12-3-71
“This day in 1971, Tennessee took on No. 5 Penn State at Neyland Stadium in the first game between these football powerhouses. The Nittany Lions were undefeated coming to town. They had averaged 44 points per game and had twice scored in the 60s. The Vols were 8-2 and considered underdogs. No one really knew what to expect.
Tennessee had lost to Auburn and Alabama earlier in the season, leaving Vol fans wondering if the young men in orange were up to the task.
It was “Majors Family Day” for the home season finale, and the game was telecast nationwide on ABC. Bobby Majors, the last of three brothers to play at Tennessee, and the “Offensive Defense” put on quite a show. What the crowd of about 59,000 got was a surprise, a tribute to Tennessee and Tennessee tradition.
The final was 31-11. You read that one correctly. Vol defenders had never been better, stopping a Penn State offense featuring Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell in its tracks. Conrad Graham scored on a 76-yard fumble return for a touchdown.”
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