Why is there such a backlash against preseason hype over Tennessee?
Tennessee fans hate it when their team is labeled the “frontrunner” heading into a season. The fans of every other SEC team love it.
That’s because whenever Tennessee has received hype before the season in past years, Volunteers’ fans have ended up being disappointed.
In 2005, Tennessee started the season ranked third in the AP Poll, but finished 5-6 — failing to become bowl eligible for the first time during Phillip Fulmer’s tenure as the Vols’ head coach.
In 2012 — Derek Dooley’s third and final year as Tennessee coach — the Vols were expected to compete for an SEC East title. They earned their first top 25 ranking under Dooley after a 2-0 start before falling to 5-7 on the season and 1-7 against SEC opponents.
And in 2015 — even though many around the program were adamant about 2016 being the year that Tennessee was supposed to complete its turnaround — the Vols were labeled a “sleeper” team in the SEC. But after a heartbreaking 2-3 start, it seemed like it was going to be another massive disappointment for one of the most cynical fan bases in the nation.
However, when the national spotlight faded away from Knoxville, the Vols quietly won six of their final seven regular-season games. Then they crushed Northwestern 45-6 in the Outback Bowl. And out of nowhere, Tennessee became the SEC East’s best team — even though Florida won the division — and is now expected to be the favorite in the East in 2016. Tennessee will have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball and the East will be filled with suspect teams.
Indeed, it’s finally 2016 — also unofficially known as “The Year” in Knoxville. Tennessee coach Butch Jones won’t have any legitimate excuses if his team underpreforms. The Vols finally has depth after accumulating two top-five recruiting classes, and many of their starters will be experienced juniors and seniors.
Joshua Dobbs has the potential to be the SEC’s best dual-threat quarterback. Jalen Hurd will return at running back after finishing his sophomore campaign with 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Vols defense will return nearly all of its front seven, including DE Derek Barnett, who has 20 sacks and 33 tackles for loss in two seasons. Plus, OLB Jalen Reeves-Maybin and CB Cameron Sutton have decided to stay for their senior seasons. Not to mention that Tennessee hired Bob Shoop as its new defensive coordinator last week.
So yes, there are plenty of reasons to hype up Tennessee’s 2016 team. But Tennessee fans are wondering whether their team will live up to the hype.
Tenn can be great this year. Definitely my pick for the East..although Luke Del Rio at Florida may challenge them. I don’t think they will make the playoffs though. But I think a season similar to what Olé Miss had last year is very likely. And I think the Bob Shoop hire is very overrated. I will eat my crow at the end of the 2016 season if proven otherwise but I’m not impressed with Penn state beating up on lower tier Big 10 teams. Would be awesome go see an Olé Miss Tennessee matchup in Atlanta this year!
Shoot hire was an Excellent hire airrebel. Not basing that on what he did at Penn st but what he did at vandy.. top 15 defense both years he was there
Shoop ..excuse the spell check
Shoop’s rep is pretty well accepted everywhere analysts roam but lots of variables. He did do well in the SEC while w/ the snake Franklin @ Vandy and, while maybe not completely indicative of his potential, his PSU defenses have been in the top tier of stats.
I do think you’re probably pretty close to what I expect out of UT. I think we got the talent to match up w/ anyone other than Bama/Clemson but the coaching decisions and ability to making the killing shot in games we have the lead have to be top tier as well. I’m not sure we got that last part yet.
I get tired of writing this. The media who write about the league are part of the college football SEC experience. If you want to have free speech you can’t yell fire in a crowed theatre. If you want to be a sports journalist that landscape comes with responsibility also. Writers can’t claim one 2016 program is superior to another because not a single real snap has been taken. Crystal ball support unfairly gives recruiting advantages until it becomes i.e. Tennessee or Auburn WRONG and that causes unfair destructive back-lashes. Sport’s journalists can talk about the returning roster, they can talk about the size, weight, and speed of the signed players, they can talk about awards recruits won, or awards coaching staffs trained. They can talk about bowl games coaching staffs went to. They can talk about the records of the returning coaching staff members, they can talk about the experience on the roster, they can talk about old strategy or new coaches record for strategy. They can talk about league and national recognition of returning players….. BUT THEY CROSS THE LINE when they predict league finishing order, and records, and bowls, and award teams for players, and candidates who have zero current year statistics. Want to be a sports journalist?, then be a professional. Want to write for the super-market tabloids?, the addresses where to apply are in every copy at the check out line. If you can’t write on a level playing field put on a cheerleaders uniform and shake your booty for a living. Be a professional, make sure every program starts every season, with fair media coverage.
Wow I think thats the first time I’ve agreed with a mizzou fan, However I will say that Tennessee is no 2015 auburn for one we have a proven qb and seventeen returning starters from a 9-4 team.
This sounds good in theory, and I agree with the general sentiment behind it, however this will never happen because it’s the job of the writers to get clicks for SDS. That’s how they bring in money, and predictions for the next season are one of the easiest ways to do that. As usual, it’s all about the $$$$
looking at this as ‘theory’, instead of long proven ‘professional ethics’ is at the center of the issue. Talking in the barbershop, evaluating the game in the sports bar, learning to write in high school / college, using a piece of scratch paper out of the trash, typing on a keyboard, recording on digital devices, connecting your computer to the internet…. NONE of these things change what ethical behavior is (or established facts). Consumers who think ‘we are powerless sheep’ are sad… and wrong. Consumers of college football in Florida will be the ones who make sure there are no more wins by banned substances, and consumers of college football at Missouri will make sure there are no racist game contract defaults. There is no option here. For College football to stay high quality, the fans have to think clearly.
I don’t blame the Tennessee fans. SDS will build them up just so they can tear them down. You writers remember how you hyped Auburn before the season don’t you? Only to end up taking weekly dumps on them.
30014 you’re the smartestguyintheroom! I agree 100% everything I read on SDS that isn’t recruiting or player related I totally dismiss.
Until Tennessee and Jones proves their hype against high caliber teams, instead of bottom dwellers, I will not join the hype train again. I love Tennessee football and always root for them, but there comes a time when all the B.S. that all the coaches spew out. The DC firing really surprised me. Tennessee’s defense held its on for a long dang time constantly bailing out the offense. If you leave any defense on the field the majority of the time, even Bama’s, then those players get tired and mistakes happen. Most fans blame the Florida,Oklahoma, and Bama loss on the defense. I dont. Tennessee’s offense kept going 3 and out in the 2nd halfs of those games when the defense needed a rest. Look at what Saban did in the NC game, his defense was getting tired so his game plan changed. Tennessee’s game plan did not change in any of those games. We were out coached, bottom line.
I beg to differ on one thing Tennessee s defense did not fail them in the Alabama game neither did the offense both played very well against a better team.Remember they held Henry to a season low in rushing and as a team Tennessee outrushed Alabama.the end of that game was simply the national championship team squeaking one out there.
Defense did their job against Bama. Offense failed them. Couple of 3 and outs then Dobbs fumbling the ball deep in Bama territory didnt help at all. Tennessee offense failed when it needed to score. The o-line just cant pass protect at all, against Bama or North Texas, no matter who it was Dobbs was always in trouble. Thats my take, the defense held its on as long as it could.
They will finish 9-3.
Muschamp wont be saying it was great to disappoint these folks to anyone but furman this year
Someone is still butt hurt that Coach Boom is 4-0 against UT and 2-0 vs Coach Lyle Jones.
Ha. You simply gloss over the fact that Coach Aneurysm was at Florida during his UT win streak. But we can play that game. Your beloved Spurrier was 0-2 against Butch, and was well on his way to 0-3 when he decided to bail on that sinking cock ship. Muschamp will surely cement your usual position of historically being a doormat. Enjoy the view from the basement.
@devo182 thank you for being sensible with your response, and best of luck to you guys.
Lol you act like Coach Lyle jones has done something. He hasn’t beaten FL or Bama, he hasn’t won in Athens, he hasn’t even had a 10 win season with out Brian Kelly handing him a 10+ Win team. Keep buying the hype you simple minded fan.
And who, pray tell, will their 3rd loss? Most reasonable fans will concede that Bama is still down as an L or at best a toss up, and anyone who knows anything about college football knows that a trip to Kyle Field is always dangerous – as such, I have it down as a loss as well, especially since it’s before the Bama game – Florida showed its true colors in the last half of the season and until they find a QB they will be in the same place next season. So that leaves Georgia, now I will admit that the running attack will be interesting to contain, but you are looking at virtually the same defense that held the Heisman trophy winner and company to 2.8 ypc and Georgia will have a brand new QB so TN can load the box. So barring any key injuries, let’s take this little hype train for a ride shall we.
A&M has good receivers and good D-Ends, but Tennessee holds the edge at almost every other position group, and D-End is very close. My guess is that Tennessee will be 5-0 and the favorite heading into College Station.
I just have a bad feeling about the A&M game. Regardless of this season, we know they have loads of talent, especially a skill positions and on the dline. We all rejoiced at finally getting a break on our West opponent when both QBs left, but now they have Knight coming in. I have a sneaking suspicion that he will somehow have a breakout season.
I guess we’ll see, but at the end of the day the #1 most important thing is to the run the table vs the East. I have a ton of confidence vs UF after they have lost a lot of defensive talent + Grier. UGA imo will be underestimated by many. Their QBs will have another season of practice and their run game will again be NASTY. Defense is full of talent and their 2015 dline class was elite. I wouldn’t be surprised if they end up being a lot better than expected.
It’s been over a decade since the Vols have won against Florida, over 4 years since they won in Athens, Texas am is a wild card, VA tech is a big time game considering the hype with that one and a new coach, app state has made their name on pulling big upsets, and even lowly SC with a new coach who is undefeated against UT is a threat. UT will end up pulling 9 wins out they will win one of the three big games (bama, ga, fl) and drop one to the others.
They likely start 3-0 then have 5 straight soft games to finish the yr. The Vols will have 9 wins falling out of bed.
They basically have 3 gms to determine their yr, Bama, UGA, and UF. If they only win 1, they’re 10-2 with a shot at the East. Take 2 of 3 and the Vols go to Atlanta with a chance at the CFB playoff.
The absolute worst case is 9-3. My opinion is the Vols go 11-1 and make it to Atlanta.
I see what you are saying but the fact that UT is 1-4 vs Georgia,0-5 vs Alabama, 0-5 vs Florida the last 5 years, says that as of right now the hype surrounding Knoxville, is just that, hype. Let’s say UT wins one of the big three, they are bound to drop a game somewhere along the way, not a knock on UT, just fact. History shows that even some of the greatest teams are bound to have an upset occur during the season. Ut will more than likely stumble against at least one game vs Va Tech, App St, SC, or Ky.
Eh, the argument of how weve done the past 5 years isn’t really relevant. Those were all totally different teams playing those games. They have no standing on how next year will go at all. Last years games might but games 2 years ago or more cant give you any meaningful information. Last years games were all very close against those teams with us winning one of them. We return most of our starters who are expected to improve.
Weve improved every year under Butch so far. No reason to think its already stalled out.
Im not saying were going to win the SEC or make the playoffs. However saying its “just hype” is silly.
It is just hype until Tennessee starts getting wins against these teams, I’m not saying Tennessee is going to tank. I’m actually saying Tennessee is going to do well and yes they have improved. The argument of how UT has done the past five years does have a direct bearing on what the next season will hold, if not then every team should be projected to win their conference next season. TN should go 9-3 this season, which is great, the problem with the hype is UT fans will be disappointed with a 9-3 record.
@Bill – I’m not sure 9-3 would be “disappointing” necessarily – the details are in the pudding. Ie does 9-3 mean losses to VA Tech, Bama, and A&M? Well then that probably still means we end up in Atlanta, meaning the season was not a disappointment. IMO, we aren’t expecting to be in the national playoffs, the only expectation is to end up in Atlanta…finally. That’s it, it’s that simple. If we get there and lose to a top-5 Bama/LSU team, I don’t think anyone will say that was a disappointment. Winning the SECCG for the East (the first time that will have happened since god knows when) would be icing on the cake imo.
Butch is 2-0 against SC and UK with worse teams than he will have this year. And App St., come on man. Trolling at its saddest. Enjoy fighting it out with Vandy and UK for last in the east for the next half decade.
Considering we just hired a coach that owns Coach Lyle jones, and UT, and we are on pace to doing something we never really did much under Spurrier which is is compete in recruiting. We will be alright. Good luck buying into the hype, this time next year you will be on here saying next year is our year and brick by brick boys. Lol
It’s hard to know how USC will recruit under Muschamp imo. I only say this because Muschamp was at UF and anyone can recruit there. Also, there’s going to be a ton of negative recruiting against him, ie if he couldn’t win at UF, why should recruits think he can win at USC? Lastly, Clemson and UGA recruiting at elite levels really hurts them in that area too. But we’ll see, he’ll be given ample time imo. After Spurrier, I imagine they will have some patience in rebuilding the program.
@devo 182 it’s always hard to built a program, especially in the sec, but I like what I see from Muschamp so far. People bash him but the guy still has a winning record and FL fans may get mad but he had a dirty program to clean up in the wake of urban Meyer, and he did just that. He is already recruiting better than what Spurrier. My concern is how he will coach and if he and the AD will be patient enough to build a program. Teams are too quick to expect results that they set the program back by firing and hiring every few years. That’s why it’s important for UT fans to take off the orange colored glasses and be patient and enjoy the rise. Not all but a lot of the vocal fans are quick to expect championships one and two years after being .500 team. It usually doesn’t work that way.
I would say Auburn fans hate being hyped more than UT fans. Auburn has a way of being terrible when we should be great and great when we should be terrible. The worst part is the media hypes a team up, then when that team doesn’t meet expectations the fans get blamed for being too hyped up about the season. From your side you have no reason not to hype a team, because there will be no repercussion for you as the write.
This year we don’t care about the hype. This is the year we expect things to happen, so bring on the hype.
Very good reply above. 9-3 is not a disappointment to most, but to your brethren that still sport the 96-97championship license plates, the same group that mow their trailer lots with the UT mower signed by fulmer, the same group that buried their dad in an orange casket, is the group that are buying into this hype and that gives UT the stereotype. These morons are the ones who always ruin it for your program, they are the problem, there was actually a group calling for jones to be fired at the beginning of the year.
fans of every other SEC team love it =====> NOT TRUE
Pathetic Tennessee invented Pre Season Hype……they have been doing it for years.
I remember clearly when Peyton Manning was Hyped all Pre Season and all year for the Heisman Trophy.
I laughed my a@@# off when Charles Woodson took home the trophy.
Tennessee is a second tier SEC program……Lock That Up
You forgot your sarcasterisks, cause you can’t be serious.
lolol the only thing we are second at in the SEC is….overall wins and titles. But, hey, have fun with your 2 sec titles in 84 years.
lol dude………………………………………………..you should stick to UK BB with the rest of the BBN. UK football is sub-par at best. I don’t know why I even gave you the time to reply to your ridiculous comment because no one else clearly did. Stick to BB man….you may have a fighting chance, but with the way UK BB is playing this year……maybe not. Go put your nose in the corner.
Nah their basketball team sucks this year.