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Volunteer Nation Is In Denial
By MoonDog | October 7, 2008
Yesterday amid the post game chatter following Tennessee’s escape against Northern Illinois, it became obvious I was the only person among the Vol nation with a grasp on reality.
Statements like “we need to beat Georgia to win the SEC East” made me realize that I’ve either been alive too long or I know too much about this game of football I love so much.
Truth be told, I do know too much. I’ve played the game and did so on a team with one of the greatest coaching staffs ever assembled. I know this game because I’ve studied it, watching it like a coach would watch it.
I understand the nuances, the little things the average fan doesn’t even begin to recognize. In some respects it’s a curse because I can’t watch a game and enjoy it. I’m too busy identifying whether the defense is in a two-deep zone or man-to-man.
In short, I’m not a homer.
I love the Volunteers with a passion that would equal their strongest supporter, but I refuse to be blinded to the realities. I want the Vols to return to glory just as much as any Tennessee fan and I certainly hope they do.
While nothing would please me more than seeing head coach Phil Fulmer get this season and the Vols program turned around, it’s not going to happen.
I understand passion. I admire a fan base that’s as avid as Tennessee’s and you’d be hard pressed to find fans that are more passionate about their football program.
But passion doesn’t equal reality. Support for the program can’t replace honesty, and honesty compels me to report that no matter what amount of hope the Vol nation may have, it’s not going to do any good.
I’m trying to prepare Volunteer fans for the worst, and believe me, the worst is yet to come.
If you think the current 2-3 record is bad, let’s talk again on November 29 when Tennessee completes their season.
All of the talk, the analysis, the suggestions and even praying aren’t going to solve the Vols problems. You don’t have to like what I write, but you better get your heads wrapped around the facts.
The facts are Tennessee is going to experience it’s worst season in over 20 years.
Fulmer is done. So is Clawson. They’re overmatched every week. The competition is better coached and better prepared than Tennessee, and I don’t have to prove it because the Vols’ level of play proves it for me.
Don’t let me stop you from writing what’s best to resolve the Vols woes, but any amount of dreaming or hand-wringing isn’t going to make things any better.
If you’d like to save yourselves a lot of wasted time and move from the shadows into the shining light of reality, just accept what the MoonDog is telling you.
Believe me, at the end of the day you’ll feel better knowing you accepted the truth instead of putting your hopes into false promises of “working like heck” to solve what ails the Volunteer football program.
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Tags: Dave Clawson, vol fans, vol nation, college football, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee Vols Football, NCAA Football, MoonDog, Volunteers, phil fulmer, Denial, Tennessee, Vols
Topics: NCAA Football, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee Vols Football |
3 Responses to “Volunteer Nation Is In Denial”
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October 7th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Brother, I feel your pain. I get to live among delusional Hawkeye fans who annually think they are finally getting back to the Rose Bowl. Last year some of the more delusional ones were even talking about the Hawks finally getting to a National Championship. The only proper answer to stuff like that is derisive laughter. I have *seen* a championship-caliber team, and Iowa hasn’t fielded one in my lifetime.
I have in the past seen a whole stadium get the light-bulb flash of reality; in my case it was when I went to Ames a few years ago to see Iowa State and its optimistic fans face the 2003 Sooners. All was well for the Cyclone faithful for the first 20 minutes or so of the game until Tommie Harris chased down and *leveled* a wide receiver 15 yards downfield, causing a fumble; the Sooners then scored on the very next play. All of the air went out of the stadium immediately, as reality had set in with brute force.
Most of the delusional will come back to their senses after Tennessee gets smacked around by better teams a few more times. The rest of them are best just laughed at.
October 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
The smacking around starts Saturday in Athens. A week off to prepare and coming off an embarrassing loss no less.
The Bulldogs will win by three TD’s or more.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
The only guy Fulmer ever out-coached was Lloyd Carr.