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NCAA Football Champs 1998
The 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Tennessee entered the 1998 season coming off an 11–2 record (7–1 SEC) in 1997. The Volunteers were given a preseason ranking of No. 10 in the AP Poll.
The Vols won their second undisputed national title, and sixth overall, after defeating Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl, the first BCS National Championship Game. The ’98 Vols beat eight bowl teams, including six January bowl teams, four top ten teams, and three BCS bowl-bound teams. The 1998 Tennessee Volunteers were ranked as the No. 3 college football team of all time by the Billingsley Report computer ratings.
Tennessee was expected to have a slight fall-off after their conference championship the previous season. They had lost quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marcus Nash and linebacker Leonard Little to the NFL. Manning was the first pick overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, selected before Ryan Leaf. Tennessee was also coming off a difficult 42–17 loss to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and was in the midst of a five-game losing streak to the rival Florida Gators. Nonetheless, the Volunteers ended their season in Tempe, undefeated, becoming only the fourth school in modern college football history to complete a 13–0 season.
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Lady Vols NCAA Basketball Champions in 2008
The 2008 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament involved 64 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the 2007–08 national champion of women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. It commenced on March 22, 2008, and concluded when the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers defeated the Stanford University Cardinal 64–48 on April 8, 2008, at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
The Tennessee Volunteers have competed in the Southeastern Conference since its inception in 1932 and consistently been at the top. The Vols have adopted a tradition for competing in every sport often resulting in many teams being ranked in the top 25. Tennessee has been known for its football and women’s basketball programs that have both featured several famous coaches including Robert Neyland and Pat Summitt. Tennessee’s football team won the first ever BCS National Championship Game and also represents the 9th winningest program in the NCAA. Tennessee women’s basketball team won the 2007 and 2008 National Championships earning Pat Summit her eighth NCAA national title, which was at the time the most in college basketball. Overall Tennessee has won 147 regular season SEC championships and 23 national championships in women’s basketball, football, men’s indoor and outdoor track & field, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field, and men’s swimming & diving. The only Tennessee sport that does not compete in the SEC is women’s rowing which competes in Big 12. The rowing team formerly competed in Conference USA. They won the 2010 Conference USA rowing championship.
College Sports Established
1896
Location
Knoxville, Tennessee
College Name
University of Tennessee
Collegiate History
1973 – Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 – 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1907 – 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1932 – Present / SEC Conference
1921 – 1932 / Southern Conference
1896 – 1916, 1919 – 1921 / Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Volunteers – Tennessee is one of the universities that adopted its state nickname for its athletic teams.
Tennessee is known as “The Volunteer State,” and has been since the War of 1812, according to the UT website.
“Tennessee acquired the name ‘The Volunteer State’ during the War of 1812. At the request of President James Madison, Gen. Andrew Jackson, who later became President himself, mustered 1,500 from his home state to fight at the Battle of New Orleans.”
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men’s Basketball 0
Women’s Basketball 8
2008, 2007, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1991, 1989, 1987
Football 6
1998, 1967, 1951, 1950, 1940, 1938
Soccer 0