The 30 Lowest Moments for Tennessee Vols Athletics in the Adidas Era
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt coaches on the sideline during their game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
17. The Fumble: 2003 Tennessee Vols Football Team Gets Blown Out at Home by Georgia Bulldogs After an Untimely First Half Fumble
The greatest momentum swing in possibly college football history happened in this game, and it happened at the expense of the Tennessee Volunteers. Let’s frame this and put it in context, first, though.
The Vols were coming off of a touchdown loss to Auburn the week before in which they had just failed to complete a comeback in the end. But it did not matter. If they won out, they would still play for the SEC and likely national title, which was the goal of senior quarterback Casey Clausen.
Standing in the way was obviously the Georgia Bulldogs, who were defending SEC Champions and had not yet lost to Tennessee under Mark Richt or David Greene. This was a Top 10 team coming to Knoxville for an ESPN Saturday night game, and fans had to get excited for it.
Now, to the momentum shift. In a back-and-forth first half, the Vols were down 13-7 but on the Georgia one-yard line with less than half a minute left. If they could punch it in, they would go into halftime up 14-13, and they also were going to get the ball to start the second half. The fan base would be rocking and the momentum would be all on their side.
But as they went in for the lead, a miscommunication on the exchange cause a fumble. Tennessee was left not just with a lead but with no points. They could not even get a field goal out of that.
But it did not end there. Georgia recovered the fumble and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the half, and instead of going into halftime up 14-13, down 13-10, or at least down 13-7 with a chance to still take the lead by getting the ball first in the second half, the Vols were down 20-7.
Every Tennessee fan knew the game was over at that point, and the players never recovered. Multiple turnovers by Clausen in the second half and a quitting job by the defense made the score 41-7, and the Vols ended up losing 41-14. But it all started with that fumble, which haunted the fans or a long time afterward.
Next: #16: Football Loss to Florida in 1997