TENNESSEE VOLS - 1939!

[EverythingOrange]

I’m not stuck on the past - but it deserves to be Recognized. — You want to talk about Re-Claiming a National Championship?!!!!!

TENNESSEE - 1939!!!!!

In 1938 Tennessee was the reigning football National Champion.

In 1939 The VOLS (in a 10 game season) went undefeated, un-tied and UN-SCORED upon!!!

Yes, they lost a bowl game to USC (14-0) after traveling across the country- by train, to California - But, back then a bowl game was just a “local festival” anyway.

WHY-O-WHY has TENNESSEE never claimed 1939 as a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP????!!!!

They accomplished a feat that will NEVER be repeated!!!!!

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

We need to leave this sort of nonsense to Auburn and Alabama. Why join them as laughing stocks for claiming titles not contemporaneously recognized?

 

[05_never_again]

George Cafego missed that Rose Bowl as well due to injury.

 

[Hulavol]

Because Texas aTm went 11-0 and won the sugar bowl for the national title.

USC started claiming 1939 recently -they went 8-0 and beat us 14-0.

To claim this NC would be bammerish.

 

[adam.vol]

Because Texas aTm went 11-0 and won the sugar bowl for the national title.

USC started claiming 1939 recently -they went 8-0 and beat us 14-0.

To claim this NC would be bammerish.

As stated in the OP, national championships were awarded prior to any bowl games. Bowl results are irrelevant to any team prior to the mid 1950’s.

However, it seems that no major poll had Tennessee their number 1 team in the final polling.

 

[05_never_again]

As stated in the OP, national championships were awarded prior to any bowl games. Bowl results are irrelevant to any team prior to the mid 1950’s.

However, it seems that no major poll had Tennessee their number 1 team in the final polling.

Yep.

If you think that the non-playoff bowls are irrelevant now, you would have loved the sport for about the first 50 years of its existence!

 

[TrueOrange]

I’m not stuck on the past - but it deserves to be Recognized. — You want to talk about Re-Claiming a National Championship?!!!!!

TENNESSEE - 1939!!!!!

In 1938 Tennessee was the reigning football National Champion.

In 1939 The VOLS (in a 10 game season) went undefeated, un-tied and UN-SCORED upon!!!

Yes, they lost a bowl game to USC (14-0) after traveling across the country- by train, to California - But, back then a bowl game was just a “local festival” anyway.

WHY-O-WHY has TENNESSEE never claimed 1939 as a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP????!!!!

They accomplished a feat that will NEVER be repeated!!!!!

Someone has to actually award it to them first for them to claim it.

 

[TrueOrange]

Because Texas aTm went 11-0 and won the sugar bowl for the national title.

USC started claiming 1939 recently -they went 8-0 and beat us 14-0.

To claim this NC would be bammerish.

Honestly, 1967 is kind of bammer-ish, if we’re talking about national championships the university claims.

 

[UT97Vol]

It's not going to happen. It's hard to imagine the anti-Tennessee bias in the media goes back that far, but the AP which was the primary poll for determining the national title had Tennessee #1 for much of the latter half of the season until Texas A&M dominated Texas even though the Longhorns weren't very good.

 

[UT97Vol]

As stated in the OP, national championships were awarded prior to any bowl games. Bowl results are irrelevant to any team prior to the mid 1950’s.

However, it seems that no major poll had Tennessee their number 1 team in the final polling.

Correct. Bowls were exhibitions and not counted in official NCAA stats.

 

[vik]

Because Texas aTm went 11-0 and won the sugar bowl for the national title.

USC started claiming 1939 recently -they went 8-0 and beat us 14-0.

To claim this NC would be bammerish.

Fair points all, but I tend to believe the AP was biased against SEC teams and SEC players prior to cable television.

Exhibit A: Hank Lauricella finishing as Heisman runner up to a player from the IVY league.

Exhibit B: Johnny Majors losing to Paul Hornung, who played for a 2-win Notre Dame team.

Exhibit C: 1939 - undefeated, untied, and unscored upon during a time when the "Bowl Game" had about as much importance as the NFL Pro Bowl. It was an exhibition.

The AP made themselves the gold standard, but they mess up a lot. Even now in the AP poll is frequently ridiculous. So I do not concede to them their undeserved status as the all-knowing authority on the best team in College Football for all time.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Fair points all, but I tend to believe the AP was biased against SEC teams and SEC players prior to cable television.

Exhibit A: Hank Lauricella finishing as Heisman runner up to a player from the IVY league.

Exhibit B: Johnny Majors losing to Paul Hornung, who played for a 2-win Notre Dame team.

Exhibit C: 1939 - undefeated, untied, and unscored upon during a time when the "Bowl Game" had about as much importance as the NFL Pro Bowl. It was an exhibition.

The AP made themselves the gold standard, but they mess up a lot. Even now in the AP poll is frequently ridiculous. So I do not concede to them their undeserved status as the all-knowing authority on the best team in College Football for all time.

That is the problem with letting idiot sports writers vote for The National Championship.

 

[orangefloyd]

The national championship was just a matter of opinion back then. We have as much right to it as anyone.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

I’m not stuck on the past - but it deserves to be Recognized. — You want to talk about Re-Claiming a National Championship?!!!!!

TENNESSEE - 1939!!!!!

In 1938 Tennessee was the reigning football National Champion.

In 1939 The VOLS (in a 10 game season) went undefeated, un-tied and UN-SCORED upon!!!

Yes, they lost a bowl game to USC (14-0) after traveling across the country- by train, to California - But, back then a bowl game was just a “local festival” anyway.

WHY-O-WHY has TENNESSEE never claimed 1939 as a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP????!!!!

They accomplished a feat that will NEVER be repeated!!!!!

Believe it or not, I don’t think any notable selectors picked us that year. That’s why we haven’t claimed it. Which is preposterous, considering the defending champion was undefeated, untied, and unscored upon when they crowned the 1939 champion.

 

[GAVol]

Honestly, 1967 is kind of bammer-ish, if we’re talking about national championships the university claims.

I know a guy with a ring that would argue with you.

 

[Elhanan]

We should claim everyone we can.

All the other schools are and it’s just bragging rights anyway. Might as well be at the same standard.

 

[zeppelin128]

College football data warehouse shows our best claims on "unclaimed" national championships to be '31, '56, and '39 (in that order).

Years with "any" claim if we want to pull a Bama: 14, 27, 28, 31, 39, 56, 85, 89.

 

[lukeneyland]

It's not going to happen. It's hard to imagine the anti-Tennessee bias in the media goes back that far, but the AP which was the primary poll for determining the national title had Tennessee #1 for much of the latter half of the season until Texas A&M dominated Texas even though the Longhorns weren't very good.

The AP HATED southern teams even more back then

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

As stated in the OP, national championships were awarded prior to any bowl games. Bowl results are irrelevant to any team prior to the mid 1950’s.

However, it seems that no major poll had Tennessee their number 1 team in the final polling.

And the national championship was not awarded to us. No one here is talking about giving up 1951 (when we also lost our bowl) just not claiming imaginary titles which were not recognized at the time.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

We should claim everyone we can.

All the other schools are and it’s just bragging rights anyway. Might as well be at the same standard.

No Bama and Auburn are, Tennessee men are not made of the same delusional cloth as our neighbors to the South.

 

[volbound1700]

Honestly, any title prior to the 1980 is suspect IMO. Even then, you can argue prior to the BCS (1998) or Playoffs.

Too many metrics and oddities.

 

[onevol74]

Can not believe we are talking about a team that went undefeated and unscored on with orange helmets.

 

[Boca Vol]

I know a guy with a ring that would argue with you.

Who? UT didn’t claim that NC until the 90’s. I went back and looked at the ‘68 media guide and game day programs and there was no mention of a national championship.

When did he get the ring?

 

[Volanta]

I’m not stuck on the past - but it deserves to be Recognized. — You want to talk about Re-Claiming a National Championship?!!!!!

TENNESSEE - 1939!!!!!

In 1938 Tennessee was the reigning football National Champion.

In 1939 The VOLS (in a 10 game season) went undefeated, un-tied and UN-SCORED upon!!!

Yes, they lost a bowl game to USC (14-0) after traveling across the country- by train, to California - But, back then a bowl game was just a “local festival” anyway.

WHY-O-WHY has TENNESSEE never claimed 1939 as a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP????!!!!

They accomplished a feat that will NEVER be repeated!!!!!

I wasn’t alive at the time

 

[adam.vol]

And the national championship was not awarded to us. No one here is talking about giving up 1951 (when we also lost our bowl) just not claiming imaginary titles which were not recognized at the time.

Yep.