Remember when we were ranked for a week?

[Volosaurus rex]

I envy you people that saw UT be a top 10 team every week...the best UT team I've ever watched was the 2007 team....

You and your peers have our sympathies because your personal experience is not truly indicative of Tennessee's proud and storied tradition. Conversely, what you have seen is about as bad as it ever gets in Tennessee football. By contrast, Alabama experienced 3-8 and 4-9 seasons as recently as 2000 and 2003; look where they are now.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Can't agree with you any more. I'm an older VFL who remembers the Dickey era and Johnny Majors pounding his fist and promising better times.

The two best thing about getting older in my opinion:

1) The range of ages of women that you find attractive
I a'm about at 18 to 80 anymore.

2) The sweet fragrance of memories of Tennessee football in the good years.

You also develop a fundamentally different perspective with regard to the cyclic nature of college football when you have followed the sport for the better part of half a century and witnessed even traditional powers like Tennessee, Alabama, and Notre Dame rise and fall, then rise and fall again.

 

[TreeSnake]

You also develop a fundamentally different perspective with regard to the cyclic nature of college football when you have followed the sport for the better part of half a century and witnessed even traditional powers like Tennessee, Alabama, and Notre Dame rise and fall, then rise and fall again.

Well Said

 

[volboy81]

I certainly hope we get back to that status, however the game (especially the SEC) has changed. When UT was sporting top 10's the SEC had 2-3 good teams (UF, UT, Bama & UGA occasionally, and a rare season from Ark).

Now, the league is loaded and even better at the top and middle. With UT's schedule year in and year out they will have to perform nearly flawless to crack the top 10. It's just a new era of the SEC.

If bummer can do it, so can Tennessee

 

[Obsessedvol]

That saw UF and Bama hang 100 on the Vols! OUCH.

If you haven't already, go check out some you tube videos of classic Vol games. It will make you smile.

Yep, I have. I've watched so many UT videos on youtube...especially a lot of 1998 videos. The Florida and Arkansas games of that year are some of my favorites.

 

[Obsessedvol]

You and your peers have our sympathies because your personal experience is not truly indicative of Tennessee's proud and storied tradition. Conversely, what you have seen is about as bad as it ever gets in Tennessee football. By contrast, Alabama experienced 3-8 and 4-9 seasons as recently as 2000 and 2003; look where they are now.

Alabama gives me hope for the future...as much as I hate them they are a good example to look at. I also look at Indiana's basketball program as hope. Even though they're different sports.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Obsessedvol, if you haven't already seen them, a few youtube videos to check out in order to gain a better historical perspective of our program would include the following:

(1) 100 Years of Volunteers 1 - YouTube

(2) 100 Years of Volunteers 2 - YouTube

(3) General Robert Neyland "The Man and the Legend" - YouTube

(4) 1986 Sugar Bowl -- Tennessee 35 Miami 7 - YouTube

(5) 1991 MIracle at South Bend (Tenn 35 Notre Dame 34) - YouTube

(6) 2001 Citrus Bowl (Tennessee Pummels Michigan 45-17) - YouTube

(7) 1951 Cotton Bowl - Texas vs. Tennessee - YouTube

(8) 1940 Rose Bowl - USC vs. Tennessee - YouTube Note: This was a losing effort, but this was the '39 Vols who finished the regular season undefeated, untied and unscored upon.

(9) 1990 Cotton Bowl -CBS-Video 1 - Tennessee vs. Arkansas - YouTube

(10) 1990 Tennessee 45 Florida 3 (2nd Half) - YouTube

(11) John Ward & Bill Anderson's 10 Greatest Games (Tennessee Vols) - YouTube

(12) 2001 Tennessee 34 Florida 32 (Vols Drain the Swamp) - YouTube

(13) 2003 - Tennessee Ends Miami's 28 Game Home Winning Streak (Video 2 - 2nd Half) - YouTube

(14) 1995 Tennessee 41 Alabama 14 (ESPN) - YouTube

(15) 1993 Tennessee Blasts Georgia 38-6 - YouTube

(16) 1970 Tennessee 38 Florida 7 - YouTube

(17) Tennessee Football 1969 "The Year of the Championship" - YouTube

(18) 1965 Tennessee Football Highlights - YouTube

(19) John Ward - 1994 - Tennessee 65 Vanderbilt 0 - YouTube
The perfect outcome for any Tennessee-Vanderbilt game.

That should give you a good start.

 

[marvin616]

Obsessedvol, if you haven't already seen them, a few youtube videos to check out in order to gain a better historical perspective of our program would include the following:

(1) 100 Years of Volunteers 1 - YouTube

(2) 100 Years of Volunteers 2 - YouTube

(3) General Robert Neyland "The Man and the Legend" - YouTube

(4) 1986 Sugar Bowl -- Tennessee 35 Miami 7 - YouTube

(5) 1991 MIracle at South Bend (Tenn 35 Notre Dame 34) - YouTube

(6) 2001 Citrus Bowl (Tennessee Pummels Michigan 45-17) - YouTube

(7) 1951 Cotton Bowl - Texas vs. Tennessee - YouTube

(8) 1940 Rose Bowl - USC vs. Tennessee - YouTube Note: This was a losing effort, but this was the '39 Vols who finished the regular season undefeated, untied and unscored upon.

(9) 1990 Cotton Bowl -CBS-Video 1 - Tennessee vs. Arkansas - YouTube

(10) 1990 Tennessee 45 Florida 3 (2nd Half) - YouTube

(11) John Ward & Bill Anderson's 10 Greatest Games (Tennessee Vols) - YouTube

(12) 2001 Tennessee 34 Florida 32 (Vols Drain the Swamp) - YouTube

(13) 2003 - Tennessee Ends Miami's 28 Game Home Winning Streak (Video 2 - 2nd Half) - YouTube

(14) 1995 Tennessee 41 Alabama 14 (ESPN) - YouTube

(15) 1993 Tennessee Blasts Georgia 38-6 - YouTube

(16) 1970 Tennessee 38 Florida 7 - YouTube

(17) Tennessee Football 1969 "The Year of the Championship" - YouTube

(18) 1965 Tennessee Football Highlights - YouTube

That should give you a good start.

nice work. excellent list. thank you. watchin a few of these after a bad day at work got my spirits back up & lookin forward to fall. thanks again.

 

[iluvsmesumdooley]

I certainly hope we get back to that status, however the game (especially the SEC) has changed. When UT was sporting top 10's the SEC had 2-3 good teams (UF, UT, Bama & UGA occasionally, and a rare season from Ark).

Now, the league is loaded and even better at the top and middle. With UT's schedule year in and year out they will have to perform nearly flawless to crack the top 10. It's just a new era of the SEC.

Auburn wasn't bad most of the time. Went undefeated during Bowden's first year and played UT close in 97 SEC title game.

 

[TNnative]

Remember the time Bobby Boucher showed up at halftime and the Mud Dogs won the Bourbon Bowl, do ya?

Hey Bobby! Water sucks, Gatorade is better.

 

[UTK]

I remember I was so excited and convinced we were finally back that week! I couldn't sleep that Friday Night, say up til Gameday, watched it, fell asleep and got up for the game. First Half I was pumped!!! 3rd Qt.....ouch.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Wow. That 1940 Rose Bowl was a nice find. Amazing how much different the mindset was then. Can you imagine anyone punting on 2nd down now?
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[Volosaurus rex]

No, although I do vaguely remember Johnny Majors, back in the early '80s, occasionally breaking out the old quick kick. The pre-war Neyland years were an era during which virtually nobody threw the ball effectively or with great consistency. In 1944, Army intercepted 36 of the 201 passes (17.9%) thrown against them. In 1950, we gave up only 3 touchdown passes and intercepted 23 (out of 168 attempts). Hence, the adage that three things can happen when you throw the ball and two of them are bad. In those days, it truly paid to use the kicking (i.e. punting) game as a strategic weapon to gradually gain position or, if you were fortunate to gain a turnover, it could be as good as ripping off a 40-yard run or pass play.

 

[RichRollin]

You really want to compare, top to bottom, the SEC from the late 80's & 90's to now?

Let's just look at it since divisional play began in 1992:

SEC East:

UF- Good to great for the last 20+ years.
UGA- The early 90's teams would remind you of last year's UT team. Offensive talent everywhere, but no D
USC- They sucked
Vandy- They sucked
UK- They sucked

SEC West (UT played Bama & Ark every year)

Bama: Mixed Bag but most pretty good
Ark: 1 or 2 decent seasons but mostly middle to bad

LSU- Not very good when UT played them '92 & '93
Miss State- Sucked (beat UT when they had no QB in '94. Got hammered by UT in '95)
Ole Miss- Sucked in '96 & '97 but UT was very good
Auburn- UT played them in '97, '98, '99 (good in '97, ok in '98 & '99)

Now look at the SEC today:

Bama- Elite
LSU- Borderline Elite
UGA- Very Good
UF- Very Good
USC- Pretty Damn Good
Miss State- Medium
Ole Miss- Medium
Ark- Was improved until Petrino incident.
Auburn- Wash from the '90's when UT played them
UK- Wash
Vandy- Improved to Middle

I like how you use certain time frames to prove your point. Those games I watched pre 90s must have been a mirage huh? The SEC has always been the premier conference. It's had it's ups and downs like the 90s. But for the most part this conference has always been tough as nails.

 

[Obsessedvol]

Obsessedvol, if you haven't already seen them, a few youtube videos to check out in order to gain a better historical perspective of our program would include the following:

(1) 100 Years of Volunteers 1 - YouTube

(2) 100 Years of Volunteers 2 - YouTube

(3) General Robert Neyland "The Man and the Legend" - YouTube

(4) 1986 Sugar Bowl -- Tennessee 35 Miami 7 - YouTube

(5) 1991 MIracle at South Bend (Tenn 35 Notre Dame 34) - YouTube

(6) 2001 Citrus Bowl (Tennessee Pummels Michigan 45-17) - YouTube

(7) 1951 Cotton Bowl - Texas vs. Tennessee - YouTube

(8) 1940 Rose Bowl - USC vs. Tennessee - YouTube Note: This was a losing effort, but this was the '39 Vols who finished the regular season undefeated, untied and unscored upon.

(9) 1990 Cotton Bowl -CBS-Video 1 - Tennessee vs. Arkansas - YouTube

(10) 1990 Tennessee 45 Florida 3 (2nd Half) - YouTube

(11) John Ward & Bill Anderson's 10 Greatest Games (Tennessee Vols) - YouTube

(12) 2001 Tennessee 34 Florida 32 (Vols Drain the Swamp) - YouTube

(13) 2003 - Tennessee Ends Miami's 28 Game Home Winning Streak (Video 2 - 2nd Half) - YouTube

(14) 1995 Tennessee 41 Alabama 14 (ESPN) - YouTube

(15) 1993 Tennessee Blasts Georgia 38-6 - YouTube

(16) 1970 Tennessee 38 Florida 7 - YouTube

(17) Tennessee Football 1969 "The Year of the Championship" - YouTube

(18) 1965 Tennessee Football Highlights - YouTube

(19) John Ward - 1994 - Tennessee 65 Vanderbilt 0 - YouTube
The perfect outcome for any Tennessee-Vanderbilt game.

That should give you a good start.

I have seen/heard of most of these, but thanks! It's amazing how I've became such a huge Tennessee fan being born and growing up in Ohio surrounded by Buckeye fans. Don't get me wrong, OSU'S tradition is great, but there's just something about UT, the traditions at UT and east Tennessee as well that has really drawn me in to being such a big Tennessee fan. I don't really care what people up here think about the university of Tennessee football program right now...I love Tennessee more than life itself and if they had half a brain, they would know UT is a great football program down right now. While we may have another tough year in 2013...I know we're headed in the right direction. GO VOLS!!! :td:

 

[Boca Vol]

I like how you use certain time frames to prove your point. Those games I watched pre 90s must have been a mirage huh? The SEC has always been the premier conference. It's had it's ups and downs like the 90s. But for the most part this conference has always been tough as nails.

So now you want to compare the '80's to the current SEC? lol:

SEC ranked teams in the 80's (final AP rankings):

1980: UGA (1), Bama (6), & Miss State (19)
1981: UGA (6), Bama (7)
1982: UGA (4), LSU (11), Aub (14)
1983: Aub (3), UGA (4), UF (6), Bama (15)
1984: UF (3), Aub(14), LSU (15), UK (19)
1985: UT (4), UF (5), Bama (13), LSU (20)
1986: Aub(6), Bama (9), LSU (10)
1987: LSU (4), Aub (5), UGA (13), UT (14)
1988: Aub (8), UGA (15), Bama (17), LSU (19)
1989: UT (5), Aub (6), Bama (9)

Yes, we remember the 80's fondly, but the SEC as a whole is stronger, especially at the top.

 

[Boca Vol]

(16) 1970 Tennessee 38 Florida 7 - YouTube

Thanks for sharing. Notice a familiar voice in the stadium during the coing toss? Hard to believe he's been there that long.

 

[FiremedicVOL127]

Boys to get back to the top it will take 3 or 4 recruiting classes like we got going now, so thats 3 or 4 years, some people wont to hear that but to get all the way back where we are a top 5 program every year, thats what its going to take, a lot of people think you can just fire the coach and get another and talk it up a little and bang top 10, No IT DOES not work like that, we got alot of growing pains to go threw, this program reminds me of Michigan of about 4 years ago. When the going gets tough we got to hang in there with coach and know better days are ahead, im afraid alot of people are going to be in for a big let down. Remember one thing in the end we will rise to the top.

I predict UT in the top 25 by years end call me crazy but I really think our team is more talented than they played last year! I think that this staff will be able to get them to perform at there best and make "good in game decisions"!! With that being said can't wait til kick off!!! GBO

 

[Boca Vol]

I predict UT in the top 25 by years end call me crazy but I really think our team is more talented than they played last year! I think that this staff will be able to get them to perform at there best and make "good in game decisions"!! With that being said can't wait til kick off!!! GBO

I agree but a majority of that talent is gone. That may be a blessing in disguise. Butch gets a clean slate to work with at QB and WR with an experienced O line.