Audio slide show
Wondering how a team that started 1-2 and lost to its two biggest SEC rivals by a combined 63 points wound up in Atlanta? Here's 10 important signposts along Tennessee's improbable route to Saturday's SEC championship game in Atlanta.
1. The Tackle 11.24.07
On Kentucky's 110th offensive play of the game, defensive end Antonio Reynolds tackled Wildcats quarterback Andre' Woodson on a two-point conversion try in the fourth overtime to give UT a 52-50 victory - and punch the Vols' ticket to Atlanta for the first time since 2004.
2. The Recovery 10.27.07
Offensive lineman Jacques McClendon recovered Arian Foster's fumble at the South Carolina 26-yard line in the fourth quarter. At the time, UT trailed by three points and McClendon's heads-up play far from the line of scrimmage allowed Daniel Lincoln to kick a 48-yard field goal to tie the game, which the Vols went on to win in overtime.
3. The Block 11.24.07
After a Tennessee turnover in the second overtime at Kentucky, defensive tackle Dan Williams found a vertical leap that belies his 6-foot-3, 310-pound frame and blocked Lones Seiber's would be game-winning field goal from 34 yards.
4. The Penalty 11.17.07
Needing a play to kick-start the offense, the Vols got one - from Vanderbilt's Broderick Stewart. Trailing 24-9 late in the third quarter, Stewart was whistled for roughing punter Britton Colquitt. From there, UT scored on three of its final four possessions to score its biggest comeback victory in Neyland Stadium, 25-24 over Vandy.
5. The Misses 10.27.07 and 11.17.07
In two of Tennessee's closest wins, two of the SEC's best kickers missed field goals in Neyland Stadium - one that could have been an off-ramp on the Vols' journey to Atlanta and one that would have been. South Carolina's Ryan Succop, a preseason first-team All-SEC selection, missed a 40-yard try in overtime to tie the game and Vandy's Bryant Hahnfeldt missed a 49-yard try with 33 seconds left to win the game.
6. The Haymaker 10.06.07
Arian Foster scored on a 22-yard run to give the Vols a 28-0 lead over then-No. 12 Georgia in the second quarter. When critics of coach Phillip Fulmer and the Vols were at full throat, Foster's run was a statement play in a statement game that ultimately proved the tiebreaker in the SEC East race.
7. The Stop 11.10.07
After holding Arkansas and its SEC-best running game to just 36 yards in the first half, safety Jonathan Hefney stopped Heisman hopeful Darren McFadden for no gain on a third-down misdirection play to force the Razorbacks to go three-and-out on their first possession of the second half. UT scored on its next drive to go up 27-3.
8. The Losses 09.29.07 and 10.27.07
UT wouldn't have won the SEC East without a little help from its, err, friends? The Vols' biggest conference allies this season turned out to be Auburn and Georgia. Both dealt Florida upset losses, Auburn during UT's open date and Georgia on the same day UT defeated South Carolina. The latter put Tennessee back in control of its fate and gave the Vols' season new life. Again.
9. The Catches 11.24.07
Two big plays in a game full of huge plays happened back to back. The first, a 40-yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Quintin Hancock, happened when Kentucky busted coverage and Hancock improvised on UT's first play of the final overtime. The next, Austin Rogers' catch for two points when both Rogers and Ainge got drilled, proved to be the winning margin against Kentucky.
10. The Seed 09.01.07
After absorbing a brutal, blind-side hit from Cal linebacker Zack Follett that forced a fumble and gave the Bears a 7-0 lead on UT's first drive of the season, Ainge - broken pinky and all - directed the Vols on a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. UT lost in Berkeley, but Ainge showed the toughness, both mental and physical, that turned up time and again this season.
Five Freshman Dates:
Tennessee wouldn't be in Atlanta without significant contributions from a highly touted freshman class (and one redshirt). These five plays rose to the top of the frosh.
11.17.07
Dennis Rogan's 45-yard punt return to set up the go-ahead field goal against Vanderbilt - and the former Fulton standout's touchdown saving tackle of D.J. Moore on the ensuing kickoff.
10.13.07
Daniel Lincoln's four field goals in a 12-point win at Mississippi State.
09.15.07
Eric Berry's 96-yard interception return for a touchdown against Florida, UT's most memorable play in a forgettable loss at The Swamp.
11.03.07
Lennon Creer's 30-yard touchdown run against Louisiana-Lafayette, part of his team-high 109 rushing yards on seven carries.
11.24.07
Gerald Jones' 10-yard touchdown pass from Ainge (and subsequent stamp of approval from the replay booth) in the first overtime against Kentucky.
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 27
CrankE writes:
I picked #7. Until UT barbecued Arkansass, I didn't really know if Tennessee could get to the dome.
As far as the freshmen, I'd have to give the nod to Dennis Rogan. Tennessee hasn't fielded a decent punt returner in ages so for them to all of the sudden start catching (gasp!) punts was an improvement. For them to start making return yards (get my nitro glycerin!) was heart stopping. For them to start making punt returns exciting in a good way again (Oh! Elizabeth, it's the big one!!!) was electrifying and illuminating.
Rogan: Whatever you're doing on punt returns, don't stop!
Coaches: Whatever you were doing in coaching punt returns, please stop now and learn from the kid.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
My vote would be -11.We haven't had ten top plays this season. I digress, we've stumbled into Atl. Now uncouple LSU and reel on towards Nawleans. Am I dreaming or what! Go Vols!
volsrock writes:
My pick is #2. Without that little stroke of luck, the rest of the games are meaningless.
surlyguy writes:
The Block is #1 in my book.
tloutn writes:
Dennis Rogan was a three star recruit - based solely on his size (or lack there of) and his speed. You can't measure a "football player" by numbers. He's a contributor to the SEC East Champion while last year's Mr. Football rode the pine for a 3-9 team.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
I have to agree about The Block. After Ainge's INT I had written us off. Came real close to turning it off and not watching our 22 year streak come to and end. Glad I didn't.
vol4jesus writes:
pdhufnpuf you at it again! can't get happy over anything apparently except being in self-imposed misery. Take a nice recap of 'highlights' and turn into yuck. Oh well some just can't smile even when they win the lottery....something about the bills were all torn. Half-empty or half full?
james#216392 writes:
I remember the penalty that was whistled when Lincoln missed a field goal and got to re-kick. That was a top 10 memory. However, the blocked field gaol against KY was a game winner. My friends here in KY still all trying to figure that one out.
asleep#212036 writes:
I voted for the recovery because it kept the seaon alive, but the block was definitely more dramatic for me. I was unfortunately in Auburn watching the game with my wife's family, every one of them a die-hard Bama homer. Like burntorange, I wanted to turn it off after the interception so I wouldn't have to watch but of course, they wouldn't let me. They were crowing, chanting UK! and generally being obnoxious. When the kick was blocked, they all went silent and my wife and I started our chanting. When Woodson went down in OT #4, watching it with all the Bama folks couldn't have been any better! Go Vols!!!
agentorange writes:
KNS is beatin a dead horse with the "lost to blah by blah blah points." Try comparing the Vols wins over ranked opponents to those teams ranked in the top 10. See what you find. Look at usatoday's power rankings that has the Vols at #8. Write something new people. We all know we lost three games and had freshmen step up.
volgrog#210164 writes:
I can't remember a year where there were so many critical plays during the course of the season. I remember two during our NC run--the pass interference call at Syracuse to keep the drive alive, and the Stoerner fumble. Back in '85, there was Dale Jones Int. and then all the plays in the Sugar Bowl. In '92, there were the multiple 4th down plays at GA. I remember I was at AL during the 5 overtime game. Clausen's 4th and 19 conversion was pretty amazing.
Maybe I'm just getting old. I probably won't remember this year's plays next year.
Anyway, Go VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
leedsvol2007 writes:
One play not listed was Foster's first play catch/run of the throwback pass. That play was similiar to a first round knockdown in a prize fight.
That was a great call and a terrific run by Foster.
Not enough has been said about Foster. Rather than letting the fumble against Penn State last year and the one against Florida at the beginning of the year get him down he used them as motivation to get better.
I have a hard time remembering a back at Tennessee with as good pass catching ability as Foster. He makes those swing pass catches look easy and gets a lot of yards with them.
Anyway its been a wild but memorable year.
GoVols!
rockytopron writes:
My vote goes for #1 - the tackle. Without that play non of the others would have mattered. With the way that game was going maybe we win, maybe not, eventually there had to be a play that would decide it and I am glad the Antonio Reynolds made it.
As far as the Freshman goes, I will take Gerald Jones's catch...it was spectacular!
GO VOLS beat LSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
billnewton#588776 writes:
How can you vote on the best? They're all instrumental in our getting to Atlanta. If I have to vote, it's #3 - the block. We haven't blocked many in the past, but this ranks as one of the biggest ever!! Way to go Dan!!
mattingly writes:
See No. 4. It was not the biggest comeback victory in Neyland Stadium history. See Vanderbilt 1987 (down 28-3) and Arkansas 1998 (down 21-3). It is the biggest fourth quarter comeback at Neyland. See Alabama 1984 (down 27-13).
GoVol writes:
I agree that all of those play were very important in getting the VOLS to the SEC CG. I'd consider replacing Foster's run against GA with the blocked punt though. We needed them both however! GO VOLS!!!
qball77 writes:
It's hard to say. All of these (except the Cal one) had big impacts. I cannot decide which one was the biggest though. So I vote for 1 through 9.
qball77 writes:
leedsvol....you are right. He is probably the best pass-catching back we've had. He is fun to watch when he is grinding out those tough yards after catch. He does not look that fast but he seems to just shed tacklers with ease. I don't know how he does it. I guess he is just really strong.
murrayvol writes:
The block was large and deserves every vote it gets. But without the Recovery, this season could have gone South in a hurry.
vol88 writes:
no question. The block.
How many of you guys had the remote control in your hand so you wouldn't have to watch the Kentucky fans tear down the goal posts???
(I didn't, BTW. I picked it up, but put it back down when they lined up to kick. TEAM OF DESTINY!!!)
Beat LSU!!!
DCVol writes:
What about the halfback pass in the UGA game? How do you leave the first successful trick play for UT in half a century out of the top ten list?
LittleJohnny writes:
I figured The Penalty would have been the False start on the FG against South Carolina.
twin942 writes:
#2, the Recovery. It saved our win against USC and started us on the 5 game winning streak, playing tough all along the way. Way to go, Jacques. Nice head's up play.
As far as the freshman, I have to give a great deal of credit to Daniel Lincoln, so I'm selecting the field goals. He is a major contributor to this team's success and the guy has ice in his veins. He is money.
The future looks bright.
VOLS85 writes:
DCVol: Never forget the 2006 game against Florida where they ran the same play, Taylor to Coker...MONEY! See you in Atlanta...GO VOLS!
Classof70Vol writes:
No question - the block. Emotions from the interception to the block were about more than this old man could handle.
VolFanInAtl writes:
sobering
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
where have u been dc vol? same play last yr vs fla.
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