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Tennessee football’s 10 toughest records to break

By Caleb Calhoun

10 Oct 1998: Quarterback Tee Martin #17 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. Tennessee defeated Georgia 22-3. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport
10 Oct 1998: Quarterback Tee Martin #17 of the Tennessee Volunteers throws during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. Tennessee defeated Georgia 22-3. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport /
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Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images /

8. Gene McEver 5 rushing touchdowns in a game

1929 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

Hey, it’s a record that has stood for 90 years. That alone should tell you how hard it is to break. Gene McEver has the Tennessee football career record for rushing touchdowns with 37. That is largely due to his single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 18 in 1929.

However, James Stewart came close to McEver in career touchdowns with 35, and Reggie Cobb came close to McEver in single-season rushing touchdowns with 17 in 1987. What really will be tough to break is the record McEver set in a 1929 game that had everything to do with all of his rushing stats.

In 1929, McEver rushed for five touchdowns as the Vols beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 54-0. This was their final game of the season, and McEver was dominant, and in addition to his five total touchdowns, he also nailed three extra points, giving him 33 points in the game. That was part of a school-record 130 points he scored on the year.

Simply put, if there was a Heisman Trophy in 1929, McEver would have won it. However, of all those records, it’s hard to see any running back coming close to five touchdowns in a game.

Stewart and Tony Thompson each had four in a game in 1994 and 1990 respectively, but changing times make it less likely. Coaches like to use running backs by-committee, so it’s really hard to see one going for five in a game, particularly with a heavier focus on the passing attack.

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