Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry

Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry
Tennessee Volunteers Vanderbilt Commodores
Total meetings 109
Series record Tennessee leads, 74–30–5
First meeting October 21, 1892
Last meeting November 29, 2014
Next meeting November 28, 2015
Largest win Vanderbilt, 76–0 (1918)
Current win streak Tennessee, 1 (2014–present)

The Tennessee–Vanderbilt football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores. In the most recent game, Tennessee won 24–17. Vanderbilt and Tennessee have played 109 times since 1892. Tennessee leads the series 74–30–5. They are founding members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

History

When the rivalry first started, Vanderbilt went 19–2–3 against Tennessee. Tennessee's hiring of Robert Neyland in 1926 turned that around. Nathan Dougherty hired Neyland, with the explicit goal to "even the score with Vanderbilt." Vanderbilt's Dan McGugin (1904–17, 1919–34) was 13–8–3 all-time against the Vols. Since 1928, Tennessee has gone 72–11–2 against Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt's longest win streak is 9 from 1901 to 1913. Tennessee's longest win streak is 22 from 1983 to 2004.[1]

Game results

Tennessee victories are shaded ██ orange. Vanderbilt victories are shaded ██ black. Ties are white.

Date Location Winner Score
October 21, 1892 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 22–4
November 17, 1892 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 12–0
October 22, 1900 Nashville, TN Tie 0–0
November 9, 1901 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 22–0
October 25, 1902 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 12–5
October 17, 1903 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 40–0
November 5, 1904 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 22–0
October 21, 1905 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 45–0
November 7, 1908 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 16–9
November 6, 1909 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 51–0
October 15, 1910 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 18–0
November 8, 1913 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 7–6
November 7, 1914 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 16–14
October 30, 1915 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 35–0
November 11, 1916 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 10–6
November 9, 1918 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 76–0
October 11, 1919 Nashville, TN Tie 3–3
October 9, 1920 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 20–0
October 29, 1921 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 14–0
November 4, 1922 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 14–6
November 10, 1923 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 51–7
October 17, 1925 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 34–7
November 14, 1926 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 20–3
November 13, 1927 Knoxville, TN Tie 7–7
November 12, 1928 Nashville, TN Tennessee 6–0
November 16, 1929 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 13–0
November 15, 1930 Nashville, TN Tennessee 13–0
November 14, 1931 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 21–7
November 12, 1932 Nashville, TN Tie 0–0
November 18, 1933 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 33–6
November 17, 1934 Nashville, TN Tennessee 13–6
November 16, 1935 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 13–7
November 14, 1936 Nashville, TN Tennessee 26–13
November 13, 1937 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 13–7
November 12, 1938 Nashville, TN Tennessee 14–0
November 18, 1939 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 13–0
November 30, 1940 Nashville, TN Tennessee 20–0
November 29, 1941 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 26–7
November 28, 1942 Nashville, TN Tennessee 19–7
December 1, 1945 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 45–0
November 30, 1946 Nashville, TN Tennessee 7–6
November 29, 1947 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 12–7
November 29, 1948 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 28–6
November 26, 1949 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 26–20
December 2, 1950 Nashville, TN Tennessee 43–0
December 1, 1951 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 35–27
November 29, 1952 Nashville, TN Tennessee 46–0
November 28, 1953 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 33–6
November 27, 1954 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 26–0
November 29, 1955 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 20–14
December 1, 1956 Nashville, TN Tennessee 16–0
November 30, 1957 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 28–0
November 29, 1958 Nashville, TN Tennessee 10–6
November 27, 1959 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 14–0
November 26, 1960 Nashville, TN Tennessee 35–0
December 2, 1961 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 41–7
December 1, 1962 Nashville, TN Tennessee 30–0
November 30, 1963 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 14–0
November 28, 1964 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 7–0
November 27, 1965 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 21–3
November 26, 1966 Nashville, TN Tennessee 28–0
December 2, 1967 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 41–14
November 28, 1968 Nashville, TN Tennessee 17–10
November 29, 1969 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 40–27
November 28, 1970 Nashville, TN Tennessee 24–6
November 27, 1971 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 19–7
December 2, 1972 Nashville, TN Tennessee 30–10
December 1, 1973 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 20–17
November 30, 1974 Nashville, TN Tie 21–21
November 29, 1975 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 17–14
November 27, 1976 Nashville, TN Tennessee 13–10
November 26, 1977 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 42–7
December 2, 1978 Nashville, TN Tennessee 41–15
December 1, 1979 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 31–10
November 29, 1980 Nashville, TN Tennessee 51–13
November 28, 1981 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 38–34
November 27, 1982 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 28–21
November 26, 1983 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 34–24
December 1, 1984 Nashville, TN Tennessee 29–13
November 30, 1985 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 30–0
November 29, 1986 Nashville, TN Tennessee 35–20
November 28, 1987 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 38–36
November 26, 1988 Nashville, TN Tennessee 14–7
December 2, 1989 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 17–10
December 1, 1990 Nashville, TN Tennessee 49–20
November 30, 1991 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 45–0
November 28, 1992 Nashville, TN Tennessee 29–25
November 27, 1993 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 62–14
November 26, 1994 Nashville, TN Tennessee 65–0
November 25, 1995 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 12–7
November 30, 1996 Nashville, TN Tennessee 14–7
November 29, 1997 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 17–10
November 28, 1998 Nashville, TN Tennessee 41–0
November 27, 1999 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 38–10
November 25, 2000 Nashville, TN Tennessee 28–26
November 24, 2001 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 38–0
November 23, 2002 Nashville, TN Tennessee 24–0
November 22, 2003 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 48–0
November 20, 2004 Nashville, TN Tennessee 38–33
November 19, 2005 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 28–24
November 18, 2006 Nashville, TN Tennessee 39–10
November 17, 2007 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 25–24
November 22, 2008 Nashville, TN Tennessee 20–10
November 21, 2009 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 31–16
November 20, 2010 Nashville, TN Tennessee 24–10
November 19, 2011 Knoxville, TN Tennessee 27–21*
November 17, 2012 Nashville, TN Vanderbilt 41–18
November 23, 2013 Knoxville, TN Vanderbilt 14–10
November 29, 2014 Nashville, TN Tennessee 24–17
* OT

Notable games

1892: The rivalry's first two games

1892 saw the first ever matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Vanderbilt Commodores. The two schools played each other twice during the year; Vanderbilt won both games. On the first matchup; for the Volunteers it was their third ever game in the second season of play and their first season with more than one game. For the Commodores it was their seventh ever game and third season of play.

The first game was played in Nashville on October 21, 1892. The Volunteers only managed one score as the Commodores rolled to a 22 to 4 victory. The second game was played in Knoxville on November 17. The Vols did not manage a single score as Vandy won 12 to 0.[2] The captain of Vanderbilt was Elliott Jones and its quarterback was William E. Beard.

1900: Tie at Vanderbilt jubilee

A game was played between the schools as part of Vanderbilt's celebrations surrounding its 25th anniversary. It ended a scoreless tie.[3]

1902: Edgerton scores

1902 had one of Tennessee's strongest early elevens. Vanderbilt won 12 to 5 despite a weak line due to its running game.[4] John Edgerton scored both Vanderbilt touchdowns. Tennessee's only score was provided by an A. H. Douglas run around right end, breaking two tackles and getting the touchdown. Nash Buckingham had a 40-yard run through the line. Jones Beene blocked and tackled well.[4]

1908: Vandy wins despite Leach

Ray Morrison saved a touchdown in 1908.

1908 was a down year for Vanderbilt with a wealth of sophomores; guided shrewdly by McGugin to its success.[5] The Volunteers had compiled four wins in conference play, the most in team history. It was widely considered the best Tennessee football season up to that point.[6] Vanderbilt won the match between the two schools 16 to 9.

Walker Leach made a 41-yard field goal to put the Vols up 4 to 0. "This seemed to arouse the local team" and Vanderbilt drove down the field for a touchdown. On a fake kick, Leach circled Vanderbilt's left end for 60 yards. Ray Morrison stopped him short of the goal.[7] Nathan Dougherty was on Tennessee's squad.

1913: Penalty helps Vandy

Red Rainey scored Tennessee's touchdown. Goat Carroll missed the kick.[8] Tennessee's right guard S. D. Bayer drew a 33-yard, half the distance to the goal penalty for slugging, and was ejected by umpire Bradley Walker. The first down after, Hord Boensch threw a touchdown pass to Enoch Brown. Brown ran the last ten yards shaking off several defenders.[8] Boensch kicked goal and won the game for Vanderbilt.

1914: UT's first victory

In 1914, Tennessee was undefeated Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champions. It was the first championship of any kind for the Tennessee program. The 1914 Vols were retroactively awarded a national championship by 1st-N-Goal, though this remains largely unrecognized.[9] Alonzo "Goat" Carroll scored all of Tennessee's points in the 16 to 14 victory, Tennessee's first over Vandy.

Graham Vowell.

An account of the first touchdown reads, "Four minutes of play had barely drifted by when Tennessee's weird, mystic, elusive forward pass, May to Carroll, deadly in accuracy, went sailing home for the first touchdown of the game. The chesty Tennessee quarterback sent the oval whizzing for a distance of thirty-five yards and Carroll gathered in the ball near his goal line, when he hurried beneath the posts with all the speed at his command."[10]

1916: UT surprises

Tennessee upset Vanderbilt 10 to 6 in 1916. Vanderbilt's lone score came on a 70-yard run by Rabbit Curry. The year's only unanimous All-Southern Graham Vowell scored Tennessee's winning touchdown. Tennessee and Georgia Tech finished the season as conference co-champions.[11]

1918: Berryhill scores six times

In 1918, Vanderbilt beat Tennessee by its largest ever margin of 76 to 0. Grailey Berryhill scored six touchdowns.[12] UT was represented by the Student Army Training Corps, and so Tennessee does not count the game, but Vanderbilt does.[13]

1919: A tie in the rain

A steady rain hindered the 1919 contest which ended a 3 to 3 tie. Josh Cody scored on a 30-yard drop kick, while Buck Hatcher made a 25-yard drop kick.[14]

1920: Vanderbilt avenges '16 on Waite Field

In what was expected to be a hard match, the Commodores got vengeance for Curry, who died in aerial combat over France during the First World War, and lost to Tennessee on Waite Field in 1916, by netting a 20 to 0 victory at the Vols' home field.[12] All three of Vandy's touchdowns were owed to passes from Jess Neely to Gink Hendrick.

1921: Kuhn acts as captain

Doc Kuhn.

The Vanderbilt Commodores went undefeated in 1921. Vanderbilt played the Tennessee Volunteers on a soggy Old Dudley Field, winning by a score of 14 to 0. Team captain Pink Wade did not play due to a case of lumbago. Acting as the captain in his absence, Doc Kuhn scored all of Vanderbilt's touchdowns. Fatty Lawrence also did not play in the game.[15] Tennessee was excited for the game, preparing for weeks with new plays and persistent drilling. It was said Vanderbilt was "the one team that Tennessee enjoys defeating."[16]

During the first quarter, an end run of about 20 yards from Kuhn first made the score 7 to 0. In the second, after the Commodores obtained good field position from the punt returns of Rupert Smith, Kuhn had a 30 or 35-yard touchdown run utilizing Lynn Bomar as a lead blocker.

At one point in the second half, Freddie "Froggie" Meiers carried an onside kick over for a touchdown, but it was called back.[17] The Tennessee backs were repeatedly thrown for no gain or losses all game, and steady improvement from the Commodore eleven had been noticed.[18][19]

1922: Vanderbilt triumphs at Shields-Watkins Field

The Vanderbilt Commodores were undefeated conference champions in the first year of the Southern Conference. The Commodores beat Tennessee at Knoxville by a score of 14 to 6. The eighteenth meeting between Vanderbilt and Tennessee saw a packed stadium, the largest crowd of the season for Shields-Watkins Field.[20] It was Vanderbilt's first game at the new stadium, which opened September 24, 1921.

Roe Campbell.

Tennessee was out for revenge,[21] as they had only beaten the Commodores twice, and Vanderbilt was ahead in points scored in the series by a vast margin, 347 to 53. Tennessee also hoped to better its Southern Conference record after having lost to Georgia. Both teams had last week rested their starters, Vanderbilt winning over Mercer, and Tennessee beating Mississippi by a score of 49 to 0. It was therefore thought the game should be a closer one than in years past, with Vanderbilt only slight favorites.[21][22] The game turned out to be hotly contested, so much so that many felt Vanderbilt was outplayed but not outfought. Perhaps the week off for many Commodore starters had hindered Vanderbilt's ability to play its best.

Tennessee drove down to the 7-yard line in the first quarter, but was held on downs. The first score came from Vanderbilt in the second quarter on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jess Neely to Doc Kuhn. Wakefield kicked goal.

In the fourth quarter, Tennessee got to the 1-yard line after a series of long passes. Tennessee fullback Roe Campbell charged over the line for the touchdown. The Volunteers' Clayton failed to kick goal. Later in the fourth, Vanderbilt intercepted a Tennessee pass in Volunteer territory, leading to a chance to score. After runs at the line failed, a 5-yard pass from Neely to Lynn Bomar got the touchdown.[23] Hek Wakefield's try was successful.[20][24]

Lynn Bomar, Scotty Neill, Gil Reese, and Fatty Lawrence were mentioned as the players of the game for the Commodores, and Campbell was cited as the star for the Volunteers. It was said Neill out-punted the Volunteers on nearly every occasion.[25] The Nashville Banner said Lawrence had been "in there doing a man's job blocking a kick and tackling with the deadliness of a tiger unleashed in a cave of lions."[12]

1923: Vanderbilt unleashes pent up fury

Gil Reese.

After two undefeated seasons and a scoreless tie with Michigan, hopes were high going into the 1923 season. Michigan this year were national champions and edged out the Commodores 3 to 0. Vanderbilt then was upset by Texas. The week before the Tennessee game, Vanderbilt suffered a scoreless tie with Mississippi A&M in the rain. With a 51 to 7 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers the next week, the Commodores regained "all the power and smoothness with which it had started the 1923 season."[26] Ralph McGill reflected the sentiment, "All the pent-up fury of misunderstanding and disappointment burst out like a flood. The Vols might as well have flung themselves in the way of a runaway train. It was a machine that found itself. The power was there and the Commodores took a fierce joy in using it."[12] The Volunteers were led by M. B. Banks, in his third year as head coach.

Vanderbilt gained 455 yards of total offense. Gil Reese rushed for 214 yards,[26] as well as 95 yards on punt returns.[27] Reese scored five times, with touchdown runs of 70 yards, 45 yards, and 29 yards respectively. Red Rountree scored another, a 63-yard run. Captain Doc Kuhn got the other touchdown, and Wakefield made a drop kick.[28] Lynn Bomar, Alf Sharpe, and Bob Rives on defense helped hold the Volunteers to only 7. With the win Vanderbilt was still a contender for the Southern title.[26] J. G. Lowe played best for Tennessee, getting its lone touchdown.

1927: Dodson gets Neyland a tie

Coach Neyland.

In 1927, two hall of fame coaches without a conference loss battle to a tie. Robert Neyland was hired to coach Tennessee in 1926 by Nathan Dougherty with the explicit goal to "even the score with Vanderbilt." 1927 is his first great team, tying with others as victors of the Southern Conference. Dan McGugin's Commodores led 7–0 until a late Dick Dodson run tied the score.[5] "After the game McGugin questioned each of his players as to his whereabouts during the run. Without exception the players claimed that two men had blocked them. McGugin shrugged. "Well, we'll just protest the play. It's perfectly obvious that Tennessee had twenty-two men on the field."[5]

1928: Vols pass to victory

Tennessee remained undefeated on the season with a 6–0 victory over Vanderbilt; its first win in the series since 1916. Before 1928, Vanderbilt held a strong advantage over the Volunteers with a record of 18–2–3. Since 1928, Tennessee has dominated the rivalry.

The crowd of 22,000 was the largest ever to see a game in Tennessee up to that point. A 16-yard pass from Roy Witt to Paul Hug in the second quarter was the lone score of the contest.[29] Jimmy Armistead ran all over Tennessee, once stopped short of the goal by Witt.[29] Buddy Hackman provided strong defense against the forward pass.[29]

2005: Cutler ends Vols' longest win streak

The Commodores ended their season, and Jay Cutler's Vanderbilt career, at Tennessee against the Tennessee Volunteers with a 28–24 win. The victory was Vanderbilt's first over the Volunteers since 1982, the year before Cutler was born. The win also marked Vanderbilt's first victory over Tennessee on the Volunteers' home field in Knoxville since 1975.[30] Cutler passed for three touchdowns and 315 yards during the game, becoming the first quarterback in school history to record four consecutive 300-yard passing performances.[31] Cutler's final play in college was the game-winning (and streak-ending) touchdown pass to teammate Earl Bennett against Tennessee.

References

  1. ↑ "Staff & Media Policies" (PDF). cstv.com. Vanderbilt. 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ Bill Traughber (November 20, 2013). "Vanderbilt defeated Vols twice in 1892". Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Second Day". The Courier-Journal. October 23, 1900. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Volunteers Lose To Commodores". Atlanta Constitution. October 26, 1902. p. 5. Retrieved March 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Edwin Pope. Football's Greatest Coaches. pp. 340, 342.
  6. ↑ Big Orange: a pictorial history of University of Tennessee football. 1982. p. 34.
  7. ↑ "Vanderbilt Athletics". Vanderbilt University Quarterly 9: 28-35.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Bill Traughber (November 25, 2014). "1913 Rewind: Commodores rally to stay undefeated against Vols". Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Tennessee Total National Championships". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  10. ↑ "Athletics". The University of Tennessee Record 18 (5): 65.
  11. ↑ "Defeat of Vandy Was Big Surprise". The Charlotte Observer. November 13, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved March 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Russell, Fred, and Maxwell Edward Benson. Fifty Years of Vanderbilt Football. Nashville, TN, 1938, p. 36
  13. ↑ Bill Traughber (November 18, 2009). "Vandy-UT's conflict of 1918".
  14. ↑ "Football Gleanings". The Davidsonian. October 15, 1919. p. 2. Retrieved March 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Hope and Fear In Crimson Hearts". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 4, 1921.
  16. ↑ Volunteer Yearbook 1922, p. 138
  17. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins from Tennessee". Columbus Daily Enquirer. October 30, 1921.
  18. ↑ "Aerial Attack Grows in Favor.". The Macon Daily Telegraph. October 31, 1921.
  19. ↑ "Vanderbilt Wins Over Tennessee". The Times Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana). October 30, 1921.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Vanderbilt Wins From Volunteers." The State [Columbia, SC] 5 Nov. 1922: 11.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Vandy Meets Vol Eleven". Atlanta Constitution. November 1, 1922.
  22. ↑ "Hard Contests Are Scheduled" The Lexington Herald 6 Nov. 1922: 3.
  23. ↑ Louis Henry Baker. Football:Facts and Figures. p. 85.
  24. ↑ The Volunteer Yearbook (1923) p. 110–111
  25. ↑ "Tennessee Fights Hard, but Loses to Vanderbilt." The Montgomery Advertiser 5 Nov. 1922: 11.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Tennessee Is Swamped By Vandy". Times-Picayune. November 11, 1923.
  27. ↑ "Gil Reese". The Evening Independent. December 7, 1923.
  28. ↑ "Vandy Defeats Tennessee 51-7". The Bee (Danville, Virginia). November 12, 1923.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Blinkey Horn (November 17, 1928). "Vols Pass to Victory Against Vandy". p. 18 – via Google books.
  30. ↑ "Football History". VandySports.com (Rivals.com network). Retrieved November 26, 2006.
  31. ↑ "– Official Website Of The Denver Broncos". Denverbroncos.com. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2010.