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

[peaygolf]

101 days…….

#101 - 41-23 vs #23 Georgia (1994)

With Todd Helton starting his first game, and on the road, UT relied on a powerful running game to take the pressure of the inexperienced QB. Already 0-1 on the season, the Vols couldn’t go 0-2.

James Stewart rushed for four touchdowns, including a clinching 71-yard burst midway through the fourth quarter, as 19th-ranked Tennessee pulled away from No. 21 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference opener for both schools. Stewart also scored on runs of two, six and 15 yards.

Helton wasn’t asked to do much, as the Vols ran for 383 yards. Helton did hit Joey Kent on a TD pass, but Stewart ran for 211 yards and Aaron Hayden added 113 more.

Things were looking up after the injury to Jerry Colquitt during the loss UCLA. The win was the fourth in a row over UGA.

 

[NorCalVol67]

106 days…..

#106 - 30-16 vs #21 UCLA (1991)

With temperatures on the field at 115 degrees, survival was the main goal as the #11 Vols hosted UCLA.

Despite having its ground game shut down all day, Tennessee never trailed. Tennessee scored first on a 34-yard pass from Andy Kelly to Carl Pickens in the first quarter. Darryl Hardy blocked a punt that lead to a quick score, Tracy Smith returned an interception for a 38 yard TD, and a short run by JJ McCleskey was enough for the victory. Kelly threw for 275 yards and Pickens had 104 yards receiving. Earnest Fields and Shazzon Bradley combined for 21 tackles, as UT held UCLA to less than 300 yards of offense.

The victory showed the country how good UT could be in 1991. Huge upcoming games vs ranked teams were on the schedule and the Vols looked poised for a great season.

View attachment 552110

I was in DD, row 1. Man that was hot.

 

[peaygolf]

100 days…..

#100 - 49-0 vs Transylvania (1920)

The Vols were 4-2 when Transylvania came to Knoxville for an early November game. The season had started well, but tough losses to Vanderbilt and Miss A&M (State) put a damper on the expectations.

The game vs Transylvania was never in doubt, as the bigger, faster, and stronger Vols overpowered Transylvania from the opening kickoff. Roe Campbell was spectacular at QB and Buck Hatcher showed his usual greatness on the line.


The 49-0 victory doesn’t seem like much in the grand scheme of Vols victories, but it was a milestone win. The victory was the 100th victory in UT football history. There have been over 700 more wins since, but number 100 was definitely monumental.

Roe Campbell and Buck Hatcher

 

[WeeohdeeWood]

Thank you for making the off-season fly by @peaygolf one third the way through the count down. Gonna be kickoff in no time.

 

[VolsnRavens]

Took my wife about 4 years to get used to my fandom. 41 years later - here we are. LOL

Took my wife a while to get used to me, Tennessee and SEC. She is from Maryland. We were divorced several years ago, but she is still a Tennessee Vols fan. My job was done.....

 

[VolsnRavens]

I was in DD, row 1. Man that was hot.

Oh man, I love section DD. I always stay abreast of any tickets to that section.

 

[OrangeTsar]

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Oh man, I love section DD. I always stay abreast of any tickets to that section.

I'll take "What a boob might say" for 200, Alex!

 

[peaygolf]

99 days……

#99 - 27-24 vs #16 South Carolina (2007)

Daniel Lincoln kicked a game-tying 48-yard field goal with five second left, then provided the only points in overtime, and Tennessee recovered after blowing a big lead to beat No. 16 South Carolina 27-24.

A week after UT was blown out by Alabama and fans had been clamoring for Fulmer’s firing, UT raced out to a 21 point halftime lead. During the second half, UT could only muster 70 yards of offense. South Carolina roared back to tie the game at 21 all. Fortunately for the Vols, the Gamecocks turned the ball over twice in the final 7 minutes, and could only kick a FG late to take a 3 point lead with 1:24 left in regulation. On the kickoff return, LeMarcus Coker weaved his way to the 47 yard line, giving UT enough time to move into FG range to tie the game. A missed 43 yard FG was called back by a false start penalty on Tennessee and gave Daniel Lincoln another crack, this time from 48 yards. He didn’t miss. In overtime, Lincoln kicked a 27 yard FG and the defense held to secure the OT win.

With the Florida loss earlier in the day to Georgia, the win over South Carolina put the Vols back in the drivers seat in the SEC East. Winning out would get the Vols back to the SECCG.

 

[Tin Man]

Double digits

 

[peaygolf]

98 days…….

#98 - 14-7 vs #18 Boston College (1941)

In a rematch of the previous January Sugar Bowl, the unranked Vols traveled to Fenway Park to face the favored Eagles. The Eagles dominated the first half, but only held a slim 7-0 lead at the half.
Bob Slater’s great punting pinned BC deep in there own territory during the second half and the change in field position finally allowed UT to score after Bobby Cifers fumbled into the end zone and Duck Mulloy recovered for the TD. With the game tied, BC began marching down the field, but missed a chance to take the lead by mishandling a FG snap. UT still couldn’t move the ball and with three minutes left to play the Eagles had another chance. Starting on their own 9-yd line, Boudreau tried to hit Mike Holovak on a pass down the middle. The Vols Billy Gold cut in front, intercepted and carried it 26 yards down to the 3-yard line. In three plays Cifers blasted in for the winning touchdown with only 90 seconds left to play. Boston College got the ball back but UT intercepted a long pass to end the game.

The Vols would finish the season with an 8-2 record in John Barnhill’s first season as coach.

 

[Orange.]

98 days…….

#98 - 14-7 vs #18 Boston College (1941)

In a rematch of the previous January Sugar Bowl, the unranked Vols traveled to Fenway Park to face the favored Eagles. The Eagles dominated the first half, but only held a slim 7-0 lead at the half.
Bob Slater’s great punting pinned BC deep in there own territory during the second half and the change in field position finally allowed UT to score after Bobby Cifers fumbled into the end zone and Duck Mulloy recovered for the TD. With the game tied, BC began marching down the field, but missed a chance to take the lead by mishandling a FG snap. UT still couldn’t move the ball and with three minutes left to play the Eagles had another chance. Starting on their own 9-yd line, Boudreau tried to hit Mike Holovak on a pass down the middle. The Vols Billy Gold cut in front, intercepted and carried it 26 yards down to the 3-yard line. In three plays Cifers blasted in for the winning touchdown with only 90 seconds left to play. Boston College got the ball back but UT intercepted a long pass to end the game.

The Vols would finish the season with an 8-2 record in John Barnhill’s first season as coach.

View attachment 553298

An earlier stage of the same Fenway Park?

 

[cwbytruckers]

I sort of wish this game with Virginia was being played at Bristol again like the Va Tech game.

 

[peaygolf]

An earlier stage of the same Fenway Park?

Same Fenway Park

 

[Orange.]

Same Fenway Park

BaseVols will be jealous if I let on that I know that.

 

[peaygolf]

97 days…….

#97 - 34-13 vs #11 Air Force (1971 Sugar Bowl)

The Falcons threw up an eight-man line, in an attempt to slow down the Vols’ potent running game. Quarterback Bobby Scott neutralized that strategy and outguessed the blitz threat as the Vols steamed 59 yards on Tennessee’s first possession for a touchdown. Two minutes and 45 seconds were gone in the first period when Don McLeary took a pitchout cut behind a block by Curt Watson, and scored from the 5.

After recovering an Air Force fumble soon after, George Hunt kicked a 30-yard field goal for Tennessee.

After Air Force punted to the Tennessee 42, Scott, rolling right, zipped a pass to Lester McLain at the 20. McLeary took a handoff and scored his second TD of the afternoon.

Yet another Air Force fumble gave the Vols possession at the Falcon 24. Four plays later, Scott passed to Gary Theiler at the 5 and he stepped the rest of the way into the end zone.

In four possessions, Tennessee scored four times and led 24-0 with 3:12 to go in the first quarter. Game over! The Falcons did score, only because UT fumbled in the end zone and Air Force recovered.

The second half started the same…..A 57-yard punt return by Bobby Majors the first time Tennessee touched the ball in the third quarter added to the Vols’ total. Each team scored again, but the final score, convincing as it was, didn’t reflect the Vols’ mistakes. Tennessee, which cut down the Air Force rushing game to minus 12 yards, came up empty on six other legitimate scoring opportunities; (1) a lost fumble on the Falcons 17; (2) a missed 32-yard field goal; (3) a missed 30-yard field goal; (4) a lost fumble on the Air Force 14; (5) a missed 42-yard field goal; and (6) an interception in the end zone from the Falcons’ 21.

The Vols defense, though, was more than impressive in the mismatch. Linebacker Jamie Rotella had eight solo tackles and an assist, recovered two fumbles and broke up a pass. Fellow linebacker Ray Nettles had nine tackles, three assists and one sack.

The victory gave UT an 11-1 record and a #4 national ranking in Bill Battle’s first season in Knoxville…

Majors punt return

 

[Voldog1998]

Just got two tickets to the game can’t wait. GBO!!!

 

[Orange.]

Just got two tickets to the game can’t wait. GBO!!!

The '71 Sugar Bowl? (I know, UVA)

 

[peaygolf]

96 days……

#96 - 28-7 vs #14 Duke (1950)

A week after losing to lowly Mississippi St, the Vols fell from #4 to unranked and had to travel to Duke. The somber Vols had to face one of the best players in the South in Billy Cox.

The Vols offensive line was given credit by the local media after the game as the real reason in Tennessee’s easy victory. They opened huge holes all day for Hank Lauricella, Herky Payne, and Andy Kozar. Lauricella opened the scoring with a 62 yard touchdown run and then minutes later hit Vince Kaseta for a 5 yard touchdown pass. Payne passed to Kozar for the third TD and Jimmy Hill returned an interception for a long TD return to finish up the Vols scoring.

The Vols defense held Cox and the Blue Devils scoreless until a meaningless TD late in the game.

The victory was instrumental in getting the Vols back on track in what was to become a most memorable season. UT would win out and be named National Champions by several
media polls.

Kaseta’s TD reception

 

[1974Vol]

106 days…..

#106 - 30-16 vs #21 UCLA (1991)

With temperatures on the field at 115 degrees, survival was the main goal as the #11 Vols hosted UCLA.

Despite having its ground game shut down all day, Tennessee never trailed. Tennessee scored first on a 34-yard pass from Andy Kelly to Carl Pickens in the first quarter. Darryl Hardy blocked a punt that lead to a quick score, Tracy Smith returned an interception for a 38 yard TD, and a short run by JJ McCleskey was enough for the victory. Kelly threw for 275 yards and Pickens had 104 yards receiving. Earnest Fields and Shazzon Bradley combined for 21 tackles, as UT held UCLA to less than 300 yards of offense.

The victory showed the country how good UT could be in 1991. Huge upcoming games vs ranked teams were on the schedule and the Vols looked poised for a great season.

View attachment 552110

Was at that game and it was excruciatingly hot. They ran out of ice in the concession stands. People sitting in the aisles under the stadium to get out of the heat looked like something from a disaster movie. If memory serves, they moved the starting time from the evening to 1:00 to accommodate TV. Lots of hype about Tommy Maddox, UCLA’s QB coming into the game and many thought it would be a shootout. Early in the game Shazzon Bradley and Chuck Smith met at Maddox and sent him a message. Every official on the field throws a flag and the Vols get a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty, but UCLA never really got going offensively. Maddox made a couple of plays late after it was pretty much decided but the Bruins were never really in the game. Terry Donahue, UCLA’s coach complained that the event staff rushed to Smokey’s aid when our beloved coon hound was overcome with the heat but did little for his team or staff. Welcome to Rocky Top coach!

 

[peaygolf]

95 days…….

#95 - 41-14 vs #20 Alabama (1969)

The 4-0 Vols hosted the #20 Crimson Tide a week after Bama had been upset by Vandy. Some luster was taken off the game, but UT was ranked #7 and still had SEC Championship hopes and even National Championship dreams still on the radar. The game wasn’t close and might be the biggest beating UT has ever given Bama.

Yes, UT scored 41 points, but Steve Kiner and the Vols defense won this particular game. Kiner was named national lineman of the week by the AP and Sports Illustrated for his 14 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, and 4 forced hurries. It is still regarded as one of the greatest single game defensive performances in UT history. Jackie Walker was great as well at linebacker, returning an interception for a TD and Bobby Majors returned a punt for a 71 yard touchdown (Majors returned another punt for a TD, but it was called back by a clip.)

Bobby Scott was named the Southeast offensive player of the week by the UPI for his 9-17 passing day.

The victory moved UT to 5-0 and a #3 national ranking. Championships were within the Vols grasp, but gloom sat down the road in Mississippi……..

 

[SmashMouth]

Tennessee beating Cal at home, Sept 2nd (whatever year) Crushed #9 Cal. so sweet. Cal's coach said, after the game "we walked into a buzz saw" My birthday is Sept 2nd. Really, a meaningless game, but one of my all time favs.

 

[volbound1700]

Tennessee beating Cal at home, Sept 2nd (whatever year) Crushed #9 Cal. so sweet. Cal's coach said, after the game "we walked into a buzz saw" My birthday is Sept 2nd. Really, a meaningless game, but one of my all time favs.

I sometimes wonder if that Cal team was better or just wasn't as bad as they lucked but they weren't prepared for the atmosphere at Neyland.

 

[peaygolf]

Tennessee beating Cal at home, Sept 2nd (whatever year) Crushed #9 Cal. so sweet. Cal's coach said, after the game "we walked into a buzz saw" My birthday is Sept 2nd. Really, a meaningless game, but one of my all time favs.

Not meaningless. You’ll see…

 

[peaygolf]

94 days…….

#94 - 30-0 vs Vanderbilt (1985)

Forget the records. Forget it’s Vanderbilt. It’s all about the 1st SEC championship since 1969. UTs surreal season was hanging in the balance and UT would not disappoint.

“My feeling when the clock ran off was that all that work paid off,” said receiver Eric Swanson, who caught touchdown passes of 43 and 24 yards from quarterback Daryl Dickey in the Volunteers’ 27-point first half. Dickey, who threw for 299 yards, also connected with Tim McGee for a five-yard touchdown. McGee grabbed seven passes for 79 yards and moved past Larry Seivers to become Tennessee’s then all-time leading receiver with 123 catches.

Carlos Reveiz contributed field goals of 23, 29, and 24 yards and three extra points, also setting a school record at the time by finishing with 102 points this season, surpassing the mark of 101 set by his brother, Fuad, in 1982.

The Vols would finish the regular season 8-1-2, championships of the SEC, and were invited to the Sugar Bowl. The ‘85 Vols are still regarded as one of the Vols most beloved teams ever. I was fortunate to see two games that season; this one and a special one earlier in the season that you might hear about later on??