University of Tennessee Athletics
Seven Pillars of Tennessee Football
September 25, 2010 | Football
Sept. 25, 2010
By JOSH PATE
UT Media Relations
Players have helped form the foundation of Tennessee football through the years, but perhaps none as much as Gene McEver did in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Sure, there were others along the way who have propelled the program to greatness and beyond. Yet McEver put the Vols on the radar in a time when UT was creating an identity in college football, and Gen. Neyland said as much.
McEver was the "best I ever coached ... the best I ever saw," according to Neyland. Not a bad assessment from UT's legendary head coach. And let's all agree that Neyland saw a lot of good football during his time in Knoxville.
McEver's name has been placed with legends Red Grange of Illinois, George Gipp of Notre Dame and Ace Parker of Duke. And rightfully so. Tennessee, however, almost missed out on having McEver on its team. The Bristol, Va., native headed down to Wake Forest with plans of playing there, although he did not enroll in coursework. So when Wake Forest played UNC in the first week of the 1927 season, Tennessee scouts traveled to the game to learn more about the Tar Heels since that's who the Vols played in Week 2. They got to see McEver, too. After a short conversation, McEver told the Tennessee staffers he'd be in Knoxville once he could tell his Wake Forest coach that he was leaving. And he honored his word.
FLAMING SOPHOMORES
In 1928, McEver was among the heavyweights who lifted Tennessee to a different level of expectation behind the famous Flaming Sophomores. The young Vols' halfback situation was rock solid including McEver, Buddy Hackman -- then known as the duo of Hack and Mack -- and Bobby Dodd. Still, it took some time to develop legendary status. After spring practice of 1928, McEver was seventh on the list of backs. But in the season's first game, a cutback run by McEver for a touchdown to beat Maryville College showed Neyland that his halfback was pretty good. He was promptly elevated on the depth chart.
A few weeks later at Alabama, McEver told his teammates before the game to grab a block on the opening kickoff -- or get out of the way. Sure enough, McEver took the game's opening boot and ran it back 98 yards for a touchdown.
By season's end, he helped the Vols beat Vanderbilt to snap a 12-year losing streak to the Commodores. Those were the days when a win over Vanderbilt was equally or perhaps more important than one over Alabama.
NATIONAL SCORING LEADER
The following season was even more exciting. Tennessee went undefeated at 9-0-1 and McEver scored 130 points by himself to claim the nation's scoring title. McEver wrapped up the regular season finale with five touchdowns on the day. In all, he scored 21 touchdowns and seven extra points that magical year. The 1929 season was also the year in which McEver became the first Tennessee football player to reach All-America status, garnering a unanimous decision.
A knee injury changed McEver's running style from shifty and quick cuts to methodical approaches to run over the opponent. He still was a bruiser for the Vols despite the lower numbers. In his final season, the future College Football Hall of Famer scored 10 touchdowns and an extra point.
Nicknamed Mac, Wild Bull and Black Night of Bristol, McEver never played on a losing team at UT as the football program began to establish itself as a power in college football. That type of status, however, may never have been obtained had it not been for the elusive McEver.
