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Chips are down: Is Tennessee "Back"?
Posted on 8/18/23 at 11:30 am
Posted on 8/18/23 at 11:30 am
Or is this like how Florida was "Back" for a few years then the wheels fell off?
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Posted on 8/18/23 at 11:31 am to Mark Makr Makek
No. They have not won the SEC in a quarter century..
This post was edited on 8/18/23 at 11:32 am
Posted on 8/18/23 at 11:32 am to Mark Makr Makek
At least we won the East. Vols haven't even won a share of it since the 2007 season.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 11:34 am to Mark Makr Makek
From 1998? No.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 11:51 am to Mark Makr Makek
To being a formidable foe yes, challenging each year for the SEC? probably most years they will.
Anybody that thought a program like UT was gonna stay down forever was ignorant. Same will happen with Nebraska. I hear people all the time saying Nebraska's dead. Check back in a few years. These programs have roots too deep, resources aplenty and a brand name.
Anybody that thought a program like UT was gonna stay down forever was ignorant. Same will happen with Nebraska. I hear people all the time saying Nebraska's dead. Check back in a few years. These programs have roots too deep, resources aplenty and a brand name.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 12:03 pm to Mark Makr Makek
Define “back”. Everyone acts like Tennessee of the 1990s is the norm and the standard for Tennessee football to get back to, but that’s not really the case.
Sure last year ended a streak of 14 consecutive seasons with zero Top 20 finishes, but did you know that from 1975-1988, Tennessee football had another 14-season stretch with just two Top 25 finishes?
The period from 1989-2007 was really more the outlier period for Tennessee since integration.
Since 1975, Tennessee ranks #19 nationally in weeks ranked in the AP Top 25…. That’s behind programs like Texas A&M and even Washington.
•From 1975-1988, Tennessee ranked 38th nationally in weeks ranked in the AP poll (14 seasons)
•From 1989-2007, Tennessee ranked 4th nationally in weeks ranked in the AP poll (19 seasons)
•From 2008-2022, Tennessee ranked ranked 49th nationally in weeks ranked in the AP poll (15 seasons)
So what’s the norm? The 19 great years mainly during the Fulmer era or the 29 seasons that surrounded that era?
My take is that Heupel is a good coach who will have some success there. I don’t expect Tennessee to be competing for titles most seasons like they did in the mid to late 90s…. That’s just not the norm up in Knoxville.
Sure last year ended a streak of 14 consecutive seasons with zero Top 20 finishes, but did you know that from 1975-1988, Tennessee football had another 14-season stretch with just two Top 25 finishes?
The period from 1989-2007 was really more the outlier period for Tennessee since integration.
Since 1975, Tennessee ranks #19 nationally in weeks ranked in the AP Top 25…. That’s behind programs like Texas A&M and even Washington.
•From 1975-1988, Tennessee ranked 38th nationally in weeks ranked in the AP poll (14 seasons)
•From 1989-2007, Tennessee ranked 4th nationally in weeks ranked in the AP poll (19 seasons)
•From 2008-2022, Tennessee ranked ranked 49th nationally in weeks ranked in the AP poll (15 seasons)
So what’s the norm? The 19 great years mainly during the Fulmer era or the 29 seasons that surrounded that era?
My take is that Heupel is a good coach who will have some success there. I don’t expect Tennessee to be competing for titles most seasons like they did in the mid to late 90s…. That’s just not the norm up in Knoxville.
This post was edited on 8/18/23 at 12:05 pm
Posted on 8/18/23 at 12:05 pm to Mark Makr Makek
No, back is at minimum, winning your division.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 12:06 pm to Mark Makr Makek
Back to being a consistent bowl team? Yes.
Back to being a consistent top 10 team? No.
Back to being a consistent top 10 team? No.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:04 pm to Dawgfanman
quote:
No. They have not won the SEC in a quarter century..
Hahaha November can't come soon enough.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:18 pm to Mark Makr Makek
Yes Tennessee is back....back behind the Gamecocks. 63-38 back.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:21 pm to SOSFAN
quote:
Yes Tennessee is back....back behind the Gamecocks. 63-38 back.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:28 pm to Mark Makr Makek
It remains to be seen whether last year was a fluke, but for the first time in a while, it feels like the darkness is over. I think this year may be a step back but then we will be improved next year and going forward.
This post was edited on 8/18/23 at 1:29 pm
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:44 pm to Mark Makr Makek
If CJH and staff can recruit quality defensive players to complement the offensive side, then we could be contenders. All I have heard is how the defense has improved since last season. Guess we will see.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:53 pm to Mark Makr Makek
I actually think Mullen is a very good comparison for Heupel (at least for now). Most years he’s gonna field at least a good to great offense and have his team somewhat competitive. The biggest question mark will be if he can recruit at a consistently high level (especially defensively and compared to the rest of the SEC) and if he puts in the effort to build a strong culture rather than relying on his offensive “genius” to get by.
Mullen failed in those respects.
Mullen failed in those respects.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 1:54 pm to Mark Makr Makek
Lol frick no they arent
Posted on 8/18/23 at 2:08 pm to Mark Makr Makek
No, the team sucks almost as much as their fans.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 2:24 pm to SOSFAN
quote:
Yes Tennessee is back....back behind the Gamecocks. 63-38 back.
I can't wait for this game. Really.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 2:25 pm to xenythx
I love that UTJr's last great team played in the Citrus Bowl.
Posted on 8/18/23 at 2:27 pm to Mark Makr Makek
quote:
Or is this like how Florida was "Back" for a few years then the wheels fell off
Define "back" for a few years and when was this for the gators?
Posted on 8/18/23 at 2:29 pm to SouthernInsanity
Mullen's tenure until that damn shoe was thrown. 
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