Andy Kelly was the first Tennessee QB I really remember so I’m always partial to him even though he doesn’t make the top 5. Heath Schuler came along when I really started to understand what was going on. They came Peyton during high school. And of course Tee right after that. So those are my favorites, which doesn’t answer the question but it’s where I stand.
Manning, Clausen, Shuler, Dobbs, T-Rob you youngsters never saw t-rob throw those rainbows. His Sr year was on an interesting trajectory until Cornelius Bennett took him out. Very similar story as Chuck Webb. What might have been.
Casey Clausen might be the most under-appreciated player in Tennessee football history looking back on it.
Top 5 in no particular order: Manning Robinson Shuler Clausen Holloway Honorable mention to Kelly and Dobbs.
It's not heresy. He was a good, competent QB who played his part on a completely loaded national championship team. He had his good moments, especially the 23 straight completion game, but he largely never took a game over like Manning, Robinson, etc. did.
One thing Tee did was always pull something out at an opportune time even in games in which he wasn’t particularly good
1997 was just as loaded. 96 was pretty loaded too. Manning couldn’t beat Florida or win when it mattered most. Tee did. That’s what matters to me.
To be fair, I dont think Tee had to beat Florida with us giving up 50-60 pts. We gave up 17 in '98. Peyton goes 3-1 vs UF if we only give up 17 with only loss being freshman year
Only gave up 60+ once. 31, 62, 35, 33. All of which were lower than Florida’s season averages except for the 62. Probably would’ve helped if he hadn’t thrown 4 interceptions, 2 at the goal line, his junior year. At home. In the first half.
Very true. But again we only had to score 20 the one time Tee played them. I still have Tee in top 5 due to the Natty and him being smart enough on the field to let our nasty D take over. Cut was trying to win Peyton the Heisman
As skinny as his arms and upper body looked I was always a little surprised where the velocity came from.
Bray had good mechanics and tall with long arms and could throw the shit out of the deep ball. I’ll never understand how Justin Hunter was so damn explosive with his build. He was a damn twig.
Peyton wanted to beat them so badly to get past the team no one outside Knoxville thought they could beat, so being a slow runner he did the only thing he could, force it in hopin his receiver would be aggressive and make it happen.
Also would have helped that on the play before those 2 goal line INTs the guys he hit in the hands didn't drop the ball.