Three reasons Tennessee football won title in 1998 and not 1997
Final Take
It’s clear that Tennessee football didn’t just win it because they took a no-stars approach or got luckier. Yes, the Clint Stoerner fumble when UT beat the Arkansas Razorbacks and five Florida turnovers and missed field goals were huge breaks. But the Vols weren’t even within luck distance of their two losses in 1997.
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Although the Vols lost some key guys after 1997, they were deeper, more experienced in 1998. Phillip Fulmer’s elite 1997 recruiting class was able to gain more experience, adding to the experience of the team as a whole, and it also improved the overall talent despite the departures of so many other guys.
In reality, this was just a testament to how well Fulmer and his staff recruited at the time. After losing Peyton Manning and Leonard Little, other great leaders emerged, most notably Al Wilson, who had an All-American campaign in 1998. Peerless Price, meanwhile, became the most impactful receiver in UT history, and Tee Martin proved he could lead at quarterback.
One honorable mention before we get going is the hire of Mike Barry as offensive line coach. It can’t be overstated how much he improved that unit. After all, the Vols played significantly better up front in 1998 against the Florida Gators than they did in 1997, and that was a huge reason for them being able to pull out the victory.
Next. Vols 10 luckiest wins of all time. dark
Combine that with the better talent, the Vols’ ability to replace elite leaders and the fact that the schedule got significantly easier, and it’s clear how Tennessee football would win it all in 1997 instead of 1998. This solves one of the great mysteries in the history of Rocky Top.