Greatest Wins

A Vol victory is always a time for celebration and assures a good life for at least one more week.  However, there are those occasions when the victory produces that adrenalin rush that pushes you over the top of cloud 9.  Those are the wins we hope for, pray for, live for.  The tops ones?  It's easy to recall each great win, but to rank them is tough.  

My top five victories are limited to games which I witnessed, live and in Orange person.  However a couple of memorable wins merit recognition....

    - 1965 37-34 victory over UCLA played in Memphis.  This single game probably turned young blood to Orange for a lifetime!

    - 1991, trailing Notre Dame 28-3, the Vols rally for a 35-34 win at South Bend.  I had the opportunity to have tickets in hand but decided against making the long drive in frigid weather.  Big mistake, lesson learned!

                                                                The Top Five

Honorable Mention!    1987:    UT 38  Vandy 36.  Shockingly the Vols trailed the Commodores 28-3 early on, but rallied for the win!  Certainly not a landmark victory, but my personal distaste for this team brought on by years of enduring abuse and ridicule from their fans who are more "anti-Vols" than "pro-Dores" makes this game a must win.  Must.

5.    1998:    UT 20  Florida 17.  Vols battle in overtime and come away with huge win!

4.    1998:    UT 28  Arkansas 24.  All appeared lost until a miracle fumble late in the forth quarter enabled the Vols to pull out a win and  move on to a National Championship!

3.    1985:   UT 35    Miami 7.  The Sugar Bowl shocker of all times!  Certainly one of the greatest efforts by a UT team...Hats off to Johnny!

2.    1982:   UT 35    Alabama 28.  Vols end an 11 year drought  with a dramatic game ending interception at the Knoxville Worlds Fair!  There was dancing to Rocky Top on tables at the Brew Haus!  "..and the pass (Bama) into the end zone....is.........................INTERCEPTED!  AND THE CROWD GOES BERSERK!" - John Ward

1.    1998:    UT 23  Florida State 17.  Big Fiesta....National Championship!  

Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to me.
Good ol'Rocky Top; Rocky Top Tennessee.  

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