MIAMI — Throughout its proud history, the University of Tennessee football program has won six national championships and appeared in 54 postseason bowl games.
Many players, coaches and one broadcaster, Lindsey Nelson, have been inducted into bowl game Halls of Fame.
Three former men in Tennessee’s football program, all College Football Hall of Famers, are in the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor.
Coach Robert Neyland, offensive guard Bob Suffridge and tailback George Cafego are all in the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor, and all were involved in the 1939 game when the Volunteers shutout Oklahoma, 17-0.
The victory over the Sooners culminated a perfect 11-0 season in 1938. The Vols were recognized as national champions by Dunkel, Litkenhous, Boand, Houlgate and Poling.
During the 1938 campaign, Tennessee’s defense surrendered just 16 points and recorded eight shutouts, blanking the Sooners, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Chattanooga, Auburn, Alabama and The Citadel.
Neyland also coached the Vols in the 1947 Orange Bowl against Rice. UT lost that contest to the Owls, 8-0.
Neyland went into the Hall of Honor in its inaugural class in 1969.
Suffridge also played in the 1939 game. The three-time All-America offensive lineman helped the Vols gain 197 rushing yards.
He went into the Orange Bowl Hall of Honor in 1982.
Cafego, who was enshrined in 1984, set up Tennessee’s first score with a long punt return and a 15-yard rush. The Big Orange had 260 yards of total offense in the game.