Feels like 98 Opening with Syracuse

#1
ATLVols

ATLVols

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#1
During 1998 Vols championship season, we opened with Syracuse (just like this year). It was a hard fought game against Donavan McNabb but Tennessee won by 1 point. Then we went on to beat Florida and eventually win the National Championship.

Just like this 2025 season, 1998 was supposed to be a “down year”. It was the 1st year without our star QB Peyton Manning and most in the national media thought Tennessee would take a step back as we turned to the 1st season with Tee Martin. But the team rallied around each other with great defense, a strong running game, and timely passes by Tee. In 98, we shocked college football by winning it all the year AFTER our star QB left.

I realize Nico was no star last year, but his star ranking and abilities led many to believe he could lead us back to the national championship. Yet just like 98, here we are with a new QB, an excellent defense, and a strong running game.
 
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#4
#4
ATLVols said:
During 1998 Vols championship season, we opened with Syracuse (just like this year). It was a hard fought game against Donavan McNabb but Tennessee won by 1 point. Then we went on to beat Florida and eventually win the National Championship.

Just like this 2025 season, 1998 was supposed to be a “down year”. It was the 1st year without our star QB Peyton Manning and most in the national media thought Tennessee would take a step back as we turned to the 1st season with Tee Martin. But the team rallied around each other with great defense, a strong running game, and timely passes by Tee. In 98, we shocked college football by winning it all the year AFTER our star QB left.

I realize Nico was no star last year, but his star ranking and abilities led many to believe he could lead us back to the national championship. Yet just like 98, here we are with a new QB, an excellent defense, and a strong running game.
Click to expand...
We play 8 teams this season that we played in 98. 1998 Football Schedule - University of Tennessee Athletics
 
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#7
#7
ATLVols said:
During 1998 Vols championship season, we opened with Syracuse (just like this year). It was a hard fought game against Donavan McNabb but Tennessee won by 1 point. Then we went on to beat Florida and eventually win the National Championship.

Just like this 2025 season, 1998 was supposed to be a “down year”. It was the 1st year without our star QB Peyton Manning and most in the national media thought Tennessee would take a step back as we turned to the 1st season with Tee Martin. But the team rallied around each other with great defense, a strong running game, and timely passes by Tee. In 98, we shocked college football by winning it all the year AFTER our star QB left.

I realize Nico was no star last year, but his star ranking and abilities led many to believe he could lead us back to the national championship. Yet just like 98, here we are with a new QB, an excellent defense, and a strong running game.
Click to expand...
I remember well all the moaning and groaning after that game of how bad our QB play was.

Correct me if I am wrong. Didn't that team have McNabb, Marvin Harrison and Keith Bulluck?
 
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#9
#9
Correct me if I am wrong. Didn't that team have McNabb, Marvin Harrison and Keith Bulluck?

The 1998 SU team did have McNabb and Bulluck, but Harrison was already in the NFL.
 
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#12
#12
RealOrangeVol said:
Correct me if I am wrong. Didn't that team have McNabb, Marvin Harrison and Keith Bulluck?

The 1998 SU team did have McNabb and Bulluck, but Harrison was already in the NFL.
Click to expand...
I didn’t know who any of those players were in August of 1998, either. I remember hearing about how bad we were going to do because we barely beat Syracuse after the game. Same with UCLA the year before. Turns out they won every game after playing us.
 
#14
#14
ATLVols said:
During 1998 Vols championship season, we opened with Syracuse (just like this year). It was a hard fought game against Donavan McNabb but Tennessee won by 1 point. Then we went on to beat Florida and eventually win the National Championship.

Just like this 2025 season, 1998 was supposed to be a “down year”. It was the 1st year without our star QB Peyton Manning and most in the national media thought Tennessee would take a step back as we turned to the 1st season with Tee Martin. But the team rallied around each other with great defense, a strong running game, and timely passes by Tee. In 98, we shocked college football by winning it all the year AFTER our star QB left.

I realize Nico was no star last year, but his star ranking and abilities led many to believe he could lead us back to the national championship. Yet just like 98, here we are with a new QB, an excellent defense, and a strong running game.
Click to expand...
We also play Arky at home and they lead the NCAA in fumbles in 2024....
 
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#15
#15
ATLVols said:
During 1998 Vols championship season, we opened with Syracuse (just like this year). It was a hard fought game against Donavan McNabb but Tennessee won by 1 point. Then we went on to beat Florida and eventually win the National Championship.

Just like this 2025 season, 1998 was supposed to be a “down year”. It was the 1st year without our star QB Peyton Manning and most in the national media thought Tennessee would take a step back as we turned to the 1st season with Tee Martin. But the team rallied around each other with great defense, a strong running game, and timely passes by Tee. In 98, we shocked college football by winning it all the year AFTER our star QB left.

I realize Nico was no star last year, but his star ranking and abilities led many to believe he could lead us back to the national championship. Yet just like 98, here we are with a new QB, an excellent defense, and a strong running game.
Click to expand...
Nico is a celebrity QB. His NIL deal made him the big story every week.
JA will be the story this season and the offense will determine if it is an underdog overcoming adversity story, or a tragedy with our hero falling.
It is easy for me to conceive both Nico and JA throwing for 3000yds, which would be a wash. I would rather ride with JA for similar production.

This Syracuse team is not loaded like that McNabb team was. They were a very good team for a couple of seasons. This Syracuse team is a barely above average ACC team. They can win the game, but it would require a UT failure at some point during the game.

I feel like this UT offense can score points. If they execute at an average level, we win.
 
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#17
#17
In 1998, we had Alabama and Florida at home but we have them on the road this year. That is one MAJOR difference.

Plus, the SEC opposition is just a lot tougher now than it was in 1998 and, despite all the great work Heupel has done in recruiting, we are still no where near the level of talent we were in 1998. We were more the equivalent of what Alabama or Georgia are right now back then.
 
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#19
#19
phowell23 said:
Agreed. Always remembered that Arkansas game where QB stumbled and fumbled after all seemed lost.
Click to expand...

Yup. And more than just that.

How about the luck of UCLA losing their bid to play in the natty and instead we get a Florida St team with no Chris Weinke?

The dumb CB that committed PI on that crucial drive at the end of the Syracuse game?

The Florida kicker missing wide left by a centimeter?
 
#22
#22
ConantheVolbarian said:
You could say that about almost any national champion any year. Ohio State last year was a notable exception. They were flat out better than everyone else in the playoff
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Even they were fortunate that the CFP had expanded to 12, otherwise they would’ve missed out. Still think we should’ve got em @ 🏠 vs at the Horseshoe but oh well. Ready for 25
 
#23
#23
The Original Fade said:
Yup. And more than just that.

How about the luck of UCLA losing their bid to play in the natty and instead we get a Florida St team with no Chris Weinke?

The dumb CB that committed PI on that crucial drive at the end of the Syracuse game?

The Florida kicker missing wide left by a centimeter?
Click to expand...

UCLA wasn't that good (that is why they lost to, I mean got exposed by Miami). The toughest matchup would have been getting Ohio State or Florida rematch, both almost happened. I personally think the FSU team we played was better than Kansas State or UCLA.
 
#25
#25
The Original Fade said:
So much luck involved in the 98 season. Hard to repeat luck
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I’ve never been a believer in luck. Ratliff pushed the Arkansas center causing him to trip Stoerner. Wasn’t luck. The biggest break was the PI I call late in that Syracuse game. When the breaks go your way, score. That’s what those guys did. Every team gets breaks, not every team cashes in on them.
 
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