dduncan4163
Have at it Hoss
- Joined
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https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/t...orever-altered-the-tennessee-florida-rivalry/
After showcasing one incredible tailback after another for more than a decade, the Vols were forced to lean on Travis Stephens in 2001. Little was expected out of the 5-9, 190-pound tailback that season. Yet he delivered. Stephens set the single-season school record for rushing yards with 1,464. He ran for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Gators in that season finale.
That game also seemed to be the moment in which UT defensive coordinator John Chavis had finally figured out Florida coach Steve Spurrier. Chavis and the Vols had beaten Florida before in 1998 at the height of Spurrier’s reign, but that victory was about an opportunistic defense that created turnovers when it absolutely had to and Jeff Hall’s right leg.
Chavis came out of his shell in 2001 by using what he would call a “Prowler” package. The defensive approach was based on keeping Florida’s offense off guard by constantly moving players around in the front seven. Even defensive linemen stood and bounced back and forth between gaps before the snap. UT’s defense still gave up 362 passing yards and 32 points, but the Vols kept the Gators guessing. Suddenly, Spurrier’s offense looked a bit antiquated. He refused to run the ball even though that seemed like the better option considering UT often just had one defender positioned to stop the run. Chavis knew that Spurrier wanted to win by throwing the ball. Spurrier played right into the Chavis’ hands.
Spurrier was soon reminded that high expectations could take the fun out of football. Despite winning 10 games in 2001, that season was deemed a failure by the Florida faithful. That didn’t sit well with Spurrier, so he resigned in January after 12 seasons. The key pillar that upheld one of the best rivalries in college football was gone.
Casey became my favorite Vol and Travis became a Tennessee folk hero that night. Easily one of the greatest games in Vol history. We played like a team possessed that night.
After showcasing one incredible tailback after another for more than a decade, the Vols were forced to lean on Travis Stephens in 2001. Little was expected out of the 5-9, 190-pound tailback that season. Yet he delivered. Stephens set the single-season school record for rushing yards with 1,464. He ran for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Gators in that season finale.
That game also seemed to be the moment in which UT defensive coordinator John Chavis had finally figured out Florida coach Steve Spurrier. Chavis and the Vols had beaten Florida before in 1998 at the height of Spurrier’s reign, but that victory was about an opportunistic defense that created turnovers when it absolutely had to and Jeff Hall’s right leg.
Chavis came out of his shell in 2001 by using what he would call a “Prowler” package. The defensive approach was based on keeping Florida’s offense off guard by constantly moving players around in the front seven. Even defensive linemen stood and bounced back and forth between gaps before the snap. UT’s defense still gave up 362 passing yards and 32 points, but the Vols kept the Gators guessing. Suddenly, Spurrier’s offense looked a bit antiquated. He refused to run the ball even though that seemed like the better option considering UT often just had one defender positioned to stop the run. Chavis knew that Spurrier wanted to win by throwing the ball. Spurrier played right into the Chavis’ hands.
Spurrier was soon reminded that high expectations could take the fun out of football. Despite winning 10 games in 2001, that season was deemed a failure by the Florida faithful. That didn’t sit well with Spurrier, so he resigned in January after 12 seasons. The key pillar that upheld one of the best rivalries in college football was gone.
Casey became my favorite Vol and Travis became a Tennessee folk hero that night. Easily one of the greatest games in Vol history. We played like a team possessed that night.
