(Note: We're not finished with the 50 Best Vol Games list, with six to go, it's just been a scattered week here and I don't want to try and speed through it before Saturday. As soon as more time frees up for me, we'll finish it off, no worries.)
As Keith Jackson leaves the announce booth (for real this time), the role of the marquee voice of college football is now up for grabs. Almost all of the announce teams that were in place two years ago have been reshuffled on both ABC/ESPN and CBS. And there are always some guys who bring out the essence of the moment during each game, and some guys that make you want to toss the remote.
As a point of emphasis, I did play-by-play broadcasting for Alcoa High School football in Tennessee for three years during college, which has helped shape my opinions about announce teams in general. And so as the season of my favorite sport is now underway (anybody catch that hit the BC defense put on the Central Michigan QB on the third play of the season? good grief, keep your head down!), here are my thoughts on the best and worst of college football announcing, plus some thoughts on the studio teams.
ANNOUNCE TEAMS
ESPN Thursday Night - Chris Fowler & Kirk Herbstreit
A new combination, and the first opportunity for Fowler as a play by play man. This is addition and subtraction from last year's crew: Mike Tirico is excellent at some events, especially golf, but I was always on the fence about him in college football. Fowler replaces him, but Lee Corso apparently won't be a part of the Thursday night broadcasts this year, and he had excellent chemistry with Herbstreit. If Fowler - who's one of the faces of the entire network and excellent on GameDay - can keep up with Kirk and the two of them have chemistry without Corso, this duo will work.
Grade: Incomplete (Fowler is brand new - Herbstreit gets an A- as an analyst)
ESPN2 Thursday Night - John Saunders, Craig James & Doug Flutie
Saunders is like Tirico, great at some things, but college football just isn't one of them. Lacks the excitement needed from the PBP man in college football. Craig James hasn't been the same since he left GameDay (and created Kirk Herbstreit). Listening to Flutie tonight, with some experience he can work and seems to enjoy calling the game, but this trio together may not work.
Grade: C-
ESPN 12:00 Telecast - Sean McDonough & Chris Spielman
Sean McDonough is my second favorite play by play man in football, college or pro, behind Ron Franklin. I'm not sure what happened to him - he went from being the main PBP man for CBS' SEC telecasts in the late 90s, to ESPN2's Saturday Night games, and now he's in the noon slot. If McDonough gets an A+, Spielman gets a D+. With lots of these crews, you find one really good announcer, and one guy who shouldn't be in the conversation.
Grade: C+
Lincoln Financial Sports - Dave Neal & Dave Rowe
These guys used to be the butt of lots of jokes, but they've grown on me over the years. I think Dave Neal has earned his keep as an announcer, plus the Dave, Dave & Dave combo when Dave Baker is on the sideline is always slightly humorous. Dave Neal earns points for being an all-around man, doing solid basketball work as well. The games they're calling are usually less important, but they still bring energy to the conversation. Maybe it's time to give the old JP its due...
Grade: B-
CBS SEC Game of the Week - Verne Lundquist & Gary Danielson
Big Verne is money, and is a great fit for SEC football. He trades Todd Blackledge to ABC/ESPN for Danielson, and that's even money. Danielson is above average, and will have a chance to shine getting some bigger games. We'll break these guys in on Saturday Night in two weeks with the Vols and the Gators. Great tandem.
Grade: A
ABC 3:30 Regional Telecast - Gary Thorne & Andre Ware
Gary Thorne made the most of the NHL Lockout, and became a solid announcer in more than one sport. He did a great job during the World Cup, makes baseball more exciting than most, and can do the same in college football. And yet again, you have a solid PBP man with a terrible ex-athlete. Andre Ware? Really?
Grade: C
ABC 3:30 Regional Telecast - Mark Jones & David Norrie
I think Mark Jones is one of the most underrated PBP men in any sport, though he doesn't quite capture the enthusiasm of a game the way that the very best tend to do. David Norrie is adequate, thus this is an adequate team.
Grade: B-
ABC 3:30 Regional Telecast - Dan Fouts & Tim Brant
Dan Fouts has been around the block a time or two, in college and the NFL. He's not good unless he's got somebody great with him, and while Tim Brant isn't terrible, he's not good enough to help Fouts carry this tandem.
Grade: C-
ESPN Midday Telecast - Dave Barnett & Bill Curry
You can catch these guys on Sunday this week, during Ole Miss & Memphis. Dave Barnett is underrated, and Bill Curry is knowledgeable, but his drawl and lack of speed and emotion takes away from the broadcast. Average, with room for improvement.
Grade: C+
ESPN2 Midday Telecast - Pam Ward & Mike Gottfried
Alright, now I like Mike Gottfried. And I think Pam Ward did a great job with the ESPN 12:00 games the last couple of years. But the two of them together? Not sure how that's going to work...we'll reserve judgement...
Grade: Incomplete
ESPN PrimeTime Saturday Night - Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul Maguire
(This is the team that will call the Tennessee-Cal game) Mr. EA NCAA, Brad Nessler, is just one of those guys who's good at most everything he does. Bob Griese was good with Ketih Jackson. Paul Maguire - though most people disagree with this opinion - I thought had good chemistry on ESPN's old NFL Sunday Night games, and if he can get in with these two, this will be an experienced, solid team. Are they better than Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried? Absolutely not, but if anyone has to replace that tandem, these guys can.
Grade: B+
ESPN2 Saturday Night - Ron Franklin & Ed Cunningham
Ron Franklin is THE man. Ed Cunningham is good enough. The only problem here? That it's the ESPN2 Saturday Night contest, which will give you such contests as Washington State at Auburn, and Arizona at LSU. Unless it's an absolutely loaded week of football, these guys won't get near the quality of game that they deserve, especially Franklin. I know that most people, nationally, know Nessler better than Franklin...but there's still no one better.
Grade: A-
ABC Saturday Night PrimeTime - Brent Musberger, Bob Davie & Kirk Herbstreit
Musberger, love him or hate him, is probably the most famous voice on this list. And though he can seem to favor one side over another ("The BUCKEYES!"), he gets it done. Herbstreit, as stated above, is great. Bob Davie is an idiot. He's bringing the ballclub down.
Grade: B
ESPN/2 Late Night - Mike Patrick & Todd Blackledge
Blackledge - who will also serve as an analyst for ESPN in studio - leaves CBS and comes over to join Patrick in a decent crew. These guys will serve double duty on opening weekend, doing Southern Cal-Arkansas on Saturday, and FSU-Miami on Monday Night. Capable tandem that may see some good games throughout the year.
Grade: B
STUDIO TEAMS
ESPN GameDay - Chris Fowler, Lee Corso & Kirk Herbstreit
Simply. The. Best. Ever. Nobody gets you ready on Saturday like these guys, live from wherever. They are college football.
Grade: A+
CBS - Tim Brando and a player(s) to be named later
Might be Spencer Tillman, I'm not sure and couldn't find it. These guys are good and do a nice job emphasizing the SEC and the nation, they're just not GameDay. Tim Brando is great.
Grade: B+
STUDIO ANALYSTS
ESPN - Lou Holtz & Mark May
Wait, where's Trev Alberts? Exactly. You can never, ever get enough Lou Holtz - who'll be picking South Carolina tonight but is very worried about Mississippi State - and Mark May has grown on me, though he'll have to work harder now that people aren't glad to hear him talk over Alberts anymore. These guys are good at what they do.
Grade: A-
As a bonus...here are some of the ex-players and interesting faces you can find in smaller market games...
- Charles Davis (former Tennessee DB) is back as an analyst for the TBS games, and has been picked up by FOX - the new official home of the BCS - to join baseball's Thom Brennaman to call the National Championship Game.
- On weeks where TBS has a late telecast, the one and only Chip Carey will call the game. Hopefully he'll be delayed by a Braves playoff run.
- The announce team for the CSS Replays of Tennessee games will include Pat Ryan - hands down the most entertaining color man in the history of radio when he was with Mike Keith
- The Alabama announce team for CSS Replays will inclue Tyler Watts (ree-ree!)
- John Ward is still one of the most awesome human beings to ever walk the earth. Actually, I'm not even sure if he's human. He might be something higher, up there with Tom Cruise or something. Except without the jumping on couches and general insanity, plus I'm pretty sure he could take him in a fight. If they ever released "John Ward Reads the Bible", there would no longer be any need for evangelism. I'm pretty sure Jesus would just go ahead and come back.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tennessee Football 06
There's a fine line between optimist, pessimist, and realist. I would enjoy sitting here and writing a piece on how the Vols will go 12-0, win the SEC Championship, and then beat Notre Dame on the last play of the game to win the National Championship. I would also enjoy trying to exactly pinpoint the final Top 25, and nail down Tennessee's final record. 8-4? 10-2? 6-6? And there are many of you out there who are - at least some percentage of you - pulling for the Vols to ultimately fail, so we can get a new head coach and you can revel in your own misery.
Welcome to college football.
It's impossible to predict what comes next, starting tomorrow night. But I think the point of all of these preseason predictions is a little off base. So I'm not going to throw a number at you. Instead, I'm going to remind you of something.
California is projected to be more talented than the Vols, and Lee Corso has picked them to win the National Championship. They have a Heisman candidate at tailback, and a young coach who has this program ready to break into the next level, something they can do with a win at Neyland Stadium. If Cal beats Tennessee - and the Bears are capable of killing Tennessee - it may destroy any momentum the Vols have and begin a downward spiral.
Florida has a senior quarterback, great wide receivers, and a tremendous defense with a coach who always does well his second year at a program. The Gators and Vols have split the last eight meetings. They beat Tennessee last year. Tennessee will be favored to start the season 1-2 by most.
Georgia has won five of six against Tennessee this millenium, has a stable of running backs and a coach who is leading a program that has won 10+ games every year since 2002. This will be this team's first hostile environment. They beat Tennessee last year, and feel that they own the Vols. Any momentum that's built by beating Marshall and Memphis will turn sour instantly, and if this is the third loss of the season for the Vols, any championship aspirations will evaporate, and seats will catch fire.
Alabama is our biggest rival and will bring Kenneth Darby, great wide receivers, and a solid defense into Knoxville. At this point, will Tennessee have anything to play for? The Tide beat the Vols last year and in 2002, and any feelings of ownage by the Vols are gone under Mike Shula. Alabama may want this one more by this point.
South Carolina has Steve Spurrier, Sidney Rice, a year and a half of experience in his offense and beat the Vols last year. The game will be played in the unfriendly confines of Williams-Bryce Stadium. Last year, the Vols did not rebound when they only had a lower-tier bowl to play for. Why would this year be any different?
LSU is enormously talented, experienced, and mad about what happened in Death Valley last year. The Tigers could still be playing for the National Championship at this point in the season, and will bring a ton of fans to Knoxville.
Arkansas, by the time the second week of November rolls around, will have Mitch Mustain working within the system, and Darren McFadden might be the best player in the SEC. We haven't seen this team since 2002, but when they were our annual rival the game was a contest every year. They too might want it more.
One loss will build the stage for another easily. The schedule is very difficult. The program hangs in a balance, and confidence by a thread with momentum from last year still hanging around. Tennessee could finish 2006 with a 5-7 record by no stretch of the imagination.
After 5-6, after 2005, it's easy to adopt the mentality of settling. Of thinking that we'll only do so well in 2006, of accepting losses. Of no longer expecting championships and believing and knowing that this team is capable of beating anyone on its schedule. Even I - arguably the biggest orange-tinted glasses wearer you know - entertained the idea of thinking about expecting less in 2006.
Then Bruce Pearl came along.
And made us believe again.
I believe Tennessee can win every game they play.
It's not that David Cutcliffe is Bruce Pearl, or that such a transformation is called for. But the talent is still there. The program is still ready. We are still the University of Tennessee.
I could write that the Vols can go 12-0. And they could. But that's not the point.
You can't predict how the length of a season will go in September. I can't tell you how we'll play against Florida until I see us against Cal. But I know that we can beat Cal. And if we can beat Cal, we can build that into a victory over Florida. And if the Vols start 3-0, they can beat anybody. And I mean anybody.
Will they? Won't they? Who knows? But the negativity that I've heard about the Vols - days before they've played a single game - is uncalled for. Fact is, you might have the whole season to be negative.
Tennessee can win, or lose on Saturday. And we'll go from there. And maybe the season goes south and we have to have some difficult conversations along the way and afterward. Maybe the Vols finish around 9-3, and it's up and down the whole way. Or maybe the Vols make magic happen, and the victories keep coming, vaulting Tennessee into the Top 5 and the national championship picture.
Don't talk to me about records, don't talk to me about predictions, don't talk to me about the hot seat. Don't talk to me about what it'll take to keep someone's job. The season is shaped week to week, not in August. Right now, we're 0-0. And we'll be following along every week, good or bad.
This is still my favorite time of the year. Watch it. Enjoy it. Live it.
Welcome to college football.
It's impossible to predict what comes next, starting tomorrow night. But I think the point of all of these preseason predictions is a little off base. So I'm not going to throw a number at you. Instead, I'm going to remind you of something.
California is projected to be more talented than the Vols, and Lee Corso has picked them to win the National Championship. They have a Heisman candidate at tailback, and a young coach who has this program ready to break into the next level, something they can do with a win at Neyland Stadium. If Cal beats Tennessee - and the Bears are capable of killing Tennessee - it may destroy any momentum the Vols have and begin a downward spiral.
Florida has a senior quarterback, great wide receivers, and a tremendous defense with a coach who always does well his second year at a program. The Gators and Vols have split the last eight meetings. They beat Tennessee last year. Tennessee will be favored to start the season 1-2 by most.
Georgia has won five of six against Tennessee this millenium, has a stable of running backs and a coach who is leading a program that has won 10+ games every year since 2002. This will be this team's first hostile environment. They beat Tennessee last year, and feel that they own the Vols. Any momentum that's built by beating Marshall and Memphis will turn sour instantly, and if this is the third loss of the season for the Vols, any championship aspirations will evaporate, and seats will catch fire.
Alabama is our biggest rival and will bring Kenneth Darby, great wide receivers, and a solid defense into Knoxville. At this point, will Tennessee have anything to play for? The Tide beat the Vols last year and in 2002, and any feelings of ownage by the Vols are gone under Mike Shula. Alabama may want this one more by this point.
South Carolina has Steve Spurrier, Sidney Rice, a year and a half of experience in his offense and beat the Vols last year. The game will be played in the unfriendly confines of Williams-Bryce Stadium. Last year, the Vols did not rebound when they only had a lower-tier bowl to play for. Why would this year be any different?
LSU is enormously talented, experienced, and mad about what happened in Death Valley last year. The Tigers could still be playing for the National Championship at this point in the season, and will bring a ton of fans to Knoxville.
Arkansas, by the time the second week of November rolls around, will have Mitch Mustain working within the system, and Darren McFadden might be the best player in the SEC. We haven't seen this team since 2002, but when they were our annual rival the game was a contest every year. They too might want it more.
One loss will build the stage for another easily. The schedule is very difficult. The program hangs in a balance, and confidence by a thread with momentum from last year still hanging around. Tennessee could finish 2006 with a 5-7 record by no stretch of the imagination.
After 5-6, after 2005, it's easy to adopt the mentality of settling. Of thinking that we'll only do so well in 2006, of accepting losses. Of no longer expecting championships and believing and knowing that this team is capable of beating anyone on its schedule. Even I - arguably the biggest orange-tinted glasses wearer you know - entertained the idea of thinking about expecting less in 2006.
Then Bruce Pearl came along.
And made us believe again.
I believe Tennessee can win every game they play.
It's not that David Cutcliffe is Bruce Pearl, or that such a transformation is called for. But the talent is still there. The program is still ready. We are still the University of Tennessee.
I could write that the Vols can go 12-0. And they could. But that's not the point.
You can't predict how the length of a season will go in September. I can't tell you how we'll play against Florida until I see us against Cal. But I know that we can beat Cal. And if we can beat Cal, we can build that into a victory over Florida. And if the Vols start 3-0, they can beat anybody. And I mean anybody.
Will they? Won't they? Who knows? But the negativity that I've heard about the Vols - days before they've played a single game - is uncalled for. Fact is, you might have the whole season to be negative.
Tennessee can win, or lose on Saturday. And we'll go from there. And maybe the season goes south and we have to have some difficult conversations along the way and afterward. Maybe the Vols finish around 9-3, and it's up and down the whole way. Or maybe the Vols make magic happen, and the victories keep coming, vaulting Tennessee into the Top 5 and the national championship picture.
Don't talk to me about records, don't talk to me about predictions, don't talk to me about the hot seat. Don't talk to me about what it'll take to keep someone's job. The season is shaped week to week, not in August. Right now, we're 0-0. And we'll be following along every week, good or bad.
This is still my favorite time of the year. Watch it. Enjoy it. Live it.
Monday, August 28, 2006
The Rules of Favorite Teams
I'm in Knoxville for a couple days, relaxing with some down time, and with most of my stats and info for the 50 Best Vol Games list back in Ceres, we're going in a different direction this afternoon with something that's bothered me for a long time and I feel needs to be set right. And today's the day.
We all know these guys in the sports realm who seem to bounce from team to team, bandwagon to bandwagon...but when their team of the month is doing well, they'll be all in your face about it and use words like "us" and "we" in describing the squad they've been following since the first of the month. And when things go south for said team, before you have a chance to turn around and put it back in their face, they've moved on to someone else and pretend like that doesn't bother them.
This is unacceptable. And so if you want to get in someone's face and run your mouth about any favorite sports team, college or professional, you should both be man/woman enough to stay with them when it's your turn to take it, and be bound to a select group of teams.
Therefore, today I'm unleashing the Official Rules of Favorite Teams. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Rule #1: By "favorite", we mean one.
In each of the big five - NBA, NFL, MLB, college football & basketball - you're allowed to have one team. That's your team. You don't get to be for Alabama and Auburn, because that's just stupid. You don't get to have an AFC team and an NFC team. You are allowed to pull for secondary teams (keep reading for the rules on this one), but as for "your team", you get one. Cut the fat, pick one.
For claification and personal integrity, my five are the Boston Celtics, the Tennessee Titans, the Atlanta Braves, and the University of Tennessee (football/basketball).
This part isn't complicated.
Rule #2: You must be able to explain - in terms we can all agree on - why said team is "your team".
For example, with mine:
- Boston Celtics: team I was raised on (through my grandparents)
- Tennessee Titans: team relocated to my area/city/hometown
- Atlanta Braves: team I was raised on/geographically closest
- University of Tennessee: team I was raised on/hometown team/alma mater
These are all acceptable reasons to be fans of the above teams. So if you live in Texas and you pull for the Spurs, that's cool. If you live in California and you pull for the Spurs, we're gonna need some credible evidence. Your alma mater is always acceptable, as is your hometown team, or the team geographically closest to you, or the team your parents/guardians raised on on.
As a sub-rule here, you are allowed to change favorite teams when two of these rules collide. For instance, I just moved near Blacksburg, VA. If I wanted to, under these rules I could legally make Virginia Tech my team in college athletics. BUT that means I would have to cease and desist being a diehard Tennessee fan - uh, which we're not going to do.
When the Oilers announced they were moving to Nashville, I became a Titans fan and left the Dallas Cowboys (team I was raised on). This is acceptable.
Gray areas with this rule: when a player is drafted from your college team. Many fans in Knoxville now support the Colorado Rockies and the Indianapolis Colts. This is shaky because if Todd Helton or Peyton Manning is traded and/or retires, your allegiance comes into question and you don't really have a team, you have a player. Very treacherous.
Reasons that are definitely not okay to have/change a team:
- They have cool uniforms (guys)
- They have cute uniforms (girls)
- They're the sexy cinderella pick and I want to sound knowledgeable
- They just won the Super Bowl/World Series/NBA Finals/BCS/Final Four
Rule #3: If you choose a team for an irrational/stupid/random reason, but you stick with that team for a lengthy period of trials and tribulations, you will slowly gain respect.
Real life example: let's say you choose to become a Chicago Cubs fan, for some reason, back in the early 1990s. We ridicule you for years because, let's be honest, it's the Cubs. But you never waver and you stay true to the Cubbies, through thin and thin. You are honest about it and knowledgeable - you know the players, you keep up in the standings, you follow the transactions, you get excited in the offseason, you use the phrase "this is our year" - and slowly we begin to see you as a "true" Cubs fan, because you've proved it through your practice. Under these circumstances, after a lengthy period of time (5-10 years), we will aknolwedge you as such, and even allow you to celebrate with great enthusiasm when they reach the NLCS. You will have earned our respect.
Real life example that does not work: you choose to become a Boston Red Sox fan because you liked a portrayal of them or a story from their history that you saw in a major motion picture, and then when they subsequently win the World Series the following season, you celebrate like crazy. Totally unacceptable, no respect awarded or deserved.
Rule #4: If your team has a lengthy period (5-10 years) of consistent below average performance - and the team is NOT your alma mater or hometown team - you may be allowed to leave them behind and choose a new team. But you cannot return to your old team if/when things suddenly turn around, nor can you abandon your new team because you were simply "trying them on for size".
And following this rule will still leave you a notch lower on the respect scale than if you had stayed true to your boys to the end.
Rule #5: Secondary teams are allowed, but engaging in any trash talk or verbal sparring in defense of this team is highly unethical.
I am allowed to cheer for Virginia Tech because I moved here. I am allowed to cheer for Florida State because a player from my high school, whose games I did the play by play for, signed a letter of intent with them. But should either of these schools face the University of Tennessee, I am not allowed to have any divided loyalties. And I am definitely not allowed to run down any Virginia or Miami fans simply because they're the rivals of my secondary teams. You should have plenty of enemies already. Likewise, I am not inclined to take any nonsense from marginal Alabama fans. Nor am I inclined to listen to you talk to me when your wife's favorite team beat my favorite team. Check yourself.
Rule #6: Keeping your favorite team quiet means you don't have enough faith.
Say it with me: THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE STILL GREAT!
Rule #7: You play to win the game (hello!)
"If you're gonna go, go all out." If they're your one favorite team, go with them. Support them. Love them. They need you, and you need them. Be clear about who you're with. Make sure your allegiances are legitimate. And if they're not, now's the time to get right. Now's the time to come clean. Step away from the bandwagon, come into the light on your own. We'll all respect you more for it. And if you choose poorly, it'll hurt more when you lose. But if you choose wisely, you'll love it to that same degree when you win.
We all know these guys in the sports realm who seem to bounce from team to team, bandwagon to bandwagon...but when their team of the month is doing well, they'll be all in your face about it and use words like "us" and "we" in describing the squad they've been following since the first of the month. And when things go south for said team, before you have a chance to turn around and put it back in their face, they've moved on to someone else and pretend like that doesn't bother them.
This is unacceptable. And so if you want to get in someone's face and run your mouth about any favorite sports team, college or professional, you should both be man/woman enough to stay with them when it's your turn to take it, and be bound to a select group of teams.
Therefore, today I'm unleashing the Official Rules of Favorite Teams. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Rule #1: By "favorite", we mean one.
In each of the big five - NBA, NFL, MLB, college football & basketball - you're allowed to have one team. That's your team. You don't get to be for Alabama and Auburn, because that's just stupid. You don't get to have an AFC team and an NFC team. You are allowed to pull for secondary teams (keep reading for the rules on this one), but as for "your team", you get one. Cut the fat, pick one.
For claification and personal integrity, my five are the Boston Celtics, the Tennessee Titans, the Atlanta Braves, and the University of Tennessee (football/basketball).
This part isn't complicated.
Rule #2: You must be able to explain - in terms we can all agree on - why said team is "your team".
For example, with mine:
- Boston Celtics: team I was raised on (through my grandparents)
- Tennessee Titans: team relocated to my area/city/hometown
- Atlanta Braves: team I was raised on/geographically closest
- University of Tennessee: team I was raised on/hometown team/alma mater
These are all acceptable reasons to be fans of the above teams. So if you live in Texas and you pull for the Spurs, that's cool. If you live in California and you pull for the Spurs, we're gonna need some credible evidence. Your alma mater is always acceptable, as is your hometown team, or the team geographically closest to you, or the team your parents/guardians raised on on.
As a sub-rule here, you are allowed to change favorite teams when two of these rules collide. For instance, I just moved near Blacksburg, VA. If I wanted to, under these rules I could legally make Virginia Tech my team in college athletics. BUT that means I would have to cease and desist being a diehard Tennessee fan - uh, which we're not going to do.
When the Oilers announced they were moving to Nashville, I became a Titans fan and left the Dallas Cowboys (team I was raised on). This is acceptable.
Gray areas with this rule: when a player is drafted from your college team. Many fans in Knoxville now support the Colorado Rockies and the Indianapolis Colts. This is shaky because if Todd Helton or Peyton Manning is traded and/or retires, your allegiance comes into question and you don't really have a team, you have a player. Very treacherous.
Reasons that are definitely not okay to have/change a team:
- They have cool uniforms (guys)
- They have cute uniforms (girls)
- They're the sexy cinderella pick and I want to sound knowledgeable
- They just won the Super Bowl/World Series/NBA Finals/BCS/Final Four
Rule #3: If you choose a team for an irrational/stupid/random reason, but you stick with that team for a lengthy period of trials and tribulations, you will slowly gain respect.
Real life example: let's say you choose to become a Chicago Cubs fan, for some reason, back in the early 1990s. We ridicule you for years because, let's be honest, it's the Cubs. But you never waver and you stay true to the Cubbies, through thin and thin. You are honest about it and knowledgeable - you know the players, you keep up in the standings, you follow the transactions, you get excited in the offseason, you use the phrase "this is our year" - and slowly we begin to see you as a "true" Cubs fan, because you've proved it through your practice. Under these circumstances, after a lengthy period of time (5-10 years), we will aknolwedge you as such, and even allow you to celebrate with great enthusiasm when they reach the NLCS. You will have earned our respect.
Real life example that does not work: you choose to become a Boston Red Sox fan because you liked a portrayal of them or a story from their history that you saw in a major motion picture, and then when they subsequently win the World Series the following season, you celebrate like crazy. Totally unacceptable, no respect awarded or deserved.
Rule #4: If your team has a lengthy period (5-10 years) of consistent below average performance - and the team is NOT your alma mater or hometown team - you may be allowed to leave them behind and choose a new team. But you cannot return to your old team if/when things suddenly turn around, nor can you abandon your new team because you were simply "trying them on for size".
And following this rule will still leave you a notch lower on the respect scale than if you had stayed true to your boys to the end.
Rule #5: Secondary teams are allowed, but engaging in any trash talk or verbal sparring in defense of this team is highly unethical.
I am allowed to cheer for Virginia Tech because I moved here. I am allowed to cheer for Florida State because a player from my high school, whose games I did the play by play for, signed a letter of intent with them. But should either of these schools face the University of Tennessee, I am not allowed to have any divided loyalties. And I am definitely not allowed to run down any Virginia or Miami fans simply because they're the rivals of my secondary teams. You should have plenty of enemies already. Likewise, I am not inclined to take any nonsense from marginal Alabama fans. Nor am I inclined to listen to you talk to me when your wife's favorite team beat my favorite team. Check yourself.
Rule #6: Keeping your favorite team quiet means you don't have enough faith.
Say it with me: THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE STILL GREAT!
Rule #7: You play to win the game (hello!)
"If you're gonna go, go all out." If they're your one favorite team, go with them. Support them. Love them. They need you, and you need them. Be clear about who you're with. Make sure your allegiances are legitimate. And if they're not, now's the time to get right. Now's the time to come clean. Step away from the bandwagon, come into the light on your own. We'll all respect you more for it. And if you choose poorly, it'll hurt more when you lose. But if you choose wisely, you'll love it to that same degree when you win.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 07. A Ring for Peyton
7. 1997: #3 Tennessee 30 - #11 Auburn 29 (SEC Championship)
When the divisional format was announced before the 1992 season, and the championship game was invented, the thought on most Vol fans' minds was "Now we'll get to play Alabama twice!" And so far, in 14 years of SEC Championship games, the Vols and Tide have never met. Someday, I'd love to see this, and I'm sure eventually it will happen - but the Vols have played in 4 championship games, and Alabama has played in 5, and we keep missing each other. In 1992, the Vols swept Georgia and Florida, but then lost three straight SEC contests and gave away the division. After that, the Gators hit their stride. Tennessee lost to Florida by 7 points in 93, 31-0 in 1994, turned a 30-14 lead into a 62-37 loss in 1995, and started down 35-0 in a 35-29 loss in 1996. Subsequently, Florida won the SEC East in each of its first five seasons, and went on to win the SEC Championship Game each time after 1992.
So when Florida again beat Peyton Manning and the Vols 33-20 in 1997, it looked to be same old, same old in Knoxville. Because, except for beating Florida and thus winning the Eastern Division, conference, or national championships...the Vols had done everything else. Here's a fun stat: between the 17-13 loss to Alabama in 1994, and the 28-24 loss at Arkansas in 1999, the Vols went 1-4 against Florida. They were 37-0 against the rest of the SEC.
I've said before, in Knoxville we only know two thought processes in mid-September: "Can we go all the way?" and "Will Florida lose twice?" Because if the Vols can beat the Gators, traditionally, they can beat anybody. But if you falter there, then you're going uphill the rest of the way. And starting in 1993, Florida didn't do much losing outside of the Noles. A probation Auburn team beat them by three points in 93 and 94, but no one else. The Gators went undefeated in the 95 regular season, and lost only to FSU in 96. So when the Vols fell in Gainesville in September 97, it had been three-plus years since Florida had lost an SEC game at all.
And we were getting tired of the Citrus Bowl.
Tennessee kept going about their business. Peyton Manning kept putting up ridiculous numbers. The Vols had found their running back in Jamal Lewis. And on October 11, Tennessee smoked Georgia 38-13. That night, the #1 Gators went into Death Valley to face #14 LSU. The Tigers had been the tease team for five years with Florida, always talented enough to play with them and never coming close. But on this night, the first chinks in the mighty Gator armor were revealed. LSU grabbed a big lead and held on, winning 28-21. And now, at least you knew you had a chance.
Florida played at #6 Auburn the very next week, but Spurrier's boys rebounded in a 24-10 victory, hammering Auburn QB Dameyune Craig. The Vols, meanwhile, picked up their third straight victory over Alabama. After both teams had an open date, on November 1 the Vols hosted South Carolina in the JP Sports 12:30 telecast. The Vols and Peyton Manning played ugly in the rain, but won 23-7. But as the game was drawing to a close in Knoxville, fans with radios in Neyland Stadium started getting the word out - the Cocktail Party had kicked off at 3:30, and the Dawgs were on fire. By the time fans were pulling out of Neyland Stadium, Georgia had opened a two possession lead on Florida, and for once - the only time in the last two decades - Georgia destroyed Florida 37-17.
And suddenly, the SEC East had fallen into Tennessee's lap.
There was still work to be done, including the 59-31 Manning-Couch showdown in Lexington that produced Manning's 500 yard day that still stands as the highest total in Tennessee history, and should've moved him closer to the Heisman Trophy. And after surviving against Vanderbilt 17-10, the Vols had won their first ever SEC Eastern Division title.
Which meant there was more football to be played, which is always a good thing. The Vols had also risen to #3 in the polls, behind undefeated Michigan and undefeated Nebraska. And while the Cornhuskers would roll in the Big 12 Championship Game, there was still the possibility of Michigan falling to Washington State in the Rose Bowl, which would then make the January 2 Orange Bowl between Nebraska and the Vols (if they won in Atlanta) for the National Championship. So there was everything on the line.
I went to my first Tennessee game at age 4 in 1985. I started going to every home game in 1988. After missing the Pacific game in 1990 (Chuck Webb's ACL tear) for a family reunion, I made it to every home game, either with my dad and our season tickets, or as a UT student, from the second game of 1990 until the Mississippi State game in 2003, when work finally won out on the lesser contests. Even living in Virginia, I'll still make it in for 5 of the 7 home games this year. I've seen everything at Neyland Stadium.
I've been to Tuscaloosa twice, Gainesville once, Athens three times, Columbia four times, Lexington four times and Nashville twice in the SEC. I was there for the first ever Thursday Night ESPN game at Louisville in 1991.
I've been to Peach Bowls following the 1987 and 2003 seasons. I was in Orlando to watch the Vols beat Ohio State on January 1, 1996. And I was in Tempe on the night it all came together.
All of that to say this - I've seen a lot of Tennessee Football. But my favorite atmosphere to watch a game in, without question, was the 1997 SEC Championship between Tennessee and Auburn.
First off, Atlanta is a cool city, and the Georgia Dome is a cool place - it's just a different thing if you've never seen a football game played indoors. Secondly, the SEC Championship is just a special game - it's not promised to you, you're happy to be there 100% of the time unlike some bowl games, you never know who you're going to play, and there's always something huge waiting for you if you win it.
I've been to all four SEC Championship Games the Vols have played in. In 1998 and 2001, the crowd was probably 80/20 orange. In 2004, the crowd was probably 65/35 Auburn because the Tigers were undefeated. But on this night, in 1997, it was 50/50. And I've never seen anything like it before or since.
The stadium was divided at the 50 yard line. You had one half of the field covered in orange, and the other half covered in deep blue. It was beautiful. Playing alongside of all the emotions involved with Tennessee's quest for the national championship, and Peyton Manning's quest for the Heisman, this was the first time playing the SEC Championship for both teams. And these just weren't any two teams - this was Tennessee and Auburn, two old friends back together again for the first time since 1991. Like I said, any SEC Championship Game is special. But this one...you don't forget your first time.
Tennessee got the opening kickoff, and put together one of the best opening drives I've ever seen, culminating in a 40 yard strike from Manning to Peerless Price. This game was the passing of the torch from senior Marcus Nash (9 catches for 126) to the junior Price (8 for 161). When the Vols went ahead 7-0 so quickly, it seemed like it was going to be one big celebration.
Then the beginnings of one of the most true facts in recent Tennessee history - that the Vols have never, ever played a good game in the Georgia Dome - came to life. It started with a 24 yard fumble return for a TD. That would be the first of an unbelieveable six turnovers by the Vols. When Tennessee fumbled again, Dameyune Craig went up top for 51 yards. Auburn would add two field goals and the Tigers led 20-7, just midway through the second quarter. It was the first time the Vols had been behind by two possessions since the Florida loss.
Jeff Hall gave the Vols a field goal going into the locker room to cut it to 20-10. In that locker room, the tone for the 1998 National Championship was set when Al Wilson delivered a fiery speech to the entire team, calling out Peyton Manning and Leonard Little and challenging the Vols to play the way they were capable of.
Tennessee responded, stopping Auburn on their opening drive and then roaring downfield, finishing the drive with Manning to Jermaine Copeland. The lead was cut to 20-17, and all seemed well.
But again, Auburn was a very good football team - 9-2 coming into this game - and the Tigers again burned the Vol secondary, going 24 yards to Fred Beasley to go back up 27-17. After yet another turnover, the Vols held and Manning found Peerless Price over the middle, who streaked downfield and scored from 46 yards away with 1:06 remaining in the third. Again, when it seemed like all was well, Auburn blocked the extra point and ran it back for two, and instead of trailing by only a field goal, the Vols were down 29-23.
After six turnovers and still being down only six points, in the 4th quarter you had to like our chances. And when the defense - which played exceptional football in the second half after the Beasley TD - held Auburn and forced a punt, the Vols finally went back in front. After a Jamal Lewis run, Manning went on a quick out to Marcus Nash, who shed two tackles and then was gone, 73 yards down the sideline. And suddenly, the Vols had the lead, 30-29.
11:14 still remained, but finally, Auburn turned it over. Dameyune Craig - who finished with 262 yards - had also hurt the Vols running the football, but he finally coughed one up on a scramble near midfield. The Vols didn't score, but the defense held again, and this time Jamal Lewis would run out the clock by himself, grinding out first down after first down, finishing with 127 yards on 31 carries. The Vols eventually ran Auburn out of time outs, took knees, and captured their first SEC Championship since 1990 with a 30-29 hard fought win over a good Auburn team.
Though the National Championship aspirations didn't quite work out, between Michigan's win and Nebraska's 42-17 stomping of the Vols, Tennessee took both the lessons learned from the Orange Bowl, and the authority as the defending SEC Champions with them into the memorable 1998 campaign. And even though Peyton Manning didn't win the Heisman, anytime someone ever tells you that he didn't win a big game, you point them to this one, and you tell them that yes, he does have a ring, and you tell them that he threw for 373 yards and 4 touchdowns in the SEC Championship Game. A great way for Manning to go out.
(Note: You can watch video highlights of this game right here.)
When the divisional format was announced before the 1992 season, and the championship game was invented, the thought on most Vol fans' minds was "Now we'll get to play Alabama twice!" And so far, in 14 years of SEC Championship games, the Vols and Tide have never met. Someday, I'd love to see this, and I'm sure eventually it will happen - but the Vols have played in 4 championship games, and Alabama has played in 5, and we keep missing each other. In 1992, the Vols swept Georgia and Florida, but then lost three straight SEC contests and gave away the division. After that, the Gators hit their stride. Tennessee lost to Florida by 7 points in 93, 31-0 in 1994, turned a 30-14 lead into a 62-37 loss in 1995, and started down 35-0 in a 35-29 loss in 1996. Subsequently, Florida won the SEC East in each of its first five seasons, and went on to win the SEC Championship Game each time after 1992.
So when Florida again beat Peyton Manning and the Vols 33-20 in 1997, it looked to be same old, same old in Knoxville. Because, except for beating Florida and thus winning the Eastern Division, conference, or national championships...the Vols had done everything else. Here's a fun stat: between the 17-13 loss to Alabama in 1994, and the 28-24 loss at Arkansas in 1999, the Vols went 1-4 against Florida. They were 37-0 against the rest of the SEC.
I've said before, in Knoxville we only know two thought processes in mid-September: "Can we go all the way?" and "Will Florida lose twice?" Because if the Vols can beat the Gators, traditionally, they can beat anybody. But if you falter there, then you're going uphill the rest of the way. And starting in 1993, Florida didn't do much losing outside of the Noles. A probation Auburn team beat them by three points in 93 and 94, but no one else. The Gators went undefeated in the 95 regular season, and lost only to FSU in 96. So when the Vols fell in Gainesville in September 97, it had been three-plus years since Florida had lost an SEC game at all.
And we were getting tired of the Citrus Bowl.
Tennessee kept going about their business. Peyton Manning kept putting up ridiculous numbers. The Vols had found their running back in Jamal Lewis. And on October 11, Tennessee smoked Georgia 38-13. That night, the #1 Gators went into Death Valley to face #14 LSU. The Tigers had been the tease team for five years with Florida, always talented enough to play with them and never coming close. But on this night, the first chinks in the mighty Gator armor were revealed. LSU grabbed a big lead and held on, winning 28-21. And now, at least you knew you had a chance.
Florida played at #6 Auburn the very next week, but Spurrier's boys rebounded in a 24-10 victory, hammering Auburn QB Dameyune Craig. The Vols, meanwhile, picked up their third straight victory over Alabama. After both teams had an open date, on November 1 the Vols hosted South Carolina in the JP Sports 12:30 telecast. The Vols and Peyton Manning played ugly in the rain, but won 23-7. But as the game was drawing to a close in Knoxville, fans with radios in Neyland Stadium started getting the word out - the Cocktail Party had kicked off at 3:30, and the Dawgs were on fire. By the time fans were pulling out of Neyland Stadium, Georgia had opened a two possession lead on Florida, and for once - the only time in the last two decades - Georgia destroyed Florida 37-17.
And suddenly, the SEC East had fallen into Tennessee's lap.
There was still work to be done, including the 59-31 Manning-Couch showdown in Lexington that produced Manning's 500 yard day that still stands as the highest total in Tennessee history, and should've moved him closer to the Heisman Trophy. And after surviving against Vanderbilt 17-10, the Vols had won their first ever SEC Eastern Division title.
Which meant there was more football to be played, which is always a good thing. The Vols had also risen to #3 in the polls, behind undefeated Michigan and undefeated Nebraska. And while the Cornhuskers would roll in the Big 12 Championship Game, there was still the possibility of Michigan falling to Washington State in the Rose Bowl, which would then make the January 2 Orange Bowl between Nebraska and the Vols (if they won in Atlanta) for the National Championship. So there was everything on the line.
I went to my first Tennessee game at age 4 in 1985. I started going to every home game in 1988. After missing the Pacific game in 1990 (Chuck Webb's ACL tear) for a family reunion, I made it to every home game, either with my dad and our season tickets, or as a UT student, from the second game of 1990 until the Mississippi State game in 2003, when work finally won out on the lesser contests. Even living in Virginia, I'll still make it in for 5 of the 7 home games this year. I've seen everything at Neyland Stadium.
I've been to Tuscaloosa twice, Gainesville once, Athens three times, Columbia four times, Lexington four times and Nashville twice in the SEC. I was there for the first ever Thursday Night ESPN game at Louisville in 1991.
I've been to Peach Bowls following the 1987 and 2003 seasons. I was in Orlando to watch the Vols beat Ohio State on January 1, 1996. And I was in Tempe on the night it all came together.
All of that to say this - I've seen a lot of Tennessee Football. But my favorite atmosphere to watch a game in, without question, was the 1997 SEC Championship between Tennessee and Auburn.
First off, Atlanta is a cool city, and the Georgia Dome is a cool place - it's just a different thing if you've never seen a football game played indoors. Secondly, the SEC Championship is just a special game - it's not promised to you, you're happy to be there 100% of the time unlike some bowl games, you never know who you're going to play, and there's always something huge waiting for you if you win it.
I've been to all four SEC Championship Games the Vols have played in. In 1998 and 2001, the crowd was probably 80/20 orange. In 2004, the crowd was probably 65/35 Auburn because the Tigers were undefeated. But on this night, in 1997, it was 50/50. And I've never seen anything like it before or since.
The stadium was divided at the 50 yard line. You had one half of the field covered in orange, and the other half covered in deep blue. It was beautiful. Playing alongside of all the emotions involved with Tennessee's quest for the national championship, and Peyton Manning's quest for the Heisman, this was the first time playing the SEC Championship for both teams. And these just weren't any two teams - this was Tennessee and Auburn, two old friends back together again for the first time since 1991. Like I said, any SEC Championship Game is special. But this one...you don't forget your first time.
Tennessee got the opening kickoff, and put together one of the best opening drives I've ever seen, culminating in a 40 yard strike from Manning to Peerless Price. This game was the passing of the torch from senior Marcus Nash (9 catches for 126) to the junior Price (8 for 161). When the Vols went ahead 7-0 so quickly, it seemed like it was going to be one big celebration.
Then the beginnings of one of the most true facts in recent Tennessee history - that the Vols have never, ever played a good game in the Georgia Dome - came to life. It started with a 24 yard fumble return for a TD. That would be the first of an unbelieveable six turnovers by the Vols. When Tennessee fumbled again, Dameyune Craig went up top for 51 yards. Auburn would add two field goals and the Tigers led 20-7, just midway through the second quarter. It was the first time the Vols had been behind by two possessions since the Florida loss.
Jeff Hall gave the Vols a field goal going into the locker room to cut it to 20-10. In that locker room, the tone for the 1998 National Championship was set when Al Wilson delivered a fiery speech to the entire team, calling out Peyton Manning and Leonard Little and challenging the Vols to play the way they were capable of.
Tennessee responded, stopping Auburn on their opening drive and then roaring downfield, finishing the drive with Manning to Jermaine Copeland. The lead was cut to 20-17, and all seemed well.
But again, Auburn was a very good football team - 9-2 coming into this game - and the Tigers again burned the Vol secondary, going 24 yards to Fred Beasley to go back up 27-17. After yet another turnover, the Vols held and Manning found Peerless Price over the middle, who streaked downfield and scored from 46 yards away with 1:06 remaining in the third. Again, when it seemed like all was well, Auburn blocked the extra point and ran it back for two, and instead of trailing by only a field goal, the Vols were down 29-23.
After six turnovers and still being down only six points, in the 4th quarter you had to like our chances. And when the defense - which played exceptional football in the second half after the Beasley TD - held Auburn and forced a punt, the Vols finally went back in front. After a Jamal Lewis run, Manning went on a quick out to Marcus Nash, who shed two tackles and then was gone, 73 yards down the sideline. And suddenly, the Vols had the lead, 30-29.
11:14 still remained, but finally, Auburn turned it over. Dameyune Craig - who finished with 262 yards - had also hurt the Vols running the football, but he finally coughed one up on a scramble near midfield. The Vols didn't score, but the defense held again, and this time Jamal Lewis would run out the clock by himself, grinding out first down after first down, finishing with 127 yards on 31 carries. The Vols eventually ran Auburn out of time outs, took knees, and captured their first SEC Championship since 1990 with a 30-29 hard fought win over a good Auburn team.
Though the National Championship aspirations didn't quite work out, between Michigan's win and Nebraska's 42-17 stomping of the Vols, Tennessee took both the lessons learned from the Orange Bowl, and the authority as the defending SEC Champions with them into the memorable 1998 campaign. And even though Peyton Manning didn't win the Heisman, anytime someone ever tells you that he didn't win a big game, you point them to this one, and you tell them that yes, he does have a ring, and you tell them that he threw for 373 yards and 4 touchdowns in the SEC Championship Game. A great way for Manning to go out.
(Note: You can watch video highlights of this game right here.)
Friday, August 25, 2006
Random Thoughts - Friday Morning
- The Braves are at the breaking point. The Reds' come from behind victory in SanFran last night leaves Atlanta 7 games back with the calendar rushing towards September. Atlanta lost two of three at home to the team with the worst record in the National League earlier this week, and there's simply no more time for any margin of error. The Braves have closed to within 4.5 games three times since the All-Star Break, but have gotten no closer. Consistent starting pitching and more clutch hitting is what Atlanta simply must have if the Braves have any shot to sneak into the playoffs. The odds are stacked highly against them, but this is Atlanta and they've done it since 1991, so I'm not calling them dead until they are.
- PacMan Jones was charged with disorderly conduct after a profanity-laced argument with a woman in Nashville last night. The Titans' CB has been a love-hate player in Nashville for the past two seasons, picked #6 in the 2005 Draft and shown flashes of living up to it, but this would be his second charge in as many years, and Jeff Fisher doesn't like trouble. If Jones can keep his head on straight, he's a key part of the Titans' young defense. If not, he'll get in the doghouse rapidly, and the team will suffer. Stay tuned...
- ESPN.com's SEC Preview has no mention whatsoever of Tennessee, running feature stories on Chris Leak, Quentin Moses, LaRon Landry, and Kenny Irons. I'm not upset about it, and those are all good pieces to read...but I can't figure out if it's good or bad that the Vols are flying so low beneath the national radar. When sites like ESPN discuss who's going to win the SEC East, often times you won't see the Vols even in the conversation, which goes something like "it's the winner of the Cocktail Party, and watch out for South Carolina". I know this makes no difference in the grand scheme of things, but it's a new thing for me and I'm still adjusting...
- Finally, Alcoa and Maryville renew Tennessee's best high school football rivalry tonight. The News-Sentinel is predicting crowds in excess of 10,000 out at Maryville to watch this clash; the crowds at Alcoa last year eclipsed 8,000 easily. Even playing without Brandon Warren, it'll be hard for Alcoa to have had a better shot at beating Maryville than they did last year, which turned into a 41-21 loss that wasn't really that close. The Rebels did suspend four players this week, including their starting running back, and the last time Alcoa won in 2000, a similar situation unfolded in a 14-7 victory that propeled the Tornadoes to their first of three state titles in six years. Maryville has won five of six, and both schools have won back-to-back titles. If you're in the Knoxville area, you owe it to yourself to check this out, both for the D1 prospects you'll see on the field, and for the unmatched atmosphere of this rivalry game. For my alma mater today, I'd love to find a Rebel flag, shred it, and hang it outside my front door - but the folks up here in the Virginia hills probably wouldn't appreciate that. Here's pulling for an Alcoa win.
- PacMan Jones was charged with disorderly conduct after a profanity-laced argument with a woman in Nashville last night. The Titans' CB has been a love-hate player in Nashville for the past two seasons, picked #6 in the 2005 Draft and shown flashes of living up to it, but this would be his second charge in as many years, and Jeff Fisher doesn't like trouble. If Jones can keep his head on straight, he's a key part of the Titans' young defense. If not, he'll get in the doghouse rapidly, and the team will suffer. Stay tuned...
- ESPN.com's SEC Preview has no mention whatsoever of Tennessee, running feature stories on Chris Leak, Quentin Moses, LaRon Landry, and Kenny Irons. I'm not upset about it, and those are all good pieces to read...but I can't figure out if it's good or bad that the Vols are flying so low beneath the national radar. When sites like ESPN discuss who's going to win the SEC East, often times you won't see the Vols even in the conversation, which goes something like "it's the winner of the Cocktail Party, and watch out for South Carolina". I know this makes no difference in the grand scheme of things, but it's a new thing for me and I'm still adjusting...
- Finally, Alcoa and Maryville renew Tennessee's best high school football rivalry tonight. The News-Sentinel is predicting crowds in excess of 10,000 out at Maryville to watch this clash; the crowds at Alcoa last year eclipsed 8,000 easily. Even playing without Brandon Warren, it'll be hard for Alcoa to have had a better shot at beating Maryville than they did last year, which turned into a 41-21 loss that wasn't really that close. The Rebels did suspend four players this week, including their starting running back, and the last time Alcoa won in 2000, a similar situation unfolded in a 14-7 victory that propeled the Tornadoes to their first of three state titles in six years. Maryville has won five of six, and both schools have won back-to-back titles. If you're in the Knoxville area, you owe it to yourself to check this out, both for the D1 prospects you'll see on the field, and for the unmatched atmosphere of this rivalry game. For my alma mater today, I'd love to find a Rebel flag, shred it, and hang it outside my front door - but the folks up here in the Virginia hills probably wouldn't appreciate that. Here's pulling for an Alcoa win.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 08. Draining The Swamp
8. 2001: #5 Tennessee 34 - #2 Florida 32 (Gainesville, FL)
The story of this game begins on September 11, when the attack on NY/DC postponed the game until December 1. At that point in time, Donte' Stallworth had a broken wrist, John Henderson had a sprained ankle, and Earnest Graham did not. Florida was the preseason #1 in the AP poll in 2001.
After the Vols returned to action and beat LSU, they rose to #6 in the polls. On October 7, Georgia stunned the Vols in the final minute to win 26-24, breaking the Vols hearts and sending them downward to 13th in the poll. The following week, Florida lost 23-20 at Auburn. The climb back to the national championship picture would seem steep for both teams.
The Vols began to pick up ground quickly, thanks to their schedule. They rose to 9th after beating Alabama, then to 7th after beating South Carolina as November rolled around. Florida continued to roll, beating Georgia to move back into the Top 5 and set up the SEC East showdown on December 1.
When the calendar moved to November, the Vols were still at #7 with Miami and Nebraska both undefeated, and nine other one-loss teams still playing. There seemed no point in thinking about anything other than the SEC race. Then, as it has been so many times, November started being good to the Vols. On the first weekend, Michigan State upset Michigan to move the Vols to #6 as UT won at Notre Dame. But two weeks later, no one above them had lost, and the Vols found themselves sliding back down to #7 after the November 17 games, passed by Oregon after narrowly beating Kentucky. The Vols were ranked 7th with only one week of football left. It seemed totally impossible to get back into the race.
It started on the day after Thanksgiving. #2 Nebraska traveled to #14 Colorado, to face the rivals they'd beaten every year for almost a decade. And what Colorado did to Nebraska that day, the program still hasn't recovered from. I was driving back from Memphis when I heard the score on the radio: "Second quarter, Colorado 28 - Nebraska 0" and I almost wrecked my car, literally. By the time it was over, Colorado won 62-36, and the dominoes were falling.
The next day, as the Vols shut out Vanderbilt, unranked Oklahoma State went into Norman and stunned #4 Oklahoma 16-13. Suddenly, the Vols were #5. Miami's 65-7 thrashing of Washington (this team was really, really, really good) kept them at #1. But on the morning of December 1, the Gators were #2, Texas #3, and Oregon #4. And after Florida, the BCS margin between Texas, Oregon, and the Vols was razor thin. If the Vols could pull off the upset in Gainesville, they would leap Oregon without question in the BCS, and it would be real close with Texas...
December 1, 2001 is one of my favorite football days of all time. #1 Miami would play at #14 Virginia Tech. The SEC rescheduled games were played, and while the Vols and Gators would collide for the SEC Eastern Division title, LSU and Auburn would face off to determine the SEC West title. Oregon would play Oregon State in the Civil War. And the Big 12 Championship Game went on as scheduled, sending #3 Texas against suddenly red-hot Colorado. The opportunity was there for the Vols...really, the opportunity was there for everybody.
Standing in their way was arguably the most talented Florida team the Vols have ever faced, though without Earnest Graham. At this point, Rex Grossman was a Heisman frontrunner, competing with Ken Dorsey and Eric Crouch. He was throwing to Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, Taylor Jacobs and Carlos Perez. The offensive line featured Mike Pearson, Zac Zedalis, and Max Starks. On defense, the Gators led with infamous Alex Brown at end, with Ian Scott and Tron LaFavor at tackles. The linebackers were especially nasty, with Andra Davis and Mike Nattiel. And the loaded secondary featured Lito Sheppard, Keiwan Ratliff, Marquand Manuel, Guss Scott, and Todd Johnson. Oh yeah, and your head coach of the Florida Gators: Steve Spurrier.
But this wasn't just any Tennessee team either. By this point, Casey Clausen was a veteran, and Travis Stephens had been in the running for the Doak Walker award until being slowed by Notre Dame and the Vols' inability to run after falling behind 21-0 to Kentucky. With Donte' Stallworth, Kelley Washington, and Jason Witten lining up with an offensive line featuring Fred Weary and Scott Wells. The Vols fielded their best defensive line ever, with Will Overstreet, John Henderson, and Albert Haynesworth playing in front of Eddie Moore, Dominique Stevenson and Keyon Whiteside. Andre Lott, Jabari Greer, Julian Battle and Rashad Baker filled out the secondary. In short: clash of the titans.
The feature piece on ESPN GameDay (live from Gainesville) was about Gaffney and Caldwell, supposedly the best 1-2 receiver combination in America. But Stallworth-Washington was right up there with them, no doubt. And these two defenses were equally fierce. This should have been an even match, with the Gators getting the advantage because Tennessee hadn't won in The Swamp since 1971, going 0-7 in 30 years. So yeah, Florida should've been the favorite. Nobody was surprised when the Vols were underdogs.
18 points though, was a bit ridiculous.
There was no way that this team should've been 18 point underdogs to anybody. It's hard to imagine Florida and Tennessee ever playing where someone is an 18 point dog. The last three contests had been decided by 3 (in overtime), 2, and 4. Two top five teams should never be separated by 18 points. And yet, that's what you had.
And you had motivation in Knoxville.
As the Vols pulled out of K-Town, the words on the mouths and hearts of Vol nation were "We Believe." You found it on billboards on I-40, on convenience store marquees, it was everywhere. Screw 18 points, forget what Kentucky's passing game did to our secondary just 14 days ago...we believe.
In 1999, the Vols played in The Swamp for the first time in 30 years without fear. They traded it for arrogance and were beaten. In 2001, the Vols remained fearless but tempered it with blue collar determination. The Vols hit the field and essentially told Florida to buckle up - this one was going sixty minutes.
Crowded into Kory's apartment in downtown with about 30 other people, I watched this one unfold. And I can tell you where I was standing, what shirt I was wearing, and exactly the way that room looked. On a list of pound-for-pound, minute-for-minute, most exhiliarting Tennessee football games to watch, this one is alone at the top.
On Florida's first drive, the Gators went three and out. Cue the Vols, who methodically marched downfield, using quick passes from Clausen all over the field to push the defense back and allow Travis Stephens to start his motor. The Vols drove in time consuming fashion, and once they got close, Clausen hit Troy Fleming on the sideline for the score. One drive, 7-0 Vols.
The drive was so long that you were almost waiting for something to go wrong. On Florida's next possession, John Henderson got a mitt on a Grossman pass (who's just short enough to be bothered by Big John and Big Al in the middle), and Jabari Greer picked it off. And from that point, you knew the Vols could roll with them. A few plays later, from six yards out, Travis Stephens scored his first touchdown of the night, and the Vols led 14-0 with 3:03 left in the first quarter. Two drives, two touchdowns.
Then, what seemed like the inevitable happened: here comes Florida, who, in the years that they beat Tennessee, didn't just answer Vol scoring drives, they overwhelmed them. And in the second quarter of this contest, Florida did just that. It started with a bomb to Reche Caldwell to the one yard line, where Grossman would sneak in a play later. On Tennessee's third drive, Clausen went to Jason Witten, but Witten fumbled along the sideline and the ball stayed in bounds, and there was Todd Johnson, who returned the ball to the 16 yard line. Thankfully, the Vol defense held and the Gators knocked home a field goal to make it 14-10, but all the momentum was gone in the span of three minutes of game time.
Then it got worse. Clausen again went to Witten, who couldn't pull it in, and the ball was off his hands and into the arms of Mike Nattiel. This time Grossman went to Gaffney from 21 yards out, and now Florida had the lead 17-14 with still 9:00 left before halftime. The Vols ate away most of that clock, but the drive stalled on a failed 4th down conversion. The Gators would close out the half with another field goal, and led 20-14 at the break.
At halftime, I remember thinking that we couldn't possibly play any better than we had in the first quarter, and we were still losing. That, for all of our talent and effort, in The Swamp, you just can't play that well for the entire game - that we'd had our shot and now it was gone, and the momentum and energy on Florida's side we couldn't get back.
It took Tennessee four plays to prove me wrong.
The Vols came out of the second half throwing, and Clausen hit three consecutive completions, including a long one to Donte' Stallworth. At the Florida 35, they went back to Travis Stephens, and Stephens put Tennessee on his back from this point. He roared all 35 yards into the end zone, and in one minute and fifty-six seconds of game time, the Vols were back in front 21-20. Stephens was just getting warmed up.
Florida's offense was equal to the task, storming downfield. But the Vols scored one of their four sacks of Grossman on the night, and Florida instead was forced to settle for three. Jeff Chandler's kick put the Gators back on top 23-21 with 5:54 still left in the third.
Casey Clausen made his worst decision of the night on the next drive, firing into traffic where he was intercepted by Lito Sheppard. Florida again had the opportunity to get ahead by two possessions, and was faced with a 4th and one at the Vol 31. Spurrier being Spurrier, he sent the offense onto the field, but Florida was called for false start. He left the offense out there, now turning down a 53 yard attempt on 4th and 6. Will Overstreet sacked Grossman, and the see-saw went back Tennessee's way.
Tennessee's next drive ate up more clock and featured more Travis Stephens, breaking off another big run - this after the Vols went for it on 4th and 1 near midfield and got it - to set up Jabari Davis, who punched it in as the game moved to the 4th quarter. The Vols went for two and failed, but still led 27-23.
Florida came right back downfield, but in close, this drive featured a "did he fumble or not" play when Grossman was leveled in the backfield. The play was ruled an incomplete pass, but if instant replay was in effect I think it would've been overturned. As a result, the Gators sent the field goal unit on, and Jeff Chandler bombed one home from 52 yards. The Vols still led 27-26, with 10:30 to play.
Would the Vols go conservative? Well, not exactly. First, Clausen hit Bobby Graham - the
subtle MVP of the night - for one of his seven catches for a big first down on 3rd down. And if by going conservative, you mean handing the ball to Travis Stephens, on this night it was the right call. On the definitive memory play of the game, Stephens ripped off 68 yards and embarassed, in turn, Marquand Manuel and Guss Scott. The authority with which he ran signified the Vols' intent the whole night - in the postgame, Lee Corso would say "Tennessee lined it up and said, "Come on, Florida. Bring it on." And they ran right at them." That's exactly what the Vols did, for 242 yards. Stephens' 226 is one of the top five all time rushing performances at the university.
Jabari Davis continued to reap the benefits of Stephens long but not quite touchdown runs. J-Train punched it in this time from one yard out, and suddenly the Vols led 34-26. The decision to go for two and missing left the game at one possession, with 8:30 to play.
Then, the Vol defense made an incredible stand, holding the Gators and forcing a punt. This time, perhaps Tennessee did get just a wee bit too conversative, but it's hard to complain - after being stopped, the Vols sent Dustin Colquitt on for his only punt of the night.
Rex Grossman was 77 yards away and time was precious. But the Heisman candidate went right to work, bringing Florida downfield, converting third downs, and ultimately putting the Gators in the end zone on a TD pass to Carlos Perez with 1:10 remaining. 34-32, and the Gators needed the two to tie. Grossman, sacked four times and beaten much worse than that, had a remarkable performance of 33 of 51 for 362 yards. Grossman has earned his place with Jay Barker and Danny Wuerfful as quarterbacks for teams I dislike that have my respect.
But Grossman needed the two to tie the game. He needed it for the Heisman, and Florida needed it for their season. The Gators went to the air - on the night, they ran for only 36 yards. Grossman was hurried by the Vol D, fired and the pass was broken up by Buck Fitzgerald (seen here celebrating with Andre Lott). We were almost home.
The onside kick was the last hope, and John Finlayson - who says tight ends aren't important - made a leaping grab to hang on to the ball. Then came the victory formation. Then came the realization. Then came the celebration.
Tennessee 34 - Florida 32.
By itself, beating Florida was and is an accomplishment. Winning in The Swamp erased all the years of frustration and the label that the Vols couldn't do this or that - something they cemented two years later by winning again. But this one was with everything on the table, and Tennessee won it.
On the day, #1 Miami narrowly escaped Virginia Tech 26-24 to lock up the #1 spot in the BCS. #4 Oregon was shaky but beat Oregon State 17-14, but the Vols would vault them. And any Texas controversy was erased when Chris Simms met the Colorado defense, and the Buffaloes stole the Big 12 Championship. By night's end, the Vols were left standing at #2 in the polls, #2 in the BCS - and it wasn't even close.
Later that night, LSU upended Auburn to win the SEC West. And seven days later, the most heartbreaking loss that I know of - the game that would be an easy #1 on the opposite of this list - happened in the Georgia Dome, ending the elation of this game far, far too soon. The Vols got seven days of celebration out of this win, and then it was over. Had Tennessee won the SEC Championship - regardless of success or failure against Miami in the Rose Bowl - this game would be in the Top 4. Instead, we're left with only the brief memories of that night...
In Knoxville, the celebration was enormous. The Strip was alive, fans rushed to Neyland Stadium ("Let's get the goal posts!"), and Tennessee Football was king. On a list of Phil Fulmer's most important wins ever, this one would be at or near the top. Travis Stephens was a hero and should have won the Doak Walker Award. But it was the effort of the entire team, for all sixty minutes, that made this one truly memorable. Tennessee walked into Gainesville 18 point underdogs with 30 years of heavy baggage. The Vols walked out as SEC Eastern Division Champions.
The story of this game begins on September 11, when the attack on NY/DC postponed the game until December 1. At that point in time, Donte' Stallworth had a broken wrist, John Henderson had a sprained ankle, and Earnest Graham did not. Florida was the preseason #1 in the AP poll in 2001.
After the Vols returned to action and beat LSU, they rose to #6 in the polls. On October 7, Georgia stunned the Vols in the final minute to win 26-24, breaking the Vols hearts and sending them downward to 13th in the poll. The following week, Florida lost 23-20 at Auburn. The climb back to the national championship picture would seem steep for both teams.
The Vols began to pick up ground quickly, thanks to their schedule. They rose to 9th after beating Alabama, then to 7th after beating South Carolina as November rolled around. Florida continued to roll, beating Georgia to move back into the Top 5 and set up the SEC East showdown on December 1.
When the calendar moved to November, the Vols were still at #7 with Miami and Nebraska both undefeated, and nine other one-loss teams still playing. There seemed no point in thinking about anything other than the SEC race. Then, as it has been so many times, November started being good to the Vols. On the first weekend, Michigan State upset Michigan to move the Vols to #6 as UT won at Notre Dame. But two weeks later, no one above them had lost, and the Vols found themselves sliding back down to #7 after the November 17 games, passed by Oregon after narrowly beating Kentucky. The Vols were ranked 7th with only one week of football left. It seemed totally impossible to get back into the race.
It started on the day after Thanksgiving. #2 Nebraska traveled to #14 Colorado, to face the rivals they'd beaten every year for almost a decade. And what Colorado did to Nebraska that day, the program still hasn't recovered from. I was driving back from Memphis when I heard the score on the radio: "Second quarter, Colorado 28 - Nebraska 0" and I almost wrecked my car, literally. By the time it was over, Colorado won 62-36, and the dominoes were falling.
The next day, as the Vols shut out Vanderbilt, unranked Oklahoma State went into Norman and stunned #4 Oklahoma 16-13. Suddenly, the Vols were #5. Miami's 65-7 thrashing of Washington (this team was really, really, really good) kept them at #1. But on the morning of December 1, the Gators were #2, Texas #3, and Oregon #4. And after Florida, the BCS margin between Texas, Oregon, and the Vols was razor thin. If the Vols could pull off the upset in Gainesville, they would leap Oregon without question in the BCS, and it would be real close with Texas...
December 1, 2001 is one of my favorite football days of all time. #1 Miami would play at #14 Virginia Tech. The SEC rescheduled games were played, and while the Vols and Gators would collide for the SEC Eastern Division title, LSU and Auburn would face off to determine the SEC West title. Oregon would play Oregon State in the Civil War. And the Big 12 Championship Game went on as scheduled, sending #3 Texas against suddenly red-hot Colorado. The opportunity was there for the Vols...really, the opportunity was there for everybody.
Standing in their way was arguably the most talented Florida team the Vols have ever faced, though without Earnest Graham. At this point, Rex Grossman was a Heisman frontrunner, competing with Ken Dorsey and Eric Crouch. He was throwing to Jabar Gaffney, Reche Caldwell, Taylor Jacobs and Carlos Perez. The offensive line featured Mike Pearson, Zac Zedalis, and Max Starks. On defense, the Gators led with infamous Alex Brown at end, with Ian Scott and Tron LaFavor at tackles. The linebackers were especially nasty, with Andra Davis and Mike Nattiel. And the loaded secondary featured Lito Sheppard, Keiwan Ratliff, Marquand Manuel, Guss Scott, and Todd Johnson. Oh yeah, and your head coach of the Florida Gators: Steve Spurrier.
But this wasn't just any Tennessee team either. By this point, Casey Clausen was a veteran, and Travis Stephens had been in the running for the Doak Walker award until being slowed by Notre Dame and the Vols' inability to run after falling behind 21-0 to Kentucky. With Donte' Stallworth, Kelley Washington, and Jason Witten lining up with an offensive line featuring Fred Weary and Scott Wells. The Vols fielded their best defensive line ever, with Will Overstreet, John Henderson, and Albert Haynesworth playing in front of Eddie Moore, Dominique Stevenson and Keyon Whiteside. Andre Lott, Jabari Greer, Julian Battle and Rashad Baker filled out the secondary. In short: clash of the titans.
The feature piece on ESPN GameDay (live from Gainesville) was about Gaffney and Caldwell, supposedly the best 1-2 receiver combination in America. But Stallworth-Washington was right up there with them, no doubt. And these two defenses were equally fierce. This should have been an even match, with the Gators getting the advantage because Tennessee hadn't won in The Swamp since 1971, going 0-7 in 30 years. So yeah, Florida should've been the favorite. Nobody was surprised when the Vols were underdogs.
18 points though, was a bit ridiculous.
There was no way that this team should've been 18 point underdogs to anybody. It's hard to imagine Florida and Tennessee ever playing where someone is an 18 point dog. The last three contests had been decided by 3 (in overtime), 2, and 4. Two top five teams should never be separated by 18 points. And yet, that's what you had.
And you had motivation in Knoxville.
As the Vols pulled out of K-Town, the words on the mouths and hearts of Vol nation were "We Believe." You found it on billboards on I-40, on convenience store marquees, it was everywhere. Screw 18 points, forget what Kentucky's passing game did to our secondary just 14 days ago...we believe.
In 1999, the Vols played in The Swamp for the first time in 30 years without fear. They traded it for arrogance and were beaten. In 2001, the Vols remained fearless but tempered it with blue collar determination. The Vols hit the field and essentially told Florida to buckle up - this one was going sixty minutes.
Crowded into Kory's apartment in downtown with about 30 other people, I watched this one unfold. And I can tell you where I was standing, what shirt I was wearing, and exactly the way that room looked. On a list of pound-for-pound, minute-for-minute, most exhiliarting Tennessee football games to watch, this one is alone at the top.
On Florida's first drive, the Gators went three and out. Cue the Vols, who methodically marched downfield, using quick passes from Clausen all over the field to push the defense back and allow Travis Stephens to start his motor. The Vols drove in time consuming fashion, and once they got close, Clausen hit Troy Fleming on the sideline for the score. One drive, 7-0 Vols.
The drive was so long that you were almost waiting for something to go wrong. On Florida's next possession, John Henderson got a mitt on a Grossman pass (who's just short enough to be bothered by Big John and Big Al in the middle), and Jabari Greer picked it off. And from that point, you knew the Vols could roll with them. A few plays later, from six yards out, Travis Stephens scored his first touchdown of the night, and the Vols led 14-0 with 3:03 left in the first quarter. Two drives, two touchdowns.
Then, what seemed like the inevitable happened: here comes Florida, who, in the years that they beat Tennessee, didn't just answer Vol scoring drives, they overwhelmed them. And in the second quarter of this contest, Florida did just that. It started with a bomb to Reche Caldwell to the one yard line, where Grossman would sneak in a play later. On Tennessee's third drive, Clausen went to Jason Witten, but Witten fumbled along the sideline and the ball stayed in bounds, and there was Todd Johnson, who returned the ball to the 16 yard line. Thankfully, the Vol defense held and the Gators knocked home a field goal to make it 14-10, but all the momentum was gone in the span of three minutes of game time.
Then it got worse. Clausen again went to Witten, who couldn't pull it in, and the ball was off his hands and into the arms of Mike Nattiel. This time Grossman went to Gaffney from 21 yards out, and now Florida had the lead 17-14 with still 9:00 left before halftime. The Vols ate away most of that clock, but the drive stalled on a failed 4th down conversion. The Gators would close out the half with another field goal, and led 20-14 at the break.
At halftime, I remember thinking that we couldn't possibly play any better than we had in the first quarter, and we were still losing. That, for all of our talent and effort, in The Swamp, you just can't play that well for the entire game - that we'd had our shot and now it was gone, and the momentum and energy on Florida's side we couldn't get back.
It took Tennessee four plays to prove me wrong.
The Vols came out of the second half throwing, and Clausen hit three consecutive completions, including a long one to Donte' Stallworth. At the Florida 35, they went back to Travis Stephens, and Stephens put Tennessee on his back from this point. He roared all 35 yards into the end zone, and in one minute and fifty-six seconds of game time, the Vols were back in front 21-20. Stephens was just getting warmed up.
Florida's offense was equal to the task, storming downfield. But the Vols scored one of their four sacks of Grossman on the night, and Florida instead was forced to settle for three. Jeff Chandler's kick put the Gators back on top 23-21 with 5:54 still left in the third.
Casey Clausen made his worst decision of the night on the next drive, firing into traffic where he was intercepted by Lito Sheppard. Florida again had the opportunity to get ahead by two possessions, and was faced with a 4th and one at the Vol 31. Spurrier being Spurrier, he sent the offense onto the field, but Florida was called for false start. He left the offense out there, now turning down a 53 yard attempt on 4th and 6. Will Overstreet sacked Grossman, and the see-saw went back Tennessee's way.
Tennessee's next drive ate up more clock and featured more Travis Stephens, breaking off another big run - this after the Vols went for it on 4th and 1 near midfield and got it - to set up Jabari Davis, who punched it in as the game moved to the 4th quarter. The Vols went for two and failed, but still led 27-23.
Florida came right back downfield, but in close, this drive featured a "did he fumble or not" play when Grossman was leveled in the backfield. The play was ruled an incomplete pass, but if instant replay was in effect I think it would've been overturned. As a result, the Gators sent the field goal unit on, and Jeff Chandler bombed one home from 52 yards. The Vols still led 27-26, with 10:30 to play.
Would the Vols go conservative? Well, not exactly. First, Clausen hit Bobby Graham - the
subtle MVP of the night - for one of his seven catches for a big first down on 3rd down. And if by going conservative, you mean handing the ball to Travis Stephens, on this night it was the right call. On the definitive memory play of the game, Stephens ripped off 68 yards and embarassed, in turn, Marquand Manuel and Guss Scott. The authority with which he ran signified the Vols' intent the whole night - in the postgame, Lee Corso would say "Tennessee lined it up and said, "Come on, Florida. Bring it on." And they ran right at them." That's exactly what the Vols did, for 242 yards. Stephens' 226 is one of the top five all time rushing performances at the university.Jabari Davis continued to reap the benefits of Stephens long but not quite touchdown runs. J-Train punched it in this time from one yard out, and suddenly the Vols led 34-26. The decision to go for two and missing left the game at one possession, with 8:30 to play.
Then, the Vol defense made an incredible stand, holding the Gators and forcing a punt. This time, perhaps Tennessee did get just a wee bit too conversative, but it's hard to complain - after being stopped, the Vols sent Dustin Colquitt on for his only punt of the night.
Rex Grossman was 77 yards away and time was precious. But the Heisman candidate went right to work, bringing Florida downfield, converting third downs, and ultimately putting the Gators in the end zone on a TD pass to Carlos Perez with 1:10 remaining. 34-32, and the Gators needed the two to tie. Grossman, sacked four times and beaten much worse than that, had a remarkable performance of 33 of 51 for 362 yards. Grossman has earned his place with Jay Barker and Danny Wuerfful as quarterbacks for teams I dislike that have my respect.
But Grossman needed the two to tie the game. He needed it for the Heisman, and Florida needed it for their season. The Gators went to the air - on the night, they ran for only 36 yards. Grossman was hurried by the Vol D, fired and the pass was broken up by Buck Fitzgerald (seen here celebrating with Andre Lott). We were almost home.The onside kick was the last hope, and John Finlayson - who says tight ends aren't important - made a leaping grab to hang on to the ball. Then came the victory formation. Then came the realization. Then came the celebration.
Tennessee 34 - Florida 32.
By itself, beating Florida was and is an accomplishment. Winning in The Swamp erased all the years of frustration and the label that the Vols couldn't do this or that - something they cemented two years later by winning again. But this one was with everything on the table, and Tennessee won it.
On the day, #1 Miami narrowly escaped Virginia Tech 26-24 to lock up the #1 spot in the BCS. #4 Oregon was shaky but beat Oregon State 17-14, but the Vols would vault them. And any Texas controversy was erased when Chris Simms met the Colorado defense, and the Buffaloes stole the Big 12 Championship. By night's end, the Vols were left standing at #2 in the polls, #2 in the BCS - and it wasn't even close.
Later that night, LSU upended Auburn to win the SEC West. And seven days later, the most heartbreaking loss that I know of - the game that would be an easy #1 on the opposite of this list - happened in the Georgia Dome, ending the elation of this game far, far too soon. The Vols got seven days of celebration out of this win, and then it was over. Had Tennessee won the SEC Championship - regardless of success or failure against Miami in the Rose Bowl - this game would be in the Top 4. Instead, we're left with only the brief memories of that night...
In Knoxville, the celebration was enormous. The Strip was alive, fans rushed to Neyland Stadium ("Let's get the goal posts!"), and Tennessee Football was king. On a list of Phil Fulmer's most important wins ever, this one would be at or near the top. Travis Stephens was a hero and should have won the Doak Walker Award. But it was the effort of the entire team, for all sixty minutes, that made this one truly memorable. Tennessee walked into Gainesville 18 point underdogs with 30 years of heavy baggage. The Vols walked out as SEC Eastern Division Champions.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 09. From Goat to Hero in 4:17
9. 2004: #13 Tennessee 30 - #11 Florida 28 (Knoxville, TN)
If you wanted a home victory over the hated
Gators and you weren't there in 1990 or 1992, hope you showed up in 98. Because there was no fun to be had in 94, 96, 2000 or 2002. Though the Vols had slowed the bleeding in the Florida series overall by taking the last two games in The Swamp at this point, Florida had won four of five in Neyland. The chances of turning that streak around seemed much better two years before than they did on this night, with a pair of freshman quarterbacks going against Ron Zook's Gators, featuring Chris Leak in his first appearance at Neyland. Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer had played well against UNLV, but of course, this was a different animal. Faster, more complicated defense with an offense capable of putting up points in a hurry - no one really knew what to expect. What they got was a classic football game, one of the most enjoyable games to watch I've ever seen in person.
A still-standing record crowd - which, with the reduction in total capacity coming up, may stand for a very, very long time - of 109,061 were on hand for the primetime kickoff on a warm night in Knoxville. Chris Leak, if you weren't there live, was jumping up and down like a lunatic in the huddle and on the sidelines, because this was supposed to be the night he got one up on his initial choice for a university. Instead, Leak was intercepted by Jason Allen early. To his credit, Leak overcame that play to have a solid night, throwing for 281 yards and moving the ball steadily. When Florida grabbed an early 7-0 lead, the Vols - directed by Schaeffer - went to work behind their offensive line. And with Cedric Houston, Jabari Davis, and Gerald Riggs - plus the elusive Schaeffer, who finished with 7 carries for 38 yards - the Vols pounded the Gators for seven straight runs on a touchdown drive.
The score was tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, with Ainge in the game and the Vols driving. I was at this game with Bobbitt, and he says "You know, Florida's giving yall the tight end across the middle." My reply: "I don't think you've ever paid attention to us before. We're Tennessee. We don't throw to the tight end." Bobbitt: "I'm just telling you, they're giving it to you, it's open." Next play: Ainge to Justin Reed across the middle, touchdown. Money, and suddenly the Vols are up 14-7 and know they can go punch-for-punch with Florida.
Florida would punch one in before halftime to tie it 14-14, and then Florida took the lead 21-14 in the 3rd. The Vol offense was sputtering as Florida went downfield and into field goal range, but the Gators missed a chip shot and the game stayed at one possession. From there, Erik Ainge led the best drive of his entire career, leading the Vols downfield like a veteran. The capper was a highpoint ball to Bret Smith at the pylon, which runs on highlight reels to this day - the play was a sure-fire interception that went just over the fingertips of the Florida DB and into the outstretched hands of Smith for the score. Just like that, the game was tied 21-21.
But Florida had a quick answer. The Gators were pushed back on third down when Leak fired into single coverage against Brandon Johnson. Johnson got a fingertip on it, but not enough, and the Gators roared 81 yards downfield for a touchdown, instantly sucking the life out of the stadium. 28-21 Florida.
Time became a factor in the 4th quarter, but again Erik Ainge led the charge. With the Vol offensive line dominating up front, the Vols moved into the red zone, and Ainge found Jayson Swain across the middle, and Swain punched it in, making it 28-27 with 4:17 left. On walks James Wilhoit, hasn't missed an extra point in his life. But already in 2004, there were a rash of crucial missed extra points...and this one would be added to the list, as Wilhiot inexplicably missed the extra point. Florida still led.
What were you thinking/feeling at that moment? Beyond the numbness, I was thinking about exactly how long it was going to take to get over it if we lost the game that way. A missed extra point to the team you hate the most. It make me wanna hurl just thinking about it right now. 2004 would've gone in a completely different direction...
The Gators netted a first down, and the Vol D had their backs to the wall. The Vols snuffed out running plays, then got a huge break on third down when a personal foul penalty was called on Dallas Baker down the sideline (in a "second guy gets caught" scenario), and then the referees stopped the clock, saving the Vols twenty-five precious seconds that they would need.
After the punt, Tennessee needed field goal range, and Erik Ainge got the keys. First Ainge went across the middle to move the Vols closer, then fired on a quick screen to pick up a few more. After those two huge completions, the ball sat 50 yards away. And if you're James Wilhoit, you can't ask for a better shot at redemption.
Did you think he was going to make it?
109,061 collectively held their breath right around midnight as Wilhoit put a thunderous boot into the ball...and from our seats behind the goalpost, we could see it had a chance. It's got a chance...it's really got a chance!
And then you had one of those moments that I can't fully express on the keyboard, where the entire Tennessee faithful rose in crescendo with "yyyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
He nutted it. I almost broke Bobbitt in half. You couldn't hear, you couldn't think. The list of moments that I've heard Neyland like this I can count on one hand: Jay Graham's run against Alabama 96, the end of the 98 Florida game, Travis Stephens on the screen pass in the 01 Georgia game, Cedric Houston's run on the second play of the 02 Miami game, and this moment. Nobody had left. Everybody was still there. Everybody witnessed it.
Tennessee beat Florida 30-28. It took me 90 minutes to get a clear channel to get a cell phone call through. It was one of those moments - as are most of these games once we've gotten this deep into this list - where you remember exactly where you were, and when it happened, you wanted to tell somebody "did you see that?!" The last moment of pure elation in Neyland Stadium.
If you wanted a home victory over the hated
Gators and you weren't there in 1990 or 1992, hope you showed up in 98. Because there was no fun to be had in 94, 96, 2000 or 2002. Though the Vols had slowed the bleeding in the Florida series overall by taking the last two games in The Swamp at this point, Florida had won four of five in Neyland. The chances of turning that streak around seemed much better two years before than they did on this night, with a pair of freshman quarterbacks going against Ron Zook's Gators, featuring Chris Leak in his first appearance at Neyland. Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer had played well against UNLV, but of course, this was a different animal. Faster, more complicated defense with an offense capable of putting up points in a hurry - no one really knew what to expect. What they got was a classic football game, one of the most enjoyable games to watch I've ever seen in person.A still-standing record crowd - which, with the reduction in total capacity coming up, may stand for a very, very long time - of 109,061 were on hand for the primetime kickoff on a warm night in Knoxville. Chris Leak, if you weren't there live, was jumping up and down like a lunatic in the huddle and on the sidelines, because this was supposed to be the night he got one up on his initial choice for a university. Instead, Leak was intercepted by Jason Allen early. To his credit, Leak overcame that play to have a solid night, throwing for 281 yards and moving the ball steadily. When Florida grabbed an early 7-0 lead, the Vols - directed by Schaeffer - went to work behind their offensive line. And with Cedric Houston, Jabari Davis, and Gerald Riggs - plus the elusive Schaeffer, who finished with 7 carries for 38 yards - the Vols pounded the Gators for seven straight runs on a touchdown drive.
The score was tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, with Ainge in the game and the Vols driving. I was at this game with Bobbitt, and he says "You know, Florida's giving yall the tight end across the middle." My reply: "I don't think you've ever paid attention to us before. We're Tennessee. We don't throw to the tight end." Bobbitt: "I'm just telling you, they're giving it to you, it's open." Next play: Ainge to Justin Reed across the middle, touchdown. Money, and suddenly the Vols are up 14-7 and know they can go punch-for-punch with Florida.
Florida would punch one in before halftime to tie it 14-14, and then Florida took the lead 21-14 in the 3rd. The Vol offense was sputtering as Florida went downfield and into field goal range, but the Gators missed a chip shot and the game stayed at one possession. From there, Erik Ainge led the best drive of his entire career, leading the Vols downfield like a veteran. The capper was a highpoint ball to Bret Smith at the pylon, which runs on highlight reels to this day - the play was a sure-fire interception that went just over the fingertips of the Florida DB and into the outstretched hands of Smith for the score. Just like that, the game was tied 21-21.
But Florida had a quick answer. The Gators were pushed back on third down when Leak fired into single coverage against Brandon Johnson. Johnson got a fingertip on it, but not enough, and the Gators roared 81 yards downfield for a touchdown, instantly sucking the life out of the stadium. 28-21 Florida.
Time became a factor in the 4th quarter, but again Erik Ainge led the charge. With the Vol offensive line dominating up front, the Vols moved into the red zone, and Ainge found Jayson Swain across the middle, and Swain punched it in, making it 28-27 with 4:17 left. On walks James Wilhoit, hasn't missed an extra point in his life. But already in 2004, there were a rash of crucial missed extra points...and this one would be added to the list, as Wilhiot inexplicably missed the extra point. Florida still led.
What were you thinking/feeling at that moment? Beyond the numbness, I was thinking about exactly how long it was going to take to get over it if we lost the game that way. A missed extra point to the team you hate the most. It make me wanna hurl just thinking about it right now. 2004 would've gone in a completely different direction...
The Gators netted a first down, and the Vol D had their backs to the wall. The Vols snuffed out running plays, then got a huge break on third down when a personal foul penalty was called on Dallas Baker down the sideline (in a "second guy gets caught" scenario), and then the referees stopped the clock, saving the Vols twenty-five precious seconds that they would need.
After the punt, Tennessee needed field goal range, and Erik Ainge got the keys. First Ainge went across the middle to move the Vols closer, then fired on a quick screen to pick up a few more. After those two huge completions, the ball sat 50 yards away. And if you're James Wilhoit, you can't ask for a better shot at redemption.
Did you think he was going to make it?
109,061 collectively held their breath right around midnight as Wilhoit put a thunderous boot into the ball...and from our seats behind the goalpost, we could see it had a chance. It's got a chance...it's really got a chance!
And then you had one of those moments that I can't fully express on the keyboard, where the entire Tennessee faithful rose in crescendo with "yyyyyyyyyyyYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
He nutted it. I almost broke Bobbitt in half. You couldn't hear, you couldn't think. The list of moments that I've heard Neyland like this I can count on one hand: Jay Graham's run against Alabama 96, the end of the 98 Florida game, Travis Stephens on the screen pass in the 01 Georgia game, Cedric Houston's run on the second play of the 02 Miami game, and this moment. Nobody had left. Everybody was still there. Everybody witnessed it.
Tennessee beat Florida 30-28. It took me 90 minutes to get a clear channel to get a cell phone call through. It was one of those moments - as are most of these games once we've gotten this deep into this list - where you remember exactly where you were, and when it happened, you wanted to tell somebody "did you see that?!" The last moment of pure elation in Neyland Stadium.
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 10. In the Downpour
10. 1992: #14 Tennessee 31 - #4 Florida 14 (Knoxville, TN)
To understand the weight of this one, you have to go back to the week before, when the Vols went to Georgia and won 34-31 behind Heath Shuler and Phillip Fulmer, both fresh-faced and ready to go. The Vols were heavy underdogs in that contest but pulled it out, salvaging hope for the season. However, the dominant thought was that this would be the back-to-reality game, against Steve Spurrier and the #4 Gators. The year before, Florida had dominated Tennessee in The Swamp 35-18. Now playing in the same division for the first time, this one would go a long way in determining who would come out on top.
The skies were threatening, as they say, when the game kicked off. And the Vols continued to respond to Phillip Fulmer, starting hot by blocking a Florida punt in the first quarter. From there, Heath Shuler did the work from 11 yards out (John Ward: "Yes! Yes! Yes! Heath Shuler can run!") and the Vols led 7-0. This game was the true onset of the four headed monster for the Vols in the backfield, as teams would have to deal with James Stewart, Aaron Hayden, Charlie Garner, and Mose Phillips. By the time this day was over, the Vols had logged 250 yards on the ground between the four of them and Shuler.
James Stewart would score to make it 14-0, but Florida didn't just disappear. The Gators scored before the half as the Vols tacked on a field goal, and it was 17-7 at the break. When the rain intensified, the live national telecast was cut off. Our seats at Neyland are under the overhang on the lower level, so we enjoyed watching everyone else party in the rain, hoping the Vols could hang on.
The singular play that makes this game most memorable came in the second half. In the very worst of the rainstorm, Heath Shuler found Mose Phillips on a swing pass. Phillips went down the sideline, 66 yards into the checkerboard, and elation erupted in Neyland Stadium. As the Vols pushed the advantage to 17 points, fans began to mock the Gator Chomp all over Neyland - something I haven't seen like this since, being that we haven't had this large of a lead on Florida since then. But for the entire 4th quarter, the Vols chomped away. And Florida, slowed by the rain and Tennessee's defense, which abused quarterback Shane Matthews. Florida never got any offensive momentum, and the Vols won 31-14.
What that should've done was lock up the SEC East, but in October the Vols lost three consecutive games, losing by 1 to Arkansas, by 7 to eventual National Champion Alabama, and by 1 to South Carolina, handing the SEC East back to the Gators. Errict Rhett, Florida's star tailback, was quoted after the loss as saying "I could never say Tennessee is a better team than us. Never." 17 points says otherwise.
This game stood as the last Vol victory over the Gators until 1998, adding to its lore over the years. In 14 days, this team went from low expectations and unpredictability, to anything is possible and ahead in the SEC East. Gives you some hope for 2006...
To understand the weight of this one, you have to go back to the week before, when the Vols went to Georgia and won 34-31 behind Heath Shuler and Phillip Fulmer, both fresh-faced and ready to go. The Vols were heavy underdogs in that contest but pulled it out, salvaging hope for the season. However, the dominant thought was that this would be the back-to-reality game, against Steve Spurrier and the #4 Gators. The year before, Florida had dominated Tennessee in The Swamp 35-18. Now playing in the same division for the first time, this one would go a long way in determining who would come out on top.
The skies were threatening, as they say, when the game kicked off. And the Vols continued to respond to Phillip Fulmer, starting hot by blocking a Florida punt in the first quarter. From there, Heath Shuler did the work from 11 yards out (John Ward: "Yes! Yes! Yes! Heath Shuler can run!") and the Vols led 7-0. This game was the true onset of the four headed monster for the Vols in the backfield, as teams would have to deal with James Stewart, Aaron Hayden, Charlie Garner, and Mose Phillips. By the time this day was over, the Vols had logged 250 yards on the ground between the four of them and Shuler.
James Stewart would score to make it 14-0, but Florida didn't just disappear. The Gators scored before the half as the Vols tacked on a field goal, and it was 17-7 at the break. When the rain intensified, the live national telecast was cut off. Our seats at Neyland are under the overhang on the lower level, so we enjoyed watching everyone else party in the rain, hoping the Vols could hang on.
The singular play that makes this game most memorable came in the second half. In the very worst of the rainstorm, Heath Shuler found Mose Phillips on a swing pass. Phillips went down the sideline, 66 yards into the checkerboard, and elation erupted in Neyland Stadium. As the Vols pushed the advantage to 17 points, fans began to mock the Gator Chomp all over Neyland - something I haven't seen like this since, being that we haven't had this large of a lead on Florida since then. But for the entire 4th quarter, the Vols chomped away. And Florida, slowed by the rain and Tennessee's defense, which abused quarterback Shane Matthews. Florida never got any offensive momentum, and the Vols won 31-14.
What that should've done was lock up the SEC East, but in October the Vols lost three consecutive games, losing by 1 to Arkansas, by 7 to eventual National Champion Alabama, and by 1 to South Carolina, handing the SEC East back to the Gators. Errict Rhett, Florida's star tailback, was quoted after the loss as saying "I could never say Tennessee is a better team than us. Never." 17 points says otherwise.
This game stood as the last Vol victory over the Gators until 1998, adding to its lore over the years. In 14 days, this team went from low expectations and unpredictability, to anything is possible and ahead in the SEC East. Gives you some hope for 2006...
Monday, August 21, 2006
Random Thoughts - Monday Afternoon
Taking a quick breather from the Vol games list...
- The Yankees just broke the Boston Red Sox. Playing the almost unheard of five game series at Fenway, the Yankees won 12-4 and 14-11 in a Friday doubleheader, 13-5 on Saturday, 8-5 in 10 innings last night, and turned around 12 hours later and won 2-1 today. On Thursday the Red Sox were 1.5 back in the AL East, a division they've led for most of the season. Today, they're 6.5 out, and 4.5 out of the Wild Card - and this isn't the "nobody really wants it" NL Wild Card race, this is the White Sox and the Twins.
Now, you could've said this after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS, but there's no way the Red Sox come back from this. At the All-Star Break I liked the Red Sox to win the division, because A-Rod was under attack and the Yankees looked like they were ready to come apart. The World Series rings on the Boston fingers should've reminded them that the division didn't belong to New York anymore. David Ortiz was hitting nothing but homers in the 9th inning.
Instead, there aren't words that I can put to what New York did to Boston over the weekend and today that would adequately describe it. Dominated? Owned? Destroyed? Ended?
There's no way Boston comes back from this.
- The US Ryder Cup Team was announced today. The Ryder Cup is one of my favorite events, going back to watching Justin Leonard sink that putt several years ago. The event isn't until September 22-24, but perhaps this time 12-time major winner Tiger Woods and friends can stem the tide of European dominance. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
- The WWE needs someone to take the belt - and the ratings - and run with it. The main event for SummerSlam last night was John Cena vs. Edge. Who's excited? I didn't see the PPV last night (though I read that Foley and Flair was legendary...I am getting tired of wasting good talent on PPV matches by having them face a McMahon or two), and up here I usually TiVo RAW and catch what interests me the next day during lunch...and I like Edge. I think he can work well as a foil, as the heel. But the WWE needs someone to rise up and fill a void that's been there since The Rock started making movies. They had a real shot when they bought WCW to make everything go right, and it seems like they missed the boat on a couple of chances here and there. I've never liked the RAW/SmackDown separation, though I understand its necessity. Watching Batista and Big Show get booed by the ECW fans two or three weeks ago was brutal.
Who is the marketable star right now? Triple H? How long will the DX angle run before they decide to have H and Shawn go at each other again (WrestleMania?) I loathe John Cena, and it seems like a solid percentage of fans feel the same way. I don't think Batista is the one to do it either. Looking at the current talent roster...what's the best possible WrestleMania main event you can throw out there right now?
It's not that it's unwatchable, or anything close to it - if they put Triple H and Kurt Angle in the WrestleMania main event, I'd pay. If they continue to utilize Shawn Michaels, play the Undertaker right, and put the younger guys who can really go (including Edge) around the undercard, you can have a good event. But they're missing Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels (round one), Steve Austin and The Rock. They dont have THE guy that makes everyone want to tune in. But they'll press on. They always do.
- The Yankees just broke the Boston Red Sox. Playing the almost unheard of five game series at Fenway, the Yankees won 12-4 and 14-11 in a Friday doubleheader, 13-5 on Saturday, 8-5 in 10 innings last night, and turned around 12 hours later and won 2-1 today. On Thursday the Red Sox were 1.5 back in the AL East, a division they've led for most of the season. Today, they're 6.5 out, and 4.5 out of the Wild Card - and this isn't the "nobody really wants it" NL Wild Card race, this is the White Sox and the Twins.
Now, you could've said this after Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS, but there's no way the Red Sox come back from this. At the All-Star Break I liked the Red Sox to win the division, because A-Rod was under attack and the Yankees looked like they were ready to come apart. The World Series rings on the Boston fingers should've reminded them that the division didn't belong to New York anymore. David Ortiz was hitting nothing but homers in the 9th inning.
Instead, there aren't words that I can put to what New York did to Boston over the weekend and today that would adequately describe it. Dominated? Owned? Destroyed? Ended?
There's no way Boston comes back from this.
- The US Ryder Cup Team was announced today. The Ryder Cup is one of my favorite events, going back to watching Justin Leonard sink that putt several years ago. The event isn't until September 22-24, but perhaps this time 12-time major winner Tiger Woods and friends can stem the tide of European dominance. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
- The WWE needs someone to take the belt - and the ratings - and run with it. The main event for SummerSlam last night was John Cena vs. Edge. Who's excited? I didn't see the PPV last night (though I read that Foley and Flair was legendary...I am getting tired of wasting good talent on PPV matches by having them face a McMahon or two), and up here I usually TiVo RAW and catch what interests me the next day during lunch...and I like Edge. I think he can work well as a foil, as the heel. But the WWE needs someone to rise up and fill a void that's been there since The Rock started making movies. They had a real shot when they bought WCW to make everything go right, and it seems like they missed the boat on a couple of chances here and there. I've never liked the RAW/SmackDown separation, though I understand its necessity. Watching Batista and Big Show get booed by the ECW fans two or three weeks ago was brutal.
Who is the marketable star right now? Triple H? How long will the DX angle run before they decide to have H and Shawn go at each other again (WrestleMania?) I loathe John Cena, and it seems like a solid percentage of fans feel the same way. I don't think Batista is the one to do it either. Looking at the current talent roster...what's the best possible WrestleMania main event you can throw out there right now?
It's not that it's unwatchable, or anything close to it - if they put Triple H and Kurt Angle in the WrestleMania main event, I'd pay. If they continue to utilize Shawn Michaels, play the Undertaker right, and put the younger guys who can really go (including Edge) around the undercard, you can have a good event. But they're missing Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels (round one), Steve Austin and The Rock. They dont have THE guy that makes everyone want to tune in. But they'll press on. They always do.
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 11. Surviving Upset Saturday
11. 1998: #1 Tennessee 24 - #23 Mississippi State 14 (SEC Championship)
The final hurdle to clear before making reservations in Tempe was a second straight trip to the SEC Championship Game. The Vols were 11-0 and ranked #1, but had company - Kansas State and UCLA were also both undefeated and playing on this December Saturday, the Wildcats in the Big 12 Championship Game, and UCLA in a hurricane make-up contest against Miami. In the first year of the BCS, controversy was already on the table and waiting to rear its ugly head.
So-called experts had predicted that the Vols had enough of an advantage in computer polls and strength of schedule that, if they beat Mississippi State, should get in. But at this time, who knew for sure? And with the Vols playing last on this day at 8:00 PM, players and fans both pulled hard for one of the two giants to fall beforehand.
But what actually happened, I'm not sure anyone predicted, or wanted. First, Miami won a shootout over the Bruins in a noon kickoff, sending both Vol and Wildcat fans into a frenzy. Controversy was avoided, and it would be Kansas State and Tennessee squaring off. As the Big 12 Championship Game kicked off, the Vols could focus solely on the task at hand: beating Mississippi State, winning the SEC for two straight years, getting to Arizona.
The opponent here was supposed to be Arkansas. When the Vols narrowly escaped the Hogs 28-24 in Knoxville three weeks before, all thoughts were set on a December rematch. But then Arkansas was a big hungover from fumbling the game away against the Vols, and Jackie Sherrill's bunch caught them by surprise in the 4th quarter, stealing a victory and stealing the SEC West. And most Vol fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Tennessee was heavily favored and perhaps rightfully so, as Mississippi State was led by unknown Wayne Madkin at quarterback and prided itself on defense and special teams. But those two factors would come up huge in the Georgia Dome. With a crowd predominantly in orange, the game that unfolded was a defensive struggle from the beginning. On the day, Mississippi State's offense could do absolutely nothing - they finished with 84 yards passing and 65 yards rushing, a testament to the Vols' defensive supremacy. But Tennessee - who for my money has never played well in the Georgia Dome - kept them in it for 3.5 quarters. Near the end of the first, Tee Martin was intercepted, and the pick was returned 70 yards for a score. The Vols would score on consecutive drives in the second quarter, with a Travis Stephens plunge and a Jeff Hall field goal, to take a 10-7 lead.
It was around this time that it was announced that the Kansas State-Texas A&M Big 12 Championship had gone to overtime. And in the next few minutes, after KSU was held to a field goal, old Vol Brandon Stewart did his old school a favor, helping A&M get into the end zone and score a monumental upset. Kansas State was done.
The Vols were in the middle of their own fight at this point, but attention spans began to turn...instead of UCLA or Kansas State - two teams who lost their bowl games and who I think the Vols would've handled easily - the choice of opponents would now be much more dangerous, Florida State or Ohio State at 10-1 each. And while the computers eventually chose the Noles, the point was that the opponent had suddenly become much more dangerous.
But back to the task at hand...in the third quarter, neither team could score, but Mississippi State's complete lack of offensive production didn't have many worried. As stated, 149 total yards. So as the clock ticked down in the 4th quarter, the Vols were simply trying to hang on.
That's when Kevin Prentiss made one of the best punt returns I've ever seen, showing great vision and patience along the sideline to stay in bounds twice when I think the Vol D assumed he was out and the play was dead. Prentiss would go 83 yards into the end zone, and in the blink of an eye, Tennessee was losing in the 4th quarter, 14-10.
They don't let them do it anymore, but Mississippi State's kickoff team used to have a little team dance-type thing they would do after the team had scored, when they were lined up to kick. It's a celebration penalty now, but back then it was cool to watch...and this one was especially vibrant.
The great thing about this is, were you worried here? Really? After having been through so much in 98, I think at this point the Vols knew. With 8:43 left, the game was still well in hand. And on the ensuing drive, Tee Martin went up top for Peerless Price, hanging in the pocket just long enough before firing down the sideline. Price made the grab and got a foot in for a 41 yard touchdown, and just like that Tennessee was back on top. Price would finish as MVP with 6 catches for 97 yards.
Still, 6:15 remained. But not to be outdone, the Vol D made something happen on the very next play. Wayne Madkin was hit, fumbled, and the Vols recovered at the 26 yard line. And David Cutcliffe - in his last game before leaving for Ole Miss - went for the throat. Tee Martin found Cedrick Wilson in the end zone on the very next play, and the game was done. The Vols led 24-14, and the defense did the rest.
When the final gun sounded, thoughts instantly went towards Arizona. But in the light of the chase for a National Championship, the impact of back-to-back SEC Championships may have been a bit lost. Winning two SEC titles consecutively is a tremendous accomplishment, and the Vols have done it twice in the 1989-2005 timespan that we're using.
This was the game that shut the door, the answered all the doubters, that put the Vols in full control of their own destiny. No matter the opponent, the ticket was punched and the Vols would be ready. The final stop on the road to Tempe.
The final hurdle to clear before making reservations in Tempe was a second straight trip to the SEC Championship Game. The Vols were 11-0 and ranked #1, but had company - Kansas State and UCLA were also both undefeated and playing on this December Saturday, the Wildcats in the Big 12 Championship Game, and UCLA in a hurricane make-up contest against Miami. In the first year of the BCS, controversy was already on the table and waiting to rear its ugly head.
So-called experts had predicted that the Vols had enough of an advantage in computer polls and strength of schedule that, if they beat Mississippi State, should get in. But at this time, who knew for sure? And with the Vols playing last on this day at 8:00 PM, players and fans both pulled hard for one of the two giants to fall beforehand.
But what actually happened, I'm not sure anyone predicted, or wanted. First, Miami won a shootout over the Bruins in a noon kickoff, sending both Vol and Wildcat fans into a frenzy. Controversy was avoided, and it would be Kansas State and Tennessee squaring off. As the Big 12 Championship Game kicked off, the Vols could focus solely on the task at hand: beating Mississippi State, winning the SEC for two straight years, getting to Arizona.
The opponent here was supposed to be Arkansas. When the Vols narrowly escaped the Hogs 28-24 in Knoxville three weeks before, all thoughts were set on a December rematch. But then Arkansas was a big hungover from fumbling the game away against the Vols, and Jackie Sherrill's bunch caught them by surprise in the 4th quarter, stealing a victory and stealing the SEC West. And most Vol fans breathed a sigh of relief.
Tennessee was heavily favored and perhaps rightfully so, as Mississippi State was led by unknown Wayne Madkin at quarterback and prided itself on defense and special teams. But those two factors would come up huge in the Georgia Dome. With a crowd predominantly in orange, the game that unfolded was a defensive struggle from the beginning. On the day, Mississippi State's offense could do absolutely nothing - they finished with 84 yards passing and 65 yards rushing, a testament to the Vols' defensive supremacy. But Tennessee - who for my money has never played well in the Georgia Dome - kept them in it for 3.5 quarters. Near the end of the first, Tee Martin was intercepted, and the pick was returned 70 yards for a score. The Vols would score on consecutive drives in the second quarter, with a Travis Stephens plunge and a Jeff Hall field goal, to take a 10-7 lead.
It was around this time that it was announced that the Kansas State-Texas A&M Big 12 Championship had gone to overtime. And in the next few minutes, after KSU was held to a field goal, old Vol Brandon Stewart did his old school a favor, helping A&M get into the end zone and score a monumental upset. Kansas State was done.
The Vols were in the middle of their own fight at this point, but attention spans began to turn...instead of UCLA or Kansas State - two teams who lost their bowl games and who I think the Vols would've handled easily - the choice of opponents would now be much more dangerous, Florida State or Ohio State at 10-1 each. And while the computers eventually chose the Noles, the point was that the opponent had suddenly become much more dangerous.
But back to the task at hand...in the third quarter, neither team could score, but Mississippi State's complete lack of offensive production didn't have many worried. As stated, 149 total yards. So as the clock ticked down in the 4th quarter, the Vols were simply trying to hang on.
That's when Kevin Prentiss made one of the best punt returns I've ever seen, showing great vision and patience along the sideline to stay in bounds twice when I think the Vol D assumed he was out and the play was dead. Prentiss would go 83 yards into the end zone, and in the blink of an eye, Tennessee was losing in the 4th quarter, 14-10.
They don't let them do it anymore, but Mississippi State's kickoff team used to have a little team dance-type thing they would do after the team had scored, when they were lined up to kick. It's a celebration penalty now, but back then it was cool to watch...and this one was especially vibrant.
The great thing about this is, were you worried here? Really? After having been through so much in 98, I think at this point the Vols knew. With 8:43 left, the game was still well in hand. And on the ensuing drive, Tee Martin went up top for Peerless Price, hanging in the pocket just long enough before firing down the sideline. Price made the grab and got a foot in for a 41 yard touchdown, and just like that Tennessee was back on top. Price would finish as MVP with 6 catches for 97 yards.
Still, 6:15 remained. But not to be outdone, the Vol D made something happen on the very next play. Wayne Madkin was hit, fumbled, and the Vols recovered at the 26 yard line. And David Cutcliffe - in his last game before leaving for Ole Miss - went for the throat. Tee Martin found Cedrick Wilson in the end zone on the very next play, and the game was done. The Vols led 24-14, and the defense did the rest.
When the final gun sounded, thoughts instantly went towards Arizona. But in the light of the chase for a National Championship, the impact of back-to-back SEC Championships may have been a bit lost. Winning two SEC titles consecutively is a tremendous accomplishment, and the Vols have done it twice in the 1989-2005 timespan that we're using.
This was the game that shut the door, the answered all the doubters, that put the Vols in full control of their own destiny. No matter the opponent, the ticket was punched and the Vols would be ready. The final stop on the road to Tempe.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 12. 12-Point UnderDawgs
12. 2004: #17 Tennessee 19 - #3 Georgia 14 (Athens, GA)
When Phil Fulmer said he was going to turn the reigns of the offense over to Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer, in favor of the elder statesman CJ Leak and transfer Rick Clausen, Vol fans were a combination of excitement and uncertaintiy. The two-headed monster helped to feed the excitement by beating Florida, with both QBs turning in solid performances. But the Auburn game might've been the more realistic dose. Playing at home against a team that would go on to finish the season 13-0, the Vols were demolished 34-10, beaten in every phase of the game. Erik Ainge had five turnovers by himself, Schaeffer wasn't much better, the Vols got behind so fast they couldn't run, and the defense was made to look foolish by Jason Campbell and the two-headed beast of Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. It was the most soundly rousing defeat Tennessee had suffered in a long time, and Vol fans weren't totally furious - it's that they simply began to really buy into the realism of playing two true freshmen at quarterback with a defense still trying to find its feet. Vol fans would chalk that one up to experience for the most part.
Four hours down the road on the same day, a top five showdown between LSU and Georgia ensued. And if you thought what Auburn did to Tennessee was nasty, the number that Georgia put on the defending National Champions was even more impressive. Georgia played the perfect game, getting five touchdown passes from David Greene in a 45-16 ambush of the Tigers. On Sunday morning, Georgia found itself ranked third in the polls, on a team loaded with senior talent, and - knowing that the Vols had beaten Florida, and then knowing that Auburn had exposed Tennessee's youth in a frightening way - you couldn't have asked for a better situation in Athens. Nevermind the SEC East, nevermind a young Auburn team still hovering outside the Top 5 on the first Saturday in October - the Dawgs were thinking National Championship. And perhaps, rightfully so. Mark Richt had taken Georgia to the threshold in 2002 with a 13-1 season, and had won the East again in 2003. Now all of those guys were seniors and ready to make the storybook run.
The Vols knew this as well. And the thought was, if (what was thought to be) an up and coming Auburn team did that to us at home, this is Georgia on the road. And if those freshmen took their lumps last week...in their first hostile environment ever...look out.
Let's also not forget that Georgia had now beaten the Vols four straight, including a 41-14 embarassment in Neyland Stadium the previous season. In short, all signs pointed to not only Georgia winning, but Georgia doing what it pleased. I was genuinely surprised when we were only a 12-point dog in this one.
So it happened that my sister, or one of her friends, or someone I know hit the ticket lottery, whoever it was (Will is 0 for life at winning the student ticket lottery, 0 for life at being an alternate). So I get the tickets - second row - and then I can't find anybody to go. As it ends up, it's me and Josh Clark going to war down I-75. If you ever catch this game on ESPN Classic or TiVo it, you can see us down close - look for the guy in the bright orange shirt and the blue scrub bottoms, with everyone else around him looking at him going "did that guy come straight from the hospital?" (The answer, by the way, is no - that's just what he wanted to wear)
Once we got on campus, before kickoff, I saw two things I'd never seen before. One - I've never, ever seen Tennessee disrespected like this before. Ever. Now, I know all of what I wrote up there is true about the overall tone for this game. And I know Georgia had beaten us four years in a row. But look, you'll never catch me disrespecting Alabama when we've beaten them 7 in a row, and especially not like this - like we're so far beneath them, the fans and their players, that we're just not worth their time at all. They weren't worried about us at all. And it didn't make you happy or make you think "maybe we'll slip up on them then." It made me furious - because we're Tennessee. And this is before 5-6. And they're Georgia - and I don't care if they'd won 4 in a row, we won 10 straight before that on them. And it's not like they can pull up a chair at the big boys table and throw down their National Championship rings. They're not Florida, they're not Alabama, they're not Auburn, they're not LSU - they were and are playing really good football right now, but Georgia doesn't get to disrespect Tennessee. Not like this. Especially not like this - for good measure, no one should disrespect Tennessee like this. You would've had to been there to see it firsthand.
And they paid for it.
But before we get to that...another byproduct of all of this was this is the worst turnout of Tennessee fans I've ever seen. Normally, a well-traveled team like the Vols will have a large section around the band in the lower level, and then another group of seats high in the upper deck - it's the same game at Neyland Stadium for visiting teams there. I'd been to Georgia twice before and had sat in both places, surrounded by lots of other folks in orange.
But on this day...where were you guys? Because there's no one wearing orange in the upper deck at all. And the lower level section is about 1/3 of its normal size - essentially, it's the students and the band, and most of the students are only there (so I'm told anyway) because they're too drunk to know better. I found a great picture of this that shows this real well, but pictures aren't working right now for some reason - we'll try later. When I told people in Knoxville that I was going after the Auburn game, one person asked me if I was a glutton for punishment, and my Dad looked at me like he didn't raise me right.
Fools, all of you! This is like slapping someone for picking against Tennessee in the weekly picks when they win. But again, we're getting ahead of ourselves.
The point is, we're small in number and most of us are highly intoxicated, but if you've ever been to an away game at a hostile environment, everyone wearing your color is your lifelong friend. So, backed into our little corner of the sideline/endzone with 80-plus thousand in red bearing down on us (though that stadium, like most, isn't that big if you've been to Neyland), we become our own little army. There are so few of us that by the 4th quarter everybody pretty much knows everybody. One of the reasons this game is so memorable for me are all of these little nuances about the student section that day - pilgrims in an unholy land. We came for war, underdogs or no. We'd all seen, heard, and felt the disrespect. Before kickoff, I'm thinking "man, this is exactly the type of situation where I'd love to kill these guys by four touchdowns more than I want to see a close game - but there's no way that's going to happen."
And then Tennessee comes out and does what it does when it's disrespected. All throughout 1998, at Florida in 2001, at Miami in 2003, and now on this day. When you throw a number like 12 points out there as the line and put this university on the other side of it, that's trouble in Vegas baby.
We get the ball, and on the opening drive immediately face 3rd and long. No problem, Ainge goes down the sideline for a big first down. Later we have 4th and 1 near midfield. We're going. We make it. Then, on 3rd and 9, Ainge goes up top for Bret Smith in the back of the end zone 22 yards away. 7-0.
You'd think that would've been enough to stop all that disrespect. It wasn't. Not even close - Georgia - again, from fans to players to coaches - wasn't worried. They really played with no urgency until the 4th quarter, and by then it was too late.
On Georgia's first drive, the Dawgs went three and out, giving the ball back to the Vols, who promptly drove downfield and nailed a field goal. In two drives the Vols had matched their offensive output from the previous week.
It would be DJ Shockley's only series of the game that sparked the UGA offense, as Shockley made a terrific throw under pressure to Fred Gibson for a TD. But David Greene couldn't get anything working all day - he would be sacked four times. James Wilhoit added a 51 yarder just before the half to make it 13-7 at the break. Wilhoit also missed two first half field goals that could've made it much worse.
Georgia wanted to come out of the locker room hot, but instead were shut down by the Vol defense again. The two teams had already traded fumbles once, but when Gerald Riggs lost the ball at the UT 13, it looked again to be Georgia's chance to finally get the lead. Instead, they settled for a field goal attempt, which Andy Bailey shanked from only 29 yards away.
Late in the third, Georgia again tried to build momentum by faking a punt ("I never should've done that" - Richt postgame), but Kevin Burnett read it cold and stuffed it, giving Tennessee excellent field position. Ainge would find Chris Hannon for the score (the Vols missed the two) but Tennessee now led 19-7 in the 4th quarter. And finally, Georgia woke up.
The Vol defense still made them earn it, and forced them to eat up plenty of clock. When Danny Ware bounced outside and barrelled into the end zone to make it 19-14, only 4:22 was left. Tennessee's offense could not pick up a first down on 3rd and 2, and was forced to punt, putting the game in the hands of the Vol defense.
Fresh in the memories of most at this point was 2001, when David Greene drove the Dawgs to a score in the final :44 to win in Knoxville. He did that as a freshman - now, as a senior with more time and more timeouts, and we'd fought so hard all day...but everyone in orange was dreading it. And to his credit, Greene gave them a shot, moving the ball from his own 12 upfield and hitting Fred Gibson, who just barely got out of bounds with :01 left at the Vols' 19. One play would determine it.
And then Greene kinda came unglued. The Vols brought a little pressure, Greene fired away - and I'm still not really even sure who he was throwing it to. Not the kind of play I would've expected from him - but man, I'll take it. As the ball was batted to the turf, Tennessee fans first exhaled a huge sigh of relief, and then slowly realized: not only had the Vols upset the #3 team in the country, not only had the Vols ended Georgia's four year victory streak...but the Vols had just beaten Florida and Georgia: the SEC East was locked up.
David Greene finished 15 of 36 with no touchdowns. Georiga was held to 56 yards rushing. Gerald Riggs would grind out 102 yards, and Erik Ainge played mistake-free football to secure the victory, as the Vols won the time of possession battle by more than ten minutes. Georgia was also penalized 12 times for 89 yards...frustration, anyone?
In Athens...the celebration was massive, even with the few & the proud in orange. We celebrated with the team, we celebrated with the band, and then we waited. See, Georgia's student section - the center of the disrespect - all had to make the long walk past our section to get out of the stadium. They tried to wait us out. We were patient.
I realize this is petty stuff, but if you were there, you would've enjoyed it just as much as me. One by one they walked past us, with a thin line of police separating the two. And Georgia doesn't take abuse nearly as well as it dishes it out. Like I said, it's Georgia - still looking for a seat at the big boy table - and a team like that is always the quickest to point a finger, the quickest to flip you off, the quickest to talk trash when they get an ounce of something going right. But when that right goes wrong - especially on this day, especially to the Vols, especially when they had everything going for them and were sure they were headed for the promised land...I'll never forget watching them make that walk, and the friendly conversations we had with each other.
Best part of the day: back in the car, listening to the Georgia postgame show. Former kicker Happ Hines is an analyst, and they throw it to him as soon as the show comes on the air. Happ, your thoughts on today's game?
"When I woke up today, it felt like Christmas morning. Everything was right, everything was great, things were going to go our way. This was our year. And now, Tennessee comes in, and not only have they stolen all of our presents, but they stole the #*&@ tree!"
When Phil Fulmer said he was going to turn the reigns of the offense over to Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer, in favor of the elder statesman CJ Leak and transfer Rick Clausen, Vol fans were a combination of excitement and uncertaintiy. The two-headed monster helped to feed the excitement by beating Florida, with both QBs turning in solid performances. But the Auburn game might've been the more realistic dose. Playing at home against a team that would go on to finish the season 13-0, the Vols were demolished 34-10, beaten in every phase of the game. Erik Ainge had five turnovers by himself, Schaeffer wasn't much better, the Vols got behind so fast they couldn't run, and the defense was made to look foolish by Jason Campbell and the two-headed beast of Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. It was the most soundly rousing defeat Tennessee had suffered in a long time, and Vol fans weren't totally furious - it's that they simply began to really buy into the realism of playing two true freshmen at quarterback with a defense still trying to find its feet. Vol fans would chalk that one up to experience for the most part.
Four hours down the road on the same day, a top five showdown between LSU and Georgia ensued. And if you thought what Auburn did to Tennessee was nasty, the number that Georgia put on the defending National Champions was even more impressive. Georgia played the perfect game, getting five touchdown passes from David Greene in a 45-16 ambush of the Tigers. On Sunday morning, Georgia found itself ranked third in the polls, on a team loaded with senior talent, and - knowing that the Vols had beaten Florida, and then knowing that Auburn had exposed Tennessee's youth in a frightening way - you couldn't have asked for a better situation in Athens. Nevermind the SEC East, nevermind a young Auburn team still hovering outside the Top 5 on the first Saturday in October - the Dawgs were thinking National Championship. And perhaps, rightfully so. Mark Richt had taken Georgia to the threshold in 2002 with a 13-1 season, and had won the East again in 2003. Now all of those guys were seniors and ready to make the storybook run.
The Vols knew this as well. And the thought was, if (what was thought to be) an up and coming Auburn team did that to us at home, this is Georgia on the road. And if those freshmen took their lumps last week...in their first hostile environment ever...look out.
Let's also not forget that Georgia had now beaten the Vols four straight, including a 41-14 embarassment in Neyland Stadium the previous season. In short, all signs pointed to not only Georgia winning, but Georgia doing what it pleased. I was genuinely surprised when we were only a 12-point dog in this one.
So it happened that my sister, or one of her friends, or someone I know hit the ticket lottery, whoever it was (Will is 0 for life at winning the student ticket lottery, 0 for life at being an alternate). So I get the tickets - second row - and then I can't find anybody to go. As it ends up, it's me and Josh Clark going to war down I-75. If you ever catch this game on ESPN Classic or TiVo it, you can see us down close - look for the guy in the bright orange shirt and the blue scrub bottoms, with everyone else around him looking at him going "did that guy come straight from the hospital?" (The answer, by the way, is no - that's just what he wanted to wear)
Once we got on campus, before kickoff, I saw two things I'd never seen before. One - I've never, ever seen Tennessee disrespected like this before. Ever. Now, I know all of what I wrote up there is true about the overall tone for this game. And I know Georgia had beaten us four years in a row. But look, you'll never catch me disrespecting Alabama when we've beaten them 7 in a row, and especially not like this - like we're so far beneath them, the fans and their players, that we're just not worth their time at all. They weren't worried about us at all. And it didn't make you happy or make you think "maybe we'll slip up on them then." It made me furious - because we're Tennessee. And this is before 5-6. And they're Georgia - and I don't care if they'd won 4 in a row, we won 10 straight before that on them. And it's not like they can pull up a chair at the big boys table and throw down their National Championship rings. They're not Florida, they're not Alabama, they're not Auburn, they're not LSU - they were and are playing really good football right now, but Georgia doesn't get to disrespect Tennessee. Not like this. Especially not like this - for good measure, no one should disrespect Tennessee like this. You would've had to been there to see it firsthand.
And they paid for it.
But before we get to that...another byproduct of all of this was this is the worst turnout of Tennessee fans I've ever seen. Normally, a well-traveled team like the Vols will have a large section around the band in the lower level, and then another group of seats high in the upper deck - it's the same game at Neyland Stadium for visiting teams there. I'd been to Georgia twice before and had sat in both places, surrounded by lots of other folks in orange.
But on this day...where were you guys? Because there's no one wearing orange in the upper deck at all. And the lower level section is about 1/3 of its normal size - essentially, it's the students and the band, and most of the students are only there (so I'm told anyway) because they're too drunk to know better. I found a great picture of this that shows this real well, but pictures aren't working right now for some reason - we'll try later. When I told people in Knoxville that I was going after the Auburn game, one person asked me if I was a glutton for punishment, and my Dad looked at me like he didn't raise me right.
Fools, all of you! This is like slapping someone for picking against Tennessee in the weekly picks when they win. But again, we're getting ahead of ourselves.
The point is, we're small in number and most of us are highly intoxicated, but if you've ever been to an away game at a hostile environment, everyone wearing your color is your lifelong friend. So, backed into our little corner of the sideline/endzone with 80-plus thousand in red bearing down on us (though that stadium, like most, isn't that big if you've been to Neyland), we become our own little army. There are so few of us that by the 4th quarter everybody pretty much knows everybody. One of the reasons this game is so memorable for me are all of these little nuances about the student section that day - pilgrims in an unholy land. We came for war, underdogs or no. We'd all seen, heard, and felt the disrespect. Before kickoff, I'm thinking "man, this is exactly the type of situation where I'd love to kill these guys by four touchdowns more than I want to see a close game - but there's no way that's going to happen."
And then Tennessee comes out and does what it does when it's disrespected. All throughout 1998, at Florida in 2001, at Miami in 2003, and now on this day. When you throw a number like 12 points out there as the line and put this university on the other side of it, that's trouble in Vegas baby.
We get the ball, and on the opening drive immediately face 3rd and long. No problem, Ainge goes down the sideline for a big first down. Later we have 4th and 1 near midfield. We're going. We make it. Then, on 3rd and 9, Ainge goes up top for Bret Smith in the back of the end zone 22 yards away. 7-0.
You'd think that would've been enough to stop all that disrespect. It wasn't. Not even close - Georgia - again, from fans to players to coaches - wasn't worried. They really played with no urgency until the 4th quarter, and by then it was too late.
On Georgia's first drive, the Dawgs went three and out, giving the ball back to the Vols, who promptly drove downfield and nailed a field goal. In two drives the Vols had matched their offensive output from the previous week.
It would be DJ Shockley's only series of the game that sparked the UGA offense, as Shockley made a terrific throw under pressure to Fred Gibson for a TD. But David Greene couldn't get anything working all day - he would be sacked four times. James Wilhoit added a 51 yarder just before the half to make it 13-7 at the break. Wilhoit also missed two first half field goals that could've made it much worse.
Georgia wanted to come out of the locker room hot, but instead were shut down by the Vol defense again. The two teams had already traded fumbles once, but when Gerald Riggs lost the ball at the UT 13, it looked again to be Georgia's chance to finally get the lead. Instead, they settled for a field goal attempt, which Andy Bailey shanked from only 29 yards away.
Late in the third, Georgia again tried to build momentum by faking a punt ("I never should've done that" - Richt postgame), but Kevin Burnett read it cold and stuffed it, giving Tennessee excellent field position. Ainge would find Chris Hannon for the score (the Vols missed the two) but Tennessee now led 19-7 in the 4th quarter. And finally, Georgia woke up.
The Vol defense still made them earn it, and forced them to eat up plenty of clock. When Danny Ware bounced outside and barrelled into the end zone to make it 19-14, only 4:22 was left. Tennessee's offense could not pick up a first down on 3rd and 2, and was forced to punt, putting the game in the hands of the Vol defense.
Fresh in the memories of most at this point was 2001, when David Greene drove the Dawgs to a score in the final :44 to win in Knoxville. He did that as a freshman - now, as a senior with more time and more timeouts, and we'd fought so hard all day...but everyone in orange was dreading it. And to his credit, Greene gave them a shot, moving the ball from his own 12 upfield and hitting Fred Gibson, who just barely got out of bounds with :01 left at the Vols' 19. One play would determine it.
And then Greene kinda came unglued. The Vols brought a little pressure, Greene fired away - and I'm still not really even sure who he was throwing it to. Not the kind of play I would've expected from him - but man, I'll take it. As the ball was batted to the turf, Tennessee fans first exhaled a huge sigh of relief, and then slowly realized: not only had the Vols upset the #3 team in the country, not only had the Vols ended Georgia's four year victory streak...but the Vols had just beaten Florida and Georgia: the SEC East was locked up.
David Greene finished 15 of 36 with no touchdowns. Georiga was held to 56 yards rushing. Gerald Riggs would grind out 102 yards, and Erik Ainge played mistake-free football to secure the victory, as the Vols won the time of possession battle by more than ten minutes. Georgia was also penalized 12 times for 89 yards...frustration, anyone?
In Athens...the celebration was massive, even with the few & the proud in orange. We celebrated with the team, we celebrated with the band, and then we waited. See, Georgia's student section - the center of the disrespect - all had to make the long walk past our section to get out of the stadium. They tried to wait us out. We were patient.
I realize this is petty stuff, but if you were there, you would've enjoyed it just as much as me. One by one they walked past us, with a thin line of police separating the two. And Georgia doesn't take abuse nearly as well as it dishes it out. Like I said, it's Georgia - still looking for a seat at the big boy table - and a team like that is always the quickest to point a finger, the quickest to flip you off, the quickest to talk trash when they get an ounce of something going right. But when that right goes wrong - especially on this day, especially to the Vols, especially when they had everything going for them and were sure they were headed for the promised land...I'll never forget watching them make that walk, and the friendly conversations we had with each other.
Best part of the day: back in the car, listening to the Georgia postgame show. Former kicker Happ Hines is an analyst, and they throw it to him as soon as the show comes on the air. Happ, your thoughts on today's game?
"When I woke up today, it felt like Christmas morning. Everything was right, everything was great, things were going to go our way. This was our year. And now, Tennessee comes in, and not only have they stolen all of our presents, but they stole the #*&@ tree!"
Friday, August 18, 2006
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 13. Eddie Who?
13. 1995: #4 Tennessee 20 - #5 Ohio State 14 (Citrus Bowl)
An excellent measure of the success of this program, and, subsequently, the expectations of its fan base, is how excited we are to go to a bowl game. The thought that the Vols travel well is true - we'll bring our full share to Gainesville, Athens, Tuscaloosa and the like. We'll come to Atlanta with bells on. But for bowl games? Not so much, and here's why: it takes a lot to impress us these days. When we are impressed, when we are excited, when it feels like an accomplishment instead of a letdown to be in whatever bowl we're playing in, the Vols will bring it. At the Fiesta Bowl for the National Championship, the crowd was 65-35 orange. In the Sugar Bowl in both January 86 and January 91, the Vols owned the dome. But consider this: in the last ten years, how many bowl games have Vol fans really been excited about? The National Championship aside, how many? In 97, Tennessee's excitement in going to the Orange Bowl was tempered by the fact that Michigan had to lose to Washington State the day before to give the Vols a shot at the top prize. The Citrus Bowl against Michigan - which normally would've drawn great anticipation and excitement - was tempered by the crushing loss to LSU in the SEC Championship. Same story to a lesser degree with the Cotton Bowl against A&M. And we just don't get excited about Peach Bowls around here.
If the Vols land in a January 1 or BCS bowl in 2006 - barring a late loss that leaves a bad taste - I'd say you'll see excitement, and you'll see us travel well. But normally, for bowl games, unless it's a really big deal, we're on a roll, or everything's on the line...sometimes we tend to go into them disappointed and then let the outcome of the game dictate whether or not the season was a success (2001, 2004) or a letdown (1999, 2003).
All that to say that the January 1, 1996 Citrus Bowl was a rare thing. The Vols - and their fans - were ready for this one. Tennessee was the second half in Gainesville away from being undefeated, and had instead watched the Gators go 12-0 and win the SEC Championship. In the days before the BCS and at-large bids, the Citrus Bowl was a place of honor, because the second best team in the SEC - which means you had a really good season - went there. And so in the tail end of the 1995 season, the Vols had won eight games in a row to finish 10-1 after the Florida loss, and rose to #4 in the polls. The season was also helped along greatly by the first victory over Alabama since 1985, which we'll talk more about later. Spirits were high and life was good in Knoxville, and since you couldn't complain about BS or getting screwed or anything else since the Gators were undefeated, we liked the Citrus Bowl.
And on the final day of the regular season, when Michigan upset #1 Ohio State 31-23, we started liking it even more. That not only knocked the Buckeyes out of the National Championship picture, but gave Michigan the Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl bid. Which meant that a dominant (for the first ten games anyway) Ohio State team was coming to Orlando. And though I'm sure the Buckeyes were not excited about it, Vol fans loved it.
What's more - and this is a great subject for another blog some other time - these guys might be the most talented team the Vols have faced. Ever. Since 1989, we've seen some great teams - the Vols played against the National Champion Crimson Tide in 92, the Danny Wuerfful Florida teams in 95 and 96 were out of this world good, the Gators again in 1998 with Jevon Kearse, the 02 Georiga team that went 12-1, and the 2004 Auburn undefeated team, who we saw twice. And folks, that's just the SEC. The Colorado team the Vols tied in 1990 went on to win the whole thing, by beating the Notre Dame team that beat Tennessee later that year. The 1993 Penn State team that throttled the Vols in the Citrus Bowl had Kerry Collins (wait, how old is this guy?), Ki-Jana Carter, and OJ McDuffie. The first Nebraska game, in 1997, those guys would certainly get many votes for the best team the Vols have ever played against. And the 2002 Miami team, with Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee, was insanely good as well.
But I still might take this Ohio State team over all of them. Because they weren't just great on defense or great on offense, they were great everywhere. Did they destroy us the way Penn State, Florida, Nebraska or Miami did? Well, not so much, thanks to the Michigan loss and the rain (we'll get to that in a minute). But they did everyone else for the first ten games, and they certainly had the talent. If the Vols had beaten Florida and Ohio State had beaten Michigan, and the two teams played for the National Championship that year, where both teams were fired up and ready to go, on a dry field...well, I'll let you imagine it, but before you do, consider this: half of Ohio State's starting lineup was drafted in the first three rounds. Half! (Eddie Murphy voice) These aren't just "you know them from Ohio State" names, these are "that guy's on my fantasy team" names.
Just a few of the notables:
QB - Bobby Hoying
RB - Eddie George (Heisman Trophy winner)
WR - Terry Glenn
WR - David Boston
TE - Rickey Dudley
OL - Orlando Pace (First overall pick)
DE - Mike Vrabel
LB - Andy Katzenmoyer
CB - Shawn Springs
CB - Antoine Winfield
Now, let's make something else clear: if you line up the 1995 Vols with anyone, and I mean anyone from the Vol pantheon of the last 15 years - 1989, 1990, 1998, 2001 - it's even money. Tennessee lined up sophmore Peyton Manning at quarterback, with Jay Graham in the backfield, and the Joey Kent/Marcus Nash connection at wide receiver, playing in front of three NFL offensive linemen in Jason Layman, Jeff Smith, and Bubba Miller. By the way, the starting tight end was Scott Pfeiffer, now a proud member of First United Methodist Church of Alcoa. That's right, I'm name dropping Scott Pfeiffer.
On defense, Leonard Little anchored the line, and two of the most underrated Vol linebackers of the 90s - Tyrone Hines and Scott Galyon, mostly because of the trio of all stars who would play after them - helped bring the pain in front of one of our best secondaries with DeRon Jenkins, Terry Fair, Raymond Austin, and Tori Noel. Just writing this makes me cringe all over again about the second half of the 95 Florida game, because I really think we could've won the whole thing with this team.
Bottom line: this was a bowl game to be excited about. Two top five teams, both 10-1, both loaded with talent. Aside from the early Sugar Bowls or the National Championship, this is the most excited, most ready the Vols have ever been for a bowl game. You wanted this one bad.
Know who else was ready? Mother Nature. Any game on this blog where we talk about a torrential downpour - be it the 92 Florida game or the 2002 Florida game, the Arkansas game in 2001 where lightning caused a delay, anything - it all has to be in the context of this one. Because the rain in Orlando that day was straight from the Old Testament. I was there. It makes for a great story later, but the rain was so bad that it distracted you from the football instead of complementing the atmosphere of the game. Taking three steps from our hotel room door to the car meant you needed a change of clothes. Un-be-lieveable.
Our seats, by the way, were on the last level of the upper deck, right underneath one of those big light structures. So when lightning is flashing in the pregame, after driving 10 hours and being prepared for this epic contest between these two great teams...instead of focusing on the task at hand, we're actually, seriously considering if it's even safe to be there. Probably wasn't - I've read stories through the years of older folks who caught pneumonia and literally almost died from sitting thorugh this game. It was one of those things where a poncho was simply worthless and weighed you down. You get the idea.
Enough of that; the game itself now. Ohio State is favored and people everywhere think that if the Buckeyes come to play, Tennessee has their hands full. So when Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George plunges one in in the first quarter, and then Ohio State drives to first and goal in the second quarter, you're thinking "uh oh".
Enter the one and only Bill Duff. The Buckeyes had 4th and inches to score, and of course, with the big bruising #27 in the backfield, you're going for it. And the big bruising #50 on the defensive line was there to save the day.
John Ward: "Here's the give to George, I don't know sir! I do not know! Tennessee POUNDS him at the line, and it was Bill Duff, at the bottom of the heap...he-did-not-makeit!"
(I can't find any pictures whatsoever from this game, but the enduring image is of Duff coming out of that pile, absolutely screaming running back to the sidelines)
The orange-tinted crowd in Orlando would now be happy to get to the locker room down only 7-0. The rain was taking its toll on Peyton Manning and the passing game, and with time winding down in the half, the Vols were simply going to run the clock out. But for Jay Graham, "run the clock out" meant "break four tackles and run 69 yards for a touchdown." The best big play runner in UT history swung the momentum to the Vols as the game went to halftime at 7-7.
Side note: this was the 50th Anniversary of the Citrus Bowl, and they had a massive halftime extravaganza during which they released all of these doves. Doves, apparently, are not native to Orlando and not fond of torrential downpours. So for the entire second half, the doves have become lunatics, flying around the stadium at low altitudes trying to find a dry place. You can't make this stuff up. It should also be noted that I've seen the Ohio State band dot the i, and I'm not impressed. Circle drill 4 life.
They also served the best orange juice I've ever had from the concession stands, seing as how it was the Citrus Bowl after all. Perhaps the old Peach/new Chik-Fil-A Bowl will learn from this. Or maybe now in Orlando they just give away money.
Ahem...
To open the second half, Tennessee took the momentum it had already gained and doubled it early, when Peyton Manning finally got something going downfield. The 47 yard pass was really one of Manning's worst balls, badly underthrown, but trusty Joey Kent made the adjustment, stepped back in front of the defender at the five, and then spun into the end zone. And just like that, Tennessee had the lead 14-7.
That was all the offensive fireworks the Vols could manage, and the defense would have to dig in (did someone say illegal cleats?) The scored remained 14-7 as the game went to the 4th, but not for long. Bobby Hoying found tight end Rickey Dudley for 32 yards and a score to tie the game early in the final quarter. Dudley was a beast, grabbing five balls for 106 yards, and I remember thinking "So this is what a tight end is supposed to be like! We've got to get one of those!" No offense to Scott Pfeiffer, of course. Dudley's day was matched by Terry Glenn, who made seven catches for 95 yards.
With the score tied, the Vol offense still couldn't get anything going. But then the combination of the rain and the Tennessee defense won the game. Ohio State got the ball back in a tie game at 14-14. They fumbled. Tennessee recovered, drove to the 12 yard line, Jeff Hall kicked a field goal, and the Vols led 17-14. Ohio State got the ball back, and this time Eddie George fumbled. Tennessee then drove to the eight yard line, but still couldn't get in. So Jeff Hall came along again to extend the lead to 20-14. Ohio State needed a touchdown to win and was running out of time.
The Buckeyes started moving and got into Tennessee territory with the clock under 2:00. Now, if I'm John Cooper, and I've got the Heisman Trophy winner in the backfield who can run straight ahead and run people over, and I've got three outstanding pass catchers and a quarterback who can get it to them, and it's raining like the world is ending...the last thing I'm going to do is run the option. But that's why Jim Tressell is the coach in Columbus now. Hoying ran the option and badly mistimed the pitch, spinning the ball free and into the hands of the Tennessee defense. The threat was over, and the Vols had won a hard fought Citrus Bowl against one of the best teams you'll ever see. The Vols finished ranked #3 in the AP and #2 in the Coaches Poll, thanks to Nebraska's assault and murder of Florida in the National Championship game.
Eddie George had a solid day at the office, 25 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. The "Eddie Who?" chants came not because the Vol defense had shut him down, but because Jay Graham got 154 yards on 26 carries, including the 69 yard touchdown. Graham took home MVP honors to compliment Manning's 20 of 35 passing, held to 182 yards due to the rain. Joey Kent grabbed seven of those for 109 yards. Graham's 154 yards are the third most in bowl history for the Vols, behind Chuck Webb's insane Cotton Bowl performance of 250, and Travis Henry's 180 against Kansas State.
A closing thought on Ohio State: the Buckeyes and the Vols walk a thin line with each other. Ohio State doesn't quite fit into that Michigan/Notre Dame/Texas category of non-conference teams you pull against every time you see them. Because of this win, the Vols have the bragging rights and can rest easy with that. Eddie George is my all-time favorite Tennessee Titan. So they're okay, I suppose, in our book. But for Ohio State, between the illegal cleats and everything else that happened between the Michigan loss and the Tennessee loss, I'm betting they don't care too much for us. Maybe part of it is that northern/southern thing too, who knows.
I do know that in 1998, after Ohio State lost to Michigan State and was beaten in the BCS by Florida State to earn the right to lose to the Vols, in the postseason the university had a computer program simulate a game between the Vols and Buckeyes. They then had Ohio State's announcers broadcast the game "live" for the thousands of Buckeye fans to pretend that they'd won the National Championship. Really and truly, that's one of the saddest things I've ever heard. John Ward would quit or die before agreeing to do something that ridiculous. We like our National Championships to be the real life kind around here.
We need to play these guys again.
An excellent measure of the success of this program, and, subsequently, the expectations of its fan base, is how excited we are to go to a bowl game. The thought that the Vols travel well is true - we'll bring our full share to Gainesville, Athens, Tuscaloosa and the like. We'll come to Atlanta with bells on. But for bowl games? Not so much, and here's why: it takes a lot to impress us these days. When we are impressed, when we are excited, when it feels like an accomplishment instead of a letdown to be in whatever bowl we're playing in, the Vols will bring it. At the Fiesta Bowl for the National Championship, the crowd was 65-35 orange. In the Sugar Bowl in both January 86 and January 91, the Vols owned the dome. But consider this: in the last ten years, how many bowl games have Vol fans really been excited about? The National Championship aside, how many? In 97, Tennessee's excitement in going to the Orange Bowl was tempered by the fact that Michigan had to lose to Washington State the day before to give the Vols a shot at the top prize. The Citrus Bowl against Michigan - which normally would've drawn great anticipation and excitement - was tempered by the crushing loss to LSU in the SEC Championship. Same story to a lesser degree with the Cotton Bowl against A&M. And we just don't get excited about Peach Bowls around here.If the Vols land in a January 1 or BCS bowl in 2006 - barring a late loss that leaves a bad taste - I'd say you'll see excitement, and you'll see us travel well. But normally, for bowl games, unless it's a really big deal, we're on a roll, or everything's on the line...sometimes we tend to go into them disappointed and then let the outcome of the game dictate whether or not the season was a success (2001, 2004) or a letdown (1999, 2003).
All that to say that the January 1, 1996 Citrus Bowl was a rare thing. The Vols - and their fans - were ready for this one. Tennessee was the second half in Gainesville away from being undefeated, and had instead watched the Gators go 12-0 and win the SEC Championship. In the days before the BCS and at-large bids, the Citrus Bowl was a place of honor, because the second best team in the SEC - which means you had a really good season - went there. And so in the tail end of the 1995 season, the Vols had won eight games in a row to finish 10-1 after the Florida loss, and rose to #4 in the polls. The season was also helped along greatly by the first victory over Alabama since 1985, which we'll talk more about later. Spirits were high and life was good in Knoxville, and since you couldn't complain about BS or getting screwed or anything else since the Gators were undefeated, we liked the Citrus Bowl.
And on the final day of the regular season, when Michigan upset #1 Ohio State 31-23, we started liking it even more. That not only knocked the Buckeyes out of the National Championship picture, but gave Michigan the Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl bid. Which meant that a dominant (for the first ten games anyway) Ohio State team was coming to Orlando. And though I'm sure the Buckeyes were not excited about it, Vol fans loved it.
What's more - and this is a great subject for another blog some other time - these guys might be the most talented team the Vols have faced. Ever. Since 1989, we've seen some great teams - the Vols played against the National Champion Crimson Tide in 92, the Danny Wuerfful Florida teams in 95 and 96 were out of this world good, the Gators again in 1998 with Jevon Kearse, the 02 Georiga team that went 12-1, and the 2004 Auburn undefeated team, who we saw twice. And folks, that's just the SEC. The Colorado team the Vols tied in 1990 went on to win the whole thing, by beating the Notre Dame team that beat Tennessee later that year. The 1993 Penn State team that throttled the Vols in the Citrus Bowl had Kerry Collins (wait, how old is this guy?), Ki-Jana Carter, and OJ McDuffie. The first Nebraska game, in 1997, those guys would certainly get many votes for the best team the Vols have ever played against. And the 2002 Miami team, with Ken Dorsey and Willis McGahee, was insanely good as well.
But I still might take this Ohio State team over all of them. Because they weren't just great on defense or great on offense, they were great everywhere. Did they destroy us the way Penn State, Florida, Nebraska or Miami did? Well, not so much, thanks to the Michigan loss and the rain (we'll get to that in a minute). But they did everyone else for the first ten games, and they certainly had the talent. If the Vols had beaten Florida and Ohio State had beaten Michigan, and the two teams played for the National Championship that year, where both teams were fired up and ready to go, on a dry field...well, I'll let you imagine it, but before you do, consider this: half of Ohio State's starting lineup was drafted in the first three rounds. Half! (Eddie Murphy voice) These aren't just "you know them from Ohio State" names, these are "that guy's on my fantasy team" names.
Just a few of the notables:
QB - Bobby Hoying
RB - Eddie George (Heisman Trophy winner)
WR - Terry Glenn
WR - David Boston
TE - Rickey Dudley
OL - Orlando Pace (First overall pick)
DE - Mike Vrabel
LB - Andy Katzenmoyer
CB - Shawn Springs
CB - Antoine Winfield
Now, let's make something else clear: if you line up the 1995 Vols with anyone, and I mean anyone from the Vol pantheon of the last 15 years - 1989, 1990, 1998, 2001 - it's even money. Tennessee lined up sophmore Peyton Manning at quarterback, with Jay Graham in the backfield, and the Joey Kent/Marcus Nash connection at wide receiver, playing in front of three NFL offensive linemen in Jason Layman, Jeff Smith, and Bubba Miller. By the way, the starting tight end was Scott Pfeiffer, now a proud member of First United Methodist Church of Alcoa. That's right, I'm name dropping Scott Pfeiffer.
On defense, Leonard Little anchored the line, and two of the most underrated Vol linebackers of the 90s - Tyrone Hines and Scott Galyon, mostly because of the trio of all stars who would play after them - helped bring the pain in front of one of our best secondaries with DeRon Jenkins, Terry Fair, Raymond Austin, and Tori Noel. Just writing this makes me cringe all over again about the second half of the 95 Florida game, because I really think we could've won the whole thing with this team.
Bottom line: this was a bowl game to be excited about. Two top five teams, both 10-1, both loaded with talent. Aside from the early Sugar Bowls or the National Championship, this is the most excited, most ready the Vols have ever been for a bowl game. You wanted this one bad.
Know who else was ready? Mother Nature. Any game on this blog where we talk about a torrential downpour - be it the 92 Florida game or the 2002 Florida game, the Arkansas game in 2001 where lightning caused a delay, anything - it all has to be in the context of this one. Because the rain in Orlando that day was straight from the Old Testament. I was there. It makes for a great story later, but the rain was so bad that it distracted you from the football instead of complementing the atmosphere of the game. Taking three steps from our hotel room door to the car meant you needed a change of clothes. Un-be-lieveable.
Our seats, by the way, were on the last level of the upper deck, right underneath one of those big light structures. So when lightning is flashing in the pregame, after driving 10 hours and being prepared for this epic contest between these two great teams...instead of focusing on the task at hand, we're actually, seriously considering if it's even safe to be there. Probably wasn't - I've read stories through the years of older folks who caught pneumonia and literally almost died from sitting thorugh this game. It was one of those things where a poncho was simply worthless and weighed you down. You get the idea.
Enough of that; the game itself now. Ohio State is favored and people everywhere think that if the Buckeyes come to play, Tennessee has their hands full. So when Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George plunges one in in the first quarter, and then Ohio State drives to first and goal in the second quarter, you're thinking "uh oh".
Enter the one and only Bill Duff. The Buckeyes had 4th and inches to score, and of course, with the big bruising #27 in the backfield, you're going for it. And the big bruising #50 on the defensive line was there to save the day.
John Ward: "Here's the give to George, I don't know sir! I do not know! Tennessee POUNDS him at the line, and it was Bill Duff, at the bottom of the heap...he-did-not-makeit!"
(I can't find any pictures whatsoever from this game, but the enduring image is of Duff coming out of that pile, absolutely screaming running back to the sidelines)
The orange-tinted crowd in Orlando would now be happy to get to the locker room down only 7-0. The rain was taking its toll on Peyton Manning and the passing game, and with time winding down in the half, the Vols were simply going to run the clock out. But for Jay Graham, "run the clock out" meant "break four tackles and run 69 yards for a touchdown." The best big play runner in UT history swung the momentum to the Vols as the game went to halftime at 7-7.
Side note: this was the 50th Anniversary of the Citrus Bowl, and they had a massive halftime extravaganza during which they released all of these doves. Doves, apparently, are not native to Orlando and not fond of torrential downpours. So for the entire second half, the doves have become lunatics, flying around the stadium at low altitudes trying to find a dry place. You can't make this stuff up. It should also be noted that I've seen the Ohio State band dot the i, and I'm not impressed. Circle drill 4 life.
They also served the best orange juice I've ever had from the concession stands, seing as how it was the Citrus Bowl after all. Perhaps the old Peach/new Chik-Fil-A Bowl will learn from this. Or maybe now in Orlando they just give away money.
Ahem...
To open the second half, Tennessee took the momentum it had already gained and doubled it early, when Peyton Manning finally got something going downfield. The 47 yard pass was really one of Manning's worst balls, badly underthrown, but trusty Joey Kent made the adjustment, stepped back in front of the defender at the five, and then spun into the end zone. And just like that, Tennessee had the lead 14-7.
That was all the offensive fireworks the Vols could manage, and the defense would have to dig in (did someone say illegal cleats?) The scored remained 14-7 as the game went to the 4th, but not for long. Bobby Hoying found tight end Rickey Dudley for 32 yards and a score to tie the game early in the final quarter. Dudley was a beast, grabbing five balls for 106 yards, and I remember thinking "So this is what a tight end is supposed to be like! We've got to get one of those!" No offense to Scott Pfeiffer, of course. Dudley's day was matched by Terry Glenn, who made seven catches for 95 yards.
With the score tied, the Vol offense still couldn't get anything going. But then the combination of the rain and the Tennessee defense won the game. Ohio State got the ball back in a tie game at 14-14. They fumbled. Tennessee recovered, drove to the 12 yard line, Jeff Hall kicked a field goal, and the Vols led 17-14. Ohio State got the ball back, and this time Eddie George fumbled. Tennessee then drove to the eight yard line, but still couldn't get in. So Jeff Hall came along again to extend the lead to 20-14. Ohio State needed a touchdown to win and was running out of time.
The Buckeyes started moving and got into Tennessee territory with the clock under 2:00. Now, if I'm John Cooper, and I've got the Heisman Trophy winner in the backfield who can run straight ahead and run people over, and I've got three outstanding pass catchers and a quarterback who can get it to them, and it's raining like the world is ending...the last thing I'm going to do is run the option. But that's why Jim Tressell is the coach in Columbus now. Hoying ran the option and badly mistimed the pitch, spinning the ball free and into the hands of the Tennessee defense. The threat was over, and the Vols had won a hard fought Citrus Bowl against one of the best teams you'll ever see. The Vols finished ranked #3 in the AP and #2 in the Coaches Poll, thanks to Nebraska's assault and murder of Florida in the National Championship game.
Eddie George had a solid day at the office, 25 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown. The "Eddie Who?" chants came not because the Vol defense had shut him down, but because Jay Graham got 154 yards on 26 carries, including the 69 yard touchdown. Graham took home MVP honors to compliment Manning's 20 of 35 passing, held to 182 yards due to the rain. Joey Kent grabbed seven of those for 109 yards. Graham's 154 yards are the third most in bowl history for the Vols, behind Chuck Webb's insane Cotton Bowl performance of 250, and Travis Henry's 180 against Kansas State.
A closing thought on Ohio State: the Buckeyes and the Vols walk a thin line with each other. Ohio State doesn't quite fit into that Michigan/Notre Dame/Texas category of non-conference teams you pull against every time you see them. Because of this win, the Vols have the bragging rights and can rest easy with that. Eddie George is my all-time favorite Tennessee Titan. So they're okay, I suppose, in our book. But for Ohio State, between the illegal cleats and everything else that happened between the Michigan loss and the Tennessee loss, I'm betting they don't care too much for us. Maybe part of it is that northern/southern thing too, who knows.
I do know that in 1998, after Ohio State lost to Michigan State and was beaten in the BCS by Florida State to earn the right to lose to the Vols, in the postseason the university had a computer program simulate a game between the Vols and Buckeyes. They then had Ohio State's announcers broadcast the game "live" for the thousands of Buckeye fans to pretend that they'd won the National Championship. Really and truly, that's one of the saddest things I've ever heard. John Ward would quit or die before agreeing to do something that ridiculous. We like our National Championships to be the real life kind around here.
We need to play these guys again.
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