Origins of Wide Receiver U

[VolMicheal]

I think it actuallY began in the mid-60's when Tennessee started throwing the ball to Mills (Johnny) and Flowers (Richmond). During 1966 our passing TD's tripled from the year before.

Then, in 1973 along came guys named Stanley Morgan, Larry Sievers, Reggie harper and Anthony Hancock and we were off and running, no make that passing. They were followed by Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, Thomas Woods, Carl Pickens and Joey Kent.

You all know the ones that followed them...the list just keeps on keeping on? GBO!
mg

[VolMicheal]

I think it actuallY began in the mid-60's when Tennessee started throwing the ball to Mills (Johnny) and Flowers (Richmond). During 1966 our passing TD's tripled from the year before.

Then, in 1973 along came guys named Stanley Morgan, Larry Sievers, Reggie harper and Anthony Hancock and we were off and running, no make that passing. They were followed by Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, Thomas Woods, Carl Pickens and Joey Kent.

You all know the ones that followed them...the list just keeps on keeping on? GBO!
mg

[Coastypop]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

Larry Sievers garnered a lot of attention as a 2-time consensus AA during the mid-'70s. Even though his expected NFL success never materialized, he was followed into the league by another great UT WR who played for a decade-and-a-half: Stanley Morgan.

The '80s saw a whole slew of UT WRs who were taken in the first round of the NFL draft: Anthony Hancock, Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, Anthony Miller and Alvin Harper (in '91). During this time, other UT WRs (who were NOT 1st rounders) went on to significant NFL careers that solidified the image of UT as WR U. These included guys who weren't considered to be greats, like Sam Graddy, and guys who exceeded expectations, like Carl Pickens. The NFL seemed to be full of Vol WRs.

By the time guys like Peerless Price, Robert Meachem and Donte Stallworth came along, other schools were making a case to be considered WR U. But in the '80s, UT was pretty much undisputed. And we can still make a pretty good argument today.

And that's even if you exclude TEs, which would leave out David Martin and Jason Witten.

Hey Jack, is that really you?

[General_Neyland]

Originally Posted by Negateer

To me, I first heard it during Anthony Hancock's years, probably Gault's first season.

dang, to have him fielding kicks again...

This is pretty much on point...Anthony Hancock and Stanley Morgan are some of the earlier WR's I remember (been going to to games since I was a kid in the mid 70's)...Joey Clinkscales was another...Willie Gault, Tim Mcgee (sp), Alvin Harper, MArcus Nash, Etc...etc...etc...point is we got the name Wide Receiver U because for a while every WR it seemed like we put out ...went on to do HUGE numbers in the NFL...

[2ironVol]

Originally Posted by General_Neyland

This is pretty much on point...Anthony Hancock and Stanley Morgan are some of the earlier WR's I remember (been going to to games since I was a kid in the mid 70's)...Joey Clinkscales was another...Willie Gault, Tim Mcgee (sp), Alvin Harper, MArcus Nash, Etc...etc...etc...point is we got the name Wide Receiver U because for a while every WR it seemed like we put out ...went on to do HUGE numbers in the NFL...

Actually, when we fell out of the WRU moniker, was when big number college guys like Joey Kent and Marcus Nash failed miserably in the NFL. It goes to show you how good Manning makes everyone else around him. Peerless Price is the only WR that played with Manning at UT that has had any success, while be it very little, in the NFL. Gault didn't have huge numbers in the NFL either. Neither did Alvin Harper. Far and away, the best NFL careers for UT WRs belong to Stanley Morgan, Tim McGee, Anthony Miller and Carl Pickens. Meachem has put some some pretty decent numbers, but nothing like his potential suggests. Nash, Kent and Duncan were all NFL busts. Harper had a few nice seasons as a #2 receiver but when he got the big contract in Tampa, he failed to deliver. Same with Peerless coming from Buffalo to Atlanta

[GAVol]

Being a WR in an offense QB'd by Michael Vick in Atlanta didn't do Peerless Price any favors either.

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by Volview

...or Stallworth, Washington, Meachem

Swain, & Smith as well.

[bUTrosbUTrosVOLie]

Originally Posted by Los-Osis

During the years of Willie Gault. The coin frase was, 'if he is even he is leaving.'

First time I ever heard that phrase was from "Whoa, Nellie!" himself when he mentioned Tim McGee in '85 and in the Sugar Bowl vs. Miami.

[esarmstrong]

Originally Posted by 1974Vol

My recollection is that Clemson had lead 21-0 at one point in the game and Vols pulled it out. Then 2 years later again in Knoxville they held off Clemson's attempt at a 2 point conversion to win 21-19 after leading 21-0. Two great games - unless you were a Tiger

Incorrect. The game was actually a "nip and tuck" affair the whole afternoon and was not decided until Seivers' famous catch. UT had to go for two twice in the fourth quarter to win the game, thanks to a missed point-after try (No overtime in those days, kiddies). Bill Battle could have played for the tie with a little over a minute left in the game, but he played for the win and was successful.

Check the link below for a much more detailed telling of the story of the game and the game linescore and stats.

College Football Belt - 1974 Clemson at Tennessee

And this link has a picture of Holloway right before he lauched his famous pass to Seivers.

The Artful Dodger Who Wore Number Seven « Vols in the Fall

[SmokeySteve]

Originally Posted by 1974Vol

Also, as part of that come back in '74 there was a play where a Vol player came running on the field waving his hand and a WR broke the huddle and sprinted to the side line like he was going off the field but stopped just a foot in bounds next to a bunch of other Vols on the side line. The Clemson DB's didn't pick him up and it was an easy pitch and catch for a TN TD. Anyone else recall that or was that another game?

Coworker is a Clemson season ticket holder and he told me about this play. He is still sore about it. May have been the only time he was in Neyland. He still claims they were robbed.

[Treasure Hunter09]

What do yall think, do we miss Arnett at all this season? IMO we do only in the aspect of him having a years experience under his belt opposed to CP that hasnt played in a big SEC game yet. Im not saying Arnett is more talented than some of our incoming receivers but, just wondering if yall thought we might miss having his experience in pressure moments.

[OrangeDog]

Originally Posted by Treasure Hunter09

What do yall think, do we miss Arnett at all this season? IMO we do only in the aspect of him having a years experience under his belt opposed to CP that hasnt played in a big SEC game yet. Im not saying Arnett is more talented than some of our incoming receivers but, just wondering if yall thought we might miss having his experience in pressure moments.

Who???

i thought i would go ahead an get that one in.

[SC-Vol]

Originally Posted by Hacksaw

Larry Sievers garnered a lot of attention as a 2-time consensus AA during the mid-'70s. Even though his expected NFL success never materialized, he was followed into the league by another great UT WR who played for a decade-and-a-half: Stanley Morgan.

The '80s saw a whole slew of UT WRs who were taken in the first round of the NFL draft: Anthony Hancock, Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, Anthony Miller and Alvin Harper (in '91). During this time, other UT WRs (who were NOT 1st rounders) went on to significant NFL careers that solidified the image of UT as WR U. These included guys who weren't considered to be greats, like Sam Graddy, and guys who exceeded expectations, like Carl Pickens. The NFL seemed to be full of Vol WRs.

By the time guys like Peerless Price, Robert Meachem and Donte Stallworth came along, other schools were making a case to be considered WR U. But in the '80s, UT was pretty much undisputed. And we can still make a pretty good argument today.

And that's even if you exclude TEs, which would leave out David Martin and Jason Witten.

This is exactly the way I remember it starting when i was at UT in the early to mid 70s. Larry Seivers was a tall thin receiver wih vacuum cleaner hands and a tear-away jersey. Just throw long and hgh and he would go up and take it away from the defender. Stanley Morgan was a blazer from Easley, SC and was always a runaway threat on a run, pass, or kick return. A bit earlier than either of them was track star Richmond Flowers., son of the Alabama Attorney General that played wingback for UT in the late 60s and went on to an NFL career.

[1Big_Orange_Fan]

No one has mentioned Cedrick Wilson. He had a long, steady NFL career althouth he was never a star.

[MRobVFL]

I could be wrong, but im pretty sure we started calling Tennessee WR U when we signed Zack Rogers....