TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE!
The Tennessee Volunteers had a season that will not soon be forgotten by those of us living here in East Tennessee. Jeff Hall began the year kicking the Vols to victory over Syracuse and Florida (finally). Auburn was stubborn, more so than anyone could imagine, the Dawgs couldn't hang, the Tide got flooded, Tee was almost perfect against the Gamecocks, and then the impossible happened. Facing certain defeat at home against Arkansas, destiny, fate, or maybe even God, stepped in with what will forever be known as "the fumble". The Vols grasped victory from the clutches of defeat, then routed the Cat's and Commodores, got five good minutes out of Tee Martin in the SEC championship game against Mississippi State (which thanks to the tremendous Vols defense was enough) and headed to Tempe. Despite being ranked number one and being the only unbeaten team left in Division I ('cept for Tulane who had a nice season but has not yet made it to the "major" ranks) the Vols went in as underdogs against Florida State. Well we all know what happened. 23-16, Vols win, National Champions. As John Ward so aptly put it "This year the national champions are clad in Big Orange". Peerless was....well peerless. The D did what they've done all year which was completely shut down the opposing O (what happened to Warrick?) and the Sears Championship Trophy now rest comfortably in Knoxville. The only bad thing about this whole season is that it was John Ward's last as the Voice of the Vols. But even that turned out OK, I mean what better time to walk away than after a national championship season? This was, as so many have said, a team of destiny. So to the Vols players, coaches, trainers etc. who helped this team excel and reach the pinnacle we all say thanks! I think this season can be summed up nicely with one of John Ward's classic calls....."Touchdown Tennessee"!
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