Other than Steve, who was doing that at the time? I honestly can't remember.
No one is questioning Peyton's overall greatness or greatness at the professional level in particular. The fact that he was drafted #1 overall is meaningless to this discussion.
Doug Atkins was named the SEC Player of the Quarter Century (1950-1975) and he doesn't get a mention. Doug is one of the most feared players in college and NFL history. Should have been mentioned.
It was a fluke loss and that was on the coaches being conservative with their game plan and the refs gave Memphis a TD which shouldn’t have stood. It had little to do with PeytonMemphis is also a big deal to me. You think of all the QB's that would be in the argument in this discussion.
How do you have the supposed GOAT at QB on your squad, and your squad is loaded, and you are going to go lose to Memphis?
But, it's more than that. I really could not recall a Peyton performance where I sat back and thought "wow". And some of that is probably on the coaches. The whole "the only guy who could hold Michael Jordan under 20 points a game was Dean Smith" thing. Because everyone here would be lying if you would argue that Tennessee offenses of the 90's were the same as the Florida offenses at that time. What would Peyton have done playing for Spurrier? I don't know.
Doug Atkins was named the SEC Player of the Quarter Century (1950-1975) and he doesn't get a mention. Doug is one of the most feared players in college and NFL history. Should have been mentioned.
I'm from Atkins hometown....When Doug would come home to visit family he would come down to the local cafe every morning where several of us would meet at 7:30 and he'd sit with us and drink coffee and tell stories that I still laugh about. He put the fear in me justing sitting next to him drinking coffee. I kid you not...a coffee cup in his hand looked like a thimble and his biceps where so huge it was hard for him to get the cup to his mouth. A list like this without him on it is a fail IMO.
One or two games a career does not make.I don't know what you watched, but Peyton personally lost the 1996 Florida game all by himself giving his team absolutely no chance to win. Peyton threw 4 interceptions in the first half.
I'll give you 95. 1996, he was terrible. The yards he eventually piled up that day were meaningless and I'd bet he'd tell you the same thing.
I'm from Atkins hometown....When Doug would come home to visit family he would come down to the local cafe every morning where several of us would meet at 7:30 and he'd sit with us and drink coffee and tell stories that I still laugh about. He put the fear in me justing sitting next to him drinking coffee. I kid you not...a coffee cup in his hand looked like a thimble and his biceps where so huge it was hard for him to get the cup to his mouth. A list like this without him on it is a fail IMO.
First Team:
DE Reggie White, Tennessee (1980-83)
Sacks: 32 | Tackles: 293 | Fumble recoveries: 4
Before White became the "Minister of Defense" and retired as the NFL's all-time sack leader, he was the most menacing pass-rusher in Tennessee history. During White's senior season in 1983, he had 100 tackles, 72 unassisted, and set a UT single-season record with 15 sacks. He had a sack in every game but two and had four in a 45-6 victory over The Citadel, another school record. White was a consensus All-American and was named SEC Player of the Year. "There's never been a better one," former Volunteers coach Johnny Majors said. "He could turn a football game around like no one else."
Second Team:
QB Peyton Manning, Tennessee (1994-97)
Passing yards: 11,201 | Completion pct.: .625 | TDs: 89
The ABCs that endeared Manning to the nation through his 17 seasons in professional football first shone through his four seasons in Knoxville: his affability, his brain for football, and his commitment. He took college football seriously not for the millions it might (and did) afford him professionally, but because he loved it, loved the stories that dad Archie told him about playing at Ole Miss, and loved the stories he created at Tennessee. No, he didn't win a national championship and (because!) he didn't beat Florida. But Bear Bryant never beat Notre Dame, and his career turned out all right, too. Manning won the Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Sullivan Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award during his senior season in 1997.
The All-Time All-America team for college football's 150th anniversary
He was from Humboldt Tn.Was Atkins from Millport, Al?
Rode the shuttle from the Hyatt to Neyland stadium with him several times during those years you mentioned.In his later years (late 70's early 80's) to see him in the lobby of the Hyatt before games, if you were standing on the next level steps over looking the crowd he would be easily spotted. Head and mostly shoulders above everyone else. As I said "BAD MAN".