University of Tennessee Athletics
In the Swimming Archives: 1973
February 09, 2012 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 9, 2012
BY AMANDA PRUITT
UTSPORTS.COM
Tennessee is hosting the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships for the eighth time in program history beginning Feb. 15 at Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center. In the seven days leading up to the meet, here is a look back at the second championship meet held in Knoxville in 1973.
When Tennessee hosted the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships for the second time in 1973, there was no question the Vols looked the part a more experienced team than the one lined up on the blocks in 1968.
In 1968, the Vols had just restarted the program and finished second in their first time hosting the SECs in the brand-new Student Aquatic Center. Five years later, the Vols hosted the conference meet as the defending champions.
Coach Ray Bussard led the team to its first SEC title in 1969 in Nashville, and the Vols wrestled the title away from Florida again in 1972, winning the meet by 48 points. Bussard saw the conference was becoming more balanced, but there was every reason to be optimistic in 1973 when the SEC Championships returned to Knoxville.
The Vols entered the 1973 season on a 34 meet winning streak and coming off a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Not bad for a program just starting its sixth season back in intercollegiate competition.
"The squad is very much aware of the streak being the longest in UT sports history," Bussard said before the season. "Very much so. But the streak is bound to snap somewhere along the way. In face, we have a tough road ahead of us in 1973."
Little did Bussard know at the time that the Vols would not lose a meet again until midway through the 1976 season, a string of 80 consecutive victories.
Heading into the 1973 postseason, Tennessee had full home pool advantage. Not only did Tennessee get to host the SEC Championships, but Rocky Top was also selected to host the NCAA Championships a few weeks later.
The Vols rolled ahead from the start, taking 1-2 finishes in the 500- and 50-yard freestyle races while also winning the 1-meter springboard and the 400 freestyle relay on the first day. Tennessee followed that performance by four more individual wins on Day 2, leading second-place Florida 429-304.
From distance races to the sprints and the dives, Tennessee excelled in every category. The Vols dominated, racking up five more individual gold medals on the final day, including the 400 freestyle relay to end the meet. Tennessee finished with 676 points. Florida was second with 490 and Alabama was a very distant third with 180.
All told, Tennessee won 13 of the 18 events and set 10 new conference meet records.
The Vols went on to finish second in the NCAAs at the Student Aquatic Center.
RECORD SETTERS
Chris Noll was the standout performer for Tennessee in the 1963 SEC meet. He won three races -- the 200 freestyle, the 500 freestyle and the 200 butterfly -- and set SEC records in each race. The junior from Pomano, Fla., also swam the anchor leg for the winning 800 freestyle relay team, picking up a fourth SEC record in the process.
Marc Gilliam carried on the early Tennessee tradition of winning the 100 butterfly at the SECs. He set the record at the time of 50.67 seconds, and he became one of eight different UT swimmers to win the race 9 times in 11 years from 1969-79.
Florida had a star on its 1973 team as well: Tim McKee. The standout Gator won the 200 backstroke and the 200 and 400 individual medleys, setting SEC records in both IM races.
DIVING DYNASTY
As a freshman diver, Tennessee's Jim Kennedy picked up where former Vol Bill Ferry left off, winning his first of four consecutive titles on the 1-meter springboard. Ferry had won four gold medals in the event from 1968-71. They remain the only divers in SEC meet history to win the 1-meter all four years of their careers.
Beginning in 1974, Kennedy reeled off three SEC titles in the 3-meter event as well.
DOMINANT RELAYS
The Vols won all three relays in 1973, the start of three years in a row Tennessee won the 400 and 800 freestyle, plus the 400 medley.
Tennessee was particularly dominant in the 400 freestyle, winning the race at the SEC meet every season from 1970-1979.
1973 SEC Championships: Final Standings
Men
1. Tennessee 676
2. Florida 490
3. Alabama 180
4. Auburn 146
5. Georgia 113
6. Kentucky 110
7. LSU 98
8. Vanderbilt 80
