re: SEC NC in Big 3 Sports

quote:
In 1938, Tennessee went 11-0 and won the Orange Bowl, yet did not finish as #1 in either the AP or UPI poll. They did finish #1 in several other polls, like Houlgate, Dunkel, and Billingsley. These are some of the very same "retroactive" polls that are used as ammunition to discredit Alabama's titles. TCU was also undefeated and won the AP title.

In 1940, TN went 10-1 and LOST in the Sugar Bowl. Losing in a bowl game has widely been used as a means of discrediting Alabama's claimed titles, but we see here that TN uses the same system. Tennessee's national title is based on their recognition by Dunkel and Williamson, NOT the AP or UPI. Minnesota and Stanford were also BOTH UNDEFEATED in the 1940 season.

In 1950, Tennessee went 11-1, which was the same record that Kentucky had that year, though Tennessee did beat Kentucky. They did, however, lose to a Mississippi State team with a losing record. Oklahoma also had 1 loss and was awarded BOTH the AP and UPI titles, but Tennessee claims this one anyway.

In 1951, Tennessee (10-1) won the AP title, despite the fact that Michigan State AND Maryland were both undefeated and untied. Georgia Tech and Illinois were also both undefeated, though each team had a tie. So, among the 5 teams that claim some form of a national title in 1951, Tennessee was the only team with a loss.

In 1967, Tennessee went 9-2 and lost in the Orange Bowl. USC and Oklahoma were both 10-1, and USC claimed BOTH the UPI and AP titles. In the Orange Bowl, the Volunteers faced Oklahoma and lost. So, despite finishing with 2 losses and losing to a team with a better record (remind anyone of 'Bama in 1941?), Tennessee claims a title for 1967.

The 1998 Tennessee team, though perhaps the luckiest team to ever win a BCS title (even compared to '02 Ohio State and '07 LSU), earned arguably the only completely legitimate title for the Volunteers“



The 1950 UT loss to State stuck in General Neyland’s craw. Not only did it cost UT a NC, he was so mad that he whined and cried that he would never bring a team back to Starkvegas. He was true to his word. UT would not visit Scott Field again for over 35 years, well after he was gone as HC.