Ten Worst Losses of the Fulmer Era

Last week we looked at the greatest wins of Phil Fulmer's coaching career. This week, we give equal coverage to the sadder side of Fulmer's tenure - the worst losses. Really, there is no ulterior motive for this list - this is not part of "Fire Fulmer" campaign or anything. If anything, I think it demonstrates how great Fulmer's run in Knoxville has been. These losses hurt because expectations were so high and losses so unexpected.

10) 2002 Maryland 30 Tennessee 3 (Peach Bowl)

National power Tennessee vs. no-name Maryland. It was bad enough the Vols were stuck in Atlanta instead of a major bowl game, but against a pitiful program like Maryland? The only thing that could make the game worse was if Tennessee got beat. Well, they didn't just get beat, they got dominated. E.J. Henderson was better than any player on the Vols and the Terps defense exposed Randy Sanders' offense for the predictable, unimaginative scheme that it was. This was the first real indication that Tennessee was no longer a national power after years of reveling in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl win.

9) 1996 Memphis 21 Tennessee 17

The worst loss of the Fulmer era in the sense that he was beaten by a terrible team with a terrible coach. Memphis had no business being on the same field with Peyton and Co., but the Tigers came to play in the Liberty Bowl and shocked the Vols. I still maintain that Kevin Cobb was down on the kickoff return, but it doesn't matter now. Fulmer called this, "the most disappointing game I have ever coached." I have it ranked 9th.

8) 1999 Florida 23 Tennessee 21

Tennessee was looking to repeat as National Champions in 1999, but the dream died quickly in the Swamp. This is often referred to as the Alex Brown game because he dominated the UT line and terrorized Tee Martin. The bigger problem was that the Vols seemed to have lost their swagger and hunger in 1999. Jamal Lewis was not the same runner in 1999 that he had been as a freshman, which made the decision to pitch him the ball on 4th down especially strange (plus the fact that Tennessee could not get wide on the fast Florida defense the entire game, plus the fact that you don't run the ball on 4th and long with the game on the line, plus some other facts that I have repressed in order to get on with my life). The big play I remember that really seemed to show the lack of heart in this team was Deon Grant's late game interception. For some reason, Grant ran out-of-bounds with the pick instead of turning it up-field for better field position. Look at the score - the Vols just needed a field goal. I am still baffled by his decision to step out instead of trying to advance the ball. I wish I could repress that too.

7) 2001 Georgia 26 Tennessee 24

I was tempted to push this loss even higher on the list because I blame it on Fulmer. This was a classic as the Vols were carried into the lead by Travis Stephens. His run down the sideline to put the Vols up in the final minute should have gone down as one of the great plays in Tennessee history because it should have beaten the Dawgs. Instead, Tennessee squib kicked the ball and gave Georgia great field position. The Vols then settled back into a prevent defense while QB David Greene and coach Mark Richt picked the Vols apart for chunks at a time. Finally, Georgia got to the goal line and ran a beautiful play where the fullback slipped past the line for an easy touchdown grab. This loss was on Fulmer - 100%. The kickoff should have gone deep. There was too much time, especially in college football with the stopped clock on 1st downs, to be in the prevent. Richt looked like a genius and Fulmer a fool.

6) 1997 Nebraska 42 Tennessee 17 (Orange Bowl)

Peyton's senior season was supposed to be the final chapter of a storybook college career in Knoxville. Instead, it was like Godfather III - okay, but not really the way you wanted the thing to end or be remembered. Manning had turned his back on being the #1 pick in the draft to return for one last year. There were dreams of championships and Heismans, but the only trophy this year would be the SEC one. Manning lost the Heisman to Charles Woodson in a decision that Vol fans still cannot stomach, so this was his chance to stick it to the voters and end things with an exclamation.

It ended, however, with a thud. Nebraska dominated the Vols, pushed them around and pounded them into submission. Tennessee looked over-matched and out-coached. The sad image of Manning on the sideline as Tee Martin took the final snaps of the game was a perfect picture of a disappointing season. The loss was terrible, but it did spur the Vols forward to their 1998 championship.

5) 2005 Vanderbilt 28 Tennessee 24

It had to happen at some point and 2005 was the year. Vanderbilt was about as good as it had ever been behind Jay Cutler (still no bowl game though after a loss to MTSU) and the Vols were down. Way down. 5-6 down. But losing to Vanderbilt? At home? Tennessee actually led late, but could not stop a late Commodore drive. The fact that Fulmer survived this embarrassment is a testament to how the school and players feel about him. This was the low point of the lowest season in recent memory.

4) 1996 Florida 35 Tennessee 29

#1 vs. #2. Spurrier vs. Fulmer. Wuerrful vs. Manning. It was set up to be a classic and the score might mislead you to think it was, but this was a rout. 35-0 at one point. I was there and it was the biggest punch in the gut I have ever felt (I've had a pretty pampered life...). Florida jumped all over the Vols early, but it was Fulmer's panicked coaching that made this especially embarrassing. Spurrier was in Phil's head at this point, evidenced by an inexplicable 4th down and long attempt early in the game that gave the Gators great field position and a 2-point conversion late for no reason. The Vols did have an on-side kick chance late, but it failed. The Gators had come to Knoxville and whipped the Vols. They went on to a National title win over Florida State, so there was no shame in losing to them. The shame was the way the Vols got blown out and Fulmer losing his mind as it happened.

3) 1995 Florida 62 Tennessee 37

More high hopes were crushed in the Swamp as Spurrier, Wuerrful and Co. ran up the score on the shocked Tennessee Vols. Tennessee jumped out in the 1st half and led by 16 points, but it was all Florida from there. Peyton's second try at the Gators came to the same fate as his first (a 31-0 loss at home - just missing this list). This is the Sports Illustrated Game - Manning was supposed to be on the cover the week after the game, but was taken off & replaced by, you guessed it, Danny Wuerrful. Ouch. Bad, shocking loss.

2) 1997 Florida 33 Tennessee 20

My number two pick returns to the theme of Peyton's disappointing senior season. It is not entirely fair to think about it that way because there were many great moments - UGA, Bama, winning the SEC - but like the Nebraska loss, this one left a stain on his legacy. 1997 was Manning's last chance to beat Florida, but he would have to do it in the Swamp. The Gators were great under Spurrier, but the Vols were loaded too. The game got off to a terrible start for Tennessee when Tony George picked Manning off and returned it 89 yards for an early score. The Gators continued to blitz and confuse Manning all game long, though he did throw for three touchdowns and over 300 yards in the game. Those stats, however, were not the reason he came back for his senior season. He came back to beat Florida, win a National Championship and win the Heisman trophy. He did none of them. This loss had as much as anything to do with that.

1) 2001 LSU 31 Tennessee 20 (SEC Championship game)

Fulmer has called this game the worst loss of his career and he is correct. Tennessee was all set to play in the Rose Bowl against Miami for the National Championship. The Vols were rolling late in the season after thumping Florida in the Swamp (the game delayed until December by 9/11) and only had to get through LSU. Nick Saban's squad was a heavy underdog going into the game and had less to play for than the BCS-bound Vols. The game itself looked to be swinging the Vols way as LSU's starting quarterback Rohan Davey and starting running back LaBrandon Toefield both went down with early injuries.

Back-up QB Matt Mauck killed the Vols with his arm and legs (especially his legs) and the Bayou Bengals whipped the Vols in the 2nd half to kill Tennessee's chance at a second National Championship. The Vols instead went to Orlando where they destroyed Michigan 45-17.

Oh, what might have been. If Fulmer wins this game, there is no hot seat. He would potentially have two national titles as well as another SEC championship on his resume. Instead, the program went into a decline that includes several of these devastating losses.

I feel like I need to take a shower and cleanse myself after writing about these moments. Here's hoping there are no more games to add to this list in the coming year.