ESPN Rates Tennessee third best team in 1998…

[NorCalVol67]

Doesn’t matter what they think. We won

 

[Bigorangefan79]

Still to this day the teams I hate the most in all of college football are 1. Kansas State and 2. Ohio State. The reason being the last two months of that season ESPN did absolutely nothing but trash Tennessee and praise those two teams. Seriously, Kansas State could have lost their last five games and we could have won every game 100-0 and somehow we would still be #3 to ESPN.

 

[ntxVOL]

ESPN can eat **** and die. In 97 they took the Heisman from Peyton as well.

 

[hUTch2002]

FSU being without Chris Weinke was the difference in that game. They were actually down to their 3rd string Qb. Jamal Lewis wasn’t as big of a loss for us because Travis Henry was his back up. We had a great team that year and a lot of luck along the way. Glad we won.

Not really. One QB was lost before the season started so it was really more like their backup. Plus, Outzen beat a very good Florida team so he wasn’t a scrub.

We did have some fortune, no doubt, but we were the best team by the end of the year. I do think when we played Florida they were the better team but we found a way to win and continued to improve so by the end we were the clear best team in the country.

 

[VAVol85]

It's not 3rd in the AP but 3rd in the SP+ ratings which is one of the myriad of rankings and it didn't even exist until 10 years later.

'SP+ is a “tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency” that has been in use since 2008.'

Clearly a poor metric since it ranked the national champion 3rd

 

[Hulavol]

That ‘98 team had a horseshoe no doubt. We knew it in the carrier dome week one.

That ‘98 team also had heart…. and Al Wilson.
And yes, ‘95 Nebraska was the greatest of all time - and that ‘98 team woulda’ somehow found a way to beat them too - prolly woulda’ taken 8 turnovers, but that’s how they rolled. “Lose” was simply not an option.

To quote the man…. “The National Champion is Clad in Big Orange.”

 

[Jackcrevol]

0 losses.

Nat.

necks...

 

[Voldog1998]

We were a team of destiny not the most dominant team but we were national champions that’s all that matters and we beat FSU and I think we would’ve beat Kansas State and UCLA too. Nobody was beating us in 98.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

I have to put the ‘01 Canes in that conversation for best ever.

2001 Miami are in there to me in terms of the NFL talent and raw athletic potential they had. They are a clear top 3 to 5 all-time team I think. That said I don't think 2001 Miami was the absolute unit as a functioning team that 1995 Nebraska was. 1995 Nebraska really didn't play a close game. That Florida team they beat 62-24 for the title was incredibly good (beat our 11-1 team by 25) and would have won the national championship pretty easily 9 out of 10 years. 1995 Nebraska made them look like absolute garbage. Obviously a lot of this is subjective but in my lifetime my vote would be for those Huskers.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

Tennessee was the ONLY D-1 (Power Five Conference) UNDEFEATED team (13-0) in 1998! (Tulane doesn’t remotely matter)

Plus, it was the First year of the BCS - which matched #1 -vs- #2…..

Not like the old bowl-system with “divided” or “shared” championships!

Make NO mistake: Tennessee was #1 - And the ONLY National Champion in 1998!!!!!

DEAL WITH IT!

D-1 doesn't mean P5, never has. And no one has said Tulane deserved any piece of the title only that they also went undefeated (in response to someone who had erroneously said no one else went undefeated in 1998).

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

That ‘98 team had a horseshoe no doubt. We knew it in the carrier dome week one.

That ‘98 team also had heart…. and Al Wilson.
And yes, ‘95 Nebraska was the greatest of all time - and that ‘98 team woulda’ somehow found a way to beat them too - prolly woulda’ taken 8 turnovers, but that’s how they rolled. “Lose” was simply not an option.

To quote the man…. “The National Champion is Clad in Big Orange.”

I agree we had the heart of a champion and I agree they'd have found a way to beat most teams who have ever existed, but I'll just say I'm glad we didn't have to play 1995 Nebraska to put your theory to the test.

 

[Ghost of Archvol]

98 was a crazy season.

K St needed an upset from undefeated UCLA or Tenn to make the Championship as they were #3 BCS. UCLA faced Miami in last week of season due to the original game being postponed by a hurricane. UCLA lost a close one there. K St just snapped like a 30 yr losing skid to Nebraska and were cruising. K St lost in double OT to Texas A&M that final week. They dominated most of their opponents that year.

Hard to say who was the best. We were certainly one of the best and for sure the luckiest.

I'd wager some Vol fans would rate the 96 or 97 squads as better than the 98 squad. Sometimes you need luck more than anything else. See Auburn 2010.

Nah, not lucky. We made our own luck that year and beat whoever lined up against us.

Luck would be a ‘97 Michigan. Pansy schedule and had to play a non top 5 Wash St for the national title? That ‘97 Nebraska team would have mopped the floor with them.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I was only 8 when we on the championship so someone please tell me… what there any confusion about who the best was? They said we were THIRD in the AP and pretty much that Ohio State was robbed… and to top it off Kansas State was better. Am I missing something? Lol. I’m posting this to ask, for anyone who was older when we won the Championship have they ever heard this before?

There was some controversy before conference championship weekend. But that weekend served as a "first round" for getting into the BCS, as it often does.

Priot to that weekend, some among the national media thought Tennessee and K State were the two best teams in the land. Some thought Tennessee and UCLA. (none thought Ohio State was the best, that I recall, outside of the state of Ohio, heh).

But after K State lost to A&M, and UCLA lost to Miami that weekend, and the Vols dominated Mississippi State in the SEC CG, there was no controversy about #1. And there wasn't even much controversy about FSU at #2. They were the obvious, widespread choice to try to knock off the Vols.

The BCS said it. The AP poll agreed (you were wrong about that). And to directly answer your question, the national public mood agreed.

And after the Fiesta Bowl, there was a clear and undisputed best team in the land. ESPN's after-the-fact SP+ can go pound sand.

Go Vols!

 

[EasternVol]

2001 Miami are in there to me in terms of the NFL talent and raw athletic potential they had. They are a clear top 3 to 5 all-time team I think. That said I don't think 2001 Miami was the absolute unit as a functioning team that 1995 Nebraska was. 1995 Nebraska really didn't play a close game. That Florida team they beat 62-24 for the title was incredibly good (beat our 11-1 team by 25) and would have won the national championship pretty easily 9 out of 10 years. 1995 Nebraska made them look like absolute garbage. Obviously a lot of this is subjective but in my lifetime my vote would be for those Huskers.

The Gators were indeed good that year but we should have beaten them. I know that sounds bad given the final score but we shot oursevles in the foot several times in quick succession and put the game on a platter for them.

 

[Mccage]

A broadcast company that looks to Pinebaum for guidance Carries no weight in Orme,Tn home of Jimmy Outlaw the greatest name in MLB

 

[ETSU VOL]

I was only 8 when we on the championship so someone please tell me… what there any confusion about who the best was? They said we were THIRD in the AP and pretty much that Ohio State was robbed… and to top it off Kansas State was better. Am I missing something? Lol. I’m posting this to ask, for anyone who was older when we won the Championship have they ever heard this before?

This type of prognostication is exactly why the BCS was implemented. While nowhere near a perfect system it did help with ridiculous takes such as this.

 

[Vol4life2]

FSU being without Chris Weinke was the difference in that game. They were actually down to their 3rd string Qb. Jamal Lewis wasn’t as big of a loss for us because Travis Henry was his back up. We had a great team that year and a lot of luck along the way. Glad we won.

You can’t use that logic man. Whoever can play is what made the difference. CW might have thrown 5 interceptions & J L might have run for 300 yards. Neither did & we won! Priceless!!

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

The Gators were indeed good that year but we should have beaten them. I know that sounds bad given the final score but we shot oursevles in the foot several times in quick succession and put the game on a platter for them.

Yeah, we made some mistakes for sure but in the end it was probably for the best since it set them instead of us up for that beatdown they got in the Fiesta Bowl from Tommie Frazier & Co.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

You can’t use that logic man. Whoever can play is what made the difference. CW might have thrown 5 interceptions & J L might have run for 300 yards. Neither did & we won! Priceless!!

Yep, injuries are part of the game.

 

[Voldog1998]

There was some controversy before conference championship weekend. But that weekend served as a "first round" for getting into the BCS, as it often does.

Priot to that weekend, some among the national media thought Tennessee and K State were the two best teams in the land. Some thought Tennessee and UCLA. (none thought Ohio State was the best, that I recall, outside of the state of Ohio, heh).

But after K State lost to A&M, and UCLA lost to Miami that weekend, and the Vols dominated Mississippi State in the SEC CG, there was no controversy about #1. And there wasn't even much controversy about FSU at #2. They were the obvious, widespread choice to try to knock off the Vols.

The BCS said it. The AP poll agreed (you were wrong about that). And to directly answer your question, the national public mood agreed.

And after the Fiesta Bowl, there was a clear and undisputed best team in the land. ESPN's after-the-fact SP+ can go pound sand.

Go Vols!

We didn’t dominate Miss. St we actually trailed in the 4th quarter if memory serves correct before we scored two late touchdowns to pull away to win 24-14. Peerless Price had two big touchdown receptions.

 

[KTrain]

98 was a crazy season.

K St needed an upset from undefeated UCLA or Tenn to make the Championship as they were #3 BCS. UCLA faced Miami in last week of season due to the original game being postponed by a hurricane. UCLA lost a close one there. K St just snapped like a 30 yr losing skid to Nebraska and were cruising. K St lost in double OT to Texas A&M that final week. They dominated most of their opponents that year.

Hard to say who was the best. We were certainly one of the best and for sure the luckiest.

I'd wager some Vol fans would rate the 96 or 97 squads as better than the 98 squad. Sometimes you need luck more than anything else. See Auburn 2010.

Yep, like some one said win all the games and no one can take it away from you. 96,97 and 2001 teams IMO were better player personnel wise but the 98 D was nasty maybe best ever at UT the O was a managing type team that had to have the D to help them win the games. The 98 team won games against Syracuse 34 to 33 last drive kept alive with 4th down PI penalty ,Florida 20 to 17 OT ,Arkansas basically over running clock out, ARK. lineman steps on QBs foot causing him to stumble fall and fumble, we took over and Travis ran it down their throat for a 28 to 24 W, were fortunate vs Florida States QB Wienke hurt and we faced back-up Outzen in Championship. 23 to 16 undefeated 13 & 0 National Champs things fell in to place for this team very proud of the resilience of the 98 team, the opposite happened for the 96 & 97 teams, very unfortunate 2 great teams with Manning at QB.

 

[peaygolf]

I have to put the ‘01 Canes in that conversation for best ever.

I think I read that if Miami's offense didn't score a point all year, the Canes would still have been 8-4...............

 

[beamerman]

I was only 8 when we on the championship so someone please tell me… what there any confusion about who the best was? They said we were THIRD in the AP and pretty much that Ohio State was robbed… and to top it off Kansas State was better. Am I missing something? Lol. I’m posting this to ask, for anyone who was older when we won the Championship have they ever heard this before?

Yes. Rumors were rampant that our undefeated Vols would indeed be ranked third behind KState and I think UCLA. Then both lost their championship game and our Vols had to be number 1. I don’t think UCLA nor KState was better but they looked prettier in their wins. Tn was Al Wilson and company smothering teams and the offense scoring just enough to win, unlike the Manning led teams of the two years prior. In my humble opinion the 96 and 97 teams were better but didn’t have the 98 will to overcome. Those Manning teams put some points on the board. Nice to see offense is front and center again.

 

[beamerman]

Yep, like some one said win all the games and no one can take it away from you. 96,97 and 2001 teams IMO were better player personnel wise but the 98 D was nasty maybe best ever at UT the O was a managing type team that had to have the D to help them win the games. The 98 team won games against Syracuse 34 to 33 last drive kept alive with 4th down PI penalty ,Florida 20 to 17 OT ,Arkansas basically over running clock out, ARK. lineman steps on QBs foot causing him to stumble fall and fumble, we took over and Travis ran it down their throat for a 28 to 24 W, were fortunate vs Florida States QB Wienke hurt and we faced back-up Outzen in Championship. 23 to 16 undefeated 13 & 0 National Champs things fell in to place for this team very proud of the resilience of the 98 team, the opposite happened for the 96 & 97 teams, very unfortunate 2 great teams with Manning at QB.

This says it all. I told a Ga fan who touted their “best of all time champions” nonsense they were the luckiest team in football last year and pointed out some things. A NC team has to have some luck at times to pull it off, as well as be pretty good. When Tom Osborne announced the 97 Orange Bowl against our Vols was his last game, I thought, uh oh. That Neb team absolutely manhandled us. They were extremely motivated.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We didn’t dominate Miss. St we actually trailed in the 4th quarter if memory serves correct before we scored two late touchdowns to pull away to win 24-14. Peerless Price had two big touchdown receptions.

My memory watching the game is that it was never close. Never a contest. Yes, I know the score favored the bulldogs at times. But it never felt like we weren't in command, nevertheless. Hard to explain, but that's how it felt.

The Syracuse game was close that year. Arkansas was close, even in doubt at times. The SEC championship wasn't close.

Go Vols!

Edit: just googled it. The bulldogs scored first, going up 7-0 in the first quarter. Then, we came back with 10 of our own, and that's how the half ended. The whole 3rd quarter we led 10-7. Very early in the 4th, the dogs scored again, but we quickly came back and scored twice more. So I think my memory is valid. That game was never in doubt for long, for our lads, even when the bulldogs had a lead. The team were survivors of Arkansas; they knew they had control. Heh.