KNOXVILLE – The University of Tennessee will honor the 1998 National Championship football team on Sept. 22 when the Volunteers host Florida at Neyland Stadium.
Members of the team, as well as coaches and support staff, will be in town for a reunion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the national championship season.
Fans can purchase tickets for the game against Florida at AllVols.com or by calling 1-800-332-VOLS.
Fans can also buy tickets to the Florida game via the Orange & White Package mini-plan, which allows fans to choose either the Florida game or the Alabama game and two other home games for just $205 per package. This is available for a limited time only.
Heading into the 1998 campaign, many prognosticators predicted the Vols would face a rebuilding season after losing several top players, including three NFL Draft first-round picks.
However, head coach Phillip Fulmer led an inspired group of players to one of the greatest seasons in Tennessee history, culminating in the Vols’ first consensus national title since 1951.
Reaching the championship was a difficult journey for the Vols, who found a winning formula of team chemistry under Fulmer en route to the undefeated campaign.
Linebackers Al Wilson and Raynoch Thompson collected All-America honors during the 1998 season, while placekicker Jeff Hall, wide receiver Peerless Price, offensive tackle Chad Clifton, offensive guard Cosey Coleman, defensive tackle Darwin Walker and defensive back Dwayne Goodrich also collected All-SEC accolades.
Quarterback Tee Martin was outstanding under center, while fullback Shawn Bryson proved to be a superb leader as he wrapped up his career.
Tennessee defeated Florida State, 23-16, in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4, 1999, to capture the first Bowl Championship Series National Championship.
Twenty years later, the Vols are embarking on a new era of Tennessee football. First-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt takes the helm of the Big Orange, while Fulmer will enter his first fall as UT’s Director of Athletics.
Tennessee opens the 2018 season at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sept. 1 at the Belk College Kickoff against West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C., before hosting ETSU at 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 8, UTEP at Noon ET on Sept. 15 and the Gators on Sept. 22 (kickoff is TBD) to start SEC play.
-UT Athletics
