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Tennessee football: 5 heartbreakers Vols suffered right before facing Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: The line of scrimmage is seen during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: The line of scrimmage is seen during the game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

4. 1976: Alabama beats Tennessee 20-13

Tennessee football lost to the Alabama Crimson Tide before facing the Florida Gators in 1933 and 1977, but both times the Tide were better and clearly won. The 1976 season, however, was a major disappointment.

Yes, this is before the Vols actually began a rivalry with UF, but it still counts. After a 1-2 start this year, UT had won two straight to get to 3-2. Alabama, meanwhile, was also only 3-2 and clearly rebuilding after a season-opening loss to the Ole Miss Rebels. So traveling to Knoxville, the Tide’s five-game winning streak in the series appeared in danger.

However, Bill Battle and his Vols were unable to take advantage. It was a hard-fought game that was tied at 6-6 and then 13-13. But the Tide scored on a late touchdown drive to take the win 20-13 and notch a sixth straight win in the series.

The next week, the Vols lost another heartbreaker to Florida 20-18. Nobody knew it at the time, but that would be two devastating losses for the program looking back. Winning those games may have changed the outlook of the season and saved Battle’s job. But it was part of the Vols going 6-5 on the year.

Everything fell apart with the Alabama game. Now, to be fair, it’s not likely Tennessee was looking ahead to Florida with this one. But it still put a damper on the Florida game, which is probably why they lost such a heartbreaker.

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