During General Robert Neyland’s final stint as Tennessee’s head coach (1946-52) was his series coaching against Bear Bryant at Kentucky. Bryant began his Kentucky head coaching tenure in 1946, which lasted through the 1953 season.
The General and Bear squared off annually from 1946-52 with Neyland never losing, going 5-0-2 against Bryant.
Neyland retired following the 1952 season as Harvey Robinson took over as the Vols’ head coach. Bryant would stay as Kentucky’s head coach one more season, leaving for Texas A&M after the 1953 campaign.
Bear Bryant was finally victorious over Tennessee in 1953, winning 27-21 in Lexington.
The win was questionable after Kentucky running back Ralph Paolone scored a touchdown after taking a pitch from quarterback Bob Hardy. Hardy’s knee appeared to be down before pitching the ball, causing Tennessee’s defense to think the play had ended.
Ted Schwanger played on Tennessee’s defense and was in front of Hardy as his knee went down before the pitch.
Schwanger discussed the play that caused Kentucky to become victorious over Tennessee for the first time since 1935.
The former Vol said on the show “Tennessee Two-A-Days” that “there is no doubt” Hardy’s knee was down.
“I was right there,” Schwanger said. “Paolone, he ran right by me. I’m thinking the play is dead — back then they did not have replay like they do today. If they had replay, they could have called it right.
“Those things happen so fast, especially with a quarterback coming down there and he has an option. If that end plays loose, he can cut up inside, or if you come down he can pitch it. We were hitting him as he was coming down and I thought his knee was down, but the referee did not see it that way.”
The entire interview with Schwanger can be listened to here or below. The former Vol discusses his commitment process to Neyland, playing for the General and the Beer Barrel that has been part of the Tennessee-Kentucky series.
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