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Tennessee football: Five TransPerfect Music City Bowl storylines for Vols and Purdue Boilermakers

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 7, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of Nissan Stadium during the second half as Nashville SC plays New York Red Bulls. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of Nissan Stadium during the second half as Nashville SC plays New York Red Bulls. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and wide receiver Marquez Callaway (1) and wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) hold the trophy after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2020; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) and wide receiver Marquez Callaway (1) and wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) hold the trophy after defeating the Indiana Hoosiers in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

4. First bowl for Vols since 2019, for Purdue since 2018

This plays off the last post, as it’s part of why both teams exceeded expectations. To be fair, Tennessee football was invited to the Liberty Bowl last year and accepted the bid but had to back out due to COVID issues. However, as mentioned on the previous slide, they were 3-7, so something looked off about them going bowling.

It’s a different story for Purdue. They haven’t played in a bowl since 2018. Last year, they went 2-4 in the COVID-shortened Big Ten season. In 2019, when the Vols went 7-5 and made a bowl, Purdue actually struggled to a 4-8 season.

Of course, when Purdue made bowl games in 2018 and 2017, the Vols were 5-7 and 4-8 respectively, so they missed out both years. Before those years, Purdue’s last two bowl games were in 2011 and 2012 under Danny Hope, and UT missed out both years under Derek Dooley.

In fact, the last time both teams made a bowl game in the same season was 2007. The Vols reached the Outback Bowl that year under Phillip Fulmer, and Purdue reached the Motor City Bowl under Joe Tiller. It was the last bowl for both coaches, and the next season, 2008, would ironically be their final seasons at their respective jobs.

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