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

[peaygolf]

I honestly felt really bad for the UW quarterback. He took a ton of hits in that game.

E Berry would have been ejected if the helmet-to-helmet hit happened today.......

 

[Rifleman]

130 days…..

#130 - 38-7 vs Florida (1970)

The first real game of the UT/UF “rivalry” occurred in 1970, the year after Doug Dickey left UT to go to Hogtowne. It was Bill Battle’s first season in Knoxville and he couldn’t afford to lose to his predecessor. The Gators came into Knoxville wanting to stop the run, but forgot about Bobby Scott. Scott threw two TDs and set a school record with 385 passing yards in the #11 Vols easy victory. The defense wasn’t going to be outdone, as it intercepted four passes while Conrad Graham and Jackie Walker returned two of them for TDs. The crowd in Neyland filled the air with “boos and cat-calls” directed at Dickey all game long. My family made the trek to the game and said the atmosphere was filled with nervous energy at the outset, but reached a feverish peak during the second half when victory was well in hand. Beating Dickey was a monumental win for all Vols.

Such a great team that year! Could have won it all with a few breaks against Auburn. Also love the tape of this game. It was even more lopsided than the score. Just a brutal whipping.

 

[EasternVol]

E Berry would have been ejected if the helmet-to-helmet hit happened today.......

Yes, it looked like he almost killed him.

 

[HollowaytoSeivers]

I think my favorite part of this particular countdown is all the archived footage and photos from the games in question. Being able to relive some of these games or construct an image of them for the first time is fantastic. Thanks peaygolf for all your work (although it probably doesn't feel like work to you).

 

[Orange.]

I think my favorite part of this particular countdown is all the archived footage and photos from the games in question. Being able to relive some of these games or construct an image of them for the first time is fantastic. Thanks peaygolf for all your work (although it probably doesn't feel like work to you).

Also the drama of seeing where Peay is going next.

 

[Orange.]

So many big name Vols in that Florida game video!

 

[Orange.]

Such a great team that year! Could have won it all with a few breaks against Auburn. Also love the tape of this game. It was even more lopsided than the score. Just a brutal whipping.

Thank you, @Rifleman! I just posted this over in the recruiting forum. And linked here. I can't believe I'd never seen this one. Excellent!

 

[peaygolf]

I think my favorite part of this particular countdown is all the archived footage and photos from the games in question. Being able to relive some of these games or construct an image of them for the first time is fantastic. Thanks peaygolf for all your work (although it probably doesn't feel like work to you).

I'm a historian.......This is a lot of fun for me.

 

[peaygolf]

Also the drama of seeing where Peay is going next.

The top 20 will be debated for generations.................

 

[peaygolf]

128 days……

#128 - 45-0 vs Austin Peay (2013)

It was Butch’s debut as HC and the opening game was a forgone conclusion, but everyone was excited to see what was in store for the program.
Raijon Neal ran for 141 yards and Justin Worley threw for 3 TDs as the Vols crushed the Govs 45-0. The Vols defense held The Peay to only 211 total yards of offense.
The Peay was a horrible program the time, and the win doesn’t seem like a big deal, but the historical importance is what makes it so great. The Vols became only the 8th major program to reach 800 career wins. Today, only 13 D1 programs have 800 or more.
The win against my Govs, put UT in a level of greatness few have ever reached…….

 

[Orange.]

128 days……

#128 - 45-0 vs Austin Peay (2013)

It was Butch’s debut as HC and the opening game was a forgone conclusion, but everyone was excited to see what was in store for the program.
Raijon Neal ran for 141 yards and Justin Worley threw for 3 TDs as the Vols crushed the Govs 45-0. The Vols defense held The Peay to only 211 total yards of offense.
The Peay was a horrible program the time, and the win doesn’t seem like a big deal, but the historical importance is what makes it so great. The Vols became only the 8th major program to reach 800 career wins. Today, only 13 D1 programs have 800 or more.
The win against my Govs, put UT in a level of greatness few have ever reached…….

View attachment 548517

You just had to bring the Peay into it But seriously, a good tale well told.

 

[peaygolf]

You just had to bring the Peay into it But seriously, a good tale well told.

September 9th might be the biggest upset in UT history…….

 

[Orange.]

September 9th might be the biggest upset in UT history…….

Hope Peay uses the money to make some playoff runs! I'll leave it at that.

 

[Rifleman]

Thank you, @Rifleman! I just posted this over in the recruiting forum. And linked here. I can't believe I'd never seen this one. Excellent!

So many great plays in this one. I love the interception at 23:50, because Jackie Walker absolutely pancakes the Gator starting center, Richard Kensler. That's the kind of competitive greatness that doesn't go on the stat chart, but should.

 

[Rifleman]

Nothing measures a Vol coach quite as accurately as conference winning percentage.

1) Robert Neyland 103-17-10 79.2%
2) Phillip Fulmer 96-34 73.8%
3) Josh Heupel 10-6 62.5%
4) Doug Dickey 21-10-4 60.0%
5) Johnny Majors 57-40-3 57.0%
6) Bill Battle 22-18-1 53.7%
7) Bowden Wyatt 29-23-4 51.8%
8) Lane Kiffin 4-4 50.0%
9) Jeremy Pruitt 10-16 38.5%
10) Butch Jones 14-24 36.8%
SMDH) Derek Dooley 4-19 17.4%

 

[peaygolf]

127 days…

#127 - 17-0 vs Mercer (1939)

One week after beating Alabama, the University of Tennessee played the Bulldogs of Mercer. It was the first game the Vols ever played as the #1 ranked team in the country. With Cafego out with an injury, the offense relied on Jimmy Butler and Bob Foxx. Foxx scored on a 70 yard punt return and Butler scored on a weaving 18 yard run. The defense held up its end by continuing the scoreless streak and only allowed 58 yards for Mercer.

 

[peaygolf]

126 days…..

#126 - 6-0 vs Sewanee (1902)

The 1902 Tennessee team was led by a new coach, HF Fisher, and finished with a 6-2 record. After starting the season 2-1, Tennessee hosted the southern powerhouse of Sewanee. Led by early greats like Jones Beene, Nash Buckingham, and AH Douglas the Vols defeated the highly favored Tigers 6-0. It was the first victory over Sewanee and showed that Tennessee could be a power in southern football. AH Douglas only played one season at UT before becoming a 3X All American at the Naval Academy, but his touchdown to beat Sewanee was considered historic in the early days of UT football.

Nash Buckingham

 

[Volfan1000]

Tomorrow begins the Countdown to Kickoff.

This year, I will be counting down MY top 150 victories in UT history. I based my list on several factors, including ranked wins, upsets, program changing wins, last second wins, wins that brought about national spotlight, etc……..

Game day will be Day 0……I’ll have something interesting for that day. As always, I hope you enjoy and let the debate start tomorrow..

Should be an exciting 2023 opener.

 

[Volfan1000]

127 days…

#127 - 17-0 vs Mercer (1939)

One week after beating Alabama, the University of Tennessee played the Bulldogs of Mercer. It was the first game the Vols ever played as the #1 ranked team in the country. With Cafego out with an injury, the offense relied on Jimmy Butler and Bob Foxx. Foxx scored on a 70 yard punt return and Butler scored on a weaving 18 yard run. The defense held up its end by continuing the scoreless streak and only allowed 58 yards for Mercer.

View attachment 548778

I never knew that Tennessee played Mercer in football as well as men's basketball.

 

[peaygolf]

125 days….

#125 - 30-23 vs #17 Maryland (1983 Citrus Bowl)

UT started the ‘83 season 1-2, but would go on the win all but one remaining regular season game and finished 8-3. In the Citrus Bowl, the Terps and Vols exchanged leads eight times in one of the most exciting bowl games UT has ever played in. After trailing 20-16 at the start of the fourth quarter, Johnnie Jones scored 2TDs and the Vols defense held on to preserve the victory. Jones rushed for 154 yards and was named MVP. Alvin Toles had a fumble recovery and an interception to lead the defense. The Vols would finish 9-3, the best season since 1972.

 

[peaygolf]

124 days……

#124 - 38-25 vs Memphis State (1988)

1988 started off as bad as possible. Six straight loses and Duncan Stewart on a Billboard. In game seven, Memphis St, fresh off a road win over #14 Florida, hosted the reeling Vols. After a 10-10 first half, the Vols jumped on the Tigers in the second half, taking a 38-25 victory. Tony Thompson, once buried deep on the depth chart, came off the bench when Reggie Cobb was injured and rushed for 124 yards on 28 carries. He scored twice and had a two-point conversion run.

Tennessee head coach John Majors called it, “A terrific win. It stopped the bleeding. This wasn’t the World Series, but I thought we looked a lot like the Dodgers—a lot of nobodies with a lot of heart.”

The victory led to a five-game winning streak to end the season, with each game being tightly contested, going well into the fourth quarter before being decided.

SEC titles and bowl wins over Arkansas in the 1990 Cotton Bowl and Virginia in the 1991 Sugar Bowl came in the next two seasons. The Vols were 20-3-2 over those two campaigns. This win at Memphis St was the beginning of the greatest decade of UT football.

 

[Voldog1998]

Just 4 months and 1 day till the Vols kick off the 2023 football in Nashville against Virginia. Another month closer ladies and gentlemen till it’s football time in Tennessee again!!! I haven’t been this excited in the off-season probaly since the 2016 off season. GBO!!!

 

[OneManGang]

124 days……

#124 - 38-25 vs Memphis State (1988)

1988 started off as bad as possible. Six straight loses and Duncan Stewart on a Billboard. In game seven, Memphis St, fresh off a road win over #14 Florida, hosted the reeling Vols. After a 10-10 first half, the Vols jumped on the Tigers in the second half, taking a 38-25 victory. Tony Thompson, once buried deep on the depth chart, came off the bench when Reggie Cobb was injured and rushed for 124 yards on 28 carries. He scored twice and had a two-point conversion run.

Tennessee head coach John Majors called it, “A terrific win. It stopped the bleeding. This wasn’t the World Series, but I thought we looked a lot like the Dodgers—a lot of nobodies with a lot of heart.”

The victory led to a five-game winning streak to end the season, with each game being tightly contested, going well into the fourth quarter before being decided.

SEC titles and bowl wins over Arkansas in the 1990 Cotton Bowl and Virginia in the 1991 Sugar Bowl came in the next two seasons. The Vols were 20-3-2 over those two campaigns. This win at Memphis St was the beginning of the greatest decade of UT football.

View attachment 549392

Wow, it's scary how you seem to have looked at my list of memorable Vol games for this off season.

 

[peaygolf]

Wow, it's scary how you seem to have looked at my list of memorable Vol games for this off season.

I really thought about having that game much higher on the list. 10 wins in ‘87 and then disaster. That five game win streak to end ‘88 was huge for the success of ‘88-‘01.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I was there. 13 years old. Pretty sure it was a night game.

Me too.