2016 Vols vs 1990s Vols

[Backwards K]

Looking at this year's team and the great expectations reminded me of the 1990s when the Vols were contenders every year. Looking back on that decade, what would this year's team do if they played a 10 game schedule vs the Vols of 1990 thru 1999?

I'm thinking they would be under dogs in every game but one (1994) and could possibly go 1-9 against that schedule. Only win vs 1994 Vols and then only because that team lost their QB in the first game of the year.

That's how good the Vols were in the 1990s.

 

[Dudleys87]

I hate saying it but it really wouldn't be a contest. A few of those games wouldn't be close

 

[Dudleys87]

And I really hope this team finds the nasty mean streak that a lot of those teams had.

 

[VolZen]

Game has changed too much. Remember when Urban was one of the first to run the spread option? They put up rock star stats and killed people until defenses caught up. Put the 2016 Vols in a time machine and send them back to the 90's and they do that to the Chavis defense.

 

[JohnD13]

Looking at this year's team and the great expectations reminded me of the 1990s when the Vols were contenders every year. Looking back on that decade, what would this year's team do if they played a 10 game schedule vs the Vols of 1990 thru 1999?

I'm thinking they would be under dogs in every game but one (1994) and could possibly go 1-9 against that schedule. Only win vs 1994 Vols and then only because that team lost their QB in the first game of the year.

That's how good the Vols were in the 1990s.

Maybe we can actually play a game or two before we compare?

 

[livefaith]

Maybe we can actually play a game or two before we compare?

lol: yep

 

[#1ManningFan]

I'll play this game. I think Team 120 would compete with any of the teams from the 90's. Who would win? Will never know...

 

[Backwards K]

Maybe we can actually play a game or two before we compare?

Thank you Capt Obvious. However, that is really the point I was trying to make. A lot of y'all are already crowning this team as SEC Champions but they haven't proven they can do it nor are they as talented as some past UT teams.......yet. Hopefully, they have gotten bigger, stronger, faster, and will be able to make the plays they didn't make last year. But, it's a little early to be talking about NCAA Playoffs until they prove it in a big game vs a top team.

Until then, I still say this group goes 1-9 vs the 90s.

 

[ShulerFan_21]

Truly great in the 90's, yet somehow still 3-7 vs. Florida. Man,I am ready for a win over those guys.

 

[tennesseeduke]

Game has changed too much. Remember when Urban was one of the first to run the spread option? They put up rock star stats and killed people until defenses caught up. Put the 2016 Vols in a time machine and send them back to the 90's and they do that to the Chavis defense.

The 95-99 team IMHO was the best ERA for UT since Neyland. The Offense & Defense was year in and year out one of the best in the country. Having said that this years team could be as good or better. Back then most teams either ran pro style offense or Power I. The spread today can put up a lot of #'s so I think we will be better offensively. Defense I'll be very happy with 20 pts/gm or less average. If so we go undefeated.

1995 -- Won 11 Lost 1
Date Opponent Site AP Rank
Sept. 2 East Carolina Knoxville 8/-- 27-7 W
Sept. 9 Georgia Knoxville 8/-- 30-27 W
Sept. 16 Florida Gainesville 8/4 37-62 L
Sept. 23 Miss State Knoxville 15/-- 52-14 W
Sept. 30 Ok St Knoxville 12/-- 31-0 W
Oct. 7 Arkansas Fayetteville 10/18 49-31 W
Oct. 14 Alabama Birmingham 6/12 41-14 W
Oct. 28 S. Carolina Knoxville 5/-- 56-21 W
Nov. 4 Sou Miss Knoxville 5/-- 42-0 W
Nov. 18 Kentucky Lexington 4/-- 34-31 W
Nov. 25 Vanderbilt Knoxville 5/-- 12-7 W
Florida Citrus Bowl
Jan. 1 Ohio State Orlando 4t/4t 20-14 W
SEC 7-1 (2nd East) - 3rd AP 431-228

1996 -- Won 10 Lost 2
Date Opponent Site AP Rank
Aug. 31 UNLV N Knoxville 2/-- 62-3 W
Sept. 7 UCLA N Knoxville 2/-- 35-20 W
Sept. 21 Florida Knoxville 2/4 29-35 L
Oct. 3 Mississippi Memphis 9/-- 41-3 W
Oct. 12 Georgia N Athens 7/-- 29-17 W
Oct. 26 Alabama Knoxville 6/7 20-13 W
Nov. 2 S. Carolina Columbia 6/-- 31-14 W
Nov. 9 Memphis Memphis 6/-- 17-21 L
Nov. 16 Arkansas Knoxville 12/-- 55-14 W
Nov. 23 Kentucky Knoxville 9/-- 56-10 W
Nov. 30 Vanderbilt Nashville 9/-- 14-7 W
Florida Citrus Bowl
Jan. 1 Northwestern /11 48-28 W
SEC 7-1 (2nd East)-9th AP 437-185

1997 -- Won 11 Lost 2 (SEC CHAMPIONS)
Date Opponent Site AP Rank
Aug. 30 Texas Tech Knoxville 5/-- 52-17 W
Sept. 6 UCLA Pasadena 3/-- 30-24 W
Sept. 20 Florida Gainesville 4/2 20-33 L
Oct. 4 Mississippi Knoxville 9/-- 31-17 W
Oct. 11 Georgia Knoxville 9/13 38-13 W
Oct. 18 Alabama Birmingh 9/-- 38-21 W
Nov. 1 S. Carolina Knoxville 8/-- 22-7 W
Nov. 8 Sou Miss. Knoxville 8/24 44-20 W
Nov. 15 Arkansas N Little Rock 5/-- 30-22 W
Nov. 22 Kentucky Lexington 5/-- 59-31 W
Nov. 29 Vanderbilt Knoxville 3/-- 17-10 W
SEC Championship Game
Dec. 6 Auburn N Atlanta 3/11 30-29 W
Orange Bowl
Jan. 2 Nebraska N Miami 3/2 17-42 L
SEC 7-1 (1st/1st East) - 7th AP 428-286

1998 -- Won 13 Lost 0 (NATIONAL CHAMPIONS -- NCAA Consensus, SEC CHAMPIONS)
Date Opponent Site AP Rank
Sept. 5 Syracuse Syracuse 10/17 34-33 W
Sept. 19 *Florida N Knoxville 6/2 20-17 W OT
Sept. 26 Houston N Knoxville 4/-- 42-7 W
Oct. 3 Auburn Auburn 3/-- 17-9 W
Oct. 10 Georgia Athens 4/7 22-3 W
Oct. 24 Alabama Knoxville 3/-- 35-18 W
Oct. 31 S. Carolina Columbia 3/-- 49-14 W
Nov. 7 UAB (HC) Knoxville 2/-- 37-13 W
Nov. 14 Arkansas Knoxville 1/10 28-24 W
Nov. 21 Kentucky Knoxville 1/-- 59-21 W
Nov. 28 Vanderbilt Nashville 1/-- 41-0 W
SEC Championship Game
Dec. 5 Miss State Atlanta 1/23 24-14 W
Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 4 Florida State 1/2 23-16 W
SEC 8-0 (1st/1st East) - 1st AP 431-189

1999 -- Won 9 Lost 3
Date Opponent Site AP Rank
Sept. 4 Wyoming N Knoxville 2/-- 42-17 W
Sept. 18 Florida N Gainesville 2/4t 21-23 L
Sept. 25 Memphis Knoxville 7/-- 17-16 W
Oct. 2 Auburn N Knoxville 7/-- 24-0 W
Oct. 9 Georgia N Knoxville 6/10 37-20 W
Oct. 23 Alabama Tuscaloosa 5/10 21-7 W
Oct. 30 S. Carolina Knoxville 4/-- 30-7 W
Nov. 6 N. Dame Knoxville 4/24 38-14 W
Nov. 13 Arkansas Fayetteville 3/-- 24-28 L
Nov. 20 Kentucky Lexington 7/-- 56-21 W
Nov. 27 Vanderbilt Knoxville 6/-- 38-10 W
Fiesta Bowl
Jan. 2 Nebraska N Tempe 6/3 21-31 L
SEC 6-2 (2nd East) - 9th AP 369-194

RECORD FROM 95-99 WAS:
WON 54 LOST 8
AVERAGE PTS FOR PER SEASON = 419.2 (33.8/GM)
AVERAGE PTS AGAINST PER SEASON= 216.4 (17.5/GM)

IMHO I think our offense & defense can be as good now as the 95-99 teams. Statistically the 98 NC team was the best defense team at 14.5 pts/gm. 95 team was the best offense statistically at 35.9 pts/gm.

:loco:

Tennesseeduke

 

[ETV]

Game has changed too much. Remember when Urban was one of the first to run the spread option? They put up rock star stats and killed people until defenses caught up. Put the 2016 Vols in a time machine and send them back to the 90's and they do that to the Chavis defense.

Spurrier didn't need the time machine. He put up Playstation stats several times against chief.

 

[VolZen]

Spurrier didn't need the time machine. He put up Playstation stats several times against chief.

That is very close to my point. Spurrier's offense, potent as it was, was nothing dramatically different scheme wise other than spreading you out and chuckin it all around.

Butch's offense, while not passing potent from what we have seen, uses all kinds of misdirection, read option fakes, linemen pulling, etc. Those 90's defenses from Chavis were aggressive, based on putting pressure on drop back passers and stuffing traditional running lanes.
When we played option/misdirection teams in the 90's we had issues stopping them, see Nebraska. That offense is a shell of what we have/see now. Team 120 would beat those 90's teams by 2-3 scores for that reason.

 

[LittleVol]

That is very close to my point. Spurrier's offense, potent as it was, was nothing dramatically different scheme wise other than spreading you out and chuckin it all around.

Butch's offense, while not passing potent from what we have seen, uses all kinds of misdirection, read option fakes, linemen pulling, etc. Those 90's defenses from Chavis were aggressive, based on putting pressure on drop back passers and stuffing traditional running lanes.
When we played option/misdirection teams in the 90's we had issues stopping them, see Nebraska. That offense is a shell of what we have/see now. Team 120 would beat those 90's teams by 2-3 scores for that reason.

Yep...

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

In the 90s we lined up, ran it down your throat and could almost do whatever we wanted to, even if the defense knew it was coming. I don't think this team this year is close to that level. They're going to be pretty dang good but I don't think we are quite at that level.

 

[LittleVol]

In the 90s we lined up, ran it down your throat and could almost do whatever we wanted to, even if the defense knew it was coming. I don't think this team this year is close to that level. They're going to be pretty dang good but I don't think we are quite at that level.

Teams from the "Golden Era" are often overhyped as time passes.

They were talented, but got outcoached more than a few teams.

I'll put it this way. Team 119 would not have gotten destroyed by Nebraska back in 1997. I"m not sure they would have lost, period.

Our hurry up Offense would have given them fits.

Laderrel Mcniel and Brian Randolph were great in run support.

Honestly... Butch's teams are waaay more physical than any team Fulmer ever fielded...imo

Edit: So if team 119 was that... then 120 is even more so

 

[VolZen]

In the 90s we lined up, ran it down your throat and could almost do whatever we wanted to, even if the defense knew it was coming. I don't think this team this year is close to that level. They're going to be pretty dang good but I don't think we are quite at that level.

Pretty much what Bama does today offensively and we have played them pretty close to a dead heat the last 7 quarters.

 

[Backwards K]

On the flip side, team 120 has the same bunch of defenders who made Grayson Lambert and Will Grier look like the second coming of Matthew Stafford and Danny Weurfel. How would Peyton, Andy Kelly, and Heath Shuler do against them?

I hope team 120 proves themselves to be the best team in UT history. But, I haven't seen anything that makes me think they could beat the teams from 95-99 and/or 90-92. If you weren't there, you need to ask an older fan.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Yeah, let's let Team 120 play the season first. Then we can try comparing them to others.

--> If we were to go 15-0, unbeaten, untied, and unscored upon, would you say any team in the history of the program is better?

--> If we were to go 8-5, would you even say we're better than Team 119?

Makes no sense to compare now. Hold that thought. Ask again in January.

Go Vols!

 

[Pump Guy]

The 1999 team had at least 11 players make a NFL roster on offense and at least 17 players make a NFL roster on defense.

One stunning note, our starting defensive line consisted of: John Henderson, Shaun Ellis, Will Overstreet, and Albert Haynesworth, three of which made the NFL Pro Bowl.

 

[Vol$_Deep_11_9]

Pretty much what Bama does today offensively and we have played them pretty close to a dead heat the last 7 quarters.

I'll agree with that but I'll say 4 quarters instead of 7. They boat raced us in 2014 and we made it look respectable late.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

The 1999 team had at least 11 players make a NFL roster on offense and at least 17 players make a NFL roster on defense.

One stunning note, our starting defensive line consisted of: John Henderson, Shaun Ellis, Will Overstreet, and Albert Haynesworth, three of which made the NFL Pro Bowl.

Man, if we're gonna judge it that way, we can't wait one year to compare the teams objectively...will have to wait about 20 years instead!

 

[Backwards K]

Man, if we're gonna judge it that way, we can't wait one year to compare the teams objectively...will have to wait about 20 years instead!

This IS a message board and opinions are normally welcomed. If this threat bothers you so bad, ignore it.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

This IS a message board and opinions are normally welcomed. If this threat bothers you so bad, ignore it.

Read my response again, while pulling your panties out of a wad.

I didn't say it bothers me at all, I only said that we're gonna have to wait 20 years to compare the results if the measuring stick is NFL pro bowl appearances and the like.

That's a fact, not a complaint.