In its tradition-rich history, the University of Tennessee football team has captured some monumental victories.
This year, each Thursday, Vols Wire will take a look at a memorable win against Tennessee’s upcoming opponent.
This installment will revisit the Volunteers’ 30-29 victory over Auburn in the 1997 Southeastern Conference championship game.
On Dec. 6, 1997, the Vols and Tigers tangled at the Georgia Dome in a game contested in front of 74,896 fans.
Tennessee scored first when Peyton Manning connected with Peerless Price on a 40-yard touchdown pass before the Tigers seemingly took control.
Auburn led 13-7 at the end of the first quarter and the Tigers would go on to extend its advantage to 20-10 by halftime.
After the break, Manning, who would go on to be named both the game’s Most Valuable Player and the SEC Player of the Year, guided Tennessee to victory.
He threw three scoring strikes over the final 30 minutes of the contest to lead the Vols to a conference title with the eventual game-winning score coming early in the final frame, Manning connected with Marcus Nash on a 73-yard touchdown pass that tied the game before kicker Jeff Hall sealed the game with the ensuing extra point.
Nash caught a pair of scoring strikes in the game and Jermaine Copeland hauled in another as the Big Orange helped head coach Phillip Fulmer win the first of back-to-back SEC championships.
Manning finished with 373 yards through the air, while Jamal Lewis rushed for 127 yards on 31 carries.
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