The1985 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented theUniversity of Tennessee in the1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. Playing as a member of theSoutheastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coachJohnny Majors, in his ninth year, and played their home games atNeyland Stadium inKnoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of nine wins, one loss and two ties (9–1–2 overall, 5–1 in the SEC), as SEC champions and with a victory overMiami in the1986 Sugar Bowl. The Volunteers offense scored 325 points while the defense allowed 140 points. At season's end, the Volunteers ranked fourth in both theAP Poll and theCoaches' Poll.
Known to fans as theSugar Vols for their Sugar Bowl victory, the 1985 squad is frequently recalled as one of the most memorable and beloved teams in UT football history,[1][2][3] and has been credited with restoring the program to national prominence.[4][5] The team's SEC Championship was the first for the program in 16 years, and its top ten ranking was the program's first in 13 years.[4]
After a strong start to the season, Tennessee suffered a major setback when star quarterback andHeisman Trophy candidateTony Robinson suffered a season-ending knee injury in a close game againstAlabama. The team rallied to finish 6–0–1, however, led by backup quarterbackDaryl Dickey, and a defense – nicknamed the "Orange Crush" – that allowed just four touchdowns in its final seven games. The 1986 Sugar Bowl has been ranked among the team's ten greatest victories of all time.[6][7]
Prior to the 1985 season, long-time athletic directorBob Woodruff announced his retirement. Head coachJohnny Majors expressed interest in serving as both coach and athletic director, but the university hired former coachDoug Dickey.[8]
QuarterbackTony Robinson entered the 1985 season as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy. During the 1984 season, he had completed 156 of 253 passes for 1,963 yards, falling just short of his predecessorAlan Cockrell's single-season record of 2,021 yards (set in 1983). His 61.7% completion percentage had broken the single-season record set by Johnny Majors in 1956.[9] Fifth-year seniorDaryl Dickey, Robinson's backup, would start the final seven games after Robinson suffered a season-ending knee injury. Threeredshirt freshmen were competing for the third-string quarterback slot:Jeff Francis,Randy Sanders, and Greg Hargis.[10]
All-American prospectTim McGee was the leading returningwide receiver, having caught a school record 54 passes in 1984. McGee entered the 1985 season needing 45 catches, 828 yards, and 5 touchdowns to set school career records in all three categories, a feat which he would accomplish.[9] McGee was joined in the starting lineup by junior college transfer Eric Swanson (20 catches for 186 yards in 1984), while juniorJoey Clinkscales and sophomore Vince Carter would see significant playing time.[10] Olympic sprinterSam Graddy joined the team as a receiver during spring practice. Senior Jeff Smith (6'3", 235 pounds), who had caught 26 passes for 416 yards in 1984, was the team's startingtight end, while Tim Hendrix (6'5", 223) would see significant playing time.[10]
Therunning back slot was wide open following the graduation of 2nd-team All AmericanJohnnie Jones. Sophomore Charles Wilson began the season as the starter, and was joined by redshirt freshman Keith Davis and junior Pete Panuska. One notable addition to the running back corps wasJeff Powell, a member of the track team who had been awarded the football team's final scholarship at the end of spring practice.Fullback duties were handled by 250-pound junior Sam Henderson, 225-pound sophomoreWilliam Howard and 230-pound junior Jim Miller.[10]
On defense, the Vols had lost threelinebackers to the NFL Draft:Carl Zander,Alvin Toles, andReggie McKenzie. The key returning linebacker wasDale Jones, who had registered 109 tackles in 1984, and had garnered a reputation for making big plays. Jones was joined by senior Lavoisier Fisher, junior Tyrone Robinson, sophomores Kelly Ziegler and Darrin Miller, and freshman Bryan Kimbro. Thedefensive line was led by senior Richard Brown (6'1", 263 pounds) and junior Robby Scott (6'1", 274), while sophomores Mark Hovanic (6'3", 245), Fred Bennett (6'0", 258) andRichard Cooper (6'6", 272) had shown promise as freshmen.[10]
The Vols'secondary was considered the strongest part of the defense at the beginning of the season, with Tommy Sims and Terry Brown registering strong seasons in 1984. They were joined by juniorCharles Davis and sophomoresTerry McDaniel, Andre Creamer and Victor Peppers.[10] Chris White, a fifth-year senior who had seen scant playing time prior the 1985 season, would come off the bench to lead the team with 9 interceptions and receive All-American honors.[11]
The Vols'special teams were also dealing with inexperience, having lost kickerFuad Reveiz and punterJimmy Colquitt to the NFL. Carlos Reveiz, Fuad's younger brother, stepped in at kicker, while sophomore Bob Garmon was named the starting punter.[10] Joel Farmer was the team'slong snapper, while Randy Sanders was the primaryholder. Tim McGee and Andre Creamer handled punt returns, while Pete Panuska, Keith Davis, and Jeff Powell handled kick returns at various times during the season.
Head coachJohnny Majors had compiled a 108–82–5 record during his 17 years as a head coach, which included five seasons withIowa State (1968–1972), four withPittsburgh (1973–1976), and eight with Tennessee (1977–1984). His record at UT at the start of the 1985 season was 51–39–3.[12] While he had taken the Vols to four consecutive bowl games, he had yet to win an SEC Championship.
The most notable addition to the Tennessee coaching staff wasKen Donahue, who had worked as an assistant coach under Alabama'sBear Bryant for 21 years. Donahue was initially hired as a defensive line coach in February 1985, but was promoted todefensive coordinator in March afterLarry Marmie announced he was leaving forArizona State.[13] Prior to Spring practice, long-time Vol assistantGeorge Cafego retired.[14] In late March, the Vols hiredTennessee Tech defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas to coach linebackers.[15]
Four members of the 1985 staff later became head coaches at Division I programs:Walt Harris,Phillip Fulmer,David Cutcliffe andRon Zook.Kippy Brown has worked as an assistant coach in the NFL, and was briefly UT's interim head coach following the abrupt departure ofLane Kiffin in January 2010.Gerald Brown, an administrative assistant, later became the running backs coach for theAtlanta Falcons.
The Vols opened the 1985 campaign hosting #10UCLA, which was coming off a 9–3 season in 1984, and had defeated defending national championBYU in their first game of the 1985 season. Bruins coachTerry Donahue entered the game needing one win to become UCLA's all-time winningest football coach.[17] The Bruins' offense featured running backGaston Green, two future NFL receivers,Willie "Flipper" Anderson andMike Sherrard, and All-American kickerJohn Lee.Matt Stevens andDavid Norrie were vying for time at quarterback.[18]
Following abye week, the Vols hosted theAuburn Tigers, who entered the game ranked #1 in the nation, and had defeated the Vols in the teams' previous three meetings. The Tigers' offense was led by eventualHeisman Trophy winnerBo Jackson, who had averaged 247.5 yards per game and nearly 10 yards per carry in his first two games of the season. Auburn struggled with uncertainty at quarterback, however, with Jeff Burger, Bobby Walden, and Pat Washington all vying for the starting position.[19]
After hostingWake Forest, the Vols traveled toGainesville to play theFlorida Gators. Florida coachGalen Hall entered the game with an 11–0–1 record, having shut out LSU the previous week. Florida's offense featured the school's all-time leading rusherNeal Anderson andJohn L. Williams in the backfield, quarterbackKerwin Bell, and future NFL receiverRicky Nattiel. Many Gator fans saw this game as an opportunity for revenge, as they blamed Tennessee for leading the movement to strip the Gators of their 1984 SEC Championship for rules violations committed under Hall's predecessor,Charley Pell.[20]
In the fifth game of the season, the Vols visitedAlabama for the "Third Saturday in October" rivalry. The Tide entered the game 4–1 following a 19–17 loss toPenn State in the previous week. The Vols had won the teams' previous three meetings, and desperately needed a win to stay in contention for the SEC Championship. The Tide was led by quarterbackMike Shula (the son of NFL coachDon Shula) and future All-American running backBobby Humphrey on offense, and All-American linebackerCornelius Bennett on defense.[21]
Tennessee hostedGeorgia Tech for its sixth game of the season. The Yellow Jackets entered the game 4–2 following a narrow loss to Auburn in the previous week. The Vols had edged Georgia Tech 24–21 the previous year, but were playing without star quarterback Tony Robinson, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury against Alabama. The Yellow Jackets' offense was led by All-ACC quarterbackJohn Dewberry and receiverGary Lee, though leading rushers Cory Collier andJerry Mays were out with injuries.[22] LinebackerTed Roof and linemanPat Swilling led the Jackets' elite "Black Watch" unit on defense.[23]
After playingRutgers in Knoxville and visitingMemphis State, the Vols began their final conference stretch by hostingOle Miss. A tie between Alabama and LSU the previous week had left Tennessee and Florida tied for first place in the conference, and with Florida ineligible, the Vols needed only to win their final three games to win the SEC Championship. The Rebels were led by freshman quarterback Chris Osgood (starting in place of the injuredKent Austin), running backNathan Wonsley, and receiver J.R. Ambrose.[24]
In the next-to-last game of the regular season, the Vols traveled toLexington to playKentucky in the annualBattle for the Barrel. Kentucky entered the game 5–5 under fourth-year head coachJerry Claiborne, and had won the teams' previous meeting in Knoxville, 17–12. In the final game of the regular season, the Vols played host toVanderbilt, which entered the game 3–6–1.
As SEC champions, Tennessee received an automatic berth in the1986 Sugar Bowl, played on New Year's Day inNew Orleans. Their opponent,Miami, entered the game with a 10-game winning streak, which was capped by a 58–7 blowout ofNotre Dame. Ranked #2 in the nation, Miami needed a win over Tennessee and a loss by Penn State in theOrange Bowl to lay claim to the national title.[25] Under second-year coachJimmy Johnson, the Hurricanes featured numerous future NFL players, including quarterbackVinny Testaverde, running backsAlonzo Highsmith,Warren Williams, andMel Bratton, receiversMichael Irvin andBrian Blades, All-American tight end Willie Smith, and a defense led by linemenJerome Brown andKevin Fagan, linebackerWinston Moss, and defensive backBennie Blades. The Vols would go on to destroy the overconfident Miami Hurricanes 35–7.
