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Tennessee football: Ranking all 15 Vols non-Saturday openers

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 4, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back John Kelly (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee won 42-41 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back John Kelly (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tennessee won 42-41 in two overtimes. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2018; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Tennessee Volunteers helmet is seen pregame before the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

11. 1897

Tennessee Volunteers: 28 King: 0

Friday, Oct. 15; Baldwin Park; Knoxville, Tenn.

We go to the first time Tennessee football played King. This one was a bit more memorable than the 1900 matchup. That’s because not only was it the first ever matchup between these two schools, but the Vols were riding pretty high at this time given what had just happened the year before. It was a crucial moment in the school’s history.

UT was coming off a 4-0 campaign, its first undefeated season and the first year the program had been restored as a varsity sport. The Vols had joined the SIAA that year but never played any SIAA games, and they weren’t going to play any SIAA games this year either.

There was still no head coach of the program. Again, this was the seventh season for Rocky Top but only the fourth official season, so we’re talking the extremely early days. Still, it’s one of the rare seasons in which the Vols didn’t have a Saturday opener, so it’s on the list.

The Vols dominated King in this one 28-0. That was their fifth straight win at the time, and it launched a 4-1 season. Like many programs, UT would not field a team the next year due to the Spanish-American War, just another example of how rocky starting off the program was.

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