Questions from a Millennial?

#1
Hairy Vols

Hairy Vols

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#1
It being the off season we all obviously have a lot more time to think. I often find myself in the off-season looking reasons of optimism regardless of the state of the program.

Today while thinking I came across an interesting thought. Being as young as I am I didn't get to enjoy the 1998 Championship as much as some of you did. Which is what brought me to the question I'm about to ask. (Note this has no relation to the upcoming season, rather just a question of curiosity)

What was the mental state of the program and the fans going in to the 1998 season?

What were fans opinion of Fulmer, Manning's last game, and just what the next season held? Were there already National Championship talks at hand or was Manning's departure and inability to win a National Championship, for some, a sign of the decline to come?

Figure this would spark some fun conversation and reminiscence of the "Good Ol' Days".

Thank for those who reply. :)
 
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#2
#2
Hairy Vols said:
It being the off season we all obviously have a lot more time to think. I often find myself in the off-season looking reasons of optimism regardless of the state of the program.

Today while thinking I came across an interesting thought. Being as young as I am I didn't get to enjoy the 1998 Championship as much as some of you did. Which is what brought me to the question I'm about to ask. (Note this has no relation to the upcoming season, rather just a question of curiosity)

What was the mental state of the program and the fans going in to the 1998 season?

What were fans opinion of Fulmer, Manning's last game, and just what the next season held? Were there already National Championship talks at hand or was Manning's departure and inability to win a National Championship, for some, a sign of the decline to come?

Figure this would spark some fun conversation and reminiscence of the "Good Ol' Days".

Thank for those who reply. :)
Click to expand...

Most thought we'd be 8-3 or 7-4.
 
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#3
#3
Agree. Plus, the mindset was that 8-3 WAS a rebuilding year and not seen as the monumental accomplishment a lot of people see it as today.

Most people thought the D would be good but opening at Syracuse had a lot of fans anxious. It took a while for Tee to get going with his arm. He was downright awful passing in the 1st 4-5 games. But with a strong OL, Fulmer and Cut could lean on the running game until the passing game came around.
 
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#4
#4
Millennial here also. After checking our wiki, this blew my mind:

We lost nine games in five seasons (1994-1998), won two SEC Championships, and a BCS National Championship.

Peyton's freshman season was four losses. Not counting that, we had five losses in four years. That is insane. What a time to be a fan.
 
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#5
#5
zeppelin128 said:
Millennial here also. After checking our wiki, this blew my mind:

We lost nine games in five seasons (1994-1998), won two SEC Championships, and a BCS National Championship.

Peyton's freshman season was four losses. Not counting that, we had five losses in four years. That is insane. What a time to be a fan.
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It was a good time. The hype for the UT/ UF game was off the chart. Keep in mind there weren't 100 games a week you could watch on TV. There was usually 1 (maybe 2) featured games in a week and they were really hyped.
 
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#6
#6
Boca Vol said:
It was a good time. The hype for the UT/ UF game was off the chart. Keep in mind there weren't 100 games a week you could watch on TV. There was usually 1 (maybe 2) featured games in a week and they were really hyped.
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Very true. I've watched the Florida, Arkansas, and FSU games from 98 on YouTube. Epic, especially the Arkansas game. That stumble and fumble call was awesome.
 
#7
#7
zeppelin128 said:
Millennial here also. After checking our wiki, this blew my mind:

We lost nine games in five seasons (1994-1998), won two SEC Championships, and a BCS National Championship.

Peyton's freshman season was four losses. Not counting that, we had five losses in four years. That is insane. What a time to be a fan.
Click to expand...

Actually, 5 in 3. Tee didn't lose in 98.
 
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#10
#10
Most Vol fans thought we'd compete for a national title in 1997, not 1998. In '97, we were very good, but not quite elite enough to be national title worthy.

1998 was viewed as a "rebuilding year" to most fans and the media. Most people were expecting something like an 8-3 season. It was considered a pretty big surprise when we finished the season undefeated with the national championship.

In hindsight, fans and the media made the classic mistake of focusing only on the Quarterback and not the rest of the team. The '98 defense was one of the best in Vol history. Our RBs and O-line were spectacular as well. And while Tee Martin may not have been Peyton Manning, he was much better than expected, and added an extra dimension to our offense.
 
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#11
#11
No way to prove it, but I actually felt very good going into that season. The defense was going to be insane and I called the UF win. There were still so many pieces on that 98 team.
 
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#12
#12
The difference between then and now was, we expected to win every game with the exception of Florida. Sadly, for a lot of us, the Florida losses overshadowed the success of those years. Spurrier owned Fulmer, and they both knew it. Florida fans would march into Neyland singing, "Good ole rocky top, second in the SEC". That's what made '98 so special. No one saw it coming and the Florida win was epic. Neyland was the loudest I have ever seen it. For those who didn't live it, go back and look at the rosters of those years. The talent we had was mind-blowing.
 
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#15
#15
Everybody knew we were very good, but we had just lost a generational talent at QB. I think most would've predicted 9-2 just because they thought we'd lose to Florida and or QB play would cost us. Tee Martin was still scaring us when he dropped back midway through the season even after the win against Florida. Then, Jamal Lewis went fine against Auburn in an ugly win.

I think the first time I truly thought we had something was when I saw us physically dismantle a very good Georgia team on the road. I had awful seats on the first row in the back of the end zone, but I can still hear some of those hits Al Wilson was putting on Quincy Carter.
 
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#16
#16
Different times. You didn't have the social media. You had to actually read info in a pre-season magazine or newspaper. Internet was nothing near what it is today. Only one sports talk station around Nashville. ESPN didn't have 45 different stations either. Don't think you had quite the feel for what the fans felt other than your circle of friends. Hard to compare then and today I think.
 
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#17
#17
I think a lot of fans thought an opportunity had been missed with Manning but still yet thought UT would still be a good team.

The conference was different in those days as well. The West was not where it is today and UF and UGA were better than they are now.
It didn't really feel like a rebuild other than one important position, UT had recruited well for several years and was returning a lot of those players.
 
#19
#19
The real excitement in 98 was for the D and Jamal Lewis. A veteran line returning , who knows what could've been for Jamal if his knee hadn't went out. I often think about the 98 year for JL or had he stayed for his sr season he could have been our 1st heisman winner.
 
#20
#20
BeecherVol said:
I think a lot of fans thought an opportunity had been missed with Manning but still yet thought UT would still be a good team.

The conference was different in those days as well. The West was not where it is today and UF and UGA were better than they are now.
It didn't really feel like a rebuild other than one important position, UT had recruited well for several years and was returning a lot of those players.
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I remember being shocked we beat uf finally but beating uga like we did made it all sink in. I remember thinking we could go all the way after that one.
 
#21
#21
Teeman said:
The difference between then and now was, we expected to win every game with the exception of Florida. Sadly, for a lot of us, the Florida losses overshadowed the success of those years. Spurrier owned Fulmer, and they both knew it. Florida fans would march into Neyland singing, "Good ole rocky top, second in the SEC". That's what made '98 so special. No one saw it coming and the Florida win was epic. Neyland was the loudest I have ever seen it. For those who didn't live it, go back and look at the rosters of those years. The talent we had was mind-blowing.
Click to expand...

The similarities in 1998 and 2017 is we had lost a very very good QB and the backup had limited experience. This year, we have lost a very good QB and the backup will have very little experience. I think that the probability that the QB this year will be every bit as good as Martin and may be better. The only concern I have at this data about the 2017 team is, can our defense play well enough to stop the offenses we have to play. Injuries, which killed last year’s defense are still a big question mark, and the depth at DT may not be that deep. I have faith that Shoop and company will feel a much improved defense and that we will have a very competitive football team this Fall.
 
#22
#22
VOLINVONORE said:
The similarities in 1998 and 2017 is we had lost a very very good QB and the backup had limited experience. This year, we have lost a very good QB and the backup will have very little experience. I think that the probability that the QB this year will be every bit as good as Martin and may be better. The only concern I have at this data about the 2017 team is, can our defense play well enough to stop the offenses we have to play. Injuries, which killed last year’s defense are still a big question mark, and the depth at DT may not be that deep. I have faith that Shoop and company will feel a much improved defense and that we will have a very competitive football team this Fall.
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You forgot about the O-line. A good O-line can cover up a lot of faults.
 
#23
#23
I attended Gallatin HS from 89-93 where we lost (i think) 3 games in 4 years and then UT from 93-97. I was conditioned that more than 1 loss in a season as a complete failure. Definitely did not prepare me for the last decade.
 
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#25
#25
VOLATNES said:
Different times. You didn't have the social media. You had to actually read info in a pre-season magazine or newspaper. Internet was nothing near what it is today. Only one sports talk station around Nashville. ESPN didn't have 45 different stations either. Don't think you had quite the feel for what the fans felt other than your circle of friends. Hard to compare then and today I think.
Click to expand...

^This. You actually had to form your own opinion. It wasn't given to you 24/7. You also didn't have 100 people telling you how stupid you are within 30 of presenting said opinion.
 
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