By Tom Mattingly
Writing assignments often appear as if by magic. That’s been the case in my writing career over the years. You’ll likely recognize many, if not all, of the names mentioned in this column.
One memorable contest came in November 1971, when a crowd of 31,300 showed up at Neyland Stadium for a freshman game, the Vols versus Notre Dame’s rookies.
The mercurial Condredge Holloway led the “Baby Vols.” Opposing defenders thought they had him under wraps. Then they didn’t.
That day, Holloway went over, under, around, and through the Notre Dame freshmen to a 30-13 victory. In his senior season, Battle offered him a mid-October opportunity to leave the team to begin preparations for a major league baseball experience. Condredge had a cogent response: “I have to be at practice.” He was an exceptional player, but even a better person.
When John Majors went to Franklin, Ky., to visit heralded lineman Donnie Evans in 1977, he had company. John Underwood of Sports Illustrated was on the trip for the magazine and for a later book. Evans later signed with the Vols, making both Majors and assistant coach Robbie Franklin happy campers.
Things didn’t work out for Donnie at Tennessee, but Majors letting a big-time journalist tag along on a recruiting trip was an out-of-the box move by a legendary coach.
In 1991 at Cardinal Stadium in Louisville in the season opener, tailbacks Aaron Hayden and James “Little Man” Stewart had a debut for the ages, each gaining more than 100 yards rushing. Hayden had 109 and Stewart 101 as the Vols won, 28-11.
Quarterback Andy Kelly and wideout Carl Pickens hooked up on the game’s third play for a 75-yard TD. Pickens added a 67-yard punt return as the Vols led from the get-go. For his part, Kelly led the Vols to SEC titles in 1989 and 1990 after taking over midway in the 1989 Alabama game.
Wide receiver Stanley Morgan had a breakout game when the Vols played Army at West Point in the second game of the 1973 season. Stanley caught touchdown passes of 52 and 29 yards and led the team in receiving that season. He was excitement personified whenever he had his hands on the pigskin.
When the Vols lost at Georgia (44-0) and Southern Cal (43-7) to start the 1981 season, Majors turned to freshman quarterback Alan Cockrell to steady the team. After piloting a 42-0 win over Colorado State, Cockrell injured a knee against Auburn, but returned to lead breakthrough victories over Alabama in 1982 and 1983.
Wide receiver Willie Gault showed Tennessee fans a flash of his potential when he caught a 69-yard touchdown from quarterback Jimmy Streater against Utah in the second game of the 1979 season. It was his first catch in a career that would find his name mentioned prominently among the best wide receivers in Vol history.
Tailback Reggie Cobb, consigned to redshirt status in 1986, earned his first chance with the varsity in the season opener against Iowa in 1987, carrying 25 times for 138 yards in a 23-22 victory in the Kickoff Classic at the Meadowlands.
Peyton Manning’s first touchdown pass at Tennessee came in the 1994 Mississippi State game at Starkville, when he connected with wide receiver Kendrick Jones for 76 yards and a touchdown. Peyton was named SEC Freshman of the Year that season.
Casey Clausen was a true “road warrior,” who led the Vols to victories at Arkansas, at Alabama (twice), at Notre Dame, at Kentucky (twice), and at Florida (twice), not to mention a neutral site pasting of Michigan in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2002.
Tailback Jamal Lewis burst on the Tennessee scene in the 1997 Ole Miss game with 155 yards rushing and the game-clinching score. He later added 232 yards rushing against his home state Georgia Bulldogs. He ended his freshman season with 232 carries for 1,364 yards and seven touchdowns.
Fullback Steve Wold made a key run when the Vols trailed South Carolina late in the 1970 game. With the Vols trailing 18-17 in the waning minutes, Wold got loose on a 22-yard draw play that moved the ball into position for George Hunt’s game-winning field goal. That gave the Vols a 20-18 win on their way to an 11-1 season and a win over Air Force in the Sugar Bowl.
In 2001, Kelley Washington broke Johnny Mills’s 1966 record of 225 yards receiving with 11 catches totaling 256 yards against LSU in Knoxville. Terming himself “The Future,” he wasn’t bad in the present, with 140 yards receiving in the SEC title game against LSU and 108 earlier in the season against Georgia.
These memorable players are among those wearing orange and white who have contributed mightily to the Tennessee tradition.
IN MEMORIAM: Wes Rucker (1983-2026), WBIR Television journalist.
