The 30 Lowest Moments for Tennessee Vols Athletics in the Adidas Era

Oct 4, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans during the first quarter against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

25. Tennessee Vols Football Team Falls Behind Early to Florida Gators and Loses 35-29

If you ever want to see an onslaught that quiets a crowd in the blink of an eye, go back and watch this game. This was supposed to be the year for Tennessee football.

Peyton Manning was entering his junior year, starters were returning all over the field, and the Vols started the year ranked No. 2 in the nation. The expansion of the North End Zone had also turned Neyland Stadium into the premium stadium of college football with 100,000-plus seats, and dominant wins over UNLV and UCLA to open the season came with it.

Florida came to Knoxville that third week, and the largest crowd ever to witness a college football game was on hand. This would be the year that the Vols finally break through under Manning and Fulmer and win the SEC and possibly national title.

Just 20 minutes into the game, that dream was over. The Gators had reeled off 35 straight points thanks to an unstoppable offense and four Tennessee turnovers, including two Peyton Manning interceptions.

Everything was bad, now, and the season was already a letdown. But it got worse just in this game.

The Vols actually made this a close game in the end, only losing 35-29. Ready for the kicker? Tennessee turned the ball over in the red zone two more times after that 35-0 Florida lead. That means that they easily could have won the game even after being down if they just had one of those turnovers back.

It makes this game one to haunt all Vols fans for years to come. You wonder what could have been if they had not made so many mistakes. But it did not matter.

Tennessee was a loser to Florida again at the end of the game, and the Gators, not the Vols, went on to win the national championship and have a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback.

Next: #24: Donnie Tyndall Firing