1951 Tennessee Volunteers football team

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1951 Tennessee Volunteers football
National Champions
SEC Champions
Sugar Bowl, L, 13-28 vs. Maryland
Conference SEC
Ranking
Coaches #1
AP #1
1951 Record 10-1 (5-0 SEC)
Head Coach Robert Neyland
Offensive Scheme Single Wing
Base Defense Multiple

Home Stadium

 Shields-Watkins Field
Seasons
« 1950 1952 »

In his next to last season as head coach, General Robert Neyland led Tennessee football team to a National title. The 1950 team had gone 11-1, setting the ground work for this season. The Vols would put together an undefeated regular season and be awarded with the national title before the bowl season began (as was the convention at that time). The Alabama game on the Third Saturday in October that season, was the first ever nationally televised game for both teams.

[edit] Prominent Players

The 1951 team featured Hank Lauricella, that season's Heisman Trophy runner up, and Doug Atkins, a future college football and NFL Hall of Fame performer. James Haslam Jr., a future business and civic leader in Knoxville was a captain on the 1952 team, and a prominent member of this squad.

The team featured six all conference players: Lauricella, Atkins, Ted Daffer, John Michaels, Bill Pearman, and Bert Rechichar. Laricella, Daffer and Pearman were also named All American following the year.

[edit] Schedule

1951 10-1 (5-0 SEC) National Champions and SEC Champions
Date Opponent Result Score Notes
September 29 vs. *Mississippi State W 14 0
October 6 vs. Duke W 26 0
October 13 vs. Chattanooga W 42 13
October 20 @ *Alabama W 27 13
October 26 vs. Tennessee Tech W 68 0
November 3 vs. North Carolina W 27 0
November 10 vs. Washington & Lee University W 60 14
November 17 @ *Mississippi W 46 21
November 24 vs. *Kentucky W 28 0
December 4 vs. *Vanderbilt W 35 27
January 2^ vs. Maryland L 13 28 @ New Orleans, LA • Sugar Bowl
*Conference Game • ^Played in 1952

[edit] Sources