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re: Was Tennessee's 1998 team the most unexpected champion in modern history?
Posted on 8/4/14 at 11:38 am to Paul Allen
Posted on 8/4/14 at 11:38 am to Paul Allen
1992 Alabama should be up there, too. Despite finishing 11-1 the year prior, most people didn't expect Alabama to do too much that season. The '91 Alabama squad was considered the worst Top 5 team in college football history. Because of this, despite bringing almost everyone back for the '92 season, Alabama started the season ranked #8 in the country.
And we really didn't impress anyone as the season wore on. We struggled against Vanderbilt, we trailed Southern Miss for much of the 3rd quarter, and the lone touchdown we scored against Louisiana Tech was off a punt return. We just kept on winning and somehow managed to defeat #1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
And we really didn't impress anyone as the season wore on. We struggled against Vanderbilt, we trailed Southern Miss for much of the 3rd quarter, and the lone touchdown we scored against Louisiana Tech was off a punt return. We just kept on winning and somehow managed to defeat #1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl.
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Posted on 8/4/14 at 11:55 am to Paul Allen
i think the OP brings up 98 Tennessee because they had peyton manning as their starter for the previous 3 or 4 seasons and expected at some point to win a national title with him. then ironically the first season without him they win.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 11:58 am to psk_Vol
quote:
Plus McNabb was throwing to Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeny was on defense.
Are you that stupid or lazy? Marvin Harrison was drafted in 1996 and Dwight Freeney was drafted in 2002. Neither was on that 98 team.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 12:23 pm to Paul Allen
They still had Donovan Mcnabb, it was a top 15 team, it was our brand new starting qb's first game, and it was at the carrier dome.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 12:48 pm to boXerrumble
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Oh and UF blasted Syracuse in the Orange Bowl that year too.
Yea, UF got to play them in what was essentially a home bowl game. UT had to go up to the Carrier Dome first game of the year back when Cuse had that place rocking. Can't compare those two scenarios.
Freeney and Harrison weren't on that team but they were still very good nonetheless. McNabb was just sick that year.
This post was edited on 8/4/14 at 12:50 pm
Posted on 8/4/14 at 12:50 pm to Phat Phil
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Jamal Lewis was out early in the 1998 season. but RB depth chart was still stacked and UT really didn't miss him. Lewis was a beast in 1997 though.
No, UTK didn't miss him a lick. I was amazed at the level of depth that they had that season. I figured when Lewis went down, so would UTK's entire offense. The Travises proved me wrong, no doubt. I was just making sure I didn't misremember the timeline.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 12:57 pm to Paul Allen
Oklahoma had a losing record in '98, finished 7-5 in '99 then went undefeated in '00 to win the BCS. I think they came out of nowhere more than anyone else in the BCS era
Posted on 8/4/14 at 1:04 pm to Paul Allen
It's auburn 2010, and it's not close. Yes, we all expected Tennessee to fall off in 98 with Peyton gone and Tee Martin at the helm, but an elite team we expected to fall off winning it all, is much less shocking than an auburn team that was pathetic the year before and had a coach we were all ridiculing.
Look at the success of Tennessee through those years, despite the fact that Florida was dominant. If we compared 1998 Tennessee to an SEC West team right now, you would be more like LSU. Going into 2010, auburn would be like Mississippi State.
Look at the success of Tennessee through those years, despite the fact that Florida was dominant. If we compared 1998 Tennessee to an SEC West team right now, you would be more like LSU. Going into 2010, auburn would be like Mississippi State.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 1:22 pm to VFL1800FPD
They beat Georgia 22-3 and was close game at Auburn. That's not what I call blowouts.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 1:50 pm to Paul Allen
It was a surprise to everyone but Tennessee fans who'd watched the whole season. Everyone expected a step back after Peyton but the teams we had were absolutely loaded. And Tee was incredibly efficient - set some kind of record on a streak complete passes.
Even when we went undefeated in SEC play and won the SECCG people still expected us to get killed against FSU. THAT title game was the game that changed people's opinions about SEC football - everyone knew how loaded FSU was but no one took us seriously. The media gave us no chance to win and when we did win the media and the nation was forced to rethink SEC football. Before that game it was all ACC, USC, OSU, ND etc. all the time.
But that game demanded respect. The rest of country said, "Hey, look the computers were right about their beastly schedule, maybe strength of schedule does mean something."
We got far more respect as a conference after that game.
Even when we went undefeated in SEC play and won the SECCG people still expected us to get killed against FSU. THAT title game was the game that changed people's opinions about SEC football - everyone knew how loaded FSU was but no one took us seriously. The media gave us no chance to win and when we did win the media and the nation was forced to rethink SEC football. Before that game it was all ACC, USC, OSU, ND etc. all the time.
But that game demanded respect. The rest of country said, "Hey, look the computers were right about their beastly schedule, maybe strength of schedule does mean something."
We got far more respect as a conference after that game.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 1:58 pm to Prof
quote:
Even when we went undefeated in SEC play and won the SECCG people still expected us to get killed against FSU. THAT title game was the game that changed people's opinions about SEC football - everyone knew how loaded FSU was but no one took us seriously. The media gave us no chance to win and when we did win the media and the nation was forced to rethink SEC football. Before that game it was all ACC, USC, OSU, ND etc. all the time.
Dude... FSU started MARCUS OUTZEN against yall
If Weinke isn't hurt, I doubt Tennessee stays within 2 scores of FSU.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 2:07 pm to Brettesaurus Rex
quote:
Last year's Auburn team would have been this hands down.
This. Even getting to the championship game was a better feat than 1998 UT.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 2:23 pm to boXerrumble
Marcus Outzen - the rooster
Posted on 8/4/14 at 2:33 pm to boXerrumble
I know folks talk up Weinke, but he lost a game that season at NC State. FSU wasn't as good in 1998 as they were in 1999.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 2:48 pm to Bankshot
It was a bit unexpected, but UT did start the season ranked #10. Hell, FSU started last season ranked #12
Posted on 8/4/14 at 2:50 pm to boXerrumble
quote:
Dude... FSU started MARCUS OUTZEN against yall
Marcus Outzen and FSU blasted Florida in their last regular season game in 1998.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 2:59 pm to Dr_Tim_Whatley
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The Stoernover was luckier than anything auburn had in 2013.
Nope...earlier in the 4th quarter, the Arkansas punter took a high snap and kicked it through the back of his own end zone for a safety. That is an illegal play and instead of a safety, UT should have received the ball at the Arkansas 1 yard line (per the rules at the time). UT would have scored from the 1 (actually the 0.5...half the distance to the goal from the original line of scrimmage).
So, at that time the score would have been UT 27, Arkansas 24...UT wouldn't have even needed Stoerner to fumble, had the refs made the correct call.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 3:01 pm to Bankshot
Peter Warrick had one catch in the BCS championship game against Tennessee. Dwayne Goodrich shut him down.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 3:04 pm to Paul Allen
People are selling this team way too short. We were freaking loaded that year. Our starting 11 on defense pretty much all played in the NFL.
Posted on 8/4/14 at 3:13 pm to Paul Allen
They started out in the top 10, so no.
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