sami
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First thread I've started on here. It's the perfect week to look back 40 years (!) to what was the greatest sporting event I ever witnessed in person, when we took on and beat #2 ranked Alabama in Bear Bryant's final season. Going into that game we had a losing streak to Bama much like we do now, at 11 games. UT had some incredible talent (Reggie White, Willie Gault, Mike Cofer, Fuad Reveiz, and Bill Bates among the future pros), but were a disappointing .500 team, ending at 6-5-1, losing the Peach Bowl to Iowa.
This was my second year at UT as a student, and I didn't get the negativity surrounding the whole week, but by game time Neyland was packed and rocking, especially when they came out through the Power T in orange on orange. But the loudest I ever heard Neyland before or since was when Walter Lewis fumbled a handoff on the first play from scrimmage and the ball bounced loose for what seemed an eternity until the Vols jumped on it.
UT controlled the game, jumping out to a 35-21 lead that could have been more but for conservative coaching and settling for 4 Fuad Reveiz FG's, but the last six minutes were endless, as Bama closed it to 35-28 and was driving for the tying score when Mike Terry got a deflected interception with 17 seconds left.
Honestly, I never knew that they even took the knee as we were headed for the field (we had great seats in the lower bowl) and for the goal post. We dragged it down and carried that thing out of the stadium and down to the Strip, then not knowing what the hell to do with it, we deposited it in front of the players' dorm. The party raged all night, police allowing open alcohol in the street on Cumberland, and we finally headed home at about 3am. Woke up at 8 and could still hear noise on the Strip from our apartment in the Fort (a block from the World's Fair site).
Thanks for indulging an amazing memory and great time, and here's hoping we can have a repeat almost 40 years to the day on October 16, 1982. Let's hear from anyone who was there that day and any memories you have.
This was my second year at UT as a student, and I didn't get the negativity surrounding the whole week, but by game time Neyland was packed and rocking, especially when they came out through the Power T in orange on orange. But the loudest I ever heard Neyland before or since was when Walter Lewis fumbled a handoff on the first play from scrimmage and the ball bounced loose for what seemed an eternity until the Vols jumped on it.
UT controlled the game, jumping out to a 35-21 lead that could have been more but for conservative coaching and settling for 4 Fuad Reveiz FG's, but the last six minutes were endless, as Bama closed it to 35-28 and was driving for the tying score when Mike Terry got a deflected interception with 17 seconds left.
Honestly, I never knew that they even took the knee as we were headed for the field (we had great seats in the lower bowl) and for the goal post. We dragged it down and carried that thing out of the stadium and down to the Strip, then not knowing what the hell to do with it, we deposited it in front of the players' dorm. The party raged all night, police allowing open alcohol in the street on Cumberland, and we finally headed home at about 3am. Woke up at 8 and could still hear noise on the Strip from our apartment in the Fort (a block from the World's Fair site).
Thanks for indulging an amazing memory and great time, and here's hoping we can have a repeat almost 40 years to the day on October 16, 1982. Let's hear from anyone who was there that day and any memories you have.
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