Volosaurus rex
Doctorate in Volology
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What do you consider to be the best or most impressive single-game performance by Tennessee as a team in the history of the program? Ideally, the correct answer would be a game in which Tennessee played well, in all phases of the game, from start to finish against a highly ranked opponent in a meaningful context (rivalry, championship or bowl game) and dominated that opponent, as opposed to mounting a furious comeback. Unfortunately, few, if any, games meet all of these criteria. I consider the following, however, to be representative of our finest performances, certainly within the last 50 years, but there are many other worthy candidates. Indeed, one could select a host of legitimate contenders just from Tennessees biggest victories over Alabama (1928, 1969, 1970, 1982, and 1995) and Florida (1970, 1990, 1998, and 2001), so feel free to add write in votes as needed.
Nominees from the modern era include the following:
(1) 1986 Sugar Bowl. In a classic confrontation of David vs. Goliath, eighth-ranked Tennessee defeated 2nd-ranked Miami, 35-7. In one of the greatest and most inspired defensive performances in Big Orange history, Tennessee held Miamis vaunted offense to 269 offensive yards, sacked Vinnie Testaverde seven times for 84 yard, forced six turnovers and an astounding twenty-four plays for negative yardage. At the time, they were ranked No. 2 and scheduled to play No. 8-ranked Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Johnson said if Miami won and the No. 1 team lost, his team should be voted national champions.
(2) 1990 Florida game. Spurriers first Florida team, which was undefeated (5-0) and ranked 10th nationally, trailed only 7-3 at halftime. Dale Carters 91-yd. touchdown return on the 2nd half-kickoff opened the floodgates and the 9th-ranked Volunteers rode a tidal wave of six 2nd.-half turnovers to bury the Reptilian Horde by the final margin of 45-3.
(3) 2001: No. 4 Tennessee 34 - No. 2 Florida 32 (Gainesville). In, perhaps, the most exciting and highly competitive game in the history of this series, Tennessee, which was an 18.5-point underdog, defeated Flotida 34-32 in Spurriers last game at the Swamp. Travis Stephens turned in a performance for the ages, running for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
(4) 1969 Alabama game. I am sure that younger Tennessee fans will probably favor streak-breaking victories over the Tide in 1995 or 1982, but Tennessee amassed a 34-0 lead in this game before pulling its starters and coasting to a 41-14 victory. SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American, Steve Kiner was a one-man wrecking crew at linebacker, amassing five sacks, 11 tackles with five assists, four quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble (University of Tennessee Athletics Football). As he came off the field, Kiner scolded the Tidy Bowl boys by saying, Look at that old man (Bryant). He looks pitiful. There was a time when those crimson jerseys meant something.
(5) 2002 Citrus Bowl. In our only game against Michigan thus far, the Volunteers handed the Wolverines what was then their worst bowl loss of all-time, 45-17. Wittens long touchdown served as an absolutely perfect exclamation point for the days festivities. No tight end is supposed to outrun a top-tier secondary. Although the 2001 team lost the SEC Championship game to LSU, very few teams in the history of college football can lay claim to beating Alabama (35-24), Notre Dame (28-18), Florida (34-32) and Michigan (45-17) in the same year.
(6) 1971 Penn State game. In their first matchup with Penn State, Tennessee stuns the powerful, 5th-ranked Nittany Lions 31-11. All-American Bobby Majors had a a banner day on Majors Family Day at Neyland Stadium against Penn State in his home finale in 1971, with 82 yards in punt returns -- one for a score covering 44 yards -- and 113 yards on kickoff returns.
(7) 1991: No. 13 Tennessee 35 - No. 5 Notre Dame 34 (South Bend). The Miracle at South Bend, of course, will never go down as one of our most dominating performances but, as Majors stated, it was the most impressive comeback in Tennessee history, particularly against an opponent of Notre Dames stature, and it was the biggest come-from-behind victory by an opponent at Notre Dames field. Notre Dame looked like an absolute juggernaut in the first half. We were staring a 34-7 half-time deficit squarely in the eye before Floyd Miley returned a blocked FG attempt 76 yards for a touchdown. In a fitting conclusion to a truly legendary game, Jeremy Lincoln blocked a would-be game-winning FG with his rear end to secure a 35-34 victory.
(8) 1985 Auburn game. In its long and storied history, Tennessee has defeated only two number 1-ranked teams, one of which was the 1985 Auburn team, then led by Heisman Trophy winner, Bo Jackson. Tony Robinson riddled Auburns secondary for 259 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee sprinted to a 24-0 halftime lead. The 85 Vols did not yet possess the killer instinct that they would later exhibit against Miami, however. They surrendered 20 cosmetic points but still walked away with a comfortable 38-20 victory.
(9) 2003 Miami game. In a game that was virtually a throwback to the era of leather helmets, defense and punting, the 13th-ranked Vols, who were two-touchdown underdogs, defeated 4th-ranked Miami 10-6 in the Orange Bowl, breaking the Hurricanes 28-game home winning streak, and they do so without yielding a touchdown. Were it possible, General Neyland would have risen from his grave and saluted the tremendous effort by Tennessees defense and special teams in this game.
(10) 1999 BCS National Championship Game. Tennessee-23, Florida State-16. It certainly wasnt the prettiest win in Tennessee history. Indeed, it was a fairly sloppy defensive struggle, punctuated by big plays from Peerless Price, Tee Martin and Duane Goodrich. It was, however, the most important victory in the modern era since it secured the first BCS National Championship and allowed John Ward to ride off into the sunset with the proclamation, "the national champion is clad in Big Orange!"
Nominees from the modern era include the following:
(1) 1986 Sugar Bowl. In a classic confrontation of David vs. Goliath, eighth-ranked Tennessee defeated 2nd-ranked Miami, 35-7. In one of the greatest and most inspired defensive performances in Big Orange history, Tennessee held Miamis vaunted offense to 269 offensive yards, sacked Vinnie Testaverde seven times for 84 yard, forced six turnovers and an astounding twenty-four plays for negative yardage. At the time, they were ranked No. 2 and scheduled to play No. 8-ranked Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Johnson said if Miami won and the No. 1 team lost, his team should be voted national champions.
(2) 1990 Florida game. Spurriers first Florida team, which was undefeated (5-0) and ranked 10th nationally, trailed only 7-3 at halftime. Dale Carters 91-yd. touchdown return on the 2nd half-kickoff opened the floodgates and the 9th-ranked Volunteers rode a tidal wave of six 2nd.-half turnovers to bury the Reptilian Horde by the final margin of 45-3.
(3) 2001: No. 4 Tennessee 34 - No. 2 Florida 32 (Gainesville). In, perhaps, the most exciting and highly competitive game in the history of this series, Tennessee, which was an 18.5-point underdog, defeated Flotida 34-32 in Spurriers last game at the Swamp. Travis Stephens turned in a performance for the ages, running for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
(4) 1969 Alabama game. I am sure that younger Tennessee fans will probably favor streak-breaking victories over the Tide in 1995 or 1982, but Tennessee amassed a 34-0 lead in this game before pulling its starters and coasting to a 41-14 victory. SEC Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American, Steve Kiner was a one-man wrecking crew at linebacker, amassing five sacks, 11 tackles with five assists, four quarterback hurries, an interception and a forced fumble (University of Tennessee Athletics Football). As he came off the field, Kiner scolded the Tidy Bowl boys by saying, Look at that old man (Bryant). He looks pitiful. There was a time when those crimson jerseys meant something.
(5) 2002 Citrus Bowl. In our only game against Michigan thus far, the Volunteers handed the Wolverines what was then their worst bowl loss of all-time, 45-17. Wittens long touchdown served as an absolutely perfect exclamation point for the days festivities. No tight end is supposed to outrun a top-tier secondary. Although the 2001 team lost the SEC Championship game to LSU, very few teams in the history of college football can lay claim to beating Alabama (35-24), Notre Dame (28-18), Florida (34-32) and Michigan (45-17) in the same year.
(6) 1971 Penn State game. In their first matchup with Penn State, Tennessee stuns the powerful, 5th-ranked Nittany Lions 31-11. All-American Bobby Majors had a a banner day on Majors Family Day at Neyland Stadium against Penn State in his home finale in 1971, with 82 yards in punt returns -- one for a score covering 44 yards -- and 113 yards on kickoff returns.
(7) 1991: No. 13 Tennessee 35 - No. 5 Notre Dame 34 (South Bend). The Miracle at South Bend, of course, will never go down as one of our most dominating performances but, as Majors stated, it was the most impressive comeback in Tennessee history, particularly against an opponent of Notre Dames stature, and it was the biggest come-from-behind victory by an opponent at Notre Dames field. Notre Dame looked like an absolute juggernaut in the first half. We were staring a 34-7 half-time deficit squarely in the eye before Floyd Miley returned a blocked FG attempt 76 yards for a touchdown. In a fitting conclusion to a truly legendary game, Jeremy Lincoln blocked a would-be game-winning FG with his rear end to secure a 35-34 victory.
(8) 1985 Auburn game. In its long and storied history, Tennessee has defeated only two number 1-ranked teams, one of which was the 1985 Auburn team, then led by Heisman Trophy winner, Bo Jackson. Tony Robinson riddled Auburns secondary for 259 yards and four touchdowns as Tennessee sprinted to a 24-0 halftime lead. The 85 Vols did not yet possess the killer instinct that they would later exhibit against Miami, however. They surrendered 20 cosmetic points but still walked away with a comfortable 38-20 victory.
(9) 2003 Miami game. In a game that was virtually a throwback to the era of leather helmets, defense and punting, the 13th-ranked Vols, who were two-touchdown underdogs, defeated 4th-ranked Miami 10-6 in the Orange Bowl, breaking the Hurricanes 28-game home winning streak, and they do so without yielding a touchdown. Were it possible, General Neyland would have risen from his grave and saluted the tremendous effort by Tennessees defense and special teams in this game.
(10) 1999 BCS National Championship Game. Tennessee-23, Florida State-16. It certainly wasnt the prettiest win in Tennessee history. Indeed, it was a fairly sloppy defensive struggle, punctuated by big plays from Peerless Price, Tee Martin and Duane Goodrich. It was, however, the most important victory in the modern era since it secured the first BCS National Championship and allowed John Ward to ride off into the sunset with the proclamation, "the national champion is clad in Big Orange!"
