A Host of Volunteers

As we begin the "Josh Heupel Era" of Tennessee Football, we thought it would be interesting to look back at the dawning of the eras of Doug Dickey, Bill Battle, Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer.  

Former Tennessee Strong Safety Tim Townes dreams big.  First he wanted to be a Vol. In spite of his lack of size, speed or scholarship offer he achieved his dream.  This episode introduces you to Tim and spotlights his career in orange.  Tim's dreams continued after graduation.  He is now Dr. Tim Townes and he wants to cure Sickle Cell Anemia.  It's another big dream, but he's close to achieving it! Tune in to learn more about the story of VFL Tim Townes.

IF you automatically think of 1988 as the season Tennessee went 0-6, then this show is for you!  We hope to re-frame your memory of that season, because yes that team began 0-6, but after this episode is finished … if we've done our job … you'll think of that season as the season we FINISHED 5-0!  As the season that LAUNCHED the decade of dominance.  As the season that turned a bunch of young talented inexperienced kids into a team of future SEC Champions! 

As suggested by a listener we bring you an abridged replay of the Tennessee vs. Indiana game in the 1988 Peach Bowl in Atlanta.  

Tennessee faced Penn State in back to back home games over 1971 and 1972!  This episode tells the story of HOW Joe Paterno played the Vols twice and never played them in his home stadium! This story also documents a new era for Tennessee Football.  This game was the first to be played under the lights at Neyland Stadium.  It was a magical year for Tennessee, and it was the first season for quarterback Condredge Holloway.  

In 1971 Bobby Majors was selected to the All America team.  In that season's final regular season game against Penn State he proved the selection was no mistake!  This episode tells the story of Bobby's greatest game, and one of Tennessee's greatest teams. 

Before Tennessee began its historic 1985 championship season, it was loaded with quality running backs.  Keith Davis, Charles Wilson, Pete Panuska, William Howard and Big Sam Henderson were just some of the veteran backs who would be counted on.  Nowhere in the preseason media guide was there any mention of a walk-on named Jeff Powell.  In spite of his low profile Jeff Powell would go on to be remembered for one of the all time great runs in Tennessee football history when he came "roaring down the greensward of the super dome" in the 1986 Sugar Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes.  This episode tells Jeff's fascinating story with interviews by him, his coach Doug Mathews, with archival sound from John Ward and Johnny Majors. 

The conclusion of our two-part look at Johnny Majors' debut season on Rocky Top.  This episode of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" spotlights the final six games of 1977 which launched the success in future years of the Johnny Majors era. Guests in this second episode include Pat Ryan, Pert Jenkins, Eddy Powers and long-time staffer Bill Higdon.  Listeners will hear directly from Johnny Majors about an incident he claims was the closest he's come to being killed, and it happened on the way to Florida field!  And as always there's plenty of play by play from the games as called by the legendary broadcast team of John Ward and Bill Anderson! 

The first of 10 episodes in the podcast's debut season is titled "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and spotlights the first year of the Johnny Majors era, Tennessee's 1977 campaign. Guests in the first episode include Pat Ryan, Pert Jenkins, Eddy Powers and Larry Seivers along with former UT coaches Majors and Bill Battle.

This episode introduces our hosts and gives a small taste of what's in store for Vol fans when the show goes live in just a few weeks.