All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football’s five best years with senior QB

By Caleb Calhoun

16 Sep 1995: Quarterback Peyton Manning sets to throw a pass during the Volunteers 62-37 loss to the University of Florida at Florida Field in Gainesville, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran/Allsport
16 Sep 1995: Quarterback Peyton Manning sets to throw a pass during the Volunteers 62-37 loss to the University of Florida at Florida Field in Gainesville, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran/Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Photo by Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT
Photo by Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT /

4. 1970

Bobby Scott

11-1 (4-1)

No. 4 AP and Coaches; W Sugar Bowl

The year before Bill Battle had that epic 10-2 transition year, he was in his first year as head coach of the Tennessee football program. Battle was replacing Doug Dickey, who had won two SEC Championships over the previous three years, and he had senior quarterback Bobby Scott coming back looking for a second straight SEC Championship.

Unlike 1971, Scott was more important as a player, but the team once again relied on leaders like Jackie Walker and also an elite secondary, led by Tim Priest and Bobby Majors. That year, the defense registered an SEC-record 36 interceptions.

Battle got off to a rocky start, losing to the Auburn Tigers 36-23. However, his team did not lose again. Two weeks later, they beat the No. 13 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on the road to get back into the rankings, which they would never leave. Unfortunately for them, the LSU Tigers didn’t lose an SEC game, so they couldn’t win the conference despite Auburn losing two games.

Still, Rocky Top accepted a bid to play the Air Force Falcons in the Sugar Bowl that year, as LSU went to the Orange Bowl. UT dominated in that Sugar Bowl, winning 34-13 to finish 11-1 and ranked in the top five.

At the time, it was only their third 11-win season since 1938. Scott finished the year completing 46.8 percent of his passes for 1,697 yards with 14 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. However, he also ran for 89 yards and three touchdowns and was named MVP of the Sugar Bowl, as UT threw for over 300 yards.

Home/Vols Football