Tony B hits the road today on a combined business/pleasure trip and has once again foolishly left the reins to the program in my hands. Fortunately Brian Hartman will be alongside to assure I don’t run it into a ditch or to quickly hail a tow truck if I do.
I would like to get your take on what you think reasonable expectations are for Tennessee Football going forward. I’m not referring to the 2014 season which will almost assuredly be a 5, 6 or 7 win season with neophytes on both sides of the line of scrimmage and a man’s schedule. I’m talking about once Butch Jones –or whoever- fortifies the roster to the point where Tennessee is once again where and what we are supposed to be. The question is what is that? Those who were introduced to Tennessee Football in the 90s I’m quite certain have a different set of expectations than those of us who discovered it in the 60s or 70s. I am entering my 50th year of clear memory of Vol fandom and below have compiled the numbers from my first 49 years of following all that is Big Orange Football. The numbers below just might suggest who we are and what we should expect over the course of a decade of play:
THE VOL FOOTBALL PROGRAM I HAVE KNOWN
YEARS
1965-2013
49 Seasons
COACHES (6)
Doug Dickey 1964-1969 (6 seasons)
Bill Battle 1970-1976 (7 Seasons)
John Majors 1977-1992 (15+ Seasons)
Phil Fulmer 1992-2008 (16+ Seasons)
Lane Kiffin 2009 (1 Season)
Derrick Dooley 2010-2012 (3 Seasons)
Butch Jones 2013-Present (1 Season)
8 Season Average Tenure (Excluding Jones)
WINS
394 Wins in 49 Seasons
8.0 Wins/Year
BOWLS
38 Bowl Appearances
8 Bowl Games/Decade
Non-bowl seasons; 75-78; 80, 88, 05, 08 11-13
21 Bowl Wins
4-5 Bowl Wins/Decade
SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS
1967, 1969 (Doug Dickey)
1985, 1989 (John Majors)
1990 (Majors), 1997, 1998 (Phil Fulmer)
Two Long Championship Droughts
1970-84 (15 Seasons)
1999-13 (15 Seasons)
1 SEC Championship/7 SEASONS
I would love to get your take on if you believe the numbers above represent what should be considered the “standard” for Tennessee Football or if the years have changed the target. Please join Brian Hartman and me today from 11-1 and ring us up at 200-5402. I can’t wait to get your input.
Talk to you on the radio TODAY.
B-No