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Ranking Tennessee football’s 10 years after coach’s first bowl game

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: General view of a Tennessee Volunteers flag during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 12: General view of a Tennessee Volunteers flag during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neyland Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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2. 1971: 10-2 (4-2)

W Liberty Bowl; No. 9 AP and Coaches

Coming off Bill Battle’s first bowl game

In 1970, Bill Battle had the tall task of replacing Doug Dickey, who restored Tennessee football to prominence with four straight top 20 finishes, two SEC Championships and a claimed national championship from 1965 to 1969. Battle built on that by going 11-1 in 1970 and winning the Sugar Bowl for the Vols to finish ranked No. 4 in the nation.

Entering 1971, he still had lots of talented guys, headlined by the team captain and two-time All-American Jackie Walker. However, UT lost its SEC opener to the No. 5 ranked Auburn Tigers in a 10-9 heartbreaker. Three weeks later, they weren’t ready for the wishbone offense that Bear Bryant and the Alabama Crimson Tide shocked the world with this year, losing that game 32-15.

However, at 3-2, they rebounded and went on a tear. The Vols won five straight to get to 8-2, and their most memorable moments were the final two games of the year. In a rare December game, they shocked the No. 5 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions 31-11. Penn State was 10-0 at the time and would finish 11-1, that being their only loss.

Related Story. Vols top 10 seasons without top 25 finish. light

UT then faced the No. 18 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in the Liberty Bowl, and they scored a touchdown with under two minutes left to win a 14-13 thriller. As a result, they went 10-2 and finished in the top 10. This would also be the last year the Vols would beat the Florida Gators in The Swamp until 2001.

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