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Tennessee football: Vols 5 luckiest plays in school history

By Caleb Calhoun

GAINSVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Clasey Clausen #7 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with fans after defeating the University of Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 20, 2003 in Gainesville, Florida. Tennessee defeated Florida 24-10. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
GAINSVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Clasey Clausen #7 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with fans after defeating the University of Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 20, 2003 in Gainesville, Florida. Tennessee defeated Florida 24-10. (Photo by Matt Stroshane/Getty Images) /
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5. Dobbs-Nail Boot – 2016

No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 25 Georgia Bulldogs

Vols wide receiver Jauan Jennings catches Hail Mary touchdown for a 34-31 win.

This is one we all remember well because it happened so recently. And it was the peak of Butch Jones’s tenure with Tennessee football…right before the epic fall. In this game, the Vols had fought back from 17-0 down to take a 28-24 lead after Corey Vereen recovered a Derek Barnett strip-sack in the end zone.

Comebacks had been common for the Vols that year. They came back from double digits in three of their first four wins, including the week before after being down 21-0 to the Florida Gators and 21-3 before winning 38-28, exorcising their demons in an 11-year losing streak. This was their fourth comeback, but it was a bit different since it was their first road game.

Still, they thought they would hold on. But Jacob Eason hit Riley Ridley for a Hail Mary touchdown with 10 seconds left, and the Georgia Bulldogs took the lead. A penalty and solid return by Evan Berry, however, gave the Vols a chance at one final heave with four seconds left.

Thats’ when this happened. Joshua Dobbs chucked the ball into the end zone, and Jauan Jennings went up and caught it for a game-winning 43-yard Hail Mary pass. That got UT to 5-0 and in the top 10…right before their three-game losing streak that lost the season and ended up unraveling Jones’s career.

Usually, Hail Mary plays top the list of luck. And this one was thrilling. However, Jennings did involve a bit more skill by out-jumping everybody else. There was no tip here. That’s why it’s No. 5 and not higher.

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