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Tennessee football: Ranking Vols last 10 seasons with first-year coordinator

By Caleb Calhoun

14 OCT 1995: TENNESSEE LINEMAN BUBBA MILLER #71 CELEBRATES WITH WIDE RECEIVERS MARCUS NASH #12 AND JOEY KENT #11 FOLLOWING A TOUCHDOWN DURING THE VOLUNTEERS 41-14 VICTORY OVER THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT LEGION FIELD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. Mandatory Cr
14 OCT 1995: TENNESSEE LINEMAN BUBBA MILLER #71 CELEBRATES WITH WIDE RECEIVERS MARCUS NASH #12 AND JOEY KENT #11 FOLLOWING A TOUCHDOWN DURING THE VOLUNTEERS 41-14 VICTORY OVER THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE AT LEGION FIELD IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. Mandatory Cr /
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Photo by Joe Patronite /Allsport
Photo by Joe Patronite /Allsport /

1. 1989

11-1 (6-1)

Phillip Fulmer (OC) and Doug Mathews (DC)

Before Tennessee football entered its peak era in 1995, the Vols had another 11-win season in 1989 that began a highly impressive run for the program. And just like 1995, it started with the hire of an unproven coordinator.

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This was the first of a 17-year bowl streak, a 13-year top 25 streak, and a 10-year period in which the Vols would win four SEC titles and a national title. The year before, Johnny Majors had gone 5-6, and 12 years in, that was a record that put him on the hot seat despite the 1985 season.

Majors responded by updating his systems. He promoted Fulmer, a nine-year line coach, to offensive coordinator, replacing longtime coordinator Walt Harris. Then he made the controversial decision to get rid of longtime well-respected defensive genius Ken Donahue, replacing him with Doug Mathews.

The moves were controversial, just like the 1995 hire of John Chavis. But, as we’ve already mentioned, the success was undeniable. UT had shown a glimmer of hope winning its final five games to finish 5-6 in 1988. Then the Vols went 11-1 and won the SEC in 1989 in a historic turnaround.

A dismissal of Reggie Cobb right before the Alabama Crimson Tide game, which the Vols lost, may have been the only thing to keep them from winning it all. However, they still scored huge victories over the UCLA Bruins, Auburn Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels and Southwest Conference Champion Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl.

Next. Projecting the Vols' 2019 2-deep depth chart. dark

As a result, the Vols finished the year ranked No. 4 in the nation. Fulmer utilized future elite weapons with guys like Alvin Harper, and Andy Kelly became the starting quarterback. It was the season to usher in Tennessee football’s historic run, and it would likely not have happened without these staff changes. The SEC title is what keeps this team at No. 1 on this list.

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