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10 times Tennessee Vols athletics raised fans hopes too high

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 12: Lane Kiffin, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers talks in the press conference after a game against the UCLA Bruins on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 12: Lane Kiffin, head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers talks in the press conference after a game against the UCLA Bruins on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images /

1. SEC football title game loss to LSU in 2001 one week after huge win at Florida

Nothing was a greater tease than this. Tennessee Vols fans were completely justified in their high hopes, and the proof that it was too high also came from the most devastating loss in the history of the athletic program.

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The week before this game, UT shocked the Florida Gators in The Swamp, their first win there in 30 years, after being 18-point underdogs. That game was moved from September to December due to the 9/11 attacks. With the win, the Vols finished the regular season 10-1, won the East and reached No. 2 in the BCS.

All they had to do was beat an LSU Tigers team they dominated in the regular season, and they would be SEC Champions and heading to the Rose Bowl to face the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship game. Against this LSU team, led by Nick Saban, the Vols jumped out to a 17-7 lead, and the Tigers lost their starting quarterback, Rohan Davey.

With their starting running back, LaBrandon Toefield, also out, the Vols were in control. Enter Matt Mauck. As the offense sputtered, Mauck brought life as a mobile quarterback to the LSU offense. He led LSU back, and had two second-half fumbles by Travis Stephens and Donte Stallworth. As a result, they suffered a shocking 31-20 loss.

Next. Vol sports worst affected by COVID-19 ending season. dark

Think about this. All the No. 2 ranked Tennessee Vols had to do was beat a three-loss team they already beat that was trailing them by two scores and lost its quarterback and best offensive weapon, and they blew it. That’s the tease of the century in addition to being the worst loss in school history, so it easily tops this list.

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