Billy Ratliff will tell you to this day that Brandon kicked his butt on every play of this game but that one. Said he was the best offensive lineman he had ever faced, and Billy played against some great ones in the SEC of that time.
I remembered this game. It was definitely an SEC classic! I honestly didn't remember Brandon Burlsworth from this 1998 game. I remembered at that time thinking that Arkansas appeared to have that game wrapped up. But there was still plenty of time for anything to happen. And it did. It was a great story between two amazing football programs at that time. Tennessee managed to win it all the year after Peyton Manning was expected to deliver a national championship during his four-year run. And Arkansas appeared to have come out of nowhere during their run too. As a fan, I was glad Tennessee won that year after all the criticism they had received during the Manning years. And I'm now reflecting on this game from getting to know Brandon Burlsworth a little. better. I knew how good Burlsworth was that year from watching Arkansas play at the Citrus Bowl - I think. I also got to watch most of his movie Greater. God bless you, Brandon.
If you're a football fan, (or even if you're not), you need to see the movie "Greater". It's the story of Brandon Burlsworth, a guard who went from walk-on to All American. Every year, the Burlsworth Trophy is presented to the best FBS player who started his career as a walk-on.
In other words beating a team that is clearly better than you. A Tide fan here and there is little to no doubt which team dominated this game. Some freak play changed the fortunes of two programs this day. Vol fans, just be very thankful for the Stoerner stumble & fumble.
@perryarrington8446 Arkansas wasn't better than us lol. We still had to score a touchdown after the fumble to win. Why did Arkansas let that happen? Besides great teams always find a way to win which Tennessee did all year long.
@KornPop96 Arkansas outperformed Tennesse in every phase of the game. I watched the replay of this game and Arkansas, outside the biggest fluke of a play ever, was far and away the better team.
The Vols season was hanging in the balance here. Tennessee survived this this one. Every team that wins a national championship has a game of two like this they they just have to survive and something just happens to go your way at the right time. The Vols were fortunate to come out on top in this one.
@@johncate9541played for a while in the NFL”. Dude, he “played” 2 seasons in the NFL and had a 24-7 halftime lead in one of his only 2 starts ever and threw 4 INTs in that game to lose. So no, he didn’t have a good pro career. Oh also, he wasn’t drafted. But keep telling yourself lies 😂
That game was misery, lol. A buddy and I got last-second tickets and had to sit in the top row in the pouring down rain and about 50 degrees weather. Tennessee was so lifeless the whole game, and the atmosphere was so heavy. We were trailing the whole game, and it just had the air of misery. Tennessee always seemed to blow it every year with one bad loss to a team they shouldn't lose to, and this felt like it. With about 3 mins left in the game, my buddy had enough and he left, and I made my way down the stands (not a lot of seats were still filled, EVERYONE thought we were going to lose), and made it to the back of the band. Only reason I stayed was because my fiancee was in the band and I had to wait until the end with her. From my point of view, it looked like the Arkansas Quarterback, just literally kneeled over and set the ball on the ground for Tennessee to land on. All of a sudden, everyone and everything came alive! The season wasn't over! We were still going at it! We were just hoping for a last second kick to win, but then Henry ran it all the way in to the end zone, and everyone was just going bananas! We had so much fun on campus that night!
I was at this game. Misted on us the entire game. Miserable. Had the lead the entire game until the final minute. Too many mistakes: Threw INT in EZ. Blocked punt and long runback of blocked punt. The Stoernover. Not to mention letting Travis Henry manhandle us the entire 2nd half. Arkansas always loses games like this. Went to the Miss St game the next weekend in Starkville and we lost that one too. 8-2 after 8-0 start in Nutt's first year. State had a 4th and 19. If they don't get it, game over and we win. They converted and kicked a FG to win by 1 or 2. After 8-0 start, Hogs lost 3 of last 4 including loss to Michigan in bowl.
