2013 Vols Season In Review: Moment Of The Year
By Zach Ragan
Oct 19, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers kicker Michael Palardy (1) celebrates after kicking a field goal to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 23-21 with teammate Tennessee wide receiver Tyler Drummer (3) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Even though the Tennessee Volunteers suffered through yet another 5-7 season, there were still some great moments on and off the field.
But there’s one moment that stood head and shoulders above them all — Michael Palardy’s game-winning field goal against South Carolina.
The Vols’ win against South Carolina gave Butch Jones something that Derek Dooley couldn’t achieve in three seasons as the Vols’ head coach — a signature win.
Despite the Vols finishing with a losing record, fans were able to take solace in the fact that Tennessee finally had a moment to celebrate.
Check out the highlight of Palardy’s game-winning kick and some quotes from after the game!
"Butch Jones: Mike [Palardy] and I were in line at dinner last night and I looked at him because he told me he was going to have the game winner at Georgia. I looked at him this time and said, “You’ve got the game winner tomorrow, right?” He looked at me and said, “I got you, Coach.” Butch Jones: I sang it [Rocky Top] with the band and then I sang it in the locker room. That is the greatest song in the world. It is a pride of who we are. Again, we couldn’t have done this today without everyone associated with this game: our fans, our student body who stayed, the band, and the administration. This is a great home field advantage. It is a special place. AJ Johnson: It felt good to get the win. It felt good to celebrate with our band and the fans. It was a great win for the program, for us and the state of Tennessee.” Antonio Richardson: I was really trying to soak everything in. I haven’t had a big win like that since I’ve been here. It’s not just about me. I was happy we were able to get that win for the seniors."
There’s no doubt that Michael Palardy’s game-winning field goal was the top moment of the year for the Vols. It was a moment that they’ll be able to build off of in the coming seasons, proving they can beat top caliber teams.