CFP = Memories of the 1998 BCS Game

[EverythingOrange]

NOBODY (No Media) wanted Tennessee in the BCS Title Game. They were hyping Ohio State all year long, until they lost! Then they jumped on the band-wagons of UCLA & Kansas State - Then both of them lost.

It was a bitter pill for the media for Tennessee to be the Last Undefeated team in the nation!

12-team CFP time!: - Media has been down-playing Tennessee ALL YEAR LONG….
— They Don’t want us to be “In There”!

I watched college football all day long yesterday & game highlights today — And nobody is saying A WORD about TENNESSEE!

Face it guys: “IF” we beat Vandy - We’re IN!

DEAL WITH IT!!!!!

 

[NorCalVol67]

First year of the BCS I liked the end result.

First year of the 12 team playoff…

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

NOBODY (No Media) wanted Tennessee in the BCS Title Game. They were hyping Ohio State all year long, until they lost! Then they jumped on the band-wagons of UCLA & Kansas State - Then both of them lost.

It was a bitter pill for the media for Tennessee to be the Last Undefeated team in the nation!

12-team CFP time!: - Media has been down-playing Tennessee ALL YEAR LONG….
— They Don’t want us to be “In There”!

I watched college football all day long yesterday & game highlights today — And nobody is saying A WORD about TENNESSEE!

Face it guys: “IF” we beat Vandy - We’re IN!

DEAL WITH IT!!!!!

We weren't expected to contend after Jamal Lewis got hurt earlier in the season in the Auburn game. A lot of things beyond our control that year. Playing FSU with their 3rd string QB doesn't put an asterisk on it, but that definitely helped a ton. Plus some timely late game turnarounds to boot. Still a NC, but a perfect example of the luck involved. Most teams who win a NC need help.

 

[sami]

I'm not a fan of the "woe is us'" attitude with regard to broadcasters and the media, but it really is odd how we are almost considered an afterthought in all this stupid playoff talk. You would think our loss to Arkansas was like losing to an FCS team, or worse yet one of those Big 10 bottom feeders from listening to the national media fools. Very bizarre.

The media desperately wanted Indiana to win yesterday as if to prove some silly point about the Big 10, but instead they were exposed, as the other pretender Penn State was just about exposed by Minnesota.

 

[Boston Vol]

NOBODY (No Media) wanted Tennessee in the BCS Title Game. They were hyping Ohio State all year long, until they lost! Then they jumped on the band-wagons of UCLA & Kansas State - Then both of them lost.

It was a bitter pill for the media for Tennessee to be the Last Undefeated team in the nation!

12-team CFP time!: - Media has been down-playing Tennessee ALL YEAR LONG….
— They Don’t want us to be “In There”!

I watched college football all day long yesterday & game highlights today — And nobody is saying A WORD about TENNESSEE!

Face it guys: “IF” we beat Vandy - We’re IN!

DEAL WITH IT!!!!!

Actually Tennessee wasn’t the only team in the country to finish undefeated in 1998. How has the media been downplaying Tennessee all year long? They were ranked fourth in the country when they went to Arkansas. People were praising Nico and the offense early in the year. Then once the passing game started to struggle, they started praising the defense.

 

[sami]

We weren't expected to contend after Jamal Lewis got hurt earlier in the season in the Auburn game. A lot of things beyond our control that year. Playing FSU with their 3rd string QB doesn't put an asterisk on it, but that definitely helped a ton. Plus some timely late game turnarounds to boot. Still a NC, but a perfect example of the luck involved. Most teams who win a NC need help.

Truth. Everyone forgets that Ohio State blew a two TD lead over Georgia, just handed them the game in the semifinals before Georgia beat TCU.

 

[YankeeVol]

Actually Tennessee wasn’t the only team in the country to finish undefeated in 1998. How has the media been downplaying Tennessee all year long? They were ranked fourth in the country when they went to Arkansas. People were praising Nico and the offense early in the year. Then once the passing game started to struggle, they started praising the defense.

No one cares about C-USA. Then, or now.

 

[Boston Vol]

We weren't expected to contend after Jamal Lewis got hurt earlier in the season in the Auburn game. A lot of things beyond our control that year. Playing FSU with their 3rd string QB doesn't put an asterisk on it, but that definitely helped a ton. Plus some timely late game turnarounds to boot. Still a NC, but a perfect example of the luck involved. Most teams who win a NC need help.

I disagree with the point about FSU’s quarterbacks. I actually think Outzen was a tougher matchup for the Tennessee defense because of his ability to run. The Chris Weinke of 1998, wasn’t the same guy we saw in ‘99 and ‘00. When he got hurt in November of 98, he was only completing 50% of his passes. The way the Tennessee front seven dominated the FSU offensive line, Weinke, who was a statue in the pocket, would have been beaten to death by the end of the game.

 

[Boston Vol]

No one cares about C-USA. Then, or now.

Ok.

 

[Volnanza]

NOBODY (No Media) wanted Tennessee in the BCS Title Game. They were hyping Ohio State all year long, until they lost! Then they jumped on the band-wagons of UCLA & Kansas State - Then both of them lost.

It was a bitter pill for the media for Tennessee to be the Last Undefeated team in the nation!

12-team CFP time!: - Media has been down-playing Tennessee ALL YEAR LONG….
— They Don’t want us to be “In There”!

I watched college football all day long yesterday & game highlights today — And nobody is saying A WORD about TENNESSEE!

Face it guys: “IF” we beat Vandy - We’re IN!

DEAL WITH IT!!!!!

I remember. FSU was gonna march us up and down the field according to the media. As usual, the media was wrong.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I disagree with the point about FSU’s quarterbacks. I actually think Outzen was a tougher matchup for the Tennessee defense because of his ability to run. The Chris Weinke of 1998, wasn’t the same guy we saw in ‘99 and ‘00. When he got hurt in November of 98, he was only completing 50% of his passes. The way the Tennessee front seven dominated the FSU offensive line, Weinke, who was a statue in the pocket, would have been beaten to death by the end of the game.

Yeah, I think we would have won if Weinke had played too. Didn't mean to sound like I was downplaying it. I do know we wouldn't want both Nico and Gaspipe to go down in a semifinal win in this year's playoff

 

[Volnanza]

We weren't expected to contend after Jamal Lewis got hurt earlier in the season in the Auburn game. A lot of things beyond our control that year. Playing FSU with their 3rd string QB doesn't put an asterisk on it, but that definitely helped a ton. Plus some timely late game turnarounds to boot. Still a NC, but a perfect example of the luck involved. Most teams who win a NC need help.

If we had luck we would have had 3 or 4 championships in that era. 98 was a talented team but I think we actually had better talent over the next few years. Those teams were loaded. If Heupel can get to that level on talent, watch out.

 

[YankeeVol]

Ok.

Good job Tulsa.

Am I wrong?

 

[Jpcisco]

I'm not a fan of the "woe is us'" attitude with regard to broadcasters and the media, but it really is odd how we are almost considered an afterthought in all this stupid playoff talk. You would think our loss to Arkansas was like losing to an FCS team, or worse yet one of those Big 10 bottom feeders from listening to the national media fools. Very bizarre.

The media desperately wanted Indiana to win yesterday as if to prove some silly point about the Big 10, but instead they were exposed, as the other pretender Penn State was just about exposed by Minnesota.

I would rather have the Arkansas loss on my resume compared to Northern Illinois any day of the week. That is a distant memory to the college football world. Like it never happened. Notre Dame's big win is A&M (sorry Army and Navy). We have more top 25 wins than Texas, Miami, and Indiana combined. They have yet to prove anything. Teams that are battle tested and played tougher schedules should expose some of these teams in the playoffs.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Ok.

Did you know that Conference USA evolved from the old Metro Conference. A great basketball league that had Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, DePaul and Georgia Tech. A couple of others I can't remember.

 

[Carl Pickens]

First year of the BCS I liked the end result.

First year of the 12 team playoff…

Michigan won the NC in 1997….. and 2023…..….just sayin’

 

[Boston Vol]

Did you know that Conference USA evolved from the old Metro Conference. A great basketball league that had Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, DePaul and Georgia Tech. A couple of others I can't remember.

Yes. UNC-Charlotte was a member for a few years before the league folded.

 

[just bob]

Actually Tennessee wasn’t the only team in the country to finish undefeated in 1998. How has the media been downplaying Tennessee all year long? They were ranked fourth in the country when they went to Arkansas. People were praising Nico and the offense early in the year. Then once the passing game started to struggle, they started praising the defense.

Meh, Tulane. They did have Shaun King (The good one) tho.

 

[perico]

If we had luck we would have had 3 or 4 championships in that era. 98 was a talented team but I think we actually had better talent over the next few years. Those teams were loaded. If Heupel can get to that level on talent, watch out.

What did that team have that the 99-01 did not besides Al Wilson?

Peerless Price. Even with great WRs like Donte or even the future, Fulmer never found another playmaker as dynamic and who could completely dominate a defense in multiple facets (WR/KO) like Peerless. If Price had redshirted in 1995 instead the 6-7 catches he had, then we likely would’ve been back to back champions, or at least played for another natty in 1999.

 

[vol94]

Did you know that Conference USA evolved from the old Metro Conference. A great basketball league that had Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati, DePaul and Georgia Tech. A couple of others I can't remember.

You’re going old school. VA Tech was sort of the Metro conference. Did VA Tech go straight to AC or did they make a stop in the Big East, first?

 

[Dirtyhairies]

NOBODY (No Media) wanted Tennessee in the BCS Title Game. They were hyping Ohio State all year long, until they lost! Then they jumped on the band-wagons of UCLA & Kansas State - Then both of them lost.

It was a bitter pill for the media for Tennessee to be the Last Undefeated team in the nation!

12-team CFP time!: - Media has been down-playing Tennessee ALL YEAR LONG….
— They Don’t want us to be “In There”!

I watched college football all day long yesterday & game highlights today — And nobody is saying A WORD about TENNESSEE!

Face it guys: “IF” we beat Vandy - We’re IN!

DEAL WITH IT!!!!!

1) lots of people are talking about Tennessee. 2) deal with it? Who here isnt happy about it? The cry babies around here need to grow up, stop acting like they are 10 years old, and let go of the “everyone is out to get Tennessee” thought. Also the world isnt flat, grow up.

 

[TartanTurff]

What did that team have that the 99-01 did not besides Al Wilson?

Peerless Price. Even with great WRs like Donte or even the future, Fulmer never found another playmaker as dynamic and who could completely dominate a defense in multiple facets (WR/KO) like Peerless. If Price had redshirted in 1995 instead the 6-7 catches he had, then we likely would’ve been back to back champions, or at least played for another natty in 1999.

Biggest thing missing after 1998 was David Cutcliff, offensive coordinator, quarterback whisperer, teacher of offensive structure, fakes, attacking a defensive weakness all in an effort to put points on the board, Randy Sanders was in over his head on day one, Cut's game plan, the opening series, the pass plays down the right side of the field were all in before he left to tutor Ole Miss with Eli Manning.

Fulmer never recovered, never was comfortable with expanding on an existing lead (wanted to take some time off the clock), waterloo came in the SEC championship in 2001 when he blew a nice lead and a trip to the NC game in the Rose Bowl against an LSU program featuring a back up quarterback, second string receiver and a third string running back, all managed by some new kid, teaching excellence and effort named Nick Saban. Showed the big guy how the game had changed. Fulmer never recovered and languished with mediocrity until 2008 when he was unceremoniously shown the door about 4 years too late and never coached again. Never got near the BCS after 2001. Period.