Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

[the red c]

Hello all and welcome to my Tennessee Volunteers dynasty! The Vols are easily my favorite college football team so I'm looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding them in the almighty SEC. The last few years have not been too kind to the Vols in real life; however, head coach Butch Jones seems to have the program headed in the right direction. In this dynasty I'll be playing as Butch, starting with year 2 and team 118. So i'll be using the 2014-2015 rosters, but I won't be simmng year 1, or 2013-2014 in the dynasty. I'm just going to play from year 1 in the dynasty with this years real life team.

I'm looking forward to reporting this dynasty on here and restoring glory on Rocky Top!

Platform: PS3
Mode: Heisman
Rosters: Operation Sports Community 2014-2015 rosters
Sliders: Jarrod21's Black Set
Gameplay Preferences: 9 min quarters, slow game speed, 0 threshold

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Yearly Recaps & NCAA Recaps

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Record Book and Award Winners

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Rivalry Games

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Alright that is all the reserved posts that I want to have. I don't know exactly how I plan to report this dynasty and progress through the seasons just yet. I plan on only playing 6-8 games each year, and I will not reporting on things outside of TN or the SEC until around week 8.

Starting in week 8 I'm going to take the fate of my virtual college football world into my own hands. I'm going to release my own "College Football Playoff" rankings starting after week 8 as I'll be closely watching the top 25 from that point on. I feel like the game does a horrible job at ranking teams at the top, so with the editor I'll be able to fix that.

So without further ado, lets get this thing started, Go Vols!

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Utah State Aggies 0-0 @ Tennessee Volunteers 0-0

Date: Saturday, August 31st, 2013
Time: 12:00 Central
Channel: ESPN2
Description: It is the season and home opener for your Tennessee Volunteers. Coming into Neyland Stadium is the Aggies of Utah State. Can the Vols open up the season with a win?

Game Recap:The season opener for the Volunteers couldn't have been any more exciting and thrilling than it was for Vol fans. With Tennessee's lone goal of the season to reach the postseason, combined with the Vols playing in the deadly conference known as the SEC, non conference wins are a must.

But the Vols struggled early and often. Sophomore QB Joshua Dobbs got the go ahead to start over senior Justin Worley, but after three 1st half interceptions by Dobbs the youngster was benched. The senior didn't immediately provide a spark, but he did when the team needed it most.

Down 20-2, yes 20-2, starting the 4th quarter, Worley and tailback Marlin Lane led the Volunteers to an improbable comeback. The Vols would put 25 4th quarter points. Starting with a 5 yard touchdown run from Worley, then freshman wide receiver Josh Malone caught a 12 yard touchdown pass midway through the quarter. Marlin Lane added the last touchdown of the quarter with a run from 5 yards out. And finally, field goal kicker Aaron Medley would nail a 28 yarder, sending the game into OT.

It would take three overtime periods to do it, but after a missed field goal by Utah State, Marlin Lane would score his fourth rushing touchdown of the day to seize victory for Tennessee, setting a school record for rushing touchdowns in a game in the process.

It certainly wasn't pretty, and it wasn't how coach Butch Jones and the Vols drew it up in their game plan, but a win is a win and the Vols will take. Up next is a home battle with the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

Final: Tennessee 47, Utah State 41 3OT

[DrGravyBoat]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Looks good so far, following

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Coach's Corner: Q&A with Butch Jones

Q: Coach, first off, congrats on winning a very exciting triple-overtime thriller in the season opener. Your overall thoughts on the game?

A: I thought our players did a tremendous job of staying poised and staying relentless. We talked about it all through the off season, this games about mental toughness. And our team showed great mental toughness on Saturday.

Q: Because of his performance, and Dobbs throwing 3 INTs, will Justin Worley be the starter against the Red Wolves?

A: I can't fully answer that one just yet. We made a decision to start Dobbs, but he obviously wasn't performing like a starter at the University of Tennessee should. I though he [Worley] did a great job of coming into the ball game and rallying the troops. Marlin Lane, a veteran senior, also did a great job of taking the game by running the ball with great execution. He did a great job, which led to the throwing game opening up a bit.

Q: What were you most impressed about in this game?

A: Just the fact that our team never quit. Going into the 4th quarter down 20-2, it takes a great deal of mental toughness to fight and claw back into the game. Our defense really stepped up and kept the ballgame within reach for our offense. Senior middle linebacker A.J. Johnson had an excellent game. He was a big leader for our young guys out there.

Q: Finally coach, what is the status of freshman running back Jalen Hurd? He started the game over Lane, but we didn't see much of the highly anticipated 5 star freshman in the 2nd half.

A: Hurd got a little banged up and reinjured his shoulder that he hurt in high school his senior year. It doesn't appear to be too severe just yet, but he will miss a couple of weeks. But again, we talked about it in the off season, at any given moment our players need to be ready to fill in the production. And you saw that with Marlin Lane. The senior knew exactly what he needed to do to help out this football team. This will also give our other freshman running back Derrell Scott a chance to see the field.

Key Tennessee Players against Utah State:
Justin Worley - 18-30 passing, 181 yards, 1 td, 1 int, 60%
Marlin Lane - 17 att, 106 yards, 4 td
Jalen Hurd - 15 att, 59 yards
Pig Howard - 4 att, 54 yards
Von Pearson - 6 rec, 61 yards
Josh Malone - 4 rec, 64 yards, 1 td
A.J. Johnson - 13 tackles, 4 TFLs
Corey Vereen - 3 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 sacks

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Arkansas State Red Wolves 0-1 @ Tennessee Volunteers 1-0

Date: Saturday, September 7th, 2013
Time: 12:00 Central
Channel: ESPN2
Description: The 1-0 Vols look for win #2 on the year against Arkansas State in Neyland Stadium.

Game Recap: The Vols got all they could handle from the Red Wolves and more. I don't know if they thought Arkansas State was going to be intimidated playing in front of a packed out Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, but TN did not look good in week 2.

The Red Wolves were led by QB Freddie Knighten who absolutely shredded the Vols defense through the air and the ground. Knighten would pass for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns, completing 23 of his 32 attempted passes. And with his legs he rushed for 168 yards on 20 attempts with a touchdown on the ground as well. Simply put, the Vols never had an answer for the opposing QB.

On the other side of the coin, the QB for the Vols had a terrible day. Justin Worley threw a grand total of 5 interceptions. He also only completed 54% of his passes going 24-44. The QB situation on Rocky Top does not look good at the moment.

Marlin Lane was one of the only positives TN had going for them. Taking over most of the carries because of an injured Jalen Hurd, he ran for a buck 26 and added a touchdown as well.

Overall, this is a game the Volunteers will want to forget about as quickly as possible. Having a team from the Sun Belt come in and dominate their way to a win is not a good look for the SEC nor the Vols. Fans were definitely not happy with the result of the game, and it looks like Butch Jones has a lot of work to do if he hopes to lead TN to a bowl game.

Up next, the Volunteers travel to Norman, Oklahoma to take on the #4 Oklahoma Sooners (2-0).

Final: Tennessee 17, Arkansas State 28

[Coach P]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Tough loss after a rocky start against Utah St... Could be in for a long season! Good luck!

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Tennessee Volunteers 1-1 @ #4 Oklahoma Sooners 2-0

Date: Saturday, September 14th, 2013
Time: 7:00 Central
Channel: ABC
Description: The Volunteers and head Coach Butch Jones look to pull off the upset on the road in Norman, OK against Bob Stoops and the #4 ranked Sooners.

Game Recap: The Vols got a chance on national television to shock the college football landscape and finally prove to the country Tennessee football may be back after all. And through three quarters it looked like Butch Jones' squad would be able to pull of the feat. Entering the fourth quarter the Sooners and Vols were locked in a nail-biter, 7-6 with the edge going to the Sooners.

How did they get there? The Vols defense playing lights out, Marlin Lane having the game of his life against a top-notch defense, and the sheltered play calling when it came to Justin Worley passing the ball. Through the first three quarters Worley only threw one pass deeper than 15 yards. It was clear the coaches wanted to limit his opportunity for mistakes as much as possible. And Worley managed the game fine up until crunch time.

In the fourth quarter the Vols had no choice but to open up the playbook. The Sooners started stacking the box forcing the Worley to make plays with his arm. Unfortunately for the Vols, the senior QB couldn't get the job done. In fact, he completely took them out of the game by throwing 4 fourth quarter interceptions. The Sooners would take advantage and turn the turnovers into 2 touchdowns, consequently ending the game for the underdogs.

It was a tough way for Butch Jones and the Volunteers to lose. Especially considering it was on the road against a top 5 team. The young Tennessee team showed a lot of promise and hope, but this game also proved their biggest weakness comes at the most important spot, the QB position. It is going to be a long year for the Vols if they can't find a solution to the problem.

Final: Tennessee 6, #4 Oklahoma 21

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Tough loss after a rocky start against Utah St... Could be in for a long season! Good luck!

Hey thanks for checking in Coach P! I definitely think we are in for a long season. That loss to Arkansas State still hurts haha

[smpipkin]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Good luck. Following. Love the vols! We looked good in the bowl game. Next year looks bright. Tough loss to Arkansas State but at least you hung with OU

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Good luck. Following. Love the vols! We looked good in the bowl game. Next year looks bright. Tough loss to Arkansas State but at least you hung with OU

Thank ya and I love the Vols as well!! We looked excellent in the bowl game, didn't we? The future is orange my friend.

And yeah, the OU game was a heart breaker. I couldn't believe in a NCAA football game I had a 7-6 score heading into the 4th quarter. I honestly would have been fine with that finish. Florida is next, hopefully we can break the streak!

[the red c]

Re: Good Ole Rocky Top - A Tennessee Volunteers Dynasty

Tennessee Volunteers Injury Report

Knoxville, TN -- Through three games the Vols are already pretty banged up. Highly coveted 5 star freshman running back Jalen Hurd has been nursing a bruised shoulder he received in week one. The injury has caused him to miss the last two games, and he is listed as doubtful for next weeks game against the rival Gators of Florida. In just 2 and a 1/2 quarters of action the running back tallied 59 yards on 15 attempts for a 3.9 yard per carry average.

The other injured Volunteers is the versatile wide receiver, Alton "Pig" Howard. The 5' 8" playmaker suffered a broken wrist against Arkansas State which caused him to miss last weeks game against OU. The team thought he might be able to return to the field in a few weeks but the injury looks worse than the team doctors originally thought. Unfortunately, he will be out for the remainder of the season. Pig Howard had 6 catches on the year for 76 yards. He also tallied 54 rushing yards on just 4 attempts, including a 30 yarder in the season opener.

Butch Jones on the injures and how it will affect the team going forward: "Well obviously anytime you lose a guy like Howard it's going to hurt your football team. We used him in a lot of different ways, not just catching the ball. He was a big part of our jet sweep scheme, using his speed to get the edge outside. So now we have to look for other guys to step up and fill in. And Hurd should be back soon. He won't play this week against Florida, but he should be back soon."