5 weirdest games of the last decade for the Tennessee Vols
The last decade was full of plenty ups-and-downs for the Tennessee Vols (mostly downs). Multiple coaching searches, drama with coaching staff/players, and various off-the-field issues garnered most of the UT related headlines over the last 10 years. Of course, Tennessee still played football (that tends to get overlooked). And the Vols participated in some games […]
The last decade was full of plenty ups-and-downs for the Tennessee Vols (mostly downs).
Multiple coaching searches, drama with coaching staff/players, and various off-the-field issues garnered most of the UT related headlines over the last 10 years.
Of course, Tennessee still played football (that tends to get overlooked). And the Vols participated in some games that were just….weird. Games that didn't feel like a typical Tennessee football game.
These are the five weirdest games of the last 10 years (in no particular order), starting with a game that UT fans would likely prefer to wash away from their memory.
LSU 30 Tennessee 10 — November 18, 2017
The 2017 Vols are most remembered for the widely publicized coaching search that took place in late November/early December.
But if there's a game from that season that sticks out to UT fans, it's likely the matchup against LSU.
This was Brady Hoke's first game as the Vols' interim head coach after Butch Jones was fired. And oh man was it's a game that Tennessee fans would love to forget.
First off, it was an ugly final score that didn't go in the Vols' favor. But that score wasn't nearly as ugly as the scene at Neyland to start the third quarter.
For some reason, Hoke thought it was a good idea to not delay the start of the second half. The Vols received the kickoff from LSU in conditions that could be described best as "near-zero visibility".
It literally was coming so hard, I couldn’t see guys on the field," said Hoke after the game.
Fortunately for Tennessee, the Hoke era on Rocky Top didn't last long.
Image via AP
The early Butch Jones era ——->>>>
Tennessee 52 Western Kentucky 20 — September 7, 2013
This is a game that probably won't stick out at first to fans, but it had one of the strangest sequences I've ever seen in a college football game (it was also the first regular-season game I covered at Neyland Stadium after venturing into this business).
In the first quarter, Western Kentucky turned the ball over five times in the span of six offensive snaps.
I've never seen anything like that before in a college football game.
By the way, that wasn't the only strange thing about this game.
Western Kentucky was coached in 2013 by Bobby Petrino (Petrino took the 2012 season off after his motorcycle accident cost him his job at Arkansas. He returned to Louisville in 2014, before getting fired in 2018).
Image via USA Today
A heartbreaking loss ——->>>>>
LSU 16 Tennessee 14 — October 2, 2010
If you're a Tennessee fan, then this game likely still haunts you.
I have to throw in a personal story for this game. I was 25 in 2010 and I was at a party/get-together in North Carolina when this game was being played. I, of course, had the game on in the living room, while folks gathered inside/outside the house (most of the folks in attendance weren't Tennessee fans and were only loosely paying attention to the game). As soon as the Vols stopped LSU and the clock hit 0:00 we all walked outside, talked briefly about the game, and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
It wasn't until an hour or so later that I realized Tennessee hadn't won the game. Another television at the party was on another game, maybe ESPN or something, and I saw the score of the UT game at the bottom. I was quite confused and certain it had to be a mistake. I immediately pulled out my phone, did a quick google search and saw the grim reality — Tennessee lost because they had too many men on the field and it gave LSU another chance at victory.
Nearly 10 years later and I still can't believe it happened this way.
Here's a clip of the end of the game, in case you want to relive it.
Image via Rocky Top Talk
The end of an era ——->>>>
Vanderbilt 41 Tennessee 18 — November 17, 2012
This game just felt…..odd.
I think everyone knew it was likely Derek Dooley's last game as the Vols' head coach if Tennessee didn't win.
But the Vols were expected to win. Because Tennessee (at the time) always beats Vanderbilt.
It was clear, however, that Dooley had lost the team by this point. Quarterback Tyler Bray was done and Dooley's coaching behavior during this matchup could best be described as erratic.
Bray was benched in favor of Justin Worley at one point, but then Dooley put Bray back into the game in the third quarter.
It didn't matter, though, the season was lost by this point.
Image via Knoxville News Sentinel
A sign something wasn't right ——->>>>
Tennessee 20 Appalachian State 13 — September 1, 2016
This game should've been a sign that Butch Jones wasn't the guy for Tennessee.
Heading into 2016, the Vols were hyped as the team to beat in the SEC East. After narrowly losing several big games in 2015, the 2016 season was supposed to be the year Tennessee took a huge step forward under Jones.
But it wasn't. Not even close.
Sure, the Vols got out to a 5-0 start and beat Florida for the first time since 2004. But they also blew their chance at the Sugar Bowl (and the SEC East) by inexplicably losing to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The App State win was a clue that the season wasn't going to go as expected.
Tennessee should've cruised against a much less talented team. Instead, the Vols needed overtime (and a fluky play) to pull out a win against an inferior opponent.
If Jalen Hurd doesn't recover that fumble in the end zone, then App State likely kicks a field goal and wins. The Vols literally won this game because the ball bounced their way.
It was one of the last times the ball would bounce Jones' way — his luck eventually ran out.
Image via USA Today
