Tennessee football: 10 memorable Vols wins with first-year head coach

9. 1955: Tennessee beats Vanderbilt 20-14

Head Coach: Bowden Wyatt

Bowden Wyatt was a legendary player for Robert Neyland during the Vols’ elite period of the late 1930s. And in 1955, he returned to his alma mater, which had fallen on hard times in the two years since Neyland retired. Harvey Robinson had gone 4-6 in 1954, and Wyatt was tasked with restoring the program.

Although 1955 was to be a bit of a rebuilding year, he did a tremendous job turning things around after an 0-2 start. Tennessee football would go on to win four of their next six games. Their only other two blemishes were a tie against the No. 8 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and a loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Still, they entered the final game of the year at 5-3-1. Wyatt had already turned around the program, and they wanted a signature win. Enter the Vanderbilt Commodores, who were actually very good that year at 7-2 and ranked No. 19 in the country. Two years before, the Vols had finally tied the series with their in-state rival at 22, but Vanderbilt took the lead again in 1954.

So as the favorite in this game and up 23-22 in the series, Vanderbilt had a lot to lose. Tennessee football had everything to gain. And they took advantage.

With Johnny Majors and Bill Anderson leading the way all year, the Vols were able to hang in with the ‘Dores all game at home. Still, up 14-7 in the fourth and driving, Vanderbilt was about to put the game away. But a penalty and missed field goal ended the drive. That was the momentum Wyatt’s team needed.

Tennessee football scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to win the game 20-14. They also killed Vanderbilt’s Cotton Bowl hopes. This was a huge win at the time because it signaled a resurgent program that went 6-3-1. It set them off on their epic 1956 SEC Championship run that should have included a national championship and Heisman Trophy. Also, the Vols never trailed in the series to Vanderbilt again after tying this one.