1979 Tennessee Volunteers football team

American college football season February 2026 January 2019 1979 Tennessee Volunteers football Southeastern Conference SEC 7–5 3–3 Johnny Majors 3rd Joe Avezzano 3rd Frank Emanuel 1st Roland James Craig Puki Jimmy Streater Neyland Stadium Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl L Lost 22–27 vs. Purdue 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 1979 AP September 15 w y y Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA 28–16 30,150 Roberts Ernie September 16, 1979 BC lead fizzles, it's Tennessee, 28–16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101452619/bc-lead-fizzles-its-tennessee-2816/ May 8, 2022 The Boston Globe Newspapers.com September 22 w y Utah Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 51–18 85,783 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101452808/tennessee-blasts-utah-5118/ The Salt Lake Tribune Tennessee blasts Utah, 51–18 September 23, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com September 29 w Auburn Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 35–17 85,936 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101453033/moore-sparks-tennessee/ The Daily Advertiser Moore sparks Tennessee September 30, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com October 6 l y 19 Mississippi State Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 9–28 48,820 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101453306/bulldogs-swarm-vols/ Enterprise-Journal Bulldogs swarm Vols October 7, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com October 13 w y Georgia Tech Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 31–0 rivalry 85,524 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101453580/streater-leads-tennessee-to-whitewashing/ The Macon News Streater leads Tennessee to whitewashing of Tech October 14, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com October 20 l y 18 Alabama 1 Third Saturday in October Legion Field Birmingham, AL 17–27 77,665 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101453877/no-1-alabama-rallies-to-overtake-tennes/ The Courier-Journal No. 1 Alabama rallies to overtake Tennessee 27–17 October 21, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com November 3 l y y 17 Rutgers Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 7–13 84,265 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101454116/no-name-rutgers-earns-respect/ Daily Record 'No-name' Rutgers earns respect November 4, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com November 10 w y Notre Dame 13 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 40–18 86,489 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101454406/irish-humbles-by-vols-4018/ The Indianapolis Star Irish humbles by Vols, 40–18 November 11, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com November 17 l y 19 Ole Miss rivalry Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 20–44 55,760 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101454854/rebs-use-d-to-beat-vols/ The Commercial Appeal Rebs use 'D' to beat Vols November 18, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com November 24 w y Kentucky Commonwealth Stadium Lexington, KY 20–17 rivalry 57,950 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101455182/uks-fourth-down-bowl-bid-comes-up-short/ The Courier-Journal UK's fourth-down bowl bid comes up short November 25, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com December 1 w Vanderbilt rivalry Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 31–10 84,142 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101455415/streater-rallies-vols-past-vandy/ Kingsport Times-News Streater rallies Vols past Vandy December 2, 1979 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com December 31 l y y Purdue 12 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl Houston Astrodome Houston, TX Mizlou 22–27 40,542 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101455829/tennessee-rally-falls-short-purdue-wins/ Johnson City Press-Chronicle Tennessee rally falls short, Purdue wins Bluebonnet Bowl January 1, 1980 May 8, 2022 Newspapers.com Personnel 1979 Tennessee Volunteers f 34 So James Berry RB 64 Fr Roy Cunningham OG 43 So Terry Daniels RB 24 Fr Clyde Duncan WR 26 Fr Willie Gault WR y 28 So Anthony Hancock Anthony Hancock (American football) WR y 85 Jr Reggie Harper TE 4 Jr Phil Ingram WR 78 Jr Tim Irwin OT y 68 Jr Mike Jester OG 59 Sr Alan Lynn C 70 Sr Bill Marren OG 33 Sr Gary Moore RB 73 So Lee North C 5 So Jeff Olszewski QB 8 Sr David Rudder QB 32 Jr Hubert Simpson RB 6 Sr Jimmy Streater QB y 67 Sr Phil Sutton OT 71 Jr Jay Williams OG 42 Jr Val Barksdale DB 40 Fr Bill Bates DB y 93 Fr Mike Cofer DE 57 Sr Steve Davis DE 26 Jr Greg Gaines Greg Gaines (linebacker) y DB 84 Jr Brian Ingram DE 14 Sr Roland James S y 29 Jr Danny Martin DB 60 Sr Jim Noonan DT 44 Sr Craig Puki LB y 50 Jr Danny Spradlin LB y 83 Fr John Wade DE 90 Jr Brad White DT 10 Jr Alan Duncan K 49 Sr Dale Schnitman P 20 Fr John Warren P *Johnny Majors 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 Game summaries At Kentucky Tennessee 3 7 7 3 Kentucky 0 14 0 3 November 25 Commonwealth Stadium, Lexington, KY 57,950 yes 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 yes "Late Field Goal Lifts Tennessee." Palm Beach Post. 1979 Nov 25. Vanderbilt 1979 Vanderbilt Commodores football team Tennessee Volunteers 2; text-align:center collapsed Vanderbilt Commodores (1–9) at Tennessee Volunteers (6–4) December 1 Vanderbilt 10 0 0 0 Tennessee 0 0 21 10 Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee 84,142 "Vols bash Vandy." Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Dec 02. Pg. 7E. Retrieved 2020-Dec-11. 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) 1979 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl 1979 Purdue Boilermakers football team Purdue 0 14 7 6 Tennessee 0 0 16 6 December 31 Astrodome, Houston, Texas 40,542 yes 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 yes Team players drafted into the NFL Tennessee Volunteers Player Position Round Pick NFL club Roland James Defensive Back 1 14 New England Patriots Craig Puki Linebacker 3 77 San Francisco 49ers Reference:https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1980/draft.htm?redir 1980 NFL Draft Pro-Football-Reference.com March 6, 2012 References Tennessee Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons Tennessee Volunteers football Category:Long stubs with short prose