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

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 7: A Tennessee Volunteer holds up his helmet in the team huddle before the NCAA football game against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders at Neyland Stadium on September 7, 2002 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 26-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 7: A Tennessee Volunteer holds up his helmet in the team huddle before the NCAA football game against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders at Neyland Stadium on September 7, 2002 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won 26-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images
Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images /

4. Tennessee beats Georgia 34-31

Head Coach: Phillip Fulmer

Technically, this was Phillip Fulmer working as an interim coach, not really his first year as full-time head coach. But it still counts. The Vols were in the midst of complete chaos. All the talent from the 1989 and 1990 SEC Championship teams was gone. They had to break in a new quarterback in Heath Shuler. And they were entering the first year of the separate divisions in the SEC.

But all of these changes were expected and handled thanks to great recruiting and preparation. The summer added two more layers of chaos. First, head trainer Tim Kerin shockingly died. Then, in a shocker of shocks, head coach Johnny Majors had to undergo emergency open-heart surgery. So Fulmer, the offensive coordinator, had to take over as head coach.

After beating SW Louisiana in the opener, Tennessee football traveled to Athens to take on the No. 14 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Despite being ranked No. 20 themselves, nobody gave the Vols a chance given all the circumstances. So they entered 14-point underdogs.

Related Story: Vols 5 worst seasons with first-year head coach

That line was the motivation this team needed. Despite being young, they were talented. And Fulmer did a tremendous job in quelling the distractions. It led to a back and forth game with Shuler showing just how good he can be.

Late, the Vols converted on a 4th and 13 play down 31-26. They turned that into a touchdown to take a 34-31 lead, and it sealed the victory for them. With an interim head coach and a new quarterback, Tennessee pulled of a shocking upset on the road.

It was a huge upset for the Vols and represented a changing of the guard in the SEC. This win gave the Vols the confidence they needed under Fulmer and Shuler, and that would lead to a massive impact on the program.

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