98 vs 2001

[UTblood4life]

Some hiccups in 2001 I believe the 01 team vs 98 01 would win.. Just looking for your opinion

 

[UTblood4life]

Fulmers behind the scenes was great as AD stick with donuts,..guess he did stick with them

 

[VOLfrombama]

01 was definitely more talented across the board. But 98 had that fire in their belly, led by one of the best rushing attacks in school history and THE best leader.

 

[GAVol]

In some ways, 2001 was 1998 without the breaks.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

I would say the 97, 99, and 01 teams were all more talented than the 98 one. The 98 one got some breaks and they took advantage of all of them.

 

[volsforever27]

I think the 98 team was better on d, so I'd give them a slight edge.

 

[UTblood4life]

Love vfls true opinions

 

[UTblood4life]

I was watching 98 vs 01 youtube I'd give my nod to 01 but defense in 98 was remarkable

 

[VOLfrombama]

I agree the 98 team got a few breaks that saved the season, (stoener stumble, florida missing a chipshot fg in ot, etc.), but 01 crapped the bed twice against a mediocre bulldog team and a backup Qb when it mattered most. Neither were really missed breaks, unless we’re talking about Mental breakdowns.

 

[Volizona]

01 was definitely more talented across the board. But 98 had that fire in their belly, led by one of the best rushing attacks in school history and THE best leader.

Assume THE best leader was Al Wilson? If so I agree. You take him away from 98 and the outcome would have been different. He almost single handedly beat Florida.

 

[Volizona]

I agree the 98 team got a few breaks that saved the season, (stoener stumble, florida missing a chipshot fg in ot, etc.), but 01 crapped the bed twice against a mediocre bulldog team and a backup Qb when it mattered most. Neither were really missed breaks, unless we’re talking about Mental breakdowns.

Fulmer tried his best to give away games in 98 but the team wouldn’t allow it to happen. Things got back to normal in 99 and 01 with UT handing wins to less talented teams. A lot of that was due to ultra conservative game plans vs putting our foot on the gas petal.

 

[Iam4utalways]

The only question mark for 1998 was QB, everywhere else was stacked with talent. Who was Tee’s backup in 98?

2001 was stacked too.We were too kind to the other teams in 2001. We didn’t play anyone that we shouldn’t have blown out. The guys looked like they had the party the night before the game rather than after.

 

[RAVOL]

01 I remember the CB Battle having a pick 6 and dropped it. That game against Lsu all things went wrong just like GA this year but they got another shot in playoff. No doubt Tn would have made a 4 team playoff if they had one that year. Don't know if we beat Miami that year but we were the only team that matched them in Talent. AL Wilson 98 team special year John Ward last year it was meant to be. In CHRIST Alone

 

[EconVol92]

98 had coach Cut, that was the magic ingredient. Look at Fulmer’s record with and without him.

I understand that he was gone before the national championship game, but he was the glue that held everything together.

 

[peaygolf]

‘98 wins 8/10 times. They knew how to not lose……

 

[UTalum04]

‘98 wins 8/10 times. They knew how to not lose……

And luckily they didn't play Nebraska in '98.

 

[peaygolf]

And luckily they didn't play Nebraska in '98.

Or FSU in ‘99.

Still. The ‘98 team was better than the ‘01 team…..and the ‘89 team might have been better than both

 

[Boca Vol]

I would say the 97, 99, and 01 teams were all more talented than the 98 one. The 98 one got some breaks and they took advantage of all of them.

I agree with this assessment. Sometimes a lesser talented team wins the title due to the "breaks" falling their way.

 

[LWSVOL]

2001 team had no Al Wilson. That was the difference and why 98 would win.

 

[Boca Vol]

2001 team had no Al Wilson. That was the difference and why 98 would win.

Depends on when the game was played. If early in the season the '01 team would've smoked the '98 team. Later in the season it would be a much closer game, IMO

 

[ClearwaterVol]

I would say the 97, 99, and 01 teams were all more talented than the 98 one. The 98 one got some breaks and they took advantage of all of them.

That team was relentless. Embodied the attitude of Al Wilson.

 

[EverythingOrange]

I think it killed a lot of sports-writers and broadcasters (Ahem - ESPN) that Tennessee won the first BCS national title game in 98. Even though we were undefeated and undisputed, Tennessee was still ranked #4 in the AP Poll even AFTER the BCS National Championship. No doubt, Tennessee would have gotten royally screwed if it wasn't for the BCS that year. In 2001, we lost a couple of games that we shouldn't have -- Hob-nail boot & Especially to LSU in the SEC Championship. But it was nice giving Michigan a butt-whipping in the Citrus Bowl (45-17)!

 

[05_never_again]

Pretty sure Al Wilson and someone else (maybe Raynoch Thompson) said in their opinion the 1997 team was better than the 1998 team.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Pretty sure Al Wilson and someone else (maybe Raynoch Thompson) said in their opinion the 1997 team was better than the 1998 team.

It was better. We lost Peyton Manning, Leonard Little, Marcus Nash, Terry Fair, Trey Teague, Jonathan Brown, Corey Gaines, etc after the 97 season. We were absolutely stacked in 97.

 

[TrueOrange]

I think it killed a lot of sports-writers and broadcasters (Ahem - ESPN) that Tennessee won the first BCS national title game in 98. Even though we were undefeated and undisputed, Tennessee was still ranked #4 in the AP Poll even AFTER the BCS National Championship. No doubt, Tennessee would have gotten royally screwed if it wasn't for the BCS that year. In 2001, we lost a couple of games that we shouldn't have -- Hob-nail boot & Especially to LSU in the SEC Championship. But it was nice giving Michigan a butt-whipping in the Citrus Bowl (45-17)!

That’s incorrect. Tennessee held the top spot in the AP Poll from November 9 (when it got to the top of the BCS poll) through the end of the season in 1998.

1998 NCAA Division I-A football rankings - Wikipedia