What about the greatest play?

[BigOrange Maniac]

The one play we could do over thread has made for interesting discussion fodder as the season approaches. Most of us would define those plays as the worst UT football plays we can remember. How about the best? It's tough to pick just one, or even five or ten, because there have been so many, but here are my 10 favorite, mostly in terms of how important they were, with the exception of Mose Phillips' TD against USCe, simply because it was just a freakin' spectacular run to the end zone.

1.) UF's missed field goal in '98
2.) Clausen's hail mary to James Banks at UF in '03
3.) Wilhoit's redemption kick from 49 yards against UF in '04
4.) Tony Thompson's winning touchdown in the Sugar Bowl, 1/1/91
5.) Stoerner's Stumble in '98
6.) Manning to Kent on play No. 1 in Birmingham in '95
7.) Darryl Hardy's block and Floyd Miley's return at Notre Dame in '91
8.) Mose Phillips running through, around, over and underneath defenders from South Carolina in '92
9.) "Why not run it every time?" Jay Graham's 80 yd. dash against Bama in '96
10.) Jeff Hall's game-winning field goal against Syracuse in '98.

No. 10 is not really as memorable as a lot of other plays -- Goodrich's pick-six in the '98 Fiesta Bowl, Martin to Price in the Fiesta Bowl, etc. But without it, UT doesn't win the national championship.

[Volznut]

In terms of an amazing play, has to be Mose Phillips TD. I think he broke about 9 tackles on that run

In terms of meaning, I'd say Peerless's TD that put us up 20-9 in the 4th qtr vs FSU in the 99 fiesta bowl.

[RIPLEYVOL]

Manning's bootleg vs bummer is the only one I would add to your list.

[droner]

Holloway to Stanley Morgan bomb on the first play from scrimmage against the Clemson tiglets in 1974. That was Morgan's fake walk off the field after the KO return and then lining up at really wide receiver.

The tiglets gripe to this day that UT cheated. It wasn't a great play in the history of UT FB but it was a great play in my history with UT football.

Of course it doesn't help their anger when they heard that when Seivers caught the two point conversion to win the game the referee held up his arms and allegedly said "We win!"  I don't know if that's true or not, but they believe it. Which is just as good. 

[VinnieVOL]

The one moment of sheer joy and jubilation that sticks out in my mind is the screen pass to Stephens vs. UGA.. the same game we lost on the last minute TD by UGA.  It was all but lost and I can remember seeing the ball snapped and seeing the screen play develop and of course my first thought was "awwww... screen pass?!?" then he just kept going, and going.. and when he scored that was the most joyous single moment that stands out to me at Neyland.  I saw arms waving, I swear to this day I saw legs in the air too.  

Even though we of course lost, that was the moment that stands out to me at Neyland.

Goodrich's pick six has to be up there as far as moments when I was watching on TV.  I never remember seeing him cross the goal line, as soon as he picked it off it was clear he was scoring... and I just remember me and my buddies all piling into a big heap on the floor in front of the TV.  I'm sure more will come to me...  I'll post them as I think of them.  

[VinnieVOL]

Oh yes, and Manning to Kent on play number one has to be right up there with the top plays.  Word cannot describe.  That's got to be one of the most satisfying wins of all time at UT.

[RockyMtnVol]

#1-? Pick an Al Wilson forced fumble vs. FL in '98 
  - Deon Grant's pick in the same game when everyone thought it was gonna be a TD 
  - Raynoch (Westmoreland) 'sack' of Warrick for a loss of about 60 yds in the NC 
  - Billy Ratliff blowing up the guard to force Stoerner's fumble 
  - pick a Cheese run following the above   
  - breakup of 2-pt conversion vs. UF in 2001 
  - Manning to Nash for a TD in SECC '97
 
I could go on....

[101stDad]

Dale Jones' point blank range interception of Mike Shula.   

[murfvol]

I'm only tossing out ones I haven't seen listed.
 
- Tony Robinson's 39 yard scramble against Auburn in '85 (no TD, but a tone setter)
- Jeff Powell
- Pick a sack in the '86 Sugar Bowl
- Heath Shuler's run against UGA in '92
- Jay Graham's run against Bama in '95
- Reggie Cobb's run against Auburn in '89
- Carl Pickens for 87 yards and a TD against Auburn in '91
- Little Man Stewart for 78 (?) yards against UGA in '92
- Leonard Scott's kickoff return for a TD against UGA in '99

[murfvol]

Marion Hobby's game against Auburn in '89 also deserves mention. I think he had 3 PBUs, including the one that ended the game.

[101stDad]

Johnny Jones' 65 yard sprint to the end zone to beat Bammer in Legion Field 41-34. 

[midtnvol]

Johnny Mills catch for a TD that was called back, '66 Gator Bowl.<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qsBxeJmI1MY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/qsBxeJmI1MY</a>

[ReVOLver]

For me it will always be these three... Manning to Kent, Bammer, '95.... Collins Cooper's missed kick, UF, '98... And for sheer jubilation in the moment, Travis Stephens on the screen vs Uga in 2001.

Two that stand out to me that I don't see mentioned... Shaun Ellis's INT return against Ben Leard and AU in '98 and Wes Brown's INT return against VU in '09. Right before the Ellis play I looked at Incredi and said "we need a turnover!" He's been trying to get me to duplicate that for years. And Brown's play is one of my top 10 Neyland moments.

[RockyMtnVol]

Jason Whitten outrunning the Michigan secondary 2001.   
Pick a Travis Stephens breakaway vs UF 2001. 
Fulmer encouraging Whitten after a fumble vs UF 2001. 

[murfvol]

Even though the game ended on a sour note Shuler's TD pass to Faulkner at Legion Field in '93, along with Garner's TD run broke a couple of Bama streaks.

[PirateVOL]

In terms of an amazing play, has to be Mose Phillips TD. I think he broke about 9 tackles on that run

In terms of meaning, I'd say Peerless's TD that put us up 20-9 in the 4th qtr vs FSU in the 99 fiesta bowl.

"Phillips running through, around, over and underneath defenders from South Carolina takes the ball all the way home for a miraculous touchdown ..."

One of my favorite calls by John

[Ridge Runner]

The deflected interception in the endzone by Mike Terry that preserved the 35-28 streak buster in '82 in the Bear's last visit.

[10EC]

I can't believe I can't remember the name, but I think it was Darren Miller intercepting a pitch at about the 5 yard line against Iowa in the kick-off classic at the meadowlands and taking it back for a TD.  Turned the game completely.

[BigOrange Maniac]

Two that stand out to me that I don't see mentioned... Shaun Ellis's INT return against Ben Leard and AU in '98 and Wes Brown's INT return against VU in '09. Right before the Ellis play I looked at Incredi and said "we need a turnover!" He's been trying to get me to duplicate that for years. And Brown's play is one of my top 10 Neyland moments.

The pick-six at Auburn was one that I thought about, too. And even though it wasn't a single play, the defensive stand on the goalline for four downs that same game was pretty incredible.

A play that didn't mean a whole lot but was pretty special was Manning's sneak turned rollout TD pass against UGA. I remember John Ward's call on that one very well: "Georgia's expecting the sneak. Manning sneaks. Edges forward. Falls down. Has not...no whistle yet. Manning comes rolling out to the right side, motions to throw down into the end zone...and it is TOUCHDOWN, TENNESSEE." 

[PirateVOL]

Johnny Jones' 65 yard sprint to the end zone to beat Bammer in Legion Field 41-34. 

That would be Jonathan Jones to you VotP

[RipleyVol12]

Know its still fresh but the 80 yards TD Bray to Hunter to start the Ole Miss game last year is my favorite memory in Neyland granted I've only been there twice. Seeing the Vols put up 52 that day in person made me optimistic about the future considering we have a young team time will tell.

GO VOLS! 

[101stDad]

That would be Jonathan Jones to you VotP

You'll have to forgive me.  I didn't hear John Ward's call.  My oversized butt was in the second row right behind the goal post in the end zone where Jones scored, next to your beloved Pride, I might add.  The thing I most remember about that run was that Alan Cockrell was so excited that he almost beat Jones to the end zone, even as slow as he was.  

[VoLynteer]

Bill Duff stuffs Eddie George.

[murfvol]

The Duff play has to be there with Kent's and Graham's scores from that game. In fact, it's probably ahead of them given who he stopped. 

I'd forgotten about Darren Miller's score against Iowa. I think Terry McDaniel ran interference the whole way. If memory serves (it frequently does not) that may have been Reggie Cobb's first game.

[VinnieVOL]

Bill Duff stuffs Eddie George.

Yes!