It’s weird to say but I believe in this team in Knoxville and the coach leading them, but I do not think their own fan base feels the same. Certainly, there are some voices of influence who are making valid arguments against this team and citing the non-football related drama that could be distracting this team. But this team is as good as it looks on paper, and on paper, these Vols look great this season. GREAT, but I do not think Vol Nation shares this belief. At least, not the loudest voices.

Vol Nation has a choice–to let these outside voices dictate how it should feel towards its team and warrant such voices valid by responding both rationally and irrationally. Or, completely ignore such voices and let those that sling negativity stay on the outside of the fold. There are plenty of positive voices and opinions to highlight. If someone wants to try to spill a negative narrative towards the Orange and White, let them, but keep them on the outside. Let those opinions fall on deaf ears. I don’t care who the voice is. Vol Nation has a choice. To believe in their team or not.

“You have haters. Good. That means you’ve stood up for something at one point in your life.”- Dwayne the Trainer

Let the haters and shit-talkers do what they do best. It doesn’t mean a thing. It’s all just words. Like this post, it’s just words. One can either believe them or not. Give them energy or not. Believe in their team or not. Any outside voice that wants to tear this team down either doesn’t know how good this team is or knows exactly how good this team is and is fixated on tearing them down for no other reason than to try to be right about something. Most likely, such voices of influence are simply seeking to irritate one of the largest and loudest fan bases on the planet just to get a few thousand more clicks or mentions. Don’t fall for it.

Coach Heupel knows what he has, and he knows what this team is and what it is not. The rest of us may be surprised my season’s end, but he won’t be. Heupel knows he has a group of budding elite talent on offense and a stout defense led by the D-line. Heupel knows the expectations that he needs to meet, and he knows this team has exactly what it needs to meet those expectations. He knows the challenges that his team will face, the strength his team has and the areas where his team will fail. Heupel is not special in this as this describes nearly every seasoned football coach.

Heupel simply has belief in his team. A belief that doesn’t seem to be shared outside the locker room.

Sure, there are Vol fans that are saying “we might have a good year,” but it’ll be followed with, “but I’m worried about Nico leavin’ and this new Joey kid and the other guy. I just don’t know.” Fair enough. You don’t know. Neither do I and neither does anybody else. This same fan could say, “We’ve got 4-5 Star recruits at about every position around a hungry QB with a coach that knows how to scheme an offense and a defense ready to compete with any team.”

On paper, when I look at this Tennessee team, I see a team that is destined to showcase some greatness in 2025/26 and a few years down the road. There is an immense amount of elite football talent in Knoxville at the present and even more committed for next season. Retaining this talent will be the challenge, but if they can–Tennessee can be great for years. If the talent is not retained, it most likely will not be because anyone in Knoxville did anything wrong. It’ll be because some lawyer preyed on the situation and saw dollars to be made and forced a deal to happen to receive the commission. It’s the 80’s stock market all over again. Instead of talking schmucks into buying certain stocks, these same weasel types convince a young person that “this move will suit your needs much better,” or “your current team doesn’t have your future in mind. Let’s put you here where they will focus on you.” Or many other approaches that are made on vulnerable young men navigating a tricky time of life. Agents and lawyers are creating chaos and making millions off of it. Don’t fall for the chaos. “There is no spoon.”

As a fan base, and this is relevant to all, but specifically the Vols supporters, believe in your team no matter the negativity that is reported. Believe in the players and the coaches. Believe that they want to win more than you want to watch them win. Neyland Stadium holds 100,000+ people. I’ve been there.

I was there on November 8, 2008. The place was packed and as loud as I had wanted it to be, but what that place lacked was belief. I watched the entire game as the homecoming victory slowly and painfully slipped away and visiting Wyoming won 13-7. It was truly a painful thing to watch as a complete neutral. This may sound a bit reductive, but I suspect I know the exact reason Tennessee lost to Wyoming at home on homecoming on that beautiful blue bird afternoon in Knoxville. The fans inside that stadium lacked belief.

I heard it all around me. The moans, the groans, the whines, the “why me” crybaby opinions of orange clad folks surrounding me even before the ball was kicked. I had been in the stadium since the gate opened to watch the entire team warm up. -A shotgun blast sound echoed off the empty stadium seats every time the Tennessee Punter slammed his foot into the ball. He was hitting some missiles on that day.

Being there that early allowed me to be privy to some different fan’s opinions on the team. There was one general sentiment, “fire Phil Fullmer.” I heard that from over one hundred people before the game even kicked. “Look, we’re gonna win this one because it’s just Wyoming, but I almost wish we wouldn’t. Then they’d have to fire him.” That may be paraphrased, but those are words that were said within earshot of me on that day. I said in response, “Well, I hope you guys win. I’ve never been to Neyland before and picked this game specifically to guarantee a fun win.”

There was nothing “fun” about Neyland Stadium that day. Yes, the stadium was raucous at the beginning, but it felt more like an obligatory religious type of ritual not genuine excitement that usually comes from a hopeful fanbase full of belief. This proved especially true because once the energy faded, it never returned.

To attempt to conclude this imploring of belief to those in Knoxville, Vol fans have every right to ignore the negative stories and focus all of their energy on believing that this is their year. Believing that every game on the schedule is a winnable game. Believing that anything is possible for this group of talented young men. That belief may or may not win or lose you a game this season, but I was there when the lack of belief cost the team a game. Do you want to be part of the problem or the solution? Vol fans, you’ve got a great looking team on paper. Believe in it. No one will do it for you.

I guess I am in a way. Way out here on this blessed rainy day in the desert. I believe in this putrid Orange jersey team, but not because I love them in anyway. My belief is built around what I see on paper and on film. My belief is football related. Sure, that may be enough, but what this team needs again is the true fans of Vol Nation to believe again. Blind irrational belief. A belief that spurns from love. A love for the hideous Orange team in Knoxville. Only God knows why or how anyone could love this team, but Vol fans exist. True fans. Vol Fans that need to believe again. Vol Fans that need to pack Neyland Stadium and show their belief. 100,000+ people did not believe collectively on 11/8/08 and a loss to Wyoming was the result. I wonder how different that game would’ve gone had the fans not quit their team in the fourth? How different the game would’ve gone if the fans would have cheered positively for all four quarters rather than booing every time a player made a mistake.

Vol Nation needs to rid itself of wolves wearing Merino. Let the negative come from outside the fold and keep it there. As Arline sings, “That you loved me still the same.” A fan bases belief needs to be irrational and love their team despite their pitfalls. Love them still the same. Otherwise, the belief will have stemmed from logic, not love. It’s love, not logic that is the most powerful force. Where there is belief that is bound by love’s force, unlimited potential awaits.

Let outsiders be logical. Fans, be fans. Believe in your team.

• Tennessee: I like
  • Arion Carter
  • The Defensive Line
  • Boo Carter
  • The Elite Talent at Wide Receiver
  • The deep running back room
  • The coachable, hungry QB

2025 Schedule:

• Week 1 vs Syracuse (30-19) W
• Week 2 vs East TN St W
• Week 3 vs Georgia W
• Week 4 vs UAB W
• Week 5 @ Miss St W
• Week 6 Bye
• Week 7 vs Arkansas W
• Week 8 @Alabama W
• Week 9 @ Kentucky L
• Week 10 vs Oklahoma W
• Week 11 Bye
• Week 12 vs New Mex St W
• Week 13 @ Florida W
• Week 14 vs Vanderbilt W

Yep. That’s 11-1. “Predicting the Unpredictable” on June 29th says it first, but I’m writing it again. This is this team’s potential. Will the fans believe it? It’s up to the true fans in Knoxville. If they want chaos, they’ll get chaos. If they want to win, they will win.

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.