ESPN's 150 Greatest Games - Vols Included

#4
#4
The list includes six games involving Tennessee:

53. No. 13 Tennessee 35, at No. 5 Notre Dame 34
Nov. 9, 1991
The Volunteers rallied from 31-7 down in the first half to go up 35-34 with 4:03 left on an Andy Kelly to Aaron Hayden TD pass. The Irish marched down the field to get in field-goal range. With its starting kicker injured on an earlier FG block for a TD, backup Rob Leonard lined up for a 27-yarder. The Vols' Jeremy Lincoln blocked it with his butt. "I went up to my mom after the game," he said, "and thanked her for giving me such a big behind."

131. At No. 1 Tennessee 28, No. 10 Arkansas 24
Nov. 14, 1998
The Razorbacks sprinted to a 21-3 lead, but the Vols rallied to close the score to 24-22. With 1:43 left Arkansas QB Clint Stoerner's "Hand of God" fumble gave the ball back to Tennessee. Running back Travis Henry took it from there and scored the game-winning touchdown. The Vols would go on to win the first BCS national championship.

132. No. 3 USC 14, No. 2 Tennessee 0
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 1940
Tennessee arrived in Pasadena without giving up a single point all season, but it was the Vols who came up empty against USC. Game MVP Ambrose Schindler ran for one touchdown and passed for another to lead the Trojans to the Rose Bowl win.

139. No. 5 Tennessee 34, at No. 2 Florida 32
Dec. 2, 2001
The 18-point underdog Vols had lost seven straight in Swamp, but Tennessee, led by Travis Stephens' 226 yards and two touchdowns, surprised No. 2 Florida. The game was postponed to December due to 9/11.

140. No. 5 Boston College 19, No. 4 Tennessee 13
Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, 1941
In the first Sugar Bowl featuring two unbeaten and untied teams, Frank Leahy led Boston College to win. While practicing for the Vols, Leahy decided to incorporate a play out of the Tennessee playbook. It worked. Charlie O'Rourke ran 24-yards for the game-winning TD on the fake pass/inside run. Leahy left BC for Notre Dame in the month after the Sugar Bowl victory.

150. No. 3 Alabama 11, at Tennessee 10
Oct. 15, 1966
The Crimson Tide trailed 10-0 in the fourth quarter, but QB Kenny Stabler brings Bama back, running for a touchdown and throwing for a 2-point conversion. Steve Davis put Alabama ahead on a field goal with 3:23 left. The Vols missed a 19-yd FG from right hash with 18 seconds left.


They should have included the '85 season Sugar Bowl win over Miami. Otherwise, a pretty good pick of games for us, 3 wins and 3 losses.

And now some other highlights from the list:

3. Appalachian State 34, at No. 5 Michigan 32

[this is where all the Michigan fans shout, "ESPN hates us!" ... amazingly, despite some on VN.com saying our loss to Ga State would go down in infamy alongside this Michigan humiliation, the Vols-Ga State game didn't make the top 150 list, heh]

4. No. 10 Boston College 47 at No. 12 Miami 45
5. No. 2 Penn State 14, No. 1 Miami 10
6. At No. 4 Notre Dame 31, No. 1 Miami 30

[this is where all the Miami fans shout, "ESPN hates us!"]

11. At Harvard 29, Yale 29
Nov. 23, 1968
Would this game have made the list without the Harvard Crimson headline, "Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29?"

[you gotta give it to those preppy types, they frequently have a good sense of humor]


Go Vols!
 
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#5
#5
#53 , 131,132,139,140,150
53 was miracle southbend
131 was the 98 Arkansas game
132 was the rose bowl loss to usc
139 was the 2001 florida game
140 1941 sugar bowl loss to Boston College
150 was a loss to Bama 10 to 11

Suprised the 85 sugar bowl wasn't listed.
 
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#7
#7
The 1956 Georgia Tech game is usually considered one of the greatest games ever played.
 
#11
#11
Surprised the Florida at Tennessee from 1998 is not on there. 1991 Sugar Bowl should also be on there. That gets overlooked because the Orange Bowl where Colorado beat Notre Dame was on at the same time. And, not many people want to hear this, but the year Tennessee and Bama tied when Palmer ran in the 2 point conversion to tie the game in the final seconds.
 
#12
#12
I don't know if it was on there but the 1996 Fiesta Bowl where Nebraska beat Florida by a score of 62-24 should be on there. The look on Spurrier's face the entire game was priceless.

Of course a few years later we ended up being on thre receiving end of a Nebraska victory.

I miss those 80s and 90s Nebraska teams.
 
#14
#14
132. No. 3 USC 14, No. 2 Tennessee 0
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, 1940
Tennessee arrived in Pasadena without giving up a single point all season, but it was the Vols who came up empty against USC. Game MVP Ambrose Schindler ran for one touchdown and passed for another to lead the Trojans to the Rose Bowl win.

If memory serves, the Vols train was late in arriving. They had to begin playing with barely enough time to get into their uniforms and no opportunity to warm up.
 
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#15
#15
Rose Bowl loss was due in part to George Cafego being out ( or limited) with an injury. As for the 1966 11-10 loss to Alabama, SEC refs!
 
#17
#17
Not surprised to see the Miracle at South Bend up there.

Almost went to the 98 Ark game but it was questionable weather and expensive seats at the end of our undefeated season. Watched on TV instead. Probably the only year I didnt catch a game live in the 90s. What a mistake!
 
#21
#21
Even though we lost, I would have had the 1990 Notre Dame and Tennessee game on there as well... those were two great games we had with them, back to back.
 
#22
#22
nomads-11 said:
That had to be a tough list to put together, all things considered.
Click to expand...
Agreed but how the ‘98 UT-Arkansas game is behind some of others is ludicrous. There is even one game that turned into a complete blowout ahead of that game. I agree it’s tough but common sense should kick in at some point. Then again, this is ESPN.
 
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