I recall covering the University of Tennessee’s Fiesta Bowl media day prior to its national championship bout with Florida State back in December of 1998.
Then-UT coach Phillip Fulmer was asked about the debacle against Nebraska during the Orange Bowl a year before. If you recall, Tennessee, ranked No. 3 in the nation, played No. 1 Nebraska and was annihilated 42-17. This was the last Bowl Alliance championship, a precursor to the Bowl Championship Series, otherwise known as the BCS.
The Cornhuskers rolled through the Vols that night like the Soviets through Eastern Europe, like illegal aliens through the southern border, like the Kardashians through an NBA locker room. Being honest, Tennessee’s performance was embarrassing for the school and the Southeastern Conference.
Even All-American Tennessee linebacker Leonard Little remarked that Nebraska’s players were powerful and great. Let’s face it, Nebraska’s personnel ran roughshod over the Vols that night. I was there and it was uncomfortable to watch.
When asked about the consequences of that game, Fulmer said, “coming off that game, we made a big deal about being physical.”
So the Vols went back to the drawing board, then the weight room to get bigger, stronger and faster. Guess what? Mission accomplished. A year later the Vols defeated Florida State 23-16 in the Fiesta Bowl to win its first national title since 1951.
For Tennessee, things worked out well after that loss.
After contemplating Tennessee’s dismal performance at Ohio State in the opening round of the playoffs, I compared the two debacles.
Against Nebraska, the Vols were at a physical disadvantage on both sides of the ball. Nebraska’s offensive and defensive lines schooled Tennessee. With Ohio State, things become a bit more complex. The Buckeyes were clearly deeper and more talented than Tennessee.
In addition, Tennessee essentially was a unidimensional team this year. The Vols didn’t muster much of a passing attack this year and relied on the ground game. When Tennessee had better personnel, the gambit worked. When the personnel was equal or better, the Vols struggled. Things don’t look like they are going to improve in the vertical game next year since Squirrel White and four other receivers have entered the transfer portal.
Why would they stay when Tennessee’s air game was anemic at best? Is vaunted high school quarterback recruit Nico Iamaleava capable of dealing with the big time? Does he need more time? Is the offensive scheme too predictable for him to be successful? Does Tennessee have the right personnel among the coaching staff to implement changes so Tennessee can be less predictable?
Like 1997, Tennessee had a pretty good year in 2024. But, like 1997, it seemed that the Vols often lived on the edge. The edge can be a perilous place.
Before we wring our hands into an arthritic knot, let’s be honest. Tennessee spent much of the season in the top 10, won 10 games for the second time in three years, beat Alabama and Florida and was a player in the national-championship race. When you consider that the basketball team is No. 1 in the nation for the fourth straight week, the Lady Vols’ basketball team is 12-0 and the baseball team is the defending national champion, I’d say Tennessee folks should have a lot to be happy about.
But some Tennessee fans just won’t be satisfied with that. It’s like Fulmer said back in 1998, when you win, you tend to create monsters. Some of those goblins shine the seats at Neyland Stadium with their fannies.
There is a silver lining, or, perhaps orange, more appropriately. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has an ally in athletic director Danny White, a pretty formidable NIL consortium and massive support from boosters. All the things he needs to be successful are in place.
However…
Heupel may have to make some tough decisions regarding his staff in the off-season.
If not, Danny White may have a hard decision to make in a few years.
Jim Steele is a correspondent for Richardson Media Group and may be reached on X @steelesports or via email at pressbox1@gmail.com.