Tennessee football fans, a big crowd divided, are split into several segments.

Some are hopeful. Eternal optimists, no matter the odds, continue to believe that better days are just around the corner. We’ll get ‘em next year.

Some are curious. Will whatever it is that Josh Heupel runs really work in the SEC?

Some are willing to wait and see if coaching assistants can survive in recruiting warfare with one hand tied behind them.

Many fans are confused. How can the Volunteers possibly overcome the mass migration of top talent – that wasn’t all that good in the first place?

Some are just plain negative. And, why wouldn’t they be? They have had their pockets picked. They paid full prices to see a show that fizzled out.

They didn’t deserve the Derek Dooley era (five victories, 19 losses to league foes). Butch Jones did an up-and-down yo-yo trick until the string broke. He went 0-8 against the SEC in his final fling.

Nobody ever said Jeremy Pruitt was a really smart coach but if his outfit cheated as charged, how do you explain the 3-7 record in his closing campaign?

Power T flag during the Vol Walk before the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in 2019. (photo by Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics)

Curious? Confused? Negative? Some remember athletics directors coming and going through the revolving door. Some even remember what UT paid for what they did.

Mike Hamilton gave us Lane Kiffin and Dooley – but never really explained why.

Dave Hart took the fake and bought Jones’ dream scheme.

John Angus Lauchlin Currie? Don’t forget him.

Who do you suppose chose Currie for Tennessee? Based on his first time around, as Hamilton’s key assistant, 2000-2009, insiders said he was the least popular person who ever worked in the athletics department. The Greg Schiano miscalculation dropped him to a lower level.

Currie’s infamous coach search set up the Phillip Fulmer comeback. He may have made the most serious error of all. He picked Pruitt.

Any need to go higher, to powerbrokers, chancellors and presidents? Some had no idea about the value of football or what makes it function. I don’t know how the trustees were so often wrong.

Against this background, here is a stunning fact: Tennessee has somehow managed to sell something more than 54,000 season tickets. There may have been generous discounts and other incentives. There is a hard-sell staff working on commissions.

We don’t know if donations are maintaining a winning pace. We do know athletics director Danny White brought in professional fund-raisers but picked a poor time to launch a giant campaign.

We also know the Volunteers are blessed with an amazing fan base.

I thought eight losing seasons in the past 13 years stacked the deck against the long-faithful paying customers. I thought too much turmoil had taken a toll, that the NCAA black cloud was very discouraging.

I thought 2020, with limited attendance cautiously spaced at historic Neyland Stadium, would be a knockout blow. I could foresee fans by the thousands discovering the comfort and convenience of Saturdays at home, no traffic hassles, no ticket, travel or parking costs, very large TV, inexpensive nibbles and treats, clean restrooms, the Pride of the Southland playing Rocky Top at the push of a button …

Why bother with how it used to be?

It appears I was wrong again. Tennessee fans never stopped bothering. Ticket sales are not too far off the 2019 pace. Amazing.

There is a difference in being there and not being there. Two hours before kickoff, there is only one place to be: The Vol Walk, pep rally meets parade, is an essential part of living.

The Walk starts up at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park and follows Peyton Manning Pass, to and through Gate 21. UT cheerleaders and the band encourage the multitude. At the peak of excitement, the football team comes marching along, ready for a fight.

(If you are keeping score, the Vol Walk was John Majors’ idea. It was introduced on the third Saturday of October 1990, before the Alabama game. If you really must know, the Tide won that day, 9-6. I refuse to go into details but believe me, it was a heartbreaker.)

There is nothing quite like the ambiance of a big game before a full house. You have to be there to feel Neyland Stadium vibrate when the Vols hit a home-run pass or make a crucial stop.

There haven’t been enough of those but hope springs eternal. Maybe Heupel can do it. What if he does? It could happen. Maybe you should go, just in case. Tickets are available.

Marvin West welcomes reader comments or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com.