Tee Martin in 1998

[BigOrangePhoenix]

Despite being a Junior, did he have a hard time grasping the offense early on? They played 'close to the vest' against Florida, and Tee was awful. He was inconsistent against Syracuse, but still made big time plays. He was awful against Auburn but seemed to hit his stride against UGA.

Obviously, I am not complaining, but why was Tennessee conservative with a Quarterback that had been in the system for two seasons plus a fall camp? Need refreshed.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

Either it took him a while to get comfy or Philips conservative approach.

 

[amstelman]

I recall that T held the record for completions in a row for a while. However, the passes were rarely over 12 yards. Conservative for sure.

Who remembers which game that was? (Not me)

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Yah he sucked all the way to a national championship, with an NCAA record along the way (consecutive pass completions).

Folks like to look down their noses at Tee for some reason. Whether because he was "the guy after Peyton," or whatever other motivation.

The fella passed for over 2,000 yards each of the two seasons he was our starting QB. In '98, he passed for 2,164 yds and 19 TDs en route to the SEC and National crowns. Compare that to Heath Schuler, who is much more widely admired by Vols fans, whose best season saw him pass for 2,354 yds and 25 TDs. Not nearly as far apart as fan opinions of the two lads might indicate.

I like Tee. Think he's one of our ten best QBs all time. He's one of only a handful to win us a national title.

What you accomplish matters. Team chemistry matters. And Tee, along with fellas like Raynoch, Al, Donte, and Peerless, provided just the right chemistry to go 13-0. As well as some absolutely beautiful deep passes down the sideline to a sprinting Peerless Price.

Go Vols!


Edit:

I recall that T held the record for completions in a row for a while. However, the passes were rarely over 12 yards. Conservative for sure.

Who remembers which game that was? (Not me)

Started in one game, ended in the next.

The game most of the passes were made in (and the day he actually set the record) was vs South Carolina, I'm pretty sure.

 

[volum3]

Yah he sucked all the way to a national championship, with an NCAA record along the way (consecutive pass completions).

Folks like to look down their noses at Tee for some reason. Whether because he was "the guy after Peyton," or whatever other motivation.

The fella passed for over 2,000 yards each of the two seasons he was our starting QB. In '98, he passed for 2,164 yds and 19 TDs en route to the SEC and National crowns. Compare that to Heath Schuler, who is much more widely admired by Vols fans, whose best season saw him pass for 2,354 yds and 25 TDs. Not nearly as far apart as fan opinions of the two lads might indicate.

I like Tee. Think he's one of our ten best QBs all time. He's one of only a handful to win us a national title.

What you accomplish matters. Team chemistry matters. And Tee, along with some of those other fellas, provided just the right chemistry to go 13-0. As well as some absolutely beautiful deep passes down the sideline to a sprinting Peerless Price.

Go Vols!


Edit:

Started in one game, ended in the next.

The game most of the passes were made in (and the day he actually set the record) was vs South Carolina, I'm pretty sure.

This guy speaks truth and demonstrates wisdom, take note fellow Vols, this is the way.

Tee delivered a fricken Natty....full stop. Best night I EVER had at Cotton Eyed Joes was watching that game.

 

[volmandu]

Folks like to look down their noses at Tee for some reason.

We all know what that reason is for many.

 

[Volintheswamp]

I recall that T held the record for completions in a row for a while. However, the passes were rarely over 12 yards. Conservative for sure.

Who remembers which game that was? (Not me)

South Carolina

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We all know what that reason is for many.

You mean racism, of course.

And I'm sure there's an element of that working in the fan base against Tee, but I think it's not the biggest element. Consider: we as a group LOVE the Artful Dodger, Condredge Holloway; we collectively CHERISH Tony Robinson; we ADORE Al Wilson, and Eric Berry, and Heath Schuler, and Reggie, and Raynoch, and Donte, and Peerless, and a ton of other lads who wore orange with skin some color other than white.

We are not, collectively, a racist body of fans. I've always been proud of us for that. I hate that there are any racists among us, one is too many, but there aren't a lot.

Which makes the widespread apathy for Tee all the more mysterious.

Go Vols!

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

They were ‘conservative” because the offense was more balanced. Tee was off and on passing but we had a really good running game and an incredible defense.
Tee didn’t deliver a natl championship. Tee was a QB on a team that delivered it. It was a team achievement and no one player delivered it.

 

[Hacksaw]

Yah he sucked all the way to a national championship, with an NCAA record along the way (consecutive pass completions).

Folks like to look down their noses at Tee for some reason. Whether because he was "the guy after Peyton," or whatever other motivation.

The fella passed for over 2,000 yards each of the two seasons he was our starting QB. In '98, he passed for 2,164 yds and 19 TDs en route to the SEC and National crowns. Compare that to Heath Schuler, who is much more widely admired by Vols fans, whose best season saw him pass for 2,354 yds and 25 TDs. Not nearly as far apart as fan opinions of the two lads might indicate.

I like Tee. Think he's one of our ten best QBs all time. He's one of only a handful to win us a national title.

What you accomplish matters. Team chemistry matters. And Tee, along with some of those other fellas, provided just the right chemistry to go 13-0. As well as some absolutely beautiful deep passes down the sideline to a sprinting Peerless Price.

Go Vols!


Edit:

Started in one game, ended in the next.

The game most of the passes were made in (and the day he actually set the record) was vs South Carolina, I'm pretty sure.

I don't know that I would put Tee in the all-time top ten. In no particular order, Manning, Clausen, Ainge, Bray, Holloway, Kelly, Robinson, Shuler, Hooker and Dobbs were arguably more talented. And what about Dewey Warren, Jimmy Streater and Bobby Scott? To me, Tee is more comparable to Bubba Wyche or Daryl Dickey. No disrespect to any of those great Vol names.

Tee gets a lot of credit for the national title, as he should. Your point about team chemistry is absolutely right. He was the right guy at the right time on the right team. But personally, I was surprised when he was drafted into the NFL -- happy for him, but surprised.

 

[whobethis16]

You mean racism, of course.

And I'm sure there's an element of that working in the fan base against Tee, but I think it's not the biggest element. Consider: we as a group LOVE the Artful Dodger, Condredge Holloway; we collectively CHERISH Tony Robinson; we ADORE Al Wilson, and Eric Berry, and Heath Schuler, and Raynoch, and Donte, and Peerless, and a ton of other lads who wore orange with skin some color other than white.

We are not, collectively, a racist body of fans. I've always been proud of us for that. I hate that there are any racists among us, one is too many, but there aren't a lot.

Which makes the widespread apathy for Tee all the more mysterious.

Go Vols!

It's not apathy. It's acknowledgement that an average stats, at best, guy at Tennessee will forever be remembered for helping win the title, but not being naive enough to think he was better than a career 55% completion percentage and a 2:1 TD/INT ratio.

Edit: Shuler was a career 61% with a 3:1 ratio, so there's that.

 

[ZZ13]

They were ‘conservative” because the offense was more balanced. Tee was off and on passing but we had a really good running game and an incredible defense.
Tee didn’t deliver a natl championship. Tee was a QB on a team that delivered it. It was a team achievement and no one player delivered it.

Concur. He wasn’t outstanding and he wasn’t horrible. He was good enough. Just one of many pieces of the puzzle of an outstanding team. Certainly shouldn’t have been singled out as the key player by naming a street after him. To this day I don’t understand that decision.

 

[Bloodrunsorange27]

Concur. He wasn’t outstanding and he wasn’t horrible. He was good enough. Just one of many pieces of the puzzle of an outstanding team. Certainly shouldn’t have been singled out as the key player by naming a street after him. To this day I don’t understand that decision.

I agree. Or giving him a statue. One can guess at the reasons for that also

 

[Hacksaw]

Concur. He wasn’t outstanding and he wasn’t horrible. He was good enough. Just one of many pieces of the puzzle of an outstanding team. Certainly shouldn’t have been singled out as the key player by naming a street after him. To this day I don’t understand that decision.

To quote a previous post, "We all know the reason."

But good for Tee!

 

[ZZ13]

I agree. Or giving him a statue. One can guess at the reasons for that also

Yup. I have my theories….

Street naming after athletes is a can of worms. Where do you start and stop. So many athletes. If I were in charge they’d all go back to their previous names and I’d just create a wall of fame somewhere with their pictures on it.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I don't know that I would put Tee in the all-time top ten. In no particular order, Manning, Clausen, Ainge, Bray, Holloway, Kelly, Robinson, Shuler, Hooker and Dobbs were arguably more talented. And what about Dewey Warren, Jimmy Streater and Bobby Scott? To me, Tee is more comparable to Bubba Wyche or Daryl Dickey. No disrespect to any of those great Vol names.

Tee gets a lot of credit for the national title, as he should. Your point about team chemistry is absolutely right. He was the right guy at the right time on the right team. But personally, I was surprised when he was drafted into the NFL -- happy for him, but surprised.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Hacksaw. I personally put Tee above Eric Ainge and Tyler Bray, for instance. Love them all. But Tee comes first for me.

If you do nothing but look at single-player stat sheets, Bray and Ainge win. But football isn't tennis; it's not about the individual. Add the team results, the intangibles, the leadership and chemistry and accomplishments--heck, add SEC and National trophies--and Tee comes out on top among those three for me.

My personal top 10 QBs, in no particular order, are: Casey, Condredge, Hendon, Andy, Bobby, Tony, Heath, Peyton, Tee, and Josh.

 

[Boca Vol]

I think the way the schedule was set up that year led Cutt & Phil to keep it close to the vest early on. Syracuse and UF were very good teams in Sept.. No shame in "struggling" vs. those teams. Then follow that up with trips to Auburn & UGA, and then home vs Bama soon after. Why not let your all-world D set the tone and win "ugly?"

Once UT made it through that gauntlet, and Tee got more comfortable, AND the schedule eased up, it made sense to turn him loose a bit. He got better when it mattered and played terrific vs, FSU!

Just my $0.02.

 

[esarmstrong]

You mean racism, of course.

And I'm sure there's an element of that working in the fan base against Tee, but I think it's not the biggest element. Consider: we as a group LOVE the Artful Dodger, Condredge Holloway; we collectively CHERISH Tony Robinson; we ADORE Al Wilson, and Eric Berry, and Heath Schuler, and Raynoch, and Donte, and Peerless, and a ton of other lads who wore orange with skin some color other than white.

We are not, collectively, a racist body of fans. I've always been proud of us for that. I hate that there are any racists among us, one is too many, but there aren't a lot.

Which makes the widespread apathy for Tee all the more mysterious.

Go Vols!

I won't pretend to know about the prejudices of fans, but I do know that among schools in the Southeastern Conference, Tennessee has always been at the "tip of the spear" when it has come to breaking racial barriers in the SEC. There are four statues outside Neyland Stadium of Tee Martin, Condredge Holloway, Lester McClain and Jackie Walker that commemorate those student athletes and the University they honored with their sacrifice, courage, character and trail-blazing spirt.

 

[Tin Man]

It took him a while to get comfy with Philip’s conservative approach.

FYP

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I think the way the schedule was set up that year led Cutt & Phil to keep it close to the vest early on. Syracuse and UF were very good teams in Sept.. No shame in "struggling" vs. those teams. Then follow that up with trips to Auburn & UGA, and then home vs Bama soon after. Why not let your all-world D set the tone and win "ugly?"

Once UT made it through that gauntlet, and Tee got more comfortable, AND the schedule eased up, it made sense to turn him loose a bit. He got better when it mattered and played terrific vs, FSU!

Just my $0.02.

That is the best, most logical explanation (theory, whatever) I've seen on the question. Makes perfect sense, fits all the facts.

Thanks for it.

 

[Hacksaw]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Hacksaw. I personally put Tee above Eric Ainge and Tyler Bray, for instance. Love them all. But Tee comes first for me.

If you do nothing but look at single-player stat sheets, Bray and Ainge win. But football isn't tennis; it's not about the individual. Add the team results, the intangibles, the leadership and chemistry and accomplishments--heck, add SEC and National trophies--and Tee comes out on top among those three for me.

My personal top 10 QBs, in no particular order, are: Casey, Condredge, Hendon, Andy, Bobby, Tony, Heath, Peyton, Tee, and Josh.

Can't really disagree, because the whole discussion is subjective. When it comes to arbitrary criteria, it's awfully hard to ignore a national championship.

 

[LWSVOL]

Despite being a Junior, did he have a hard time grasping the offense early on? They played 'close to the vest' against Florida, and Tee was awful. He was inconsistent against Syracuse, but still made big time plays. He was awful against Auburn but seemed to hit his stride against UGA.

Obviously, I am not complaining, but why was Tennessee conservative with a Quarterback that had been in the system for two seasons plus a fall camp? Need refreshed.

Typically, when players get to start (no matter their year) they have to ease into a comfort level of being a starter and having that pressure. Most coaches let them ease into the job as a starter. especially at QB.

 

[dphil5163]

I recall that T held the record for completions in a row for a while. However, the passes were rarely over 12 yards. Conservative for sure.

Who remembers which game that was? (Not me)

South Carolina 1998

 

[LWSVOL]

Either it took him a while to get comfy or Philips conservative approach.

David Cutcliffe prepared and executed game plans. If it was conservative its because David deemed it necessary.

 

[cherokeeeVOL]

Yah he sucked all the way to a national championship, with an NCAA record along the way (consecutive pass completions).

Folks like to look down their noses at Tee for some reason. Whether because he was "the guy after Peyton," or whatever other motivation.

The fella passed for over 2,000 yards each of the two seasons he was our starting QB. In '98, he passed for 2,164 yds and 19 TDs en route to the SEC and National crowns. Compare that to Heath Schuler, who is much more widely admired by Vols fans, whose best season saw him pass for 2,354 yds and 25 TDs. Not nearly as far apart as fan opinions of the two lads might indicate.

I like Tee. Think he's one of our ten best QBs all time. He's one of only a handful to win us a national title.

What you accomplish matters. Team chemistry matters. And Tee, along with fellas like Raynoch, Al, Donte, and Peerless, provided just the right chemistry to go 13-0. As well as some absolutely beautiful deep passes down the sideline to a sprinting Peerless Price.

Go Vols!


Edit:

Started in one game, ended in the next.

The game most of the passes were made in (and the day he actually set the record) was vs South Carolina, I'm pretty sure.

I was at that South Carolina game and it was glorious. Our defense that year was no doubt elite but Tee and the offense were no slouch.