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

21 days…….

#21 - 34-32 vs #2 Florida (2001)

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 postponed the UF game to Dec 1st, and actually made the game a SECE championship contest. Both teams were 9-1, and ranked #4 and #2. UT was a 17.5 point underdog at the Swamp.

Quarterback Casey Clausen started the scoring early when he threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Troy Fleming with 6 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Kicker Alex Walls made it 7-0 with the extra point.

The Big Orange extended its advantage to 14-0 when Travis Stephens scored on a 6-yard touchdown later in the frame.

The Gators responded in the second stanza by scoring 20 points and keeping UT off the board. The Gators lead 20-14 at the half.

Tennessee regained the lead early in the third quarter when Stephens scored from 35 yards out with 13:26 remaining in the frame.

Florida kicked a 35-yard field goal to enable the Gators to retake the lead, 23-21, with six minutes left in the period.

In the fourth quarter, Jabari Davis scored a pair of short touchdown runs, his second made it 34-26 with 8:47 remaining in the game. His two scores were sandwiched between a 52-yard field goal by Chandler.

Florida pulled to within 34-32 with just over a minute to play when Grossman connected with Carlos Perez from three yards out. Florida missed the potential game-tying two-point conversion.

Tennessee had shocked the college football world……..

Stephens rushed for 226 yards and two scores on 19 carries. Davis had four carries for 11 yards and two touchdowns.

This game would be much higher……except for what unfortunately happened in Atlanta. But…….what a fantastic win and moment in UT history that unfolded in Gainesville.

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7,331 miles from here, I woke up a bunch of people and met some Vols fans from Knoxville that night.
 
20 days……

#20 - 24-13 vs #6 Alabama (1967)

With Dewey Warren and Charlie Fulton out with injuries, #7 UT had to go with Bubba Wyche at QB vs #6 Alabama in Birmingham. Bama was also in the midst of a 25 game unbeaten streak.

Behind the impressive play of the offensive line, Wyche and Richmond Flowers impressively moved down the field and score on the Vols opening possession. From there, it was the defense that took over.

Alabama’s star QB Ken Stabler had five passes intercepted, three by Al Dorsey, to keep Bama from gaining any real momentum.

Walter Chadwick threw a wobbly left handed pass to Ken DeLong to give UT a lead, and Al Dorsey’s final interception was returned 31 yards for the clinching score in the epic battle of top 10 teams.

The Vols would finish 9-1 in the regular season , win the SEC Championship, and play in an epic Orange Bowl game. UT would finish #2 in the AP poll and claim the Litkenhous Poll National Championship. The Bama win was the best win of a magical season.

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20 days……

#20 - 24-13 vs #6 Alabama (1967)

With Dewey Warren and Charlie Fulton out with injuries, #7 UT had to go with Bubba Wyche at QB vs #6 Alabama in Birmingham. Bama was also in the midst of a 25 game unbeaten streak.

Behind the impressive play of the offensive line, Wyche and Richmond Flowers impressively moved down the field and score on the Vols opening possession. From there, it was the defense that took over.

Alabama’s star QB Ken Stabler had five passes intercepted, three by Al Dorsey, to keep Bama from gaining any real momentum.

Walter Chadwick threw a wobbly left handed pass to Ken DeLong to give UT a lead, and Al Dorsey’s final interception was returned 31 yards for the clinching score in the epic battle of top 10 teams.

The Vols would finish 9-1 in the regular season , win the SEC Championship, and play in an epic Orange Bowl game. UT would finish #2 in the AP poll and claim the Litkenhous Poll National Championship. The Bama win was the best win of a magical season.

View attachment 569483
Famous photo for the drama and the colors. Great orange vs. red uniforms look. I don't know the context. Is that a FG attempt?
 
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20 days……

#20 - 24-13 vs #6 Alabama (1967)

With Dewey Warren and Charlie Fulton out with injuries, #7 UT had to go with Bubba Wyche at QB vs #6 Alabama in Birmingham. Bama was also in the midst of a 25 game unbeaten streak.

Behind the impressive play of the offensive line, Wyche and Richmond Flowers impressively moved down the field and score on the Vols opening possession. From there, it was the defense that took over.

Alabama’s star QB Ken Stabler had five passes intercepted, three by Al Dorsey, to keep Bama from gaining any real momentum.

Walter Chadwick threw a wobbly left handed pass to Ken DeLong to give UT a lead, and Al Dorsey’s final interception was returned 31 yards for the clinching score in the epic battle of top 10 teams.

The Vols would finish 9-1 in the regular season , win the SEC Championship, and play in an epic Orange Bowl game. UT would finish #2 in the AP poll and claim the Litkenhous Poll National Championship. The Bama win was the best win of a magical season.

View attachment 569483
Wow, that photo is a work of art. Epic
 
Not sure…..it’ a cool photo . Love it
I wonder how difficult the speed and pass happy nature of today's game would make it for players to distinguish orange from Bammaw red in a game today. I know some people want to bring that look in the photo back. I would assume, but do not know, that color confusion would be the primary objection. I do love our road whites, though, and also the white jerseys on orange pants.

Was the white jerseys with orange pants a Johnny Majors innovation?
 
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I wonder how difficult the speed and pass happy nature of today's game would make it for players to distinguish orange from Bammaw red in a game today. I know some people want to bring that look in the photo back. I would assume, but do not know, that color confusion would be the primary objection. I do love our road whites, though, and also the white jerseys on orange pants.

Was the white jerseys with orange pants a Johnny Majors innovation?

Yep…..1977.
All Orange debuted that year as well
 
I just saw this.
The first usage of orange for UT goes all the way back to 1889 when UT Athletic Association President Charles Moore chose the colors orange and white for UT’s first field day on August 12, 1889, according to UT history. The colors were worn by students to the Sewanee football game in 1891, which featured Moore as a right guard.
Sewanee Tigers in the mix!
 
19 days…..

#19 - 15-13 vs #2 Duke (1936)

1-2-1 UT hosted the undefeated 2nd ranked Blue Devils on Homecoming in 1936. Most expected Duke to roll through the rest of the season and play in the Rose Bowl, but the Vols had other plans. Many reporters sai the game was one of the greatest in the “history of Dixie.”

Duke scored first on a punt return to take a 6-0 lead, but UT rallied, recording a safety and a “Phantom” Phil Dickens touchdown pass to “Fish” Herring to take a 9-6 lead in the 3rd quarter.

Duke would score again in the last quarter to take a 13-9 lead. Then…..fireworks.

With two minutes to play, Duke’s tailback went around the end for what appeared to be a clinching TD, but the play was called back for a penalty. Duke ended up punting, with the ball kicked out of bounds at the UT 11 yard line. However, Duke was called offsides and had to re-kick. On the ensuing punt, Vols reserve halfback, Red Harp, fielded the punt, broke two tackles, and followed a slew of Volunteer blockers 70 yards to the endzone. UT had snatched victory from the hands of defeat in one of the greatest finishes in UT history.

UT would go on to finish 6-2-2 for the season.

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19 days…..

#19 - 15-13 vs #2 Duke (1936)

1-2-1 UT hosted the undefeated 2nd ranked Blue Devils on Homecoming in 1936. Most expected Duke to roll through the rest of the season and play in the Rose Bowl, but the Vols had other plans. Many reporters sai the game was one of the greatest in the “history of Dixie.”

Duke scored first on a punt return to take a 6-0 lead, but UT rallied, recording a safety and a “Phantom” Phil Dickens touchdown pass to “Fish” Herrung to take a 9-6 lead in the 3rd quarter.

Duke would score again in the last quarter to take a 13-9 lead. Then…..fireworks.

With two minutes to play, Duke’s tailback went around the end for what appeared to be a clinching TD, but the play was called back for a penalty. Duke ended up punting, with the ball kicked out of bounds at the UT 11 yard line. However, Duke was called offsides and had to re-kick. On the ensuing punt, Vols reserve halfback, Red Harp, fielded the punt, broke two tackles, and followed a slew of Volunteer blockers 70 yards to the endzone. UT had snatched victory from the hands of defeat in one of the greatest finishes in UT history.

UT would go on to finish 6-2-2 for the season.

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WGWTFA days til kickoff!
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18 days……

#18 - 16-14 vs Vanderbilt (1914)

The 1914 Vols season was noteworthy for many reasons: (1)They went undefeated at 9-0, (2) They won the first conference championship in school history, and (3) They beat Vanderbilt for the first time.

UT still had two more games to play, but the victory over the hated rival from Nashville was one for rejoicing. After being 0-11-1 vs Vanderbilt, the Vols had finally done it. “Goat” Carroll scored all 16 points and was named All-Southern at the end of the season.


The best way to illustrate the game is from:
“Athletics” The University of Tennessee Record. 18 (5): 65. 1915.


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18 days……

#18 - 16-14 vs Vanderbilt (1914)

The 1914 Vols season was noteworthy for many reasons: (1)They went undefeated at 9-0, (2) They won the first conference championship in school history, and (3) They beat Vanderbilt for the first time.

UT still had two more games to play, but the victory over the hated rival from Nashville was one for rejoicing. After being 0-11-1 vs Vanderbilt, the Vols had finally done it. “Goat” Carroll scored all 16 points and was named All-Southern at the end of the season.


The best way to illustrate the game is from:
“Athletics” The University of Tennessee Record. 18 (5): 65. 1915.


View attachment 569897
View attachment 569895
View attachment 569894
View attachment 569893

View attachment 569896
 
18 days……

#18 - 16-14 vs Vanderbilt (1914)

The 1914 Vols season was noteworthy for many reasons: (1)They went undefeated at 9-0, (2) They won the first conference championship in school history, and (3) They beat Vanderbilt for the first time.

UT still had two more games to play, but the victory over the hated rival from Nashville was one for rejoicing. After being 0-11-1 vs Vanderbilt, the Vols had finally done it. “Goat” Carroll scored all 16 points and was named All-Southern at the end of the season.


The best way to illustrate the game is from:
“Athletics” The University of Tennessee Record. 18 (5): 65. 1915.


View attachment 569897
View attachment 569895
View attachment 569894
View attachment 569893

View attachment 569896
That could’ve been written by our VolNation scribe, OMG! My dad wasn’t even a twinkle in his daddy’s eye but I was able to “be there” - so well written!
 

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