Tate Matthews story on 1986 Sugar Bowl

#1
wmcovol

wmcovol

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#1
Tate Matthews, Dougs son, during his segment with Charles Davis Saturday, told the story Saturday that Ken Donahue, Tennessee DC, noticed during film study the Miami ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ซ was tipping the plays. He would set up one way for run and another for pass.

Kelly Ziegler, LB & Dale Jones would make the call based on what the center did. Charles Davis agreed with him. Defense was pretty amazing that night. Now we know how.
 
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#2
#2
The Bear always said Ken Donahue made him famous. He was one of the best DCs ever. You know he was grinning during the game ,knowing what Vinny was going to do before he even got the ball. After their fluke TD, the Canes never had a chance.
 
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#4
#4
wmcovol said:
Tate Matthews, Dougs son, during his segment with Charles Davis Saturday, told the story Saturday that Ken Donahue, Tennessee DC, noticed during film study the Miami ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ซ was tipping the plays. He would set up one way for run and another for pass.

Kelly Ziegler, LB & Dale Jones would make the call based on what the center did. Charles Davis agreed with him. Defense was pretty amazing that night. Now we know how.
Click to expand...

Never heard that. But it makes sense based on the way the QB pressure got dealt out. Looked like a Dooley defense to me bc it seemed like that we had 13 defenders out there all night. Wonderful evening.
 
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#5
#5
tnutater said:
The Bear always said Ken Donahue made him famous. He was one of the best DCs ever. You know he was grinning during the game ,knowing what Vinny was going to do before he even got the ball. After their fluke TD, the Canes never had a chance.
Click to expand...
Ken had a one track mind. Football 24-7. Oftentimes he slept in the football office because when he finished breaking down the opposition offense and installing HIS defense (and thatโ€™s EXACTLY what it was) it was too late to go home only to get up early and head back to the office. After he retired he did kinda enjoy other things though. I had the joy of watching a few games with him after he retired. HE SAW A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GAME THAN I DID!
 
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#6
#6
tnutater said:
The Bear always said Ken Donahue made him famous. He was one of the best DCs ever. You know he was grinning during the game ,knowing what Vinny was going to do before he even got the ball. After their fluke TD, the Canes never had a chance.
Click to expand...
Ive always wondered how such a great defensive mind could have had such a miserable half season in 1988, leading to his firing. Would love to hear a plausible explanation for that?
 
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#7
#7
Any reason he never took a HC job?
 
#8
#8
livefaith said:
Never heard that. But it makes sense based on the way the QB pressure got dealt out. Looked like a Dooley defense to me bc it seemed like that we had 13 defenders out there all night. Wonderful evening.
Click to expand...

I had never heard it before either but Charles Davis was the one who said Zeigler would make the call as would Jones on the outside so that everyone would be in the correct call. Listening to the replay, it was like the defense knew what was coming after the early Miami TD. Their best play that night was the fake punt. Converted 2 of them, one on first drive and another late in the game.
 
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#9
#9
LTVol said:
Ive always wondered how such a great defensive mind could have had such a miserable half season in 1988, leading to his firing. Would love to hear a plausible explanation for that?
Click to expand...

I have always wondered about that. Want to know that as well.
 
#10
#10
LTVol said:
Ive always wondered how such a great defensive mind could have had such a miserable half season in 1988, leading to his firing. Would love to hear a plausible explanation for that?
Click to expand...

LOFT. If you donโ€™t understand, ask any golfer.
 
#11
#11
wmcovol said:
Tate Matthews, Dougs son, during his segment with Charles Davis Saturday, told the story Saturday that Ken Donahue, Tennessee DC, noticed during film study the Miami ๐‚๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ž๐ซ was tipping the plays. He would set up one way for run and another for pass.

Kelly Ziegler, LB & Dale Jones would make the call based on what the center did. Charles Davis agreed with him. Defense was pretty amazing that night. Now we know how.
Click to expand...

I had heard that story before. Also, heard the signals were calling out a bird if it was a pass and any creature that ran on the ground for a run. If you watch, there are a few times where you will see a LB flapping his arms or making motions like an animal scurrying on the ground. No matter the reason, the Vols were not going to lose that night.
 
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