Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Coach Scooter's College Football Diary Vol. 11
Welcome to Coach Scooter’s College Football D
iary !
It’s Alabama week and that means things are getting serious in Big Orange Country. This long time southern rivalry dates back to 1901 with Alabama leading the all time series 44-37-7, plus they won last year’s game in Tuscaloosa 6-3. The Vols were off last week, while the Tide won in overtime over Ole Miss 26-23. Since the Vols did not play last week, I thought it would be fun to list my top five favorite Tennessee-Alabama moments from the past. I would enjoy reading your top five games in this series, so drop me a message at: volsdiary@yahoo.com.
October 20, 1928 – Tuscaloosa
Tennessee 15
Alabama 13
Rated anywhere from a 21 to 42 point underdog against the Crimson Tide, Tennessee coach Bob Neyland went to Alabama coach Wallace Wade before the game and suggested if the Tide were routing his Vols, the third and fourth quarters be shortened so it didn’t get too out of hand. Alabama had played in the previous two Rose Bowl games, winning in 1926, and was regarded as the established power in the south. Gene McEver took the opening kickoff 98 yards for a Tennessee touchdown, and needless to say, the second half was played in its entirety as the Vols won the game 15-13, and from that day forward, were on the college football map to stay.
October 21, 1939 – Knoxville
Alabama 0
Tennessee 21
The Vols blanked the Crimson Tide in route to becoming the last major college football team to go through a regular season unscored upon. This was also the game sophomore running back Johnny Butler ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run that has gone down in the annals as one of the great runs in of Tennessee football history. The Vols would play in their first Rose Bowl that season, losing to USC 14-0.
October 16, 1982 – Knoxville
Alabama 28
Tennessee 35
The Vols ended an 11 game losing streak to the Tide with a 35-28 in what would be the last game Bear Bryant would ever coach against Tennessee. The game sparked a wild celebration in Knoxville with both goal posts being torn down. The remains of one of the goal posts can be seen at the Old College Inn in west Knoxville.
October 14, 1995 – Birmingham
Tennessee 41
Alabama 14
Another long losing streak would fall as Peyton Manning completed an 80- yard touchdown pass to Joey Kent on the first play from scrimmage and the Vols never looked back. Jay Graham’s 75 yard touchdown run in the third quarter was icing on the Big Orange cake. This was also the first time the game was not held on the third Saturday in October since 1943.
October 25, 2003 – Tuscaloosa
Tennessee 51
Alabama 43 5 OT
In the longest, and highest scoring game in the history of the series, the Vols outlasted the Tide in five overtimes to erase the previous year’s loss in Neyland Stadium. The game was a tight defensive struggle that changed late in the fourth quarter when the Vols drove 81 yards in the last 1:52 to tie the score at 20. In the third OT, Bama took a seven point lead, and had the Vols down to their last play as Casey Clausen faced a fourth and 19 from the Tide 34. C.J. Fayton came up big as he caught Clausen’s perfect pass for 29 yards to get the Vols in close for the TD that tied the game. Clausen scored the game winner in the fifth overtime, and after a two point conversion, the Vols stopped Alabama to end the marathon contest.
Saturday Observations
Ohio State 38
Mich. State 7
You know that old Mr. Bill skit from Saturday Night Live? Well, Ohio State was playing the bully, Sluggo, and Michigan State was playing the part of Mr. Bill. Every time I flipped over to the game, John L. Smith had that round mouth yelling, “Oh noooooooo!” In fact, the game got so bad, ABC switched over to Missouri and Texas A&M so the kids would not be scarred for life after seeing that beating. Here is a prediction: Steve Mariucci will be seen in green and white before long.
Ole Miss 23
Alabama 26 OT
Did you notice that Genius Danielson didn’t have anything to say about t
he game because Florida wasn’t playing? He was like a fish out of water since he doesn’t know anything about any other SEC team. I liked when he kept saying things like, “That pass Wilson threw was almost as good as Chris Leak would have thrown,” or “Brent Shaffer is a pretty good runner, but for my money, I would rather have Tim Tebow back there…” I wish I could have hung out with him at the La Quinta Inn afterward to watch Florida take it on the chin because that would have been a party. I’ll bet he was on the phone yelling at someone from the airlines, “What do you mean those tickets to Tempe are non refundable?” By the way, it is going to be "Gary Dainelson Slurpee Night" at the next Florida home game. Get a preview of the collector's cup to the right...
Florida 17
Auburn 27
The score is a bit misleading since the Tigers scored via a fumbled lateral on the last play of the game, but if the truth be told, they deserved the win. In the second half, Auburn allowed zero points, and made the adjustments necessary to win the game and stay alive in the SEC race. I was a little surprised the Gators lost their composure when the Tigers turned up the heat. However, that’s what separates the good teams from the great ones.
Vanderbilt 24
Georgia 22
The surprise of the day took place in Athens as the Bulldogs stumbled their way to a stunning 24-22 loss to Vanderbilt. Bryant Hahnfeldt's 33-yard field goal with two seconds remaining was the deciding play, and it ended all those heart breaking losses where the ‘Doores fall short in the end. They did the same thing in Knoxville last year so that goes to show you can never take anyone for granted in the SEC.
They will give anyone a microphone these days...
Did anyone catch Desmond Howard’s comments on the College Football Fi
nal show? When the analyst’s were picking their top five, Howard picked California fifth. Chris Fowler asked, “Well, what about Tennessee beating them in the first game of the year? They have the same record,” to which Howard laughed and said, “Well, maybe, but Cal is pounding everyone they have played since.” Friends should not let friends talk into a microphone when they make absurd statements like that. This makes me believe Howard must have gone to the Gary Danielson School of broadcasting.
With that, Coach Scooter got a great trivia question this week from a reader named Dane who wrote:
I have a question: Who scored the two point conversion to win the 1984 game Alabama game?
I told Dane the answer, but I will post it to see if you can get the correct answer. Your choices are:
A) J.J. McKlesky
B) Johnnie Jones
C) Joey Clinckscales
D) Tony Robinson
All right, Vol fans, our moment has come. Over 100 years of tradition are rolled up in this thing we do every October with the Tide, and it is truly something to beautiful for all of us to savor, from the tailgate to the final gun. Make sure to rub those orange and white rosaries, repeat your game maxims, and make sure never to take Coach Fulmer’s name in vain. Until Friday, Vol fans, this is Coach Scooter bidding you a Big Orange good-bye, and a big Go Vols!
iary !
It’s Alabama week and that means things are getting serious in Big Orange Country. This long time southern rivalry dates back to 1901 with Alabama leading the all time series 44-37-7, plus they won last year’s game in Tuscaloosa 6-3. The Vols were off last week, while the Tide won in overtime over Ole Miss 26-23. Since the Vols did not play last week, I thought it would be fun to list my top five favorite Tennessee-Alabama moments from the past. I would enjoy reading your top five games in this series, so drop me a message at: volsdiary@yahoo.com.October 20, 1928 – Tuscaloosa
Tennessee 15
Alabama 13
Rated anywhere from a 21 to 42 point underdog against the Crimson Tide, Tennessee coach Bob Neyland went to Alabama coach Wallace Wade before the game and suggested if the Tide were routing his Vols, the third and fourth quarters be shortened so it didn’t get too out of hand. Alabama had played in the previous two Rose Bowl games, winning in 1926, and was regarded as the established power in the south. Gene McEver took the opening kickoff 98 yards for a Tennessee touchdown, and needless to say, the second half was played in its entirety as the Vols won the game 15-13, and from that day forward, were on the college football map to stay.
October 21, 1939 – Knoxville
Alabama 0
Tennessee 21
The Vols blanked the Crimson Tide in route to becoming the last major college football team to go through a regular season unscored upon. This was also the game sophomore running back Johnny Butler ripped off a 56-yard touchdown run that has gone down in the annals as one of the great runs in of Tennessee football history. The Vols would play in their first Rose Bowl that season, losing to USC 14-0.
October 16, 1982 – Knoxville
Alabama 28
Tennessee 35
The Vols ended an 11 game losing streak to the Tide with a 35-28 in what would be the last game Bear Bryant would ever coach against Tennessee. The game sparked a wild celebration in Knoxville with both goal posts being torn down. The remains of one of the goal posts can be seen at the Old College Inn in west Knoxville.
October 14, 1995 – Birmingham
Tennessee 41
Alabama 14
Another long losing streak would fall as Peyton Manning completed an 80- yard touchdown pass to Joey Kent on the first play from scrimmage and the Vols never looked back. Jay Graham’s 75 yard touchdown run in the third quarter was icing on the Big Orange cake. This was also the first time the game was not held on the third Saturday in October since 1943.
October 25, 2003 – Tuscaloosa
Tennessee 51
Alabama 43 5 OT
In the longest, and highest scoring game in the history of the series, the Vols outlasted the Tide in five overtimes to erase the previous year’s loss in Neyland Stadium. The game was a tight defensive struggle that changed late in the fourth quarter when the Vols drove 81 yards in the last 1:52 to tie the score at 20. In the third OT, Bama took a seven point lead, and had the Vols down to their last play as Casey Clausen faced a fourth and 19 from the Tide 34. C.J. Fayton came up big as he caught Clausen’s perfect pass for 29 yards to get the Vols in close for the TD that tied the game. Clausen scored the game winner in the fifth overtime, and after a two point conversion, the Vols stopped Alabama to end the marathon contest.
Saturday Observations
Ohio State 38
Mich. State 7
You know that old Mr. Bill skit from Saturday Night Live? Well, Ohio State was playing the bully, Sluggo, and Michigan State was playing the part of Mr. Bill. Every time I flipped over to the game, John L. Smith had that round mouth yelling, “Oh noooooooo!” In fact, the game got so bad, ABC switched over to Missouri and Texas A&M so the kids would not be scarred for life after seeing that beating. Here is a prediction: Steve Mariucci will be seen in green and white before long.
Ole Miss 23
Alabama 26 OT
Did you notice that Genius Danielson didn’t have anything to say about t
he game because Florida wasn’t playing? He was like a fish out of water since he doesn’t know anything about any other SEC team. I liked when he kept saying things like, “That pass Wilson threw was almost as good as Chris Leak would have thrown,” or “Brent Shaffer is a pretty good runner, but for my money, I would rather have Tim Tebow back there…” I wish I could have hung out with him at the La Quinta Inn afterward to watch Florida take it on the chin because that would have been a party. I’ll bet he was on the phone yelling at someone from the airlines, “What do you mean those tickets to Tempe are non refundable?” By the way, it is going to be "Gary Dainelson Slurpee Night" at the next Florida home game. Get a preview of the collector's cup to the right...Florida 17
Auburn 27
The score is a bit misleading since the Tigers scored via a fumbled lateral on the last play of the game, but if the truth be told, they deserved the win. In the second half, Auburn allowed zero points, and made the adjustments necessary to win the game and stay alive in the SEC race. I was a little surprised the Gators lost their composure when the Tigers turned up the heat. However, that’s what separates the good teams from the great ones.
Vanderbilt 24
Georgia 22
The surprise of the day took place in Athens as the Bulldogs stumbled their way to a stunning 24-22 loss to Vanderbilt. Bryant Hahnfeldt's 33-yard field goal with two seconds remaining was the deciding play, and it ended all those heart breaking losses where the ‘Doores fall short in the end. They did the same thing in Knoxville last year so that goes to show you can never take anyone for granted in the SEC.
They will give anyone a microphone these days...
Did anyone catch Desmond Howard’s comments on the College Football Fi
nal show? When the analyst’s were picking their top five, Howard picked California fifth. Chris Fowler asked, “Well, what about Tennessee beating them in the first game of the year? They have the same record,” to which Howard laughed and said, “Well, maybe, but Cal is pounding everyone they have played since.” Friends should not let friends talk into a microphone when they make absurd statements like that. This makes me believe Howard must have gone to the Gary Danielson School of broadcasting.With that, Coach Scooter got a great trivia question this week from a reader named Dane who wrote:
I have a question: Who scored the two point conversion to win the 1984 game Alabama game?
I told Dane the answer, but I will post it to see if you can get the correct answer. Your choices are:
A) J.J. McKlesky
B) Johnnie Jones
C) Joey Clinckscales
D) Tony Robinson
In case you missed it, the Vols were on the cover of Sports Illustrated this week. Here is what it looked like. Enjoy!
All right, Vol fans, our moment has come. Over 100 years of tradition are rolled up in this thing we do every October with the Tide, and it is truly something to beautiful for all of us to savor, from the tailgate to the final gun. Make sure to rub those orange and white rosaries, repeat your game maxims, and make sure never to take Coach Fulmer’s name in vain. Until Friday, Vol fans, this is Coach Scooter bidding you a Big Orange good-bye, and a big Go Vols!
