1972 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1972 Tennessee Volunteers football Southeastern Conference SEC 11 8 10–2 4–2 Bill Battle 3rd Jim Wright Jamie Rotella Neyland Stadium Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl W Won 24–17 vs. LSU The 1972 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Bill Battle, in his third year, and played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and a victory over LSU in the 1972 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. The Volunteers offense scored 297 points while the defense allowed 100 points. Schedule 1972 AP September 9 w y y 15 Georgia Tech Grant Field Atlanta, GA rivalry ABC 34–3 52,112 September 10, 1972 Vols wreck Tech, 34–3 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101340932/vols-wreck-tech-343/ May 7, 2022 The Cincinnati Enquirer Newspapers.com Associated Press September 16 w y 7 Penn State 6 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 28–21 71,647 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341175/undefeated-season-ends-early-for-state/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Undefeated season ends early for State September 17, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com September 23 w y 5 Wake Forest Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 45–6 66,266 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341374/vol-aerial-attack-blitzes-wf-by-456/ The Gastonia Gazette Vol aerial attack blitzes WF by 45–6 September 24, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com September 30 l y 4 Auburn Legion Field Birmingham, AL rivalry 6–10 69,483 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341643/auburn-does-it-to-tennessee-again-but-t/ The Courier-Journal Auburn does it to Tennessee again, but this time it's an upset October 1, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 7 w y y 10 Memphis State Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 38–7 50,201 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341874/interception-vols-key/ The Leaf-Chronicle Interception Vols key October 8, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 21 l 10 Alabama 3 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN Third Saturday in October 10–17 72,049 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342130/alabama-drops-vols-1710-in-defensive-cl/ The Jackson Sun Alabama drops Vols 17–10 in defensive classic October 22, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com October 28 w y 14 Hawaii Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 34–2 63,903 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342344/tennessee-gridders-drub-hawaii-342/ The Daily Advertiser Tennessee gridders drub Hawaii, 34–2 October 29, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 4 w y 13 Georgia Sanford Stadium Athens, GA 14–0 60,086 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342592/vols-grab-win-over-georgia/ Sunday Gazette-Mail Vols grab win over Georgia November 5, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 18 w y 13 Ole Miss rivalry Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 17–0 70,527 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342867/vols-vault-into-bluebonnet/ The Tennessean Vols vault into Bluebonnet November 19, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com November 25 w 12 Kentucky Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN rivalry 17–7 64,836 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101343110/a-gritty-effort-by-kentucky-but-tenness/ Lexington Herald-Leader A gritty effort by Kentucky, but Tennessee triumphs 17–7 November 26, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com December 2 w y 12 Vanderbilt Dudley Field Nashville, TN rivalry 30–10 34,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101343435/stanback-paces-tennessee-to-3010-win-ov/ The Paducah Sun Stanback paces Tennessee to 30–10 win over Vandy December 3, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com December 30 w y 11 LSU 10 Houston Astrodome Houston, TX Mizlou Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl 24–17 52,961 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101343754/quick-striking-vols-muzzle-bengals-late/ The Commercial Appeal Quick-striking Vols muzzle Bengals' late charge December 31, 1972 May 7, 2022 Newspapers.com Rankings 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings AP 0 14 15 7 (1) 5 (2) 4 (1) 10 11 10 14 13 13 13 12 12 11 8 Coaches 0 13 14 6 4 4 12 12 11 16 16 т 13 13 12 11 11 Team players drafted into the NFL Tennessee Volunteers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Jamie Rotella Linebacker 3 62 Baltimore Colts Conrad Graham Defensive back 8 187 Chicago Bears Carl Johnson Back 10 254 Dallas Cowboys Richard Earl Tackle 11 265 Buffalo Bills https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1973/draft.htm?redir 1973 NFL Draft Pro-Football-Reference.com March 8, 2012 References Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Category:Bluebonnet Bowl champion seasons Tennessee Volunteers football