[RobVol]

I thought this would be a good time for everyone to start thinking about next year and now that the bad taste is out of most of everyone's mouths from the Kentucky loss, how many wins will it take for you to feel this team is going in the right direction and also how many does it take for most of you to keep Dooley?

This is open for debate. Just looking for Vol fans thoughts on this.

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[ChinaVol]

For me its not number of wins but he needs to beat Florida and UGA and play tough against Bama otherwise I start to lose interest. Enough is enough! We don't need to win the SEC but we need to be relevant in the SEC.

[ARFGVol]

I voted for 7 wins. I am totally fine with that if at least the Vols are competitive. This getting blown out and not playing hard against Kentucky will not work for me. I agree at least be relevant in some games in the SEC. I am not expecting winning the SEC even though that would nice. I am expecting improvement and some competing in games in the SEC.

[JD05]

I've been wrong about a lot of things in my life but I think we need to expect more from this staff and team. I know it's not going to happen overnight but it's been a long night since we've been relevant in the SEC. I was raised to plan for, work for, and expect the best out of me and everybody around me. So, I expect this staff and team to win at least 8 games this year since were returing a lot of players and coaches that played a lot of down this year and win 11 games in 2013. Anything less will warrant a complete overhaul of this program.

[UltimateVolfan]

8 wins or see ya.

[quest]

just one win! Against BAMA

[okfloray]

7 during the season, and a bowl game would be good. Something good better happen or else CDD is going to start running out of friends. I don't expect them to come out and run hog-wild all over the SEC, anyone who expects that is badly underestimating the confrence. But I think the Vols will win a game or 2 they are picked to lose.

I think it will take CDD 4-5 Yrs to get the Vols back onto the top shelf in the SEC. I think it would take anybody that long, maybe longer. This isn't the Pac-10 or Big East folks. This is SEC football and it simply doesn't get any better. And that makes for a unique situation. The Bama's and LSU's aren't going to sit idle while we catch up. The Vols are going to have to work harder, longer, and play smarter than anybody else. To put this into perspective; Personal feelings aside Steve Spurrier doesn't have to sell himself, he is preceeded by his reputation. Given the right kind of back-up, time, and incentive he could turn Carson Newman into a national contender. And what did it take, 7-8 Yrs for him to turn USC into a "relevant" SEC team? I don't excactly remember, but it was da#n sure more than 3 or 4 Yrs. Do not underestimate this confrence. You could look long and hard, and still not find a cupcake to whip-up on. I'll bet the Vols don't underestimate Kentucky anymore...

[ChinaVol]

okfloray, on 23 December 2011 - 04:59 PM, said:

7 during the season, and a bowl game would be good. Something good better happen or else CDD is going to start running out of friends. I don't expect them to come out and run hog-wild all over the SEC, anyone who expects that is badly underestimating the confrence. But I think the Vols will win a game or 2 they are picked to lose.

I think it will take CDD 4-5 Yrs to get the Vols back onto the top shelf in the SEC. I think it would take anybody that long, maybe longer. This isn't the Pac-10 or Big East folks. This is SEC football and it simply doesn't get any better. And that makes for a unique situation. The Bama's and LSU's aren't going to sit idle while we catch up. The Vols are going to have to work harder, longer, and play smarter than anybody else. To put this into perspective; Personal feelings aside Steve Spurrier doesn't have to sell himself, he is preceeded by his reputation. Given the right kind of back-up, time, and incentive he could turn Carson Newman into a national contender. And what did it take, 7-8 Yrs for him to turn USC into a "relevant" SEC team? I don't excactly remember, but it was da#n sure more than 3 or 4 Yrs. Do not underestimate this confrence. You could look long and hard, and still not find a cupcake to whip-up on. I'll bet the Vols don't underestimate Kentucky anymore...

Under-estimate Kentucky, are you kidding??? That was the worst UK team in maybe 10 years and they lost their starting QB for gods sake! Any other SEC team would have drilled them by 30, even Vandy. Spurrier was at a bigger disadvantage with recruiting to USC, still is, even with that he was able to field a credible competitive team within 3 years. Fact is coaches win games when they are the underdog and even if they have less talent. Its possible, don't let the administration brainwash you into thinking its impossible for us to win a freakin football game in the SEC. UT has the budget, fan following and all other resources required to win in the SEC. We need to expect or accept no less. Dooley gets another year but he needs to win a game over a division 1 team and quick.

[okfloray]

Yeah, underestimated. Something like that, something exactly like that. I've seen ball games before where 1 team decided they had already won the game before it ever started. Fact is superior teams lose games to underdogs when they don't execute the plays they have been practicing all week.

Starting QB, 3rd string QB, they could have dressed out a cheerleader it didn't make a bit of diffrence. All this over-analysis I keep hearing means doodle-squat. Kentucky's offense didn't beat us, where did you get that from? Our offense did. Tennessee's offense didn't show up. Thats it, and thats all. If you can't run, and if you can't pass you are going to have a hard time scoring points. And if you can't score points then your gonna get beat by Kentucky. I don't care how much you practice and prepare, if it doesn't make transition to the game then it's all for nothing. Do you honestly think they didn't prepare? UT's defense played good enough to win. Actually they done real good against a team that had gotten out of their tendacy. But what your saying is figurativly ol'Dooley just gave the offense the week off instead of trying to install a game plan. C'mon Man... If the same offense that played Cincy had shown up, thVols would have drilled UK by 30. UT's offense lost this game because they wern't cognizant during the last 5 seconds before they snapped the ball. You know, those few critical moments when the bench relenquishes control to the players on the field. They played stupid, and Tauren Poole was probably right when he said guys didn't want to be out there.

Yeah, Spurrier had his dificulties. Dooley is going to have, and has had difficulties of his own. Fortunatly for everybody involved CDD hasn't had to get up in the middle of the night and go bail his offense out of jail... Now your making me look stuff up. By the end of 2009 the Gamecocks were 35-28 in SOS's 5th Yr as HC, and had lost both bowl games they had been to on his watch by a combined score of 51-17, Iowa/Uconn. While to some that might fit their description of "credably competitive", but it certainly isn't top shelf SEC. And isn't that what we're talking about? It wasn't until last Yr that USC became prominant, err... "SEC Relevant". So there it is. What took Steve Spurrier, by reputation a creative genius, 6 Yrs to do, you are ready to demand of Dooley in half the time?

Really..? Maybe in the WAC or Sunbelt confrence but not here. What is it, 5 straight national championships for the SEC? And now since nobody else can beat SEC teams for NC we are having to beat each other? It's gonna take a while to get into that click, I'm thinking everybody might as well warm up to reality. Regardless of who the HC is...

This post has been edited by okfloray: 23 December 2011 - 11:29 PM

[JD05]

okfloray, on 23 December 2011 - 11:28 PM, said:

Yeah, underestimated. Something like that, something exactly like that. I've seen ball games before where 1 team decided they had already won the game before it ever started. Fact is superior teams lose games to underdogs when they don't execute the plays they have been practicing all week.

Starting QB, 3rd string QB, they could have dressed out a cheerleader it didn't make a bit of diffrence. All this over-analysis I keep hearing means doodle-squat. Kentucky's offense didn't beat us, where did you get that from? Our offense did. Tennessee's offense didn't show up. Thats it, and thats all. If you can't run, and if you can't pass you are going to have a hard time scoring points. And if you can't score points then your gonna get beat by Kentucky. I don't care how much you practice and prepare, if it doesn't make transition to the game then it's all for nothing. Do you honestly think they didn't prepare? UT's defense played good enough to win. Actually they done real good against a team that had gotten out of their tendacy. But what your saying is figurativly ol'Dooley just gave the offense the week off instead of trying to install a game plan. C'mon Man... If the same offense that played Cincy had shown up, thVols would have drilled UK by 30. UT's offense lost this game because they wern't cognizant during the last 5 seconds before they snapped the ball. You know, those few critical moments when the bench relenquishes control to the players on the field. They played stupid, and Tauren Poole was probably right when he said guys didn't want to be out there.

Yeah, Spurrier had his dificulties. Dooley is going to have, and has had difficulties of his own. Fortunatly for everybody involved CDD hasn't had to get up in the middle of the night and go bail his offense out of jail... Now your making me look stuff up. By the end of 2009 the Gamecocks were 35-28 in SOS's 5th Yr as HC, and had lost both bowl games they had been to on his watch by a combined score of 51-17, Iowa/Uconn. While to some that might fit their description of "credably competitive", but it certainly isn't top shelf SEC. And isn't that what we're talking about? It wasn't until last Yr that USC became prominant, err... "SEC Relevant". So there it is. What took Steve Spurrier, by reputation a creative genius, 6 Yrs to do, you are ready to demand of Dooley in half the time?

Really..? Maybe in the WAC or Sunbelt confrence but not here. What is it, 5 straight national championships for the SEC? And now since nobody else can beat SEC teams for NC we are having to beat each other? It's gonna take a while to get into that click, I'm thinking everybody might as well warm up to reality. Regardless of who the HC is...

That's the best post I've read all year.

[Atomic City]

He has to have at least 8 IMO

[ChinaVol]

okfloray, on 23 December 2011 - 11:28 PM, said:

Yeah, underestimated. Something like that, something exactly like that. I've seen ball games before where 1 team decided they had already won the game before it ever started. Fact is superior teams lose games to underdogs when they don't execute the plays they have been practicing all week.

Starting QB, 3rd string QB, they could have dressed out a cheerleader it didn't make a bit of diffrence. All this over-analysis I keep hearing means doodle-squat. Kentucky's offense didn't beat us, where did you get that from? Our offense did. Tennessee's offense didn't show up. Thats it, and thats all. If you can't run, and if you can't pass you are going to have a hard time scoring points. And if you can't score points then your gonna get beat by Kentucky. I don't care how much you practice and prepare, if it doesn't make transition to the game then it's all for nothing. Do you honestly think they didn't prepare? UT's defense played good enough to win. Actually they done real good against a team that had gotten out of their tendacy. But what your saying is figurativly ol'Dooley just gave the offense the week off instead of trying to install a game plan. C'mon Man... If the same offense that played Cincy had shown up, thVols would have drilled UK by 30. UT's offense lost this game because they wern't cognizant during the last 5 seconds before they snapped the ball. You know, those few critical moments when the bench relenquishes control to the players on the field. They played stupid, and Tauren Poole was probably right when he said guys didn't want to be out there.

Yeah, Spurrier had his dificulties. Dooley is going to have, and has had difficulties of his own. Fortunatly for everybody involved CDD hasn't had to get up in the middle of the night and go bail his offense out of jail... Now your making me look stuff up. By the end of 2009 the Gamecocks were 35-28 in SOS's 5th Yr as HC, and had lost both bowl games they had been to on his watch by a combined score of 51-17, Iowa/Uconn. While to some that might fit their description of "credably competitive", but it certainly isn't top shelf SEC. And isn't that what we're talking about? It wasn't until last Yr that USC became prominant, err... "SEC Relevant". So there it is. What took Steve Spurrier, by reputation a creative genius, 6 Yrs to do, you are ready to demand of Dooley in half the time?

Really..? Maybe in the WAC or Sunbelt confrence but not here. What is it, 5 straight national championships for the SEC? And now since nobody else can beat SEC teams for NC we are having to beat each other? It's gonna take a while to get into that click, I'm thinking everybody might as well warm up to reality. Regardless of who the HC is...

We must have watched different games. The game I watched the UK offense won. It was not because they scored 10 points but they ran up and down the field in the 1st half eating clock and keeping their defense off the field, limiting touches for our offense. Their punter was drilling us into oblivion on field position all day. The defense payed great but it was a team effort and the loss can be blamed directly on the coaching staff for not being able to know how to stop student body right quickly enough. They don't score any points against the rest of the SEC using that gimmick. Yes, we have been forced to become experts on why we lose football games and with experience we have accumulated a long list of excuses. In my opinion there is no excuse for UT losing to UK, as the AD just said.

To me winning 6 or 7 games where we are the heavy favorite then going to a low rated bowl game does not cut it for next season. Dooley has proven without a doubt he can manage the team and recruit effectively but if he can't bring it on game day then whats the point? Rivals must be beaten this is not South Carolina.

[JD05]

This is a heavy weight (and I'm not talking about your body weight) bout between OKFLORAY and CV. Both of you have great arguments. I'm torn between both arguments because I want UT to win and win now but I also know that Dooley had a tall task to meet that NOBODY could do in 3-5 years so I wanna give him enough time to make it right. This notion to fire him now as some on this board but mostly on other boards is unbelievable. So I don't know.

[RobVol]

Well if were going to use Spurrier as the mark example, then at least keep it apples to apples.

Why is everyone using South Carolina? Use Florida who fricking owned Tennessee through the 90s. Were they more talented? In most cases actually no. The Vols got outcoached. Before this turn to mediocrity even with the 5-7 2008, Tennessee was Tennessee and South Carolina wasnt even ever considered a real threat. Now turn the page to now. Totally flipped. Why because of better players? Minus Clowney and Lattimore I seriously doubt it. The thing is Spurrier outcoached Tennessee in the 90s with a good team and still at South Carolina with an "OK" team that looks better because of crappy SEC East competition he is doing the same thing.

[ChinaVol]

JD05, on 24 December 2011 - 11:11 AM, said:

This is a heavy weight (and I'm not talking about your body weight) bout between OKFLORAY and CV. Both of you have great arguments. I'm torn between both arguments because I want UT to win and win now but I also know that Dooley had a tall task to meet that NOBODY could do in 3-5 years so I wanna give him enough time to make it right. This notion to fire him now as some on this board but mostly on other boards is unbelievable. So I don't know.

Its a good discussion between townies! No, firing the guy now after all the work he has done would be a real disaster. It would have been nice to see some progression as we went thru the process but OK they are bamboo and will suddenly improve. Nothing replaces experience and, simply put, on game day Dooley had none coming into the position. Now he has some SEC experience. I hope he has learned something, but its like my old pool teacher told me. I once head him say after beating me in a match, I taught him everything he knows but I did not teach him everything I know! Question now is, how long does it take to gain enough experience to win against the top SEC coaches?

The first job of the administration is to lower expectations in order to keep revenues high. Fans need to keep their expectations high and keep the pressure on, otherwise the admins will feel free to have an 8 year rebuilding program.