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Tennessee football: 10 Vols games vs. South Carolina that dramatically altered history

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 31: Kevin Cooper #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 31, 2009 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 31: Kevin Cooper #45 of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium on October 31, 2009 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images /

5. 2012 – South Carolina: 38 Tennessee: 35

The second best team Steve Spurrier ever coached while with the South Carolina Gamecocks was this team. Their only two losses were on the road to the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators, which is nothing to be ashamed of. But they blew out the Georgia Bulldogs, who were a play away from winning the national title this season.

Tennessee football, meanwhile, was desperately trying to turn the corner in Derek Dooley’s third season. After going 6-7 and 5-7, he retooled the roster, and the Vols were 3-4. However, they were playing games very close. One signature victory could turn the season around and get them to eight or nine wins, which is what Dooley needed to keep his job.

Sal Sunseri as defensive coordinator, however, was the disaster move that cost him. In his first season in that position, he installed the 3-4, and it did not go well. This was the key game that cost the Vols.

In a back and forth, Tyler Bray and the high-powered offense had these guys in position to win the game late despite the horrible play of the defense. Tennessee had gotten to the red zone down by a field goal late. It looked like Dooley would finally get his signature win, and it would be against a Top 20 team on the road.

However, Jadeveon Clowney made his first play of the game by strip-sacking Tyler Bray. South Carolina recovered and ran out the clock. The historical significance of this game was what it meant for Dooley. There were no more chances at redemption for him.

At 3-5, he was all but fired. Tennessee football would once again have no significant victories, and they were a lock to not finish in the Top 25. These were clear goals for the team to start the year, so he was done for sure after this game. This wasn’t like Butch Jones losing to South Carolina in 2017, as there were three other defining games that cost him. But in Dooley’s case, this game cost him for good.

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