'Corona ReWatch Part VIII: Part eight of the #CoronaReWatch moves to the gridiron and what better way to start it than with a national championship season?


Tennessee enters 1998 ranked 10th, but few have their sights on the inaugural BCS crystal ball. In fact, between 1995 and ’99, ’98 is the season the Vols began the year ranked the lowest in the preseason. (8th in ’95, 2nd in ’96, 5th in ’97 and 3rd in ’99)


The Vols are replacing the best player in program history — Peyton Manning — and seven other NFL draft picks, including Leonard Little and first round selections Terry Fair and Marcus Nash.


It is junior Tee Martin’s first year as the starting quarterback, but he has a very good offensive line with four returning starters. Sophomore Jamal Lewis, who ran for over 1,300 yards as a freshman, is as good as any running back in the country. Wide receivers Peerless Price and Jermaine Copeland combined for 106 receptions for 1,430 yards and 15 touchdowns in ’97.


Tennessee also has a very stout defense. They’re led by what is arguably the best linebackers in the country, headlined by senior captain Al Wilson.


The defending SEC Champions don’t have the luxury of a warmup game, as they travel to the northeast for the season-opener against a top-20 squad.


Game one: No. 10 Tennessee at No. 17 Syracuse ReWatch Along Link ... Click Here ...


— The Orangemen are the two-time defending Big East champions and have won nine games in each of the last three seasons. They’re led by senior quarterback Donovan McNabb, a preseason Heisman Trophy frontrunner.



— Syracuse gets the ball first and slowly moves into Tennessee territory. Fullback Rob Konrad picks up four yards on a 4th-and-1 at the UT 45. They have to burn two timeouts on the drive, including one for an equipment violation. Al Wilson causes a strip-sack on a third-down play, which takes Syracuse out of field goal range.



— Tennessee goes right down the field and Peerless Price scores a touchdown on a third down catch. Tee Martin rolled out to the right on all throws this drive, cutting the field in half and limiting his reads. Jamal Lewis had a 30-yard run on his first carry of the season. Tennessee is up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.



— The Vols force another Syracuse punt. This time it’s linebacker Raynoch Thompson with the stop on third down. He’s already made three big tackles early.



— Neither offense can do much the rest of the quarter. Tennessee is blitzing a lot up the middle with Al Wilson essentially lining up as a standup nose tackle. Syracuse is doing a good job of getting outside the tackles on running plays. Syracuse’s offense is very complex, with a lot of formations and concepts.



— The Vols leave a Syracuse tight end wide-open in the end zone and McNabb finds him for a touchdown to tie it at 7-all with 9:49 left in the first half. It was an 11-play, 71-yard drive for the Orangemen.



— Later in the second quarter, Syracuse converts a 3rd-and-23 by picking up 24 yards on a great pass from McNabb. Even the ’98 defense isn’t immune to Third-and-Chavis. McNabb is now 11-of-12 for 115 yards. Luckily, the drive ends with Syracuse missing a 49-yard field goal.



— I had forgotten how much of a cannon Tee had. Unfortunately, most of his throws are high so far. Since the opening drive, Tee is just 1-of-10 through the air. The game plan seems to only have him looking to the right side of the field on passing plays.



— After another UT punt, McNabb scrambles for five yards on a play deep in SU territory where he should’ve been sacked for a 10-yard loss. It’s the most impressive play of the game so far.



— Late in the second quarter, cornerback Steve Johnson forces a fumble and the Vols recover at the SU 14-yard line. It looked like Syracuse fullback Rob Konrad was down before the ball popped out, but this is before official replay. Tennessee calls three straight pass plays, with Tee scrambling to the SU 7 on third down. But the Orangemen are flagged for defensive holding and an unsportsmanlike penalty, which gives the Vols a first-and-goal. Tee keeps on 2nd down for the score. Tennessee goes up 14-7 with 53 seconds left in the half.




— Syracuse gets to the UT 21 and kicks a field goal as the first half expires. Tennessee leads 14-10.



— Syracuse is again forced to use a timeout for an equipment violation early in the second half. Then midway through the third quarter, they call another timeout facing 3-and-goal at the UT 5. The Vols dial up an all-out blitz, but McNabb finds Konrad on a screen. Cornerback Dwayne Goodrich makes the touchdown-saving tackle. Syracuse makes the short field goal, but Tennessee still leads 14-13 with 8:29 left in the quarter.



— Future Tennessee Titans middle linebacker Keith Bullock has been all over the field for the home team in his first career college start.



— Multiple Vols are cramping up. The Carrier Dome, despite being named for an HVAC company, has no air conditioning.



— Tennessee’s offense just can’t get going so far this half, outside of a 33-yard catch by Price. The Vols are going 3-wide (11 or 20 personnel, drink!) a lot right now after lining up with two tight ends for much of the first half. They eventually put together a good drive running the ball and Jamal scores from 1-yard out to put the Big Orange up 21-13 with 5:28 left in the third quarter.



— On Syracuse’s ensuing possession, defensive tackle Darwin Walker makes an outstanding play, strip-sacking McNabb. The Vols recover at the SU 30-yard line, but settle for a field goal after facing a 4th-and-1 at the SU 1-yard line. Yes, even Phillip Fulmer once kicked a 17-yard chip shot. He better hope Tennessee doesn’t blow this 24-13 lead.



— The Orangemen start running the option and look like Nebraska in the ’98 Orange Bowl. They quickly get into UT territory and McNabb scrambles for a first down to the UT 20-yard line on a 3rd-and-12 play. He later hits a wide receiver on a touchdown pass. SU’s 2-point conversion fails. Tennessee leads 24-19 with 12:13 left in the game.



— Tennessee goes 3-and-out and punts. McNabb again leads Syracuse right down the field and scores on a QB scramble. After using their final timeout, the Orangemen’s 2-point conversion is good this time. The Vols trail for the first time all game, 27-24, with 9:49 remaining.



— UT takes over and after two incomplete passes face a 3rd-and-10. Tee scrambles for 55 yards down the right sideline. It’s the biggest play of the game for the Vols. Add on 15 yards for a late hit and Tennessee is suddenly in business at the SU 13-yard line. Price catches a jump-ball in the end zone on third down. The Vols are back up 31-27 with 8:29 left.



— Syracuse returns the ensuing kickoff to the UT 24-yard line after kicker Jeff Hall slows the returner down just enough for other Vols to tackle him. The Orangemen settle for a 41-yard field goal, which makes it 31-30 Tennessee with 6:39 remaining.



— Back-to-back runs by Jamal behind the right side of the offensive line has the Vols at the Syracuse 44. But Tee fumbles on a scramble and Syracuse recovers with 5:25 left.



— Most impressive play of the game: McNabb spins to avoid a sack by Al Wilson and finds an open receiver downfield for 47 yards to the UT 11. Defensive end Corey Terry makes a good play on third down to force another field goal. The 41-yarder is good and Syracuse re-takes the lead, 33-31, with 2:38 left.



— Tennessee calls a timeout facing a 3rd-and-7 at their own 34 with under two minutes to play. Tee can’t connect with Cedrick Wilson on an in-route over the middle, which brings up 4th down. It looks like the Vols call the same play. Tee again can’t complete the pass to Cedrick, but the Syracuse cornerback clearly hit Wilson in the back before the ball arrived. drawing a flag. My memory had this as a very questionable judgement call, but upon re-watch, it’s an obvious pass interference.


— With new life, Tennessee rides Jamal Lewis down the field. The Vols get inside the SU 10-yard line to set up the potential game-winning field goal.



— Jeff Hall is a captain for a reason. The senior for Winchester hits the 27-yarder right down the middle and Tennessee wins 34-33. Somehow, it’s Syracuse’s 5th-consecutive loss in home-openers.



— In his first start, Tee Martin is just 9-of-26 for 143 yards and 2 TDs, but has 8 carries for 81 yards and another score. Jamal Lewis finishes with 140 yards and a score on 21 carries. In the fourth quarter alone, he ran eight times for 79 yards. Peerless Price caught six passes for 87 yards and two TDs.



— The ESPN cameras catch a really great moment with Vols legend Condredge Holloway talking with Donovan McNabb on the field after the game. McNabb finishes 22-of-28 for 300 yards and 2 TDs. He also had 53 yards on the ground and a rushing score. McNabb would place 5th for the Heisman this season. He would be the 2nd overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft and have a very good pro career for Tony’s Eagles.



— Syracuse would once again win the Big East in 1998, but they’d finish 8-4 after a 31-10 loss to Florida in the Orange Bowl.



— Tennessee is now 1-0 on the year and have a bye week before hosting Steve Spurrier and the Gators in a night game at Neyland Stadium. Pandemonium will reign in the part nine of the #CoronaReWatch.



Thanks for reading!
Matt Dixon (@MattDixon3)'