The Tennessee Alabama rivalry is alive and well. It’s been built on crazy outcomes, near misses and streaks.
Stabler’s toss out of bounds to stop the clock on 4th down on the Tennessee goal line in ‘65.
Johnny Jones touchdown run after the timeout in ‘83.
Peyton’s bootleg into the end zone in 1995.
Five overtimes in a 51-43 shootout in 2003.
Tucked in the midst of them is one for the ages. In 1982 Tennessee held on for a 35-28 in Knoxville to end an 11 game losing streak.
I caught up with Ronnie Booker the other day. Ronnie is a former Knox Central defensive lineman who walked on at Tennessee in 1979 and earned a scholarship from Coach Majors in 1981.
I was curious to see what memories stood out for him from the Alabama game in 1982. Giving some context as to what this series has meant over the years to Tennessee coaches, players, and fans.
VN: so what was different about playing Alabama as opposed to another SEC team?
RB: At that time, Alabama was our #1 rival. It was before the SEC was split into two divisions. This was evident from the first time I stepped on the practice field in the spring of 1979.
The blocking sled dummy had an Alabama helmet on it. It was on there when I came to Tennessee and it was still there when I graduated.
VN: What was the feeling like for the Tennessee team that week?
RB: It was an electric week; we had not beaten them since 1970. Several players asked Coach Majors that week if we could wear orange pants on Saturday. He agreed when someone told him it was because it was all orange!
VN: There was some serious talent on the coaching side of things for Tennessee. Coach Majors and Coach Cafego to name a few. Let’s start with Coach Cafego, any impressions of him leading up to the game?
RB: Coach Cafego was always a treat to listen to. Most of the time he worked with the kickers. However on Bama and Vandy weeks, he addressed the entire team. His pep talks were motivational and laced with humor which always touched our hearts.
VN: I know early on you won Cafego’s Scout team award. What was that all about?
RB: It was an award that was given at the end of the season for people who contributed to the scout team. The scout team ran the opposing teams either offense or defense to prepare for the next opponent.
VN: One of the Alabama coaches that day was a family relative of yours?
RB: Ken Donahue was the defensive coordinator for Coach Bryant, and my dads 1st cousin. I had not met him before until the day of the 82 game. As the Alabama team arrived at the stadium, they walk around the field.
As Coach Donahue walked by, I walked up to him and introduced myself; he asked me questions as if it were a family reunion. At all the reunions until he passed away, he always talked about me introducing myself that day.
The game of football, the University of Alabama, and the University of Tennessee owe a great deal of gratitude to that man! (VN Note: Coach Donahue would come to Tennessee and schemed defenses that helped beat Bama and Miami in the ’85 Sugar Bowl)
VN: So tell us about your take on Coach Majors and the Alabama game?
RB: Coach Major’s was a great man to be around, very tough but fair. He gave me a scholarship my junior season, so I was always grateful to him. I’m not going to get into the politics of the coaching changes, but the University was way overdue in welcoming Coach Majors back to the program.
VN: What about following the game. Anything said or done that stick in your mind?
RB: I had asked my dad if we were winning to bring me the family camera (this was before cell phone and digital cameras) down to the field so I could take some pictures. I took the camera and turned as BOTH goal posts came crashing down too fast to catch on film.
We would normally go to the locker room and sing our victory song, however there were so many people on the field it was a few minutes before I could get off the field.
When I got to the door most of the team was coming back out to enjoy the moment. I always wanted to find a piece of that goalpost to put with the game ball that Coach Majors gave each senior the following Monday (there were 22 of us).
VN: What do you think about the new coaching staff?
RB: These guys are exciting! I was not sure how good the team would do this season, but I knew that they would be fun to watch.
This staff is committed to being champions, and this already shows on the field. And again a great move by Coach Kiffin was to invite Coach Majors back to the program the he loves.
VN: Any thoughts on the game Saturday?
RB: Another close game like the Florida game. As one of the game maximums that has lasted through the years states, “the team making the fewest mistakes will win”. GO VOLS!
Ronnie thanks for the insight and unique perspective!