Countdown to September 2nd vs UVA. (Top 150 Vols wins)

[peaygolf]

Getting anxious!

View attachment 555036

Not much longer….
top 20 should be fun……

 

[Tin Man]

"Top of the world, Ma!" Wait, I think that was White Heat not Public Enemy. A later film but still good. 1930s was a great decade for film, bad decade for being a human.

Also, Jean Harlow. Hubba! Hubba!

I see your Jean Harlow and raise you a Barbara Stanwyck and a Hedy Lamarr.

 

[peaygolf]

88 days…..

#88 - 24-7 vs #12 Kentucky (2018)

The Wildcats were having a great season, and UT stood at 4-5. The Vols desperately needed a win to have a shot a bowl game.

The story early was Tennessee’s defense. The Vols shut Kentucky out, but the Vols only got a field goal in the first quarter to go up 3-0. In the second quarter, however, the Vols scored two touchdowns. One was based on an 81-yard drive in which Guarantano completed two passes for 45 yards while Tim Jordan finished the job with a three-yard touchdown run. Then there was the 39 yard Hail Mary to give UT a 17-0 lead as the first half ended.

The Vols continued their dominance in the second half, opening it up with an eight play 85-yard drive that was highlighted by a 59-yard run from Jordan Murphy on a reverse and ended with a two-yard touchdown pass from Guarantano to Dominick Wood-Anderson. That TD gave the Vols a 24-0 lead.

Kentucky made it interesting by scoring a touchdown late in the third quarter and driving into Tennessee territory in the fourth. But the Vols then blocked a field goal that would’ve made it a two-score game, securing their control in the game.

The victory was huge at the time. It was a major road victory over a top 15 team, and things looked pretty good about going to a bowl, but the next two weeks ended that idea.

 

[Rifleman]

I see your Jean Harlow and raise you a Barbara Stanwyck and a Hedy Lamarr.

Ouch. If you’re going to that far, I’ll toss Lauren Bacall in “To Have or Have Not” onto the table like it’s the deed to my house.

 

[Tin Man]

Ouch. If you’re going to that far, I’ll toss Lauren Bacall in “To Have or Have Not” onto the table like it’s the deed to my house.

Ida Lupino, and your rent is due the first of the month.

 

[Rifleman]

Ida Lupino, and your rent is due the first of the month.

Dammit! You’ve won this one.

 

[peaygolf]

87 days……

#87 - 23-21 vs #11 South Carolina (2013)

South Carolina can in winning four in a row and UT hadn’t beaten a ranked opponent since 2009. Something good needed to happen.

The Vols rolled out to a 17-7 halftime lead in front of about 250 former players. Justin Worley looked sharp and the defense held firm except for a long TD pass.

Things turned in the third quarter though, as rushing touchdowns from Mike Davis and Conner Shaw put the Gamecocks back in front 21-17 to begin the fourth quarter. A second field goal from Michael Palardy made it a one-point game, and the Vols looked like they were primed to retake the lead late. Butch Jones elected to punt with just over three minutes remaining on a fourth-and-4 near midfield in a somewhat curious decision, but South Carolina wasn't able to kill the clock and the Vols got another chance. They wouldn't miss on this one, and Palardy hit a 19-yard field goal in the final seconds to seal the upset. Marquez North’s spectacular catch set up the game winner.

With a three game stretch of top 10 opponents coming up, this was a huge win for UTs bowl hopes. Sitting at 4-3, things looked fairly promising with Vanderbilt and UK still at the end of the schedule……but either way, this was a huge win for the Vols.

 

[Orange.]

87 days……

#87 - 23-21 vs #11 South Carolina (2013)

South Carolina can in winning four in a row and UT hadn’t beaten a ranked opponent since 2009. Something good needed to happen.

The Vols rolled out to a 17-7 halftime lead in front of about 250 former players. Justin Worley looked sharp and the defense held firm except for a long TD pass.

Things turned in the third quarter though, as rushing touchdowns from Mike Davis and Conner Shaw put the Gamecocks back in front 21-17 to begin the fourth quarter. A second field goal from Michael Palardy made it a one-point game, and the Vols looked like they were primed to retake the lead late. Butch Jones elected to punt with just over three minutes remaining on a fourth-and-4 near midfield in a somewhat curious decision, but South Carolina wasn't able to kill the clock and the Vols got another chance. They wouldn't miss on this one, and Palardy hit a 19-yard field goal in the final seconds to seal the upset. Marquez North’s spectacular catch set up the game winner.

With a three game stretch of top 10 opponents coming up, this was a huge win for UTs bowl hopes. Sitting at 4-3, things looked fairly promising with Vanderbilt and UK still at the end of the schedule……but either way, this was a huge win for the Vols.

View attachment 555425

That catch!

 

[OneManGang]

I see your Jean Harlow and raise you a Barbara Stanwyck and a Hedy Lamarr.

I'm sorry, but every time I see the name "Hedy Lamarr" my mind goes to ...

 

[Rifleman]

I'm sorry, but every time I see the name "Hedy Lamarr" my mind goes to ...

View attachment 555430

True story: Hedy Lamarr actually did sue Mel Brooks over the similar name and his lawyers wanted to fight it. He told them to pay her whatever she wanted and please give her his home address.

 

[peaygolf]

86 days…..

#86 - 17-10 vs #12 South Carolina (2001)

The #9 Vols hosted the #12 Gamecocks with SECE title ramifications. Carolina had never won in Neyland, and Albert Haynesworth and Travis Stephens made sure they wouldn’t this day either.

The offense started with Travis Stephens scoring from 8 yards out and finishing with Stephens scoring from the 1. Each scoring drive was extended with great third down catches by Bobby Graham. Stephens had 120 yards rushing along with his 2TDs.

Stephens second score came after Haynesworth stopped Andrew Pinnock on a 3rd and goal play from the one. South Carolina was forced to kick a tying FG instead of taking the lead. The ensuing drive, Clausen took the Vols 70 yards in 12 plays for the go-ahead score.

The win kept the one loss Vols in the National title conversation, with tough games to follow.

 

[Rifleman]

 

[peaygolf]

View attachment 555621

 

[peaygolf]

85 days…….

#85 - 21-0 vs #11 Auburn (1973)

Ninth‐ranked Tennessee used a swarming defense, the passing of Condredge Holloway and the running of Haskel Stanback in beating Auburn, 21‐0.

The victory snapped a three‐game Auburn winning streak over Tennessee and gave Bill Battle his first triumph over the Tigers since he became head coach of the Vols four years ago.

It was the first time Auburn had been held scoreless since 1967 when Georgia beat the Tigers, 17‐0.

Holloway, who completed nine of 14 passes for 73 yards, completed a 7‐yard toss to Emmon Love for Tennessee's first touchdown in the second quarter.

Stanback, who carried the ball 22 times for 96 yards, picked up 55 more yards than Auburn's combined rushing total of 41 yards.

Heavy monsoon like rains made the second half almost unplayable, prompting Battle to punt on first down on a couple of occasions.

The Vols victory gave hope for a very successful season, but three late season loses spoiled what started out great. After the Gator Bowl loss to Texas Tech, UT finished 8-4.

 

[Orange.]

Good ole Haskell Stanback. I bet we see him again.

 

[will-you-shut-up-man]

133 days….

#133 - 38-14 vs #24 Notre Dame (1999)

The #4 Vols entered the contest with the Irish at 6-1 and knowing that #2 Penn St had already lost. Visions of a NC repeat swelled.

Tee Martin threw for three touchdowns and ran for one and Travis Henry gained 132 yards and scored once. Martin’s 43-yard heave to Leonard Scott in the back of the end zone and Henry’s 40-yard run up the middle in the third quarter gave the Vols a 31-7 lead. That was too much even for the Irish, who had come from behind to win three of their last four games. Martin ran 14 yards on a bootleg to score the Vols’ last touchdown with 2:14 left in the game, capping an 18-play, 91-yard drive that took nearly 10 minutes off the clock and dashed any hopes Notre Dame had of a comeback.

The victory was sweet, but the following weeks upset loss to Arkansas dashed any hope of a repeat championship.
View attachment 547702

Was at this game. Should have been 7-0 going into that game. That was not a catch.

 

[peaygolf]

84 days…..

#84 - 7-3 vs #10 Maryland (1974 Liberty Bowl)

An early tie to UCLA and a last game tie at Vanderbilt left the Vols at 6-3-2 and facing the 7 point favorites out of the ACC.

Maryland, with an 8‐3 record, scored 28 seconds into the second quarter when Bob Smith, a defensive back, returned a punt 63 yards and set up a 28‐yard field goal by Steve Mike‐Mayer. Smith, sprinting down the right sideline, almost escaped for a touchdown, but was tackled by Neil Clabo, the punter.

Neither team was able to make any big plays until late in the game. Tennessee, appearing beaten, got new life when Maryland tried to punt and Marion Koprowski's snap went over the head of Phil Wagenheim. The Vols recovered at the 7‐yard line with about 2 minutes left.

Wallace, replacing the injured Condredge Holloway, found Larry Seivers at the back of the end zone on third down after Maryland's all‐America defensive lineman, Randy White, appeared to have stymied Tennessee's last effort for victory. Six minutes before the winning touchdown, White blocked a 31‐yard field goal attempt by Ricky Townsend after Holloway, who was hurt on the play, mishandled the snap.

The Terps threw a late scare into Tennessee, driving to the Vol 20 with time running out, but my friend Ernie Ward, killed the threat with nine seconds left when he intercepted Bob Avellini's deflected pass at the 2.

 

[peaygolf]

Note worth mentioning about the '74 Liberty Bowl........................

The victory smiles quickly turned to disbelief when the Vols made it back to their dressing room and learned about the death of Battle's father.
"Everybody was excited about winning the game, and then we found out Coach Battle's dad had died," West said. "It put a damper on winning."
Two seasons later, Battle was fired, despite a 59-22-2 record. He remains the only coach in Tennessee history to coach at least seven seasons and never have a losing or .500 season.

 

[MAD]

85 days…….

#85 - 21-0 vs #11 Auburn (1973)

Ninth‐ranked Tennessee used a swarming defense, the passing of Condredge Holloway and the running of Haskel Stanback in beating Auburn, 21‐0.

The victory snapped a three‐game Auburn winning streak over Tennessee and gave Bill Battle his first triumph over the Tigers since he became head coach of the Vols four years ago.

It was the first time Auburn had been held scoreless since 1967 when Georgia beat the Tigers, 17‐0.

Holloway, who completed nine of 14 passes for 73 yards, completed a 7‐yard toss to Emmon Love for Tennessee's first touchdown in the second quarter.

Stanback, who carried the ball 22 times for 96 yards, picked up 55 more yards than Auburn's combined rushing total of 41 yards.

Heavy monsoon like rains made the second half almost unplayable, prompting Battle to punt on first down on a couple of occasions.

The Vols victory gave hope for a very successful season, but three late season loses spoiled what started out great. After the Gator Bowl loss to Texas Tech, UT finished 8-4.

View attachment 555732

One of the top 5 memorable games I attended.

 

[MAD]

84 days…..

#84 - 7-3 vs #10 Maryland (1974 Liberty Bowl)

An early tie to UCLA and a last game tie at Vanderbilt left the Vols at 6-3-2 and facing the 7 point favorites out of the ACC.

Maryland, with an 8‐3 record, scored 28 seconds into the second quarter when Bob Smith, a defensive back, returned a punt 63 yards and set up a 28‐yard field goal by Steve Mike‐Mayer. Smith, sprinting down the right sideline, almost escaped for a touchdown, but was tackled by Neil Clabo, the punter.

Neither team was able to make any big plays until late in the game. Tennessee, appearing beaten, got new life when Maryland tried to punt and Marion Koprowski's snap went over the head of Phil Wagenheim. The Vols recovered at the 7‐yard line with about 2 minutes left.

Wallace, replacing the injured Condredge Holloway, found Larry Seivers at the back of the end zone on third down after Maryland's all‐America defensive lineman, Randy White, appeared to have stymied Tennessee's last effort for victory. Six minutes before the winning touchdown, White blocked a 31‐yard field goal attempt by Ricky Townsend after Holloway, who was hurt on the play, mishandled the snap.

The Terps threw a late scare into Tennessee, driving to the Vol 20 with time running out, but my friend Ernie Ward, killed the threat with nine seconds left when he intercepted Bob Avellini's deflected pass at the 2.


View attachment 555917

Would be our last Bowl victory for seven years.

 

[DonVol69]

If there was one more second in the 90 Colorado game good chance that was a win.

 

[peaygolf]

83 days…….

#83 - 24-10 vs #17 Florida (2003)

The #12 Vols fell behind 3-0 early and each offense struggled to gain any momentum during the first half. The Gators held a slim advantage until just before halftime when Casey Clausen connected with James Banks on a 48-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass, giving the Vols a 7-3 lead.

The Vols took control of the contest during the third quarter, pulling ahead 17-3 as Wilhoit kicked a 51-yard field goal and Jabari Davis scored on a 1-yard plunge in the frame. The Gators pulled to within 17-10 on DeSean Wynn’s 1-yard run with 14:10 remaining in the game. Tennessee would put the game away when Davis, who finished with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, had the game’s last score, a 9-yard run at the 9:25 mark of the final quarter.

The Vols would move up in the rankings and aspirations were growing, but a couple of stumbles in the following weeks dashed some hopes for a title season. Nevertheless, a road victory over a ranked Gators team is sweet.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

Was at this game. Should have been 7-0 going into that game. That was not a catch.

Which catch was not a catch?

 

[peaygolf]

82 days……

#82 - 45-10 vs #13 Louisville (1993)

Smack dab in the middle of the SEC season, the #7 Vols hosted the 7-1 Cardinals who came in ranked #13.

The Vols came out hot, scoring on their first two possessions and added a FG to take a 17-3 lead at the half.

UT scored in the third quarter when Heath Shuler hit Corey Fleming on a 14 yard touchdown, but when Louisville answered, UT only lead by 14.

The Vols offense sputtered at times, but special teams and defense can be weapons as well. In a span of 3:19 seconds during the fourth quarter, James Stewart scored a shot TD, DeRon Jenkins had a 22 yard fumble return for a TD and Nilo Silvan returned a punt 69 yards for another TD to nail the victory.

Everyone knew UT was good, but the only significant win of the season had bee over a #22 ranked Georgia team. This victory showed thee country that UT could beat just about anyone.

In my opinion, the ‘93 team was a good as any team in UT history…..

 

[malinoisvol]