Patience, Grasshoppers.  We're not there yet.  Still a good ways to go. 

Certainly steps forward are being taken, but lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet. 

Agreed....2016 is the year I expect us to comptete for the east.

There's a disturbance in the force. I agree with Pirate, Herb, and Creek all at the same time.    Pardon me while I re-evaluate my position on these matters. 

Me too

It seems everyone has suddenly forgotten just how bare the cupboard was when Dooley left, even though it was screamed from the mountaintops as late as last season.  I recall many (most?) here saying the talent level at Tennessee was the worst in the history of the program when Jones was hired.  Now, somehow the Vols are supposed to be winning with same lack of talent plus one full year of Jones' recruits.  I still say the current disappointment is largely the result of raised expectations brought about by the clear improvement in play despite the same lack of talent.  I didn't see the Oklahoma or Georgia games, but clearly many fans agree the Vols "were 4-5 swing plays from taking Oklahoma to the final whistle in their house in a primetime game" and "1-2 plays from beating UGA in their house."  Were they "good enough to have beaten Florida"?  After watching the game, I think so.  But that's not because of having better talent or even equal talent.  I think it is only because this coaching staff has made the team better than the players' collective talent level.  And, that has raised expectations (of the coaches, players, and fans).  Double edged sword.  I'll stick with my pre-season expectation of 5-7, with 6-6 or better being a pleasant surprise, and 4-8 or worse being a disappointment.

HERE HERE!!!   You are dead on bro!

I said last week that if Butch Jones is a championship-caliber coach, he wins this game.  That's still how I feel.  That's not to say I don't think he can stay here for many years and accomplish great things.  He might even win an SECC a time or two.  But he's not going to go on a Saban-like run.  Basically, he's Johnny Majors, IMO.  He'll take us to the brink of greatness, but never quite get us over the top.  I hope he proves me wrong (in a good way).

As long as Butch continues to recruit like this, and as long as the team continues to show improvement on the field, his job is safe.  Even if the team nosedives and finishes this season with 7-8 losses, I still think he gets next year and the year after before we even think about making a change.  We've all been pointing to 2016 as the year we return to the national conversation, so I think he deserves that long to prove himself.

Wonder what sabans record was his first two years at bammar?

I agree completely Creek...I think this staff deserves praise for coaching a young inexperienced team to play over their heads. The difference between this staff and the past is like night and day. They play hard, are improving, recruiting is fantastic, former players are all-in...everything about this staff is positive. Can the OC prevent young inexperienced olinemen from missing blocks? Can they make catches? Can they call every play to provide max protection for the qb? No no no. They are doing awesome and I have hope for the first time in a decade.  The fans wanted to beat uf so bad, that they bought into the idea that we should beat them.I didn't...but we made it a game...didn't quit. My buddies were bitching about too many first down runs, then when we get in the red zone and worley throws the into...they bitched cause we didn't run it. Can't win. I am happy with our staff and program...good times are ahead!

I disagree that we should win this game.  We have played well so far with a VERY young team but FL is older, mature, and probably more talented than we are.  We have played over our heads so far and I dont care about vegas odds(they have nothing to do with who will win, they are designed to keep the betting equal on both sides).  I think we played well enough to be respectable against OK and UGA but we lost both those, I dont expect we will beat a better FL team.  And if we lose to FL, so what?  We are one of the youngest teams in the country, Butch has overachieved and outperformed most expectations both with recruiting and with coaching this young team to play above their heads.  Just because we had two moral victories against good teams does not mean we should expect to beat a team that isnt as good as UGA or OK.  FL is still the better team.  I usually have a huge jug of orange Koolade and think we will beat everyone but realistically, I am finally happy with our coaching staff and think we are getting there....Butch and the rewards that I think are coming has given me patience.   I want to beat UF but doubt we will...and will not be upset if we lose.  Our time is coming, it just hasnt arrived yet. 

[One critical piece of advice is to MAKE SURE you get one that has both forward and reverse drive on the tines.]

I bought a Husqvarna rear tine...it is not well made like most husky products are. Troy built is best if you can afford it.  There may be some other brands that are good but I am unfamiliar with them. One critical piece of advice is to MAKE SURE you get one that has both forward and reverse drive on the tines.  Reverse drive (tines spin backwards) is critical for breaking ground....forward drive is only for cultivating well tilled and soft soil.  Some cheaper models only come with forward drive tines and they will run away from you in hard soil...seriously, you cant control or hold it back when in forward in hard soil.    I have had the husky for 5 years, it works, but alot of small stuff has broken.  I used to have one made by White Equipment company that was a beast...well made but it finally died after 15 years of hard use...but I dont think White makes equipment any more...not sure. 

Spare the rod and spoil the child, I asways say.  I got a switch used on me plenty growing up, and i deserved it and strived not to make the same mistake twice.  I dont switch my kids but would if they needed it.   I turned out fine.  I got no problem with spanking, the problem I have with the Peterson incident is I think the child was too young to have that strong a spanking or switching.  I was a holy terror until the switch came out!  My granny used a yard stick, it didnt hurt at all, and didnt stop me from misbehaving, but the privit switch worked. 

They have had 4 decommitments this week, and have 7 commits. They're #45 right now on rivals, and several kids who were thought to be locks to them are looking elsewhere. This could be the worst class they have had in a long time.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2015/all/all

Sweet....hope we can take advantage of it. I am glad they didnt make a coaching change.  Maybe they will go after Kiffiin next year....or Dooley!!!   

Condolences....lost my dad a few years back....thoughts and prayers.

I signed it and am not afraid to admit it. Bruce is a better coach than Cuonzo and even though I knew it was irrational to think he would coach at UT again, he was in Knoxville, visible, and available, and I wanted to take whatever avenue I could to express my wish that he be our coach again.

After the petition, they really turned it around and I'm thrilled. That doesn't make any of my previous displeasure invalid, and like others I suspect next year will not be a very good year for Tennessee basketball. Hopefully he continues to prove me wrong.

Yep...gotta agree. A team with this much talent should not have played so poorly for most if the season, barely got in to the tournament in a play-in game...and we have been the beneficiary of mercer beating duke. Happy we are finally winning but i aint sold on zoe.

There are other great hires. How did we miss the dude at Virginia? Could he be hired for the right price? I haven't given up this year. I see potential next year. Call me crazy

You're crazy.

I think Zoe sucks.  He has no personaltiy to be likeable. He doesnt seem to be worth a crap as an in-game coach. Had no history of being a good coach before he got here and I see no evidence that he is one now.  I dont expect us to do much in the NCSST either.  I am pissed off that we are stuck with medocrity yet again.  I just dont understand why we must continue to suffer as a fanbase.  Who can I blame?  Jimmy Cheek!  He is a common thread in most of this.....and Hammy hired Zoe and the Doolster.  My only hope is that Hart is better at hiring than Hammy was....I am tired of being irrelevant. All signs point to Butch turning things around but we are still a long way from being relevant again in football.  Ho hum....I hope Pearl does well at Auburn...hope he wins a MNC.  I hope they beat our brains out every time we play them in the next few years.   Crap....not happy today....

And he did it with a rare Von Flue choke as the Russian tried for a guillotine from the bottom!  Impressive.

You do that as courtesy to someone. When they are dead, you do it honor of someone. Holler, are you dead?     


G

Not quite....but after my annual physical yesterday and my first ever prostate exam.....well, you older guys know what i mean

Um, yea....not so much. I contend, not even close. 

Ahem.....I find it hard to believe that anyone hates bammar more than Pirate and I

Buddy of mine who is a long time outdoors editor of a major newspaper and one of the most dedicated hunters around disagrees with you.  He says that they put some of the best products available on the market long before anybody ever heard of them because of TV.  

Making a name is one thing.  Making money is another.  You don't make the kind of money they were able to make before they were ever thought of being a TV reality show by making inferior products.  

I am also the state waterfowl biologist and have been duck hunting for 40  years and i can say without a doubt that their calls suck. I know a gob of duck hunters and not one blows their calls. Never has one of their calls been used in competition and even placed. They put their names on alot of stuff that they dont make. The only people i know who use their calls are guys who are new to the sport or cant call worth crap. I aint an expert on many things....but i live eat and breathe duck hunting.

Problem is....they dont have a quality product.  Their duck calls suck and their hunting videos are even worse. Those are what they made their name on.

What? You've never heard someone say, "Here, hold my merlot! Y'all watch this!!"?

Yeah, me neither.

Har har har!!!

Happy to see it.

We were in Kroger in Augusta before heading home yesterday and went down the wine aisle.  I bought a couple of cases to bring home, and saved about a third over what I pay for it in "package" stores in Knoxville.  I hope that trend carries over to us when wine is available in our grocery stores. 

Put the brakes on any savings though....the bill that was passed by the house requires the grocery stores to have a 20% markup on wine in order to keep the big box retailers from undercutting the package stores!!!!   They also wont let the grocers sell on sunday since the package stores cant. There were amendments offered to remover these restrictions but they failed.  So, we may be able to buy in grocery and convenient stores but the savings will not be allowed. I think it sucks, should be about free market and what is best for the consumers.  JMO.

Har har har!!!!  Thats good....real good.   

Just checking back in on the poll...Here on Nashvegas radio, I hear about 95% in favor of bring Pearl back.  I think we should fire Jimmy Cheek....he seems to be a bumbling itiot...JMO. 

 I want rustlers,cut throats, murderers,bounty hunters,desperados,mugs, pugs,thugs,nitwits,halfwits,dimwits,vipers, snipers,con men,Indian agents,Mexican bandits,muggers,buggerers,bushwhackers, hornswogglers,horse thieves,bull dykes,train robbers,bank robbers,ass-kickers,shizzle-kickers and Methodists.

A wed wose. How womantic.

“What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?” –