volfan2024
“Wanna play ball scarecrow “
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2005
- Messages
- 12,941
- Likes
- 2,693
Johnny was an underrated recruiter as well....that team, like team 118 relied heavily on JuCo talent. There was a mercenary personality to that team.
I was in school on the hill that year and remember well the blue collar nature of that team. That was the start of Neyland Stadium being a feared place to play. The perception of that team and those who followed was that win or lose you really didn't want to play them. We were very physical and playing us was never a pleasant undertaking.
Johnny was an underrated recruiter as well....that team, like team 118 relied heavily on JuCo talent. There was a mercenary personality to that team.
I was in school on the hill that year and remember well the blue collar nature of that team. That was the start of Neyland Stadium being a feared place to play. The perception of that team and those who followed was that win or lose you really didn't want to play them. We were very physical and playing us was never a pleasant undertaking.
Johnny was an underrated recruiter as well....that team, like team 118 relied heavily on JuCo talent. There was a mercenary personality to that team.
I was in school on the hill that year and remember well the blue collar nature of that team. That was the start of Neyland Stadium being a feared place to play. The perception of that team and those who followed was that win or lose you really didn't want to play them. We were very physical and playing us was never a pleasant undertaking.
I went to the UCLA in 89' with a buddy. American Express had this deal that if you got a card, you could get a round trip ticket anywhere in the lower 48 for $99. That was also when football players could sign students up for tickets, so we got in the game free.
The game was electric with (I would estimate) 8 - 10k TN fans. The Rose Bowl was sparsely attended except for the corner where they put the TN fans. I don't think the UCLA people had any idea what was going on with us making all that noise.
Doug Matthews has an interesting write-up about 88' and the change-up mid year; https://t.e2ma.net/message/lbfrf/ljdrkl .
I distinctly remember the CBS commentator remarking about how, win or lose, you'd better have your lunch packed if you were going to play Tennessee. They might not beat you, but they would definitely beat you up. We contributed to a lot of schools losing their following game simply because of the toll playing us took.Exactly! Tennessee offenses, under Coach Majors, were predictable... but brutal. Everyone knew what was coming... pound the rock, then play-action & sling it over the top... and they dared their opponent to stop them.
Fans complained about the offense being too conservative, back then. (Even though they hung 40+ on LSU in Death Valley, brutalized UCLA in Pasadena, roughed up Pat Dye & Auburn for nearly 300 on the ground and scorched Arkansas' defense in the Cotton Bowl.)
In the lone defeat, the Vols put 30 on the board against 'Bama.
Coach Majors Vol squads were physical and didn't care if everyone in the stadium had a copy of their playbook.
Quite the run. Wasn't it the 88 team the started 0-5 and finished by winning the last six in a row? Combine the two and that's a solid stretch of football.
And Boston College was next for HC in the pouring rain. It was cold & rainy, we were 1-6 & that stadium was full. That's when I really realized the deep loyalty of Tennessee fans!
That was before HDTV!
I remember those days as well. Every game was sold out. There were no empty sections in the stadium. As much as I like watching every game on TV or going to the games, there was something about helping Dad out in the yard with the leaves and listening to John Ward call the game. Later that day I couldn't wait for the highlights on the local news....Bob Kesling.