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Revision as of 04:17, 13 January 2010
College football teamTennessee Volunteers football | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
First season | 1891 | ||
Head coach | 1st season, 0–0–0 (–) | ||
Stadium | Neyland Stadium (capacity: 100,011 Largest crowd: 109,061 (Sept. 18, 2004 vs. UF)) | ||
Field surface | Grass | ||
Location | Knoxville, Tennessee | ||
Division | East | ||
All-time record | 773–327–53 (.693) | ||
Bowl record | 25–22–0 (.532) | ||
Claimed national titles | 6 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951 1967, 1998 | ||
Conference titles | 16 | ||
Consensus All-Americans | 38 | ||
Current uniform | |||
File:SEC-Uniform-TEN.PNG | |||
Colors | Orange and White | ||
Fight song | Down the Field (Official) Rocky Top (Unofficial) | ||
Mascot | Smokey | ||
Marching band | Pride of the Southland Band | ||
Rivals | Alabama Crimson Tide Florida Gators Georgia Bulldogs Kentucky Wildcats Vanderbilt Commodores | ||
Website | UTSports.com |
The Tennessee Volunteers are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Having played their first season in 1891, the Vols have amassed a successful tradition for well over a century, with their combined record of 783-332-53 ranking them ninth on the list of all-time winningest major college programs as well as second on the list of winningest SEC programs, just behind Alabama's Crimson Tide and ahead of Southern California's (USC) Trojans. Their all-time ranking in bowl appearances is third (tied with USC) and fourth in all-time bowl victories. They boast six national titles in their history and their last national championship was in the 1998 college football season.
The Vols play at historic Neyland Stadium, where Tennessee has an all-time winning record of 422 games, the second-highest home-field total in college football history for any school in the nation at its current home venue. Only Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium, which opened in 1913, eight years before the 1921 opening of Neyland, has hosted more victories (428) for its team. Additionally, its 100,011 seat capacity makes Neyland the nation's fifth largest stadium.
On November 3, 2008, Head Coach Phillip Fulmer announced that he would be stepping down from his position at the end of the season after a winning total of 152 games at his alma mater, followed, four weeks later, by UT's November 30 announcement that Oakland Raiders former head coach Lane Kiffin has been selected as his replacement.
History
Early years
Tennessee's football program began in 1891, but the program's first win did not come until the following season. On October 15, 1892 The football team defeated Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee by a score of 25–0. Tennessee competed in their first 5 seasons without a coach. In 1899, J. A. Pierce became the first head coach of the team. The team had several coaches with short tenures until Zora G. Clevenger took over in 1911. In 1914, Clevenger lead the Vols to a dominant 9-0 season and their first championship, winning the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association title. The Vols would again field an undefeated squad in 1916 under coach John R. Bender, but consistency was elusive.
In 1921, Shields-Watkins field was built. The new home of the Vols was named after William S. Shields and his wife Alice Watkins Shields, the financial backers of the field. The field had bleachers that could seat 3,200 and had been used for baseball the prior year.
In 1922, the team began to wear orange jerseys for the first time after previously wearing black jerseys.
Neyland comes to Tennessee
Robert Neyland took over as head coach in 1926. At the time, Neyland was an Army Captain and an ROTC instructor at the school. Interestingly, in the 1929 season at least, his two assistant coaches (also ROTC instructors) out-ranked him. Former player Nathan Dougherty who had then become Dean of the school's engineering program and chairman of athletics made the standard clear: "Even the score with Vanderbilt."
Neyland quickly surpassed the Nashville school which had been dominating football in Tennessee. He also scored a surprise upset victory over heavily favored Alabama in 1928. Neyland captured the school's first Southern Conference title in 1927, on only his second year on the job. In 1929, Gene McEver became the football program's first ever All-America. He led the nation in scoring, and his 130 points still remains as the school record.
In the 1930s, Tennessee saw many more firsts. They played in the New York City Charity Game on December 5, 1931, the program's first ever bowl game. They scored a 13–0 victory over New York University, being led by Herman Hickman. Hickman's performance in the game caught the eye of Grantland Rice, and Hickman was added to Rice's All American team. Hickman would later play professionally in New York, for football's Brooklyn Dodgers. After the 1932 season, Tennessee joined the Southeastern Conference, setting the stage for years of new rivalries. Captain Neyland led the Vols to a 76–7–5 record from 1926 to 1934. After the 1934 season, Neyland was called into military service at Panama. Neyland's first stint with UT saw the Vols rattle off undefeated streaks of 33, 28 and 14 games, including five undefeated seasons(1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, and 1932).
Neyland returns
Tennessee struggled to a losing record during Neyland's time in Panama. He returned to find a rebuilding project in 1936. In 1936 and 1937, the Vols won six games each season. However, in 1938, Neyland's Vols began one of the more impressive streaks in NCAA football history. The 1938 Tennessee Volunteers football team won the school's first National Championship and earned a trip to the Orange Bowl, the team's first major bowl, where they pounded fellow unbeaten Oklahoma by a score of 17-0. They outscored their opponents 283–16. The 1939 regular season was even more impressive. The 1939 team was the last NCAA team ever to hold their opponents scoreless for an entire regular season. Surprisingly, the Vols did not earn a national title that year despite being ranked #1 for most of the season, but did earn a trip to the famed Rose Bowl. The Vols were without the services of stud tailback George Cafego, who would finish fourth in the Heisman voting and be the top pick in the NFL draft, due to a knee injury. Cafego's backup was also injured. For a single-wing squad heavily dependent upon the tailback position, it proved to be too much for the Vols to overcome. In front of a crowd of over 90,000, Tennessee fell by a score of 14–0 to Southern California. That loss ended UT's streak of 17 straight shutout games and 71 consecutive shutout quarters, NCAA records to this day. The 1940 Vols put together a third consecutive undefeated regular season(Neyland's eighth such season with the Vols). That team earned a National title from two minor polls, and received the school's first bid to the Sugar Bowl, where they lost to Boston College. After the 1940 season, Neyland was again pressed into military service, this time for World War II. His successor, John Barnhill did well in his absence, going 32-5-2 during the war years of 1941 to 1945. The Vols did not field a team in 1943 due to the war. This was the last season that the Vols missed.
Neyland's final years
After World War II, Neyland retired from the military. He returned to Knoxville with the rank of General Officer and led the Vols to more success. From 1946 to 1952, Neyland's Vols had a record of 54–17–4. They won conference titles in 1946 and 1951, and National titles in 1950 and 1951. The 1950 season included what would prove to be the highest profile matchup between the South's two biggest coaching legends-General Neyland and Paul "Bear" Bryant, then at Kentucky. Both teams were ranked in the top ten. The Vols defeated Bryant, superstar quarterback Babe Parilli, and the Wildcats, 7-0. Bryant would never win a game against Neyland. The 1950 season culminated with a win against #2 Texas in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl Classic. The 1951 team featured Hank Lauricella, that season's Heisman Trophy runner up, and Doug Atkins, a future college football and Pro Football Hall of Fame performer. The Vols romped to a 10-0 regular season record(Neyland's ninth undefeated regular season) and the AP National Title. Neyland retired due to poor health in 1952, and took the position of athletic director. The Vols would see spotty success for some 40 years after that, but it would be the late 1980s and 1990s before the Tennessee program had similar winning percentages.
After Neyland
Harvey Robinson had the tough task of replacing General Neyland, and only stuck around for two seasons. Following the 1954 season, Neyland fired Robinson and replaced him with Bowden Wyatt who had seen success at Wyoming and Arkansas. Neyland called the move "the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
Wyatt, who had been a hall of fame player for Neyland, struggled at Tennessee. He won more than 6 games only twice, in 1956 and 1957.
The 1956 squad won an SEC Championship, going 10–1 and finishing the season ranked #2. That year, UT won one of the greatest games in team history, a 6-0 victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta when both teams were ranked #2 and #3, respectively. It was voted the second best game in college football history by Sports Illustrated's 100th Anniversary of College Football issue(published in 1969). Tech was coached by former UT Hall of Fame quarterback, and revered Yellow Jacket coach, Bobby Dodd. In the final minutes of a legendary defensive struggle, UT was backed up just ahead of their own goal line, but star tailback and future head coach Johnny Majors took a direct snap and booted a roughly 70 yard punt deep into Yellow Jacket territory to seal the win. Majors would finish second in the Heisman voting that year; it was a controversial vote that resulted in the only time a player from a losing squad, Paul Hornung of 2-8 Notre Dame, won the trophy.
Despite two successful years, Wyatt's team never returned to a bowl game after the 1957 season. Assistant James McDonald took over for Wyatt in 1963, going 5–5.
Before the 1962 season, on March 28, 1962, General Neyland died in New Orleans, Louisiana. Shields-Watkins Field was then presented with a new name: Neyland Stadium. The stadium was dedicated at the 1962 Alabama game, and by that time had expanded to 52,227 seats. Incidentally, Neyland had a hand in designing the expansion efforts for the stadium while he was athletic director. His plans were so forward looking that they were used for every expansion until 1996, when the stadium was expanded to 102,544 seats.
Dickey and his three Ts
Doug Dickey, who had been an assistant at Arkansas under Frank Broyles, replaced McDonald in 1964. Dickey was entrusted with rebuilding the program, and his six seasons at the school saw considerable change. Dickey scrapped the single wing formation and replaced it with the more modern T-Formation offense, in which the quarterback takes the snap "under center." He also changed the helmets of the Vols, removing the numbers from the side and replacing them with a "T." His third change also remains today. Dickey worked with the Pride of the Southland Marching Band to create a unique pregame entrance for the football squad. The band would open a block T with its base at the locker room tunnel. The team would then run through the T to the sideline. The T was reoriented in the 1980s when the locker room was moved behind the north end zone, and the entrance remains a prized tradition of the football program. In addition to the "three T's", Dickey instituted the now universally recognized checkerboard endzone design.
Dickey had some success in his six seasons as a Vol. He led Tennessee to a 46–15–4 record and captured SEC titles in 1967 and 1969. The 1967 team was awarded the National Championship by Litkenhous polling. That season, UT lost its season opening game to UCLA in the Rose Bowl stadium. Bruin quarterback Gary Beban, who would win the Heisman trophy that year, scored the winning touchdown in the final minutes on a fourth-down scramble. The Vols would not lose again that season, winning the remaining 9 regular season games including handing Alabama its only loss of the year and snapping a 25 game unbeaten streak by the Tide. The 24-13 win in Birmingham landed the Vols on the cover of Sports Illustrated and was Dickey's biggest career win.
Bill Battle
Following the 1969 season, Dickey left Tennessee to coach at his alma mater, the University of Florida. He would later return to Tennessee as the Athletic Director. Dickey was replaced by Bill Battle. Battle was a 28 year old coach from Alabama, and was the youngest head coach in the country at the time that he took over. Battle won at least 10 games in his first three seasons; however, he lost to Auburn in each of those seasons. Therefore, he did not win a conference title, and would not do so during his time as head coach.
Majors moves home
Johnny Majors won a national championship at Pittsburgh in 1976, but decided that the job at Tennessee was too good to pass up. Majors replaced Battle in 1977, on the heels of two five loss seasons. Majors would go on to lose his first game as head coach to the University of California, by a score of 27–17, in Knoxville. Majors struggled his first four seasons going 4–7, 5–5–1, 7–5, and 5–6. His teams saw mild success in 1981, going to the Garden State Bowl and going 8–4; and in 1983 winning the Citrus Bowl and going 9–3.
Majors' 1985 Volunteer squad (9–1–2, 5–1) was one of his most revered squads. The team lost only one game, regrouped after losing the services of Heisman trophy contending quarterback Tony Robinson for the season, and won the first conference title since 1969. The "Big Orange" earned a trip to the 1986 Sugar Bowl, where they defeated heavily favored and 2nd ranked Miami Hurricanes, led by Jimmy Johnson, 35–7. The win kept Miami from a national title and earned the scrappy '85 squad the nickname: "Sugar Vols."
Majors later led the Vols to a resurgence following their losing season in 1988. The 1988 Vols lost their first 6 games and went on to finish with a 5–6 record. The Vols followed that effort with back-to-back SEC titles in 1989 and 1990. The Vols played on a January 1 bowl game every season in the early 90's under Majors. However, in the Fall of 1992, Majors suffered heart problems. He missed the early part of the season. Interim coach Phillip Fulmer took over and scored upsets over Georgia and Florida. Majors returned and lost three straight conference games to Arkansas, Alabama, and South Carolina. The Alabama loss on the Third Saturday in October cut the deepest as the Vols had lost seven in a row to the Crimson Tide. The administration decided to make a change after the regular season. Majors was forced to resign and Fulmer took over before the Hall of Fame Bowl.
Fulmer and Manning
1994 saw a down turn in the record of the Vols, but events shaped the bright future of the program. Starting quarterback Jerry Colquitt suffered a season ending knee injury in the first series of the season against UCLA. Backup Todd Helton suffered a similar fate early in the fourth game of the year at Mississippi State requiring backups Brandon Stewart and Peyton Manning to take action. The following week freshman quarterback Peyton Manning would take over the controls and not let go until he departed to the NFL. Manning would be a 4-year starter for the Vols, and he led them to an 8–4 record in 1994. The next season, Manning led the Vols to a 41–14 win over Alabama, breaking the long winless streak. The only loss of the 1995 season was a 62–37 loss to Florida. The loss to the Gators was the 3rd in a row, and would prove to be the major hurdle between the Vols and the National title.
The Vols would put together 11–1, 10–2, and 11–2 seasons in the final three seasons with Manning as quarterback. Manning entered his senior season as a solid favorite for the Heisman Trophy. The trophy would eventually be awarded to Charles Woodson of Michigan, setting off an uproar among the fans. Manning did lead the Vols to an SEC title in 1997, before losing his final game to eventual National Champion Nebraska.
A champion
After three seasons with high expectations, the Vols faced a new task. Tennessee was expected to have a slight fall off after their conference championship the previous season. They lost QB Peyton Manning, WR's Marcus Nash and Andy McCullough, and LB Leonard Little to the NFL. Manning was the first pick overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. They were also coming off of a 42–17 loss to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, and were in the midst of a 5 game losing streak to their rivals the Florida Gators.
However, the 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team would prove to exceed all expectation. Led by new quarterback Tee Martin, All American linebacker Al Wilson, and Peerless Price, the Vols captured another National title and would win the first ever BCS Title game against Florida State. They finished the season 13–0, ending a remarkable run of 45–5 in 4 years. Those four seasons, the Vols were led by Fulmer, Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe and Defensive Coordinator John Chavis. Cutcliffe took over at Ole Miss as a head coach following the 1998 regular season.
Since 1998, the Vols have made three trips to the SEC Championship Game: 2001, 2004, and 2007. The 2001 team beat then head coach Steve Spurrier and Florida in the Swamp 34–32, moving them up to #2 in most polls and giving them a shot at the BCS title game in the Rose Bowl vs Miami. But they would lose to underdog #21 LSU in the SEC Championship Game. In 2005, the team suffered its first losing season since 1988, going 5–6, fielding a nationally-ranked defense but an anemic offense. Cutcliffe returned to the Vols as offensive coordinator before the 2006 season, which reunited the successful group of Fulmer, Chavis and Cutcliffe. Tennessee rebounded to go 9–3 in the 2006 regular season, losing two heartbreakers at home to Florida and LSU. This earned a spot in the 2007 Outback Bowl, where they lost to underdog Penn State, 20–10. The 2007 season was the first in team history in which the Volunteers allowed 40 or more points in more than one game (3 times). The Vol's defense did considerably better than expected with help from Seniors Xavier Mitchell, Antonio Reynolds, and Jerod Mayo, and also from Freshman Eric Berry. They would eventually win the SEC Eastern Division title and would go on to play eventual National Champion LSU Tigers. The Vols would lose to the Tigers 21-14. After the SEC Championship, the Vols were invited to play the University of Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl on January 1, 2008.
On January 11, 2008, it was announced that Dave Clawson had been hired as the new offensive coordinator for the Vols by head coach Phillip Fulmer. He replaced David Cutcliffe, who moved to Duke University as head coach. Jonathan Crompton started at quarterback for the first four games of the 2008 season and went 1–3, after which he was replaced by sophomore Nick Stephens. BJ Coleman is the third quarterback on the roster. Clawson's appointment introduced problems with the Volunteer's offense, leading to one of the worst performing offenses under then-Head Coach Phillip Fulmer's career. The Vols posted a dismal 5-7 record in the 2008 season, resulting in Fulmer's ouster at the end of the season.
Logos and uniforms
In 2009, the Volunteers wore black jerseys on Halloween night against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Traditions
Smokey
Smokey is the mascot of the University of Tennessee sports teams, both men's and women's. There is a live blue tick hound mascot, Smokey IX, which leads the Vols on the field for football games. There is also a costumed mascot that appears at every Vols game, and has won several mascot championships.
Smokey was selected as the mascot for Tennessee after a student poll in 1953. A contest was held by the Pep Club that year. Their desire was to select a coon hound that was native to Tennessee. At halftime of the Mississippi State game that season, several hounds were introduced for voting. "Blue Smokey" was the last, and howled loudly when introduced. The students cheered and Smokey became the mascot. The most successful of the live dogs was Smokey VIII who saw a record of 91–22, two SEC titles and 1 National Championship.
The Vol Walk
Head Coach Johnny Majors came up with the idea for the Vol Walk after a 1988 game at Auburn when he saw the historic Tiger Walk take place. Prior to each home game, the Vols will file out of Stokely Athletic Center, down past the Tennessee Volunteers Wall of Fame, and make their way down Peyton Manning Pass and onto Phillip Fulmer Way. Thousands of fans line the street to shake the players' hands as they walk into Neyland Stadium. Through rain, snow, sleet, or shine, the Vol faithful are always out in full force to root on the Vols as they prepare for battle. The fans are pumped up with Rocky Top played by The Pride of the Southland Band.
The "T"
The "T" appears two places in Vol tradition. Coach Doug Dickey added the block letter T onto the side of the helmets in his first season in 1964. A rounded T came in 1968. Johnny Majors modified the stripe to a thicker stripe in 1977.
The Volunteers also run through another "T." This T is formed by the Pride of the Southland marching band with its base at the entrance to the Tennessee locker room in the North endzone. The team makes a left turn inside the T and runs toward their bench on the east sideline. When Coach Dickey brought this tradition to Tennessee in 1965, the Vols locker room was underneath the East stands. The Vols would run through that T and turn back to return to their sideline. The locker room change was made in 1983.
Checkerboard end zones
Tennessee first sported the famous checkerboard design in the mid sixties. They brought the design back in 1989. This tradition was also started by Dickey in 1964, and remained until artificial turf was installed at Neyland Stadium.
The checkerboard was bordered in orange from 1989 until natural grass replaced the artificial turf in 1994. The return of natural grass brought with it the return of the green (or grass colored) border that exists today. The checkerboard end zones are painted by athletic department employees, John Payne, Kenton Page, Greg Coram, and William Barnett.
Orange and White
The Orange and White colors worn by the football team were selected by Charles Moore, a member of the very first football squad in 1891. They were from the American Daisy which grew on The Hill, the home of most of the classrooms at the university.
The Orange is distinct to the school, and has been offered by The Home Depot for sale as a paint, licensed by the university. The home games at Neyland Stadium have been described as a "Sea of Orange" due to the large number of fans wearing the school color.
The color is Spot color PMS 151 as described by the University.
Volunteer Navy
Around 200 or more boats usually park outside Neyland Stadium on the Tennessee River before games. The fleet was started by former Tennessee broadcaster George Mooney who parked his boat there first in 1962. Tennessee, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Washington are the only schools with their football stadiums built next to major bodies of water.
Rocky Top
Rocky Top is not the official Tennessee fight song, but is the most popular in use by the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. The Band began playing the fight song during the 1970s after it became popular as a Bluegrass tune by the Osborne Brothers. The fight song is widely recognized as one of the most hated by opponents in collegiate sports. In 2009 the newest tradition started honoring Rocky Top. A T-Shirt worn by fans that says "http://www.rockytopsplaying.com". more info see: Rocky Top.
Volunteers
The Volunteers (or Vols as it is commonly shortened to) derive that nickname from the State of Tennessee's nickname. Tennessee is known as the "Volunteer State," a nickname it earned during the War of 1812, in which volunteer soldiers from Tennessee played a prominent role, especially during the Battle of New Orleans.
Rivalries
The Vols are rivals with the Vanderbilt Commodores, Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide, Memphis Tigers, and Kentucky Wildcats. None of their games have trophies, although Kentucky-Tennessee used to battle over a Beer Barrel until 1999. Dating back to 1984, Tennessee currently holds the longest active winning streak against a team that plays yearly over Kentucky. The streak currently stand at 25 consecutive wins.
Head football coaching record
Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1891-93 1896-97 |
Student coached teams | 5 | 12-11 | .522 |
1899-1900 | J. A. Pierce | 2 | 9-4-1 | .654 |
1901 | George Kelley | 1 | 3-3-2 | .500 |
1902-03 | H. F. Fisher | 2 | 10-7 | .588 |
1904 | S. D. Crawford | 1 | 3-5-1 | .389 |
1905-06 | J. D. Depree | 2 | 4-11-3 | .305 |
1907-09 | George Levene | 3 | 15-10-3 | .589 |
1910 | Andrew A. Stone | 1 | 3-5-1 | .389 |
1911-15 | Zora G. Clevenger | 5 | 26-15-2 | .628 |
1916 1919-20 |
John R. Bender | 3 | 18-5-4 | .741 |
1921-25 | M. B. Banks | 5 | 27-15-3 | .633 |
1926-34 1936-40 1946-52 |
Robert Neyland | 21 | 173-31-12 | .829 |
1935 | W. H. Britton | 1 | 4-5 | .444 |
1941-42 1944-45 |
John Barnhill | 4 | 32-5-2 | .846 |
1953-54 | Harvey Robinson | 2 | 10-10-1 | .500 |
1955-62 | Bowden Wyatt | 8 | 49-29-4 | .622 |
1963 | Jim McDonald | 1 | 5-5 | .500 |
1964-69 | Doug Dickey | 6 | 46-15-4 | .738 |
1970-76 | Bill Battle | 7 | 59-22-2 | .723 |
1977-92 | Johnny Majors | 16 | 116-62-8 | .645 |
1992-08 | Phillip Fulmer | 17 | 152-52 | .769 |
2009 | Lane Kiffin | 1 | 7-6 | .583 |
Totals | 22 coaches | 110 | 778-329-53 | .693 |
All-time record
776-327-53 as of Nov 29, 2008
Winning percentage: .704
As of June 22, 2009 Tennessee was ranked 9th on the all-time wins list.
Championships
National championships
Tennessee claims six national championships. The following is a list of the six national championships listed by the Vols. Only four (1938, 1950, 1951, and 1998) were recognized by major polls. The Associated Press has only acknowledged Tennessee as National Champions twice, but the #1 Vols lost in the Sugar Bowl in 1951 after being named AP and UPI National Champions due to the polls being conducted before the bowl season prior to 1968 and 1974 respectively. The 1938 and 1950 championships, while not AP titles, were recognized by a majority of overall selectors/polls, and, as such, are generally recognized .
Year | Coach | Selector | Record | Bowl |
---|---|---|---|---|
1938 | Robert Neyland | CFRA, Dunkel, Billingsley, CFI, Litkenhous, Boand, Houlgate, Poling, NSFR, Frye, Massy, Koger, McCarty, Libby, Maxwell, Sagarin, Howell | 11-0 | Won Orange |
1940 | Robert Neyland | Dunkel, Williamson | 10-1 | Lost Sugar |
1950 | Robert Neyland | National Championship Foundation, Billingley, CFRA, Massy, Dunkel, DeVold, CFI, Frye, Fleming System, Howell, Maxwell, Sorensen | 11-1 | Won Cotton |
1951 | Robert Neyland | AP, UPI | 10-1 | Lost Sugar |
1967 | Doug Dickey | Litkenhous | 9-2 | Lost Orange |
1998 | Phillip Fulmer | AP, USAToday/ESPN, BCS | 13-0 | Won Fiesta |
Total national championships claimed | 6 |
Tennessee has also been awarded unrecognized national championships by various organizations in eight additional years: 1914, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1939, 1956, 1985, and 1989.
Conference championships
Tennessee has won a total of 16 conference championships, including 13 SEC Championships. The Vols are the last team to win back to back SEC championships, in 1997 and 1998.
Conference affiliations
- 1891–95, Independent
- 1896–1920, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
- 1921–32, Southern Conference
- 1933–present, Southeastern Conference
Year | Conference | Overall Record | Conference Record |
---|---|---|---|
1914 | SIAA | 9-0 | 5-0 |
1927 | Southern | 8-0-1 | 7-0 |
1932 | Southern | 9-0-1 | 8-0 |
1938 | SEC | 11-0 | 7-0 |
1939 | SEC | 10-1 | 6-0 |
1940 | SEC | 10-1 | 6-0 |
1946† | SEC | 9-2 | 5-0 |
1951† | SEC | 10-1 | 5-0 |
1956 | SEC | 10-1 | 6-0 |
1967 | SEC | 9-2 | 6-0 |
1969 | SEC | 9-2 | 5-1 |
1985‡ | SEC | 9-1-2 | 5-1 |
1989† | SEC | 11-1 | 6-1 |
1990 | SEC | 9-2-2 | 5-1-1 |
1997 | SEC | 11-2 | 7-1 |
1998 | SEC | 13-0 | 8-0 |
Total conference championships | 16 | ||
† Denotes co-champions
‡ Had identical record as Florida. Florida won head-to-head, but was ineligible for conference title due to probation. |
Divisional championships
As winners of the Southeastern Conference's Eastern Division, Tennessee has made five appearances in the SEC Championship Game, with the most recent coming in 2007. The Vols are 2–3 in those games. The Vols also shared the Division with Florida and Georgia in two other years, but tie-breakers allowed Florida and Georgia to go to the game in 1993 and 2003 respectively.
Year | Division Championship | SEC CG Result | Opponent | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | SEC East | NA | Did Not Play | X | X |
1997 | SEC East | W | Auburn | 30 | 29 |
1998 | SEC East | W | Mississippi State | 24 | 14 |
2001 | SEC East | L | LSU | 20 | 31 |
2003 | SEC East | NA | Did Not Play | X | X |
2004 | SEC East | L | Auburn | 28 | 38 |
2007 | SEC East | L | LSU | 14 | 21 |
Totals | 7 | 2-3 | - | 116 | 133 |
Bowl game appearances
All-time bowl appearances
School | Appearances | Record (W-L-T) |
---|---|---|
Alabama | 57 | 32-22-3 |
Texas | 49 | 25-22-2 |
USC | 48 | 32-16 |
Tennessee | 48 | 25-23 |
Nebraska | 46 | 24-22 |
All-time bowl wins
- Alabama - 32
- USC - 32
- Penn State- 27
- Georgia- 26
- Tennessee - 25
- Oklahoma - 25
- Texas- 25
Current coaching staff
Head Coach: Kippy Brown (interim)
Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line: Jim Chaney
Running Backs: vacant
Wide Receivers: Kippy Brown
Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles: James Cregg
Quarterbacks: David Reaves
Defensive Coordinator: vacant
Defensive Line/Recruiting Coordinator: vacant
Asst. Coach/Linebackers: Lance Thompson
Defensive Backs: Willie Mack Garza
Strength and Conditioning: Aaron Ausmus
Hall of Fame
Tennessee boasts the most college football hall of famers in the SEC, seventh most in major college football, and the ninth most of all college football programs, with 22.
Players
- Gene McEver - Elected 1954
- Beattie Feathers - Elected 1955
- Herman Hickman - Elected 1959
- Bobby Dodd - Elected 1959 (Player) and 1993 (Coach)
- Bob Suffridge - Elected 1961
- Nathan Dougherty - Elected 1967
- George Cafego - Elected 1969
- Bowden Wyatt - Elected 1972 (Player) and 1997 (Coach)
- Hank Lauricella - Elected 1981
- Doug Atkins - Elected 1985
- Also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Elected 1975)
- Johnny Majors - Elected 1987
- Bob Johnson - Elected 1989
- Ed Molinski - Elected 1990
- Steve DeLong - Elected 1993
- John Michels - Elected 1996
- Steve Kiner - Elected 1999
- Reggie White - Elected 2002
- Also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Elected 2006)
- Frank Emanuel - Elected 2004
- Chip Kell - Elected 2006
Coaches
- Robert Neyland - Elected 1956
- Bowden Wyatt- Elected 1997
- Doug Dickey - Elected 2003
Retired jerseys
Retired Football Jerseys |
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Peyton Manning 16 |
Billy Nowling 32 |
Rudy Klarer 49 |
Willis Tucker 61 |
Clyde Fuson 62 |
Doug Atkins 91 |
Reggie White 92 |
Individual award winners
Players
Coach
- Phillip Fulmer - 1998
- American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year
- Phillip Fulmer - 2009
Past and present NFL players
- Erik Ainge, quarterback for the New York Jets
- Jason Allen, defensive back for the Miami Dolphins
- Doug Atkins, former Defensive End for the Chicago Bears, 4× First-team All-Pro selection (1958, 1960, 1961, 1963), 6× Second-team All-Pro selection (1957, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1968), 8× Pro Bowl selection (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960,1961, 1962, 1963,1965)
- Rashad Baker, defensive back for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Bill Bates, former defensive back for the Dallas Cowboys, Pro Bowl selection (1984)
All-Pro selection (1984) 3x Super Bowl champion (1992, 1993, 1995)
- Julian Battle, defensive back for the Calgary Stampeders
- Shawn Bryson, former running back for the Detroit Lions
- Kevin Burnett, linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
- Dale Carter, former defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs, 4× Pro Bowl selection (1994, 1995, 1996, 1997), 2× Second-Team All-Pro selection (1995, 1996), 1992 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Chad Clifton, offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, Pro Bowl selection (2007)
- Reggie Cobb, former running back for the NFL
- Jeremaine Copeland, wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders, CFL All-Star (2003, 2004)
- Dustin Colquitt, punter for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Omar Gaither, linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Willie Gault, former wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, Super Bowl Champion (1985)
- Deon Grant, defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks
- Jabari Greer, cornerback for the New Orleans Saints
- Shaun Ellis, defensive end for the New York Jets, 1× Pro Bowl selection (2003)
- Terry Fair, former defensive back for the Detroit Lions
- Aubrayo Franklin, defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers
- Charlie Garner, former running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, 1× Pro Bowl selection (2000)
- Chris Hannon, wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers
- Parys Haralson, linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers
- Alvin Harper, former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, 2x Super Bowl Champion (1992 1993)
- Justin Harrell, defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers
- Albert Haynesworth, defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins, 2× All-Pro selection (2007, 2008), 2× Pro Bowl selection (2007, 2008)
- Todd Helton, quarterback, first baseman for the Colorado Rockies
- John Henderson, defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars, 2× Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2006), 1× All-Pro selection (2006)
- Travis Henry, running back for the Denver Broncos, Pro Bowl selection (2002)
- Cedric Houston, running back for the New York Jets
- Anthony Herrera, guard for the Minnesota Vikings
- Andy Kelly, former quarterback for the New Orleans VooDoo
- Mark Jones, wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers
- Jamal Lewis, running back for the Cleveland Browns, Super Bowl champion (XXXV), Pro Bowl selection (2003), AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2003)
- Leonard Little, defensive end for the St. Louis Rams, Super Bowl champion (XXXIV), All-Pro selection (2003), 2x Pro Bowl selection (2003, 2006)
- Jesse Mahelona, defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, Drafted 1st Overall 1998, 9× Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), 4× First-team All-Pro selection (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008), 3× Second-team All-Pro selection (1999, 2000, 2006), 3× AP NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008)
- David Martin, tight end for the Miami Dolphins
- Tee Martin, former quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jerod Mayo, linebacker for the New England Patriots, Draft 10th Overall 2008 & won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Turk McBride, defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Raleigh McKenzie, former Offensive Guard for the Washington Redskins, All-NFL Team (1991), Super Bowl Champion (1987, 1991)
- Robert Meachem, wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints
- Marvin Mitchell, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
- Stanley Morgan, former wide receiver for the New England Patriots, 4× Pro Bowl selection (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987)
- Eric Parker, former wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers,
- Carl Pickens, former wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans, 2x Pro Bowl selection (1995, 1996), 1992 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Peerless Price, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, Pro Bowl alternate (2002)
- Fuad Reveiz, placekicker for the Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers & Minnesota Vikings
- Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds, linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams, 2x Pro Bowl Selection, Super Bowl Champion (1981, 1984)
- Arron Sears, guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2007 NFL All-Rookie team
- Heath Shuler, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins
- Donté Stallworth, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns
- Haskel Stanback, former running back for the Atlanta Falcons
- Travis Stephens, former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- James Stewart, former running back for the Detroit Lions
- Trey Teague, former center for the Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl Champion (1998)
- Raynoch Thompson, Ray "Knock Your Head Off" Thompson former linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals
- Jonathan Wade, defensive back for the St. Louis Rams
- Darwin Walker, defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers and former Chicago Bears
- Kelley Washington, wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens
- Fred Weary, guard for the Houston Texans
- Scott Wells, center for the Green Bay Packers
- Eric Westmoreland, former linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reggie White, former defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and the Carolina Panthers, 13× Pro Bowl selection (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998), 10× First-Team All-Pro selection (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998), 3× Second-Team All-Pro selection (1994, 1996, 1997), Super Bowl champion (XXXI), 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1987, 1998)
- Al Wilson, former linebacker for the Denver Broncos, 5× Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006), 2× All-Pro selection (2005, 2006)
- Cedrick Wilson, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl champion (XL)
- Gibril Wilson, defensive back for the Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl champion (XLII)
- Jason Witten, tight end for the Dallas Cowboys, 5× Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), All-Pro selection (2007, 2008)
References
- http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082809aac.html
- Fulmer agrees to step down
- Richmond's Clawson named offensive coordinator at Tenn. - USATODAY.com
- University of Tennessee Style Guide from the University of Tennessee Official Website. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
- Top Ten College Football Traditions Fans Love To Hate from the Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 19, 2007.
- Brief History of Tennessee in the War of 1812 from the Tennessee State Library and Archives. Retrieved April 30, 2006.
- http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1938
- http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/national_championships/yearly_results.php?year=1950
- http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/sec/tennessee/all_national_champs.php
- 2006 Tennessee Volunteers Football Media Guide
External links
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National championship seasons in bold |
1951 Tennessee Volunteers football—consensus national champions | |
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