How did the 1999 team not make it back to the National Championship game?

#52
#52
orangebloodgmc said:
In other words, our players did their jobs; other team failed to do so.
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I didn't say they didn't. The poster asked why we didn't repeat in 99 and I was making the point that we never had a dynasty, under Fulmer, the likes of Bama or Oklahoma to win multiple back to back NC's.
 
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#55
#55
VolRoger said:
The Vols had almost everyone back for 1999. Should have been a repeat of undefeated seasons. I personally think there were several stars on that 99 team who were thinking about draft status and making the big $$$. Although the score was fairly close Tennessee dominated the line of scrimmage against Bama in Tuscaloosa that year. The Florida game baffles me. I think we had more talent than the Gators. If that games in Knoxville we win which brings up a good point. Our tough games were all away in 99. They were at home in 98. Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl was a bad matchup and we were uninspired to win playing in the same bowl game 2 years in a row. It’s hard to believe that was the last year we played in a major bowl.
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This is how I remember the 99 season. 99 was supposed to be our year, but we peaked a year early and won the national championship. I recall Darwin Walker saying something along the lines of not wanting to ruin his NFL career. The upperclassmen, many of them, checked out after winning their championship ring. Not all though, I remember Raynoch Thompson jumping offsides....trying to do something to save the Arkansas game.
 
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#56
#56
PlanetVolunteer said:
I'm just wanting to pick the brain of some older folks here. I was five then.

I'm watching the Wyoming game and seeing all these NFL players all over the field. Tee Martin dropping dimes. Jamal Lewis and Travis Henry look ridiculous. Defense has unreal speed and talent.

How did we screw that up and lose three games?
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Alex Brown
 
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#57
#57
BSAvol said:
This is how I remember the 99 season. 99 was supposed to be our year, but we peaked a year early and won the national championship. I recall Darwin Walker saying something along the lines of not wanting to ruin his NFL career. The upperclassmen, many of them, checked out after winning their championship ring. Not all though, I remember Raynoch Thompson jumping offsides....trying to do something to save the Arkansas game.
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Yep... Zero player leadership and several key players thinking of the future in the NFL.
 
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#58
#58
The 98’ team was talented but no one thought we’d win it all. I remember that feeling of “it’s just our time” as the season rolled along. It was just destiny. Every team that wins a title has a little luck somewhere along the way. We had so many breaks—the football Gods were just on our side.

99’ was the 1st full season w/Sanders as OC and losing Cutt was a pretty big deal. As good as the 99’ team was on paper, the chemistry just wasn’t there, and it’s awfully hard to just win the SEC. The Arky loss was the back breaker for 3 SEC titles in a row which would have been amazing in its own right. As bad as that AR loss hurt—they deserved their revenge. The score was the exact same as 98 too—crazy.
 
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#59
#59
hndog609 said:
Winning the title in '01 would have meant beating that Miami team. Obviously it's football and it would have been nice to have had a shot but damn that team was ridiculously talented.
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I like us as an underdog to Miami forever since 1986. Proceed.
 
#61
#61
TC 83 said:
We were lucky to win in 98. The team was talented but no one thought we’d win it all. I remember that feeling of “it’s just our time” as the season rolled along. It was just destiny. Every team that wins a title has a little luck somewhere along the way. We had so many breaks—the football Gods were just on our side.

Pass interference at Syracuse
FL misses a FG
Auburn goal line stand at 1 yd line
The Stoener fumble
Weinke gets hurt
John Wards last season as VoV’s (what a way to ride off into the sunset!)

99 was 1st full season w/Sanders as OC and TN was the team to beat. As good as the 99 team was on paper, the chemistry just wasn’t there, and it’s awfully hard to just win the SEC. The Arky loss was the back breaker for 3 SEC titles in a row which would have been amazing in its own right. As bad as that AR loss hurt—they deserved their revenge. The score was the exact same as 98 too—crazy.
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Your second paragraph almost negates the first. In 98 we were lucky, so not justified, in 99 we were better but unlucky so that justifies not winning? BVS is strong even in good times...even in memories of good times...
 
#64
#64
VolDaddy61 said:
Speaking of Arkansas, did anyone catch that movie about Brandon Burlsworth ?! It details thier 98 team, and his life. Great movie.
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I actually watched that in the last month or so. I had no idea a player from that 98 team had tied.
 
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#65
#65
2GeeZ4VolZ said:
Your second paragraph almost negates the first. In 98 we were lucky, so not justified, in 99 we were better but unlucky so that justifies not winning? BVS is strong even in good times...even in memories of good times...
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Haha...yeah I guess. No BVS here though—I’m always an optimist when it comes to UT. I have nothing but fond memories being a 15 yr old at the time. I’ve always heard you make your own luck—and in 99 I guess we weren’t as hungry and perhaps a bit complacent as other commenters have said. Losing Cutt was obviously huge.
 
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#66
#66
TC 83 said:
Haha...yeah I guess. No BVS here though—I’m always an optimist when it comes to UT. I have nothing but fond memories being a 15 yr old at the time. I’ve always heard you make your own luck—and in 99 I guess we weren’t as hungry and perhaps a bit complacent as other commenters have said. Losing Cutt was obviously huge.
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Cut, yes, but nobody has mentioned we also lost Al Wilson from the 98 team. Huge difference maker in the leadership department!
 
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#67
#67
Jravol78 said:
Beat me to it . Still pisses me off thinking about it . Didn’t Brown later say that they had some sort of info relative to the snap count that allowed him to run wild over and around the Vols OL?
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Yes, Brown said he was able to time the snap based on a body movement that Tee made a split second before the snap. In other words, Tee inadvertently tipped off when the ball was going to be snapped.

I’ve wondered if Cutcliffe would have caught and corrected Tee if Cutcliffe would have been around in ‘99..
 
#68
#68
Freak said:
I actually watched that in the last month or so. I had no idea a player from that 98 team had tied.
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I didn't either. I distinctly remember the glasses he wore while he was playing. It took me a moment to connect the dots. I obviously had no idea about the circumstances surrounding his life. Tragic end to an incredible story.
 
#69
#69
TC 83 said:
We were lucky to win in 98. The team was talented but no one thought we’d win it all. I remember that feeling of “it’s just our time” as the season rolled along. It was just destiny. Every team that wins a title has a little luck somewhere along the way. We had so many breaks—the football Gods were just on our side.

Pass interference at Syracuse
FL misses a FG
Auburn goal line stand at 1 yd line
The Stoener fumble
Weinke gets hurt
John Wards last season as VoV’s (what a way to ride off into the sunset!)

99 was 1st full season w/Sanders as OC and TN was the team to beat. As good as the 99 team was on paper, the chemistry just wasn’t there, and it’s awfully hard to just win the SEC. The Arky loss was the back breaker for 3 SEC titles in a row which would have been amazing in its own right. As bad as that AR loss hurt—they deserved their revenge. The score was the exact same as 98 too—crazy.
Click to expand...

Nothing personal but that's a lot of gorgonzola. Since when is having better players, other teams committing penalties, capitalizing on the mistakes of your opponents and your players making great plays lucky? Tennessee didn't get a 5th down like Colorado or any other blatantly "lucky" break like that.

Syracuse - It was pass interference and while maybe it doesn't get called every time, that's the nature of pass interference. Plus if it doesn't get called and UT loses by 2 on the road to a quality non-conference opponent, they still likely are in the championship game at 11-1 and SEC champions. After all, FSU lost to NCSU by 17 points in week 2 and still got there.

Florida - Spurrier didn't believe in giving scholarships to kickers so while Tennessee had a future NFL draft pick as a kicker in Jeff Hall, UF had a kid who was second team all city in high school. Plus if he did make it, the game goes into another OT. Better talent at kicker was the final thing that decided that game.

Auburn - Tennessee lost Jamal Lewis in that game, not a lucky break. Tee Martin was hurt and had to come out for sometime, not a lucky break. The only reason Auburn had the ball inside the one was Tee got crushed and fumbled the ball there. Stopping a team four times from inside the one is players making plays not luck.

Arkansas - The fumble occurred at the 43 yard line. When UT recovered it all Arkansas had to do was stop UT four times and they win. Instead they totally folded and gave up over 40 yards on 4 consecutive rushing plays. And the fumble occurred because Billy Ratliff completely blew up his man and drove him two yards backward into Stoerner. Players making plays for UT and not making plays for Arkansas was the difference.

FSU - See Auburn where Jamal Lewis is lost for the season. Also FSU was able to win out the season including beating #4 UF without Weinke so it's not like they didn't have some talent at backup QB.
 
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#71
#71
dobre_shunka said:
Nothing personal but that's a lot of gorgonzola. Since when is having better players, other teams committing penalties, capitalizing on the mistakes of your opponents and your players making great plays lucky? Tennessee didn't get a 5th down like Colorado or any other blatantly "lucky" break like that.

Syracuse - It was pass interference and while maybe it doesn't get called every time, that's the nature of pass interference. Plus if it doesn't get called and UT loses by 2 on the road to a quality non-conference opponent, they still likely are in the championship game at 11-1 and SEC champions. After all, FSU lost to NCSU by 17 points in week 2 and still got there.

Florida - Spurrier didn't believe in giving scholarships to kickers so while Tennessee had a future NFL draft pick as a kicker in Jeff Hall, UF had a kid who was second team all city in high school. Plus if he did make it, the game goes into another OT. Better talent at kicker was the final thing that decided that game.

Auburn - Tennessee lost Jamal Lewis in that game, not a lucky break. Tee Martin was hurt and had to come out for sometime, not a lucky break. The only reason Auburn had the ball inside the one was Tee got crushed and fumbled the ball there. Stopping a team four times from inside the one is players making plays not luck.

Arkansas - The fumble occurred at the 43 yard line. When UT recovered it all Arkansas had to do was stop UT four times and they win. Instead they totally folded and gave up over 40 yards on 4 consecutive rushing plays. And the fumble occurred because Billy Ratliff completely blew up his man and drove him two yards backward into Stoerner. Players making plays for UT and not making plays for Arkansas was the difference.

FSU - See Auburn where Jamal Lewis is lost for the season. Also FSU was able to win out the season including beating #4 UF without Weinke so it's not like they didn't have some talent at backup QB.
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People referring to that victory as luck (which even most UT fans I know do) probably aggravates me more than just about anything that's talked about in UT football history and, as a result, what actually set the cascade that resulted in a turnover doesn't get discussed nearly enough... Like you said, that fumble happened because Ratliff refused to concede defeat and take a play off.

However I disagree about about making the championship game if we lose to Syracuse. A one loss OSU most likely would've gotten in over us.
 
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#72
#72
I was at the Fiesta Bowl watching the Nebraska game. They told us they were going to run it up the middle and they did. We couldn't stop them. We were not the best team that year.
 
#74
#74
The absolute dumbest comments on this thread revolve around the whiners who say the Vols were lucky in 1998. Anyone who thinks that team won just because they were "lucky" either weren't paying attention or don't understand competition. That team just flat out refused to lose and they were going to find a way to win no matter who they played or what the circumstances were. They went 13-0 and we've got whiners on here apologizing for that.

The 99 team should have gone with Travis Henry as the featured back. Lewis was not back at 100% and Henry was tougher to tackle. Also, Randy Sanders was not the stickler for details like Cutcliffe was. You could also add in, Al Wilson was not on the 99 team.
 
#75
#75
"Arkansas - The fumble occurred at the 43 yard line. When UT recovered it all Arkansas had to do was stop UT four times and they win. Instead they totally folded and gave up over 40 yards on 4 consecutive rushing plays. And the fumble occurred because Billy Ratliff completely blew up his man and drove him two yards backward into Stoerner. Players making plays for UT and not making plays for Arkansas was the difference. "

And I will add to the above, TN had no time outs and I think there was just over 3 min left in the game. The gave to ball to T. Henry like 7 straight times. The man was in a zone running over people. Most awesome 3 min of TN FB I remember.

Also, in 99 TN was a top 5 FB program and Fulmer could have hired any OC he wanted but he chose to promote Sanders. That was the beginning of the end of Fulmer's coaching career.
 
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