Memories of 1998 Tennessee game

[NJCuse97]

First game freshman year, I’m still not over it.

It was my first time back on campus as an alum. The Dome was SO hot that day. We were crammed in by the band and visibility was not great, but I remember too much of that, including and especially that Tee Martin jog. Really frustrating. I had flashbacks all last year as our run D was gashed.

 

[Surfan06001]

The rapid switch from jubilation to agony after that last incomplete pass I hope to never replicate.

 

[Norman Dale]

I was at the game and remember it like it was yesterday. The pass was broken up perfectly and the crowd erupted. I quickly scanned the field and was relieved that the refs nearest the play did not throw a flag. But, way in the distance after what seemed like forever, I see this one ref in a sprint reaching in his pocket and that’s the moment my belief in fair play and that the best team wins was shattered into little pieces on the beer soaked concrete of the Carrier Dome.

 

[wfschrec]

I was at that game.
Heartbreaking loss on so many levels.
I will always believe it was stolen from us
Only worse home loss was the Miami one as time expired.

We avenged that one last year, time to avenge the Tenn loss.

We avenged the Miami loss in 98 … last year was to get revenge for the drubbing in 2001

 

[RF2044]

I remember being sky high for the game, in my early 20s. They were one year removed from Peyton Manning, and we had senior year McNabb, and legitimate top 5 aspirations. Had them at home, the Dome was PACKED, and it was both HOT in the Dome and extremely loud.

The three things I remember most are the ridiculous uniform violation flags. I think we had three that game [might have been 2], for an infraction I had never seen flagged before and didn't see flagged again. As an aside, I was watching a random football game a couple of years ago, and saw that penalty called against one of the teams. My surprised reaction [as I cringed internally] was -- well, I guess I can't complain anymore that I've never seen that called on any team any other time...

Second was the busted play where Tee Higgins broke free. What a damn shame.

Third of course was the pass interference call. I don't care what anybody says, that is a subjective call, and the flag was incredibly late, from a ref downfield. The ref standing a few feet away -- the guy who was closet to the play -- ruled it incomplete with no flag. I don't want to hear about the replay showing anything "conclusively" -- that call shouldn't have been made by a downfield official 30 yards away when the ref 5 yards away didn't throw the flag.

Walked out of the Dome --and still feel the same way today -- believing that we got screwed by an SEC officiating crew, in a game we coulda / shoulda have won.

 

[longtimefan]

We had opportunities to ice the game. It’s a bit of a losers mentality to blame it on a single call that was probably the correct call, regardless of it being late.

You seem to be ignoring the two 15-yard penalties for "illegal equipment". I have never seen that called before or since. Anyone remember another incidence?

 

[RF2044]

You seem to be ignoring the two 15-yard penalties for "illegal equipment". I have never seen that called before or since. Anyone remember another incidence?

See my post above. Saw it called a few years ago in some random game. Nearly three decades after we got flagged for it multiple times against Tennessee, it is the ONLY other time outside of the Tennessee game I've ever seen a team flagged for that infraction.

 

[SU2NASA]

It was my first time back on campus as an alum. The Dome was SO hot that day. We were crammed in by the band and visibility was not great, but I remember too much of that, including and especially that Tee Martin jog. Really frustrating. I had flashbacks all last year as our run D was gashed.

It cannot be overstated how hot and crowded it was in there that day. We were standing sideways in the student section.

 

[wfschrec]

It cannot be overstated how hot and crowded it was in there that day. We were standing sideways in the student section.

I had seats along the rail at about the 30 yard line behind our bench. Best seats ever … the only thing I remember is losing my mind more than a dozen times over the officiating.

 

[longtimefan]

See my post above. Saw it called a few years ago in some random game. Nearly three decades after we got flagged for it multiple times against Tennessee, it is the ONLY other time outside of the Tennessee game I've ever seen a team flagged for that infraction.

That more recent game you saw must have been a real outlier, as the trend for a while has been shorter and shorter football pants--more like bicycle shorts. Most player don't wear knee pads at all.

 

[RF2044]

That more recent game you saw must have been a real outlier, as the trend for a while has been shorter and shorter football pants--more like bicycle shorts. Most player don't wear knee pads at all.

Totally.

Had never seen it before or since, across multiple decades. Which highlights what BS it was in our game, by an activist SEC crew determined to not let their team lose.

 

[djorange1989]

I cursed so much after this game that Richard Pryor washed my mouth out with soap. One of the most frustrating losses I have witnessed as a longtime SU fan/alum