THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED!….

[EverythingOrange]

In 1997 ESPN's Chris Fowler referred to Tennessee fans as "trailer park trash"in response to the fans' criticism of ESPN's promotion of Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

There has been BAD-BLOOD between ESPN & TENNESSEE ever since!…..

1998: ESPN hyped Ohio State ALL YEAR LONG - until they Lost in week 8.

UT was then ranked #1!

Then, suddenly- ESPN was on the band-wagons of both UCLA & Kansas State (Who were Both Undefeated until week 10!)…. (When they Both LOST)!!!!

OK - Then Florida State beat Florida to be ranked #2 last game of the season.

EVEN THEN - ESPN made #1 TENNESSEE a 2 point under-dog in the first BCS National Championship Game…….

TENNESSEE WON! - And ESPN was NOT happy!

The next year, A random ESPN commercial about an old lady (wearing a Tennessee dress) & a Pig she called “Rocky” continued the feud….

It didn’t help that ESPN’s “home-base” was in Bristol, Connecticut - Giving VIP tours to lady UCONN basketball players - to help “recruit” them over other schools like Tennessee!

Pat Summitt was so incensed by it, that she canceled the yearly matchup between Tennessee and UCONN….

Ever since, it seems like ESPN & TENNESSEE have been at odds! — Whether it’s been “Rankings”, “Commentary”, or just random credit & exposure…..

— Don’t tell me that it isn’t TRUE!

If ESPN could put Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and even South Carolina ahead of the VOLS today! - They would find a way to do it!!!!!

I’m still not SOLD on the 12 team college football playoff, but I would be willing to bet that TENNESSEE would beat BYU, Boise State, Arizona State, & Indiana on any damn field!

And ESPN is Still not happy that TENNESSEE might make “The Cut”.

— But, we gotta beat VANDY First! - Or else ESPN would have a Field-Day!…..

VENT OVER!…….

 

[Special Ed]

According to Fowler, he said, "Trailer Park Frenzy" and did not utter the word Trash.
But I wouldn't doubt he was thinking "trash" in response to the threats to e s p n allegedly made by UT fans.
In any case, Fowler is rather trashy.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

In 1997 ESPN's Chris Fowler referred to Tennessee fans as "trailer park trash"in response to the fans' criticism of ESPN's promotion of Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

There has been BAD-BLOOD between ESPN & TENNESSEE ever since!…..

1998: ESPN hyped Ohio State ALL YEAR LONG - until they Lost in week 8.

UT was then ranked #1!

Then, suddenly- ESPN was on the band-wagons of both UCLA & Kansas State (Who were Both Undefeated until week 10!)…. (When they Both LOST)!!!!

OK - Then Florida State beat Florida to be ranked #2 last game of the season.

EVEN THEN - ESPN made #1 TENNESSEE a 2 point under-dog in the first BCS National Championship Game…….

TENNESSEE WON! - And ESPN was NOT happy!

The next year, A random ESPN commercial about an old lady (wearing a Tennessee dress) & a Pig she called “Rocky” continued the feud….

It didn’t help that ESPN’s “home-base” was in Bristol, Connecticut - Giving VIP tours to lady UCONN basketball players - to help “recruit” them over other schools like Tennessee!

Pat Summitt was so incensed by it, that she canceled the yearly matchup between Tennessee and UCONN….

Ever since, it seems like ESPN & TENNESSEE have been at odds! — Whether it’s been “Rankings”, “Commentary”, or just random credit & exposure…..

— Don’t tell me that it isn’t TRUE!

If ESPN could put Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and even South Carolina ahead of the VOLS today! - They would find a way to do it!!!!!

I’m still not SOLD on the 12 team college football playoff, but I would be willing to bet that TENNESSEE would beat BYU, Boise State, Arizona State, & Indiana on any damn field!

And ESPN is Still not happy that TENNESSEE might make “The Cut”.

— But, we gotta beat VANDY First! - Or else ESPN would have a Field-Day!…..

VENT OVER!…….

Poor guy

 

[Butch s]

In 1997 ESPN's Chris Fowler referred to Tennessee fans as "trailer park trash"in response to the fans' criticism of ESPN's promotion of Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

There has been BAD-BLOOD between ESPN & TENNESSEE ever since!…..

1998: ESPN hyped Ohio State ALL YEAR LONG - until they Lost in week 8.

UT was then ranked #1!

Then, suddenly- ESPN was on the band-wagons of both UCLA & Kansas State (Who were Both Undefeated until week 10!)…. (When they Both LOST)!!!!

OK - Then Florida State beat Florida to be ranked #2 last game of the season.

EVEN THEN - ESPN made #1 TENNESSEE a 2 point under-dog in the first BCS National Championship Game…….

TENNESSEE WON! - And ESPN was NOT happy!

The next year, A random ESPN commercial about an old lady (wearing a Tennessee dress) & a Pig she called “Rocky” continued the feud….

It didn’t help that ESPN’s “home-base” was in Bristol, Connecticut - Giving VIP tours to lady UCONN basketball players - to help “recruit” them over other schools like Tennessee!

Pat Summitt was so incensed by it, that she canceled the yearly matchup between Tennessee and UCONN….

Ever since, it seems like ESPN & TENNESSEE have been at odds! — Whether it’s been “Rankings”, “Commentary”, or just random credit & exposure…..

— Don’t tell me that it isn’t TRUE!

If ESPN could put Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and even South Carolina ahead of the VOLS today! - They would find a way to do it!!!!!

I’m still not SOLD on the 12 team college football playoff, but I would be willing to bet that TENNESSEE would beat BYU, Boise State, Arizona State, & Indiana on any damn field!

And ESPN is Still not happy that TENNESSEE might make “The Cut”.

— But, we gotta beat VANDY First! - Or else ESPN would have a Field-Day!…..

VENT OVER!…….

His statement was “there’ll be a trailer park frenzy in the state of Tennessee tonight “. What a punk. Wouldn’t bother me if espn burned to the ground today

 

[feathersax]

OP speaks the truth.

 

[FLVOL_79]

According to Fowler, he said, "Trailer Park Frenzy" and did not utter the word Trash.
But I wouldn't doubt he was thinking "trash" in response to the threats to e s p n allegedly made by UT fans.
In any case, Fowler is rather trashy.

But is he trailer park trashy? And if so which tier? Florida trailer park or Bammer trailer park?

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Why do you people get all bent out of shape over what ESPN says or thinks? And every time as well. Is this what you need?

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Why do you people get all bent out of shape over what ESPN says or thinks? And every time as well. Is this what you need?
View attachment 701121

And we're not "on the bubble", we are solidly in the playoffs right now, all we gotta do is beat Vandy. If we lose to Vandy we won't deserve to get in, it will have nothing to do with ESPN.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

In 1997 ESPN's Chris Fowler referred to Tennessee fans as "trailer park trash"in response to the fans' criticism of ESPN's promotion of Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

There has been BAD-BLOOD between ESPN & TENNESSEE ever since!…..

1998: ESPN hyped Ohio State ALL YEAR LONG - until they Lost in week 8.

UT was then ranked #1!

Then, suddenly- ESPN was on the band-wagons of both UCLA & Kansas State (Who were Both Undefeated until week 10!)…. (When they Both LOST)!!!!

OK - Then Florida State beat Florida to be ranked #2 last game of the season.

EVEN THEN - ESPN made #1 TENNESSEE a 2 point under-dog in the first BCS National Championship Game…….

TENNESSEE WON! - And ESPN was NOT happy!

The next year, A random ESPN commercial about an old lady (wearing a Tennessee dress) & a Pig she called “Rocky” continued the feud….

It didn’t help that ESPN’s “home-base” was in Bristol, Connecticut - Giving VIP tours to lady UCONN basketball players - to help “recruit” them over other schools like Tennessee!

Pat Summitt was so incensed by it, that she canceled the yearly matchup between Tennessee and UCONN….

Ever since, it seems like ESPN & TENNESSEE have been at odds! — Whether it’s been “Rankings”, “Commentary”, or just random credit & exposure…..

— Don’t tell me that it isn’t TRUE!

If ESPN could put Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and even South Carolina ahead of the VOLS today! - They would find a way to do it!!!!!

I’m still not SOLD on the 12 team college football playoff, but I would be willing to bet that TENNESSEE would beat BYU, Boise State, Arizona State, & Indiana on any damn field!

And ESPN is Still not happy that TENNESSEE might make “The Cut”.

— But, we gotta beat VANDY First! - Or else ESPN would have a Field-Day!…..

VENT OVER!…….

ESPN did not set gambling lines at that time. All this conspiracy about how everyone hates us is ridiculous and frankly pathetic. Nobody hates the team that is irrelevant for 20 years.

Ohio State was expected preseason to be a great team in 1998. We were justifiably expected to take a step back after losing Peyton Manning, Leonard Little, etc. We were ranked #1 in every poll from 11-9 on. We were never in danger of missing out on the national championship.

Pat Summitt is one of the most revered figures in the history of sports. ESPN never besmirched her, even honored her with a documentary.

ESPN doesn’t select playoff teams. They certainly don’t prefer Ole Miss or South Carolina, as evidenced by their propensity to put Tennessee in prime time in their first season of having every SEC game on their networks.

Not one person on ESPN was arguing we shouldn’t be in the field or should be ranked lower last night. The most vociferous comments were from Joey Galloway talking about how he’d love to be in Tennessee’s position right now.

The inferiority complex needs to stop with this fanbase. Act like you’ve been there before and stop acting like the world is against Tennessee every time Tennessee does something you don’t like or someone says something that doesn’t match your view of Tennessee.

 

[overseasorange2]

In 1997 ESPN's Chris Fowler referred to Tennessee fans as "trailer park trash"in response to the fans' criticism of ESPN's promotion of Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

There has been BAD-BLOOD between ESPN & TENNESSEE ever since!…..

1998: ESPN hyped Ohio State ALL YEAR LONG - until they Lost in week 8.

UT was then ranked #1!

Then, suddenly- ESPN was on the band-wagons of both UCLA & Kansas State (Who were Both Undefeated until week 10!)…. (When they Both LOST)!!!!

OK - Then Florida State beat Florida to be ranked #2 last game of the season.

EVEN THEN - ESPN made #1 TENNESSEE a 2 point under-dog in the first BCS National Championship Game…….

TENNESSEE WON! - And ESPN was NOT happy!

The next year, A random ESPN commercial about an old lady (wearing a Tennessee dress) & a Pig she called “Rocky” continued the feud….

It didn’t help that ESPN’s “home-base” was in Bristol, Connecticut - Giving VIP tours to lady UCONN basketball players - to help “recruit” them over other schools like Tennessee!

Pat Summitt was so incensed by it, that she canceled the yearly matchup between Tennessee and UCONN….

Ever since, it seems like ESPN & TENNESSEE have been at odds! — Whether it’s been “Rankings”, “Commentary”, or just random credit & exposure…..

— Don’t tell me that it isn’t TRUE!

If ESPN could put Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and even South Carolina ahead of the VOLS today! - They would find a way to do it!!!!!

I’m still not SOLD on the 12 team college football playoff, but I would be willing to bet that TENNESSEE would beat BYU, Boise State, Arizona State, & Indiana on any damn field!

And ESPN is Still not happy that TENNESSEE might make “The Cut”.

— But, we gotta beat VANDY First! - Or else ESPN would have a Field-Day!…..

VENT OVER!…….

That's enough incentive right there!!!!

 

[rocketskates]

His statement was “there’ll be a trailer park frenzy in the state of Tennessee tonight “. What a punk. Wouldn’t bother me if espn burned to the ground today

Everyone knew what he meant by that. Oddly enough, Fowler is from Rockford, IL, one of the trashiest cities in the country that’s bordered by dozens of trailer parks.

 

[VOLfrombama]

Just win. They will have no choice but to love us again.

 

[TAF]

Remember...ESPN =

 

[volroadwarrior]

ESPN and most of the media has been forever biased in favor of Notre Dame and Big Ten in football and the "Blue
Bloods" in basketball. Yankees and Mets always get preference on MLB TV time. That's just the way it is.

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

In 1997 ESPN's Chris Fowler referred to Tennessee fans as "trailer park trash"in response to the fans' criticism of ESPN's promotion of Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy.

There has been BAD-BLOOD between ESPN & TENNESSEE ever since!…..

1998: ESPN hyped Ohio State ALL YEAR LONG - until they Lost in week 8.

UT was then ranked #1!

Then, suddenly- ESPN was on the band-wagons of both UCLA & Kansas State (Who were Both Undefeated until week 10!)…. (When they Both LOST)!!!!

OK - Then Florida State beat Florida to be ranked #2 last game of the season.

EVEN THEN - ESPN made #1 TENNESSEE a 2 point under-dog in the first BCS National Championship Game…….

TENNESSEE WON! - And ESPN was NOT happy!

The next year, A random ESPN commercial about an old lady (wearing a Tennessee dress) & a Pig she called “Rocky” continued the feud….

It didn’t help that ESPN’s “home-base” was in Bristol, Connecticut - Giving VIP tours to lady UCONN basketball players - to help “recruit” them over other schools like Tennessee!

Pat Summitt was so incensed by it, that she canceled the yearly matchup between Tennessee and UCONN….

Ever since, it seems like ESPN & TENNESSEE have been at odds! — Whether it’s been “Rankings”, “Commentary”, or just random credit & exposure…..

— Don’t tell me that it isn’t TRUE!

If ESPN could put Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and even South Carolina ahead of the VOLS today! - They would find a way to do it!!!!!

I’m still not SOLD on the 12 team college football playoff, but I would be willing to bet that TENNESSEE would beat BYU, Boise State, Arizona State, & Indiana on any damn field!

And ESPN is Still not happy that TENNESSEE might make “The Cut”.

— But, we gotta beat VANDY First! - Or else ESPN would have a Field-Day!…..

VENT OVER!…….

Almost everything here in inaccurate...Fowler never referred to UT fans as trailer park trash, there was a consensus that UT was in and it would come down to UCLA or KSt for the other spot in late 1998, ESPN never made any betting lines in 1998 and they were rarely if ever discussed on TV. I think Las Vegas sportsbooks made the line FSU-5 if I recall correctly. The UCONN WBB tours had zero to do with why the series was cancelled, and this supposed vendetta you think ESPN has for UT exists only in your head

 

[vik]

Everyone knew what he meant by that. Oddly enough, Fowler is from Rockford, IL, one of the trashiest cities in the country that’s bordered by dozens of trailer parks.

He graduated High School in Colorado Springs (Palmer High School) and spent a lot of his early adult life in Colorado (ESPN BIO LINK).

I live in Colorado Springs, and I like it here, but there are trailer parks here as well. People are doing the best they can and I really don't like a stuck-up snob like Fowler looking down on people like that. It's called "punching down" and people with platforms like his should avoid it.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

And we're not "on the bubble", we are solidly in the playoffs right now, all we gotta do is beat Vandy. If we lose to Vandy we won't deserve to get in, it will have nothing to do with ESPN.

As long as there's a scenario that can keep us out of the playoffs, we ARE on the bubble.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

This would be a great call into Finebaum, get it out in the open

 

[Orangeslice13]

It actually started before that.
When Greg Burke missed a FG and an ESPN camera caught a cup hitting him in the head as he was coming off the field. It ran on every sports center for a couple of days and we kicked the espn camera men off out sidelines in response.

That’s when the problems started with ESPN.

Edit: 1990 vs Auburn

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

It actually started before that.
When Greg Burke missed a FG and an ESPN camera caught a cup hitting him in the head as he was coming off the field. It ran on every sports center for a couple of days and we kicked the espn camera men off out sidelines in response.

That’s when the problems started with ESPN.

Edit: 1990 vs Auburn

A cameraman caught a cup hitting Burke in the head? We had cameramen on the sidelines the next game vs Fla...what the heck are you talking about? How was the camera man sticking it to the vols in filming that?

 

[zeppelin128]

ESPN did not set gambling lines at that time. All this conspiracy about how everyone hates us is ridiculous and frankly pathetic. Nobody hates the team that is irrelevant for 20 years.

Ohio State was expected preseason to be a great team in 1998. We were justifiably expected to take a step back after losing Peyton Manning, Leonard Little, etc. We were ranked #1 in every poll from 11-9 on. We were never in danger of missing out on the national championship.

Pat Summitt is one of the most revered figures in the history of sports. ESPN never besmirched her, even honored her with a documentary.

ESPN doesn’t select playoff teams. They certainly don’t prefer Ole Miss or South Carolina, as evidenced by their propensity to put Tennessee in prime time in their first season of having every SEC game on their networks.

Not one person on ESPN was arguing we shouldn’t be in the field or should be ranked lower last night. The most vociferous comments were from Joey Galloway talking about how he’d love to be in Tennessee’s position right now.

The inferiority complex needs to stop with this fanbase. Act like you’ve been there before and stop acting like the world is against Tennessee every time Tennessee does something you don’t like or someone says something that doesn’t match your view of Tennessee.

While all of this is quite true, it doesn't change the fact Chris Fowler is a smug prick.

 

[Boston Vol]

ESPN and most of the media has been forever biased in favor of Notre Dame and Big Ten in football and the "Blue
Bloods" in basketball. Yankees and Mets always get preference on MLB TV time. That's just the way it is.

ESPN has always been biased in favor of whoever will get them the highest ratings.

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

BCS was at least objective, but you really need to have a mix of the 2 and that is what we have now. Not taking brand bias into consideration, ignoring potential tv ratings, just ranking teams 1-12 and letting the chips fall where they may...Jeff Sagarin really had his moment in the sun back then as he was one of the 3 computer rankings they used. Would have been interesting to see if we would have been ahead of OhioSt or A&M if we'd have lost to State in SECC. This was the last 1998 BCS ranking before that crazy Saturday when UCLA lost the hurricane makeup game against Miami (that they really got shamed into playing) and KSt lost to A&M. I guess Brandon Stewart went to UT to help the Vols win a championship and in the end, he surely did.

 

[Orangeslice13]

A cameraman caught a cup hitting Burke in the head? We had cameramen on the sidelines the next game vs Fla...what the heck are you talking about? How was the camera man sticking it to the vols in filming that?

I was working at the university at the time. We most definitely showed our ass over the incident and we most definitely kicked espn off the sidelines

A 2 second google search

Tennessee center hurls cup at kicker for missing game-winning field goal in 1990 Auburn-Tennessee game – The War Eagle Reader

 

[Orangeslice13]

Hey look a photo of the incident
A cup thrown by one Tennessee football player at another for missing the kick