Thread by @MikeL_LWOS

She flies once more, a thread. 1/n

Look, I have no clue what’s going to happen tonight….

2/n

I’m like every other #Vols fan my age: naive enough to think we might get back to the promised land but jaded enough to constantly, with great psychological injury, tamp down those lofty aspirations. It’s emotionally taxing, far more than is demanded of the average fan.

3/n

But here’s what I do know:

This team is putting up points and that’s exciting. Observable Fact.

This team is executing Heupel’s system well, and getting better every week. Observable Fact.

4/n

This team has already out-performed last years squad (and will likely be the most successful #Vols team since the Outback Bowl team. In Heupel’s first year. Observable fact.

This team is playing with only 75% of its allowable scholarship players. Observable fact.

5/n

This team lost a whole freaking starting offensive and defensive lineup over the past three seasons to the transfer portal. Observable fact.

The players Heupel brought in from the portal are made meaningful contributions. Observable fact.

6/n

And, as a subjective observable, every single position group is well coaches and playing with more technique and energy than I’ve seen in a while. And I’ve been following the #Vols as my life’s love for 40 years.

7/n

But here’s what I realized last night, dozing off and thinking about tonight’s game. Here’s why I finally allowed myself to buy in to Heupel:

Heupel loves football.

8/n

You see, Jeremy Pruitt loves control and yelling at people. He uses football <b><i> as a vehicle <i><b> to achieve control and be in a position to yell at people. What he really loves is power.

Football is just a means to him.

9/n

Butch Jones loves….well, Butch Jones. He uses football <b><i> as a vehicle <i><b> to advance his own interest. More money, more status, faster cars, brighter watches. Whatever.

He uses football, and football players, for himself.

Football is just a means to him.

10/n

Derek Dooley loves….well, I don’t know that anyone really knows what Derek Dooley thinks or feels. He’s lost in this world. Football <b><i> is a vehicle <i><b> for him to figure something out - his life’s purpose, what he wants to do, historical lessons…who the f knows.

11/n

Football is a means for him.

12/n

Lane Kiffin - the man that literally walked off the practice field one day and put up his pads and walked back out with a clipboard - <b><i> uses football as a vehicle <i><b> to have fun in this life. More power to him for living his best life. Women, parties, all of that.

12/n

But he doesn’t love football. I (and many others) would give an unimaginable amount of anything to out the pads on just one more time. And be quit. Walked away. During a practice one day.

Football is only a means for him.

14/n

Heupel is different. He loves football for footballs sake. Remember Peyton’s retirement speech? When he talked about football with an unmatched reverence? That’s the same tone I hear from Heupel. He knows he owes the game so much. He treats it with respect & reverence

15/n

He’s not functionally illiterate.
He’s not a snake oil salesman.
He’s not a bumbling fool.
He’s not a spoiled prima dona.

He’s a football guy.

16/n

Does that mean that he’s going to lead us to a Natty? No. Doesn’t even guarantee success.

But it does mean the program is in trusted hands, with someone who has the kids and the fans best interest at heart.

And that makes it easier for me to buy in six games in.

17/n

We’ll probably lose tonight, because that’s been our luck for past 12 years.

But maybe we won’t. Maybe this will be one of those specials nights - like the Majors’ Sugar Bowl night or the night that Pandemonium Reigned or the night that Stoerner Stumbled (sorry man).

18/n

Either way, I’m excited. And anxious. And nervous. And upset that I can’t be there with many of you.

But I know this:

This is how football is supposed to make you feel. If you love the game.

And I haven’t felt this way about Tennessee Football in a long time.

19/n

So I’m going to enjoy the day and all the feels and I’m going to Give My All For Tennessee Today.

And I’m going to enjoy what my love of Tennessee and my love of the game of football is providing for me today.

And if we lose, then so be it.

But if we win……………

20/20

Im the end, I love every one of you clad in Big Orange.

I love Tennessee. And I love football.

Let’s do this.

#GoVols

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