Ranking all Tennesse football QBs to start for Johnny Majors

Obviously, there’s no greater story than Daryl Dickey. The son of Tennessee football legendary coach Doug Dickey committed to the Vols in 1981 and took a redshirt with the expectations that he would be a backup his entire career. His one start before his senior season came in 1984, and he tied the Army Black Knights in that game.

Anyway, everything changed in 1985. UT had gotten off to a 2-1-1 start and was in the top 20 for the first time since 1979. The Vols were in a dogfight at the No. 15 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, when their starting quarterback suffered a season-ending injury. Dickey came in and preserved the 16-14 win.

The next week, however, the offense had to adjust to Dickey, and his team tied the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 6-6. So the team was 3-2-2 with a backup quarterback to finish the season. Well, all Dickey did was win out and set a school-record at the time for consecutive completions without an interception.

Dickey’s resiliency resulted in an 8-1-2 regular season record and the school’s first SEC Championship since 1969. Rocky Top was back under Johnny Majors. Then came the Sugar Bowl. the Vols were heavy underdogs against the No. 2 ranked Miami Hurricanes, who would be declared national champions under second-year head coach Jimmy Johnson if they won.

Well, the underdogs pulled it off again, beating “The U” 35-7 in a blowout. Dickey was named the Sugar Bowl MVP, a great way to finish his career. His stat-line on Rocky Top includes completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,355 yards and 10 touchdowns to only one interception. That final stretch alone puts him this high on the list.