The more I see of Hendon Hooker, the more I think UTk is enjoying a rare event, not unlike Burrow's championship run. How the Hokies let him go is beyond me. With that being said, the Vols roster is thin at QB, and the league dynamic is going to beat them to hell and back next year. If AR gets any kind of defense, then UTk becomes a 24-10 Gator win-- they're facing a 14 point decline, and they'll definitely turn the ball over more. Given that it's an early game, it becomes even more of a litmus test for how Coach Napier's recruits and system can impact year two. This post brought to you by mild existential despair and looking forward to '23.
It’s a scheme that isn’t built for sustainability. Look at the run of champions and what type of foundation they were built on.
This board is really starting to bother me lately. Tennessee just demolished Kentucky. They look like the best team in the nation. Can we at least not jinx their downfall? Because they look dayum good right now and I’m envious. Yes, I’m envious of the UT Volunteers. There, I said it.
Next week's game against Georgia will be good. Just saying....if you like college football, that's going to be a show.
they are the best team in the nation. Just some sour grape fans here. They have their guy we we have no clue about ours.
Very debatable on best team but we will find out soon enough. My money would still be on Bama winning the SEC. Vols don't get to play any more big games at home.
It will be a great game for sure, but that game has Tennessee win written all over it. They are on a revenge tour, essentially. I agree with the OP in that this is a unicorn type season for them, but they seem to get better every week they play. I would rather UT win it than UGA.. this year.
Yep, just as soon as we "just lost" against them and they finish their magical season, we will do to them what we have done against LSU after their magical season. Book it! Um, maybe we can do a bit better against Tennessee. Just a suggestion.
As we saw with OU, a great offense can attract QBs cos the portal. Teams can get healthy and have depth in a hurry. If Hooker gets drafted in the first round, the highly rated backup elsewhere will want to transfer to TN to compete for the job. TN got Hooker via transfer, just as LSU got Burrows, Ohio State got Fields, OU got Mayfield, Hurt, and Kyler Murray via transfer. Lot of transfer QBs starting at USC west, USC East, LSU, FSU, …. No shame in taking a great QB via the portal
I think some of the success could be attributed to luck and stars aligning, but I also think Heupel runs a simple but effective offense as well. If you take a step back and look at the fact Hooker couldn't win the starting job at VT, or Tennessee originally, Joe Milton was QB1 last year, then it does start to resemble the year and half we had with Trask. The difference is Tennessee is actually recruiting really well, according to rankings. I don't pretend to know their recruits at all, maybe they are recruiting like Mullen and grabbing a bunch of dudes that make a class look good, but actually don't work out, idk. I dont think you can judge their program over what's happening in year two. Next year, you should start to see the guys Heupel has recruited and what sort of staying power they will have. I know if their offense is only 80% as good next year as it is this year, they still win some games but they aren't going 11-1 or 12-0. Their defense has some real issues, and right now they are talented, which Pruitt recruited that side well. I would just pump the breaks on being worried Tennessee is all of a sudden the 2nd best team in the east for the next 5 years.
I would bet on Bamas defensive improvement over Tenn. Im not sure they get past the puppies before people start crowning them.
That Booker kid is awesome. Taking a step back from rivalries and such it’s just fun to watch him play football. That game next week is going to a good one.
the system is not sailing pas after pass over the WR reach or throwing 4th down passes over the sideline
This is the second post in this thread where you have said it is their scheme and now great QB coaching as well. Sure sounds like you are inferring that we have neither. If so, why not just come out and say it? If I misconstrued yours posts, I apologize.
