peaygolf’s Countdown to Kickoff-2024

[StarRaider]

I still say Gene McEver is the greatest player in UT history..............but Chuck Webb could have been.........

The Cotton Bowl and the old mississippi games ... wow

 

[peaygolf]

#16
16 Days - Peyton Manning vs Northwestern 1997 Citrus Bowl

The Vols had jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter on a 43-yard TD pass from Manning to Peerless Price, a 10-yard run for a score by Manning and another TD toss, this one from Manning to Kent from 11 yards out.

After the Wildcats had battled back from a 21-0 first quarter deficit to tie the game, Manning threw a 67-yard TD pass to Joey Kent and beat the clock for a Jeff Hall field goal on the final play of the half to give the Vols a 31-21 halftime lead. The Vols stretched the lead to 38-21 when linebacker Tyrone Hines intercepted a Steve Schnur pass and returned the int 30 yards for a score. Hall added another field goal and Manning threw a TD pass to tight end Dustin Moore to conclude the Vol scoring.

Peyton Manning completed 27 of 39 passes for 408 yards and 4TDs, plus his one rushing touchdown. It remains one of the greatest bowl game performances in Vols history.

 

[peaygolf]

#15
15 Days - Josh Dobbs vs Georgia 2015


The Bulldogs technically entered this game with national championship aspirations still intact. After a 4-0 start, they had just dropped their first game of the season the week before, 38-10 to an Alabama team that would go on to win it all.

Instead of getting back on track, however, Georgia suffered an epic collapse to a Volunteers team that had struggled for the majority of the season. The Vols came in with a 2-3 record and fell behind Georgia 24-3 near halftime.
Late in the second quarter before quarterback Josh Dobbs completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Josh Smith with 1 minute, 4 seconds remaining until halftime. Dobbs also completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Kamara with 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Vols led, 31-24, with 3:07 remaining in the third quarter.

After Georgia tied the game in the fourth quarter, Dobbs scored a game-winning touchdown on a five-yard run with 5:48 remaining in the contest.

Dobbs completed 25-of-42 passing attempts for 312 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He was also Tennessee’s leading rusher with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 rushing attempts.

The Vols went on to finish the season 9-4, ranked No. 22 in the final AP poll. Georgia finished 10-3 but unranked and parted ways with longtime coach Mark Richt before the TaxSlayer Bowl.

 

[MemphisVol77]

completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Josh Smith with 1 minute, 4 seconds remaining until halftime.

That was his finest moment as a Vol IMHO. As I recall, it was practically a busted play with J. Dobbs throwing from way behind the LOS, then J. Smith making a leaping catch followed by a great run after the catch.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

#15
15 Days - Josh Dobbs vs Georgia 2015


The Bulldogs technically entered this game with national championship aspirations still intact. After a 4-0 start, they had just dropped their first game of the season the week before, 38-10 to an Alabama team that would go on to win it all.

Instead of getting back on track, however, Georgia suffered an epic collapse to a Volunteers team that had struggled for the majority of the season. The Vols came in with a 2-3 record and fell behind Georgia 24-3 near halftime.
Late in the second quarter before quarterback Josh Dobbs completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Josh Smith with 1 minute, 4 seconds remaining until halftime. Dobbs also completed a two-yard touchdown pass to Alvin Kamara with 27 seconds left in the second quarter.

The Vols led, 31-24, with 3:07 remaining in the third quarter.

After Georgia tied the game in the fourth quarter, Dobbs scored a game-winning touchdown on a five-yard run with 5:48 remaining in the contest.

Dobbs completed 25-of-42 passing attempts for 312 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He was also Tennessee’s leading rusher with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 18 rushing attempts.

The Vols went on to finish the season 9-4, ranked No. 22 in the final AP poll. Georgia finished 10-3 but unranked and parted ways with longtime coach Mark Richt before the TaxSlayer Bowl.


View attachment 667482

That was glorious, as was the epic meltdown from Dawg fans butthurt that they just got beat by the "brick layer". It was amazing.

 

[Tin Man]

That was his finest moment as a Vol IMHO. As I recall, it was practically a busted play with J. Dobbs throwing from way behind the LOS, then J. Smith making a leaping catch followed by a great run after the catch.

I’m partial to his pass caught by Jauan Jennings in the waning seconds of the 2016 game at Georgia. His composure during the final drive was defining. VFL.

 

[MemphisVol77]

I’m partial to his pass caught by Jauan Jennings in the waning seconds of the 2016 game at Georgia. His composure during the final drive was defining. VFL.

I was referring to J. Smith's finest moment.

 

[volsfan125]

#18
18 Days- Tyler Bray vs Troy 2012
Tennessee's single-game passing-yardage record belongs to Bray in the ignominious 55-48 win against Troy in 2012. Bray was 29-of-47 passing for 530 yards and five touchdown passes, and the Vols needed every last one of them given they allowed 721 yards of offense, then a program-worst that was broken by Missouri in 2016.
View attachment 666835

Whoever was in charge of that Missouri offense we need to get him on our payroll...

 

[peaygolf]

#14
14 Days - Bobby Majors vs Penn St 1971



Tennessee would host the No. 5 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions the final regular season game of the year.

The couldn’t win a conference championship this season, but they were ranked No. 12 and could have a strong finish. The Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno traveled to Neyland Stadium undefeated and still thinking about a strong possibility of a national championship if things broke right. But in front of an ABC audience, the Vols torched the Nittany Lions, controlling the game from start to finish and winning 31-11, a game for SEC pride and pride for the Vols. That win launched them into the Top 10, which was where they would finish.

Tennessee was fired up for a home upset win over a Northern opponent that was one of the darlings of the national media and was perhaps overlooking the Vols, Bobby Majors and the rest of the team definitely came to play.

Majors took the opening kickoff and rambled 54 yards. He would have scored, but the last Nittany Lion player with a chance to stop him was able to tackle him. The tackler – John Cappelletti - was not that well known then outside of Pennsylvania. But in 1973, he would become the only player from Penn State ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

Before the game was over, Bobby himself would give a Heisman-like performance. He had two kickoff returns totaling 113 yards and two punt returns for 82 yards, including one for a touchdown that covered 44 yards.

He had a graceful ease when he caught punts, and Tennessee fans always knew he would catch the ball – and probably get some yardage through aggressive running afterward.

The Vols offense couldn't do anything vs Penn St. A National TV audience saw one player, a returner/DB take over a game by himself. A consensus All-American in 1971, Bobby Majors is possibly the only player to ever win Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC and be awarded Offensive Player of the Game by ABC-TV during the Penn State game

 

[MAD]

#14
14 Days - Bobby Majors vs Penn St 1971



Tennessee would host the No. 5 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions the final regular season game of the year.

The couldn’t win a conference championship this season, but they were ranked No. 12 and could have a strong finish. The Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno traveled to Neyland Stadium undefeated and still thinking about a strong possibility of a national championship if things broke right. But in front of an ABC audience, the Vols torched the Nittany Lions, controlling the game from start to finish and winning 31-11, a game for SEC pride and pride for the Vols. That win launched them into the Top 10, which was where they would finish.

Tennessee was fired up for a home upset win over a Northern opponent that was one of the darlings of the national media and was perhaps overlooking the Vols, Bobby Majors and the rest of the team definitely came to play.

Majors took the opening kickoff and rambled 54 yards. He would have scored, but the last Nittany Lion player with a chance to stop him was able to tackle him. The tackler – John Cappelletti - was not that well known then outside of Pennsylvania. But in 1973, he would become the only player from Penn State ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

Before the game was over, Bobby himself would give a Heisman-like performance. He had two kickoff returns totaling 113 yards and two punt returns for 82 yards, including one for a touchdown that covered 44 yards.

He had a graceful ease when he caught punts, and Tennessee fans always knew he would catch the ball – and probably get some yardage through aggressive running afterward.

The Vols offense couldn't do anything vs Penn St. A National TV audience saw one player, a returner/DB take over a game by himself. A consensus All-American in 1971, Bobby Majors is possibly the only player to ever win Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC and be awarded Offensive Player of the Game by ABC-TV during the Penn State game

View attachment 667721

Peay must have the best ratio of likes to post on VN.

 

[peaygolf]

Peay must have the best ratio of likes to post on VN.

Ha
Dumb dad jokes…..and a little Vol lore and history.

 

[peaygolf]

#13
13 Days - Travis Henry vs Arkansas 1998
The game matched two unbeaten teams, with the Vols sporting the No. 1 ranking while the Razorbacks were ranked No. 9. Arkansas capitalized on two Tennessee first half turnovers to surge out to a 21-10 lead at the half, stunning the crowd of 106.365 fans at Neyland Stadium.

The two teams swapped field goals and Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin scored from four yards out to cut Arkansas' lead to 24-20 heading into the fourth quarter. Arkansas was attempting to ice the game away with under three minutes to play, but the drive stalled and the Hogs were forced to punt from their won 41-yard line with 2:56 to play. The snap sailed over Hogs' punter Chris Akin's head, and Akin kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.

Trailing 24-22, the Vols couldn't move against Arkansas' defense, and turned it over on downs with under two minutes to play. The Vols needed a miracle.
They got it.
Needing only one first down to put the game away, Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner stumbled after taking the snapped, dropped the ball on the turf, and Billy Ratliff recovered on the Hogs' 43-yard line with 1:43 to play. Tennessee running back Travis Henry ran five straight times, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 31 seconds left.

Henry’s determination and no-frills, straight-ahead running took them to the end zone with 28 seconds to play, capping a remarkable rally that gave Tennessee a 28-24 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. Henry’s one-yard plunge was the last of his career-high 197 yards, 43 of them in a climactic sequence to win the game and keep hope alive for a National Championship.

“I just kept the ball tight and ran hard,” said Henry, who considered transferring last summer but stayed after consulting his mother and friends. “I felt good and the offensive line blocked well all night. I just concentrated on holding the ball and I kept moving my legs.”

 

[OneManGang]

"Give the ball to number 20 (points) go that way." -John Ward

 

[swampfoxfan]

#14
14 Days - Bobby Majors vs Penn St 1971



Tennessee would host the No. 5 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions the final regular season game of the year.

The couldn’t win a conference championship this season, but they were ranked No. 12 and could have a strong finish. The Nittany Lions and Joe Paterno traveled to Neyland Stadium undefeated and still thinking about a strong possibility of a national championship if things broke right. But in front of an ABC audience, the Vols torched the Nittany Lions, controlling the game from start to finish and winning 31-11, a game for SEC pride and pride for the Vols. That win launched them into the Top 10, which was where they would finish.

Tennessee was fired up for a home upset win over a Northern opponent that was one of the darlings of the national media and was perhaps overlooking the Vols, Bobby Majors and the rest of the team definitely came to play.

Majors took the opening kickoff and rambled 54 yards. He would have scored, but the last Nittany Lion player with a chance to stop him was able to tackle him. The tackler – John Cappelletti - was not that well known then outside of Pennsylvania. But in 1973, he would become the only player from Penn State ever to win the Heisman Trophy.

Before the game was over, Bobby himself would give a Heisman-like performance. He had two kickoff returns totaling 113 yards and two punt returns for 82 yards, including one for a touchdown that covered 44 yards.

He had a graceful ease when he caught punts, and Tennessee fans always knew he would catch the ball – and probably get some yardage through aggressive running afterward.

The Vols offense couldn't do anything vs Penn St. A National TV audience saw one player, a returner/DB take over a game by himself. A consensus All-American in 1971, Bobby Majors is possibly the only player to ever win Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC and be awarded Offensive Player of the Game by ABC-TV during the Penn State game

View attachment 667721

I sold cokes at that game, the only way a high school kid could afford to get in. That day was absolutely electric. Leaflets were dropped all around the stadium saying Penn state would turn the big orange into little lemons. It was to be a big day for.Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris. Winning was so sweet.

 

[peaygolf]

#12
12 Days—Carl Pickens vs Kentucky 1990
“The Vols were in the hunt to win the SEC Championship, and at this time, they were 6-2-2 and needing to win every game to win it.

Kentucky was 4-6 under first-year head coach Bill Curry. Their season came down to trying to spoil the Vols’ bid to win the SEC, and they managed to turn this game into a shootout, giving UT’s young defense hell the whole time. To respond to that, Phillip Fulmer and Johnny Majors relied on Andy Kelly’s arm, and one person was there to help: Pickens”

“Although it was Senior Day for guys like Alvin Harper and Anthony Morgan, it was Pickens, who was only a sophomore and played defensive back as a freshman, who saved the game. He went for 201 yards on 10 receptions and also had three touchdowns in the process, helping the Vols secure a 42-28 win in the process.

 

[OneManGang]

Pick was everything the media said Charles Woodson was and then some. However ESPN and the rest of the trolls had to come up some reason to deny the finest quarterback anyone had ever seen at that time the Heisman.

B1G delenda est.

 

[peaygolf]

#11
11 Days - Gene McEver vs South Carolina 1929


Hey, it’s a record that has stood for over 90 years. That alone should tell you how hard it is to break. Gene McEver has the Tennessee football career record for rushing touchdowns with 37. That is largely due to his single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 18 in 1929.

What really will be tough to break is the record McEver set in a 1929 game that had everything to do with all of his rushing stats.

In 1929, McEver rushed for five touchdowns as the Vols beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 54-0. This was their final game of the season, and McEver was dominant, and in addition to his five total touchdowns, he also nailed three extra points, giving him 33 points in the game. That was part of a school-record 130 points he scored on the year.

Simply put, if there was a Heisman Trophy in 1929, McEver would have won it. However, of all those records, it’s hard to see any running back coming close to five touchdowns in a game.

 

[IndianaVol]

#11
11 Days - Gene McEver vs South Carolina 1929


Hey, it’s a record that has stood for over 90 years. That alone should tell you how hard it is to break. Gene McEver has the Tennessee football career record for rushing touchdowns with 37. That is largely due to his single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 18 in 1929.

What really will be tough to break is the record McEver set in a 1929 game that had everything to do with all of his rushing stats.

In 1929, McEver rushed for five touchdowns as the Vols beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 54-0. This was their final game of the season, and McEver was dominant, and in addition to his five total touchdowns, he also nailed three extra points, giving him 33 points in the game. That was part of a school-record 130 points he scored on the year.

Simply put, if there was a Heisman Trophy in 1929, McEver would have won it. However, of all those records, it’s hard to see any running back coming close to five touchdowns in a game.


View attachment 668762

We agree...greatest in Vol history.

 

[WillisWG]

Getting closer everyday....

 

[peaygolf]

#10
10 Days - Hendon Hooker vs Florida 2022


It was a game Tennessee should have won. The Volunteers were flat out better, just using your eyes. But it was Florida, after all. The Gators had won 16 of 17 in this series, seemingly always finding a way to get by Tennessee.
Josh Heupel’s Volunteers got past the Florida Gators today, but of course it had to be a heart-stopper.

You could tell early on who the better team was. Tennessee marched down the field quickly but fumbled before they could score. Princeton Fant coughed it up, costing Tennessee and early chance to get their grip on this one.

In response, Florida was able to take the lead at 7-3, following an Anthony Richardson touchdown pass.

Hendon Hooker quickly answered, finding a wide open Bru McCoy to flip the field. Hooker cashed in on the ground to make it 10-7.

Billy Napier was aggressive early and often, and it paid off. After a big conversion, Richardson score on a sweep to make it 14-10.

Hooker executed to perfection before halftime, putting together a 99 yard drive to score a touchdown before halftime. Hendon was visibly hurting, but shook it off to take control of the game.

Tennessee quickly scored out of the halftime break, with Hooker finding Jabari Small to take a ten point lead. Once again though, Florida found an answer. Tennessee couldn’t find any stops on fourth down, and the Gators took advantage to keep breathing.

Every time the Gators had an answer, the Volunteers one-upped them. Multiple busted coverages allowed Tennessee to gain easy field position, and Hooker was money in the redzone when it mattered.

Just as Anthony Richardson was coming up with yet another answer, he fumbled in the redzone. The Volunteers jumped on it, and that ended up being the turning point of the game.

Tennessee finally had some breathing room. Josh Heupel’s offense walked right down the field and scored again, making the comeback trail incredibly difficult for the Gators. A 38-21 lead was trimmed to 38-27, but Florida failed to convert the two point conversion.

The Gators came back to slice it down to a 38-33 lead, but once again failed to convert the two point conversion.

Florida got the onside kick, however — and a stunned Neyland fell silent. Richardson had a shot.... but came up short. The Tennessee pressure got to him on the final play, and Richardson’s throw fell short of the endzone.

Tennessee won, 38-33.

Hendon Hooker finished 22-28 for 349 yards and two touchdowns. He added 111 yards on the ground, scoring another one on the ground.

It was a big moment for Josh Heupel’s program, quickly getting over the Florida hump and improving to 4-0.

 

[MAD]

By my calculations all the memorable individual performances have already been listed.

 

[peaygolf]

By my calculations all the memorable individual performances have already been listed.

Not all..........

 

[StarRaider]

By my calculations all the memorable individual performances have already been listed.

 

[StarRaider]

 

[Type Orange+]

The Tennessee Waltz.
I remember that cover very well.