When Tennessee tangles with rival Florida on the gridiron today, it will look to continue its modest success in games contested on Dec. 5.
Today marks the sixth time that the Volunteers have played on this date. This will be the second time that the Big Orange have played at home.
Tennessee last played at home on this date 50 years ago when it toppled UCLA, 28-17.
The Vols were coached by Bill Battle, who was in the midst of his first season on Rocky Top. The Bruins were coached by Tommy Prothro and his offensive coordinator was Dick Vermeil, who would later become the team’s head coach.
The Vols first played on Dec. 5 in 1931 when they defeated New York University, 13-0, in the New York Charity Game.
In 1936, Tennessee and Mississippi State played to a 0-0 tie in Memphis.
The Vols have played one true road game on Dec. 5, losing to Houston 13-0.
The Big Orange last played on Dec. 5 in 1998. On their way to winning the first BCS national championship, the Vols outlasted Jackie Sherrill’s Mississippi State Bulldogs, 24-14, in the Southeastern Conference championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The Vols would finish the campaign 13-0 and defeat Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to win the national title.