IndianaVol
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I’ve never understood why he isn’t our LB Coach.71 days……..
#71 - Dale Jones
The cornerstone of the ‘85 Sugar Vols, Jones is regarded as one of the best to ever play for Johnny Majors. As a redshirt freshman in 1983, he began the season as a 3rd string LB, but got a chance to play due to injuries. He had 2 TFLs in the win over Bama and 14 tackles in the Citrus Bowl win over Maryland. He finished the season with 77 tackles and 2 sacks and was named Freshman All-American. In 1984, he had 12 tackles in the season opening win over WSU and had 13 more in the victory over Alabama. He finished with 109 tackles, 4 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. In the ‘85 SEC championship season, he was the emotional leader, on and off the field. Following the team's 17-10 loss to Florida, Jones rallied the team with a locker room speech in which he declared, "This is the only game we're going to lose all year." In the Bama win, Jones tipped a late pass and intercepted it, sealing the 16-14 victory. His 2 huge sacks on Vinny Testaverde, helped UT defeat Miami in the Suger Bowl. For the season, Jones had 82 tackles, 5 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. He was named 1st Team All-SEC and 3rd Team All-American. As a captain of the ‘86 team, he helped the Vols weather the storm of a 2-5 start, winning the final four games and earn a berth in the Liberty Bowl. There he was named Defensive MVP with his 11 tackles and fumble recovery. He finished with 88 tackles and 4.5 sacks for the season. He was named 1st Team All-SEC for the second time. During his four years at Tennessee, Jones amassed 349 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, 24 tackles-for-loss, and 11 forced fumbles. Johnny Majors said, “I have never seen a young man in my life that it meant more to play for one particular school than it does for Dale Jones to play at Tennessee."
After his career at UT, Jones was drafted by the Cowboys in the 10th round in 1987, but was released before the season. He was picked up as a replacement player during the strike, and started three games. To this day, the mention of Dale Jones’ name brings a smile to me, and many true Vols fans!
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Also the amount of off tackle QB powers we could have ran using Hurd as a lead blocker could have been really interesting
Great photo! That was Graham's 1971 junior season and the Vols D completely shutting down the Penn State team that featured Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell. They were the highest scoring offense in the nation, strongly favored, and we crushed them. Graham's senior year (1972) we beat Penn State again at home in the first ever night game at Neyland Stadium. Graham also broke up a 4th down LSU pass in the final minutes to clinch the Bluebonnet Bowl that year. And Bert Jones, LSU's QB, was no slouch. (That was Condredge Holloway's first year at QB.) Rock on, Peay!69 days……
#69 - Conrad Graham
Graham was a member of the greatest secondary in UT history, and goes down as one of it’s best, and most under appreciated players. In his first season with the Vols' varsity squad, played in 11 games as a sophomore and registered 48 tackles, 1.5 for loss, three sacks and recovered four fumbles. He also snagged three INTs for 73 yards and a touchdown. As a junior, he was selected to the All-SEC second-team by the Associated Press. He tallied 61 stops, two TFLs and recovered two fumbles. He picked off five pass and racked up a career-high 148 yards, returning one INT for a TD. As a senior, he earned first-team All-America honors and was named to the All-SEC first team by the AP and UPI,recording a career-high 65 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, while recovering two fumbles and causing one more. Graham Intercepted a career-high seven passes, retuning them for 72 yards and a touchdown and returned a blocked punt 13 yards for a TD. For his career, he made 164 tackles, had 8 fumble recoveries, and intercepted 15 passes for 293 yards and 3 TDs. Graham played in the Senior Bowl and was drafted in the 8th round by the Bears, but retired during the season due to knee injuries. A truly underrated Vol!
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Hard to believe it’s been 50 years.Great photo! That was Graham's 1971 junior season and the Vols D completely shutting down the Penn State team that featured Franco Harris and Lydell Mitchell. They were the highest scoring offense in the nation, strongly favored, and we crushed them. Graham's senior year (1972) we beat Penn State again at home in the first ever night game at Neyland Stadium. Graham also broke up a 4th down LSU pass in the final minutes to clinch the Bluebonnet Bowl that year. And Bert Jones, LSU's QB, was no slouch. (That was Condredge Holloway's first year at QB.) Rock on, Peay!
I was two years old then. I wish I’d been 10 years older to have been able to enjoy that group of defensive players play together. My first game was Ole Miss in 1972. Still have the ticket stub……obv don’t remember squatHard to believe it’s been 50 years.
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Hard to believe it’s been 50 years.
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"Everything's better with Mayo."66 days……
#66 - Bill Mayo
Mayo came to UT in 1981 as one of the highest recruits in the country, and quickly became a starter. In 1982, he was named to the sophomore All-American team, and helped lead the Vols to their first win over Alabama in 12 years and a Peach Bowl berth. As a junior, Mayo became one of the best lineman in the country. Mayo was the lead blocker for Johnnie Jones, who became the first player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards. The Vols finished with 2,319 yards rushing for the season as a team and finished 9-3. Mayo was named 1st Team All-SEC after the season. As a senior, he again opened up holes for Jones, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. After leading UT to a fourth straight Bowl game, Mayo was named 1st Team All-SEC again and was also name a consensus 1st Team All-American. Mayo finished his career with more starts than anyone in school history, starting 46 of the 47 games he played in his career. The record has since been broken, but Mayo remains Tennessee's Mr. Consistency. After UT, Mayo was drafted by the Memphis Showboats of the USFL.
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I'm ready for top 50......................Another great one, Peay. This whole series is really worthwhile in every way. And on top of the drama of seeing who's next, as the numbers (days) steadily get lower, just how near we are to the season is it's own kind of drama. Only a touch more than two months to go!
Question - being a "youngun" (born in '74 so my earliest Vol memories are around those '84 or '85 teams), is Bill Mayo any relation to the , I'm sure to be mentioned in this list, Jerod Mayo?66 days……
#66 - Bill Mayo
Mayo came to UT in 1981 as one of the highest recruits in the country, and quickly became a starter. In 1982, he was named to the sophomore All-American team, and helped lead the Vols to their first win over Alabama in 12 years and a Peach Bowl berth. As a junior, Mayo became one of the best lineman in the country. Mayo was the lead blocker for Johnnie Jones, who became the first player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards. The Vols finished with 2,319 yards rushing for the season as a team and finished 9-3. Mayo was named 1st Team All-SEC after the season. As a senior, he again opened up holes for Jones, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second straight season. After leading UT to a fourth straight Bowl game, Mayo was named 1st Team All-SEC again and was also name a consensus 1st Team All-American. Mayo finished his career with more starts than anyone in school history, starting 46 of the 47 games he played in his career. The record has since been broken, but Mayo remains Tennessee's Mr. Consistency. After UT, Mayo was drafted by the Memphis Showboats of the USFL.
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