Throughout its tradition-rich football history, the University of Tennessee has captured monumental victories and played in memorable games.
This season, each week, Vols Wire will look back at one of Tennessee’s most memorable games against its upcoming opponent.
The Volunteers will host Pittsburgh on Saturday at noon EDT and the game will be televised on ESPN.
This game will be the Johnny Majors Classic as Majors, who died in 2020, is a key historical figure in both programs.
This week’s installment will look back at the Vols’, 13-3, loss to the Panthers in 1983.
This was the second game in the series, which dates back to 1980. Pittsburgh won the inaugural meeting in 1980, posting a 30-6 victory over the Vols at Neyland Stadium.
In 1983, the Panthers were led by head coach Foge Fazio.
After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee took a 3-0 lead when Fuad Reveiz kicked a 49-yard field goal in the second stanza. The Vols would hold that advantage at halftime.
The Panthers would take the lead when John Cummings threw a 56-yard pass to Dwight Collins in the third quarter. Pittsburgh would not relinquish the upper hand.
Pittsburgh kicker Eric Schubert added a pair of long field goals in the fourth quarter.
The Vols would rebound from the season-opening loss to go 9-3 and win the Florida Citrus Bowl over Maryland, 30-23.
The Panthers went 8-3-1 and dropped a 28-23 decision to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.
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