What's an optimist to do? Tennessee Volunteers 12, Auburn Tigers 14

by Joel on Sep 27, 2008 9:29 PM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football Comment 19 comments

I've been blogging about the Tennessee Volunteers since August, 2005. I've written my way through The Season of Which We Do Not Speak, Cutcliffe's Renewal, and 2007, the season during which we nearly drove off the cliff multiple times but somehow fishtailed, spun, and wobbled our way to Atlanta. (I would have capitalized all of that, but it would have been way too much work.) Anyway, I devote an average of 20-25 hours per week blogging about the Vols. Adding those hours to a demanding 50-hour per week day job, family, and church makes me a busy man. Why do I do it?

For the buckets o' cash, of course. I'm making $75k per month from my INTERNET MARKETING WEB 2.0 EBAY WORK FROM HOME WITH ONLY A COMPUTER BUSINESS!!!

Right.

I blog about the Vols because it's fun. A lot of fun. And if I can buy myself an ice cold Coke at the end of the day with my "earnings," well that's just gravy. Or soda. Whatever.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah. The whole blogging thing is terrific fun. Or I should say terrific fun most of the time. There are times when it feels more like work than escape, and frankly, if it stays that way for too long, the can of Coke at the end of the day just doesn't get the job done.

So we all need to find our ways to cope, and for me that means staying positive. Yeah, seriously. I need to in order to maintain the motivation to post throughout the rest of the season. I fear that my enthusiasm for waking up at 5:30 in the morning to write will wane if I allow pessimism to rule, so I will do my best to squash it into the treads of my sneakers. I will continue to examine the team as objectively as I can, hopefully doing another Upon Further Review later this week, grading the players, and otherwise acknowledging our mistakes and inabilities, but when criticizing, I will try to do so respectfully. That is important to me because I know for a fact that some recruits, players, coaches, and the families of players and coaches read this site. I say that not to impress anyone but to impress upon you all that the words I publish on this site are chosen as carefully as the ones I would choose if I were speaking to instead of about these guys. I will at times lapse into negativity, but I'm always uncomfortable there, and I simply cannot maintain it long term, especially knowing who is likely lurking. So I will stay positive and attempt to cope with the negative through humor.

Please don't misinterpret this. I am not criticizing anyone for being negative. We got reasons, you know? Man, do we have reasons. Nor am I saying I don't want anyone to post dissenting or critical opinions here. I want RTT to be a place of diverse opinions. I do ask that all opinions be expressed respectfully, but I don't want my personal goal of remaining positive to have any chilling effect on anyone's willingness to post a contrary view.

All right, then. So what is an eternal optimist to do with this season so far? What do we do with a terribly disappointing opening game that shattered a summer's worth of anticipation? What do we do with a disturbing trend of giving free points to the other team in the danger zone or on special teams and blowing almost certain points in the opportunity zone? What do we do?

For me, I don't want to clamor for a coaching or quarterback change. Those things will happen or not depending on more important factors than whether I put my opinions in print. Do I find it frustrating that those in charge don't fix things that are obviously wrong more quickly? Yeah, but I'm just going to wait because I don't like what the alternative does to me.

Instead, I will simply change my focus a bit for the remainder of the season. It used to be that we could watch the horse race all season with each of our games pivotal on our road to an opportunity for a championship of some kind. Not true anymore, but that doesn't mean that all is lost. For the rest of the season, I will root for the team without expecting too much out of them. I will view games like the simple weekend diversions they are, something to simply watch and enjoy rather than live or die with. A game for the game's sake, rather than a game that we need to win in order to consider an entire season a success or a failure. An opportunity to catch a sporting event and hang out with friends and family.

Sort of like regular season baseball.

. . . .

Oh, wow. That really puts it into perspective, doesn't it? Sheesh. Now I'm depressed.

Um, Go Vols!

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Hey, welcome to my world. Except for the can of Coke, that is.

I enjoy sports to enjoy sports. Even if they were 0-4 right now, I’d enjoy cheering for UT. It’s a harsh reality that a sports program doesn’t notice when a fan passes away, or when a personal tragedy hits a fan. (True for all sports programs. All.) So we have to remember that it’s a one-sided relationship. We don’t owe them ulcers. Enjoy the competition. Enjoy the struggle. But don’t invest your health and well-being into it. Even during 1998, nobody should have invested that much. It’s just not realistic.

And I’ll be here tomorrow. Cheering for the Vols and enjoying the privilege of living in East Tennessee. Maybe someday I’ll even make the hike Rocky Top, have a can of Coke (bought by my own money, even!), and love life.

…

Hmmm… Something was missing in that…

…

Oh, yeah.

Woo!!!

by Hooper on Sep 27, 2008 9:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I really like this phrase

We don’t owe them ulcers.

I went to the Auburn game (sorry I couldn’t join in the commenting fun, but cell phone Internet is terribly slow in The Plains). And I had fun even though we looked truly putrid on offense.

There are worse ways to spend a Saturday than watching a college football game outside on a warm Southern day, regardless of what happens. As a Braves fan, I’ve had to learn to enjoy baseball for that aspect of it this year.

"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook

by rustytanton on Sep 27, 2008 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I appreciate the candor

I have to agree with you here in the fact, that at this point, the games have to be viewed as a “diversion” rather than each being a pivotal link in the chain to a championship of some kind. I am also of the opinion that the TN football program is bigger than any coach or single player on the team. There is nothing wrong with being critical of either players or coaches as the program goes on. I think the view you posted here is the best perspective we can all take now, and I really enjoy the blog!
I have been a die-hard supporter of UT since I attended there in the late 90’s, and I actually, and accidentally, wound up on the field after our victory over FL in 98. HOWEVER this season turns out I will STILL be cheering for the Vols.
Change is inevitable in everything, and it is just for the fans to voice their opinions and wait and see what chages the coaching staff and the university deem necessary. I will do my part, as a fan, however to not be overly critical of anyone in the hope that whatever is decided my personal views do not hurt the morale of the young men who have dedicated themselves to play for our program or discourage others from doing the same.

by Dunce1 on Sep 27, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, welcome!

Glad you like the blog. Feel free to contribute and make it better all you want.

I don’t criticize anybody for their feelings about the program. And like you, I hope we do nothing to discourage the young men who are somehow squeezing in a college career on top of all this. I don’t know what that’s like, so I can’t really criticize them. So we’ll see. We’re in some uncharted waters on this one, and that alone will be quite the learning experience.

by Hooper on Sep 27, 2008 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great Post!

I too am struggling with finding my voice for the rest of the season. I said my piece this week over at the Gate. That is the last “negative” thing I am going to try to write this year. I like your decision to stay positive and I really think in the long run it is what a real fan does.

Today — for a variety of reasons — I didn’t even get a chance to watch the game. I know we lost, I know that mistakes killed us. You know what? Despite the loss and all we’ve seen so far, in my heart I still missed not having a chance to watch. That just proves that there are reasons we follow the game that are not always tied to winning.

Sometimes we do it because we simply love to do it…
Good perspective.

============
lawvol: Gate 21 - Life, the Universe, & the Bounce of the Ball

by lawvol98 on Sep 27, 2008 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I just enjoy watching the games.

I noticed you weren’t around in the game threads, so I’m glad to see you’re still kicking. Hope your “day off” was a good one, though. :-D

by Hooper on Sep 27, 2008 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

I emailed the Jr. Papa a little while ago apologizing for being a no-show. It wasn’t a planned absence…
I always enjoy watching along with the thread.
There’s always next week…

============
lawvol: Gate 21 - Life, the Universe, & the Bounce of the Ball

by lawvol98 on Sep 27, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I've got a friend who likes to say...

“High emotion, low expectation.” Might be the best way to approach the rest of the season.

Of course, at this point it might be “low emotion, low expectation.” Hmmm…

by CornFromAJar on Sep 27, 2008 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

I recently moved to IL to attend a D2 school for post-grad degree, so I still have the pleasure of claiming TN and the SEC up here in Big Ten country! They all love the orange, and I stand out from all the MO and IL grads! TN also has a knack for winning a couple we are expected to lose, so maybe there is hope we can see a visor or clipboard thrown, Richt despoiled between the hedges, or Saban mess up his usually impeccable hairdo. At times like these we need to focus on the little victories and realize that everyone, coaches and players, are just contributing a page or chapter to what TN is as a program. I WILL continue to hope in spite of what has happened so far. KEEP up the GREAT work!

by Dunce1 on Sep 27, 2008 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yup.

And this week, at least we have pouting partners with UGA and Florida. Did you ever expect to see Vanderbilt with sole possession of first place in the East?

by Hooper on Sep 27, 2008 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

with the blog, of course.

by Dunce1 on Sep 27, 2008 10:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Feel the same way

I have been a VOLs fan since the sixties. I have recently decided the same thing. I will root for them, but not take the game as seriously as I used to. I’ve amazed myself in that I’ve been able to do this the past couple of weeks without wavering. Hopefully, Fulmer will find some players on offense this week in practice who want to play to win. I’m looking forward to vast improvement next Saturday.

by kiddo on Sep 27, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Still Enjoyed the Game

I agree with whoever previously said that there are worse ways to spend a Saturday, win or lose. I got to go on a short road trip with my cousin, see some new areas, laugh at some weird stuff you can only find in Alabama, and watch my team give their all for UT today. Sure, the Vols lost and I hate that, but an objective observer would have to appreciate the defensive (offensive?) struggle today.

It’s not fun being negative. I know that the coaches and the players want to win much more than I want them to win. I hope that whatever changes need to be made will be made appropriately and in due time. I hope that Crompton can work out whatever issues are keeping him from being a great quarterback, because he plays with more heart and guts than I’ve seen out of a UT QB in some time (including Ainge, who I think pretty highly of).

There’s a winner and a loser to every game. I can only wonder what everyone’s opinion of UT would be had they just won the UCLA game, and still lost to Florida and Auburn. Probably not much different. Most of those fans who are overly critical expect no less than a championship each year. I’m just grateful that seasons like this are anomalies and
not the norm.

Go Vols!

by rblakeh on Sep 28, 2008 2:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nicely Said

Thanks for a well balanced blog and providing excellent perspective. Have you ever thought about being a counselor? Sounds like you have your head screwed on correctly!!

Go Vols – - set the bowl eligible goal.

by Heerb on Sep 28, 2008 9:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sinister optomism

hey, we should all feel three years younger. it’s like we’ve entered a time warp back to…kidding. just reaching for a laugh;-)

whoshotwhointhewhatnow?

by thetennesseethumper on Sep 28, 2008 10:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

heh

hey, you got a chuckle out of me, at least

by Hooper on Sep 28, 2008 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Simply Put

I cannot see a situation arise will I will be ashamed to call myself a Tennessee Vol.

I didn’t go to UT-K. I probably won’t. Right now my college options are finishing out the 2-year suspension from real U at a community college then App State or NC State for Comp Sci.

I have never lived in Tennessee. I live on Tobacco Road.

My parents went to Tennessee, met there, married, then moved to North Carolina.

With that said, I love Tennessee. I don’t know why. I have been to one, one football game at Neyland Stadium, the Fresno State game a while ago. I went to the 98 SC game in Columbia. I saw the Lady Vols lose in the Greensboro Colliseum, and I’ve seen them win there.

But I am not ashamed about Tennessee, and my basketball-loving friends know it. I will still wear my tennessee shirts. I will still get pumped up for any game this year. I will still put small amounts of money on Tennessee beating anybody, just for the sake of supporting my team. I will still pick Tennessee to win the National Championship next year, and I will still believe that they have an honest chance to do it. Hell, Florida and Georgia both lost this year, who’s to say Tennessee won’t find themselves back in Atlanta? Still, like Joel said .. the expectations have been lowered.

And I’m not clamoring for anyone’s head. Save for one strange defensive scheme in one half of the UCLA game by the Chief, I think our coaches have played fine. Save for a few mental relapses in the red zone, the Florida game looks all different. I’m not saying we win, Florida played wonderfully, but that game was more about missed opportunities than bad play on both sides of the ball. Against Auburn if it weren’t for a bad handoff, I think we win. Our defense played lights-out.

Do I think things need to be changed? Yeah, that’s my opinion. But I don’t get paid to give my opinion, and the guys who do are damned good at it. Fulmer has a national championship ring. So does Chavis. I saw what Clawson could do at Richmond against my Mountees in Boone, though Mr. AE pulled that one out.

Okay, sorry for the rant. The point being that no matter what the situation, no matter what the record, no matter how much hair I pull out by the end of the day, IT’S GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL!!!

by bobo_the_vol on Sep 28, 2008 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs