Worst Losses in history of UT football

#1
esarmstrong

esarmstrong

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2011
Messages
4,513
Likes
5,011
#1
Losing to Kentucky leads many to the inevitable question many may have already asked themselves: What is the worst loss in the history of UT football. No criteria limiting this question. You name the loss and give your reasons.

I'll start and give a couple that probably will lead the list for some

1) North Texas State, 1975. lost 21-14. This loss contributed mightily to the eventual ouster of Bill Battle the following season. It ranks to this day as one of North Texas (State)'s greatest wins in school history. North Texas State carried their coach, Haden Frye, off the field in celebration. Frye parlayed this success into the head coaching job at Iowa and legend status there.

UT rolled up over 500 yards of offense and still only scored 14 points. I was there, unfortunately.

2) UCLA, 2008, lost 27-24 in overtime. Phil Fulmer had started getting hot-seat sensations the year before when his team started the 2007 season with losses to Cal and Florida in the first three games, however, a lopsided win over Georgia "righted the ship" as UT survived down the stretch to win the East before losing to LSU in the title game, 21-14.

Tennessee was ranked 18th, IIRC, and UCLA was unranked and unimpressive. Yet, Tennessee floundered about and allowed UCLA to tie the game late sending it to OT, where UT lost on a missed field goal. One of only 3 OT losses by UT in 13 OT games. The loss set the tone for the remainder of the season and led to Fulmer's ouster following a loss at South Carolina.

3) Memphis, 1996, lost 21-17. Having Peyton Manning, Al Wilson, as a sophomore, Jay Graham, Joey Kent and others was not enough as UT lost to what was clearly a bad Memphis team (they only won 4 games that season). Play of the game was the Memphis kick return for a TD by Kevin Cobb after UT had scored to go ahead in the third quarter. Video replays showed that Kevin Cobb's elbow hit the ground on the return, but it didn't matter. Instant replay would have been useful then, huh?

Add more, if you want.
 
Last edited:
#7
#7
Vercingetorix said:
Rutgers in the late 70s has to be on the list.
Click to expand...

Yep, I was there for that one too. And the very week we beat Notre Dame 40-19. That was the maddening thing about Majors' teams and that one in particular. Very sporatic and up-and-down in their performances from week to week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#9
#9
Yes....I can only speak for the last forty years but here we go...

1) North Texas State
2) Rutgers......(that was before anyone had ever even heard of Rutgers)
3) Wyoming
4) Duke twice with Spurrier coaching them (if memory may be a little fuzzy)
 
#11
#11
I don't know about this because I was born in 1978, but my dad told me that we once lost to Chatt. Does anybody know if that is correct. I think it was in the 60's, but could be wrong.
 
Last edited:
#13
#13
Not that I was more than an undesired thought back then, but the Chattanooga loss has to be way, way up there.

Edit: FYI it was in '58.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#14
#14
ReebaVol said:
Pretty sure the UCLA game was in 2007, not 2008.
I don't know about this because I was born in 1978, but my dad told me that we once lost to Chatt. Does anybody know if that is correct. I think it was in the 60's, but could be wrong.
Click to expand...

Nope. UCLA was in 08 and 09
 
#17
#17
ReebaVol said:
Pretty sure the UCLA game was in 2007, not 2008.
I don't know about this because I was born in 1978, but my dad told me that we once lost to Chatt. Does anybody know if that is correct. I think it was in the 60's, but could be wrong.
Click to expand...

2007 was the loss at Cal. Worst stadium I've ever been to.

UCLA was not only in 2008, but 2009 too!
 
#18
#18
Jackson_Harris said:
Yes....I can only speak for the last forty years but here we go...

1) North Texas State
2) Rutgers......(that was before anyone had ever even heard of Rutgers)
3) Wyoming
4) Duke twice with Spurrier coaching them (if memory may be a little fuzzy)
Click to expand...

Now rereading your original post...yes, Memphis is in the top-10. That Memphis game was kinda like the Kentucky game last Saturday. It was on the road and felt like a fluke lose. That weird kickoff turned the game. Only time Memphis ever beat us I think?

I love ole Johnny Majors. But one of the big knocks on him...for whatever reason, he could lose to some really bad teams. That was one good thing about Phil...for the most part (a few expections in there), he could take care of the light work.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#22
#22
crusse10 said:
The lack of Wyoming invalidates the list
Click to expand...

A bad loss, perhaps the worst, but Fulmer had already been fired. I have never been present for a more lackluster effort by a team. Worst crowd, numbers wise, I remember in the fully expanded Neyland Stadium.

The "list" is not all-inclusive. It's only a starting point.
 
#23
#23
Jackson_Harris said:
Now rereading your original post...yes, Memphis is in the top-10. That Memphis game was kinda like the Kentucky game last Saturday. It was on the road and felt like a fluke lose. That weird kickoff turned the game. Only time Memphis ever beat us I think?
Click to expand...

The worst thing about the loss on Saturday was that it didn't feel like a fluke at all.
 
#24
#24
1912 loss to Sewanne 33-6 or the 1910 loss to Centre College. Have to be two of the most disturbing losses ever.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top