'98 Florida-UT game won over Riggs for Vols

That changed on Sept. 19, 1998.

Riggs, then a freshman at Red Bank High School, went with some friends to see Tennessee play Florida at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee was ranked No. 6 in the nation; Florida was ranked No. 2. It was the second game of the Vols' season.

The Vols beat the Gators in overtime, 20-17, on their way to the national championship.

"I just remember all the excitement surrounding the game," said Riggs, who is a junior tailback for the Vols.

"You know, everybody being pumped up and getting ready for it and then the atmosphere at Neyland Stadium and some of the big plays that were made, Al Wilson's play (for Tennessee) toward the end of the game.

"It was a mixture of everything, but just the atmosphere surrounding the game was what really caught me."

Three years later, Riggs signed to play for the Vols.

Tennessee can thank its 1998 team and that Sept. 19 performance, in large part, for getting Riggs interested in the program.

"It was just one of those things that Tennessee football has always been exciting to me since then after watching that game," Riggs said. "I always wanted to be able to play in the Florida-Tennessee game after that."

Riggs rushed for 79 yards on 13 carries in the season opener against UNLV on Sept. 5.

Cedric Houston rushed for 97 yards on 12 carries and Corey Larkins 49 yards on nine carries. Riggs and Larkins had rushing touchdowns.

"I felt pretty good and the way things kind of balanced out as far as the rushing game, the number of reps guys are going to get, seems like it's going to work out during the season," Riggs said.