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Whats the game that you think changes everything
Posted on 7/1/25 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 7/1/25 at 2:58 pm
Every program has a game that will eternally haunt them. This is the game that could change everything about the program in the fans eyes. I'll offer up three games that I think change a ton for Tennessee. Knowing the nature of this board this will become a troll session, but the initial post is a safe reflective thread.
2001 Tennessee vs LSU: This is the game that haunts vols fans the most. We win this game and play in the natty for a second time and win third SEC title in 5 years. This is the game that it all changed and it kind of broke Fulmer. Probably changes Fulmers legacy.
1989 Tennessee vs Bama: Tennessee ended the year 11-1. If they win this game then Tennessee captures a national title and the image around Johnny Majors changes forever. Tennessee secures another undisputed natty.
2024 Tennessee vs Arkansas: This game prevented Tennessee from playing in the SEC title, hosting a home playoff game against SMU, and who knows what else. The narrative around Heupel is completely different, Nico probably gets his money, and Tennessee probably makes a deep run in the playoffs because they would have had Penn State's easier path.
Any of these games changes a ton about the program in my opinion. What did I get wrong and what is the game that haunts yall. I could have easily put 2022 South Carolina or 1997 Florida. Both those games cost us a heisman.
2001 Tennessee vs LSU: This is the game that haunts vols fans the most. We win this game and play in the natty for a second time and win third SEC title in 5 years. This is the game that it all changed and it kind of broke Fulmer. Probably changes Fulmers legacy.
1989 Tennessee vs Bama: Tennessee ended the year 11-1. If they win this game then Tennessee captures a national title and the image around Johnny Majors changes forever. Tennessee secures another undisputed natty.
2024 Tennessee vs Arkansas: This game prevented Tennessee from playing in the SEC title, hosting a home playoff game against SMU, and who knows what else. The narrative around Heupel is completely different, Nico probably gets his money, and Tennessee probably makes a deep run in the playoffs because they would have had Penn State's easier path.
Any of these games changes a ton about the program in my opinion. What did I get wrong and what is the game that haunts yall. I could have easily put 2022 South Carolina or 1997 Florida. Both those games cost us a heisman.
This post was edited on 7/1/25 at 3:01 pm
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Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:01 pm to VFL67
quote:
2001 Tennessee vs LSU
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:02 pm to VFL67
1/9/12.
Would have had LSU with 4 and Alabama with 5 Natty’s for the Century. Could have been more for LSU but that game mindfricked Les and sent our offense into the Stone Ages. It changed the perspective for both programs with recruits and fans for a good 7-8 years.
Would have had LSU with 4 and Alabama with 5 Natty’s for the Century. Could have been more for LSU but that game mindfricked Les and sent our offense into the Stone Ages. It changed the perspective for both programs with recruits and fans for a good 7-8 years.
This post was edited on 7/1/25 at 3:04 pm
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:04 pm to lsu711
ah right on cue. In my opinion for LSU its the 1959 Tennessee game which probably kept Bill Cannon from winning another natty or the bama natty which would've given Les Miles a second natty.
for bama maybe the UGA natty that would've given Saban a post covid natty and given Bryce Young his win. For UGA its 2012 SEC title or 2017 natty
for bama maybe the UGA natty that would've given Saban a post covid natty and given Bryce Young his win. For UGA its 2012 SEC title or 2017 natty
This post was edited on 7/1/25 at 3:07 pm
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:12 pm to Tarpon08
quote:
1/9/12
I was thinking the same thing, but can we appreciate how good both of those teams were in that era?
If either team had been in the East at the time, there would've been some absolutely epic conference championship games.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:23 pm to paperwasp
quote:
If either team had been in the East at the time, there would've been some absolutely epic conference championship games.
It would have been a de facto National Semi Final on many occasions.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:27 pm to VFL67
Jesus vs. The World.
To be played at The World's home stadium. Jesus will go on the road. Changes everything.
Take a last look at that Rainbow flag.
To be played at The World's home stadium. Jesus will go on the road. Changes everything.
Take a last look at that Rainbow flag.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:41 pm to VFL67
"for bama maybe the UGA natty that would've given Saban a post covid natty and given Bryce Young his win"
While Bama could have won that game (we had the lead early in the 4th), I honestly felt fortunate to be there considering our injuries, but Georgia was better that year and I wouldn't consider that game to be a heart breaking upset. Georgia had to beat us eventually lol
While Bama could have won that game (we had the lead early in the 4th), I honestly felt fortunate to be there considering our injuries, but Georgia was better that year and I wouldn't consider that game to be a heart breaking upset. Georgia had to beat us eventually lol
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:45 pm to VFL67
2015 vs UF. The boosters finally gave up on Richt and brought Kirby home
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:46 pm to VFL67
Well, I know some Tennessee fans and they tell me that the UGA 'Hobnailed' boot game loss in 2001 was the game that sent them on a skid. After that loss, UT only had 3 seaons with 10 wins all the way to 2022.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 3:50 pm to Darindawg
The Hobnailed boot was a tough loss but we still went on a 7 game win streak including wins against bama and in the swamp in Spurrier last home game. It was the SEC title when we were ranked number 2. Tennessee had John Henderson, Albert Haynesworth, Jason Witten, Donte Stallworth, Kelly Washington, Travis Henry, and Casey Clausen on that team. We wouldn't have beaten Miami I don't think but we should've been in the natty. Terrible loss to Saban
Posted on 7/1/25 at 4:07 pm to VFL67
quote:
win this game and play in the natty for a second time
Probably for the best. Miami knocked Nebraska out of relevance to this day, and probably would have whooped Tennessee even worse.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 4:51 pm to paperwasp
quote:
I was thinking the same thing, but can we appreciate how good both of those teams were in that era?
If either team had been in the East at the time, there would've been some absolutely epic conference championship games.
Was a really fun time to be a fan of these two.
fricking epic games, even though Bama won most of them.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 6:55 pm to CBandits82
Both defenses always seemed to be absolutely ridiculous!!
Posted on 7/1/25 at 7:09 pm to VFL67
Ole Miss there’s a couple that come to mind,
1959 - LSU, a punt return away from a near undisputed Natty.
1986/1990 Tennessee- went into both of those w chances to win SEC but came up short.
2003 LSU, a tough loss that kept us out Atlanta
2015 Arkansas, has a day named for it and a gif for the ages.
2024 UK, could’ve picked any of the 3 losses but this was the one that really hurt.
1959 - LSU, a punt return away from a near undisputed Natty.
1986/1990 Tennessee- went into both of those w chances to win SEC but came up short.
2003 LSU, a tough loss that kept us out Atlanta
2015 Arkansas, has a day named for it and a gif for the ages.
2024 UK, could’ve picked any of the 3 losses but this was the one that really hurt.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 7:18 pm to ukraine_rebel
My wife and I were at that 2001 SECCG. It was one of my favorite (top 5) LSU games I have attended and I have been going to LSU football games since I was 9 in 1960.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 7:26 pm to VFL67
Marcel Darius
You know.
You know.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 7:31 pm to lsu711
quote:
Posted on 7/1/25 at 8:49 pm to VFL67
quote:I'll give you 2 games for LSU; one good, one bad.
Whats the game that you think changes everything
The good- 2003 conference championship. Rematch against UGA, who was supposed to win the first game and as I recall, was the favorite in Atlanta, in their home state. The were the media darlings from the SEC that year. LSU has always had good teams, in great seasons, where it fell apart late. This looked to be another such occurrence. Didn't happen. LSU smoked UGA right out of the gate and didn't let up, and suddenly people were thinking the unthinkable- and then Oklahoma got whacked by K State. We were going to play for the title
The bad- obviously 1/9/12. Another rematch, this time with Saban and Bama. And this time, he got us back, in the game that counted the most.
Posted on 7/1/25 at 8:52 pm to VFL67
1989 is interesting. If Tennessee wins, they win the SEC outright and go to play Miami in the Sugar Bowl. Miami was 10-1, the winner would be crowned national champs
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