PartsUnknown (Login PartsUnknown) from IP address 205.188.196.21
The tradition of application (or misapplication) of Neyland's famous maxims by coaches Johnny Majors and Phil Fulmer have caused many amazing and inexplicable fiascoes in recent history. Our tradition has been to overemphasize #1 and #4 and to totally forget the maxim Steve Spurrier follows religiously, #7. The results versus people like Spurrier, using a military analogy, is not unlike the French cowering with their Maginot Line mentality in face of the modern German blitzkrieg.
GENERAL NEYLAND'S MAXIMS OF FOOTBALL
1)The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
2)Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way - SCORE.
3)If at first the game - or the breaks - go against you, don't let up… put on more steam.
4)Protect our kickers, our QB, our lead and our ball game.
5)Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle… for this is the WINNING EDGE.
6)Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
7)Carry the fight to our opponent and keep it there for 60 minutes.
Maxims 1 and 4 don't mean "play not to lose." They mean play smart and do things the right way.
Neyland's maxims boil down to this: when preparation and aggression meet opportunity, good things happen. Who can argue that?
As for Spurrier carrying the fight for 60 minutes, well, let's just say perseverance is not his hallmark. Shiny Pants' teams will quit sometimes if things are going to hell. He threw in the towel in Knoxville in 90 and 92, against Nebraska in the NC game, and against Fla State in 96, although they got even in the rematch .
I'd say Spurrier wouldn't argue much with maxims 1, 2, 4 and 5.
Here's Spurrier's rewrites of the rest of them:
3. If at first the breaks go against you, look for a quick way to strike back. If that doesn't work, to hell with it.
6. Do not spend any time fooling with kickers. If a bad kick can get you beat, you were beat anyway.
7: Give your opponent a general pain in the ass and keep it there 365 days a year.
And he'd add a few of his own:
8. Look for and exploit the physical and mental weaknesses of your opponent.
9. Act like a smartass, for this is the way to piss off everyone.
10. Treat your quarterbacks like dog shit on your shoes – this motivates them to play at the highest level.
Intresting thread.
But if Fulmer underestimated #4, I find it surprising that Tee Martin got the absolute hell beaten out of him 2 years ago in the swamp.
My God that was brutal and will live in the gut forever of the living Vol fan.
actually apply the General's Maxims they are damn near unbeatable. It's when they forget them that we get in trouble. The '98 team in general and Al Wilson in particular lived up to all 7. That Disaster in Dallas showed a team that, with one or two exceptions, acted like they had never heard them. I'll guarantee you that Slimy Lizard Steve can quote them in his sleep.
The Vols are like the US Army which has been guided for over a century by the Principles of War codified by Carl von Clausewitz in his seminal work Vom Krieg (On War.) Those principles are: The Objective, The Offensive, Mass, Maneuver, Economy of Force, Unity of Command, Surprise, Security and Simplicity. What the General did was to translate those into football. Results? Well, the Army smacked the Hell out of everybody we ran into until we "modernized" our military thinking right before going into Vietnam. Thank God they got back to basics before the Gulf War.
The General's record at UT speaks for itself.
OMG
This message has been edited by OneManGang from IP address 152.163.197.68 on Aug 5, 2001 12:32 AM
Though the General's maxims are read aloud before each game I wonder how much our coaches and players respect them for what they truly mean for success on the football field.
If Neyland were coaching today, do you think he'd have grad assistants doing the primary coaching in our kicking game? I don't think so. Instead of having a TE coach or two fella's coaching the offensive line, Neyland would have one assistant designated for special teams and special teams only.
Beano attended fall practices last season & has noted on here several times the disapointment he found in the lack of work UT puts into the kicking game. If Beano's questioning the amount of work being put into a certain area of our football team, then it's worth some concern.
Though just a grad assistant, maybe bringing Shane Beamer in is an indication there will be more focus on our kicking game in 2001. I hope Beamer will stress to the max how his dad has taken his program to a higher level with the kicking game being the catalyst.
Is Shane any relation to Frank? Maybe we can get genetics working here!
Hell, I think everyone at Neyland Stadium should recite the General's Maxims right after the Invocation and the SSB. How'd that be for a new tradition?
Gawd, couldn't you just hear 100k or so Big Orange fans reciting them in unison? I think it would absolutely scare the Hell of some opposing coaches (and maybe our own!)
One thing about it: the team would know that we are all well aware of the way they're supposed to be doing things!
OMG
This message has been edited by OneManGang from IP address 152.163.197.64 on Aug 5, 2001 2:08 PM
but our crowd reciting Neyland' game maxims would be great! How original would that be? I mean, this is one helluva an idea.
Come to think of it OMG, what if Bobby Denton asked for the crowd to be silent and then the bigscreen & audio switched to our lockerroom and the fans ALONG with the team rattled of Neyland's game maxims in unison? Man, that would be awesome! Also, maybe it would help our crowd get into the game from the get-go regardless of the opponent.
Didn't the NCAA cut back on the coaching staff size a few years back that basically caused UT to eliminate the dedicated position of Kicking/Special Teams coach? I think it's left to whoever on the rest of the staff has some idea of what to do, and obviously in our case, nobody really does.
outside the stadium, that's the best idea I've heard in awhile. Any chance there's old video of Neyland saying them? How awesome would that be on the big screen?
UT put one out years ago in their series of "sucker the Vol fan into buying some more stuff" videos. It highlighted the Ernie/Bernie years. It did omit showing all the NCAA wins though.
#1) Play it while we are doing our show on PATV.Trouble is Carter seems to have forgotten his idea and dropped the ball in following up on getting us booked in.
#2) Mayby get Tony or DW to play the audio over the air to stir up some great convro.If TB did it he is somewhat affiliated with one of three networks and get them to run a sports story on it.
I think this is an issue just made for him. He is a Vol Legend whereas TB is merely a member of the media. My problem is that I rarely get to listen to his show due to my job demands and have even less time to call. BTop and TBA I have to pitch the ball to you! (Dammit)
Carter, there have been staff reductions in the past. Since those reductions, UT's either had a TE coach or two coaches working the offensive line and no assistant coach dedicated to special teams.
OMG & TBA, no offense, but if we only use Dewey's show as a podium to get our "Neyland's Maxims" idea off the ground, then about 100 people are going to hear what needs to get to the masses.
Someone does need to call Dewey, but the two other shows in town also need to be used to promote this idea. We don't need to call into these shows asking for their approval of a good idea, we need to call in saying "this is an idea that UT needs to get on IMMEDIATELY". JMO.
A new season will bring out the best in a crowd at Neyland stadium.Most everyone I believe could give a rats ass about the smokey growl and the O/W cheer.
But a brand new idea such as this that has never been done before and that is based on tradition may be something that the 107K would embrace and roll with.
I say lets start with the radio airwaves Monday and keep it rolling through the week.Try to establish a following that would keep the on-air topic going.
My schedule makes calling tuff sometimes, but DW is my easiest call.So I call DW, BT, you call Tony and how about Phil calls the snooz?Or OMG mayby you can chime in wherever you can?
IF we got as far as a gametime scenereo,The maxims could be read over the PA systom as the crowd reacted to each one.Or even the video shown over the Voltron.
This is worth a try and at least will be good for radio hype and getting the message to our coaches.
And of course....FIRING UP THE LIVING FAN!!
This message has been edited by TnBigAl from IP address 64.12.101.152 on Aug 5, 2001 7:36 AM
OK, guys, we've got our orders. Start with Dewey then hit TB and the Snooze. CharterVol, how about getting something going in Middle TN? Given that you are a rabble-rouser at heart this should work. Do we have any posters from the Chattanooga and Tri-Cities areas?
What about Memphis and the West TN area? If so, get on the air there as well. Also hit the other chat/post boards with this thing.
That would in actuality give the fans a new role in supporting the Volunteers? AND at the same time bring focus to a cause that most living fans could identify with?
So far it sounds awesome to a few of us in here, but it only takes a few with heart to start something that has never been done before.
Ready! On Three!
(I've allready got sheepquest and Vols to the wall boards covered)
This message has been edited by TnBigAl from IP address 64.12.101.163 on Aug 5, 2001 10:42 AM
with our idea tomorrow. I doubt my schedule will allow me to call into TB, but I will call 990. It may be as late as the 6:00 hour, but I' reach them at some point of the show.
TBA, if you're going to get this idea out to the VOLSHEEPers, be sure to post both a the football page as well as the recruiting page. Personally, I found the true die-hards are generally found @ the recruiting page.
I've called a couple of friends this morning just to bounce the idea off of them & get some feedback, and each person I spoke to thought it was a heck of an idea. Therefore, if word of this ever gets to the Tall Guy then it will probably be nixed! You know how he hates good ideas!
So we need a caller to carry the torch to the Team.
Phil!!! We Need ya Man!!!!PV!! Jump in here anywhere!!
And everyone on this board that calls in, Bring it up in your own ways with ideas.
The boards I listed above allready have discusion going on and its ALL GOOD!!!
Get In The Hunt And The Mix on This!!!!
Whe need a great call to Tony B to get this thing rolling! As OSVF says I am a Jimmy hyams type of caller and we need a big time caller. Who will it be?
Next point 107,000 folks standing and reciting the generals maxims,uhhhhh. They would have to be printed and passed out, folks would have to actually be able to stand and read. I do not see it! I could see a copy of the audio being played just before the kickoff of pre game ceremonys. Kind of like bumper music! That would set a tone, become tradition and be damn good entertainment. Picture of NEYLAND on the jumbotron bigger than life, captioned THE LEGEND! Ah man I am getting goosebumbs
Passing out the Maxims at all the entrances is not out of the question.Reciting them.....yea thats a bit much.But like what was discussed on the Vols to the wall forum, Get the Pride of the Southland band involved after the playing of the Maxims over the PA.
This thing could fly.
We will see tomorrow how the listeners respond.Where is Phil....Mayby MP would take to the airwaves for something as huge as this?
The words to the maxims can also be put on the jumbotron as well as the other scoreboards around the stadium for fans to go by. As sad as it is to say, just how many of these same folks do you think can recite the words the the Star Spangled Banner? I doubt very few of 'em!
This may be something that has rough edges to begin with, but people (as well as sheep) will learn in time.!
Seriously, if there is audio of Neyland barking out his maxims, if UT ONLY played GRN's audio along with highlights of UT historical past I think that would still be pretty darn cool.
Regardless of the presentation, the important thing is to use the maxims to get the fans revved up. Just like Carter said, I think just about anyone would rather hear GRN than "2 Vols, 4 Vols, Smokey's on the prowl..."!
line along with Bobby Denton, the maxims ought to be no problem.
As for timing, it seems the right moment would be while the team is on the sideline just before kickoff and the band is headed for its seats. I think the team should be present for this. The crowd hollering the maxims at each other while the team is in the dressing room won't have much effect. This would also be great timing for television.
Obviously the maxims are going to have to be posted on the jumbotron to keep everyone together. (And some RR Neyland video – hot damn, way cool!) HEADS UP TO DAD: opportunity knocks! How much money could you extract for the "Weigels Jug-o-Milk Tennessee Football Maxims"?
Also, the maxim ritual should be performed by our crowd on the road.
I hope a few of you guys have carried it over to some other boards too.
We will see how it goes tomorrow on the radio waves and we still do not have a solid link to call Basilio.
Some-Body needs to step up!!!
pretty much means to attack the football when it's on the ground & "oskie" is what you yell to let teammates know you've intercepted pass & to start blockin'.
"We (the fans) will give OUR ALL for Tennessee today.--Much like the saying on the sign the players tap when coming out of the lockerroom before the game. Just a thought.
"Ball!" and "Oskie!" are vital parts of Volunteer Lore. Neyland was one of the first coaches to use "Hot" code words to pass important info on the field. BTop is right: "Oskie!" means the ball has been intercepted and for the Vols to start blocking for the interception return. "Ball!" means there has been a fumble and be alert to fall on the loose football.
Believe me TBA, everyone who has ever touched a football in East Tenn knows those two by heart. Hell, I find myself yelling from halfway up the Southside upper deck or to the television: "Ball!" and "Oskie!" to the guys on the field whenever we make a pick or there is a fumble (and I know I'm not alone!) My wife usually hides her face and mutters "Hon, they can't hear you." I know, and I don't care!
OMG
****I Will Give My ALL For Tennessee Today!****
This message has been edited by OneManGang from IP address 205.188.199.51 on Aug 5, 2001 10:10 PM
I instinctively yell ball and oskie, and so do some of the people near me in X11. Whenever I notice someone with this sort of esoteric understanding, I rate them pretty high in the Book of Vol Fans.
Sounds great guys but I'm not going to buy for one moment that this will happen under the tall guy's watch. This is the same man who is advertising half of Knoxville on UT'S STADIUM TV TRON.
Having the General's maxims recited before home games would embrace too much tradition for our fiscally minded administration of today. The University needs to find a way to honor RRN.
-------------
DEMAND EXCELLENCE
From your University!
Can you envision Superior in the locker room expecting the quiet time of the 2 bits lament & instead the ORANGE & WHITE crowd is hollering, stomping, frothing, spitting, fighting, waving, & whooooooing with that great kneeling picture of the General on the Jumbotron high above the ORANGE nation??!!!!! Even those men sitting in the West Stands who ranted & raved when Neyland was winning in late thirties & late forties will stand & repeat the MAXIMS!!!
At the Gainesville drain, they have some old f stand & lead some cheer at the start of the fourth quarter. He is effective!! We could have one of those men who played under General Neyland or a guest FAN of older stature lead a repeat of one or all of the MAXIMS before the game & at the start of the 4th quarter!!
I am sorry, those cheerleaders can barely remember '98!!
Leave that great picture on without words when the VOLS run through the T!! Players, coaches, & fans would be inspired!!
MouthJethro has chimed in negatively so it must be a good idea!! When BryanJethro chimes in with it will never work or TALL won't do it, the ORANGE Nation has a great idea, a tradition, & a WINNER!!
Who said ORANGE FAN inVOLment in the outcome of games is dead?
P.S. PV, you & Jimmy Hyams bring the substance & get your points across!!
This message has been edited by OrangeSkyVolFan from IP address 216.78.28.49 on Aug 6, 2001 8:39 AM
