In addition to the most obvious candidates, many of which have already been cited, I would submit the following:
(1) 2001 Florida game. In, perhaps, the most exciting and highly competitive game in the history of this series, Tennessee, which was an 18.5-point underdog, defeats Spurriers troops 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, including 68- and 34-yard runs, as well as a 35-yard scoring sprint.
(2) 1969 Alabama game. Tennessee amassed a 34-0 lead 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." 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.
(3) 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 on two punt returns, one for a score covering 44 yards, and 113 yards on two kickoff returns.
(4) 1990 Cotton Bowl vs. Arkansas. Chuck Webb ran for 1236 yds. and 12 touchdowns during the 1989 regular season, one in which he did not become a full-time starter until Reggie Cobb was dismissed from the team; Webb also amassed 250 yds. and two touchdowns on 26 carries in the 1990 Cotton Bowl win over Arkansas, including a 78-yard touchdown run and another 42-yard run. By todays statistical format, Webbs performance would narrowly surpass Travis Stephenss single-season record, with 1486 yards, compared to Stephens 1464 yds. in 2001.
(5) 1998 Arkansas game. In a battle of SEC unbeatens, Henry turned in his best performance of the year. The tireless workhorse carried the ball 32 times for 197 yards, including all 43 yards on the game-winning drive, which culminated with a 1-yard dive for the touchdown, one that strongly suggested that destiny was, indeed, on Tennessees side.
(6) 2002 Citrus Bowl vs. Michigan. Casey Clausen was razor-sharp (26-34) and his 393 yards passing remain 9th best all-time. Furthermore, unlike most of the games in which quarterbacks amassed larger yardage totals, Clausen did not pad his against an inferior opponent nor was it amassed in a furious second-half, come-from-behind attempt. The fact that it was achieved against Michigan, only four years removed from the Hiestman fiasco, made it that much sweeter.
(7) 2003 Miami game. In a defensive slugfest that would have pleased General Neyland greatly, Tennessee snaps Miami's 28-game home winning streak, 10-6.
(8) 1970 Florida game. In Dickeys return to Tennessee as Floridas coach, Bobby Scott passed for a then-school record 385 yards and the Big Orange give the lizards a world-class butt-kicking, 38-7.
(9) 1970 Alabama game. In a stifling defensive performance, UT shut out Alabama 24-0 and intercepted eight passes, which remains the single-game record for Tennessee. The Big Orange would go on to lead the nation with 36 pass interceptions that year.
(10) 1994 Vanderbilt game. For those of us who still harbor a Cafegoesque contempt for Vanderbilt, the 1994 game will always be the prototype for how all clashes between the Big Orange and the Commodes should end: a 65-0 win, largest margin of victory in the series and a fitting end to Gerry DiNardo's condescending career at Vandy.
