1986 Sugar Bowl ( Full Game) #8 Tennessee Volunteers v. #2 Miami Hurricanes

The #8 ranked and SEC champs Tennessee Volunteers upset the #2 Miami Hurricanes in the 1986 Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day in New Orleans. The game on ABC featured Keith Jackson, Frank Broyles, and Tim Byrant.
I discovered a sealed tote in my parent's basement with old VHS tapes. A tape labeled '1986 Sugar Bowl' includes pre and post-game coverage from NBC Sports and CNN and from local Knoxville TV stations.
WATE-TV Knoxville pre-games show - • WATE-TV Knoxville 1986...
WBIR-TV Knoxville post-game and Knoxville arrival- • Post-Game Coverage of ...

[@andyodonnell6507]

This was the first Tennessee game that I ever attended. I wasn’t a Tennessee fan in the least. I went just to have an excuse to go to New Orleans for New Years. The moment the gates opened the Tennessee fans ran into the Super Dome yelling at the top of their lungs. They never let up. The noise was incredible. By the end of the game I was a die hard Vols fan for life. What a day that was. One that rightfully belongs in the hearts and minds of Tennessee fans everywhere.

[@greenwave819]

incredible!

[@PlaceStillMatters]

Cool story!

[@OleBadDog]

Huge Vol fan and I was there and it was an incredible game/experience.

[@gmcrealman2890]

I was there … Jesus … it was beyond loud! Tennessee kicked ass from beginning to end! Among the greatest Tennessee games in it’s hugely successful history! New Orleans is incredible!

[@michaelmcdougal6728]

I remember watching this ballgame while at home from Christmas break from college. The bias against Tennessee was thick. When the game was over, I was singing Rocky Top and laughing at Keith Jackson and the rest of these announcers.

[@joshuareed390]

Miami thought they'd intimidate Tennessee by standing inside the "T" and woofing at them. They thought wrong. It was hard to shut up Miami players in the 80's, but Tennessee put on a master class in how to silence them.

[@randyjones7818]

I was there..Jan 1 1986..it was one of the best Johnny majors game ever played.in Tennessee in 1986.and they beat Alabama that year 1985..Tennessee had great players and great coaches on this team..several head coaches on this team..Fulmer and .David cutcliff...great days for the vols

[@robinjones4714]

& WE KICKED THEIR BACKSIDES ROYALLY.. TOOK THEM OUT BEHIND THE WOODSHED!!!

[@charliedavis9996]

I remember this game. No one gave Tennessee a chance; and you can hear the Miami bias in this broadcast, and when Miami scored my Dad said "this will not even be a game." I said; "I know Tennessee will beat Miami easily." Well they did. Tennessee used to play so much greater Defense Fundamentally. Secondary players getting their heads around on coverage and so many Tennessee players swarming to the ball to make tackles!

[@greenwave819]

that defense is being rebuilt. good news is our offense is super exciting and recruiting 5 star QBs is a great sign!!

[@smokeypeyton]

YES I REMEMBER IT WELL . GO VOLS 🍊🇺🇸☝️👈

[@jimmycarter1722]

Ken Donahue was a defensive genius. He was at Alabama for YEARS before Majors hired him. He instantly made this team better.

[@jeffdarnell7942]

​@@smokeypeytonYou got that right...Go Big 🍊!!

[@lancefezell4149]

Host of Volunteers! This was back when you could watch the game with the TV muted and listen to John Ward call the games as they should be called.

[@billnipper4815]

I was at this game. What a great time we had!

[@yellowjacket5433]

Miami tried to play that intimidation card and got bitch slapped for it. Classless move to stand in Tennessee T.

[@michaelparker5640]

The good old days of college football I was 16 💪💪💪 man I'm feeling Old 😩😩😩🤣✌️

[@stephengrahn9361]

Watched this with my little brother and our Papaw, I remember it so well. No one gave us ridge runners a chance

[@I-Dont-Know-Nothin]

I was just a kid, but I remember them playing this on WIVK all the time! On New Years Eve Johnny Majors took a flight, down the Mississippi with his men of orange and white, the Vols had made a promise to win by any means, they had a day for battle at the dome in New Orleans, Fired up defense Miami kept a comin but they couldnt even kick a field goal, Testeverdi tried to pass it but they had to keep a runnin, because of big plays by Chris White and Dale Jones.

[@robertwomack1411]

One of the great moments in Tennessee Football history At that time nothing had happened i the state of Tennessee that was bigger This game ranks right along side the national championship in 98 as the most special nights in Tennessee history

[@DaveGreen-o2x]

It was great watching Tennessee beat them. Tennessee had very good defense that year. Thought they would keep this game very close. Few breaks who knows, Miami didn't have answer for Vols blitzing . Tennessee offense was really good before Tony Robinson got injured

[@chandlerwhite8302]

Our defense gave up 4.8 points per game over the last seven games of 1985, with three shutouts. That is phenomenal! BTW, Jimmy Johnson’s hair looks lit it could deflect a rifle bullet! He used more hairspray than a 80’s high school cheerleading team before that game. #GBO 🍊🍊🍊🍊

[@Stiitchjones]

I am not surprised...they were playing very good toward the second half of the year. They lost to Florida in a close game in Gainesville. But I think if they had played again Tennessee wins.

[@ronniemiller3135]

I remember watching this with my grandmother and little brother. We enjoyed watching our Vols roll over this Miami team.

[@greenwave819]

I didn't know about TN football at this point, I had yet to turn 3... I do know we stomped on em! GBO

[@rhrh2025]

Tennessee's defense had the Miami offensive line so confused they didn't know which way was up! All Testiverde saw of the game were the lights on the roof of the stadium!

[@fredh353]

Tn was going to get stomped by the superior Miami no chance, as a 12 year old kid in Knoxville, Tn this game was awesome, my favorite game to this day

[@debbiehenson1096]

Testaverde: 2 bowl games, 2 losses, EIGHT ints.

[@dwayneramsey606]

According to the announcers, tenn. Didn't have a chance. Back then, the sec wasn't considered a strong conference and they looked foolish. Thats funny.

[@5thmardiv636]

Broyle’s and Jackson, one of my favorite all time duo’s!

[@DerrickLee2023DLA]

This is great stuff worth watching. I am loving the rare Knoxville and Kingsport items too. If you have any items from WTVK, WBIR and WATE, please post them. :)

[@steveham2622]

That TD run by Powell was electric !!!

[@jeffdarnell7942]

He was a Track star. Benny Blades was as well. Powell smoked Blades in that run.

[@dudermcdude9245]

Speed kills…

[@charlesh946]

1:54:05. So much for World Class Speed! All time fav play in TN Football Game. Walkon Jeff Powell!

[@jjlambonscloudyproductions]

Announcers were all over Testaverde's Testicles lol

[@brianroyster7510]

Can you imagine kids watching this today? " How is #8 playing #2 in the Sugar Bowl? Must be a playoff game."/

[@Ieif]

This is awesome thank you for posting

[@russelleads2145]

I remember this game too, was driving to Orlando the day after from Chattanooga. I had my Tennessee Flag flying and people were passing me with Fla tags and shooting me the bird. Lol

[@paulchilds9128]

Yeah, kept talking about Miami speed. If I'm not mistaken Tennessee had some good track teams in the 80's.

[@wineisthebestvice9474]

Yes they did. There is a couple of Natty's in there during that decade or so.

[@nordythenorthman]

It would have been a share of the national championship for both Oklahoma and Miami had both teams won their respective bowl games.

[@markhickey3254]

I was there. It was like being in Neyland Stadium. The crowd was at least 90 per cent Vol fans. Tennessee gave Testaverde and the Canes an ass kickin they won't forget! They all totally overlooked Tennessee and had a good plate of crow to eat.

[@timmytimmy5331]

I remember this game and when they got beat by alabama in 92 and some other sec team beat them in their dynasty

[@JeffHiett]

I remember that there was a song on the radio called Testeverde, it was supposed to be a blowout, nobody gave Tennessee a chance. Tennessee should have won a couple of Championships in the late 70s to mid 80s

[@gobigorange771]

Jimmy Johnson using that Aquanet.

[@jamesphillips2596]

Keith Jackson saying the ball was down...goodness...the ball was punched out waaay before he hit the ground

[@gregjones5022]

I was at this game. The coach’s son was the QB fr TN. The starter got injured.

[@jimmycarter1722]

Former coach, then the AD.

[@gregjones5022]

Tony Robinson brook his leg that year

[@gregjones5022]

Broke

[@lon9047]

@@gregjones5022You watching this classic too I see. Go Vols!

[@vincentturner560]

What a game

[@TheIsagregorio]

Great game.

[@greggladson8127]

This was the night Tennessee’s fan base introduced themselves to the world.. took over the whole city

[@waltercasas3124]

They really thought they beat Rice, East Carolina & Colorado St. thinking they had a chance😂😂

[@johnnychambers6969]

Tennessee never disappoints in the bowl games

[@smashvilledad]

insane to hear Down The Field 3-4 times after a TD and no Rocky Top.

[@davidp73]

A lot of people ask me why I never did care much for Keith Jackson. I point them to this game

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Not even Whoa Nellie?

[@Jackson-pq4zn]

davidp1922 Why are you a douche?

[@WesleyHall-k8z]

The disrespect by standing in the Power T added fuel to that ass whoopin.

[@DavidBrothers-j2o]

I miss bowl games

[@lucashankins9425]

The mechanics of the officials are so bad. Unfortunately, that was the norm in 86. There is no sale technique and they move so quickly they look confused. It wasn’t until the mid-90s that officials began a disciplined demeanor.

[@jimmycarter1722]

I was newly married & still living in Knoxville at this point. The 1986 season was my first officiating football. We moved to Ft. Worth, TX a year later (in Jan. 1987) and I continued my officiating career. I later met the Referee, Wendell Shelton, Umpire Joe Darden (both from Dallas) & Side Judge, Beaux Hicks (from Houston). Beaux was a clinician for our state organization. I had no idea, watching this game, the impact those men would have on my career and life as teachers & friends over the coming years.

[@Jackson-pq4zn]

lucashankins9425 You have no clue what you’re talking about.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Helped Oklahoma win National Championship

[@777macdude]

Sam Henderson pride of South Bend Indiana, living in Memphis Tennessee now.

[@1stofer]

The bias from Javkson in the beginning was absolutely horrible. So bad he missed a call completely and didnt even bother correcting himself. Dickey completed a pass to Mcghee i think and Jacksons call was " Dickey throws and no chance cause Clinkscales was all over it" and it was a completion ! They didn't even acknowledge the ball being moved 7 yards ! Must of been drunk or something, hilarious. What a game that was , unforgettable.

[@GameDog-ql6pv]

Tennessee won this game and OU won the Natty.... If OU and Miami both had won.... OBVIOUSLY Miami would have won the Natty... the WILD WEST days of College 🏈 --- I LOVED it

[@randychester2754]

And when Jimmy Johnson failed to run up the score on Tennessee by the tune of 7-35, there was no controversy over who should be ranked #1. 😅😂🤣

[@greenwave819]

Ron Zook... coaching for TN??? what??

[@jimmycarter1722]

Zook the Crook...yeah. he later got caught fixing our playbook to I think Florida, from the Kinkos on Cumberland. He wasn't real smart.

[@greenwave819]

@@jimmycarter1722 that is true. wow I had forgotten about that. I lived in a dorm near that spot... he did fax the play book lol!

[@robruth7376]

I remember how biased the commentators were and how surprised they when the Miami defensive back with world class speed watched the Tennessee running back walk off and leave him in his rearview mirror

[@ddw76y]

The O linemen were small compared to today' O Line. 265LB vs 330LB

[@1stofer]

Yeah remember they made a huge deal out of William " the fridge" Perry cause he was over 300 lbs !! Now ? High-school kids regularly and all college O linemen are 320 plus. There's even been some 400 pounders. Must be the steroids in the meat.

[@Ozeki_Negima]

2:50:01 random Jim Harbaugh sighting! 😂

[@chrisdeangelo04]

the game that probably define the hatred of the Tennessee Vols by ESPN. AND MAYBE ABC.

[@gcuddy7991]

Wow Tennessee, congratulations!!!!

[@jobejeffers9177]

Watch from 1:54:06 and tell me you don't love Tennessee football!!!!!

[@PaulTheVawl]

Did you see the hurricanes in the T…..they wouldn’t move.

[@donniecarver4950]

Yeah !!!

[@jeffdarnell7942]

I have to admit one thing about this game....The Referee's were TERRIBLE...

[@RedtheCat2014]

😂😂 Not as bad as Miami was!!!!! Cry more

[@pvtnboy6777]

I was there?

[@Jackson-pq4zn]

Whoopity woo

[@lon9047]

Are you asking? I really don’t know.

[@ralph3986]

I always thought Testaverde was overrated. Would fold in big games.

[@22trem]

Those cheerleaders are closing in on 60.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Aren't we all😂😅

[@jeffdarnell7942]

Well yes Jimmy Johnson...you did win all those games, but you got bitc. slapped by Tennessee AND Florida!! He was 0-2 vs. SEC that year.

[@randyjones7818]

Daryl dickey plays the game of his life at ut qb..85 ut team was loaded.with good sec talent..David cuttcliff was coaching dickey on sidelines..

[@randyjones7818]

Jeff powell..mvp..go vols.and Daryl dickey

[@randyjones7818]

Tennessee 1985 team sugar bowl win..1989.tennessee cotton bown win..2 best Johnny majors.teams

[@dudermcdude9245]

Vinerception

[@mikenewland2307]

Frank Broyles was an idiot during the first quarter

[@drstephenbond1585]

He assumed miami would dominate. He was definitely wrong

[@Stiitchjones]

@@drstephenbond1585 Mostly everybody assumed that....

[@bfb513]

Hurricanes? 🤔

[@aapm74]

Testaverde played awful in both of his big bowl games.

[@PhilGarrett-et3fz]

I can't stand Tennessee but I think I hate Miami more.

[@redevil7081]

Jimmy Johnson was an assistant coach for Johnny Majors for one season…

[@redevil7081]

I just know I had a lingering hangover for three days in Nawlins…GBO.