Feels like 89!

#1

Magic8Vol

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#1
I know I know, most people expect a look back comparison thread to be with the 85 SugarVols or the 98 National Champs. But for me, this years teams just feels like 89.

For those of you born after the 82 Worlds Fair, things today are much different than they were 20 years ago. Usually by the time the season started we as fans where whipped up into such a frenzy that when the team took the field for the first game, fans were ready to tear down the city to see the Vols play. I think this was because of the lack of news about the team we had back then. We were litterally starved for information. Back in the day(never thought I would be old enough to say that!) there was no twitter, message boards, internet or even sports talk radio! In fact, 89 was the 1st year that Knoxville had a sports talk show. What became the Sports Animal was then a 2hr talk show hosted by Alan Williams that no one really even knew existed. Fans had no voice or outlet to share their opinions or find out whats happening with the team. Other than about 30 seconds on the local news we only had the newspapers to give us a few stories. Now days, I litterally watch practice clips, interviews, quarterback club speeches, etc on you tube. Volnation keeps me going through out the off season, recruiting and of course during the season.

The summer of 89 was very similar to the summer of 2012. The 89 team was coming off a disappointing 88 campaign where they litterally lost their first 6 games. The entire state was in an uproar. People were crazy, depressed, angry, etc. Hell, one guy in Nashville climbed a Billboard and wouldn't come down until we won a game. There was even talk of getting rid of Coach Majors. Not much, but it was there as it always seems to be. The 88 team did finish the year 5-6 having won their last 5 in a row so there was a lot of guarded optimism about the up coming season. That team was full of future NFL players but hadn't reached their potential the previous year. The 89 team had an unbelievable group of wide recievers that included Anthony Morgan, Thomas Woods, Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper and JJ McCleskey. Antoine Davis, Charles McCrae and Tom Myslensky anchored the Offensive line. And that year we also had a new D-line/linebackers coach who came back to the Vols-John Chavis. Sounds familar doesn't it? As the season got closer to the first game I remember the feeling of anticipation and the hope of a great year. There were a lot of question marks but also a lot to be excited about. I haven't been that excited about an upcoming season since 89. Based on the message boards and sports talk radio it seems that most of you feel the same way. There's a fan frenzy around this team, a build up of optimism and uncertainty. New coaches, players and potential surround this season. There are more unknowns to start this season than any I can remember.

The 89 team went on to go 11-1 that year with emergence of two incredible freshman, Chuck Webb and Carl Pickens. The 89 team was the true start of what a lot of Vol fans view as the greatest time in modern Tennessee Football History. While I am not saying this years team will go 11-1, I do feel they have that potential. Maybe it's because of where we have been the last few years but I believe much like 89, this year will be the start of a lot of great times and big wins for Tennessee Football for a long time to come! :thumbsup:

chuck-webb.jpg
 
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#3
#3
Solid post. Some people will post about you comparing this team to that talent, but others know what you are saying. I was there, and I remember just seeing who we had on the team by what a friend on the team would tell me. No news, no talk, nothing.

I felt like were were headed out of the funk then, as I do now.
 
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#4
#4
We may only be a chuck webb away from the same results. You done went and got me all fired up now! :banghead2:
 
#7
#7
I remember it well....I was a sophomore at UT. This year has a hint of the same feeling.

If memory serves, there were several quality JUCO players interspersed on that squad that made big contributions that year too.
 
#9
#9
Good post. I lived in Boone, NC, and had the News Sentinel Sunday paper delivered there to see the news on the Vols. Got my season tix after the 88 season...still have them. Was a great year, and nobody expected it.
 
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#10
#10
I can't imagine not having some sort of vols news.


For me, I only heard word of mouth. I don't recall reading one article, magazine, or anything.
I agree with OP in that excitement was big. There were no multiple HD games on tv or internet. We were ready for a jack and coke and football. The rest would work itself out.
 
#12
#12
I was in the AF at the time and my NCOIC was a UCLA fan. He spent the entire summer talking crap about how they would kick our asses. It was sweet getting to rub it in after we won.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
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#17
#17
One of the best posts I've read all summer, great job OP! I wasn't born yet then but sounds very similar. Got me pumped up for this year!!
 
#19
#19
Back in the 70's the only time you really got football info was the radio on saturday morning during football season and sports on the news channel which very rarely even discussed the Vols.There was no espn or 24 hour sport shows of any kind, the way DD doesn't address the media and upsets some of our fans today, we get more info now than we ever could dream of in the 70's.
 
#20
#20
Nope, they ran the toss sweep like 30 times that game and we never stopped it.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

But . . . The one thing that did happen that day was Sterling Henton got the hook and a Soph named Andy Kelly began what turned out to be a pretty good career as starting QB.
 
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#21
#21
I was in the AF at the time and my NCOIC was a UCLA fan. He spent the entire summer talking crap about how they would kick our asses. It was sweet getting to rub it in after we won.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

I can remember listening to that one on the radio. Going out there and picking up that win felt absolutely huge.
 
#22
#22
Great post!! Was the start to a great decade or so run. Was a freshman in college myself. Makes me think of John Ward...those were the days!!
 
#24
#24
I know I know, most people expect a look back comparison thread to be with the 85 SugarVols or the 98 National Champs. But for me, this years teams just feels like 89.

For those of you born after the 82 Worlds Fair, things today are much different than they were 20 years ago. Usually by the time the season started we as fans where whipped up into such a frenzy that when the team took the field for the first game, fans were ready to tear down the city to see the Vols play. I think this was because of the lack of news about the team we had back then. We were litterally starved for information. Back in the day(never thought I would be old enough to say that!) there was no twitter, message boards, internet or even sports talk radio! In fact, 89 was the 1st year that Knoxville had a sports talk show. What became the Sports Animal was then a 2hr talk show hosted by Alan Williams that no one really even knew existed. Fans had no voice or outlet to share their opinions or find out whats happening with the team. Other than about 30 seconds on the local news we only had the newspapers to give us a few stories. Now days, I litterally watch practice clips, interviews, quarterback club speeches, etc on you tube. Volnation keeps me going through out the off season, recruiting and of course during the season.

The summer of 89 was very similar to the summer of 2012. The 89 team was coming off a disappointing 88 campaign where they litterally lost their first 6 games. The entire state was in an uproar. People were crazy, depressed, angry, etc. Hell, one guy in Nashville climbed a Billboard and wouldn't come down until we won a game. There was even talk of getting rid of Coach Majors. Not much, but it was there as it always seems to be. The 88 team did finish the year 5-6 having won their last 5 in a row so there was a lot of guarded optimism about the up coming season. That team was full of future NFL players but hadn't reached their potential the previous year. The 89 team had an unbelievable group of wide recievers that included Anthony Morgan, Thomas Woods, Carl Pickens, Alvin Harper and JJ McCleskey. Antoine Davis, Charles McCrae and Tom Myslensky anchored the Offensive line. And that year we also had a new D-line/linebackers coach who came back to the Vols-John Chavis. Sounds familar doesn't it? As the season got closer to the first game I remember the feeling of anticipation and the hope of a great year. There were a lot of question marks but also a lot to be excited about. I haven't been that excited about an upcoming season since 89. Based on the message boards and sports talk radio it seems that most of you feel the same way. There's a fan frenzy around this team, a build up of optimism and uncertainty. New coaches, players and potential surround this season. There are more unknowns to start this season than any I can remember.

The 89 team went on to go 11-1 that year with emergence of two incredible freshman, Chuck Webb and Carl Pickens. The 89 team was the true start of what a lot of Vol fans view as the greatest time in modern Tennessee Football History. While I am not saying this years team will go 11-1, I do feel they have that potential. Maybe it's because of where we have been the last few years but I believe much like 89, this year will be the start of a lot of great times and big wins for Tennessee Football for a long time to come! :thumbsup:

View attachment 47852

great post
 
#25
#25
But . . . The one thing that did happen that day was Sterling Henton got the hook and a Soph named Andy Kelly began what turned out to be a pretty good career as starting QB.


My first road trip with a college girlfriend. Still remember my view. Of the game and later activities.
 
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