1988 or 2005 take ur pick

[donsargegolf]

Here is a comparison of 1988 vs. 2005. Total Offense in '88 was 346.8 vs. '05's 322.3 per game. Rushing yds per game were 134.5 in '88 vs. 100.5 in '05.First downs in '88 were at 218 while in '05 they are 110. Total td's in '88 were 24 and '05 is 11.And in the all important scoring category the '88 team averaged 19.2 ppg vs the '05 squad's 16.3. Thanks for these numbers Chris low and the Nashvulle Tennesseean! :bow:

 

[volbrian]

Lets see. 0-6 vs 3-3.

All I can say is DUH!

 

[volmanjr]

if we rushed for 500 yrds a game and ended up 0-6 it would still suck, think I'll stick with 3-3

 

[Freak]

How about the 88 offense and the 05 defense?

 

[VOL_AHOLIC]

do we get teh coaches of 88 or 05?

dont think it is problem with the players.

 

[WA_Vol]

Originally posted by donsargegolf@Oct 26, 2005 1:19 PM
Here is a comparison of 1988 vs. 2005.    Total Offense in '88 was 346.8 vs. '05's 322.3 per game. Rushing yds per game were 134.5 in '88 vs. 100.5 in '05.First downs in '88 were at 218 while in '05 they are 110. Total td's in '88 were 24 and '05 is 11.And in the all important scoring category the '88 team averaged 19.2 ppg vs the '05 squad's 16.3. Thanks for these numbers Chris low and the Nashvulle Tennesseean! :bow:

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The big difference now and the 0-6 start Majors had is THAT WAS A REBUILDING YEAR

This is not a rebuilding year. Our best players are going to be graduating this year; i.e. Jason Allen, Malehona, Haralson, Riggs, K. Simon.

Oklahoma is having a bad year this year as well. But Bob Stoops is playing the 3rd most freshman in the country. Its a rebuilding year, people understand that. How many freshman are we playing now? Four? Adrian Foster and D. Morely, Ramon Foster, and Lucas Taylor all playing part time????

Im my opinion, we are going to have major problems next year. Most of our returning players are on offense, an offense ranked close to the bottom. I Dont believe our offense is going to be able to lead this team to success next year.

Chavis has to rebuild almost the entire defensive line and linebacker group. But I think our defense will still outplay our offense next year.

Our special teams are some of the worst in the country. They should be better with an experienced punter, but they will be only adequate next year.

The team we have now is graduating the best group of players we have had and will have for several more years. For example, what talent is graduating next year? Rob Smith and Aaron Sears are about it. Our freshman class this year is good on paper, but not many are playing.

 

[Low Country Vol]

1988 on offense was not really rebuilding on offense. They had Reggie Cobb for his soph year after scoring 20 td's. Seasoned wideouts at WR with Clevaland and Woods. Also Jeff francis starting his 3 rd year back for his senior season. The stats showed they struggled hard. Cobb was hurt most of the year which really hurt the run game. IT was a flat out diappointment.
I do recall we had one of the worst run defenses in the league that year.

 

[volbrian]

I was thinking the same thing Brg. I remember having high expectations coming off of the 87 season. Went looking for some info about that team. Couldnt find any though.

Thanks for reaffirming my memory.

 

[Low Country Vol]

One other note- Both Pickens and Chuck Webb were redshirted the 1988 season. Majors loved using the redhirt even on the studs. They probably could have been used.

 

[allvol]

Originally posted by brg72@Oct 26, 2005 3:14 PM
1988 on offense was not really rebuilding on offense. They had Reggie Cobb for his soph year after scoring 20 td's.  Seasoned wideouts at WR with Clevaland and Woods.  Also Jeff francis starting his 3 rd year back for his senior season.  The stats showed they struggled hard.  Cobb was hurt most of the year which really hurt the run game. IT was a flat out diappointment. 
I do recall we had one of the worst run defenses in the league that year.

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You beat me to it. Yes, there were high expectations in 1988 after the Vols completed 1987 with a 10-2-1 record.

The football guide cover shows.... "Majors, Francis, DeLong: The Tradition Continues." and shows the 3 of them alongside 4 huge trophies.

If my memory serves me correctly, the 20 TD's by Reggie Cobb led the nation for RBs and was a record at the time. He also rushed for 1197 yards, a freshman record at UT at the time. Cobb was hurt?.... or was it the drugs he was taking?

To end the 1987 season, Jeff Francis had moved up to no. 2 all-time in the Tennessee record book for passing yards, just 193 yards behind Alan Cockrell. Basically, 1988 was the stage for Francis setting the all-time passing records at UT.

Don't forget the defense either... touting all-american, butkus award candidate linebacker Keith DeLong.

There were 7 returning starters on offense -- TE Nate Middlebrooks, LT Kevin Simons, RT Eric Still, WR TD Woods, WR Terence Cleveland, QB Jeff Francis, RB Reggie Cobb. Other returning players were WR Alvin Harper, former starting RB Keith Davis, FB Greg Amsler, OL Antone Davis, OL Tom Myslinski, and OL Charles McRae. Other contributors included WR Anthony Morgan.


4 returning starters on defense -- LT Marion Hobby, ILB Keith DeLong, SS Cedric Kline, and FS Kelly Days. Other contributors were LB Shon Walker, DE Tracy Hayworth, LB Darryl Hardy, DL Bill Shoenle, DL Patrick Lenoir, DB Jeremy Lincoln, DB Preston Warren, and DB Floyd Miley.


The offense was not the problem as the Vols first 5 losses they gave up 28, 31, 34, 38, 52 points. Conference losses included Georgia, LSU, and Auburn.... non-conf games were bad as the Vols lost to Duke and Washington State (24-52).

Majors fired the defensive coordinator, Ken Donahue, after the Washington State game. The Vols lost only 28-20 in a hard fought game against No. 20 Alabama. The Vols then proceeded to rip off 5 straight wins where the defense gave up only 25, 7, 12, 24, 7 pts to Memphis State, Boston College, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.

The Vols finished 11-1 the following season in 1989, and tied for the SEC Championship with Alabama and Auburn.

 

[RockyTopEmpire]

Was the the year duke won the ACC?

 

[GAVol]

Think about what a feat it was for us to somehow figure out a way to go from 10 wins to 5 wins and then back to 11 wins in a 3 year span. The 1988 season made no sense.

 

[allvol]

Originally posted by RockyTopEmpire@Oct 26, 2005 4:02 PM
Was the the year duke won the ACC?

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The coach at Duke was Steve Spurrier. No, Duke won the ACC in 1989. They did finish 1988 with a 7-3-1 record.


The coach at Wash State was Dennis Erickson. Wash State finished the season 9-3 and Erickson moved onto Miami.

 

[allvol]

Originally posted by GAVol@Oct 26, 2005 4:05 PM
Think about what a feat it was for us to somehow figure out a way to go from 10 wins to 5 wins and then back to 11 wins in a 3 year span.  The 1988 season made no sense.

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It was an even year. Look back at some of Majors' season records and the Vols were good during the odd years (8+ wins) and bad during the even years (7 or less wins).

80 5-6
82 6-5-1
84 7-4-1
86 7-5
88 5-6

81 8-4
83 9-3
85 9-1-2
87 10-2-1
89 11-1

 

[Jmxvol]

Originally posted by vol_freak@Oct 26, 2005 1:39 PM
How about the 88 offense and the 05 defense?

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We'd be a top 5 team w/ that scenario.

 

[WA_Vol]

Ok, I stand corrected. I was thinking the 0-5 season was the 86 season where we went to the liberty bowl in Memphis (with a losing record I think) to play Minnesota. That was a rebuilding year coming off the 85 season with the sugar bowl win. For some reason I thought that season we were 0-5 instead of 88. My bad.

 

[volbrian]

Originally posted by allvol@Oct 26, 2005 3:58 PM
You beat me to it.  Yes, there were high expectations in 1988 after the Vols completed 1987 with a 10-2-1 record. 

The football guide cover shows.... "Majors, Francis, DeLong: The Tradition Continues."  and shows the 3 of them alongside 4 huge trophies.

If my memory serves me correctly, the 20 TD's by Reggie Cobb led the nation for RBs and was a record at the time.  He also rushed for  1197 yards, a freshman record at UT at the time.  Cobb was hurt?.... or was it the drugs he was taking?

To end the 1987 season, Jeff Francis had moved up to no. 2 all-time in the Tennessee record book for passing yards, just 193 yards behind Alan Cockrell.  Basically, 1988 was the stage for Francis setting the all-time passing records at UT.

Don't forget the defense either... touting all-american, butkus award candidate linebacker Keith DeLong.

There were 7 returning starters on offense -- TE Nate Middlebrooks, LT Kevin Simons, RT Eric Still, WR TD Woods, WR Terence Cleveland, QB Jeff Francis, RB Reggie Cobb.  Other returning players were WR Alvin Harper,  former starting RB Keith Davis, FB Greg Amsler,  OL Antone Davis, OL Tom Myslinski, and OL Charles McRae.  Other contributors included WR Anthony Morgan.
4 returning starters on defense -- LT Marion Hobby, ILB Keith DeLong, SS Cedric Kline, and FS Kelly Days.  Other contributors were LB Shon Walker, DE Tracy Hayworth, LB Darryl Hardy, DL Bill Shoenle, DL Patrick Lenoir, DB Jeremy Lincoln, DB Preston Warren, and DB Floyd Miley.
The offense was not the problem as the Vols first 5 losses they gave up 28, 31, 34, 38, 52 points.  Conference losses included Georgia, LSU,  and Auburn.... non-conf games were bad as the Vols lost to Duke and Washington State (24-52).

Majors fired the defensive coordinator, Ken Donahue, after the Washington State game.  The Vols lost only 28-20 in a hard fought game against No. 20 Alabama.  The Vols then proceeded to rip off 5 straight wins where the defense gave up only 25, 7, 12, 24, 7 pts to Memphis State, Boston College, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.

The Vols finished 11-1 the following season in 1989, and tied for the SEC Championship with Alabama and Auburn.

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Thank you ALLVOL!!!! That was the info I went looking for

 

[volbrian]

Originally posted by oklavol@Oct 26, 2005 4:17 PM
Ok, I stand corrected.  I was thinking the 0-5 season was the 86 season where we went to the liberty bowl in Memphis (with a losing record I think) to play Minnesota.  That  was a rebuilding year coming off the 85 season with the sugar bowl win.  For some reason I thought that season we were 0-5 instead of 88. My bad.

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JM should have been let go at the end of the 86 season. We returned 18 starters from the team that handed Vinny Testeverde and Jimmy Johnson their butts on a platter.

I still get mad when I think of that team. I went to the opener that year (it was either Utah or Utah State-whoever the UTES are) and we couldnt get a handle on them. We won like 35-23 but it was closer than what anyof us expected.

We knew we were in trouble as we left the stadium that night.

 

[Low Country Vol]

"Ok, I stand corrected. I was thinking the 0-5 season was the 86 season where we went to the liberty bowl in Memphis (with a losing record I think) to play Minnesota. That was a rebuilding year coming off the 85 season with the sugar bowl win. For some reason I thought that season we were 0-5 instead of 88. My bad. "

In 1986 we started the year 2-5. We won out and beat Minnesota in the Liberty bowl to finish 7-5. We had some tough losses. Losing to Army and MSU at home. We got creamed by Auburn and Bama. that bama game we sported the orange shoes and ran Bobby Humphery a pitch every play and killed us 56-28.

You got to give Majors Credit. He fired Donahue in 1988. Takes balls especially for a coach that had a master plan in the 86 sugar bowl. Fulmer needs to stop the PC crap and do what is best for the program.

 

[rockydoc]

Yeah, the best thing Majors ever did was to can Donohue. His defense was similar to Joe Lee Dunn's. Once teams figured it out he was in trouble. Also, even though Donohue was a UT grad, when Bama beat us in B'ham 47-30 in 1989, he was in the Bama locker room postgame smoking a cigar, which was the tradition then. True Tennessee fans never forgave him for this.

 

[allvol]

All-Star candidates heading into 1986 were...

RB Keith Davis
FS Charles Davis
OG Harry Galbreath
LB Dale Jones
LB Kelly Ziegler
OT Bruce Wilkerson
WR Joey Clinkscales
PK Carlos Reveiz

73,801 fans attended the spring game in anticipation of the 1986 season.

According to the many journalists comments in the media guide, the only thing missing from the '86 team and a championship was finding a quarterback.

 

[Liper]

Originally posted by rockydoc@Oct 26, 2005 9:48 PM
Yeah, the best thing Majors ever did was to can Donohue. His defense was similar to Joe Lee Dunn's. Once teams figured it out he was in trouble. Also, even though Donohue was a UT grad, when Bama beat us in B'ham 47-30 in 1989, he was in the Bama locker room postgame smoking a cigar, which was the tradition then. True Tennessee fans never forgave him for this.

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If I'm not mistaken, didn't Donahue coach Bear's defense for a while in some capacity? I was remembering a story I heard about an argument he and Majors got into leading up to Ken's departure from TN. It has something to do with Donahue having four rings, "and Tony Dorsett didn't win any of mine."

BTW, our defense in 1989 was AWFUL as well. So it wasn't as if Kenny boy had a lot to work with. Our 1990 defense led the SEC, in large part due to some excellent JUCO transfers that really came on (Dale Carter, Chris Mims, Chuck Smith).

Also, if you'll remember, our recruiting emphasis in those days was a lot different. Majors always put the best athletes on offense - at least in general. We were slightly behind the times on DL and LB when comapred to AUB, BAMA, and UGA.

To Fulmer's credit, the single biggest difference in our teams now and then is the consistent recruitment of NFL-quality DLs and LBs.

 

[orangetd88]

1988 was one ugly, ugly year. Our offense wasn't very good, then, either.

Bad thing was, the defense was worse.

I'd take this year over that year anyday. At least we beat LSU this year, and have been fairly competitive in our other losses this year, as opposed to losing games 38-6, 34-9, etc.

 

[Low Country Vol]

"73,801 fans attended the spring game in anticipation of the 1986 season."

I was there - i was in 8th grade. Even got the sticker saying " i was there for the largest football spring game ever"
Clinkscales i remeber catching some bombs. Man, we were so pumped coming just little 3 months beating miami. It spilled over in the following season until we lost to Miss State at home. Funny thing was Major had a qb controversy. Sanders and Francis were actually alternating during the Miss State game. William Howard had over 100 yards rushing.

 

[donsargegolf]

Originally posted by brg72@Oct 27, 2005 12:54 PM
"73,801 fans attended the spring game in anticipation of the 1986 season."

I was there - i was in 8th grade.  Even got the sticker saying " i was there for the largest football spring game ever"
Clinkscales i remeber catching some bombs. Man, we were so pumped coming just little 3 months beating miami. It spilled over in the following season until we lost to Miss State at home. Funny thing was Major had a qb controversy. Sanders and Francis were actually alternating during the Miss State game.  William Howard had over 100 yards rushing.

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The losing QB in that Mississippi State game... Randy Sanders. The rest is history!!! :cry: