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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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The Tennessee Volunteer waves a Power T flag during the Vol Walk ahead of a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football
The Tennessee Volunteer waves a Power T flag during the Vol Walk ahead of a game against Pittsburgh at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Kns Tennessee Pittsburgh Football /

9. 1899

Tennessee Volunteers: 11 King Tornado: 5

Wednesday, Oct. 11; Baldwin Park; Knoxville, Tenn.

Of the five straight openers Tennessee football had against King, three were not on Saturday. We already mentioned 1897 and 1900. This is the third one, and honestly, it was the most memorable given all the significance of it. Well, that combined the fact that this game was actually close made it more memorable.

Anyway, this was an year of first for the Vols. After not fielding a team due to the Spanish-American War, they returned in 1899 as a full member of the SIAA for the first time. Although they were a member in 1896 and 1897, they didn’t play a conference game either year. This year, they would play three.

More importantly, the Vols were entering their first year with an actual head coach, and this game started that off. J.A. Pierce, who had attended Lafayette College, traveled to Rocky Top to become the first official head coach of the program. Until that time, they relied on team captains as their leader, so this was a huge deal.

This was also the Vols’ first game ever with Pierce as head coach, so it’s their first game period with a head coach. They won the matchup too, which launched a 6-2 campaign including a 2-1 SIAA record, only losing to the Sewanee Tigers and VPI (now the Virginia Tech Hokies).

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