1979 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season

1979 Tennessee Volunteers football

Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, L 22–27 vs. Purdue

Conference| Southeastern Conference
Record| 7–5 (3–3 SEC)
Head coach|

* Johnny Majors (3rd season)

Offensive coordinator| Joe Avezzano (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator| Frank Emanuel (1st season)
Captains|

* Roland James
* Craig Puki
* Jimmy Streater

Home stadium| Neyland Stadium

Seasons

<- 1978

1980 ->

1979 Southeastern Conference football standings

* v
* t
* e

| Conf |  |  | Overall

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Team | W |  | L |  | T |  |  | W |  | L |  | T
No. 1 Alabama $  | 6  | - | 0  | - | 0 |  |  | 12  | - | 0  | - | 0
Georgia | 5  | - | 1  | - | 0 |  |  | 6  | - | 5  | - | 0
No. 16 Auburn | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 8  | - | 3  | - | 0
LSU | 4  | - | 2  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 5  | - | 0
Tennessee | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 7  | - | 5  | - | 0
Kentucky | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 5  | - | 6  | - | 0
Ole Miss | 3  | - | 3  | - | 0 |  |  | 4  | - | 7  | - | 0
Mississippi State | 2  | - | 4  | - | 0 |  |  | 3  | - | 8  | - | 0
Vanderbilt | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 1  | - | 10  | - | 0
Florida | 0  | - | 6  | - | 0 |  |  | 0  | - | 10  | - | 1

* $ - Conference champion

Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Johnny Majors, in his third year, and played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of seven wins and five losses (7–5 overall, 3–3 in the SEC) and a loss against Purdue in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.

## Schedule[edit]

Date| Opponent| Rank| Site| TV| Result| Attendance| Source

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September 15| at Boston College*| |

* Alumni Stadium
* Chestnut Hill, MA

| | W 28–16| 30,150| [1]
September 22| Utah*| |

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN

| | W 51–18| 85,783| [2]
September 29| Auburn| |

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN

| | W 35–17| 85,936| [3]
October 6| vs. Mississippi State| No. 19|

* Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
* Memphis, TN

| | L 9–28| 48,820| [4]
October 13| Georgia Tech*| |

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN (rivalry)

| | W 31–0| 85,524| [5]
October 20| at No. 1 Alabama| No. 18|

* Legion Field
* Birmingham, AL (Third Saturday in October)

| | L 17–27| 77,665| [6]
November 3| Rutgers*| No. 17|

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN

| | L 7–13| 84,265| [7]
November 10| No. 13 Notre Dame*| |

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN

| | W 40–18| 86,489| [8]
November 17| at Ole Miss| No. 19|

* Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium
* Jackson, MS (rivalry)

| | L 20–44| 55,760| [9]
November 24| at Kentucky| |

* Commonwealth Stadium
* Lexington, KY (rivalry)

| | W 20–17| 57,950| [10]
December 1| Vanderbilt| |

* Neyland Stadium
* Knoxville, TN (rivalry)

| | W 31–10| 84,142| [11]
December 31| vs. No. 12 Purdue*| |

* Houston Astrodome
* Houston, TX (Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl)

| Mizlou| L 22–27| 40,542| [12]

* *Non-conference game
* Homecoming
* Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

## Personnel[edit]

1979 Tennessee Volunteers football team roster

Players  | Coaches
Offense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|
|

RB | `34` | James Berry | So
G | `64` | Roy Cunningham | Fr
RB | `43` | Terry Daniels | So
WR | `24` | Clyde Duncan | Fr
WR | `26` | Willie Gault | Fr
WR | `28` | Anthony Hancock | So
TE | `85` | Reggie Harper | Jr
WR | `4` | Phil Ingram | Jr
OT | `78` | Tim Irwin | Jr
G | `68` | Mike Jester | Jr
C | `59` | Alan Lynn | Sr
G | `70` | Bill Marren | Sr
RB | `33` | Gary Moore | Sr
C | `73` | Lee North | So
QB | `5` | Jeff Olszewski | So
QB | `8` | David Rudder | Sr
RB | `32` | Hubert Simpson | Jr
QB | `6` | Jimmy Streater | Sr
OT | `67` | Phil Sutton | Sr
G | `71` | Jay Williams | Jr
Defense | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|
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DB | `42` | Val Barksdale | Jr
DB | `40` | Bill Bates | Fr
DE | `93` | Mike Cofer | Fr
DE | `57` | Steve Davis | Sr
DB | `26` | Greg Gaines | Jr
DE | `84` | Brian Ingram | Jr
S | `14` | Roland James | Sr
DB | `29` | Danny Martin | Jr
DT | `60` | Jim Noonan | Sr
LB | `44` | Craig Puki | Sr
LB | `50` | Danny Spradlin | Jr
DE | `83` | John Wade | Fr
DT | `90` | Brad White | Jr
Special teams | Pos. | # | Name | Class

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|
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K | `10` | Alan Duncan | Jr
P | `49` | Dale Schnitman | Sr
P | `20` | John Warren | Fr

Head coach

* Johnny Majors

Coordinators/assistant coaches

* Joe Avezzano - Offensive coordinator/offensive line
* Lynn Amedee - Quarterbacks
* Bobby Jackson - Running backs
* Bob Harrison - Wide receivers
* Frank Emanuel - Defensive coordinator/defensive ends
* Jim Dyar - Defensive line
* Robbie Franklin - Outside linebacker
* Joe Madden - Defensive backs/assistant head coach
* John Chavis - Graduate assistant

* * *

Legend

* (C) Team captain
* (S) Suspended
* (I) Ineligible

* Injured
* Redshirt

## Game summaries[edit]

### At Kentucky[edit]

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Tennessee | 3 | 7| 7| 3 | 20
Kentucky | 0 | 14| 0| 3 | 17

* Date: November 25
* Location: Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY
* Game attendance: 57,950

| Scoring summary

Q1| | TENN| Duncan 30 yard field goal| TENN 3–0
Q2| | TENN| Simpson 12 yard pass from Olszewski (Duncan kick)| TENN 10–0
Q2| | UK| Jones 57 yard run (kick failed)| TEN 10–6
Q2| | UK| Wilson 9 yard pass from Henry (Jones run)| UK 14–10
Q3| | TENN| Berry 2 yard run (Duncan kick)| TENN 17–14
Q4| | UK| Streim 25 yard field goal| Tie 17–17
Q4| :05| TENN| Duncan 25 yard field goal| TENN 20–17

[13]

### Vanderbilt[edit]

See also: 1979 Vanderbilt Commodores football team

Vanderbilt Commodores (1–9) at Tennessee Volunteers (6–4)

Period | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Vanderbilt | 10 | 0 | 0| 0| 10
Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 21| 10| 31

at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee

* Date: December 1
* Game attendance: 84,142
* [14]

Game information

First quarter

* VAN – Mike Woodard 31-yard field goal. Vanderbilt 3–0. Drive:
* VAN – Van Heflin 1-yard run (Mike Woodard kick). Vanderbilt 10–0. Drive:

Second quarter

* No scoring

Third quarter

* TEN – Anthony Hancock 41-yard pass from Jimmy Streater (Alan Duncan kick), 11:45. Vanderbilt 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards.
* TEN – Roland James 89-yard punt return (Alan Duncan kick). Tennessee 14–10.
* TEN – Anthony Hancock 85-yard pass from Jimmy Streater (Alan Duncan kick). Tennessee 21–10. Drive:

Fourth quarter

* TEN – Gary Moore 17-yard run (Alan Duncan kick). Tennessee 28–10. Drive:
* TEN – Alan Duncan 27-yard field goal. Tennessee 31–10. Drive:

Top passers

* VAN – Van Heflin – 6/16, 50 yards, 3 INT
* TEN – Jimmy Streater – 13/23, 221 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

* VAN – Terry Potter – 19 rushes, 127 yards
* TEN – Hubert Simpson – 19 rushes, 42 yards

Top receivers

* VAN – Preston Brown – 2 receptions, 27 yards
* TEN – Anthony Hancock – 6 receptions, 163 yards, 2 TD

|

* Jimmy Streater became school's all-time leading passer

### Bluebonnet Bowl (vs. Purdue)[edit]

Main article: 1979 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl

See also: 1979 Purdue Boilermakers football team

|  | 1 | 2| 3| 4| Total

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• Purdue | 0 | 14| 7| 6 | 27
Tennessee | 0 | 0| 16| 6 | 22

* Date: December 31
* Location: Astrodome, Houston, Texas
* Game attendance: 40,542

| Scoring summary

2| | Purdue| Ben McCall 6-yard run (John Seibel kick)| Purdue 7-0
2| | Purdue| Bart Burrell 12-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (John Seibel kick)| Purdue 14-0
3| | Purdue| Dave Young 12-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (John Seibel kick)| Purdue 21-0
3| | Tennessee| Glenn Ford 8-yard pass from Jimmy Streater (pass failed)| Purdue 21-6
4| | Tennessee| James Berry 15-yard pass from Phil Ingram (Hubert Simpson run)| Purdue 21-14
4| | Tennessee| Hubert Simpson 1-yard run (Hubert Simpson pass from Jimmy Streater)| Tennessee 22-21
4| | Purdue| Dave Young 17-yard pass from Mark Herrmann (pass failed)| Purdue 27-22

## Team players drafted into the NFL[edit]

Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club

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Roland James | Defensive Back | 1 | 14 | New England Patriots
Craig Puki | Linebacker | 3 | 77 | San Francisco 49ers

* Reference:[15]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "BC lead fizzles, it's Tennessee, 28–16". The Boston Globe. September 16, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ "Tennessee blasts Utah, 51–18". The Salt Lake Tribune. September 23, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Moore sparks Tennessee". The Daily Advertiser. September 30, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Bulldogs swarm Vols". Enterprise-Journal. October 7, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
5. ^ "Streater leads Tennessee to whitewashing of Tech". The Macon News. October 14, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ "No. 1 Alabama rallies to overtake Tennessee 27–17". The Courier-Journal. October 21, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
7. ^ "'No-name' Rutgers earns respect". Daily Record. November 4, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ "Irish humbles by Vols, 40–18". The Indianapolis Star. November 11, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ "Rebs use 'D' to beat Vols". The Commercial Appeal. November 18, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ "UK's fourth-down bowl bid comes up short". The Courier-Journal. November 25, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ "Streater rallies Vols past Vandy". Kingsport Times-News. December 2, 1979. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
12. ^ "Tennessee rally falls short, Purdue wins Bluebonnet Bowl". Johnson City Press-Chronicle. January 1, 1980. Retrieved May 8, 2022 - via Newspapers.com.
13. ^ "Late Field Goal Lifts Tennessee." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Nov 25.
14. ^ "Vols bash Vandy." Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Dec 02. Pg. 7E. Retrieved 2020-Dec-11.
15. ^ "1980 NFL Draft". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2012.

* v
* t
* e

Tennessee Volunteers football

Venues|

* Baseball Park (1892–1893)
* Fountain City Park (1894)
* Baldwin Park (1895–1900, 1902–1905)
* Chilhowee Park (1901, 1907)
* Baker-Himel Park (1906)
* Waite Field (1908–1920)
* Neyland Stadium (1921–present)

Bowls & rivalries|

* Bowl games
* Alabama: Third Saturday in October
* Auburn
* Florida
* Georgia
* Georgia Tech
* Kentucky
* South Carolina
* Vanderbilt

Culture & lore|

* History
* Smokey
* "Rocky Top"
* Pride of the Southland Band
* Battle at Bristol
* Porter Cup

People|

* Head coaches
* Starting quarterbacks
* NFL draftees
* Statistical leaders

Seasons|

* 1891
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* 1903
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* 1905
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National championship seasons in bold

This college football 1970s season article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Conf]: Conference record
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[No.]: Number