Season openers of Tennessee football are almost always about the Volunteers – validation of improvement, evaluations of exciting newcomers, rejuvenation of injured stars, outlook for big games to come.
Maybe half the time opponents get a little piece of the storyline. As of now, Chattanooga does not qualify. We think the Mocs (formerly Moccasins) will be worthy of the $550,000 enticement, pretty good team, maybe better than advertised, but there is no reason to expect a rerun of David against Goliath.
If Saturday becomes a day to remember (12:45 kickoff, SEC Network), let us hope it is because of Nico and the bully defensive line, enhanced group of receivers, better linebacker play, reconstructed secondary and no damage to the offensive front. Really good blockers who know the plays are forever in short supply.
It would be OK if faithful fans recognize Wi-Fi and other fancy enhancements just for them at historic Neyland Stadium, strongly reinforced and properly preserved by Pilot. Indeed, there are some new bricks.
The past has taught us that the Chattanoogas of the world are acceptable starters, along the lines of Montana, Western Kentucky, Alabama-Birmingham and UNLV. Ah yes, I recall UT Martin and Austin Peay.
Through the years, Tennessee is 39-2-2 against Chattanooga. It has never made an opening game memory. It has been the first foe only four times.
My favorite season openers? Glad you asked.
The 3M Company created the backdrop for the wonderful start to 1968, Tennessee against Georgia. For the discount price of $230,000, athletics director Bob Woodruff and young coach Doug Dickey purchased a magic carpet to cover Shields-Watkins Field.
Diggers dug up sacred sod and haulers took away loads and loads of historic dirt. My eyes hurt. Down went a layer of crushed stone with asphalt topping, a sponge pad and a plastic cover, supposedly similar to real grass. Well, it was mostly green.
Georgia, being far, far away, didn’t hear about this shocking development in a timely fashion. Bulldog athletics director Joel Eaves, an Auburn man and a bit old-fashioned, belatedly went ballistic. He was also livid.
He lashed out at Tennessee for making this radical change without discussing it. He said Georgia might just void the contract and stay home.
Bubba Wyche (UT Athletics)
Georgia appeared as scheduled. Tennessee took a 7-0 lead. Georgia caught up and went up by eight with an 80-yard breakaway in the fourth quarter – game almost over, sad ending to exciting beginning.
Quarterback Bubba Wyche generated a few minutes of late entertainment for remaining fans. Surprisingly, the fun lasted the length of the field, 16 plays, including a fourth-down completion and finally, a touchdown pass to Gary Kreis. Time expired with the ball in the air.
In a major miracle among minors, Bubba threw a two-point conversion strike to tight end Ken DeLong – eight points after the game was over, 17-17 tie, great show on Doug’s new rug. Georgia was mad as the proverbial wet hen.
Tennessee did not “win” all opening games. The Vols approached 1980 with optimism and such stars as Reggie White and Willie Gault. Alas, Georgia brought freshman Herschel Walker. He was unbelievably rude in making the acquaintance of Bill Bates. The Bulldogs won 16-15.
Tennessee and UCLA had some good openers. There was an unforgettable one in 1974, high drama, the Condredge Holloway comeback, another 17-17 ending. Best part was Holloway and Stanley Morgan linked up for a 76-yard touchdown. Worst was Holloway suffered a shoulder injury and was hauled to the hospital.
UCLA was a touchdown ahead in the fourth quarter when, surprisingly, Condredge reappeared. He came into the arena at the northeast corner, jogged along the end fence and headed for the bench. The crowd reaction started as a surprised murmur, swelled in volume and erupted into a giant roar.
Holloway misinterpreted the ovation. He thought the Vols had done something significant at the other end of the field. The modest man later explained: “I had no idea the applause was for me.”
At the first opportunity, Condredge rejoined the fray. He sparked a drive. He scored a touchdown. Ricky Townsend kicked the tying extra point.
As you know, Tennessee sometimes opens on the road. The 1967 adventure against UCLA was at the Coliseum in Los Angeles, the great Gary Beban against the Swamp Rat and some really good teammates with less colorful nicknames.
The Vols lost a heartbreaker, 20-16. Beban did it with a letter-S fourth-quarter run, a play that eventually led to the Heisman Trophy.
This was one of the best-ever Tennessee teams – Steve Kiner, Bob Johnson, Charles Rosenfelder, Dick Williams, Richmond Flowers, Jimmy Weatherford, Dewey Warren, Walter Chadwick, John Boynton, Herman Weaver, etc.
Jack Reynolds joined the lineup a few days later.
Great first game in ‘98 was Tennessee at Syracuse, Tee Martin against Donovan McNabb, seesaw struggle with five lead changes. The gutty Vols, two points behind, launched a last-ditch drive but it died on a fourth-down incompletion.
But wait, don’t go away, behold the yellow swath of cloth out on the green turf, penalty against the home team for pass interference. Rare call. Actually amazing.
New life for the visitors. Terrific response. Jeff Hall kicked a field goal on the final play, Vols won, 34-33, first step toward the national championship.
Some of you missed the Bowden Wyatt era. In late 1955, the coach declined an invitation to the Gator Bowl because the foe was going to be Auburn. Those same Tigers were first on the 1956 Tennessee schedule. Wyatt did not want them scheming against his single wing non-stop for eight months.
At the ‘56 opener at Birmingham’s Legion Field, the coach’s foresight was rewarded – Tennessee 35, Auburn 7. The knockout led to a championship season and assorted honors for John Majors.
Indeed, some season openers are better than others.
Marvin West invites reader reaction. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com