It's not '98 but...

#1
H

hndog609

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#1
One of the most orange-koolaid-skewed memories in all of Vols history is the idea of Tee Martin and Co beating FL. They didn't. They kinda sucked actually. In 1998 UT gained 235 total yards against FL. (including OT mind you) Nearly 25% of that came from one 57 yard burst up the middle by Shawn Bryson. Tee Martin was...wait for it...7 of 20 for 64 yards. 64 yards

The difference was AL Wilson and Co of course. Wilson himself had 9 solo tackles, 3 assists, a pass break up and, most importantly, personally forced 3 fumbles. Moreover, FL had 6 turnovers on the day. The Gators gained lots of yardage but a ferocious and opportunistic defense denied them points.

Can we do this again? I don't know. That was a team positively loaded with talent that this team (indeed few others) doesn't have. We do have a good defense, shored up all the more with one of the great defensive coaches of our era. We would need breaks. Lots of them. Nobody likes to need the generosity of the enemy but without mistakes made on their part, well, we're likely screwed for sure.

I want to win, as we all do, badly. I try to convince myself that something like '98 can happen, if for only one game, this game. I can conceive of no scenario where we move the ball well, but we didn't then either. We have a darn good defense, like then too. We had a GREAT defensive player in Al Wilson. Can Eric Berry some how, some way channel some of that this Sat?

Frankly, I don't think so. I'm going to put on my orange though and huddle together with those of like mind and dare to hope that, once again, no matter how overmatched our offense might be, we can win anyway.

Go Vols.
 
#3
#3
I was at military school in '98, so I missed the game (and most of the season except the Fiesta Bowl). So it is cool to hear a recount of it. If Stanford can beat USC in the Colloseum whe can beat UF in the Swamp.
 
#4
#4
wow, you want to sling crap at the QB who not only won us a national championship, but carried this team on his back several games after jamal lewis got injured for the season?

have fun with that
 
#5
#5
TrueOrange said:
wow, you want to sling crap at the QB who not only won us a national championship, but carried this team on his back several games after jamal lewis got injured for the season?

have fun with that
Click to expand...

If that's what you took from that post you have serious comprehension issues. The point was, clearly articulated, a lousy game from your QB, or even offense as a whole, can be overcome. Nothing more, nothing less.
 
#6
#6
Thanks man for straiting that out. I to thought Tn and Tee Martin beat Fl. In 98. I thank you for the insite. Good ole Al Wilson carried the load all by himself...First time in History One Guy had beat 11.
 
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#7
#7
I don't htink it was a attack on Tee I think it was a point of if we don't kill ourselves on offense , we could be in the game because of our defense.
 
#8
#8
Nothing like living in Knox in 98 and we all thought our hopes and dreams were dashed after Peyton left the previous year.....this thread makes me dream of the past!
 
#9
#9
Los-Osis said:
Thanks man for straiting that out. I to thought Tn and Tee Martin beat Fl. In 98. I thank you for the insite. Good ole Al Wilson carried the load all by himself...First time in History One Guy had beat 11.
Click to expand...

I suppose "and Co" is somehow lost on you?
 
#10
#10
hndog609 said:
If that's what you took from that post you have serious comprehension issues. The point was, clearly articulated, a lousy game from your QB, or even offense as a whole, can be overcome. Nothing more, nothing less.
Click to expand...

I know that. I just wanted to be the one to say that this time :).

you know he's going to get angry responses later anyways :p
 
#14
#14
Just amazing how hard some people work to take away the results some one worked very hard to reach. Without T. Martin Tn. Does not win the N/C. in '98.
 
#15
#15
I'm actually curious now; what were both tee martin's and the team's rushing yards that game?

I realize it was a defensive slugfest with less turnovers by us then UF (which unfortunately with this year's scenario, it's not so much that crompton's passing percentage or yards are that bad; it's that he throws alot of picks...so far 5 this season against a last-year FCS team and a team that was 4-8 last year), but i'm still curious.

Also, turnover differential if you have it
 
#16
#16
Los-Osis said:
Just amazing how hard some people work to take away the results some one worked very hard to reach. Without T. Martin Tn. Does not win the N/C. in '98.
Click to expand...

What in the hell are you talking about? Nobody is taking away anything from anybody. That FL pretty much stifled our offense in '98 is a matter of historical and empirical fact. (that would include our RB's too for instance) Are you so detached that somehow pointing out that back in '98 we needed a herculean defensive effort to overcome our lack of production at offense somehow messes with your head?
 
#18
#18
Just messing with your head man, having a little fun, No harm ment. Have a good night.. GO VOLS
 
#19
#19
so....can one of you give me martin and team's rushing stats as well as UF's turnover number versus our turnover number?....
 
#20
#20
TrueOrange said:
I'm actually curious now; what were both tee martin's and the team's rushing yards that game?

I realize it was a defensive slugfest with less turnovers by us then UF (which unfortunately with this year's scenario, it's not so much that crompton's passing percentage or yards are that bad; it's that he throws alot of picks...so far 5 this season against a last-year FCS team and a team that was 4-8 last year), but i'm still curious.

Also, turnover differential if you have it
Click to expand...

Well, with 235 total yards minus the 64 passing it's pretty easy to figure the 171 yards rushing. Of course, as mentioned, 57 of that was on Bryson's run so that leaves 114 yards floating out there of which 82 were by Lewis. As for the remaining 32 I can't say.

As for turnovers I think the only one we had was Tee got picked off once so obviously we were way up on the TO margin.
 
#23
#23
TrueOrange said:
so....can one of you give me martin and team's rushing stats as well as UF's turnover number versus our turnover number?....
Click to expand...

Tee ran for 25 yds on 8 carries and we had 171 yds as a team on 34 carries. We were +4 on turnovers that night as well(UF: 4 fumbles/1 INT...UT: O fumbles/1 INT).

Here is the box score if you'd like to see(I think everything is correct):

Florida Tennessee
First downs 17 7
Rushed-yards 30-M13 34-171
Passing yards 409 64
Sacked-yards lost 0-0 5-54
Return yards 52 47
Passes 31-49-1 7-20-1
Punts 6-41.2 9-43.3
Fumbles-lost 4-4 0-0
Penalties-yards 9-65 8-78
Time of possession 34:02 25:58

RUSHING:
Florida: T. Jackson 19-26; Taylor 1-6; Gillespie 1-3; D. Johnson 4-minus 23; Palmer 5-minus 25.
Tennessee: Lewis 21-82; Bryson 5-64; T Martin 8-25.

PASSING:
Florida: Palmer 16-23-1-210; D. Johnson 15-26-0-199.
Tennessee: T Martin 7-20-1-64.

RECEIVING:
Florida: Mcgriff 9-176; Taylor 8-80; D. Jackson 7-58;
Gillespie 3-44; Karim 2-27; Edge 1-20; T, Jackson 1-4.
Tennessee: Price 3-38; Copeland 2-17; Bryson 2-9.
 
#24
#24
I think comparing that game to this year is pretty silly.

Sure we weren't supposed to win that game, but we were still the defending SEC Champions and started the year ranked.
 
#25
#25
I think I can say confidently, that Florida is in a much better position to outrush Tennessee this year than they were in 1998. Also, UF has a better QB than Jesse Palmer or Doug Johnson.

Also, and this is a big one, the game was in Knoxville and the energy was awesome that night. I'd be way more concerned if the game was in Knoxville this year.
 
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