http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/23521424/andy-johnson-former-georgia-bulldogs-qb-dies-65Andy Johnson made the play that broke Vol hearts and perhaps increased the dissatisfaction with Bill Battle. And I got a bird's eye view of it.
In 1973 in Neyland the Vols led UGA 31-28 late in the 4th quarter. The Vols had the ball somewhere around their own 40-45 yard line. On 4th down Battle elected to fake a punt. It failed. Georgia marched down the field and scored the winning touchdown.
But the big and bizarre play came with UGA at about the Vols 10 yard line. Johnson kept the ball and ran around the end heading for the end zone when he fumbled the ball. The ball bounced off the tartan turf and right back into Johnson's hands. He scored and the Vols lost.
I was seated in that end zone and saw the play up close. Vol fans were outraged that Battle faked the punt when a punt would have put UGA deep into their territory. If it had worked, it would have been a great call. But it didn't and the complaining about Battle began to get serious.