The Rocky Road Back to the Top

[VolsNaughtyDogs]

Where exactly is the Top? One point of reference would be the ’98 national championship. Certainly it has been the pinnacle for Tennessee football over the past 59 years. But . . .

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[BAYOU-VOL]

Thanks, excelent information

 

[KnoxVegas]

I like the recruiting graph...factor in the departure of so many from the 07' class and it is easy to see why we are in this current state as a program...

 

[oKtAnEvOl 8]

excellent read:good!:

 

[GreyWolf1129]

One could argue that the '39 Vols (although few, if any of us were around back then), or more recently the '85 Vols (35-7 over the "Mighty Canes" in the Sugar Bowl), represent the "pinnacle" of UT Football.

I say this because, although the '98 season was magical, and we did win the (first) BCS National Championship, we were basically three snaps away from being 8-3. Tee Martin's run against Syracuse on 4th down; a missed FG by UF; and who-can-ever-forget-the-fumble by Clint Stoerner?

Three snaps separated us from (yet) another "good" season, and where we ended up. This is NOT meant to take anything away from a UT team that found a way to win, week after week, in a season that will always be remembered for what it was: Perfection.

Having said that....the proverbial "Rocky Road Back to the Top"...when, not if it comes...will likely resemble the '98 season. We might not be the best team in the nation every week, but we will be the best team on the field. Apologies to Coach Fulmer, who coined that phrase.

Wait and see.

Go Vols.

 

[jsc1973]

I say this because, although the '98 season was magical, and we did win the (first) BCS National Championship, we were basically three snaps away from being 8-3. Tee Martin's run against Syracuse on 4th down; a missed FG by UF; and who-can-ever-forget-the-fumble by Clint Stoerner?

You can say something like this about just about every national champion except the 1995 Nebraska team.

What if Alabama doesn't block that field goal against us this season? Then Alabama loses, and Texas plays Cincinnati for the national championship in January.

The bottom line is Tee Martin did make that run, Billy Ratliff caused Stoerner to trip over his lineman, and if UF's kicker makes that field goal, we go to double OT with them, where we find another way to win.

Funny you mention that '85 team. Look at our roster that day, and then look at Miami's. On paper, they should have beaten us by 30 points. They had guys on their bench who became NFL superstars. But we gave them a beating they still haven't forgotten.

Champions find a way. Also-rans make excuses.

 

[Freak]

Nice job. I especially like the average stars chart.
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[BloodRUNZOrange]

One could argue that the '39 Vols (although few, if any of us were around back then), or more recently the '85 Vols (35-7 over the "Mighty Canes" in the Sugar Bowl), represent the "pinnacle" of UT Football.

I say this because, although the '98 season was magical, and we did win the (first) BCS National Championship, we were basically three snaps away from being 8-3. Tee Martin's run against Syracuse on 4th down; a missed FG by UF; and who-can-ever-forget-the-fumble by Clint Stoerner?

Three snaps separated us from (yet) another "good" season, and where we ended up. This is NOT meant to take anything away from a UT team that found a way to win, week after week, in a season that will always be remembered for what it was: Perfection.

Having said that....the proverbial "Rocky Road Back to the Top"...when, not if it comes...will likely resemble the '98 season. We might not be the best team in the nation every week, but we will be the best team on the field. Apologies to Coach Fulmer, who coined that phrase.

Wait and see.

Go Vols.

true but i could argue that national championions are made on the back of "lucky" snaps......

see flordia in 2007 the "finger block" that saved them from arkansas

alabama this past season won bc of a blocked fg against tennessee....

:clapping:

 

[BloodRUNZOrange]

this is what makes college football so much better than the NFL......every week is a playoff....we all sit on the edge of our seats every week bc it matters.....thats why im for the bcs....bc it makes college football amazing...not just a game or 2 but the entire season.

 

[ReeceBobby]

good read

 

[SEC2213]

You can say something like this about just about every national champion except the 1995 Nebraska team.

What if Alabama doesn't block that field goal against us this season? Then Alabama loses, and Texas plays Cincinnati for the national championship in January.

The bottom line is Tee Martin did make that run, Billy Ratliff caused Stoerner to trip over his lineman, and if UF's kicker makes that field goal, we go to double OT with them, where we find another way to win.

Funny you mention that '85 team. Look at our roster that day, and then look at Miami's. On paper, they should have beaten us by 30 points. They had guys on their bench who became NFL superstars. But we gave them a beating they still haven't forgotten.

Champions find a way. Also-rans make excuses.

What if Texas hadn't made that field goal with no time on the clock, then Alabama would have been playing Cinn. , that would have been a terrible NC game either way, Texas or Alabama vs. Cinn.

 

[HKYvol14]

good read mr. Wake

 

[Freak]

This is very telling.

 

[Escape Goat]

Great read, I found all of the information useful.
I found this stat to be my favorite point....."In 16 out of the 19 SEC Championship games, Florida or Tennessee have represented the East".

 

[ptclaus98]

You can say something like this about just about every national champion except the 1995 Nebraska team.

What if Alabama doesn't block that field goal against us this season? Then Alabama loses, and Texas plays Cincinnati for the national championship in January.

The bottom line is Tee Martin did make that run, Billy Ratliff caused Stoerner to trip over his lineman, and if UF's kicker makes that field goal, we go to double OT with them, where we find another way to win.

Funny you mention that '85 team. Look at our roster that day, and then look at Miami's. On paper, they should have beaten us by 30 points. They had guys on their bench who became NFL superstars. But we gave them a beating they still haven't forgotten.

Champions find a way. Also-rans make excuses.

I doubt they still remember.

 

[zach0105]

this is what makes college football so much better than the NFL......every week is a playoff....we all sit on the edge of our seats every week bc it matters.....thats why im for the bcs....bc it makes college football amazing...not just a game or 2 but the entire season.

+1
This is why I hate the tournament format. As long as you do average in the regular season you have a chance to upset a team that deserves to play for the championship. With the BCS format, every game, every rivalry, and every week matters.
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