beat one of the worst Florida teams in recent memory that got taken to the woodshed by Oregon State in their bowl game. I'm hoping it will be different next year. I want nothing less than a Missouri 2021 type of performance against Florida. I want to believe we can actually smoke those guys. Lol

 

[90 Vol]

No.

 

[VolunteerVandiver]

Florida will not be good at all next year. We better beat them handily, otherwise Georgia and Alabama are going to smoke us.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

I think we easily beat them next year.

 

[rocketskates]

They will be worse next year than they were this year. They lost like 23 players to the portal. It’s time for them to wander in the wilderness for awhile and I love it.

 

[Proud Army Wife]

I think this season was nuts. For instance, we got blown out by USCjr, who got blown out by FL, who lost to Vandy, whom we blew out 56-0. TN didn’t beat FL comfortably. I don’t think they’re vastly inferior, atleast not talent-wise. I think the success of this TN team happened from the result of great coaching, team culture, maturity, and play-calling with Hooker leading the charge.

That said, I don’t think Napier is the answer for FL, and I don’t think they’ll have the mental edge over us next year. I also think we may take a step back next year (at QB) and I’m ok with that, but I’ll take Heupel any day over Sunbelt Billy!

 

[Hulavol]

I’ll believe it when I see it.
Somebody get 2001 on the phone. We need to win in the swamp.

 

[TnVol!]

No.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Current team doesn't know florida is supposed to win, Current coach won't let that thought enter thier minds. But the SEC is the SEC every team is capable of winning any given Saturday. With slm that Said I think Tennessee wins.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Not at all.

 

[joevols89]

What do you guys think? I think it's worth asking because we have ended streaks against Florida several times in the past and it didn't change the dynamic in the series at all. I'm talking about the dynamic where we have to struggle to win a game against a vastly inferior team and if there's any way to lose the game we probably will. This past season is a good example of that. We just missed the playoff and barely beat one of the worst Florida teams in recent memory that got taken to the woodshed by Oregon State in their bowl game. I'm hoping it will be different next year. I want nothing less than a Missouri 2021 type of performance against Florida. I want to believe we can actually smoke those guys. Lol

Maybe not because of the streak. But it's hard as hell to win in the swamp early in the season.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

What do you guys think? I think it's worth asking because we have ended streaks against Florida several times in the past and it didn't change the dynamic in the series at all. I'm talking about the dynamic where we have to struggle to win a game against a vastly inferior team and if there's any way to lose the game we probably will. This past season is a good example of that. We just missed the playoff and barely beat one of the worst Florida teams in recent memory that got taken to the woodshed by Oregon State in their bowl game. I'm hoping it will be different next year. I want nothing less than a Missouri 2021 type of performance against Florida. I want to believe we can actually smoke those guys. Lol

No. This year was more than just beating FL. It was finding TN football again. It was crawling out if 10+ years of misery. It was changing a culture. Losing becomes a habit, it becomes accepted. Previous coaches had put us in that bad place. Our current coaching staff pulled us out of that. If you look at recruiting, talent, statistics, there’s no way we should’ve won 11 games. But we now have buy in. We have erased that losing culture.

 

[SpookyAction]

I think UF has a psychological disadvantages going forward next season.
They've been owned by teams they normally dominate this season, and they lost a ton of talent since the end of the regular season.
Too many holes to fill, and the talent going in is not so dominant at this point for Napier and co.

 

[Elhanan]

Nope.

 

[Kylo]

What do you guys think? I think it's worth asking because we have ended streaks against Florida several times in the past and it didn't change the dynamic in the series at all. I'm talking about the dynamic where we have to struggle to win a game against a vastly inferior team and if there's any way to lose the game we probably will. This past season is a good example of that. We just missed the playoff and barely beat one of the worst Florida teams in recent memory that got taken to the woodshed by Oregon State in their bowl game. I'm hoping it will be different next year. I want nothing less than a Missouri 2021 type of performance against Florida. I want to believe we can actually smoke those guys. Lol

Have. You. Seen. Florida. Play???

 

[Ned Ray McWorkher]

We should go down there and spank them if we're legit.

 

[VolBalla2014]

What do you guys think? I think it's worth asking because we have ended streaks against Florida several times in the past and it didn't change the dynamic in the series at all. I'm talking about the dynamic where we have to struggle to win a game against a vastly inferior team and if there's any way to lose the game we probably will. This past season is a good example of that. We just missed the playoff and barely beat one of the worst Florida teams in recent memory that got taken to the woodshed by Oregon State in their bowl game. I'm hoping it will be different next year. I want nothing less than a Missouri 2021 type of performance against Florida. I want to believe we can actually smoke those guys. Lol

Most of the current coaches and players have dealt with this mental wall that us lifelong fans have had for decades. They just see a team that they've lost to and beaten. Those kids and coaches will come into that game with the confidence that comes from winning 11 games and finishing a top 5 team. Those first two games, we'll be hearing all of the worries from negavols because we ran a vanilla offense and didn't put up 70 on Austin peay, but that Florida game is circled, highlighted, and underlined. I'll be in Gainesville watching us blow them out.

 

[HiltonHeadVol]

All the above is well said.....however, people who love to ponder the upcoming Fall football schedule and their hoped-for record should remember to take into account the portal windows that cover both now and post Spring practice. There will me much rearranging of teams trajectories right into late Summer. So despite Fla losing quite a few players to portal, they will have the opportunity (as we did) to re-arm themselves. And judging by the recruiting results Napier brought in, one would assume he will haul in talent in the portal. I'm just saying that anyone who assumes that the Gators will be a automatic W in Gainesville are making a jump way ahead and prematurely so. BTW, Napier probably did his finest coaching job of the year in Knoxville just to keep his team in the game till the end.. So I won't get caught discounting that team any time ever. It will take a series of wins to feel any kind of comfort and that will have to be earned.

 

[FLVOL_79]

UT should wreck em like a cat 5 hurricane in a Florida trailer park.

 

[Pickinhick]

Over the last year we watched as the team gained confidence in themselves. Pitt and FL were shaky but began a process of building great confidence. If we had played FL in November, we would have beat them by 40 points.
That same confidence will be brought into next season. Instead of FL being a mental wall, they will simply be seen as another Vanderbilt to be conquered on our way to something bigger than just beating FL. They are just an obstacle on our road to greatness.

 

[UTK]

I don’t think so with this coaching staff to be honest. It still could be a sneaky tough game and a hurdle to get over. It’s a must win imo. Gotta establish dominance over this series for the first time in the modern era really. It does no good to win one and lose multiple in a row and repeat that pattern

 

[Iam4utalways]

I expect we will get Florida’s best game. It’s early in the year, at the swamp and before they quit on the year and their coach.

I don’t see JH allowing another team having a mental edge over the Vols. He seems like a coach that can can out together a winning game plan and can get the players ready to execute the plan to get the win.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

No way. Culture won't allow it.

 

[TAF]

I think this season was nuts. For instance, we got blown out by USCjr, who got blown out by FL, who lost to Vandy, whom we blew out 56-0. TN didn’t beat FL comfortably. I don’t think they’re vastly inferior, at least not talent-wise. I think the success of this TN team happened from the result of great coaching, team culture, maturity, and play-calling with Hooker leading the charge.

That said, I don’t think Napier is the answer for FL, and I don’t think they’ll have the mental edge over us next year. I also think we may take a step back next year (at QB) and I’m ok with that, but I’ll take Heupel any day over Sunbelt Billy!

I was gonna post...till I read this...

My personal EDIT: I traveled to and ENJOYED The Pitt W...but, as I've stated before, I WAS NOT 100% on "The Heup-Train" until after the Florida W!
And...for 20+ years, Florida BEAT Tennessee BEFORE the game...in their heads (which I think is The OP's Question)...the answer above I feel shares my feelings.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Over the last year we watched as the team gained confidence in themselves. Pitt and FL were shaky but began a process of building great confidence. If we had played FL in November, we would have beat them by 40 points.
That same confidence will be brought into next season. Instead of FL being a mental wall, they will simply be seen as another Vanderbilt to be conquered on our way to something bigger than just beating FL. They are just an obstacle on our road to greatness.

This. Florida is just another opponent now.