Highly Anticipated Season Openers

This season is fast approaching and Vol fans are as excited as I can remember looking forward to kick-off on Rocky Top. With the addition of the new coaching staff and a new offensive system in place fans just can’t seem to wait for the season to begin. Many national columnist have commented on the strength of the Tennessee defense and the potential that unit possesses. So, all we have to put together now is a dynamic offensive and Tennessee will be back in the hunt for the SEC East championship. Right? We will see.

I can remember other season openers in my thirty-nine years that have also been looked upon with great anticipation.  One of the most memorable to me was the 1977 opener with California. I remember sitting at the thirty yard line as the Vols raced onto the field through the giant T that night and I can still remember how loud that stadium was. My Mom, Dad and I enjoyed the 80 yard touchdown run by Jimmy Streater but that was about it for the Vols as the Bears won the game 27-17 that night. It wasn’t a great night, but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm for the football program as the fans were willing to give new coach Johnny Majors time to rebuild.

To this day many Vol fans I talk to say that Bob Woodruff made a huge mistake when he passed on coach Majors in 1970 for Bill Battle. Coach Battle was the youngest coach in division I-A at the time and many Vol fans believe that the program would never have missed a beat following the resignation of Doug Dickey if Majors had been hired then instead of Battle.

1996 and 1997 were both seasons with high expectations but both ended in disappointment. The 1996 team finished with a good record, but the loss to Florida ended any hopes of a national crown. The 1997 season was a great season but when Peyton Manning did not win the Hesiman the accomplishments of the season almost paled in comparison to the shock all Vol fans felt when Woodson was named the Heisman trophy winner. I can't believe that Peyton Manning did not win. 

1990 was another highly anticipated season in my lifetime as a Vol fan. The Vols were coming off an 11-1 season that saw the school’s 600^th win in the Cotton bowl. Chuck Webb was returning along with Andy Kelly and a defense loaded with stars. The Vols were to contend for the national title that year and they did until a 9-6 loss to Alabama in October in one of the most stunning games I have ever seen.  The most memorable thing to me about that season was the play of Tony Thompson. He led the SEC in rushing that year and rushed for over 200 yards in games against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. Not bad for a guy that sat on the bench when all star Chuck Webb was around. The Vols didn’t win the national championship but they did win the Southeastern Conference and finished with a victory in the Sugar Bowl over Virginia.

Prior to the 1986 season I can still remember how exciting it was to have Tennessee on the national stage. I was sixteen and I had never seen such national attention given to the Tennessee football program. The Vols were coming off of their first conference championship in 16 years and anticipation was at an all time high in Big Orange country. Sadly, this team endured countless injuries and was never able to recapture the magic from the previous season. The Vols would finish that year a modest 7-5.

So as a new season approaches I look forward to another exciting year in Big Orange country. Hopefully the fans will give coach Kiffin time to rebuild a program that has had its share of difficulty over the past seven years. Who knows if Lane Kiffin will revive the program and restore it to its previous glory, but even if he doesn’t do it right away, at least all of us have something to look forward to with great anticipation.