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Tennessee football: 10 years Vols beat Alabama but not Kentucky

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 11: Detailed view of the checkered endzone at Neyland Stadium during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Chattanooga Mocs on October 11, 2014 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 45-10. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of the goalpost before a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of the goalpost before a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

4. 1948

Tennessee: 21 Alabama: 6

Robert Neyland returned to Tennessee football for his third stint in 1946 and won an SEC title that year. However, after a 5-5 campaign in 1947, he was looking to rebound in 1948. A loss to the Mississippi State Maroons and tie to the Duke Blue Devils made that difficult.

The Alabama Crimson Tide were part of a turnaround for the Vols, though. Under Harold Drew, this program was mediocre as well, and they were the second of a three-game winning streak for Rocky Top. Neyland dominated Bama in this one.

Kentucky: 0 Tennessee: 0 (Tie)

While the Vols beat Alabama as part of a streak to get to 3-1-1, they suffered a loss to the No. 3 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels. However, they followed that up with an upset win over the No. 6 ranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets before being upset by the Ole Miss Rebels.

That got them to 4-3-1 as they got set to face, ironically, future Alabama coach Bear Bryant at Kentucky. Well, Bryant’s team shockingly played the Vols to a scoreless tie, which was a key part of the way he was building the program at that time.

Result of the season

Following the tie against Kentucky, the Vols lost to the No. 15 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores 28-6. Yes, this was a rare year in which they beat Alabama but lost to both Vanderbilt and Kentucky. As a result, they finished 4-4-2. However, Neyland was about to begin his third dynasty on Rocky Top the next year.

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