The greatest day in CFB history

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David Ubben

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Today at The Athletic, a story on the day Tennessee won its way into the national championship game.

“I wish I had it to do over again,” Fulmer said. “I’d have planned to have two, three, four days afterward to celebrate and enjoy if you win or recover if you didn’t win.

“I was trying to make the point that this wasn’t the only time we’re gonna do this. So I had everybody back on an airplane the next day, going recruiting. We don’t have time to waste. Dumb. Really, really dumb. I’d have done something at my house, just the coaches and families and probably something at my house with a bunch of key donors and something with the players. I’d like to have three days, you know. Maybe in reverse order, because the players were the ones that did it. That was a really additional validation of where we were as a program. Even though we had lost one of the greatest players in the country and one of the greatest players ever at Tennessee, Peyton Manning, that team had proven they could do it on their own. That was great.”

Dec. 5, 1998 was an unbelievable day in Tennessee history, but it changed college football forever, too. Here's the full story of an unforgettable day, with more than a dozen interviews with the people who lived through it and videos of the day's most crucial moments.
 
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#4
#4
I wish I had that whole time period to do over again. I went to all home games, a couple road games, the SECC game and the the national championship game, but I still wish I could go back in time to enjoy and relish it even more. I hope that’s not the only one I see in my lifetime. It sure doesn’t look good at present tho.
 
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#7
#7
Dec. 5, 1998 was an unbelievable day in Tennessee history, but it changed college football forever, too.
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Ok. I agree it was a great day for Vol fans, but I'm hard pressed to see how in any way, shape or form this changed college football, much less forever. Yes it was the first of many BCS championship games, but it was far from a playoff system and we still don't have a valid playoff system in my opinion.

There are other seasons with highly-ranked teams and conference champions with impressive records NOT getting into the BCS championship game OR playoff games (in later years). Those seasons are driving the push for a true playoff system and I would consider those seasons to be part of "changing college football".

Those of us old enough to remember watching that game will remember it was a poorly played game on both sides by "national championship" caliber standards. Many mistakes on both sides of the ball, notably on defense, with a lot of false-start penalties and botched special teams play.

So yeah, great game for us, but aside from it being coincidently the first BCS championship game, it didn't change college football.
 
#8
#8
images
 
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#9
#9
!
David Ubben said:
“I wish I had it to do over again,” Fulmer said. “I’d have planned to have two, three, four days afterward to celebrate and enjoy if you win or recover if you didn’t win. I was trying to make the point that this wasn’t the only time we’re gonna do this. So I had everybody back on an airplane the next day, going recruiting. We don’t have time to waste. Dumb. Really, really dumb. I’d have done something at my house, just the coaches and families and probably something at my house with a bunch of key donors and something with the players. I’d like to have three days, you know. Maybe in reverse order, because the players were the ones that did it. That was a really additional validation of where we were as a program. Even though we had lost one of the greatest players in the country and one of the greatest players ever at Tennessee, Peyton Manning, that team had proven they could do it on their own. That was great.”
Click to expand...

But wait! Hasn't it always been the contention of the CPF haters that CPF quit after winning the NC? Sat back in his recliner and relaxed? This revelation that he kept working hard, starting the very next morning, doesn't fit that narrative. Oh, the horror!
 
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#12
#12
Jpcisco said:
At least I can say I saw a Tennessee football team win a national championship. I will never forget being at that Arkansas game. I know that last few years have been terrible, they cant take those memories from me.
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I still remember sitting by myself in the stands watching the end of that game, then coming home and making fun of my sister and her boyfriend for leaving in the 4th quarter lol.
 
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#13
#13
I'm hoping for pure chaos this weekend....

Who would be in the playoffs if Georgia gets blown out, Oklahoma loses, and Ohio State loses. It would be Bama, Clemson, ND, and _______________
 
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#14
#14
CampBlount said:
!

But wait! Hasn't it always been the contention of the CPF haters that CPF quit after winning the NC? Sat back in his recliner and relaxed? This revelation that he kept working hard, starting the very next morning, doesn't fit that narrative. Oh, the horror!
Click to expand...

No.

The narrative is that Fulmer got complacent and arrogant when Hamilton signed him to that contract that automatically rolled over if he won 8 games.
 
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#15
#15
Vol_in_NC_1999 said:
I still remember sitting by myself in the stands watching the end of that game, then coming home and making fun of my sister and her boyfriend for leaving in the 4th quarter lol.
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Greatest sporting event I have ever seen in person, the group I was with wanted to leave after the turnover on downs but luckily I convinced them to stay. I would still be kicking myself if we left. That day I knew it was going to be a special season. All championship teams get one lucky break here or there during the year where you just know everything is breaking your way and this is your season.
 
#17
#17
Jpcisco said:
Greatest sporting event I have ever seen in person, the group I was with wanted to leave after the turnover on downs but luckily I convinced them to stay. I would still be kicking myself if we left. That day I knew it was going to be a special season. All championship teams get one lucky break here or there during the year where you just know everything is breaking your way and this is your season.
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That was the big one for sure. We kind of had 4 breaks (and later I told everyone it might be the luckiest national championship team I had ever seen):

1. The Stoerner fumble at the Arkansas game.
2. Jeff Hall's last second FG vs Syracuse.
3. Florida's missed chip-shot FG in OT.
4. Losing Jamal Lewis and Al Wilson for the Auburn game, but winning 17-9 on a blocked-FG return TD by Shaun Ellis and then Auburn having the ball 1st and goal from the 1 yard line and failing to convert and turning it over on downs.
 
#18
#18
Vol_in_NC_1999 said:
That was the big one for sure. We kind of had 4 breaks (and later I told everyone it might be the luckiest national championship team I had ever seen):

1. The Stoerner fumble at the Arkansas game.
2. Jeff Hall's last second FG vs Syracuse.
3. Florida's missed chip-shot FG in OT.
4. Losing Jamal Lewis and Al Wilson for the Auburn game, but winning 17-9 on a blocked-FG return TD by Shaun Ellis and then Auburn having the ball 1st and goal from the 1 yard line and failing to convert and turning it over on downs.
Click to expand...

5. Getting to play against Marcus Outzen in the championship game due to Weinke getting injured.

We sure got alot of breaks that year but good teams capitalize on those, and the vols did.
 
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#20
#20
Vol_in_NC_1999 said:
Ok. I agree it was a great day for Vol fans, but I'm hard pressed to see how in any way, shape or form this changed college football, much less forever. Yes it was the first of many BCS championship games, but it was far from a playoff system and we still don't have a valid playoff system in my opinion.

There are other seasons with highly-ranked teams and conference champions with impressive records NOT getting into the BCS championship game OR playoff games (in later years). Those seasons are driving the push for a true playoff system and I would consider those seasons to be part of "changing college football".

Those of us old enough to remember watching that game will remember it was a poorly played game on both sides by "national championship" caliber standards. Many mistakes on both sides of the ball, notably on defense, with a lot of false-start penalties and botched special teams play.

So yeah, great game for us, but aside from it being coincidently the first BCS championship game, it didn't change college football.
Click to expand...

Clearly you didn't read the article.
 
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#21
#21
The article's paywalled and I'm not subscribed, so can't read it. But... tack this onto the list of good breaks for Tennessee, that culminated on that day in December 1998. Peyton Manning became UT's starter, causing Branndon Stewart to transfer to Texas A&M. Where, in 1998, he would throw for 324 yards and 3 touchdowns in the Big 12 championship game, leading A&M to an upset of undefeated and #1 Kansas State. K State was removed from title game consideration and the rest is Big Orange history.
 
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#23
#23
#1ManningFan said:
Clearly you didn't read the article.
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You are correct. I did not read the article. I stand corrected by what I wrote. I'm not a subscribing member to "The Athletic", but I read enough to see the particular day they are describing. I will say that I don't believe that day changed college football either. At least, not in my opinion.

I remember that day clearly. I was praying for a chance to get to play UCLA for the title, and for a while I was glad FSU was so far behind, since I considered them the best team in the country at the time. Then UCLA fell and Kansas State fell lol.
 
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