Adams: Celebrate Stoerner and a victory Clint Stoerner - A Vol Hero As Tennessee and Arkansas renew their rivalry this afternoon, most UT fans have the same two questions: Can the Vols hold Arkansas running back Darren McFadden under 300 yards, and why hasn’t Clint Stoerner moved to Knoxville? Notice I didn’t bother to identify Stoerner on first reference. That’s because he is one of the most famous players in the history of UT football. So what if he didn’t play for UT. That’s a mere technicality. If the former Arkansas quarterback moved here, businessmen would be standing in line to offer him jobs, and UT would name a street after him. Car dealers would pay him to drive their vehicles, clothiers would pay him to wear their clothes, and restaurant owners would pay him to hang out. He would get a blog on govolsxtra.com and two appearances a week on The Sports Page, the News Sentinel’s wildly popular radio show. He would be treated with the same reverence as Peyton Manning. Never mind who was the better pro. Stoerner, not Manning, helped UT win a national title. Sure, it would be more appropriate to honor Stoerner next year on the 10th anniversary of UT’s national championship season. However, the Vols and Razorbacks don’t play next year, so a ninth-anniversary salute will have to do. For the two people who are unaware of Stoerner’s heroics: His fumble in the final minutes set up the Vols’ game-winning touchdown on the way to an unbeaten season in 1998. It wasn’t just any fumble. It occurred when Stoerner used the ball to brace his fall. Two people just said: “To brace his fall?” I realize it makes no sense. I’ve never seen another player — pro, college or high school — do that. But once was enough for UT. Tennessee 31, Arkansas 30: In a topsy-turvy SEC season, beware of teams coming off their best game (i.e., Arkansas over South Carolina last week). The Vols might not slow McFadden’s run for the Heisman Trophy, but they will make enough big plays on offense to offset what their defense gives up.
Ok Tom here's my wishes! Gators beat S. Carolina, Tennessee loses one more SEC game but not two, and Georgia loses to Auburn. This sets up a three way tie in the east between Florida, Tennessee and Georgia and I think Florida would win the tie breaker because we would have a better SEC East record since both our losses were to West teams. Now the Gators do not need Tennessee to lose two games because we would lose a tiebreaker to Georgia! Georgia can go ahead and lose two though. By the way I do remember than Arkansas game, we were listening to it on the way home from a Gator game and I couldn't believe it when he fumbled. I saw it on tv the next day. Unbelievable. That was a magic season for Tennessee, and overtime win against the Gators when we had double the yardage that Tennessee had, but you had the turnovers and a field goal kicker that could kick a long field goal, and outs missed a much shorter one in overtime. Then I believe you were a pretty heavy underdog to FSU and wiped them out! I loved it. I understand why those memories are special to you.
That's an interesting story. I was not aware of it. It seems that more often than not a team that has a great season gets some breaks along the way, which turns a magical season into a season of destiny. The "break" that stands out the most in my erratic memory is the 5th down that Nebraska got vs. Missouri. I can't remember the exact game situation or the year, but I seem to recall that it resulted in a Nebraska TD which turned a loss into a victory and ultimately an undefeated season.
Last year Florida blocked what I am sure was a game winning FG vs SCar. The photo of Moss 11 feet up in the air with his hand on the ball is my desktop background...
You know, Tom, in my mind's eye as I was wrinting that, I thought it might have been Colorado, but I said no to myself and inserted Nebraska. I seem to recall two only things accurately....It was a Big 12 team and the game was at Missouri......I think. :? :?
Guys, Here are my thoughts on this game and the rest of the season: I am torn in my feelings right now. I always want Tennessee to win... that's a given. But, what is best for Tennessee in the LONG RUN? Could it be that a pasting by Arkansas will once again turn the waffling Tennessee Alumni back in the direction of calling the moving vans to Fulmer's door? We need a change at the helm. I don’t even want the water boy left even if he does have high quality H2O. Sure we can still win the SEC East. Do we deserve to go to Atlanta? Heck no. A three loss team should not be excited about contending for a conference title. I know I’m not. I have called for a 30 – 28 tie breaker in the contest in the Arkansas at Tennessee game . You’ll have to wait until after 11:00 central time to find out which way I went.
Arkansas appears poorly coached today and is out of sync with so many useless penalties. Nutt is a nut.... 4th and 1 on your own 45 and McFadden has pine splinters in his a**? What is up with that? On the other hand Tenn is doing what it takes to win and the Vols continue to take advantage of missing the 2 best teams in the SEC West this year....LSU and Auburn.
The 5th down was Colorado. Tom, Tennessee has firmly taken control of the East with this win today. Lucky you guys! You get LSU in the Championship game. Maybe you can get even with them for the upset of you guys in 2001 after you beat us then lost to them. Nice game by the Vols today, I think Fulmer stays. By the way I just saw the graphic where he gas the best winning percentage for all active coaches, with a proper number of games of course.
Congrats on the win Tom. I picked Arky thinking that McFadden would continue his Heisman Drive....but not to be.
Thanks guys... I think. We still have a lot to play for this year but like I've said before: Does winning games this year hurt our future? We'll see.
stuff <t>Colorado had the 5th down in their NC season and the phantom clipping call in the title game against ND to hand them the NC.<br/> <br/> Nebraska's NC season was saved by a booted ball by a WR.<br/> <br/> McFadden loses the Heisman this week.</t>