peaygolf
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Today in UT Football history
- Thread starter peaygolf
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peaygolf
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September 13, 1975
UT - 26
Maryland- 8
These two teams had just met in the Liberty Bowl the year before, with the Vols winning 7-3, and now Tennessee was opening their season ranked No. 20 and hosting the No. 14 ranked Maryland Terrapins.
The Terps were led by head coach Jerry Claiborne and had just beaten Villanova in their season opener, and the Vols were led by Bill Battle in his sixth season as head coach, but they had to replace Condredge Holloway at quarterback.
They still had Stanley Morgan, and that made all the difference.
Tennessee capitalized off of an early Maryland turnover for a 7-0 lead, and after surrendering a safety on a punt, they forced another turnover which led to a 50 yard Morgan TD run to go up 13-2.
A 70 yard Morgan punt return touchdown gave the Vols a 19-2 lead at halftime, and then a third touchdown for Morgan helped the Vols built a 26-2 lead.
Maryland cut the lead to 26-8 in the fourth quarter, but they did not come any closer. That was the best they could do, and Tennessee had a very impressive opening victory after Holloway was gone.
UT - 26
Maryland- 8
These two teams had just met in the Liberty Bowl the year before, with the Vols winning 7-3, and now Tennessee was opening their season ranked No. 20 and hosting the No. 14 ranked Maryland Terrapins.
The Terps were led by head coach Jerry Claiborne and had just beaten Villanova in their season opener, and the Vols were led by Bill Battle in his sixth season as head coach, but they had to replace Condredge Holloway at quarterback.
They still had Stanley Morgan, and that made all the difference.
Tennessee capitalized off of an early Maryland turnover for a 7-0 lead, and after surrendering a safety on a punt, they forced another turnover which led to a 50 yard Morgan TD run to go up 13-2.
A 70 yard Morgan punt return touchdown gave the Vols a 19-2 lead at halftime, and then a third touchdown for Morgan helped the Vols built a 26-2 lead.
Maryland cut the lead to 26-8 in the fourth quarter, but they did not come any closer. That was the best they could do, and Tennessee had a very impressive opening victory after Holloway was gone.
OneManGang
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Had the interwebs existed in 1975. it would have been pointed out that Battle and his staff had done such a pi**-poor job recruiting that the Vols had to convert an All-World wide receiver into a tailback.
Morgan did say later that playing tailback in the SEC toughened him up for the NFL. He still leads the NFL in yards per reception with a 19.2 yard average among receivers with over 500 catches.
Morgan did say later that playing tailback in the SEC toughened him up for the NFL. He still leads the NFL in yards per reception with a 19.2 yard average among receivers with over 500 catches.
OneManGang
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1975 was also the year of the infamous North Texas State game that signaled the beginning of the end of the Bill Battle reign.
In my mind though, not only was it my freshman year on The Hill, but also marks one of my favorite Neyland Memories. Vanderbilt was leading at half on their way to a 17-14 win. It was overcast and cold with rain off and on. My Brother-from-another-mother and I were sitting on the first row of student seats behind a set of wooden bleachers that were in front of that. The POTSMB was in formation playing the Alma Mater when the Vandy players ran onto the field, running through the formation and knocking a couple of band members down. Pure Vandy class on display. Anyway, there was a character in the bleachers who had obviously been imbibing a goodly amount of "anti-freeze" and took offense at these actions. He rose, weaving a bit, and bellowed, "You damn MFers! That's our damn Alma Mater! Take your Fing hats off!!"
Still makes me laugh after all these years.
In my mind though, not only was it my freshman year on The Hill, but also marks one of my favorite Neyland Memories. Vanderbilt was leading at half on their way to a 17-14 win. It was overcast and cold with rain off and on. My Brother-from-another-mother and I were sitting on the first row of student seats behind a set of wooden bleachers that were in front of that. The POTSMB was in formation playing the Alma Mater when the Vandy players ran onto the field, running through the formation and knocking a couple of band members down. Pure Vandy class on display. Anyway, there was a character in the bleachers who had obviously been imbibing a goodly amount of "anti-freeze" and took offense at these actions. He rose, weaving a bit, and bellowed, "You damn MFers! That's our damn Alma Mater! Take your Fing hats off!!"
Still makes me laugh after all these years.
Tin Man
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Ah, my younger classmate, you would bring up the North Texas State game, which I had the misfortune of witnessing in person. One could almost hear the closing bell on Battle’s tenure when the Tennessee QB took the snap and threw the ball out of bounds to stop the clock while time had expired and two open Vols receivers looked on from the end zone.
MAD
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peaygolf
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peaygolf
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September 14, 1968
UT - 17
Georgia- 17
In the press box high above Neyland Stadium, a young broadcaster with a background in advertising was setting up to call his first football game with the Vol Network.
On the field, newly painted artificial turf was getting ready to make its first debut in a southern college football game.
Throughout the stadium, cameras labeled ‘ABC Sports’ were prepped to begin airing a nationwide broadcast of a classic SEC contest.
In the locker room beneath the stands, an African-American wide receiver from Antioch, Tennessee was about to break barriers.
For John Ward, Lester McClain and the Tennessee football program, the 1968 game between The Vols and Georgia Bulldogs was a game of firsts.
The Turf
The ‘68 game was interesting because we put down artificial turf,” Bud Ford (UT SID) said. “The turf got an affectionate name, ‘Doug’s Rug’ after coach Dickey. We put that down. We were playing on national television against Georgia for the opening game of the season.”
The game marked the first ever college football game played on artificial turf in the South. In fact, very few programs in college football and beyond played on artificial surfaces.
The Voice
Over thirty years before he would be regarded as the iconic ‘Voice of the Vols,’ John Ward prepared to call his first ever football game in place of George Mooney, who had decided to retire after a lengthy career following the 1967 season.
“John Ward had been doing basketball,” Ford recalled. “George Mooney’s color guy was Bob Fox, who was a three-sport athlete at Tennessee. He had a situation, healthwise and he wasn’t able to do the games anymore, and I think George Mooney decided (1967) would be their last year, so John moved over and started doing football.”
And so the ‘voice’ and his longtime color analyst and former Tennessee player Bill Anderson kicked off a 30-year run on the airwaves throughout Tennessee, from Johnson City to Memphis.
The Trailblazer
Lester McClain was one of two African-American athletes to join the Tennessee football team prior to the 1967 season. He joined Albert Davis who was from nearby Alcoa. They were the pioneers.
Davis who was a highly touted and sought after recruit at running back, but could not qualify academically and had his scholarship offer pulled, leaving McClain as the lone minority on the team.
The Game
The game featured the previous two SEC champions, with Georgia winning it in 1966 and Tennessee winning it in 1967.
Due to the alignment of the SEC in those days, It was also the first time in 31 years that the two programs had met and the first that featured two young, promising coaches in the early stages of their careers in Vince Dooley of Georgia and Doug Dickey of Tennessee.
The Vols took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, but the Bulldogs pulled in front in the second half with a field goal and a 90-yard punt return touchdown by safety Jake Scott to pull ahead 10-7.
Behind quarterback Bubba Wyche, Tennessee drove down the field on the ensuing drive only to cough up the ball at the goal line and give it back to Georgia.
A touchdown there might have changed the outcome of the game, but on the following play, the Vols defense came up with a big safety with linebacker Steve Kiner sacking Bulldogs’ quarterback Donnie Thompson in the endzone..
Georgia appeared to put things away in the fourth quarter as running back Bruce Kemp blasted through Tennessee’s defense for an 80-yard touchdown to make it a 17-9 game.
Things were looking bleak, as Wyche and the offense were faced with an 80-yard field and in need of a touchdown and a two-point conversion to have a chance.
With just 2:41 left on the clock, Wyche and company engineered a drive that 60,000 fans in the newly renovated Neyland Stadium wouldn’t soon forget.
Facing a fourth down, the Vols needed to move the sticks to keep their hopes of a tie alive. That’s when McClain came to the rescue, hauling in a pass for a first down.
A few plays later, Wyche found Gary Kreis in the endzone as time expired. The scoreboard read 17-15.
“The ‘68 team was still good,” Ford said. “Georgia was a good team at that time, too. The game went down to the last play on a do-or-die fourth down...There was only a minute or two left before that drive. They had us on the run.”
Tennessee would have a shot at the tie with an untimed play. On the two-point try, Wyche put an exclamation point on that final drive by hitting Ken DeLong to complete the comeback.
It was a tie.
UT - 17
Georgia- 17
In the press box high above Neyland Stadium, a young broadcaster with a background in advertising was setting up to call his first football game with the Vol Network.
On the field, newly painted artificial turf was getting ready to make its first debut in a southern college football game.
Throughout the stadium, cameras labeled ‘ABC Sports’ were prepped to begin airing a nationwide broadcast of a classic SEC contest.
In the locker room beneath the stands, an African-American wide receiver from Antioch, Tennessee was about to break barriers.
For John Ward, Lester McClain and the Tennessee football program, the 1968 game between The Vols and Georgia Bulldogs was a game of firsts.
The Turf
The ‘68 game was interesting because we put down artificial turf,” Bud Ford (UT SID) said. “The turf got an affectionate name, ‘Doug’s Rug’ after coach Dickey. We put that down. We were playing on national television against Georgia for the opening game of the season.”
The game marked the first ever college football game played on artificial turf in the South. In fact, very few programs in college football and beyond played on artificial surfaces.
The Voice
Over thirty years before he would be regarded as the iconic ‘Voice of the Vols,’ John Ward prepared to call his first ever football game in place of George Mooney, who had decided to retire after a lengthy career following the 1967 season.
“John Ward had been doing basketball,” Ford recalled. “George Mooney’s color guy was Bob Fox, who was a three-sport athlete at Tennessee. He had a situation, healthwise and he wasn’t able to do the games anymore, and I think George Mooney decided (1967) would be their last year, so John moved over and started doing football.”
And so the ‘voice’ and his longtime color analyst and former Tennessee player Bill Anderson kicked off a 30-year run on the airwaves throughout Tennessee, from Johnson City to Memphis.
The Trailblazer
Lester McClain was one of two African-American athletes to join the Tennessee football team prior to the 1967 season. He joined Albert Davis who was from nearby Alcoa. They were the pioneers.
Davis who was a highly touted and sought after recruit at running back, but could not qualify academically and had his scholarship offer pulled, leaving McClain as the lone minority on the team.
The Game
The game featured the previous two SEC champions, with Georgia winning it in 1966 and Tennessee winning it in 1967.
Due to the alignment of the SEC in those days, It was also the first time in 31 years that the two programs had met and the first that featured two young, promising coaches in the early stages of their careers in Vince Dooley of Georgia and Doug Dickey of Tennessee.
The Vols took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, but the Bulldogs pulled in front in the second half with a field goal and a 90-yard punt return touchdown by safety Jake Scott to pull ahead 10-7.
Behind quarterback Bubba Wyche, Tennessee drove down the field on the ensuing drive only to cough up the ball at the goal line and give it back to Georgia.
A touchdown there might have changed the outcome of the game, but on the following play, the Vols defense came up with a big safety with linebacker Steve Kiner sacking Bulldogs’ quarterback Donnie Thompson in the endzone..
Georgia appeared to put things away in the fourth quarter as running back Bruce Kemp blasted through Tennessee’s defense for an 80-yard touchdown to make it a 17-9 game.
Things were looking bleak, as Wyche and the offense were faced with an 80-yard field and in need of a touchdown and a two-point conversion to have a chance.
With just 2:41 left on the clock, Wyche and company engineered a drive that 60,000 fans in the newly renovated Neyland Stadium wouldn’t soon forget.
Facing a fourth down, the Vols needed to move the sticks to keep their hopes of a tie alive. That’s when McClain came to the rescue, hauling in a pass for a first down.
A few plays later, Wyche found Gary Kreis in the endzone as time expired. The scoreboard read 17-15.
“The ‘68 team was still good,” Ford said. “Georgia was a good team at that time, too. The game went down to the last play on a do-or-die fourth down...There was only a minute or two left before that drive. They had us on the run.”
Tennessee would have a shot at the tie with an untimed play. On the two-point try, Wyche put an exclamation point on that final drive by hitting Ken DeLong to complete the comeback.
It was a tie.
LibertyVol
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peaygolf
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September 15, 1973
UT - 21
Duke -17
Condredge Holloway brought ninth‐ranked Tennessee from the brink of defeat by diving to the Duke 1‐yard line on a fourth‐down play, which set up the Volunteers' game‐winning touchdown. Tennessee scored with 2 minutes 5 seconds remaining to win, 21‐17.
Tennessee, a three‐touch down favorite, trailing 14–17, had a fourth‐and‐three on the Duke 6‐yard line when Coach Bill Battle elected to go for a victory, rather than settle for a 17‐17 tie with a field goal.
Holloway, who earlier had thrown a 27‐yard touchdown pass and dashed 49 yards for another score, rolled out to the right and dived to the Duke 1 for the first down. Haskel Stanback crashed over for the touchdown.
Ricky Townsend, Tennessee's barefooted soccer‐style kicker, booted three extra points to run his string to 34 straight over two seasons.
UT - 21
Duke -17
Condredge Holloway brought ninth‐ranked Tennessee from the brink of defeat by diving to the Duke 1‐yard line on a fourth‐down play, which set up the Volunteers' game‐winning touchdown. Tennessee scored with 2 minutes 5 seconds remaining to win, 21‐17.
Tennessee, a three‐touch down favorite, trailing 14–17, had a fourth‐and‐three on the Duke 6‐yard line when Coach Bill Battle elected to go for a victory, rather than settle for a 17‐17 tie with a field goal.
Holloway, who earlier had thrown a 27‐yard touchdown pass and dashed 49 yards for another score, rolled out to the right and dived to the Duke 1 for the first down. Haskel Stanback crashed over for the touchdown.
Ricky Townsend, Tennessee's barefooted soccer‐style kicker, booted three extra points to run his string to 34 straight over two seasons.
MemphisVol77
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peaygolf
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peaygolf
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September 16, 1972
UT - 28
Penn St - 21
The first night game in Neyland Stadium
No. 7 Tennessee entered its season opener against No. 6 Penn St. The Vols defeated head coach Joe Paterno’s team 28-21.
Tennessee led the Nittany Lions, 21-0, at halftime.
The Vols’ first three touchdowns were rushing. Haskel Stanback scored on a 41 yard scamper and two-yard plunge. Steve Chancey also scored on a 22-yard run for the Vols.
The Nittany Lions scored 21 points after halftime, but Stanback’s 2-yard run in the final quarter would provide a winning margin.
The game was witnessed by 71,647 fans, the largest crowd to attend a sporting event in the state at the time.
Stanback totaled 101 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the contest.
Tennessee quarterback Condredge Holloway completed 10-of-16 passing attempts for 97 yards. He recorded 55 rushing yards on 14 attempts in his first start in Neyland Stadium.
The backstory of the game being played in Knoxville, and at night, is actually better than the game itself. Click below for the full story.
Night moves: Neyland Stadium lit up for historic UT-Penn State clash 50 years ago
UT - 28
Penn St - 21
The first night game in Neyland Stadium
No. 7 Tennessee entered its season opener against No. 6 Penn St. The Vols defeated head coach Joe Paterno’s team 28-21.
Tennessee led the Nittany Lions, 21-0, at halftime.
The Vols’ first three touchdowns were rushing. Haskel Stanback scored on a 41 yard scamper and two-yard plunge. Steve Chancey also scored on a 22-yard run for the Vols.
The Nittany Lions scored 21 points after halftime, but Stanback’s 2-yard run in the final quarter would provide a winning margin.
The game was witnessed by 71,647 fans, the largest crowd to attend a sporting event in the state at the time.
Stanback totaled 101 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the contest.
Tennessee quarterback Condredge Holloway completed 10-of-16 passing attempts for 97 yards. He recorded 55 rushing yards on 14 attempts in his first start in Neyland Stadium.
The backstory of the game being played in Knoxville, and at night, is actually better than the game itself. Click below for the full story.
Night moves: Neyland Stadium lit up for historic UT-Penn State clash 50 years ago
peaygolf
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September 17, 1977
UT - 24
Boston College- 18
A productive five-minute spurt in the early part of the fourth quarter gave Tennessee two touchdowns and a field goal, enough to put away Boston College for the first Orange victory under Johnny Majors.
An exuberant head coach was fired up by the vic- tory, despite what he called a tendency on the part of his troops “to play Santa Claus." The reference to St. Nick was inspired by a series of events in the final eight minutes after Tennessee had grabbed a 24-3 lead over the visitors from New England. Boston College rebounded to narrow the gap to 24-18 and tried an on-sides kickoff, to no avail, with only a minute left.
Tennessee shut off Boston's ground game, but surrendered generous chunks of yardage through the air. The Eagles completed 25 of 41 passes for 343 yards, but four interceptions by the Vols repelled the Eagles' scoring threats until the final moments. One of the interceptions. by Greg Jones, propelled Tennessee toward its second TD of the game after holding a slim 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
On offense, Jimmy Streater had a TD pass and Kelsey Finch scored twice leading the Vols to the 24-18 victory.
UT - 24
Boston College- 18
A productive five-minute spurt in the early part of the fourth quarter gave Tennessee two touchdowns and a field goal, enough to put away Boston College for the first Orange victory under Johnny Majors.
An exuberant head coach was fired up by the vic- tory, despite what he called a tendency on the part of his troops “to play Santa Claus." The reference to St. Nick was inspired by a series of events in the final eight minutes after Tennessee had grabbed a 24-3 lead over the visitors from New England. Boston College rebounded to narrow the gap to 24-18 and tried an on-sides kickoff, to no avail, with only a minute left.
Tennessee shut off Boston's ground game, but surrendered generous chunks of yardage through the air. The Eagles completed 25 of 41 passes for 343 yards, but four interceptions by the Vols repelled the Eagles' scoring threats until the final moments. One of the interceptions. by Greg Jones, propelled Tennessee toward its second TD of the game after holding a slim 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
On offense, Jimmy Streater had a TD pass and Kelsey Finch scored twice leading the Vols to the 24-18 victory.
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