UT Fans...

[OrangeAfroMan]

This is absolutely going to seem like I'm being a jerk, but I promise it's a genuine question.  I was looking at some past games on the youtube and I was just taken aback by the messed up ways Florida has beaten UT over the years.  Like demented even.  Over and over.  Totally F-ed up defeats.

How do you guys deal with it?  Is your attitude going into the Florida game each year different than with others?  Am I off base here?  Overstating it?  

UT has 1992, 98, and 2001 on the Gators, for sure.  Those were big-time.  But just off the top of my head:
Getting shut out in 94 at home.
Up 30-14 in 95, only to give up 62 pts.
Down at home 35-0 early in the 2nd quarter in '96.
The Gaffney dropped TD in 2000.
1 point game in 06.
Our backup comes in and wins in '13.
The 10-9 game with another backup in '14.
The Grier-Callaway 4th and 14 in '15.
The bomb loss on the last play last year.

You guys are amazing fans.  After all that, I'd probably throw my hat in and take up gardening or something.  I'm serious.  Maybe this post is in poor taste, but I just watched all these videos and it felt like it has to be overwhelming to be a UT fan.  I just respect you guys.

[Drew4UTk]

over in ten land you're discussing about kids taking games serious... or not.  and how that folds into results.  

what i see on the UT sideline is a game the coach's are graded by.  they take the game 'too' serious.  they're not out flingin' the ball, doing the "hey fella's, let's try this! this will be fun!!" because the coach's have piled far too much importance on the game... they sometimes play to the lead, and all of the sudden become uber conservative.  or, they're so afraid of messing up they run high percentage plays and simple off tackle runs.  because they're scared to lose.  literally... and that's filtered down into the ranks.  

Florida has UT's number.  plain and simple.  until they have a coaching staff that play's for keeps while having fun, they'll continue this absurd series in the same bewildering comedy of errors.  

i don't take your comments as negative- because they're true.  maybe one day they won't be.  UF knows how to play loose and keep the game fun. UT doesn't. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

If it is about being loose and having fun, then the Florida players are probably brimming with confidence going into UT games.  I'm sure that helps, actually.  

I'm reminded of UGA fans in the 90s - we'd all be drinking in Jax before the game and they'd admit they weren't going to win, which astounded me.  But back then, Florida was just beating them 'normally' every year.  Only one was what I'd consider a heart-breaker (I think in 93, when UGA thought they tied it late, but UF called timeout).  

But the repeated heart-wrenching ways Florida has beaten UT is something unique, isn't it?  I thought the 4th and 14 play was the cherry on top - never to be rivaled.  But then this past year happened.  I don't get the same vibe from UT fans that they just admit they're not going to win, but when the game is going on and things look good for UT, do you withhold confidence in the win?  

Like what's your mindset during a UF-UT game and is it any different than vs UGA or Bama or whoever?

[Nashville4UGA]

Please understand I'm not piling on, but in the last 10 years they only own a winning record against Kentucky (8-2) and Vanderbilt (6-4) so I guess you just get numb to the pain. I felt the same way for quite a few years against Florida when they owned us for like 20 years, which seemed like a hundred during that era. Thankfully, that rivalry has evened out somewhat over the last 7-8 years.

Here is a breakdown of Tennessee's conference opponents in the last 10 years.
in the same timeframe I believe they are like 6-7 vs. OOC Power 5 teams in regular season and bowls.
They have lost to both Florida and Georgia in the same season 7 times in that 10 year stretch and have only beaten both teams in the same season 1 time.
Couple that with the annual loss to Alabama and struggles with teams like South Carolina and Missouri and it's just been tough for them to get to a winning conference record which has only happened once since 2008.  (2015)
2016 was supposed to be the year with wins over Florida and Georgia early starting 2-0 only to go 2-4 over the last 6 SEC games to finish at .500.

When you go 26-54 in conference over 10 years it's easy to get discouraged I would think.

Team	W	L
Alabama	0	10
Florida	1	9
Georgia	3	7
South Carolina	4	6
Missouri	2	4
Vanderbilt	6	4
LSU	0	3
Auburn	0	3
Kentucky	8	2
Arkansas	0	2
Ole Miss	1	2
Texas A&M	0	1
Mississippi State	1	1

[OrangeAfroMan]

But my thing was the HOW they were losing.  Like UT vs. Bama - all those blowouts have to be easier to stomach than that Cody blocked FG in '09 or the five point game in '15.  But that's only two out of the last nine years.

Against Florida, each of UT's last 4 losses have been what you could consider F-ed up.  
2013 - UT has a pick-6 to go up 7-0, and during the play, UF's starting QB gets hurt.  UT loses.
2014 - UT is up 9-0 in the 4th quarter.  A desperate UF puts in the backup QB.  UT loses.
2015 - UT is winning and has UF on a 4th and 14 in their own territory.  UT loses.
2017 - UT makes a great comeback to tie the game late.  Gives up long TD on last play.  UT loses.

That's just a lot of F-ed up in a short amount of time.  It's not highlighting their overall struggles.

[Drew4UTk]

Well.. It is a matter of "lets see how they blow it this year".  That's truth.  The absurdity is real.  With UGA they usually have a fighters chance even in the last ten years, and that series isn't even.  Florida comimg in and spurrier giving them their swagger is more interesting to me... In the nearing 30 years of that happening uf has absolute control over the matchup. 

[OrangeAfroMan]

I thought after 2016 and UT's big 2nd half (which was just surreal to me), the monkey was off their back.  But then this past year happened.  It's just rough.