Question for the old timers

#1

strongtower

Vols To The Walls
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#1
From what I have heard from other people. I don't really know because I was young then but I heard that in 85 Miami played us for the NC and if they won they would be crowned NC. If this is true wouldn't we get the NC for beating them? Always wondered, I was too busy playing with my Transformers and Star Wars figures then lol
 
#3
#3
No. Pre-BCS there were bowl tie-ins with conference affiliations. So there was rarely a 1 vs. 2 match up. Although UT was the SEC champs, I don't think they were even a top 10 team.
 
#4
#4
If I'm not mistaken...the Vols went into the game as the SEC champs, but had only won 8 games.
 
#5
#5
The way the bowls were setup back then the #1 and #2 rarely if ever got matched up together. You would see like #1 vs. #9 and #2 vs. #11 etc... It is setup MUCH better now.

I don't recall what the Vols were ranked, but it wasn't high enough to accomplish that.

I do recall the whole world thinking we were going to get spanked.
 
#6
#6
No. Pre-BCS there were bowl tie-ins with conference affiliations. So there was rarely a 1 vs. 2 match up. Although UT was the SEC champs, I don't think they were even a top 10 team.

per wikipedia we were #8 in both polls but we still wouldn't have ever sniffed the NC
 
#7
#7
From what I have heard from other people. I don't really know because I was young then but I heard that in 85 Miami played us for the NC and if they won they would be crowned NC. If this is true wouldn't we get the NC for beating them? Always wondered, I was too busy playing with my Transformers and Star Wars figures then lol

That is not how it worked pre-BCS.

Here is a recap of the '85 season:

1985 NCAA Division I-A football season - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And UT's 9-1-2 record:

1985 Tennessee Volunteers football team - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
#8
#8
I'm not an expert but I'll try to explain. Back in the day if you were ranked #1 but lost your bowl game if the #2 ranked team won theirs they were national champs. It wasn't very fair but that's why the BCS was started. Until there is a true playoff I don't think there is a way to determine for sure.
 
#9
#9
Are you talking about the game that NO ONE gave us a chance to win, and all everyone talked about was how great Testaverde was?
 
#10
#10
No. Pre-BCS there were bowl tie-ins with conference affiliations. So there was rarely a 1 vs. 2 match up. Although UT was the SEC champs, I don't think they were even a top 10 team.

don't know what the rank was before the game but we finished 4th in both polls
 
#11
#11
Are you talking about the game that NO ONE gave us a chance to win, and all everyone talked about was how great Testaverde was?

Yeah from what I have heard from others is that Miami played us and if they won they would of gotten a NC but we won instead. My question is wouldn't we deserve a NC also but I think some others answered my question on that
 
#13
#13
From what I have heard from other people. I don't really know because I was young then but I heard that in 85 Miami played us for the NC and if they won they would be crowned NC. If this is true wouldn't we get the NC for beating them? Always wondered, I was too busy playing with my Transformers and Star Wars figures then lol
I'll never forget that because Miami was supposed to kill us. We smacked them in the mouth 35-17 and ruined their shot at NC. We were not even in the top 10 at that point.:thumbsup:
 
#14
#14
Check out my avatar.....I think that's the game you were referring to. Absolutely no one gave us a chance to win. Similar to the situation last Saturday with UF, only we crushed them.
 
#15
#15
Miami was only ranked #2 in the AP poll and hoping for a shot at the #1 ranking after a beatdown of the VOLS, which of course didn't happen, actually it was quite the opposite in fact. One of the best road trips to see the VOLS I've ever taken, drank many a Hurricane in New Orleans those 3 days.
 
#17
#17
I loved watching that game! One of my proudest moments being a Vol. It ranks second only to the 98 NC win.
 
#19
#19
I'll never forget that because Miami was supposed to kill us. We smacked them in the mouth 35-17 and ruined their shot at NC. We were not even in the top 10 at that point.:thumbsup:

Huh...thought I remembered the score 35 to 7...? Maybe not. :dunno:
 
#21
#21
of course I could have edited it to say that :whistling:

I was thinking we were somewhere around 12-15 too but couldn't remember

I guess I'm an old timer, that'll be my excuse.

That was the first UT game I attended without my parents. My junior high football team went as a group on chartered buses. We left at around 2:00 AM on New Year's Day. Pulled into town, checked into the hotel, then went to the Sugar Bowl. It was awesome!
 
#23
#23
Yep, it was 35 to 7.

That Jeff Powell run still gives me chills.

Yeah...Powell had not gotten a lot of carries that season, and was getting to play some in the Sugar bowl because of injuries if I recall correctly. But, the run ranks right at the top of all time great runs in UT history. It put the game away for good! :rock:
 
#24
#24
Had it not been for two underwhelming performances against UCLA and GT both at home I believe we would have won the NC that year.
 
#25
#25
I'll never forget that because Miami was supposed to kill us. We smacked them in the mouth 35-17 and ruined their shot at NC. We were not even in the top 10 at that point.:thumbsup:

Don't believe it was 35-17, unless I'm very badly mistaken, it was 35-7. Miami scored the first time they touched the ball, and never scored again. jmho
 
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