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Examining Tennessee's 6 claimed National Titles
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:28 pm
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:28 pm
People give Bama an awful lot of flack for their bogus titles (and rightfully so) but other schools are just as guilty of this practice as they are and seem to go by unscathed. I'm here to remedy this and today we'll be looking at the Tennessee Volunteers, who claim National Titles in 1938, 1940, 1950, 1951, 1967 and 1998.
1938
The Vols went 11-0 and Won the Orange Bowl, which is an outstanding season, especially when you consider that they only gave up 16 points all year. Even by 1938 standards that's damn impressive. However, they actually finished #2 in the only major poll that existed in 1938, the AP (to Davey O'Brien and TCU). As dominant as these Vols were, you just can't call them National Champions. This is the first time I've ever considered recognizing a team that didn't finish #1 in the AP or the Coaches poll, but I just can't do it in good conscience.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1940
Thankfully, 1940 is much easier. The Vols finished FOURTH in the AP behind Minnesota, Stanford and Michigan.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1950
The Vols AGAIN finished 4th in the AP. They also finished 3rd in the UPI and lost a regular season game to Mississippi State. Oklahoma went undefeated during the regular season and finished #1 in both polls. The Sooners lost their bowl game to Bear Bryant's Kentucky Wildcats but the vols have no problem claiming 1940 even though they lost the Sugar Bowl. In any event it doesn't matter because they didn't sniff #1 in either poll.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1951
In 1951 Tennessee went unbeaten and were named National Champion by both the UPI and AP
ruling: LEGIT
1967
The Vols went 9-2 and finished #2 to 10-1 USC in both polls.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1998
The Vols won the inaugural BCS title
ruling: LEGIT
So there you have it, the Tennessee Volunteers claim 4 Bogus National Titles.
1938
The Vols went 11-0 and Won the Orange Bowl, which is an outstanding season, especially when you consider that they only gave up 16 points all year. Even by 1938 standards that's damn impressive. However, they actually finished #2 in the only major poll that existed in 1938, the AP (to Davey O'Brien and TCU). As dominant as these Vols were, you just can't call them National Champions. This is the first time I've ever considered recognizing a team that didn't finish #1 in the AP or the Coaches poll, but I just can't do it in good conscience.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1940
Thankfully, 1940 is much easier. The Vols finished FOURTH in the AP behind Minnesota, Stanford and Michigan.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1950
The Vols AGAIN finished 4th in the AP. They also finished 3rd in the UPI and lost a regular season game to Mississippi State. Oklahoma went undefeated during the regular season and finished #1 in both polls. The Sooners lost their bowl game to Bear Bryant's Kentucky Wildcats but the vols have no problem claiming 1940 even though they lost the Sugar Bowl. In any event it doesn't matter because they didn't sniff #1 in either poll.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1951
In 1951 Tennessee went unbeaten and were named National Champion by both the UPI and AP
ruling: LEGIT
1967
The Vols went 9-2 and finished #2 to 10-1 USC in both polls.
ruling: NOT LEGIT
1998
The Vols won the inaugural BCS title
ruling: LEGIT
So there you have it, the Tennessee Volunteers claim 4 Bogus National Titles.
This post was edited on 7/11/12 at 10:30 pm
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:29 pm to Draconian Sanctions
quote:
People give Bama an awful lot of flack for their bogus titles (and rightfully so) but other schools are just as guilty of this practice as they are and seem to go by unscathed.
We keep saying this, but no one listens. Just take a gander at the title claims by Notre Dame and Michigan.
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:30 pm to Draconian Sanctions
Damn, Tennessee sucks
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:32 pm to Draconian Sanctions
Anybody got the number of total national championships claimed over the past 70 years? I bet its over 150.
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:33 pm to East Coast Band
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:34 pm to East Coast Band
Part of my wishes LSU would just claim 1908, 1935, 1936 and 1962 since everyone else does it. But then I couldn't make threads like this calling people out.
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:34 pm to CapstoneGrad06
quote:
We keep saying this, but no one listens. Just take a gander at the title claims by Notre Dame and Michigan.
And OSU. Alabama shares the 1961 title with OSU (off the FWAA poll), even though 'Bama won the AP/UPI that year. But then again, UA claimed the 1941 title off the Houlgate poll, sooooooo...
With that being said, if it wasn't for that 1941 title, no one would be giving 'Bama shite for its titles.
This post was edited on 7/11/12 at 10:43 pm
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:35 pm to Draconian Sanctions
Come to Neyland and take 'em down, buddy.
:inb4USMCGatorspostthatlinkagain:
:inb4USMCGatorspostthatlinkagain:
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:35 pm to DollaChoppa
NCSU's national titles?
This post was edited on 7/11/12 at 10:37 pm
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:36 pm to DollaChoppa
quote:
Damn, Tennessee sucks
It's kind of surprising that they have only one national title since desegregation.
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:37 pm to Monticello
They were always in Alabama's shadow. Especially since 1945.
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:39 pm to Jerry the Clown
quote:
NCSU's national titles?
As many as Tennessee since 99
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:40 pm to DollaChoppa
Say it now, 'cause we gonna be beaten some NCST arse.
You are a second tier team in a 3rd tier conference you pansy.
You are a second tier team in a 3rd tier conference you pansy.
This post was edited on 7/11/12 at 10:41 pm
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:42 pm to Volsboozewomen
Lacrosse conference, IMO
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:42 pm to Draconian Sanctions
quote:
Examining Tennessee's 6 claimed National Titles
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:43 pm to Draconian Sanctions
quote:
Part of my wishes LSU would just claim 1908, 1935, 1936 and 1962 since everyone else does it. But then I couldn't make threads like this calling people out.
I wish we could all agree to use the AP poll until 1998 and the BCS since then. Who cares what happened before the AP? I'm completely happy to say that Alabama has 9 AP national titles, the most of any team in the nation.
This post was edited on 7/11/12 at 10:44 pm
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:43 pm to Volsboozewomen
Yea, well your mother is a whore!
Posted on 7/11/12 at 10:44 pm to Monticello
Edit again. You mean until 1997.
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