University of Tennessee Athletics
Former Tennessee Linebacker Frank Emanuel Named 2004 SEC Legend
November 30, 2004 | Football
Nov. 30, 2004
Former Tennessee linebacker Frank Emanuel, slated for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame Dec. 7 in New York City, will represent the University of Tennessee at this weekend's SEC Championship Game in Atlanta as one of 12 "2004 ALLTEL Legends of SEC Football."
A native of Newport News, Va., Emanuel played under head coaches Jim McDonald and Doug Dickey and earned All-SEC and consensus All-America in his senior season of 1965. He was the leader of the Vol defense on a team that was 8-1-2 and earned the school's first bowl bid since 1957, a 27-6 win over Tulsa in the Bluebonnet Bowl. That season, Vol defenders gave up just 98 points in 11 games, 34 in one game against UCLA, the famed "Rosebonnet Bowl" in Memphis. Ten other teams earned 64 against the Vol defenders, only two garnering more than 10 points.
In many ways, Emanuel was a prototypical defensive player from this era of Tennessee football, fast and aggressive and with a nose for the football. At 6-3, 220, Emanuel roamed from sideline to sideline disrupting opponent offenses. He gave no quarter and asked none. Recruits from 1965, like Steve Kiner and Jack Reynolds, had to have liked the way Emanuel competed and could see themselves in the same light.
After his senior season, he played in the 1965 East-West Shrine Game, the 1966 Senior Bowl and the College All-Star game.
A fourth round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles and a second round choice of the Miami Dolphins, Emanuel played professionally with the Dolphins (1966-69) and the New Orleans Saints (1970).
He now lives in Dunedin, Fla., and heads up Frank Emanuel and Associates as an independent contractor for the Principal Financial Group. He provides retirement planning, college funding and insurance services for his customers.
His fellow SEC Legends are Bob Baumhower (Alabama 1974-76), Red Phillips of Auburn (1955-57), Fred Marshall of Arkansas (1962-64), Lomas Brown (Florida 1981-84), Mike Wilson (Georgia 1974-76), Paul Dietzel (Head coach, LSU 1955-61), George Blanda of Kentucky (1945-48), Allan Brown of Mississippi (1962-64), Arthur Davis (Mississippi State 1952-55), Dan Reeves (South Carolina 1962-64) and Boo Mitchell Vanderbilt (1985-88).
Emanuel heads for New York after the game for the 47th annual awards banquet of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, where he will become the school's 20th inductee into the College Hall.
