University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Escape From The Swamp Victorious, 34-32
December 01, 2001 | Football
Dec 1, 2001
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By EDDIE PELLS
AP Sports Writer
They silenced The Swamp.
Travis Stephens ran for a career-high 226 yards Saturday and overlooked No. 5 Tennessee stopped No. 2 Florida on a 2-point conversion with 1:10 left for a 34-32 win that further scrambled the Rose Bowl picture.
The Vols (10-1, 7-1 Southeastern Conference), 18-point underdogs in this game, won at Florida Field for the first time since 1971. They advanced to next week's SEC title game against either LSU or Auburn, and still have a chance to play Miami for the championship in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 3.
But before the next chapter in that saga plays out, the Vols were in the mood to celebrate a triumph few thought possible.
"We've been looking forward to this for a long, long time," coach Phillip Fulmer said. "All 70 guys who got on that airplane might have been the only ones in the country who believed we could win."
As the Gators (9-2, 6-2) shuffled off in shock, Casey Clausen and Will Bartholomew took turns leading the marching band in the umpteenth rendition of Rocky Top. His shirt drenched, Fulmer embraced wife Vicky and daughter Courtney and shouted "How 'bout them Vols!" at the top of his lungs.
"We're a Top 5 team and we get no respect," offensive lineman Fred Weary said. "They're going to respect us now."
The Vols came into the game ranked sixth in the Bowl Championship Series standings. They will need some help to make the Rose Bowl. Regardless, they won't have that 30-year winless streak at The Swamp hanging over them.
"Some people say 30 years, but it was only seven times," Fulmer said. "It was seven times too many."
When Nebraska and Oklahoma lost last week, Florida needed only to win twice to make the trip to Pasadena and play for the championship.
Now, the Gators will play in a bowl game well outside the limelight - hardly the destination they expected.
"We didn't win anything this year," coach Steve Spurrier said. "We had a good record, had a lot of good games, but we didn't win anything."
Rex Grossman, who will be able to make next weekend's Heisman Trophy ceremony, after all, led the Gators on a late 77-yard touchdown drive that made the score 34-32 and briefly kept Florida's title hopes alive. But Grossman couldn't find anyone open on the 2-point conversion and threw an incompletion.
The Vols recovered the onside kick and that classic Tennessee fight song, "Rocky Top," took over the otherwise silent Swamp. Florida lost to an SEC East opponent for the first time in 23 games.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound Stephens had runs of 49, 35, 34 and 68 yards, the last of which set up a 2-yard touchdown by Jabari Davis for a 34-26 lead. Only Herschel Walker has run for more against the Gators, gaining 238 in 1980, a 26-21 Georgia victory.
Tennessee rushed for 242 yards. Trailing 20-14 at halftime, the Vols set the tone for the second half, getting three quick gains on passing plays, then regaining the lead when Stephens burst through the middle for a 35-yard score.
"They weren't as good as I thought they were on defense," Vols receiver Donte Stallworth said.
Florida came back with a long drive of its own, but for the third time settled for a field goal and a 23-21 lead.
Early in the fourth, Stephens broke through for a 34-yard gain that set up a touchdown for a 27-23 lead.
The Gators pulled within one on Jeff Chandler's 52-yard field goal, but on the next drive, Stephens ran off right tackle for a 68-yard gain, shedding tackles by Guss Scott and Marquand Manuel.
It was the signature play of this game - and for these Vols - who have always prided themselves on ball control and working the clock, a formula that never seems to work against the Gators.
"It looked like Colorado running through Nebraska," Spurrier said, remembering the Buffs' 62-36 victory last week. "I don't know what happened."
It signaled the end of Florida's years of dominance in this series. The teams have split their last four games, and in this case, it was Fulmer, not Spurrier, who made all the right decisions.
Trailing 23-21, Fulmer chose to go for it on fourth-and-1 from midfield. Clausen made it on a bootleg. Two plays later, Stephens broke the 34-yarder that set up the score to give the Vols the lead for good.
That drive came just after Spurrier passed on a 48-yard field-goal attempt and chose to go on fourth-and-1 from the Tennessee 31. Thomas Moody got called for false start and Spurrier kept the offense out there.
Will Overstreet, part of defensive line that overwhelmed the Gators as well, sacked Grossman and Tennessee took over on the 44. Grossman took a beating, paying for each of his 362 passing yards.
"I could see it in his eyes," Vols defensive lineman John Henderson said. "He looked frustrated from the beginning."
To say this was a shock for the Gators is no understatement.
They have been dominant all season, save a 23-20 loss to Auburn in October, in which it was clear they were not ready to play.
They rebounded, and when they blew through South Carolina and Florida State in a pair of games that were supposed to be tough, they looked like they had the stuff of national champions.
They played this game without leading rusher Earnest Graham - the player Spurrier claims was intentionally injured by a Florida State defender two weeks ago - and his absence made a difference. Florida gained just 36 yards on the ground.
But after the game Spurrier said "there were no excuses, they just ran it down our throats."
And now, the Gators will have a mindnumbing month to prepare for their bowl game - a BCS bid is still possible, but it could also be the Outback or the dreaded Citrus - and try to make sense of this season.
Grossman surpassed 300 yards for the 10th time in 11 games, but his Heisman candidacy will suffer. He lost, while his main competition, Ken Dorsey, led Miami to a victory and the trip to the Rose Bowl on this, the final Saturday before Heisman ballots are due.
