Biggest single game in Tennessee history?

[Unconditional Surrender]

Maybe. The Fiesta Bowl and '98 Florida game are both contenders. There are others from the 30's, 50's, 60's, and 80's that rank high.

But this one was also very special. It marked the definitive end to an entire fanbase wandering in the wilderness. Fifteen years of futility felt redeemed in the span of 15 seconds, faith was restored in Tennessee football, goalposts were quickly baptized, and we remembered our birthright: the certainty that Tennesse is a blue-blooded college football program, and, will once again, begin to act the part. It's hard to think of a game that ever meant more to a fanbase.

What do you guys think? Where does it rank? For those who were at the Florida game in '98, how does it compare for you?

 

[OrangeTsar]

You can only make such judgements way after the fact. History has to add its additional layers to give it meaning. But it definitely has the potential to rate as such. But we have to follow it up with continuing excellence if we want to make it a watershed and not merely a footnote. We want it to be the turning on of a bright light, not just a flash bulb in the darkness

 

[BubbaDoc]

For my generation, gonna go with The Sugar Bowl vs Miami and The Fiesta vs FSU. The '82 win against Bama was also pretty big.

 

[VolBricks]

there are surely generational "Biggest Games" in history. This will be one of them just because of the history behind the game.

I would have to add the "Miracle in South Bend" as a generational game of historical significance

 

[TennEddie]

Because of television and social media, it certainly
got the most coverage. All positive publicity.

 

[UneducatedGuess]

It will all depend on the outcome of the season.
Right now, it’s simply a stepping stone on this years journey. Impressive and exciting but just that.

We could lose to Kentucky, Georgia and Missouri and then was it the biggest game?

how we finish will define the legacy

 

[Doberman]

I’d add the 2001 win in the Swamp, post 911, and 17-1/2 pt dogs to my list.

I still rewatch that one at least once a year.

 

[movinonup]

I will add my first game in Neyland...........97 Arkansas game - Stoerner fumble - pouring down rain. Without that win, we are not '98 National Champs.

 

[CSVol]

For my generation, gonna go with The Sugar Bowl vs Miami and The Fiesta vs FSU. The '82 win against Bama was also pretty big.

I’d take this and add ‘95 bama. That was a 9 game streak, Peyton’s first over gump and arguably the first big step towards 98

 

[OldandStillaVol]

It will all depend on the outcome of the season.
Right now, it’s simply a stepping stone on this years journey. Impressive and exciting but just that.

We could lose to Kentucky, Georgia and Missouri and then was it the biggest game?

how we finish will define the legacy

Agree. For me, it fits more like the 98 UF game. Great victory to set the table. Hopefully, Vols can close out strong.

 

[UneducatedGuess]

Agree. For me, it fits more like the 98 UF game. Great victory to set the table. Hopefully, Vols can close out strong.

98 the Florida game was at the end of the year and felt like the biggest hurdle.

I feel like we still have Kentucky (feel confident but they have a week off and the last smaller opponent we played cost us injuries)

We have Georgia coming off Kentucky (are we healthy?)

Missouri isn’t terrible (okay they are but they’ve pushed some teams)

SEC Championship would be Bama or Ole Miss

So some bumps in the road to glory.

Doesn’t matter though. Vols win

 

[VFL-82-JP]

There are turning points that stand out in history.

The successful invasion of Normandy in 1944, for example. It wasn't the end of the war, but was the conflict's most significant turning point.

Saturday's game isn't a return to championships, but it is perhaps the key turning point on the way there.

We'll know a lot more over the next three weeks. As OrangeTsar said, some things need the patina of time to be fully understood and appreciated.

Go Vols!

 

[kckempf]

98 the Florida game was at the end of the year and felt like the biggest hurdle.

I feel like we still have Kentucky (feel confident but they have a week off and the last smaller opponent we played cost us injuries)

We have Georgia coming off Kentucky (are we healthy?)

Missouri isn’t terrible (okay they are but they’ve pushed some teams)

SEC Championship would be Bama or Ole Miss

So some bumps in the road to glory.

Doesn’t matter though. Vols win

98 Florida was the beginning of the year. 2001 Florida was the end, because if the make up date for 9/11.

 

[VolCalls]

I will add my first game in Neyland...........97 Arkansas game - Stoerner fumble - pouring down rain. Without that win, we are not '98 National Champs.

That game was in ‘98 but yes, in retrospect every game of that season was huge.

 

[Hulavol]

98 Florida was in Sept. 2001 was end of year in swamp. Those seemed awful big. Those were NC level top five teams that couldn’t seem to beat Florida. Those wins were epic.
85 sugar bowl 59 LSU 82 Bama Fiesta Bowl . Miracle in South Bend
And 2022 Bama. This one goes down in history.

 

[WillisWG]

Most important this century. . .so far

 

[BearBryant]

Maybe. The Fiesta Bowl and '98 Florida game are both contenders. There are others from the 30's, 50's, 60's, and 80's that rank high.

But this one was also very special. It marked the definitive end to an entire fanbase wandering in the wilderness. Fifteen years of futility felt redeemed in the span of 15 seconds, faith was restored in Tennessee football, goalposts were quickly baptized, and we remembered our birthright: the certainty that Tennesse is a blue-blooded college football program, and, will once again, begin to act the part. It's hard to think of a game that ever meant more to a fanbase.

What do you guys think? Where does it rank? For those who were at the Florida game in '98, how does it compare for you?

I don't know where it ranks but in the last 16 years it ranks #1. The last time I went to Alabama/Tennessee game was 2006. Tennessee 16, alabama 13. But one other thing I want to bring attention too. It is about THIS RIVALRY. I've heard many commentators and people say this is not a big rivalry for Alabama. Well all you need to do is check the reactions of 1)Their Fans 2) Their players and 3) Their Coach. Trust me They HATED losing that game. It will burn in their "craw" for a long time. It is and always will be a MAJOR RIVALRY.

Please don't worry about my name here. My Great Grandfathers 2nd cousin was the 1st All American at Tennessee. (Graham Vowell). I've be a VOL all my 69 years of life!!!!

 

[Switch 625]

How fitting was it that there were precisely 15 seconds left on the clock when we got the ball back? 15 seconds to finally get a win over Alabama. 1 second for each year that Tennessee had to watch as the Crimson Tide lit cigars in victory. 15 seconds to take our shot at the king. We didn’t miss.

 

[UneducatedGuess]

98 Florida was the beginning of the year. 2001 Florida was the end, because if the make up date for 9/11.

What 25 years will do to a man. Many thanks, you’re right of course

 

[Volosaurus rex]

They obviously don't play that many inter-division games but, if you exclude SEC championship games and playoff/national championship games, that is the first time Alabama has lost a regular-season game to an SEC East opponent since 2007, when Georgia beat them, 26-23. Alabama Historical Scores

 

[VOLINVONORE]

The first game General Neyland coached. He set the trend for all games to come.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

They obviously don't play that many inter-division games but, if you exclude SEC championship games and playoff/national championship games, that is the first time Alabama has lost a regular-season game to an SEC East opponent since 2007, when Georgia beat them, 26-23. Alabama Historical Scores

The history isn't history yet. The event must march down the corridors of time, as new events unfold, with which it will be compared against. Then and only then will we know. Currently, we are caught up in emotion, spirit, and the spasm of "FINALLY!" so we have an exaggerated perception of this event. Not that should feel good about. GO VOLS, and a pox on you Cringing Crimson.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

The first game General Neyland coached. He set the trend for all games to come.

He did, but I doubt that anybody then realized how dominant Tennessee would later become under his leadership. On the other hand, Neyland's players said that our victory over Alabama in 1928 was the game that "put Tennessee on the map." So, once again, you come back to the Third Saturday in October as the historic measuring stick for both programs.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

The history isn't history yet. The event must march down the corridors of time, as new events unfold, with which it will be compared against. Then and only then will we know. Currently, we are caught up in emotion, spirit, and the spasm of "FINALLY!" so we have an exaggerated perception of this event. Not that should feel good about. GO VOLS, and a pox on you Cringing Crimson.

Agreed, but I most certainly am not suggesting that this game does or does not constitute the "biggest single game in Tennessee history." It does, however, constitute a Rubicon moment, since NO SEC eastern division opponent had defeated a Saban-coached Alabama team in the regular season since 2007. Hopefully, we can be a significant factor in convincing Saban that, at the age of 70, it is finally time to start thinking about retirement.

 

[Mikevol1964]

For my generation, gonna go with The Sugar Bowl vs Miami and The Fiesta vs FSU. The '82 win against Bama was also pretty big.

I think mine will still always be the 82 win against Bama. First game as a kid I remember with any detail is the 72 Bama game and the 82 Bama game is the first win against them I can remember