2. 1995
11-1 (7-1)
John Chavis (DC)
After a solid season in 1993, Phillip Fulmer was rebuilding for his second season in 1994. He had lost a ton of talent and brought in his first full recruiting class. That resulted in an 8-4 season behind freshman quarterback Peyton Manning.
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But in 1995, Fulmer made the final personnel move to usher in his elite run. Larry Marmie had returned to Tennessee football in 1992 and left in 1994. Fulmer made the gutsy move to promote from within.
John Chavis, a UT grad and six-year assistant who was coaching linebackers, got the call to become defensive coordinator. This move ushered in the elite run of the modern era for Rocky Top with Chavis and David Cutcliffe on either side of the ball.
The hire of Chavis also was the promotion of a guy who has spent the last 20-plus years now being touted as a defensive genius, coaching the Vols, the LSU Tigers, the Texas A&M Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks. He revolutionized the zone blitz from a 4-3 in the SEC. It all started here.
Behind Chavis, Cutcliffe and Manning entering his sophomore season, the Vols began rolling. They went 11-1 in 1995 with top 25 wins on the road over Arkansas and the Alabama Crimson Tide and then a Citrus Bowl win over the No. 4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. It all started in Week 2 with a last-second field goal to beat the Georgia Bulldogs.
Tennessee football was just one bad half away from going undefeated, allowing the Florida Gators to score 41 unanswered points in The Swamp despite the Vols being ahead 30-21 at halftime. If that doesn’t happen they could be in the national title game.
Nonetheless, they still finished 11-1 and No. 3 ranked in the nation. Also, this was the first of the most successful four-year run of the modern era, one that continues to define Fulmer’s career and the Vols to this day when it comes to expectations. And it all started with the hire of Chavis.