Can our fans recreate this atmosphere again?

[Inspector Vol]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCWgs332un8&list=PL15D1ED63A114F9E8&index=25&feature=plpp_video   

[VinnieVOL]

Not when your only SEC win is over Vandy in OT.   

Win ballgames.

[Volcreed]

I will never forgot I was thinking so much about the next overtime once UF miss the kick I was almost shocked the game was over. Al Wilson's play that night is still my #1 greatest game by a player in Neyland.

[Black Diamond Vol]

A better D line would go a long way toward that end.  How many times last year did we keep it close for a quarter or a half, the house was rocking, and then the other team would start running.  And running.  And running.  And we couldn't do a thing to stop them.  Before long, the life was sucked right out of the stadium.  

The longer we can stay in the game, the louder Neyland will get.  And to do that, we need some stops.

[BanditVol]

A better D line would go a long way toward that end.  How many times last year did we keep it close for a quarter or a half, the house was rocking, and then the other team would start running.  And running.  And running.  And we couldn't do a thing to stop them.  Before long, the life was sucked right out of the stadium.  

The longer we can stay in the game, the louder Neyland will get.  And to do that, we need some stops.

Maybe.  I saw far too many situations last year that, no matter how bad we were, it seemed as if the coaching staff had already conceded the game.  Going for it in a tight game in Tuscaloosa from your own 40 early in the second half, and then conceding a TD on the very next play when that didn't work, then repeating that folly PLAY FOR PLAY vs. Arkansas a month later.   

And more than that, but I don't care to relive all of them. 

I suppose Dooley could get away with dumass shizzle like that last year, but he'd better be mentally tough this year and try to win the game for real and not call desperation plays for (IMO) appearence sake.

We have to win this year.  Period.

[Clockwork Orange]

That kind of atmosphere can be restored in a hurry. All we have to do is win, and it starts in Atlanta. Win that game and look pretty good and I think you see a pretty good crowd for Florida. If we're in that game with a good chance of winning in the second half-- which we should be-- then I think you see a 4th quarter Neyland atmosphere that is pretty damned strong.

Winning 10 games this year would go a looong way. UT fans haven't forgotten what it was like to get pumped and excited and loud at Neyland stadium. It hasn't been very many years ago. The only thing that gives me pause is that even the biggest programs with the biggest fanbases are having trouble drawing the crowds as consistently as they used to. Affordable 60 inch HD flat panels are tough to compete with.

[Black Diamond Vol]

I know one thing- when this thing finally does get turned around, Neyland is going to be one of the most hostile, obnoxious places there is for visiting fans.  It's easy to say "act like you've been there", but a large and growing portion of our fanbase hasn't been there- including ALL the students.  Think about it- the last time we were in the national conversation was 2001.  Most UT students were 7 or 8 at the time.  And even among older fans, there is so much pent up frustration there.  We've been bickering with each other (no other fanbase eats their own quite like ours) for a decade plus.  That's frustration that many will be more than happy to finally take out on our opponents again. 

Remember how horrible UF fans were when Spurrier turned them around?  For better or worse, I think that's how our fanbase will be once we get rolling again.

[BigOrange Maniac]

Not only can that atmosphere be recreated, I think it WILL be... In fact, I think those scenes from the '90s, glorious as they were, will pale in comparison once this thing is back on track, much for the same reasons BDV mentioned. The UT fan base took a lot for granted in the '90s. Now there is a ton of pent up frustration. I go back to the '06 Cal game and how incredible the atmosphere was. Or how about UCLA in '09? UT played from behind in the second half and the crowd got very loud at times...it was like 100,000 or so caged animals screaming in unison with a desparate, hungry frenzy. Neither was a conference game and the UCLA game wasn't even important. It was just pure hunger from the fans for something good. When the day comes that this fan base feels confident UT can step on the field with Alabama and hold their own, it's gonna be a beautiful scene to be a part of.

[VinnieVOL]

Not only can that atmosphere be recreated, I think it WILL be... In fact, I think those scenes from the '90s, glorious as they were, will pale in comparison once this thing is back on track, much for the same reasons BDV mentioned. The UT fan base took a lot for granted in the '90s. Now there is a ton of pent up frustration. I go back to the '06 Cal game and how incredible the atmosphere was. Or how about UCLA in '09? UT played from behind in the second half and the crowd got very loud at times...it was like 100,000 or so caged animals screaming in unison with a desparate, hungry frenzy. Neither was a conference game and the UCLA game wasn't even important. It was just pure hunger from the fans for something good. When the day comes that this fan base feels confident UT can step on the field with Alabama and hold their own, it's gonna be a beautiful scene to be a part of.

'06 Cal was a special, special time.  One of my fondest memories in Neyland, to be honest.  I'm sure it has a lot to do with what you mention, the pent up frustration from '05.  Well, now we're going on about half a decade of pent up frustration... so yes, when we get it going it's going to be wild.