All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football’s five best seasons when losing to Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Mascots Davey Crockett and Smokey of the Tennessee Volunteers pose for a photo prior to a 38-13 loss to Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

839. 23. 833. Final. 0

3. 1955: 6-3-1 (3-2-1)

While the 1925 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats was in a season that ended a head coach’s tenure on Rocky Top, the 1955 loss was in a season that began a new head coach’s tenure. Tennessee football was set to replace Harvey Robinson with Bowden Wyatt, as Robinson had failed to live up to expectations built by Robert Neyland after two years on the job.

Wyatt was a star player for Neyland, and he had just won the Southwest Conference with the Arkansas Razorbacks in his second year. Before that, he spent six years with the Wyoming Cowboys, winning back to back Skyline Six Championships and going undefeated in 1950. As a result, the hire made sense. All the excitement ended quickly as UT started off 0-2.

However, with junior back Johnny Majors, they rebounded to win four straight. A 7-7 tie with the No. 8 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets proved they were on the rise, and they even got to No. 17 after beating the Florida Gators to get to 5-2-1. Kentucky wasn’t bad, though, at 5-3-1, and they dominated the Vols 23-0 at McLean Stadium in Lexington.

Rocky Top then upset the No. 19 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores 20-14 and finish 6-3-1, which made for a solid first year. Just like 1925 and 1984, this preceded something greater. Even in a loss, UT would come back in 1956 and win the SEC at 10-0 in the regular season. If Jeremy Pruitt wants to replicate any year, it’s this one, as the Vols had a solid finish despite a blowout loss to UK.

Home/Vols Football