Today in Tennessee football history..........

December 7, 1929......

The undefeated (once tied) Vols played host to 6-4 South Carolina. After a 6-6 tie the week before, the Vols and Gene McEver ran wild over Carolina. In the sloppy mud, McEver ran for 5 touchdowns and 3 extra points (giving him 130 points for the season-leading the nation) and Buddy Hackman ran for 3 TDs in the 54-0 victory. McEver was named All-American and he and Bobby Dodd were named All-Southern!

2 of McEver’s TDs
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December 8, 1928.......

Undefeated Florida came to Knoxville as the highest scoring team in the south. Media experts picked the Gators to win by 3 touchdowns, but Neyland had other plans. The Vols Defense held Florida to 12 pts (25 below their avg). Buddy Hackman scored on a 35 yrd intercepted lateral to give the Vols a 13-6 lead. Florida would score and go for two, but Bobby Dodd knocked down the pass attempt to preserve the 13-12 victory.

Hackman’s touchdown
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Hackman carries to the one
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September 4, 1993........

The #10 Vols hosted Louisiana Tech to open the season. Heath Shuler threw for 200 yrds and 3TDs. Aaron Hayden had 119 yrds rushing and Jerry Colquitt tossed a TD pass to Benjie Shuler in UT’s 50-0 victory.

Benjie and Heath
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Heath Shuler was a Man among Boys. If he had ONLY come back for his Senior Season; His entire Future would have changed. (Foot Injury) I believe to this day that Shuler was another Bret Favre in the making.
 
December 9, 1939.......

In the final game of the regular season, the Plainsman of Auburn came to Knoxville. The Vols were hoping to win their 23rd consecutive game and continue their 14 game scoreless streak.
A scoreless game turned when a Johnny Butler punt return put UT on their own 35. Three running plays by Butler, Wallen, and Andridge got the ball to the Auburn 40. On the next play, Johnny Butler dropped back to pass, scrambled to his left and took off running. Butler broke several tackles and scored standing up. Ike Peel’s conversion made it 7-0. The Vols Defense held Auburn on downs and the Vols ran out the clock to finish the ‘39 season undefeated and unscored upon.

Vols players watching the action vs Auburn
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Johnny Butler
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December 10, 2009.........

Vols have never played on this date, so......

In 2009, Eric Berry had 87 tackles with 7 for a loss and 2 interceptions. Berry was named All-SEC and All-American for the second straight year. To top off a spectacular career, he was honored as the Jim Thorpe Award winner as the best defensive back in the country, on this date in 2009.

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December 11, 2001............

After two amazing seasons, Travis Stephens and John Henderson were named AP First Team All-Americans.

Henderson, the Outland Trophy winner from 2000, recorded 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss despite missing two games. He was one of three repeat honorees and a finalist for the Outland Trophy again.

Stephens ran for 1464 yrds (UT record), 10 TDs, averaged 122 yrds a game, and ran for 226 yrds vs Flor*da. He was the first Vols running back named to the AP first team since Johnny Majors in 1956.

Fred Weary and Will Overstreet were named second and third team respectively.

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My first college game ever was UT, fall of 92 after transferring form jr college (at age 21) in Roanoke, VA. I vividly recall the (monsoon) game vs. the Gators. First college/UT game ever and last time I’ve seen UT beat FL in person.

I loved sports growing up but was usually out and about playing them vs watching TV.
 
December 12, 2016..........

Derek Barnett was named AP First Team All-American, the first Vol since 2009. Derek had 50 tackles, 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception during the regular season. Barnett would break UT’s all-time sack record during the Music City Bowl win over Nebraska.

Barnett breaks Reggie’s record
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My first college game ever was UT, fall of 92 after transferring form jr college (at age 21) in Roanoke, VA. I vividly recall the (monsoon) game vs. the Gators. First college/UT game ever and last time I’ve seen UT beat FL in person.

I loved sports growing up but was usually out and about playing them vs watching TV.

That was my first game of recollection as well.
It was awesome.
 
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My first college game ever was UT, fall of 92 after transferring form jr college (at age 21) in Roanoke, VA. I vividly recall the (monsoon) game vs. the Gators. First college/UT game ever and last time I’ve seen UT beat FL in person.

I loved sports growing up but was usually out and about playing them vs watching TV.
I was at that game! What a day!
 
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Rex Dockery's plane crashed this day in 1983. Often thought as a Memphis State story, some might forget Rex was a football player at UT in the 60's and his widow Wallene was a Vols cheerleader. Wallene is still one of the biggest UT fans you will meet.
Wow......Odd story about that. I was spending the night with my best friend the night before the crash. Coach Dockery had dinner at their house that night. My friends dad was a big MSU booster. That was a sad day.
 
December 13, 1981.......

As the Vols rolled into New Jersey to play Wisconsin in the Garden State Bowl, they were searching for their first bowl win since 1974. Trailing 7-3, Willie Gault returned a kickoff 87 yrds to give the Vols a lead they would not relinquish. Behind Steve Alatorre’s 315 passing yrds (1 td and a rushing td) and Anthony Hancock’s 196 receiving yrds (on 11 receptions), the Vols escaped with a 28-21 victory. Alatorre was named MVP!

Hancock

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Alatorre

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December 14, 1967..........

Obscure, but pretty cool.

During Bob Hope’s “Christmas Special,” Bob Johnson was introduced as the Center on the LOOKS All-America Team. One of Johnson’s “teammates” was OJ Simpson.

Johnson was a 2x All-SEC player and was named the SEC’s best Lineman and best blocker in 1967. He was also an Academic All-American and finished 6th in the Heisman Trophy voting.

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December 15, 2015........

Evan Berry (Kick Returner) and Cameron Sutton (Punt Returner) were named 1st Team All-American by The Sporting News. Berry had 21 kickoff returns for an average of 38.3 yrds with 3 TDs. Sutton had an 18 yrd average per punt return and 2 TDs.

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December 16, 1974.........

With a record of 6-2-2, the Vols were invited to the Liberty Bowl to play #10 Maryland and All-American Randy White. The Terps kicked a field goal in the second quarter and almost made it hold up. After Condredge Holloway was injured, soph. Randy Wallace entered the game. With 2:44 left in the game, Larry Seivers outleaped defenders to snag an 11 yrd TD to give the Vols a 7-3 victory. Mike Gayles ran for 116 yrds on 17 carries and was named offensive MVP.

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December 16, 1974.........

With a record of 6-2-2, the Vols were invited to the Liberty Bowl to play #10 Maryland and All-American Randy White. The Terps kicked a field goal in the second quarter and almost made it hold up. After Condredge Holloway was injured, soph. Randy Wallace entered the game. With 2:44 left in the game, Larry Seivers outleaped defenders to snag an 11 TD to give the Vols a 7-3 victory. Mike Gayles ran for 116 yrds on 17 carries and was named offensive MVP.

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I enjoyed watching the 1974 bowl victory on TV as a 10 year old especially after losing to Texas Tech in the a Gator bowl the year before..
We went through a dry spell after that 74 season, that would be our last bowl invite in the decade of the 70’s, one of our darkest periods in Volunteer history.
Tennessee wouldn’t experience another bowl win until 1981(7 years later).
 
December 16, 1974.........

With a record of 6-2-2, the Vols were invited to the Liberty Bowl to play #10 Maryland and All-American Randy White. The Terps kicked a field goal in the second quarter and almost made it hold up. After Condredge Holloway was injured, soph. Randy Wallace entered the game. With 2:44 left in the game, Larry Seivers outleaped defenders to snag an 11 TD to give the Vols a 7-3 victory. Mike Gayles ran for 116 yrds on 17 carries and was named offensive MVP.

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Interesting we played Maryland two consecutive games. Last one in 1974 and first one in 1975. Won them both.
 
I enjoyed watching the 1974 bowl victory on TV as a 10 year old especially after losing to Texas Tech in the a Gator bowl the year before..
We went through a dry spell after that 74 season, that would be our last bowl invite in the decade of the 70’s, one of our darkest periods in Volunteer history.
Tennessee wouldn’t experience another bowl win until 1981(7 years later).
Garden State Bowl listed above. This isn’t the first “dry spell” to be a Vols fan. Youngsters don’t know that..........
 
December 17, 1983........

After an 8-3 regular season, the Vols went to the Citrus Bowl to face Boomer Esiason, Frank Reich, and #12 Maryland. Alvin Toles had a fumble recovery and an interception, with both leading to UT scores. Alan Cockrell threw for 185 yrds and a touchdown and Johnnie Jones ran for 154 yrds and 2 TDs in the Vols 30-23 victory. It marked the best year since 1972.

Jones’ go ahead td
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