College football is an emotional game. For the players, for the coaches, and for the millions of fans around the nation. You’d be hard pressed to find a more emotional fan base than those that cheer for the Tennessee Volunteers. Part of that stems from the large following of passionate fans. But part of it comes from the near-constant drama of an up-and-down team over the last decade of football. How do Tennessee fans handle this roller-coaster ride? Many fans seem to use the Vols eight stages of recovery seem to handle it.
Vols Eight Stages of Recovery
There’s been plenty of opportunities over the past several years to develop this recovery method.
Reviewing the Trauma
In 2009, Lane Kiffin‘s one and only season in Knoxville, the Vols had a game winning field goal against top-ranked Alabama blocked by Terrence Cody as time expired. Nevermind that Cody immediately removed his helmet and threw it around the field while the ball was still rolling downfield.
In Derek Dooley‘s first season, 2010, the Vols had two heartbreaking moments. The first came in Baton Rouge against the 12th-ranked LSU Tigers. Tennessee lead the game until the final snap. A botched LSU snap was negated because Tennessee had 13 players on the field. LSU would score on the next play to beat Tennessee. Later in the season, Tennessee would lose the Music City Bowl against North Carolina. Tyler Bray had a personal foul due to a throat slashing gesture. Additionally, the Tarheels purposely spiked the ball with half of the offense changing out to avoid time running out. After assessing the five yard penalty, North Carolina hit a field goal to force overtime. This play is the reason why college football adopted a ten-second run-off for offensive penalties inside two minutes. It came a season too late for Tennessee.
In 2013, Butch Jones‘ first season, Tennessee’s Pig Howard fumbled the go-ahead touchdown in overtime from the one yard line through the end zone to thwart an upset of sixth-ranked Georgia.
Of course Vols fans are very familiar with the 2015 season. Tennessee had four losses that season. The Vols held fourth quarter leads in each game. The Vols gave up late game fourth down conversions to Florida and Oklahoma.
Speaking of Florida, the 2014, 2015, and 2017 games against the Gators are textbook examples of a team finding a way to lose. Offensive ineptitude and an inability to handle pressure were the common denominators in all three games.
Losses to Vanderbilt and South Carolina over the past few seasons have also resonated poorly with Vols fans.
So how do fans typically handle these types of games?
The Eight Stages
This week is a perfect example of Tennessee fans using their eight stages of recovery. Tennessee played a lifeless, unfocused game against Massachusetts on Saturday. The Vols narrowly won, 17-13. There’s only eight winless teams after Week 4 in college football and Massachusetts is one of them. At best — AT BEST — Massachusetts is the 120th best football program in the FBS. And the Vols needed a final drive stand by the defense to secure victory. Moreover, ninth-ranked Georgia comes to Neyland Stadium Saturday having already beaten Notre Dame and Mississippi State and with revenge for last season’s hail mary defeat in mind.
Stage 1: Saturday Post-Game, or “What Just Happened”
This is the stage where you hear the collective sigh of the fan base. Fans are in a state of shock. Whether its giving up a 58-yard touchdown pass, a fourth down conversion, an uncalled penalty, or just barely beating the 120th best (at best) program in FBS, fans are left wondering aimlessly in stadium tunnels, home hallways, or bar walkways. It’s a sad look. Fans are quite, except for the occasional twitter post. Fans are collecting their thoughts before their red hot Monday morning water cooler takes or the inspired social media posts.
Stage 2: Sunday, or “Why Can’t I Be An NFL Fan”
Stage 2 is simply a progression of Stage 1. Fans try to avoid the post game recaps and the Florida fans on social media. Many fans are envious of NFL fans. For NFL fans, there’s no emotional connection, no passion. It’s about gambling and fantasy football. “Why can’t college be this sanitized?” and “Why does it have to hurt this much?” are common ponderings on Sunday morning.
Stage 3: Monday, or “This Must Be What Vandy Fans Feel Like”
The apathy dissipates and the rage starts to set in. Fans at this point start making doomsday predictions. “We won’t win another game.” “Georgia is going to beat us by 73 points.” Things like this. The red hot takes are on Twitter and Facebook. Tennessee fans get a taste of what it’s like to be a Vanderbilt fan, if just for 24 hours. The anger and rage of feeling like the SEC East doormat fuels the energy of one of the nation’s most active and engaged fan bases. When it’s good, it’s good. But when it’s bad, it’s really, really, really bad.
Stage 4: Tuesday, or “Burn It All Down”
The anger and rage piques. Fans haven’t properly processed the sadness of Saturday and Sunday or the rage and anger from Monday. If they had, they’d probably be in jail. So in Stage 4, safely away from any harmful household devices, fans demand to burn the whole thing down and start over. New coach, new quarterback, new athletic director, new Governor, new waterboy, new logo, new colors. Ok, maybe no one is calling for new colors. But this is the height of recovery — when one must let go of pain from within.
Stage 5: Wednesday, or “Back to Earth Day”
Stage 5 sees the gradual regression of negative and the first rays of hope for a new Saturday. Maybe, just maybe, the beat down that we all anticipated won’t be as bad. There’s a lot of retrospection here. Fans start to remember the wins over the previous losses (or bad win in this case). People start looking forward. “Maybe we can still finish with eight or nine wins, even if we lose to Georgia.” At some point, no matter how big of a Tennessee fan you are, you have to get on with your life. Wednesday is the day for most Vols fans.
Stage 6: Thursday, or “Dumb and Dumber Day”
So you’re saying there’s a chance. There comes a point in every recovery where fans are tempted with the elixir of belief once again. That’s usually Thursday, and that’s Stage 6. “Maybe Georgia isn’t that good (despite their impressive road win against Notre Dame, their beat down of Mississippi State, their two All-Conference running backs, and one of the best defenses statistically in the nation).” “Maybe we’ll come out all fired up.” As dumb as it sounds coming out of your mind or off your tongue, you start to believe that there’s a chance that Tennessee actually gets this done.
Stage 7: Friday, or “I’m Feeling Pretty Good About This Day”
Once you start down the road of irrational hope, your recovery is almost complete. The sadness and anger of the first four stages are completely behind you now. Sure, the emotional scars linger. And yes, you still have to listen to that obnoxious Ohio State fan talk about Urban Meyer, but you are feeling better and better about Saturday. And why not? Georgia isn’t all that. We beat them last year. We’ve played them strong even in our decade of irrelevancy. And we’re at home, in our house. It’s the CheckerNeyland game. We’re wearing the Smoky Greys. With our backs against the wall. Yes — at Stage 7 you’re feeling pretty good about this game.
Stage 8: Saturday Pre-Game, or “It’s Football Time In Tennessee”
The sight of one of college football’s grand cathedrals sitting on the banks of the Tennessee River with the Smoky Mountains as a majestic back drop means that Vol fans have fully recovered. And they are ready. 102,455 inside of Neyland Stadium and millions more watching and listening from around the world. Vol Nation is united, at least for a few brief, but glorious moments, in the hope and anticipation of another victory. Fans can relate to an irrational and unexplainable optimism. There’s now way any team could beat us on this day, and in this place. This is what being a college football fan, especially a Tennessee Volunteers fan, is really like.
Back To Reality
Unfortunately the euphoria of Stage 8 doesn’t last long. After a loss or a bad win, fans immediately go back to Stage 1. After a big win? Fans get to skip the week of recovery, but there’s a week of worry that the good things won’t last in its place. Even after a win against Florida or Georgia, there’s always an Alabama or LSU staring at you from down on your schedule.
Either way, it’s best to just enjoy the moment while you can.
Main Photo:
