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What is most responsible for the decline of Tennessee football
Fulmer switched from Dunkin Donuts to Krispy Kreme (everyone knows these are evil) 0 (0%)
The "woo" was introduced into Rocky Top. 3 (27.3%)
Bob Kessling replaced John Ward. 3 (27.3%)
Smokey VIII died 1 (9.1%)
Doug's Rug was removed in 1994, and replaced with grass 0 (0%)
All of the above 1 (9.1%)
Other 3 (27.3%)
Total Votes: 11
The Decline of Tennessee Football; It is time to discover the real truth ....
Topic Started: Jun 19 2012, 10:44 PM (450 Views)
*OrangeRev
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Tree hug'n, bleed'n heart, lazy luv'n, global warm'n token liberal

I keep hearing all the rumors about what has caused so much decline ... just wondering what you all think?
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LonzoVol


Almost marked the answer concerning Bob "The Gigantic Blobb" Chiterlings but the others also have varying degrees of merit. I would also add that when Chubby Checkerboard became Phillerup Fuljam Inc., instead of Lumpty Dumpy, football coach, the decline was in full swing. I remember the day well when the name Phil Fultanicroom surfaced! :lolup:
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*OrangeRev
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Tree hug'n, bleed'n heart, lazy luv'n, global warm'n token liberal

BTW, I know how much Ward was loved, but I actually have no animosity toward Kessling ... simply because I know that job, and I know how people develop a relationship with an announcer.

(Though I was never a broadcaster, my dad was ... and I sat in the press box or on the court with him 200-300 times).
Edited by OrangeRev, Jun 20 2012, 08:14 AM.
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humbletx


OrangeRev
Jun 19 2012, 10:44 PM
I keep hearing all the rumors about what has caused so much decline ... just wondering what you all think?
#1 - where, or is there a starting point?

50's - 11, 10, 8, 6, 4, 6, 10, 8, 4, 5
60's - 6, 6, 4, 5, 4, 8, 8, 9, 8, 9
70's - 11, 10, 10, 8, 7, 7, 6, 4, 5, 7
80's - 5, 8, 6, 9, 7, 9, 7, 10, 5, 11
90's - 9, 9, 10, 8, 11, 10, 10, 11, 13, 9

The numbers stand for themselves - Tennessee spent some decades with nice peaks - then bottom bouncing..

So - the 90's represent a peak, per se. Add in the SEC expansion - Florida was roaring - from the get go even being in the NCAA dog house with Spurrier running the show. Alabama, early, was cheating their way to the top - winning a championship - then the Stallings house of cards blown up. Who else - Jackie Sherrill had a nice run at Mississippi State, cheating his ass off - then run-oft. Auburn had a some top 25 finishes as did Georiga, and Mississippi. The expansion - additions of both South Carolina and Arkansas - aka bottom feeders.

Basically the SECE held sway - with Florida winning a bunch of SEC championships, IIRC Alabama and Tennessee winning 2 a piece (Alabama cheating their way to those wins) A 12 team conference - dominated by two above board programs - Tennessee and Florida - coached by two HOFers.

In to the 21st century - in the east Georgia hired a long time assistant from FSU - and started getting the better ones from Georgia recruiting wise. Both Spurrier and Fulmer had finished their runs - as Spurrier so eloquently put it - we're winning a lot of games - and winning nothing (that being SEC championships) and left Gainesville. Tennessee jumped on a losing streak vs UGa and their new guy - and still had Florida to deal with - the other bottom feeders in the SECE remained bottom feeders.

In the east - Florida, UGa, and Tennessee - in the early 2000's - all top 25 teams - and a "new" kid on the block - from the West - that being LSU. How did LSU make that happen - recruiting - relentless recruiting - ripped the guts out of an instate program Texas A&M, (nevermind the bags of cash the Aggies were handing out) - who at one time laid claim to the piney woods of east Texas, the Golden Triangle, and the GHA. The Purple and Gold was everywhere at every football game on Friday night - one of those waking up the sleeping giants - as happened in Gainseville when Spurrier arrived on the scene.

IMO the decline of Tennessee football began when the folks in Red Stick and Athens made the move in the early 2000's.

Fulmer and the athletic department letting "ego" lead the charge - the SECCG vs LSU - UGa, not Florida beating Tennessee, and the impact that would have on recruiting in the state of Georgia.

Athens with a good coach and a recruiter on par with Fulmer. LSU with a no nonsense quality coach a the best recruiter in the country. Auburn was a damned good program with Tuberville running the show - even if the dickweeds couldn't quite grasp that. Playing footsie with Petrino (and yep Ears more than likely triggered lots of that himself)



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*OrangeRev
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Tree hug'n, bleed'n heart, lazy luv'n, global warm'n token liberal

Why is it Humble, that you regularly respond to yet another obvious joke with a soup of serious information? You must be really popular at parties. :wub:
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*TennesseeTuxedo
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Woo!
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Tnphil


I've said for years our football program went to shit after John Ward and Bill Anderson retired....I'm sticking to that theory.....along with 4,376 reasons Fulmer screwed it up. :ass:
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LonzoVol


OrangeRev
Jun 20 2012, 10:13 AM
Why is it Humble, that you regularly respond to yet another obvious joke with a soup of serious information? You must be really popular at parties. :wub:
Texie only seeks to demonstrate his superior intellect above and beyond anything possessed by the average board poster. But you are right, sometimes he's about as exciting as watching paint dry.
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*TennesseeTuxedo
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Woo!
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