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Mattingly: 1968 had its storylines

By Tom Mattingly (Contact)
Originally published 01:25 a.m., June 21, 2008
Updated 01:27 a.m., June 21, 2008

Tennessee quarterback Bubba Wyche, left, and coach Doug Dickey are all smiles during practice preparations for a Cotton Bowl game against Texas to conclude the 1968 season.

Tennessee quarterback Bubba Wyche, left, and coach Doug Dickey are all smiles during practice preparations for a Cotton Bowl game against Texas to conclude the 1968 season.

Forty years ago, big things were happening, on campus and nation-wide. Therefore, 40th anniversary stories seem to be in vogue.

The big football story in Knoxville and across Big Orange Country in 1968 was the replacement of the seniors whose leadership had brought Tennessee "back" to national prominence. An equally important storyline was artificial turf ("Doug's Rug," as it was known) coming to the floor of Shields-Watkins Field and staying in some version for 25 years. Another was the debut of John Ward and former Vol wingback Bill Anderson on the Vol Network.

The Vols finished 8-2-1 in 1968, in what some thought might be a "rebuilding year," given the loss of Bob Johnson, Charley Fulton, Walter Chadwick, Dewey Warren, John Boynton, and others from Doug Dickey's first recruiting class and leaders in the run to the SEC title a year earlier.

Having linebackers Steve Kiner and Jack Reynolds coming back didn't hurt. There were also significant senior leaders that season, products of Dickey's second recruiting class, e.g. All-Americas Jimmy Weatherford and Charles Rosenfelder, Richard Pickens, the SEC's leading rusher, Capt. Dick Williams, Neal McMeans, Nick Showalter, and Richmond Flowers.

There were also the rookies, now part of the Tennessee legend - among them Chip Kell, Tim Priest, Don Denbo, Mike Bevans, Jim Woody, Steve Robinson and Bobby Scott. Dickey called the 1968 team "the biggest surprise I had in coaching. I didn't know that team could play that well."

The Vols and Georgia played a "Rouser on a Rug" in the season opener Sept. 14, as Sports Illustrated reported, game story written by Dan Jenkins.

"In fact, the lack of damage to the nonturf, plus the unsoiled jerseys, gave the game an unreal quality; the unspeckled field and the clean suits made the last play look like the first," Jenkins wrote.

ABC was there to beam the festivities nationwide featuring Chris Schenkel and Bud Wilkinson, with a 4 p.m. kickoff. Sometime in the second half, Ward thought to himself he and Anderson might make it as broadcasters. History has proved his assessment correct.

In one of the great drives in Tennessee history, Bubba Wyche led the Vols, trailing 17-9, downfield against the clock and a resolute Georgia defense.

With Bubba tossing a TD pass to Gary Kreis and a two-point conversion to Ken DeLong, the Vols scored eight points after time had expired to steal a 17-17 deadlock, just as daylight and many of the fans were leaving Neyland Stadium. Lights were still four years away from being a fixture at the "Home of the Vols." Dickey, who watched a number of youthful Vols contribute that day, said, "A lot of young players grew up out there today."

"There are the great ties - kissing-your-sister ties, and terrible ties," Vince Dooley said. "This was a terrible tie for Georgia because of the lead we lost, and it was a great tie for Tennessee because of the way they came back at the end."

It was a day for the McLains and McClains, depending on the spelling of the name.

Up north, Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain - a former Knoxville Smoky - won his 30th game, 5-4 over Oakland, at Tiger Stadium. McLain made the cover of Sports Illustrated. Otherwise, it might have been the Vols and Bulldogs.

In Knoxville, Lester McClain of Antioch High School became the first African-American player to wear an orange jersey and first in the SEC to see significant playing time.

McClain came to Knoxville a year after Kentucky had signed Greg Page and Nat Northington in football, and Vanderbilt had inked Pearl High School's Perry Wallace in hoops.

McClain had been one of two African-American players recruited in 1966-67. The other, fullback Albert Davis of Alcoa (often referred to in press accounts in those days as "Alcoa's great Negro running back"), was not admitted to the University, so the torch was passed to McClain. He played and played well. He was determined to make the best of things, despite a rough patch or two along the way.

"There is a time you question whether you want to pack your bags and go home," McClain said. "I would be lying if I said I never considered that. But I just couldn't. I knew the next day the headlines would say, 'Lester McClain, first black athlete, quits UT.' "

Dickey led the way for the Vols, saying the time was right to make the move. The times in 1966 and into 1967 and 1968 might have been troubled and uncertain, but whenever significant social advances might be made, somebody, or a number of somebodies, in this case Dickey, McClain, Bill Battle, Condredge Holloway, and Jimmy Streater, all blazed the trail.

When you look back at it, 1968 was quite a year for the Tennessee football program.

Tom Mattingly is the author of "The Tennessee Football Vault: The Story of the Tennessee Volunteers, 1891-2006" (2006), to be published in second edition in 2009, and "Tennessee Football: The Peyton Manning Years" (1998). He may be reached at tjmshm@comcast.net. His News Sentinel blog is called "The Vol Historian."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       29 Comments

Posted by richvol on June 21, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

That was my freshman year at UT and the first game I had attended as a student.

That drive was tense as time was running out and Tennessee had to go a long way. Both Kreis' and DeLong's catches were bitterly disputed by Dooley. Time had expired on both but the pass into DeLong was particularly difficult as it was very low to the ground and he had DB's draped all over his back.

It did feel like a win for us and the Georgia fans were very upset. My date and I had decided to see if Tennessee could move the ball before we left because the game looked over. We sat back down when Bubba started to connect. We were glad we stayed to the end.

Posted by harrierncd on June 21, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great recollection, Tom, and well retold. I remember watching that game on television, especially the last two passes. One of those two (both?) was barely a completion with the receiver trapping the ball against his hip as he fell. Great effort and concentration to avoid dropping the ball, as I recall. Great stuff.
(But I can't get the picture of Bubba Wyche and Coach Dickey to appear, regardless of what I try. Help please.) Thanks.

Posted by TurboFan on June 21, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was four years old so I have no recollection. I am surprised to find out that Lester McClain was not the first in the SEC period. That UT was the SEC's pioneer was what I had always read. Interesting to know that Kentucky and Vandy were ahead of us.

Posted by arkyvol on June 21, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i was in the army at the time after leaving U.T. in 66 and watched the game on t.v. i returned to go to law school in 69 and to watch the bill battle era come and go. my favorite game: the 72 penn state game (U.T. ran up 21 points before half and hung on for the win). those were the days.

Posted by jawbreaker on June 21, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

richvol, that was my first game as a freshman as well. If you remember, going to the game required getting to campus early, but my roommate and I didn't hesitate moving into "Hess-hole" early in order to go to the game. The game was a great one, as was the season as a whole, and definitely felt like a win for the Vols. One other bonus, my parents saw me and my date on the TV broadcast. Being from Nashville, I actually grew up a Vandy fan (I was young, naive, and didn't know any better); but, during high school, I had undergone my tranfusion of orange blood, a fact that was solidified by sitting in Neyland Stadium for the first time on that day. Thanks for the memories in this article, Tom.

Posted by RJ_Vol on June 21, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I miss John Ward.

Posted by TurboFan on June 21, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mr. Mattingly, who was the broadcaster prior to John Ward? Any kind of interesting story there? Just curious since I don't think I read it anywhere.

Posted by TommyJack on June 21, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Turbo: His name was George Mooney. His side-kick was Bob Foxx (UT A.A. in the 30's?).

Posted by tjmshm on June 21, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

HIs name was George Mooney, who served from 1952-67, following Allen Stout (1951) and Lindsey Nelson (1949-50).

Posted by richvol on June 21, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

George Mooney was the voice on the radio before John Ward and he was good, but nobody will ever hold up against John Ward's ability to paint a picture of the action. It was like watching it unfold in your mind. He was the best. He also had a great quality to that baritone voice of his.

All those players mentioned in the article were outstanding,championship caliber players...many went on to make all-america and play professionally. However,I remember how much I admired Lester McClain. The pressure he had to endure was tremendous. He may not have been the first signed but he was the first black man to actually play football of any significance in the SEC. If my memory is correct 1967 or '68 ( our freshman year jawbreaker ) was the first year UT had admitted black students. I could be off a little but there were only a handful on the Knoxville campus and they must have felt very isolated. McClain handled it well and excelled on the field.

One of the reasons poor relations exist to this day between the SEC, the Big Ten and the northern press is due to the fact that the SEC would not admit blacks and would not agree to play any Big Ten teams that had black players. You can bet that's why the SEC got so cosy with the southern bowls and the Pac 10 and the Big Ten locked in with the Rose Bowl.
It's hard to believe it seemed so normal then when it seems so stupid now.

Posted by snoopbob87 on June 21, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It was my 1st year as a student at UT. My friend and I got to campus early so we could go to the game. Dad and I walked out on the Tartan Turf friday before the game, just to see and feel for ourself. It was very hot in the stadium and with the late day game start I remember it became surreal. The last drive by UT was something you coundn't believe. I know my anxiety level was off the map. Anything goes wrong for UT's play selection or players not carrying out their assignment and GA wins. But, just like the man said two plays, after the clock read 00:00, and we tie 17 to 17. Ga fans, because of 8 point lead and just 2 minutes to play had already counted this game a win. Jake Scott, All American for GA complained about how he was scraped on his elbow by the artifical turf. Tom Siler, writer for the newspaper said it best about Scott's conplaint, "scrapes from SEC football, you don't mean it." Those day and Tennessee football were the best. Hail to the Roman Room.

Posted by Volfan1 on June 21, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A good team! They beat Bama, which said a lot back then. The big mistake was not redshirting Bobby Scott. He played very little. Bubba Wyche was THE man that year. Another year for Scott could have brought an 11-0 season in 1971.

Posted by tngeoff on June 22, 2008 at 3:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great memories! Thanks Tom.

Posted by slambob2 on June 22, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I miss John Ward, too. Bob Kesling is a terrific guy, but no one could follow the best that UT will ever have.

Touchdown, Big Orange!
It's football time in Tennessee!
HE MADE IT!
BOTTOM!
SWISH!
It's GOOOOOOOOOOODUH!
He twists, he turns, he struggles, he fights, he surges forward for the FIRST DOWN!
Brought down by Reggie White and a HOST of Volunteers!
And of course....
To the five, the four, the three, the two, the one, GIVE HIM SIX! Touchdown Tennessee!

I was six in 1968, but have a lifetime full of John Ward memories. It's absolutely perfect that UT won a national championship in his final year. There will never be another.

Posted by murrayvol on June 22, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great column and good posts to jog the gray cells.

richvol: I arrived in Fall of 67' and there were several blacks on campus. I'm guessing they didn't ride in on the same load of pumpkins that I did so it had to be 1966 or earlier.

slambob: I remember watching TV games w/Ward's commentary....5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GIVE...HIM...SIX. It seemed odd for the teams to be lining up for the extra point just as John was uttering SIX. LOL

Posted by murrayvol on June 22, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One 68' storyline Mattingly missed was my move from Stadium Hall to Melrose. The rats and cockroaches at Stadium weeped in unison at my departure.

Posted by Volfan1 on June 22, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember listening to John Ward broadcast a UT/KY basketball game during the Ernie & Bernie years driving back to Cleveland from North Carolina.....we won! WOW!

When I lived in Little Rock, I would sit in my car to pick up the Memphis AM station that carried the Vol network. Couldn't get it in the house back in the early to mid 80s, so I would sit in the car to hear John & Bill broadcast. The internet was still in AlGore's mind. :-)

My only game in '68 was the UT/Ga Tech game. I was only 14, but saw at least one game every year back then, starting in '63.

Posted by TommyJack on June 22, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SnoopBob: The Roman Room. Precious memories, how they linger...

Posted by TurboFan on June 22, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Murray, that reminds of one game when the Vol Network came back from a commercial late after the play. John Ward, ever the professional, recalled the missed play from line up, to snap and to whistle then ready for the next play in about 10 seconds. Fastest huddle ever.

Posted by mloaks on June 23, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

richvol, it does seem stupid now, indeed.
I saw the game on TV and read SI and thought, hey, UT is a natl player.
Good to see a nice Bill Battle ref, too.

Posted by txsvol on June 23, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Talking about my era, too. I watched all the home games from the southeast bottom of the horseshoe that year. Thanks for the memories, Tom! (Just got back from two days in the Smokies and two in Chattanooga. Weather is much better there than the 102 degrees in South Texas yesterday. You guys have the best of it!) Go Vols! SAVol

Posted by JWilly on June 23, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Richvol, I agree with everything you said in your 5:16 post until your last paragraph regarding the Big Ten vs. the SEC. First I believe (and on this I could be incorrect) UT integrated in 1965. I did not attend UT but I am certain UT-Martin was integrated no later than fall, 1965. I can’t believe UT-Martin integrated earlier than UT-Knoxville.

Also, the Big Ten and PAC 8 signed on to the exclusive deal with the Rose Bowl in the late 1940’s. If either of those two conferences had black players then, it was certainly not a wide-spread phenomenon Also, the Big Ten and PAC 8 did not send any teams to any bowl game other than the Rose Bowl for many years. The other bowls had little choice but to select SEC, SWC and Big 8 teams. Also, I remember an interview in the late 60’s or early 70’s, with Woody Hays, in which he said, OSU had no intention of scheduling tough nonconference football foes in the regular season. He called nonconference games “preseason” games. I do recall Georgia Tech and Tulane playing some Big Ten teams in the early 60’s (they were SEC doormats then). The Big Ten changed it’s attitude some after years of losing the Rose Bowl and with the rise in prominence of Bear Bryant (who was a good friend of Woody Hays) and Alabama. I remember that most of the negative feelings SEC fans had towards the Big Ten were based on the image of the Big Ten and PAC 8 being privileged, country club conferences that were the darlings of the eastern press. They had to earn very little on the field to be Natl. Champs. I think, back then, Big Ten fans viewed the SEC as a bunch of insignificant, ignorant rednecks.

Posted by volboy81 on June 23, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember watching that game on TV at a friends house. I was only 10, so I dont remember much about it. I do remember Tennessee scoring 8 points after time expired and the tie felt like a win. It was a big deal that the game was played on "tartan turf." Georgia whined about that rug before, during and after the game!

Posted by LongtimeVol on June 24, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

These are among my favorite articles in KNS, in part because the posts bring back as many great memories as the article and not a rude word to be found. 1968 was my first exposure to UT, but it started on Jan 1 at the Orange Bowl with that incredible almost comeback against Oklahoma. I was hooked and couldn't wait for the Georgia game which I also watched on TV. At 15 and living in Memphis I couldn't go to games so I listened to them on the radio and that meant John Ward.
I don't know how many blacks played in the Pac 10 in the 1940's but it seems to me that Jackie Robinson played QB for UCLA before breaking the color barrier in MLB. That would have to be the early 40's.
Anyway, thanks to you all for the memories.

Posted by richvol on June 26, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

JWilly,
It may have been 1965 when UT integrated but I do believe some of UT's other campus affiliates had black students first. I also seem to recall that the initial black students on the Knoxville campus were actually enrolled at Knoxville College. They were allowed to take courses that were not offered at Knoxville College.

Your recollections about the Big Ten are accurate. However,Johnny Vaught,Wally Butts and Bear Bryant ruled the SEC and it is true that they,nor the SEC in general,would play northern teams that had black players. This caused a lot of animosity that was stirred up by the press. Ole Miss was even denied a national championship over this by the AP.

Paul Robeson,the singer,actor and great black leader,was an all-american at either Syracuse or Rutgers in the 30's I believe. Black players were not as high a percentage as today but they played a role on northern teams in those days.

Posted by Raynoch on June 30, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Touchdown Big Orange... in the downpour!!

Posted by jdavis1955 on July 4, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i was in the 8th grade my first year in my 10 yrs of selling programs at neyland. i had lost some money out of my pocket glad my parents of there to bail me out...lol they bought me a pouch to hold the funds!

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