Years we should have been in the NC game

[volsknx]

Obviously, ‘98 but what other three years do you feel we should have been playing for a national championship?

Pick three

 

[lukeneyland]

1989 we have a pretty legitimate claim.Maybe even 1985 but that’s a stretch. The rest of those years we probably don’t have much of a claim

 

[Oklahomey]

1985 should be considered. I know there were two ties but that team was championship good. Miami found out.

 

[GAVol]

1990 was rough. Tied the national champs, threw a pick in the end zone to lose to ND and had FG attempts to win against Auburn and Alabama.

 

[Carl Pickens]

1990 was rough. Tied the national champs, threw a pick in the end zone to lose to ND and had FG attempts to win against Auburn and Alabama.

They definitely underperformed that year

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

2001 had we not choked in Atlanta....

 

[SlipKidVol]

1989 we have a pretty legitimate claim.Maybe even 1985 but that’s a stretch. The rest of those years we probably don’t have much of a claim

Started too low in the polls in 89 after 88 record. What could have been

 

[peaygolf]

1989 is the most underrated UT team ever.
They were freaking stacked.

Damn you Bama

 

[Boca Vol]

Next to the '89 team, the most under-rated team on that list is the '93 team, IMO. That team was really good. They just got started too late at UF. Plus, that Bama game was a slug-fest that ended in a tie. I can still see Palmer running for that 2-point conversion.

 

[Carl Pickens]

2001 had we not choked in Atlanta....

A buddy of mine was on that team and the ‘04 team when Rick Clausen transferred over. RC told my friend that when Rohan went out, he moved up to the back up QB slot and had to put the headphones on. LSU kept running the QB draw over and over ... very successfully. He said their offensive coaches were laughing in amazement that the Vols weren’t adjusting at all. He said the OC kept saying “omg... run it again”..... and they did pretty much the rest of the game

 

[Tnman1]

86 Sugar Bowl

 

[VolPack22]

I didn’t vote for them but the 2001 was by far the most disappointing season. Had a 7 point lead going into halftime and I guess the guys thought they were ready to go to the NC after that. Rohan Davey and Matt Mauk completed something like 34% of their passes combined and they still won. I’ll never forget Mauk rushing and our defense acted like they had never seen a QB run before. We let Matt freaking Mauk beat us haha. I have to laugh at it now because it still sounds unbelievable to me that we allowed that to happen. We basically created Nick Saban with that game.

 

[Type Orange+]

1970.

 

[thehill98]

I’m assuming you mean, teams that should’ve won the right games to make it to the championship game. 1999,2001,1995 and in that order I think. All 3 of those teams only needed one more particular win and they would’ve been there. 99 could’ve won either Fla or Ark and would’ve made it. That defense was something special, but offense squandered opportunities in both games. 95 had the lead at half, but the monsoon that came lead to us not being able to hold onto the ball, and I think had five fumbles in second half. And of course we all know what happened in the 01 sec title game.

 

[PlanetVolunteer]

I’m assuming you mean, teams that should’ve won the right games to make it to the championship game. 1999,2001,1995 and in that order I think. All 3 of those teams only needed one more particular win and they would’ve been there. 99 could’ve won either Fla or Ark and would’ve made it. That defense was something special, but offense squandered opportunities in both games. 95 had the lead at half, but the monsoon that came lead to us not being able to hold onto the ball, and I think had five fumbles in second half. And of course we all know what happened in the 01 sec title game.

Also have to imagine how sweet it would have been to beat bammer in the 99 SEC title

 

[FlyFishnVol]

Obviously, ‘98 but what other three years do you feel we should have been playing for a national championship?

Pick three

Would of, could of, should of.............doesn't matter anymore.

 

[BigOrangeAl 1979]

1999 team

 

[volsknx]

That ‘99 team was essentially the same as the ‘98 team. Should have been playing for a repeat! That is on Fulmer and his inability to manage many things. That ‘95 team was awesome and I think one of the all-time best. Lost to Fla early in the season and they didn’t lose. So, we were behind them waiting. Still, I don’t think we would have faired any better against Nebraska.

 

[JRich]

"Should have been" or "could have been?"

"Should have been" sounds like we were contenders but got cheated or someone else was picked, like we ended up #3 or something. Some of those years are before my fandom, but I recall those teams lost some key games and "shouldn't" have been in contention because of that, but they "could've" been had they won.

 

[peaygolf]

I keep thinking about the '89 Team.......Off of a 5-6 season.

Kelly at QB
Cobb/Webb at RB
Alvin Harper/Carl Pickens/Anthony Morgan/Terrence Cleveland at WR

Arguably the best skill position team UT has ever had...........besides '97.

 

[TnVol!]

None of them. Shoulda coulda woulda just does'nt get it done.

 

[BenGrimm]

I’m assuming you mean, teams that should’ve won the right games to make it to the championship game. 1999,2001,1995 and in that order I think. All 3 of those teams only needed one more particular win and they would’ve been there. 99 could’ve won either Fla or Ark and would’ve made it. That defense was something special, but offense squandered opportunities in both games. 95 had the lead at half, but the monsoon that came lead to us not being able to hold onto the ball, and I think had five fumbles in second half. And of course we all know what happened in the 01 sec title game.

Shouldn’t have happened but Mauk did go on to win a NC two years later.

 

[vol73]

I didn’t vote for them but the 2001 was by far the most disappointing season. Had a 7 point lead going into halftime and I guess the guys thought they were ready to go to the NC after that. Rohan Davey and Matt Mauk completed something like 34% of their passes combined and they still won. I’ll never forget Mauk rushing and our defense acted like they had never seen a QB run before. We let Matt freaking Mauk beat us haha. I have to laugh at it now because it still sounds unbelievable to me that we allowed that to happen. We basically created Nick Saban with that game.

We destroyed them earlier that year. I remember Kelley Washington had something like 256 yards receiving breaking the record.
We lost that second game because of turnovers.

 

[VFL28]

Don't know, cause I wasn't alive when Tennessee was actually good.

 

[thehill98]

Shouldn’t have happened but Mauk did go on to win a NC two years later.

That is true, and he actually turned into a very good quarterback for the type of team that LSU turned into. For whatever reason, we just turned into jello that second half. I think it was mostly over confidence. Still amazing to think about what the state of the program would’ve been now if we won that game and really any of the games mentioned for that matter. Would one more national championship or sec championship changed anything, who knows. Would’ve been very tough to have beaten that Miami team, but we would’ve been a much better match up than Nebraska I’m certain. In 95, we would’ve gotten killed by Nebraska in the bowl game instead of Florida, but maybe Florida doesn’t win the next year, they definitely got in our heads. But I think in 99 we would’ve had a very good chance in a rematch with Florida State for a title. Lots of what if’s.