Either of the Florida and Arkansas losses...take your pick. Tennessee is in the SECCG again if they win either of those games. We might not have had a chance to play for a national title with a loss over Arkansas even if we won the SEC though, but we definitely would have if we beat them and won the SECCG.
It's kind of been forgotten because Phil did get a national title and now he's a beloved Papa Bear/elder statesman-type figure, but it should be noted that he underachieved overall with the talent he assembled during his peak years (1995-01). Any of those teams were capable of winning the SEC, but he only won it twice. in those 7 years. Phil really "should" have 3-4 SEC titles to his credit.
1998 was the only year he got one over on Spurrier + saw the season through to completion. He was stymied by him in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000. He got past him in 2001, but then got upset the very next week. Phil's very fortunate they came through in 1998 because if he did not his legacy is looked at very differently, IMO.
Fulmer had to had been as frustrated against Florida as any UT fan as well...the "modern series" was so different compared to any other for UT
1990 - crushed highly ranked Florida at home
1991 - competitive game in Swamp until late surge by Florida
1992 - crushed highly ranked Florida at home
1993 - lost a close one on the road due to DEFENSE
1994 - Florida was simply a much better team vs our injured worn-down team from the schedule
1995 - Manning had great game and Fulmer had great gameplan to dominate in Swamp, but turnovers and defensive breakdown cost them everything
1996 - UT was definitely tighter and had more pressure to win, once florida completed 4th and 11 for TD, it was a hit in the mouth and although UT played back into it, it was over
1997 - UT played decent, but this was on the coaches, not playing Jamal Lewis, and Florida's defense played nasty
1998 - UT wanted it more and showed it
1999 - UT played a C+ type game and still shouldve won if not for coaching, some questionable late ref calls
2000 - UT dominated the entire game but settled for FGs and lost due to the bad ref call which cost them the SEC east title
2001 - Two great teams, but UT was the better team, and despite the worst game ever by Witten, won the game in the Swamp
2002 - Two rebuilding teams, UT was in it but those rain-soaked turnovers were killers
2003 - Tennessee played harder, especially running the ball and limited mistakes
2004 - Ainge played exceptional for a Freshman, UT got a fortunate call, but still deserved the win
2005 - Urban's first game in the series, defensive struggle, UT had too many missed opportunities on offense
2006 - This one pissed me off, UT was much better and had dominated the game up until the returned TD fumble on Leak which wouldve made it 3 TDs lead called back for a BS penalty
2007 - Florida was the much better team, although UT tried to hang in as long as possible
2008 - Florida simply the better team
2009 - Florida was the better team, although Tennessee hung tough
2010 - Dooley blew this game, Tennessee had a good chance to compete, but turnovers and coaching blew it
2011 - Tennessee again hung tough in Swamp, but Florida was better
2012 - The worst coached game of the Dooley era IMO...those turnovers doomed a likely win
2013 - Florida played harder
2014 - No excuse for UT losing this game, dominated the entire game and got multiple turnovers from Florida, the FG that Florida won by shouldnt have counted as it was snapped after the play clock expired
2015 - Another Butch Jones special, snatched a loss from the jaws of victory, no way we should've lost that game
2016 - Great win but it took the team overcoming bad defensive coaching
2017 - Another game that shouldve been a win for Tennessee, hail mary loss thanks again to Butch
2018/2019 - Florida simply had more talent and depth.
This year should be interesting, but looking back how different would the series be looked at today if UT hangs on and wins the games I bolded and is 17-13 against the Gators?
