Hey, all the other schools do that crap. I think it is silly as well (I really think we have at most 3-4 championships, not 6), but it is the silly game that they all play.
Yale claims something like 26 natty’s... all of which came before airplanes were invented but hey, 26 natty’s are 26 natty’s!!
There were a few other seasons in the Neyland era where it seems like a title could have been awarded to us based on record.
Looked to verify that number for Yale and it’s actually 27 claimed. What I didn’t know was that “Down the Field” is Yale’s fight song... it sounds a little different the way they play it but it’s the same song...
Whatever controversy there would have been, UT did lose the bowl game that year which was after the national title was awarded. But counter-point, they road a bus all the way to California and played the next day in that bowl game.
Does anyone know why we did not go to the Sugar Bowl after the 1967 season? Was SEC Champion to the Sugar Bowl not basically automatic back then?
If you’ve got (or seen) the 100 Years of Volunteers documentary the section on that trip is one of my favorite parts in the story. Great color footage and the khaki pants with orange jerseys is a fantastic look!
Nowadays we have guys sitting out these games just because they don’t want to jeaporadize their futures on what are essentially exhibition games. Back then they actually were exhibition games. Impossible to know how serious our guys were taking that game. Also, remember for them, they were probably fairly downhearted about beating everyone in front of them and then not getting any national recognition.
George Cafego was hurt for that game, along with another star, maybe Bobby Dodd? I’ll Look it up and edit as necessary. Edit: Obviously not Dodd...
I have the full length video(of the trip) on DVD. It’s pretty awesome if you’re into that kinda thing
Dodd played a decade earlier. Cafego’s injury is the excuse given but I believe he still played in the game.
I sat down once with Coach Cafego in his office and listened to a story of Tennessee playing in the Rose Bowl. He said they went by train and that they would stop everyday to practice. There were a lot more details and he was fascinating to talk to.
true. I always thought the last one was 51, so to double check, I went to wiki and it maintains that we (or some editor) claim(s) 67, so... what's worse? 31 years or 47?