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Top 10 Memorable Games Between Steve Spurrier and the Tennessee Vols

By Caleb Calhoun

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Oct 19, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones (left) talks with South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier (right) prior to the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

10. 2013: Tennessee Beats South Carolina 23-21

It was the first victory over a ranked team by the Vols since they beat, well, the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2009. But this one was much more legit because the Gamecocks actually finished the season as a ranked team.

Butch Jones also got his first signature victory here.

Led by Jadeveon Clowney and Connor Shaw, Steve Spurrier was heading into Knoxville with his No. 11 ranked Gamecocks thinking about a national championship, or at least an SEC Championship, as they all but controlled their own destiny for that. But a series of mistakes by a determined and confident Vols football team led to a different story.

Tennessee initially took a 17-7 lead, but South Carolina fought back to make it 21-20. The defense made a stand for the Vols late in the game, and despite using two timeouts to contemplate a fake punt, Spurrier decided to punt it for real and give Tennessee one final chance.

That’s when the crazy happened.

On third and 10, Vols quarterback Justin Worley closed his eyes and threw a pass down the sideline, which Marquez North caught one-handed. The play put Tennessee in field goal range, and the Vols were able to kick a game-winner with Michael Palardy to win 23-21. The win did not help Tennessee, as they lost four straight after that.

But it did look better at the end of the year, as South Carolina won out and finished the year ranked No. 4, while Tennessee’s victory cost them a shot at any title.

Next: #9: Florida Beats Tennessee in 1999

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