Win or lose where do you stand?

[JRich]

Bama is still a top notch program and UT does not have the players that they get year after year, especially at the line of scrimmage. A loss doesn't change much for me. I still judge this season as a success because UT beat 3 ranked opponents, two on the road, and of course beating Florida.

There is still much to be seen. Even with likely losses to Bama and Georgia (not guaranteed losses), UT would have to avoid an embarrassing loss to other opponents left on the schedule. The UT way is to beat Alabama then lose to Missouri, right? Seen it too many times.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

The expectations in the off-season were 8-4 would mean growth. 9-3 would be exceeding expectations. We’re on pace for 10-2. As long as we don’t get destroyed by Alabama, I’m fine. If we just win the rest of the games except for Georgia, that’s a hell of a season.

All that being said…..we’re one win against Georgia from Atlanta. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t getting my hopes up just a bit.

 

[LouderVol]

Depends on how we lose. We lose, even close because we play bad or dumb play call, then yeah I feel bad. It's a hard fought clean game called equally by the refs (lol), and we lose close I wont be disappointed.

Being better or good doesnt mean we are perfect. Not sure how people could be disappointed with this season if we play tough all year.

 

[rusty11]

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Depends on the circumstances and how the game unfolds. If BY doesn't play I'll be a little disappointed if we lose. But at the same time regardless if he plays or not, Bama is going to play their best game of the season. They're hearing it all week that we may very well beat them...Saban will use that.

If BY plays and is anywhere near healthy, I'm just not gonna feel too bad if we lose. They are still a better team with him if he's healthy. If he doesn't play or plays hurt and is ineffective they are just a completely different team. Not a bad one...but not an elite one or Top 2 or 3 for sure.

I just want to see us play a clean game...don't turn the ball over a gazillion times or do uncharacteristic things. We do all that and I think I'll be fine either way. I do hate losing to the bammers though.

 

[sgtwebb1]

I hate to say it, but prior to the season, I had us going 10-2, losing to the gumps and smelly leg humpers.

Now, 5 games in, I truly think 11-1 isn't out of the question.
It's all about the game plan and if UT's D can force a few punts in those games.

I know Alabama & UGA's D's are way better than what UT has faced thus far, but UT's Offense is far superior to what either team likely will face in their respective regular seasons.

If UT can keep their heads in the game and chins up during adversity (and they've shown they can under CJH ) then the limit is the sky.

Win, lose, or draw, I've bled BIG ORANGE all 60 years on this earth, at least 54 of them addicted to UT football.

GBO.

 

[firestorm]

Tennessee can still win more than 8 games in the regular season even if they lose to a great Alabama team.
So I won’t overreact that Tennessee can’t have a great season if they lose to an undefeated Alabama team that was favored by 7 points.

I’ll be disappointed because Tennessee had a realistic chance defeat Alabama in the Nick Saban era.

If the Volunteers defeat the Crimson Tide then most likely the Volunteers have a great regular season because realistically they could win 9 games, and they defeated multiple ranked teams including they steamrolled LSU in LSU.

 

[wmcovol]

I believe the great job Huepel and staff have done rebuilding this program is solely the reason we are here inside 50 hours of a top 10 matchup with Alabama. Kudus to the players for buying in. Pruitt couldnt do that during his time. The transfers, yes I know Hooker is a transfer, have been somewhat limited for Tennessee compared to other programs and we all know how Pruitt's recruiting classes were gutted.

Moving forward, I see the Vol program going higher with reduced restrictions on scholarships and recruiting Heupel was faced with coming in. I also think Alabama is coming back to the pack alittle (Ga probably not so much) with alot of recruiting misses in their recent classes. Saban will probably bring in a major QB transfer next year (you really see Saban standing pat with Milrode and Simpson?). They will lose alot of talent as they do every year and it doesnt seem they have as much awesome depth as they have in the past.

 

[DaddyChad]

Win or lose we’re way ahead of where I thought we would be at this point. Couldn’t be more proud of Heupel and this team. Actually I probably could be more proud and will be when we beat Bama.

 

[Vol737]

I’ll be disappointed if we lose, but it won’t take away from what has and will be accomplished with this team. Still should have a great season and will still have an opportunity to upset UGA on our way to a great bowl game. Our guys just need to stay loose.

 

[VolRage]

I hate Alabubba and the GA butt sniffers so a loss to either is never tolerable.

 

[joevol33]

We're winning

 

[zjcvols]

If I had to choose between two games, I'd rather lose this game and win Georgia.

It’s a super weird hypothetical. And I don’t know which I’d choose

If you beat Bama and lose to Georgia, you still have a great shot to get to the playoff assuming the Big 12 eat each other and the LA schools get beat (USC plays at Utah and UCLA plays at Oregon next week, both LA teams are underdogs). No Group of 5 schools are getting in this year. 11-1 gets you in. Even if you need a little help.

If you lose to Bama and beat Georgia, you get to go to Atlanta! But then you have to play Bama again. But if you beat Bama in Atlanta you guarantee yourself a trip.

It’s a fun debate.

 

[sjt18]

Since I posted from the beginning I felt similarities between this season and the 98 season which I had season tickets (only time ever) I was wondering will you be okay if we lose close or are you tired of excuses as I am? I mean nearly fifteen years out of the last twenty years we been a laugher up on the hill. Just wondering.

Do you mean lose to Bama?

I want to win... but won't be too upset if UT competes and loses. Bama is still by far the most talented team in the country. They have great players and lots of depth. It is hard to find weaknesses any year. This year you might say their WR's are a weakness... but a weakness other programs would kill for. Young is still 5th in the SEC in ypg, third in QBR, and completing 67% of his throws.

They're a team that can pressure you everywhere.

UT OTOH is still playing with a short roster and working past the roster damage in the wake of Pruitt. Heupel and crew have done a masterful job of coaching around and over those holes. But they face a whole new level in this game. That's not an "excuse"... but a fact.

So if your question is am I tired of losing to Bama then the answer is absolutely yes. However I think Heupel is on the way to building a program that can regularly challenge and beat Bama and UGA. For me, that's something I can give him time to get done. A 10-2 record or better... won't requre any excuses. If that happens it will be time to REALLY pay the man.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Depends on how we lose. We lose, even close because we play bad or dumb play call, then yeah I feel bad. It's a hard fought clean game called equally by the refs (lol), and we lose close I wont be disappointed.

Being better or good doesnt mean we are perfect. Not sure how people could be disappointed with this season if we play tough all year.

I would be very happy with 10-2 even if the losses to Alabama and Georgia were blowouts(I don't think they will be if we lose those games). Tennessee is making huge progress with it's football program and with how powerful Georgia is right now the fight is for #2 in the SEC East.

 

[VolCalls]

Yes, but next year with a new QB..lord knows which one Tennessee travels to Florida , Alabama and Texas A&M.
They are right now in the moment to get over the hump. Young team, young staff whatever..Time to catch lightening in a bottle.

We play A&M at home next season.

 

[zjcvols]

I am no longer certain just how much credence we should be giving the high school recruiting star-rating services.

Just a few short weeks ago, in the spring and summer, there were plenty of folks on these pages, folks who follow recruiting closely in the recruiting forum, who were saying Florida and LSU continue to have significant roster advantages over our Vols. That they WAY out-talent us.

On the other side of the coin, we were also told that we significantly out-talent Pitt.

Well, Pitt was the closest of those three games. By far.

So what good is following the recruiting stars?

Seems to me, every year there's an Iowa or Mizzou or (this year) Kansas that has an abysmal recruiting ranking history, who find ways to make gold out of dross.

This year, we seem to be one of those teams.

I'm not saying Hendon isn't one of the best QBs in the country--in my estimation he IS the best. And our receivers are right up there with the best in the country, too. And our defensive line. And just one tier below those stand-outs, we also have very good, very solid fellas in all the position groups.

But apparently--especially with all the defections (or discrete invitations to leave) that came with Pruitt's departure--our roster doesn't grade out very high, as a whole.

And yet here we are.

So who is to say, really, whether we have the roster to beat Bama and UGa? Right now, this season, not in the future after more rebuilding, but now?

It has famously been said that it's the Jimmies and Joes, not the Xs and Os. I think it's both. And I think you have to consider the coaching staff AMONG the Jimmies and Joes, if you want to follow that philosophy.

The four most important positions on a college football team today are: QB, head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator. After those four, the fifth is probably the place kicker (often the team's highest scorer, though not in Heupel's scheme).

So are we short of the talent needed to challenge the Tide and Dawgs? I don't know. I honestly don't know about all these star ratings and class rankings.

I just know it FEELS like we're in a pretty good position right now to start challenging the best teams in the nation.

Go Vols!

Three things about the lack of talent

1) Tennessee has developed much better (thank you Rodney Garner and Glen Elerbee specifically) than any of the previous coaching staffs. That has been huge and a major benefit.

2) Transfer portal. It’s much harder to gauge past recruiting classes and star ratings because of the transfer portal. LSU has some great class rankings but they’ve lost a bunch of kids for example.

3) Tennessee is (somehow, shockingly) a lot more stable than most of their opponents. LSU and Florida have brand new coaches with completely different cultures. South Carolina and Vanderbilt are still in year 2 after putrid previous head coaches. Missouri is in year 3 with recruiting deficiencies. The only more stable opponents we play are Bama, UGA, Kentucky and Pitt. We are finally taking advantage of downed opponents and what we should be doing compared to years past.

 

[zjcvols]

The expectations in the off-season were 8-4 would mean growth. 9-3 would be exceeding expectations. We’re on pace for 10-2. As long as we don’t get destroyed by Alabama, I’m fine. If we just win the rest of the games except for Georgia, that’s a hell of a season.

All that being said…..we’re one win against Georgia from Atlanta. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t getting my hopes up just a bit.

If you had told me 10-2 with no context I would have taken it. We haven’t won 10 games since 2007. If we lose to Bama and UGA, two of the top 4 programs in college football, I won’t complain one iota. And neither should any Vol fans.

 

[rdk4121]

The best news for our season is this game doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Win or lose, we still control our destiny. That said, beating Alabama would be probably the biggest leap you could ever hope to make. Ending the streak, and also just beating Saban in general would be amazing.

I'm not upset if we drop this one. I just hope we make it a 4 quarter fight, just to keep the momentum going in the program and on the recruiting trail.

 

[zjcvols]

I believe the great job Huepel and staff have done rebuilding this program is solely the reason we are here inside 50 hours of a top 10 matchup with Alabama. Kudus to the players for buying in. Pruitt couldnt do that during his time. The transfers, yes I know Hooker is a transfer, have been somewhat limited for Tennessee compared to other programs and we all know how Pruitt's recruiting classes were gutted.

Moving forward, I see the Vol program going higher with reduced restrictions on scholarships and recruiting Heupel was faced with coming in. I also think Alabama is coming back to the pack alittle (Ga probably not so much) with alot of recruiting misses in their recent classes. Saban will probably bring in a major QB transfer next year (you really see Saban standing pat with Milrode and Simpson?). They will lose alot of talent as they do every year and it doesnt seem they have as much awesome depth as they have in the past.

Wanna see how much buy in the players are into Heupel? We didn’t lose one contributor to the transfer portal in 2022 if I recall correctly. Speaks to the coaching staff.

 

[JoAllan]

At 10-2 or better we should all go streaking through the quad.

 

[VOLtaism]

Being predicted to be evenly matched with a top 5 team and bitter rival, that says a lot about what this group of players and coaches have accomplished. I am just a spectator so I am satisfied to be able to look forward to a big game this weekend, its been a while. Now, if they are competitive or win the game that would be over the top. Regardless of the outcome the UGA game will be just as big. Its going to be a great season.

 

[zjcvols]

Here’s a better question…when was the last time we weren’t double digit underdogs to Alabama????

 

[Stephen Gray]

We are way ahead of schedule. I would love to beat Alabama and/or Georgia but even if we beat neither I am thrilled with this season. Heck, we could go 9-3 at this point and I’m not saying I wouldn’t be slightly disappointed but it’s still a phenomenal improvement over last season and nowhere near where I expected to be right now.

Also I had two dreams about the Alabama game last night. In one, it 42-41 Alabama and we got the ball back with a little under a minute to go. I don’t know if we won or not. In the other I was in some kind of cafeteria with Vol fans and Alabama fans and a brawl broke out. Had to fight off two bama fans who had baseball bats. This is of course ridiculous, but I have no idea what either dream meant.

 

[Vol_in_NC_1999]

I will still be totally on the Heupel train if we lose by two scores.

Bama is still very talented and very well coached. Thinking this is a sure thing is not being realistic. Thinking a win is likley also not realistic.
Thinking a win is possible is realistic


Im hoping for the ball to bounce our way and the refs to be unbiased.

With regards to the refs...we are a hot commodity right now and the SEC knows we are a cash generating fan base. I hope this helps the fellers in stripes to call it down the middle.

Also, the mustard bottles at the concession stands are much larger this year. They would actually hurt if a person were to be struck by one...just saying

Most accurate post of the week, in my opinion.