Mount Rushmore of Tennessee Football

#27
#27
I understand the reverence for Al Wilson; I truly do. I would not trade the fire with which Al played or the leadership he exuded on the battlefield for anything in the world. Al was the soul of the '98 National Championship team and that is no exaggeration. However, in 45 years of closely following Tennessee football, I was more impressed by Steve Kiner's play than any Tennessee linebacker since, including Al Wilson.

If anything, Steve's performance in the '69 Alabama game surpassed Al Wilson's sterling performance in the 1998 Florida game. Kiner was a one-man wrecking crew in that victory over 'bama; he amassed "five sacks, 11 tackles with five assists, four quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble." See UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football. Steve's attitude was just as infectious as Al's. During that '69 'bama game, Kiner "chastised Alabama players for not playing better for Bear Bryant . . . Former Tennessee assistant coach Bob Davis was there on the sidelines when it happened. Tennessee was ahead 34-0, and coach Doug Dickey was getting his first-line defenders out of the game.

"They had a play that ended right in front of us," Davis said. "Before he came to the bench, Kiner screamed at the Alabama players. He pointed to Coach Bryant and said, 'Look over there at that poor old man. He looks pitiful. Can you see him? You've let him down. You should be ashamed of yourselves.' " Tom Mattingly: SEC talk not for the faint of heart » GoVolsXtra

Other accounts also allege that Kiner added as a final stinging remark: "There was a time when those crimson jersies meant something."
 
#31
#31
Neyland, Nathan Dougherty, Suffridge, Mcever, Molinsky, Shires, Feathers, Dodd, Kozar, Laurecella, Foxx i can go on and on with old school guys from the 1920-30s up to now, forget a mountain you would need a entire continent to put them all on at one time.
 
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#32
#32
I love Eric Berry, but I would have a hard time putting a guy who didn't stay all four years on the UT Mt Rushmore. That's just me.
 
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#33
#33
Nashvol2 said:
Atkins has to be in. Only unanimous selection to the SEC All Quarter-Century team and was selected as the overall SEC "Player of the Quarter-Century" for the years 1950-1975.

Reggie came on real hard his Senior year. I've almost talked Johnny in and Reggie out for me. :loco:
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This is a HARD decision...No doubt that Reggie was one of the greatest--but, just for me....

Mt. Rushmore HAS to be those guys who are the foundation of the program. Majors was part of the broad foundation that Gen. Neyland laid--and should have won the Heisman...Manning should have won the Heisman and helped build the team that won the 98 NC...

I included Reggie in my 11--but not on the Mountain. :salute:
 
#34
#34
MtRushmoreofvols_zps2e896357.png
 
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#35
#35
Herman Hickman should be considered. He played back around the time of McEver & Dodd. So many greats, so little room on the Mount!
 
#40
#40
here's bob suffridges list of all time tennessee first teamers

feathers
foxx
coffman
bartholemew
wyatt
hunter
huffman
west
thayer
suffridge
maples


i have his second team list too.
 
#41
#41
tnvols22 said:
General Neyland, Peyton Manning, Johnny Majors, and Condredge Holloway.
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It is amazing to think what Condredge could have achieved, had he had a better supporting cast. Over the course of his career, he was forced to shoulder more and more of the offensive workload as the talent pool went downhill.
 
#42
#42
govols105 said:
Neyland, Nathan Dougherty, Suffridge, Mcever, Molinsky, Shires, Feathers, Dodd, Kozar, Laurecella, Foxx i can go on and on with old school guys from the 1920-30s up to now, forget a mountain you would need a entire continent to put them all on at one time.
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I commend your tribute to the old-timers. If you had to select one player as representative of the Neyland era, who would you pick? I would go with Suffridge, given his status as our only three-time All-American and the ringing endorsement Neyland gave to him.
 
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#43
#43
i would have to say neyland's favorite back eugene mcever the man was always smiling and apparently no one could knock it off of him. gene was tn's first all american if iremember correctly. suffridge and mcever are the two neyland mentioned for his all time team but no more than them when he was asked about the rest for the all time team thoughs were the two he started with.
 
#44
#44
Volosaurus rex said:
Reggie initally had difficulty reconciling his religious beliefs with the concept of aggression on the football field. He finally began to turn the corner during his junior season and then had the most phenomenal senior campaign, statistically, of any Tennessee defensive lineman.
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With all due respect, that's a nice story, but far from reality. Yes, Reggie was raised in a devout religious family. However, I heard Reggie White speak in person about his UT career. He was VERY explicit in saying that his problem was laziness, immaturity, and attitude and that it wasnt until about half way through his jr year that he started taking workouts, his weight, diet, sleep, etc seriously and basically grew up. He used himself as an example to the group of us young (at the time) men to show that it's never too late
 
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#46
#46
Nashvol2 said:
Coach: Robert Neyland

QB: Peyton Manning - finished his illustrious career holding 42 NCAA, SEC and Tennessee records, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Player of the Year, Finished Runner-up to the Heisman Trophy

Reggie White - collected a school-record 32 sacks in establishing himself as the most prolific pass rusher in Tennessee history, current school record holder for most sacks in a career, season and game. Born in Chattanooga, TN

OG: Bob Suffridge - Vols' only three-time All-America (every year he played), lead Tennessee to a perfect 30-0 regular season record during his career, a member of the last team in the NCAA not to alow a single point all season, 3 SEC Championships, Football Writers Association for the all-time All America team, "Bob Suffridge, the greatest lineman I ever saw and that’s as far as I will go with the line." - General Neyland

Doug Atkins - Led the Vols to a National Championship in 1951, All American in 52, Member of the College Football Hall of Fame, only unanimous selection to the SEC All Quarter-Century team and was selected as the overall SEC "Player of the Quarter-Century" for the years 1950-1975, Born in Humboldt, TN

On the Outside looking in: Johnny Majors
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I agree 100 % with the players. However, I have to ave Neyland as the coach. He is responsible for our football program reaching National prominence. Remember that the Bear NEVER won a Neyland coached team.
 
#48
#48
Volosaurus rex said:
I understand the reverence for Al Wilson; I truly do. I would not trade the fire with which Al played or the leadership he exuded on the battlefield for anything in the world. Al was the soul of the '98 National Championship team and that is no exaggeration. However, in 45 years of closely following Tennessee football, I was more impressed by Steve Kiner's play than any Tennessee linebacker since, including Al Wilson.

If anything, Steve's performance in the '69 Alabama game surpassed Al Wilson's sterling performance in the 1998 Florida game. Kiner was a one-man wrecking crew in that victory over 'bama; he amassed "five sacks, 11 tackles with five assists, four quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble." See UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football. Steve's attitude was just as infectious as Al's. During that '69 'bama game, Kiner "chastised Alabama players for not playing better for Bear Bryant . . . Former Tennessee assistant coach Bob Davis was there on the sidelines when it happened. Tennessee was ahead 34-0, and coach Doug Dickey was getting his first-line defenders out of the game.

"They had a play that ended right in front of us," Davis said. "Before he came to the bench, Kiner screamed at the Alabama players. He pointed to Coach Bryant and said, 'Look over there at that poor old man. He looks pitiful. Can you see him? You've let him down. You should be ashamed of yourselves.' " Tom Mattingly: SEC talk not for the faint of heart » GoVolsXtra

Other accounts also allege that Kiner added as a final stinging remark: "There was a time when those crimson jersies meant something."
Click to expand...

Steve's mouth also got us in a lot of trouble against Ole Miss with his mule comment. He was a great LB as was Andy Spiva, but neither could compete with Siffridge or Atkins.
 
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#49
#49
#1DicksonVolFan said:
Neyland, Manning, Fulmer, White

You people putting Majors over Fulmer are crazy.
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I think that you need to read the original post again for the rules. It says ONE coach, and FOUR players. If Neyland is your coach, are you saying that offensive guard Phil Fulmer was a better player than Heisman runner up Johnny Majors?
 
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