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Tennessee Vols: Five previous events that cancelled or postponed athletics

By Caleb Calhoun

01 Dec 2001: Rex Grossman #8 of Florida throws the ball during the Florida-Tennessee game at Florida Field at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Tennessee won 34-32. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons/ALLSPORT
01 Dec 2001: Rex Grossman #8 of Florida throws the ball during the Florida-Tennessee game at Florida Field at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Tennessee won 34-32. DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons/ALLSPORT /
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Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /

5. 2005

Hurricane Rita

Tennessee Volunteers football at LSU Tigers postponed until Monday, Sept. 26, 2005

It actually created one of the most memorable wins in one of the most disappointing seasons in the history of the Tennessee Vols. The LSU Tigers, in their first year under head coach Les Miles, postponed their game against the North Texas Mean Green and turned a home game against the Arizona State Sun Devils into a road game due to Hurricane Katrina.

At the time, they were 1-0, and they were preparing for their home opener, now against Rocky, on Saturday, Sept. 24. UT, which started the year off in the top five, was 1-1 after a 16-7 loss at the Florida Gators and had major questions about their offense. However, Hurricane Rita was now set to hit. After a threat from Mike Hamilton to forfeit, The game was postponed until Monday night.

That morning, the Vols flew in. LSU fans were riled up and excited given all the drama that their state had faced. Cashing in on a sputtering UT offense, they jumped out to a 21-0 lead, largely thanks to two turnovers by Erik Ainge, one of which was a pick-six. Then Rick Clausen, an LSU transfer and younger brother of former Vol quarterback Casey Clausen, stepped in.

Clausen delivered a comeback for the ages, and Tennessee football upset the Tigers in overtime 30-27. It was a huge mirage, though. Rocky Top’s offense would sputter the rest of the year en route to a 5-6 season, their first losing season ever under Phillip Fulmer and first since 1988, and LSU would win the West and finish 11-2.

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