2 extra inches

#1
peyton4heisman

peyton4heisman

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#1
Football is often described as a "game of inches." In many cases, it truly is. (Titans Super Bowl and last year's Iron Bowl sideline stepping last play come to mind.)
But when it comes to Tennessee football, when has a game ever been literally determined by inches? I've been thinking about it, and the one that stands out to me is 2004 FL when Wilhoit's 51 yd FG literally cleared the upright by a couple of inches. Literally a few inches turned a would-be all-time heartbreaker into one of the fondest of memories for Vols fans.

When you think about the games that came down to just a few inches, what comes to mind?
 
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#3
#3
peyton4heisman said:
So the Big Orange Genie thread got me thinking... one of my wishes would be 2 extra inches. You are free to interpret that however you want, but it did get me thinking...
Football is often described as a "game of inches." In many cases, it truly is. (Titans Super Bowl and last year's Iron Bowl sideline stepping last play come to mind.)
But when it comes to Tennessee football, when has a game ever been literally determined by inches? I've been thinking about it, and the one that stands out to me is 2004 FL when Wilhoit's 51 yd FG literally cleared the upright by a couple of inches. Literally a few inches turned a would-be all-time heartbreaker into one of the fondest of memories for Vols fans.

When you think about the games that came down to just a few inches, what comes to mind?
Click to expand...

Ahem
 
#5
#5
peyton4heisman said:
So the Big Orange Genie thread got me thinking... one of my wishes would be 2 extra inches. You are free to interpret that however you want, but it did get me thinking...
Football is often described as a "game of inches." In many cases, it truly is. (Titans Super Bowl and last year's Iron Bowl sideline stepping last play come to mind.)
But when it comes to Tennessee football, when has a game ever been literally determined by inches? I've been thinking about it, and the one that stands out to me is 2004 FL when Wilhoit's 51 yd FG literally cleared the upright by a couple of inches. Literally a few inches turned a would-be all-time heartbreaker into one of the fondest of memories for Vols fans.

When you think about the games that came down to just a few inches, what comes to mind?
Click to expand...


Pig Howard vs UGA
 
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#6
#6
peyton4heisman said:
So the Big Orange Genie thread got me thinking... one of my wishes would be 2 extra inches. You are free to interpret that however you want, but it did get me thinking...
Football is often described as a "game of inches." In many cases, it truly is. (Titans Super Bowl and last year's Iron Bowl sideline stepping last play come to mind.)
But when it comes to Tennessee football, when has a game ever been literally determined by inches? I've been thinking about it, and the one that stands out to me is 2004 FL when Wilhoit's 51 yd FG literally cleared the upright by a couple of inches. Literally a few inches turned a would-be all-time heartbreaker into one of the fondest of memories for Vols fans.

When you think about the games that came down to just a few inches, what comes to mind?
Click to expand...

I would say the Georgia game last season (possibly) with Pig's dive.
 
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#7
#7
bamacheats said:
Pig Howard vs UGA
Click to expand...

I completely spaced on that one! That one definitely came down to maybe even a half of an inch! And in my opinion, video evidence was NOT conclusive enough to overturn the TD! Yes, the inches were not in our favor with that one!
 
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#9
#9
And for the record, I'd use mine on that Tebow 4th and 1 from 2006...although it was probably more than two inches.

Maybe the Vandy game from this year on that sketchy conversion.
 
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#10
#10
volsack7 said:
And for the record, I'd use mine on that Tebow 4th and 1 from 2006...although it was probably more than two inches.

Maybe the Vandy game from this year on that sketchy conversion.
Click to expand...

I think Tebow got the conversion but it still makes me sick thinking about it...

And the Vandy thing was complete BS in my book
 
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#11
#11
This is a relatively easy one to answer, at least in terms of historical significance. November 7, 1959. "The Stop" vs. No. 1-ranked LSU. The "Tigers went home on the short end of a 14-13 score. The Vols stopped [eventual Heisman Trophy-winner Billy] Cannon on a two-point conversion try early in the final quarter and held on the rest of the way. Bill Majors, Wayne Grubb and Charley Severance made the play at the northeast corner. Sports Illustrated ran a photo of "The Stop" the next week. Many Vol fans consider this the most famous defensive play in school history."

It did not occur on the last play of the game, however. The two teams had a combined three additional offensive possessions but failed to score again. See http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2008/jul/26/the-stop-knocked-off-no-1-lsu-in-1959/.

Another huge game, the 1968 Orange Bowl, was decided by a bit more than a couple of inches. 2nd-ranked Tennessee had mounted a ferocious second-half comeback to trim Oklahoma's lead to 26-24. Karl Kremser's 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the right by either a couple of feet or two yards, I don't remember which, and Tennessee lost to OU 26-24.
 
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#12
#12
Volosaurus rex said:
This is a relatively easy one to answer, at least in terms of historical significance. November 7, 1959. "The Stop" vs. No. 1-ranked LSU. The "Tigers went home on the short end of a 14-13 score. The Vols stopped [eventual Heisman Trophy-winner Billy] Cannon on a two-point conversion try early in the final quarter and held on the rest of the way.

Bill Majors, Wayne Grubb and Charley Severance made the play at the northeast corner. Sports Illustrated ran a photo of "The Stop" the next week. Many Vol fans consider this the most famous defensive play in school history."

It did not occur on the last play of the game, however. The two teams had a combined three additional offensive possessions but failed to score again.
Click to expand...

I was not around in 1959, but I would love to look the play up and see it for myself! Sounds like it's a legendary play.
 
#14
#14
#15
#15
2005 16-15 L to South Carolina. The ball was one rotation over the field goal bar. In this same game, Foster fumbled on the goal line giving USC the ball as a touchback. (I was there).

2005 6-3 L to Alabama. Again, Foster fumbled on the goal line.

2007 (I think?) W against Air Force. They went for 2 on the last play and I believe we won 35-34. (I was there).

2013 L to UGA. The Pig "fumble", although I have my doubts that he actually fumbled. You see his wrist flick as soon as he thinks he's in.


I'm sure there are a few more. It seems like we've had more heartbreakers than anyone over the last 10 years.
 
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#16
#16
If mount Cody was 2 inches shorter or the kick is 2 inches higher, then we beat bama kiffins year... I'm still so pissed off about that game.. Had every opportunity to win it.
 
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#17
#17
VolAllen said:
2005 16-15 L to South Carolina. The ball was one rotation over the field goal bar. In this same game, Foster fumbled on the goal line giving USC the ball as a touchback.

2005 6-3 L to Alabama. Again, Foster fumbled on the goal line.

2007 (I think?) W against Air Force. They went for 2 on the last play and I believe we won 35-34.

2013 L to UGA. The Pig "fumble", although I have my doubts that he actually fumbled. You see his wrist flick as soon as he thinks he's in.


I'm sure there are a few more. It seems like we've had more heartbreakers than anyone over the last 10 years.
Click to expand...

I remember watching that fumble over and over, and it was a good call iirc.
 
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#18
#18
2005 vs Bama was Corey Anderson

Fosters were at the goalline vs Penn St. & UCLA.

There was a couple against both UK & LSU in 2007.
 
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#19
#19
The Vanderbilt game this year. The refs gave them a few extra inches which would be nice to have back.

As mentioned, Pig's dive against Georgia this year.

Daniel Lincoln's kicks against bama could've used a few extra inches of lift to clear Terrance Cody's large man breasts.

06 Florida game. Tebow could always get those few extra inches on 4th. I'd love to have those back.

I sure hope we start to get the close plays turning out in our favor!
 
#20
#20
'01 Florida game. I don't remember who dropped back in coverage on the final 2 point conversion, but if the ball had been about 3-4 inches to the left, they convert there.
 
#23
#23
Les Miles comes to mind. That lucky son of gun. Everything goes right for him. I'm pretty sure extra inches is deep in his back pocket.
 
#24
#24
Gotta add Bill Duff and Tennessee D-line stopping Eddie George on 4th and inches in the 1996 Citrus Bowl.

HUGE play in that game
 
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#25
#25
peyton4heisman said:
Football is often described as a "game of inches." In many cases, it truly is. (Titans Super Bowl and last year's Iron Bowl sideline stepping last play come to mind.)
But when it comes to Tennessee football, when has a game ever been literally determined by inches? I've been thinking about it, and the one that stands out to me is 2004 FL when Wilhoit's 51 yd FG literally cleared the upright by a couple of inches. Literally a few inches turned a would-be all-time heartbreaker into one of the fondest of memories for Vols fans.

When you think about the games that came down to just a few inches, what comes to mind?
Click to expand...



I don't want to go on a speel about the Titans, but.....

I always laugh when I hear people tell the version of the story as "Just a couple more inches and the Titans would have won"

That is soooooo far from the truth!!!!

Del Greco had missed a couple of relatively easy kicks during the game. Notice that the Titans got rid of him during the off season. they felt that he lost the game for them.

Even with the receivers knees on the ground, he tried to roll and stretch so that the ball crossed the plain. His knees were down, so they play was dead at that moment.

Imagine that he actually was awarded the T.D. Well, Del Greco wasn't a guarantee to have a good kick.

His successful kick would have tied the game and given the Rams offense a chance to secure the win......


I understand your point of view though. Had the inches been on the Titan's side they would have scored and possibly extended the game in to overtime.
 
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