Tennessee football: Ranking all 15 Vols non-Saturday openers
10. 2004
Monday, Sept. 5; Neyland Stadium; Knoxville, Tenn.
The most memorable part of this game was the uniforms Tennessee football wore. The Vols donned these retro 1970s uniforms to kick off the season against the UNLV Rebels, uniforms they have never brought out since. Honestly, they should, though, given the number of alternate jerseys they use already. Here’s a quick look at them.
Tennessee opened its 2004 campaign on Sept. 5 at Neyland Stadium with a 42-17 win over UNLV.
— Vol Journal (@Vol_Journal) January 7, 2022
The Vols dressed out in throwback uniforms for the game, a look they wore primarily in road games from 1971-73 and is largely associated with the Condredge Holloway era (1972-74). pic.twitter.com/Xh4HgiGALd
Rocky Top came into this Labor Day matchup against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels entering a new era. The Casey Clausen years came to an end after 2003. A Peach Bowl loss to the Clemson Tigers ended his tenure at 10-3, and Clausen never won an SEC Championship with the Vols, which was a disappointment given his career.
Anyway, the Vols were going with two true freshman quarterbacks in this game. It would be the first time they ever started a true freshman to open the season. Phillip Fulmer went with Brent Schaeffer early, the dynamic dual-threat, and then he used Erik Ainge, the drop-back pocket passer. Both looked good.
Ainge threw for 118 yards and two touchdowns passes. Schaffer threw for 123 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 29 yards and another score. Neither threw a pick. This launched a shocking SEC East title for a Tennessee football program supposed to be rebuilding, and Ainge eventually became the main starter.