Countdown to Kickoff vs South Carolina

[peaygolf]

88 days.......

Peyton Manning had some amazing receivers who put up huge numbers. Peerless Price, Marcus Nash, and Jermaine Copeland were household names, but Andy McCullough, #88, had his special moments as well. McCullough finished his career with 59 receptions for 912 yards and 8 touchdowns, including Peyton’s last college competition. Andy was selected in the 7th round by the Saints and spent time in the AFL and NFL Europe. Where he was the World Bowl VII MVP.

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

In honor of D-Day anniversary that was on Saturday here's Derek Dooleys ideas on the subject

 

[OneManGang]

The only thing most Americans - at least those not recently educated in government schools who think WWII was the one where President Kennedy freed the slaves - know of D-Day is the dramatic and tragic struggle on OMAHA Beach.

To go with Dooley's analogy, rather than OMAHA, I feel the Vols under him were more like the Germans at UTAH Beach where the 4th Division made their landings. There the Germans were confused and disrupted by the scattered landings of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions the night before. Then, the 4th landed about two miles east of their assigned landing zones due to strong currents. Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., was beach head commander and famously said, "Well, we'll just start our war from here."

Despite some determined but scattered resistance the Germans were never able to mount a coherent defense and the 4th was on its objectives pretty much on schedule. Yes. Yes, I realize I'm waltzing over a lot killing and dying but this the basic UTAH narrative.

Pretty much the story of the Dooley era on The Hill.

Even if they had to call off the OMAHA landings, the Americans could have just shifted reserves and re-enforcements to UTAH and started their war from there, flanking the Germans at OMAHA and still linking up with the British and Canadians at GOLD, JUNO and SWORD beaches.

 

[peaygolf]

87 days........

In 2010, a freshman from Ensworth walked on to the Vols football team. After a redshirt year, an then a year without seeing any action, Jacob Carter, #87, finally earned a scholarship just before the NC State game in 2012. Carter spent the next three seasons as a reserve receiver and part-time starting punt returner. Carter finished his career with 13 receptions for 185 yrds and 1 TD (vs Akron.) He also returned 15 punts for 120 yrds. Carter was a 3X SEC Academic Honor Roll student.

 

[peaygolf]

86 days.......

Terry McDaniel came to Knoxville from Saginaw, Michigan in 1983 as a speedy wide receiver. After redshirting in 83 and only catching one pass in ‘84, McDaniel was moved to cornerback in ‘85. Great decision! McDaniel’s speed helped him become a shutdown corner. His interception vs Miami, and the “chase and strip” vs Miss. St, are just a couple of his memorable moments. McDaniel would finish with 146 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and 6 interceptions. He was an All-SEC player as a senior and was the #9 pick in the NFL Draft by the LA Raiders.

 

[peaygolf]

85 days........

Lester McClain, #85, was the first African-American to play football at UT. From 1968-1970, McClain was a fan favorite due to his big plays and a Coach’s favorite for his attention to detail and leadership. For his career, McClain caught 70 passes for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a then record 82 yard TD vs Memphis St. He also rushed 30 times for 123 yards and 2 TDs. McClain was a 9th round pick by the Chicago Bears, but was cut after an injury. Today, he owns his own State Farm agency in Nashville!

 

[peaygolf]

84 days.......

In 1977, #84 Brian Ingram came to Knoxville from Hamilton HS in Memphis. As a freshman, Ingram showed flashes with 28 tackles and a fumble recovery. As a sophomore, he recorded 4 sacks and as a junior he exploded with 90 tackles and 4 fumble recoveries. He had a safety vs Notre Dame and 11 tackles vs Ole Miss. A neck injury forced Ingram to miss his senior season in 1980. After a redshirt year, Brian had 61 tackles 1 sack and a fumble recovery. For his career, Ingram had 211 tackles, 6 sacks, and 6 fumble recoveries. He was a 4th round pick by the Patriots in 1982, and played in Super Bowl XX.

 

[peaygolf]

83 days........

Zach Rogers, #83, was a 3star out of Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. As a freshman in ‘09, Rogers excelled on special teams, and found his way in the receivers rotation as a sophomore, with 14 receptions and a touchdown. He equaled his production as a junior With 14 more receptions. As a senior in 2012, Rogers started 6 games and had 32 receptions for 491 yards and 7 touchdowns. He tied a school record @ South Carolina with 3 TDs and 107 yards. Rogers went undrafted, but signed with the Jets, but was released before the preseason ended.

 

[peaygolf]

82 days........

Ken DeLong, #82, came To Knoxville in 1966 as “Steve’s little brother,” but left as an All-SEC player. As a sophomore tight end in ‘67, Ken scored 3 TDs, and had 20 receptions.As a junior, DeLong caught 34 passes for 394 yrds and 3 TDs, and was named All-SEC. His 2pt conversation vs UGA is still talked about by old timers. With 22 receptions as a senior, DeLong finished his career as the all time leader (TE) in receptions(76), yards (844) and TDs (9). He is the only #82 to be named All Conference in Vols history.

 

[peaygolf]

81 days......

Alvin Harper, #81, was an All Conference receiver and SEC Track Champion while a Vol, from 1987-1990. The 1991 Hula Bowl MVP finished his career with 102 receptions for 1,574 yards and 16 TDs. He and Carl Pickens are regarded as one of the best duos in UT history. Harper was a 1st round pick by the Dallas Cowboys and won 2 Super Bowls.

 

[peaygolf]

80 days.........

Alcoa’s own, Billy Williams #80, started off at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M before coming to Knoxville in 1992. After sitting out a year due to academics, Williams showed why he was a JUCO All American. He had 39 receptions for 513 yards and 5 TDs in 1993, including 3 TDs vs UF. He also lead the SEC in kick returns with a 28.4 avg. Williams’ senior year was injury riddled, but he finished with 20 receptions for 217 yards and 2 TDs. He was a 7th round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in ‘95.

 

[peaygolf]

79 days.......

Eric Still, #79, was an All-State OL from Germantown HS (TN). From ‘86-89, Still was a stalwart on the OLine and helped lead the Vols to the Cotton Bowl and an 11-1 record his senior year. The Vols racked up 2,701 yards rushing and avg 408.5 yrds a game in ‘89. Still was an AP All-American and was a 4th round pick by the Houston Oilers. He played two seasons in WLAF for the Frankfurt Galaxy. Still was also a SEC All-Academic athlete all four years.

 

[Tin Man]

That 1990 Cotton Bowl was one for the memory book. Arkansas had more total offense, but the Vols had the higher score.

 

[OneManGang]

That 1990 Cotton Bowl was one for the memory book. Arkansas had more total offense, but the Vols had the higher score.

And Chuck Webb.

 

[Tin Man]

And Chuck Webb.

And his 250 yards on 26 attempts. CW credited the O-line.

 

[peaygolf]

And his 250 yards on 26 attempts. CW credited the O-line.

Eric Still!!!!
Antone Davis and Charles McRae

 

[peaygolf]

78 days......

When a local kid decides to stay home and play for the Vols, everyone is happy, especially when he turns into an All-Conference player Tim Irwin, #78, was one of thirty signees in 1976, and one of nine that played in the NFL. In ‘79 and ‘80, he was an All-SEC academic honoree, and made All-SEC in 1980. Irwin was drafted by the Vikings in ‘81 and played from ‘81-‘94, with 13 of those years for Minnesota. He earned his law degree in 1990, and was appointed Judge of the Juvenile Court of Knox County in 2005.

 

[OneManGang]

I've known Big Tim for something around a half century as he was a year behind me in grammar school. HIs son was playing for Catholic the same time as mine and so we spent a lot of time watching practices. Now, I'm not a small guy, running about 6'2"or so. One day I found myself standing between Tim and Jani Trupovnieks and I was talking to their shoulders. I remember thinking, "Hmm, so, this is how the rest of the world sees things."

 

[peaygolf]

I've known Big Tim for something around a half century as he was a year behind me in grammar school. HIs son was playing for Catholic the same time as mine and so we spent a lot of time watching practices. Now, I'm not a small guy, running about 6'2"or so. One day I found myself standing between Tim and Jani Trupovnieks and I was talking to their shoulders. I remember thinking, "Hmm, so, this is how the rest of the world sees things."

You sure you’re not Alan Duncan??

 

[OneManGang]

Heh.

 

[peaygolf]

Heh.

 

[OneManGang]

Tim is 6'7" and Jani is 6'8", as we say in East Tennessee, "Them's some big ol' boys!"

 

[peaygolf]

77 days........

Harold “Herky” Payne, #77, was a backfield mate of Hank Lauricella, but was stellar in his own right. A more powerful inside runner, Payne was known for short yardage plays . He was also a gifted passer, throwing for 423 yards and 9 TDs in his UT career. Payne rushed for 1,148 yrds and 23 career touchdowns, including 14 in 1951. Payne was also a member of the Vols College World Series team in 1951.

 

[peaygolf]

76 days........

John Gordy, #76, was an Offensive Tackle from Nashville, who was a two year starter at Guard. He was the captain of the Vols 1956 SEC Championship team and was named All-SEC. He was a 2nd round pick by Detroit Lions and helped the Lions to the ‘57 NFL Championship. Gordy would go on to play in 3 Pro Bowls during his 11 year career and became president of the NFL Players Association. He helped negotiate the leagues first collective bargaining agreement.

Gordy on the right, with Johnny Majors and Buddy Cruz

 

[peaygolf]

75 days.......

Jim Sivert, #75, is Tennessee’s oldest living letterman. Sivert served in WWII before coming to UT, seeing action at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Sivert came to UT in ‘46 and played from ‘47-‘49. He played three positions: back, center, and blocking back. His best game was against George Blanda and Coach Bryant, (Kentucky) when he had over a dozen tackles and caused a fumble to secure the 13-6 win.
Coach Neyland had so much respect for him, that he was asked/told he would be a graduate assistant in 1950. Sivert then went to Coach Memphis Tech HS for 30 years.