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are a bunch of different opinions.

I don't think there's a clear #2, but I like your choice. My lifetime as a Vol fan has seen the progression of starters from Andy Kelly through Nate Peterman, and I think from that group you'd have to put Shuler second to Manning and ahead of Kelly and Casey Clausen, who I think would be next in line.

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of games....but I'd probably have to go with Sterling Henton.  :laugh:

If this were based on potential, there's no doubt in my mind that Tony Robinson would have easily been the No. 2 QB in UT history. A heck of an athlete and maybe the best arm of any mobile QB I've ever seen. (I don't remember his playing days first-hand; I was only 6 when he went down against Alabama in '85. But I've watched all the old game videos.)

If this were based on favoritism, I would say Andy Kelly. He won a ton of games and even though he had a penchant for ill-timed interceptions, you knew that Tennessee was never out of a game when he was the QB. That era ('89-'91) was my coming-of-age as a UT fan and for that reason he will always be my favorite UT player.

But it has to be Shuler. He could do so much with his feet and with his arms and that '93 offense is probably the best offense I've ever seen at UT. He doesn't really stand out as my favorite because he left after his junior year. I know it's unfair of me to judge players that way; they're looking out for their best interests. But I can't help it. Guys like Hunter and Patterson, even Eric Berry, I just don't really have the same interest in their post-college careers as I do guys like Manning and others who made the commitment to stick with school.

Casey Clausen would be a close No. 3. He is probably the most underrated player in UT history. I still hear fans dissing him and I just don't get it. All he did was win.

I guess some people would include Tee Martin in the group, but for me he isn't even among the top five UT quarterbacks ever. I really liked him, and still do, even though he did spurn us to stay at USC. I'd love to see him back on the UT staff if it is ever feasible. But he just wasn't a good QB. I think he was good for that '98 team because he wasn't a star, and he didn't generate a lot of headlines. He allowed that team to do what it did best...which was be a TEAM. But when you look back, he had a lot of really bad games. Games that, frankly, should have cost us wins. The '98 Arkansas game is the one that immediately comes to mind, but there were several others.

I agree with most of that (though I'm indifferent about having him on the staff). His horrible performance in that 1998 Arkansas game goes pretty much unmentioned because the defense and the run game bailed him out, but I recall several opportunities we had to take that game back without requiring a miracle turnover from the defense. I can still picture his terrible throws that missed wide open receivers on our last possession prior to the stumble.

I just found the stats and he was 10-27 for 155 and a pick.

T Rob, Martin Shuler and C Clausen are the next group. Kelly and his 39 career picks are waaay behind imho.

Same here.  As a youngster I remember the sadness that came with the realization that one of your fav player's time at TN is coming to an end.  I remember thinking "how can TN football even continue when Heath is gone?"     :toothless::toothless:

Boy, we have a bunch of young guys here. 

Condredge Holloway is #2, in my opinion.  The things he could do were absolutely incredible.  Most don't realize that he is thought to be the best all time QB in the CFL.  Condredge was special. 

Agree 100% Herb....I guess we are old. :dunno:

My dad contends Manning is behind Holloway.

I can barely remember Holloway, but I know he was special. Manning, Tee, Clausen, Holloway, Shuler, TRob, Kelley in the modern era. IMHO :powert:

No love for Joey Matthews?  CJ Leak?

Or Cooter?

"There goes Holloway!"

Yep, #2 in my book, and a great ambassador of the school and program

Holloway

From a talent standpoint, I'd say Robinson

Dewey Warren not mentioned?

I was thinking the same thing.  I thought Tony Robinson played at a very high level, but that level was only sustained for a very short time.  What about Jeff Olszewski???  :biggrin:

Well, if Herb wants to reach into the wayback machine, we can always play the Bobby Dodd card.  :laugh:

I was 6 when T Rob went down against Alabama.......geez I was already in the work world and had a car payment and bills and everything that goes with being an adult......  I was actually in Connecticut on a contract assignment and I remember trying to find a sports bar that had TBS showing the Alabama vs UT game in 1985.  (Remember ESPN was a novelty back then and they did not have College Football back then)  and trying to find out the score...I had to call back to TN to get the score.  

Of all the QBs I have witnessed and watched Holloway was the most dynamic of the bunch even though Tee was second in the dynamic category.  T Rob was a heckuva QB and his upset of 2nd ranked Auburn and Bo "let me get to the sidelines with a hip pointer" Jackson in 1985 was a thing of beauty.  I remember the SI article that called T Rob a "whippet of a QB that wore his sweat bands around his ankles he was so thin".....

Shuler was one of those atheltes that could pull everyone up with him. The 1993 UGA game with the 4th down and 12 pass to set up the winning field goal was a thing of beauty.  Shuler could throw hard but was also so special with his feet as well.  

Overall I would have to Rank Manning as #1 with Holloway and Shuler Bracketed as #2s but one of my favorite QBs was not as talented but he knew how to win and he led UT to a very good season after people gave us up for dead and his name was James Maxwell.  Look him up he was not a great talent but he knew how to win!!!!!!!

Hey, us young pups can't help it that you old farts are . . . well, old.  :laugh:

Now, now.  I'm not that old - but Pirate is.   :naughty:

If you are going that route, the Swamp Rat always ranks up there with me as he was the first QB I was "aware" of wearing orange and who can forget the (seemingly) 10 hour 1 yard TD run against UCLA in Memphis??

I saw Dewey play and yeah he was "slower than Manning".  I always thought it funny when the announcers would comment on Manning not being "fleet of foot" but then they always show the naked bootleg against Bama and not one Bama defender within 20 yards of Manning when he crossed the goal line.....

Course I could have drug out Alan Cockrell and a few other names from the past as well. 

Alan Cockrell a "name from the past"? 

He's going to get a kick out of that one the next time I see him.  Cock still looks like he could suit up and play. 

Had the chance to enjoy an adult beverage with Dewey a couple of weeks ago.  Still one of the very best human beings around.  I hate the term, but Dewey is the definition of a VFL. 

Geez...what a loaded question. Tennessee sure has a rich history of QB's to pick from. I can't say anything about the guys I never saw play but the ones I did see I really liked them. Casey Clausen was a winner and does not deserve the flak he gets. He is the number two all time leading passer for UT if I'm not mistaken. With Andy Kelly I never thought Tennessee was out of the game. We know what Tony Robinson could do as well as Jimmy Streater. But for me it has to be Heath Shuler.
IF you want to go the what if route I really think that if Jerry Colquitt had not been hurt in the season opener at UCLA he would have had a very special one and only year as a Tennessee QB. My heart broke for the guy. Here was a man who could have transferred out but he stayed true to Tennessee and for that reason alone he will always be one of my favorite Vols of all time. 

Well he did play more than 20 years ago and some of these young pups don't remember Alan's time as a Vol so he is getting up into "older generation" now.  You know this thread brings up an interesting topic as well.....great LBs to have played for the Vols.....

One of mine makes the All Name Vol Team....Craig Puki......Puki Puki Puki preceeded Eric Berry Eric Berry Eric Berry as a name shouted from the stands.

yeah but I was at that game and it was trickeration....no one close to manning because they were tackling the rb... :biggrin:

It's a part of Manning's game that has mostly been overlooked, but he's probably the best ever at selling the play action, draw, and pump fake.  IMO, that's been as big a part of his success as anything else.

I second (or third, or....) this.   :thumbup: