Countdown to September 2nd vs UVA. (Top 150 Vols wins)

[Tin Man]

73 days……

#73 - 26-18 vs #14 LSU (2001)

Kelley Washington caught 11 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown, snapping the Tennessee offense out of a season-long lethargy and leading the No. 7 Volunteers to a 26-18 victory over No. 14 LSU.

Of Washington's 11 catches, all went for first downs. Five of those came on third down. It was the breakout game expected from the 22-year-old freshman since he arrived on campus after playing professional baseball for four years.

LSU had a 7-6 halftime lead, but UT stormed back in the 2nd half to lead 26-7. Tennessee took the lead for the first time by driving 82 yards in 16 plays. Clausen's quarterback draw from the LSU 3 ended the opening possession of the second half. A 2-point conversion pass was batted down, leaving the Vols up 12-7.

A 70-yard touchdown pass from Clausen to Washington came on Tennessee's next possession. Travis Stephens capped a 70-yard drive in 10 plays the next time the Vols got the ball to make it 26-7.

LSU came back and had a final possession, but a desperation passin the end zone fell incomplete. The victory put UT 3-0 and visions of 1998 were in everyone’s mind.


View attachment 558336

Timely post, given that LSWho are responsible for both of the BaseVols' 2023 CWS losses.

 

[EasternVol]

I had great seats at that game.

Had a great view of Morgan's catch and run. It stunned me how fast he was moving.

 

[duckman398686]

Was at the 2001 LSU game.

One of the most memorable games I've ever attended given the circumstances of 9/11 earlier that month.

Was in high school at the time and my dad and I took a bus shuttle to the game. Driver picked up a group of LSU fans on the way who brought a kegger on board for the trip up to Neyland. They weren't there for the return trip going back, though.

 

[peaygolf]

Was at the 2001 LSU game.

One of the most memorable games I've ever attended given the circumstances of 9/11 earlier that month.

Was in high school at the time and my dad and I took a bus shuttle to the game. Driver picked up a group of LSU fans on the way who brought a kegger on board for the trip up to Neyland. They weren't there for the return trip going back, though.

That's right........first game in Neyland after 9/11. I totally forgot.

 

[peaygolf]

72 days……

#72 - 18-16 vs #7 Ole Miss (1958)

1958 was one of the worst seasons UT has had, losing to some really bad teams and only winning 4 games, but 3 of those wins were vs ranked opponents.

A homecoming crowd watched as #7 Ole Miss came to Knoxville as a 14 point favorite.

UT got on the board first and lead 6-0, but the Rebs came back and scored 16 straight points to lead 16-6.

In the second half, the Vols began to drive the ball and Gene Etter completed a pass to himself and with help from fullback Neyle Solee, the Vols finally scored again. After forcing Ole Miss to punt, the Vols took over at their own 24 yard line. On the second play, Gene Etter burst through the middle, breaking tackles and scored on a 76 yard touchdown to put UT ahead 18-16. Ole Miss would miss a late FG, giving the Vols a huge upset victory.

 

[peaygolf]

71 days……

#71 - 3-0 vs #9 Texas A&M (1958 Gator Bowl)

A record crowd of 43,700, and 50 million TV viewers, watched #13 UT defeat A&M in a mighty defensive struggle.

A clipping penalty and two turnovers costed the Vols two TDs, before a final drive sealed the win.

In the fourth quarter, the Tennessee tailback got the ball on the Texas A&M 19-yard line. His offensive line created a wide-open hole right through the gut of the defense. Gordon sprinted 10 yards untouched, but there to meet him on the 8-yard line was none other than the Heisman winner John David Crow. Crow and Gordon collided in a jarring hit.

Gordan, in a rather gruesome display, stumbled and swayed on his way back to the huddle after the hit, eventually falling to his knees. However the tailback stayed in the game, carried the ball three more times, putting Tennessee at fourth and goal from the 1-yard line. For the first time all season, Tennessee turned to Sammy Burklow.

Sammy Burklow came in and kicked his only field goal of the '57 season, his only field goal while he was at Tennessee and the final score was 3-0.

 

[peaygolf]

70 days……

#70 - 31-14 vs #7 Clemson (2022 Orange Bowl)

After the best season since 2001, UT faced Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Even with opt-outs on both sides, the game still meant something to the Vols faithful.

Joe Milton shined under the bright lights in his fourth start for the Vols, completing 19-of-28 passes for 251 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns with no interceptions, and he was named the Most Valuable Player.

Sophomore running back Jaylen Wright led the Vols in the ground game with a game-high 89 yards on 11 carries, while junior Jabari Small toted 13 rushes for 38 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. The Volunteer receiving corps was paced by freshman slot receiver Squirrel White who cracked the century mark for the second time this season, finishing with a season-high nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The victory was the ninth 11 win season in school history and the first Orange Bowl win since 1939.

Bowl games don’t mean what they used to, but this win was special. Time will tell, but the victory seemed to show that UT is back where she belongs, among the nations elite programs.

 

[Orange.]

70 days……

#70 - 31-14 vs #7 Clemson (2022 Orange Bowl)

After the best season since 2001, UT faced Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Even with opt-outs on both sides, the game still meant something to the Vols faithful.

Joe Milton shined under the bright lights in his fourth start for the Vols, completing 19-of-28 passes for 251 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns with no interceptions, and he was named the Most Valuable Player.

Sophomore running back Jaylen Wright led the Vols in the ground game with a game-high 89 yards on 11 carries, while junior Jabari Small toted 13 rushes for 38 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. The Volunteer receiving corps was paced by freshman slot receiver Squirrel White who cracked the century mark for the second time this season, finishing with a season-high nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The victory was the ninth 11 win season in school history and the first Orange Bowl win since 1939.

Bowl games don’t mean what they used to, but this win was special. Time will tell, but the victory seemed to show that UT is back where she belongs, among the nations elite programs.

View attachment 558865

Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

 

[IndianaVol]

70 days……

#70 - 31-14 vs #7 Clemson (2022 Orange Bowl)

After the best season since 2001, UT faced Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Even with opt-outs on both sides, the game still meant something to the Vols faithful.

Joe Milton shined under the bright lights in his fourth start for the Vols, completing 19-of-28 passes for 251 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns with no interceptions, and he was named the Most Valuable Player.

Sophomore running back Jaylen Wright led the Vols in the ground game with a game-high 89 yards on 11 carries, while junior Jabari Small toted 13 rushes for 38 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. The Volunteer receiving corps was paced by freshman slot receiver Squirrel White who cracked the century mark for the second time this season, finishing with a season-high nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The victory was the ninth 11 win season in school history and the first Orange Bowl win since 1939.

Bowl games don’t mean what they used to, but this win was special. Time will tell, but the victory seemed to show that UT is back where she belongs, among the nations elite programs.

View attachment 558865

Hoping...praying...wishing...that game was a glimpse into what awaits in 2023.

 

[peaygolf]

Hoping...praying...wishing...that game was a glimpse into what awaits in 2023.

I really wanted to put it higher on my list.............

But, I have to be realistic. It was a "meaningless" Bowl game. Both teams had opt-outs. How "up" was Clemson? Lot's of factors.
IMO....it was big for UT and the fans. Let's see if it carries over. I hope it does.

 

[Orange.]

I really wanted to put it higher on my list.............

But, I have to be realistic. It was a "meaningless" Bowl game. Both teams had opt-outs. How "up" was Clemson? Lot's of factors.
IMO....it was big for UT and the fans. Let's see if it carries over. I hope it does.

It was huge for recruiting and our reputation imo. We beat three of the four most recent "title" teams: Bammaw, LSU, and Clemson.

Like you I hope it will turn out to be a huge milestone. But we can't know that yet. It did just us the first 11 win season in more than 20 years!

 

[peaygolf]

69 days…….

#69 - 10-6 vs #9 Georgia Tech (1961)

The faithful were about at the end of the rope with Coach Wyatt as the 3-3 Vols hosted #9 Tech. A sellout crowd of 46,000 watched as the “two to three touchdown underdogs” turned in the best defensive performance in years.

Until Georgia Tech scored in the final minute, they never gotten closer than the Vols 30 yard line during the game.

UT capitalized on a turnover with a 31 yard FG by Gary Cannon early in the game. With the score still 3-0 midway through the fourth quarter, Mallon Faircloth found Mike Stratton on a 22 yard touchdown pass to ice the win.

The victory didn't give UT much momentum, as they lost the next week and would finish 6-4 and unranked, but it was one of the biggest upsets in Vols history.

 

[peaygolf]

68 days…..

#68 - 24-0 vs Alabama (1970)

A Neyland Stadium record crowd of 64,947 watched as No. 12 Tennessee's secondary turned in one of the most brilliant displays of pass defense in history. The Vols intercepted an NCAA record eight passes, and defeated Alabama 24-0.

Tim Priest intercepted three passes, one setting up Bobby Scott’s one yard touchdown run, which game UT a 7-0 halftime lead. Don McLeary scored later in the third quarter after a Condrad Graham interception.

The final ten points for the Vols were scored in the fourth quarter on a FG and a 22 yard interception return for a touchdown by Jackie Walker.

Alabama would finish 6-5-1, not the most dominant Tide team, but the victory was big in many ways.
*It was the fourth in a row over Alabama
*It was Bill Battle’s first game vs his alma mater
*It was the first shutout against Bama since 1959 (115 games)

UT would finish 11-1 and #4 in the final polls. The four game winning streak ended in 1970. UT would go eleven years without tasting victory over Alabama.

Jackie Walker about to score

 

[NorCalVol67]

70 days……

#70 - 31-14 vs #7 Clemson (2022 Orange Bowl)

After the best season since 2001, UT faced Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Even with opt-outs on both sides, the game still meant something to the Vols faithful.

Joe Milton shined under the bright lights in his fourth start for the Vols, completing 19-of-28 passes for 251 yards and a career-high tying three touchdowns with no interceptions, and he was named the Most Valuable Player.

Sophomore running back Jaylen Wright led the Vols in the ground game with a game-high 89 yards on 11 carries, while junior Jabari Small toted 13 rushes for 38 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. The Volunteer receiving corps was paced by freshman slot receiver Squirrel White who cracked the century mark for the second time this season, finishing with a season-high nine catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.

The victory was the ninth 11 win season in school history and the first Orange Bowl win since 1939.

Bowl games don’t mean what they used to, but this win was special. Time will tell, but the victory seemed to show that UT is back where she belongs, among the nations elite programs.

View attachment 558865

This was the first game I attended since the game in Berkeley in 2007.

 

[Tin Man]

Alas, I am reminded of the one-turnover-too-many game at Texas A&M.

Shake it off and bask in the memory of a Vols total domination of Bama.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Was at the 2001 LSU game.

One of the most memorable games I've ever attended given the circumstances of 9/11 earlier that month.

Was in high school at the time and my dad and I took a bus shuttle to the game. Driver picked up a group of LSU fans on the way who brought a kegger on board for the trip up to Neyland. They weren't there for the return trip going back, though.

That was a special night.

 

[peaygolf]

67 days……

#67 - 35-14 vs #12 Georgia (2007)

UT was 2-2 and facing one of the best teams as Georgia came to Knoxville.

The Vols made quick work of Georgia, scoring four times in the first half to build up a 28-0 lead. Running back Arian Foster, who rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns, would get the Vols on the scoreboard with a 9-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.

Tennessee would score three more touchdowns in the second stanza as Lucas Taylor threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Lemarcus Coker on a trick play early in the frame. Montario Hardesty scored on a 10-yard run and Foster’s second touchdown gave the Vols a 28-0 lead at halftime.

Foster scored Tennessee’s last touchdown on a 4-yard run with 2:29 left in the third quarter.

Two second-half touchdowns for the Bulldogs were largely insignificant, and Tennessee cruised to an easy win.

Knowshon Moreno was bottled up, running for just 30 yards on 13 carries. In fact, Georgia gained only 69 total yards on the ground in the contest, by far its worst output of the season.

The win proved bigger at the end of the season, as UT earned the tie breaker and represented the SEC East in the championship game.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

67 days……

#67 - 35-14 vs #12 Georgia (2007)

UT was 2-2 and facing one of the best teams as Georgia came to Knoxville.

The Vols made quick work of Georgia, scoring four times in the first half to build up a 28-0 lead. Running back Arian Foster, who rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns, would get the Vols on the scoreboard with a 9-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter.

Tennessee would score three more touchdowns in the second stanza as Lucas Taylor threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Lemarcus Coker on a trick play early in the frame. Montario Hardesty scored on a 10-yard run and Foster’s second touchdown gave the Vols a 28-0 lead at halftime.

Foster scored Tennessee’s last touchdown on a 4-yard run with 2:29 left in the third quarter.

Two second-half touchdowns for the Bulldogs were largely insignificant, and Tennessee cruised to an easy win.

Knowshon Moreno was bottled up, running for just 30 yards on 13 carries. In fact, Georgia gained only 69 total yards on the ground in the contest, by far its worst output of the season.

The win proved bigger at the end of the season, as UT earned the tie breaker and represented the SEC East in the championship game.
View attachment 559423

As a 29 year old....2007 was the last season I could feel proud of as a Vol until....

The Heup train rolled to town with a Hooker that made the tears rollllll on the third saturday in october and thus reclaimed the dignity lost in big orange country.

Thank you HEUP!

 

[peaygolf]

66 days……

#66 - 21-7 vs #7 Georgia Tech (1965)

Less than two weeks after a tragic accident killed three assistants, UT was 3-0-2, unranked and facing #7 Georgia Tech. The Vols understandably were lackluster in the previous game vs Houston, but found a way to get the win. Not many expected the same vs Tech.

After a scoreless first half, UT found a break when Harold Stancell intercepted a pass and returned it 36 yards for the first score. Sophomore QB Charlie Fulton rambled 57 yards to set up the second UT score. On the next Vols possession, Fulton hit Austin Denney on a nifty pass to set up the third TD and put the game out of reach.

Fulton had 133 yards rushing and 103 passing yards for the day. The win vaulted UT to #8 in the rankings, but a loss the following week ended the undefeated season. UT would win their remaining games and finish 8-1-2 and ranked #7.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

68 days…..

#68 - 24-0 vs Alabama (1970)

A Neyland Stadium record crowd of 64,947 watched as No. 12 Tennessee's secondary turned in one of the most brilliant displays of pass defense in history. The Vols intercepted an NCAA record eight passes, and defeated Alabama 24-0.

Tim Priest intercepted three passes, one setting up Bobby Scott’s one yard touchdown run, which game UT a 7-0 halftime lead. Don McLeary scored later in the third quarter after a Condrad Graham interception.

The final ten points for the Vols were scored in the fourth quarter on a FG and a 22 yard interception return for a touchdown by Jackie Walker.

Alabama would finish 6-5-1, not the most dominant Tide team, but the victory was big in many ways.
*It was the fourth in a row over Alabama
*It was Bill Battle’s first game vs his alma mater
*It was the first shutout against Bama since 1959 (115 games)

UT would finish 11-1 and #4 in the final polls. The four game winning streak ended in 1970. UT would go eleven years without tasting victory over Alabama.

Jackie Walker about to score

View attachment 559224

'twas, without question, one of the greatest defenses in Tennessee football history. If memory serves me correctly, they established a then-NCAA record with 36 pass interceptions and 21 fumble recoveries, not counting an additional 8 turnovers caused against Air Force in the '71 Sugar Bowl.

 

[peaygolf]

65 days…..

#65 - 35-18 vs #9 California (2006)

Despite the first losing season under Fulmer in ‘05 the Vols entered ‘06 ranked #23. They opened, hoping to avenge last season’s loss to Cal.

The 3-pt underdog Vols poured it on and lead 35-0, before putting in the reserves. Erik Ainge connected for 4 TD passes, with 4 scoring plays of more than 40 yards. Sports Illustrated’s "By The Numbers" noted that Tennessee had only 1 scoring play of more than 40 yards in the entire previous season. WR Robert Meachem caught two long touchdown passes, including one of 80 yards.

On Defense, Tennessee held the highly touted Golden Bears scoreless for almost 3 entire quarters. They were led by Ryan Karl with 9 Tackles, while Antwan Stewart and Inky Johnson each had an interception. All American Marshawn Lynch was held to 76 yards rushing.

The win built momentum and UT went to #7 midway through the season, but two tough losses down the stretch cost the team deeply. UT would finish 9-4 and ranked #23.

 

[UTK]

65 days…..

#65 - 35-18 vs #9 California (2007)

Despite the first losing season under Fulmer in ‘06, the Vols entered ‘07 ranked #23. They opened, hoping to avenge last season’s loss to Cal.

The 3-pt underdog Vols poured it on and lead 35-0, before putting in the reserves. Erik Ainge connected for 4 TD passes, with 4 scoring plays of more than 40 yards. Sports Illustrated’s "By The Numbers" noted that Tennessee had only 1 scoring play of more than 40 yards in the entire previous season. WR Robert Meachem caught two long touchdown passes, including one of 80 yards.

On Defense, Tennessee held the highly touted Golden Bears scoreless for almost 3 entire quarters. They were led by Ryan Karl with 9 Tackles, while Antwan Stewart and Inky Johnson each had an interception. All American Marshawn Lynch was held to 76 yards rushing.

The win built momentum and UT went to #7 midway through the season, but two tough losses down the stretch cost the team deeply. UT would finish 9-4 and ranked #23.

View attachment 559777

That’s 2006 Cal game. 07 was @ Cal and a loss

 

[peaygolf]

That’s 2006 Cal game. 07 was @ Cal and a loss

I knew that…..my bad. It was late

 

[UTK]

I knew that…..my bad. It was late

No worries big dog, it’s cool what you’re doing. Very informative on a lot of games before my time. Appreciate it.

 

[Tin Man]

No worries big dog, it’s cool what you’re doing. Very informative on a lot of games before my time. Appreciate it.

Right on, whippersnapper.