Tennessee's Visions of 98

Tennessee celebrates as the Sears Trophy is awarded to the Vols in the Fiesta Bowl

The largest crowd ever to watch a Division 1- NCAA game in history - 107,653 Tennessee 20 Florida 17 in overtime 9/19/98

Shawn Bryson goes untouched for a 57-yard TD

Jeff Hall's winning field goal beats Florida in overtime 20-17. This All American broke the all-time record at Tennessee with his 371 career points not only are the most in Tennessee history -- topping his UT mentor John Becksvoort (1991 - 94) for the honor--- it's the best in SEC history.

The agony of defeat!!! Florida said Tennessee's win was a fluke! "NOT"

There was no goal post safe after the game with expensive CBS cameras on them!

Head Coach Phillip Fulmer -- 1998 National Coach Of The Year

Quotes from Phil Fulmer: "I've made a really big deal this year out of physical play. We said going into the season we had to do three things to have a good year. We had to run the football well, so we wanted to lead the conference in rushing...We wanted to lead the conference in turnover ratio...We had to lead in scoring defense, and we were three tenths of a point from doing that." (UT bowl practice news conference 12/18/98)

"This bunch had the right chemistry. It's been the most focused team I've ever been around. One thing that makes them special is that they have listened to their coaches and gone about their business week by week. This has been a unique team from the chemistry standpoint, and I'm thankful for that. They have played with great intensity." (Smokey's Tale Volunteer Magazine 12/18/98)

"Thank God for these kids. All year long they have been up to the challenges that have been there." (Vanderbilt post game comments 11/28/98)

Goodrich and Price lift their MVP trophies in celebration

Phil Fulmer says it all

Peerless Price celebrates at this special moment as the Sears National Championship Trophy is awarded to Tennessee

Tee Martin shows Fiesta Bowl trophy to players and fans

No. 27 Al Wilson caused a school-record three fumbles to lead the Vols in their 20-17 win against their biggest rivalry Florida. "I've never had a player who hits you as hard as Al does," Fulmer said.

Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis says there's not a better linebacker in the nation. Wilson's toughness has been proven by the fact that he played most of the season with a partially dislocated shoulder that was so painful he often slumped to the turf in agony.

It started in 97 in the SEC Championship game. It was half time in the Georgia Dome and Tennessee was trailing Auburn 20-10. The Tennessee coaches were going over X's and O's in the locker room as the players sat in silence, many of them with their heads bowed.

Suddenly, junior linebacker Al Wilson stood up, cleared his throat, and asked for everyone's attention. Speaking in a resounding baritone that could have shaken the concrete walls, Wilson explained how much this day meant to him. Soon his voice cracked, then he started to weep. Before long, he was getting in the faces of teammates he believed had underperformed in the first half, most notably quarterback Peyton Manning and linebacker Leonard Little, arguably the team's two best players.

"I'll remember that forever," says wide receiver Peerless Price. "Someday I'll tell my little kids about how he was crying." When the lights went out in the Georgia Dome that night, Tennessee had both an SEC title--the inspired Vols came back to defeat the Tigers 30-29.

Perhaps the skeptics should have listened closer back in early November when Al Wilson put out the word. "People are waiting for Tennessee to mess up," said Wilson, "but I've got another story for them. We're not going to mess up. We have something to prove. We're on a mission." Mission accomplished.

From Smokey's Trail, and Fans: We want to thank you for the leadership and the gutsy plays that were shown for the 1998 season, and always believing in yourselves to get the job done. We will never forget you guys from the water boy to the coaches, it will be forever etched in our minds. For the 17 seniors that showed the underclassmen the example of being leaders and never giving up when things got down, we know as you take your degree and go out into this world, that you will never forget the experience and the memories that made you champions. May God Bless You All.

In review of the past season from Smokey's Trail: Tennessee Vols 1998 Season

The events on this page were fictional, but the Tennessee Vols made the events come true. Visions of 98 are things that I put together before the season started and added things to the page as they continue to win. Not only me, but every Tennessee fan knew that this team had possibilities to take charge and they did.

This team is very special, because it has the total package when it comes to playing football at it's best. This team had a vision to be the best in the land. The Bible says: Without a vision the people perish. Jan. 4,1999 the Tennessee Vols became National Champions in the Fiesta Bowl by beating Florida State 23-16. Tennessee became the first team in school history to go undefeated in the season since 1938 and the only Tennessee team to be 13-0.

Here are some quotes from a man that was there and where you are now! "Football is a game of defense and field position. Minimize your mistakes, and magnify the mistakes of your opponent. Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope." (General Robert Neyland)


	1998 National Champions