10 times Tennessee Vols athletics raised fans hopes too high
2. Three-game losing streak after 5-0 start for 1992 football team
It was a year that would alter the future of Tennessee Vols football forever. Johnny Majors finally had the program where he wanted it after years of work rebuilding it. But the 1992 team figured to rebuild, as it had to replace elite guys like Carl Pickens, Dale Carter and quarterback Andy Kelly.
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Majors then shocked the world with the news that he would have to miss the start of the year due to open-heart surgery. Offensive coordinator Phillip Fulmer took over as interim head coach with new quarterback Heath Shuler. In the process, Rocky Top shocked the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators to start the season 3-0.
When Majors returned, UT won its next two games to get to 5-0. At this point, the Vols were in the top five and a lock to go to the inaugural SEC title game. They had weathered the early storm and only had one difficult game left. No way a team that started so hot would fade with the distractions all behind them.
Well, the opposite happened. After a 5-0 start, UT suffered three straight losses, all by one score. One was at home to eventual national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Surrounding that game, though, were two one-point losses to SEC newcomers Arkansas Razorbacks and South Carolina Gamecocks, who would finish 3-7-1 and 5-6 respectively.
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As a result, Majors was fired. He finished out the regular season, and the Tennessee Vols won all three games. Fulmer replaced him full-time for the bowl game, which UT also won to finish 9-3. A new era began, but it wasn’t without damages. Relationships were severed and a season that had national title hopes was ruined after an amazing 5-0 start.