"Miracle at South Bend"

Miracle at South Bend

[@alysonbrown13]

All this talk about the field goal call sucking & about Ward not being THE BEST need to understand this... I was 15 & we were losing to ND so badly that my Dad decided we should leave for a road trip early & just listen to the rest of the game on the radio. John Ward's "It's Good! ...It's NO Good! It's NO Good!" made my father swerve across 4 lanes of traffic & then pull off on the side of the interstate where we celebrated. That my friends, is just one of the MANY reasons John Ward is a Legend.

[@williamsmith8790]

Kelly, Shuler, Manning, Martin. What a decade of great QBs.

[@apprentessjgooden2263]

Todd Helton

[@thomasdebray477]

The very best (and you could even tack-on Clausen and Ainge to that list).

[@Ogga137]

Now we had hooker, and we are about to see Milton and Nico

[@firecrackerhoot]

The Voice of the Vols! Best announcer ever! John Ward

[@pmeitner]

I was in 8th grade. I fell asleep thinking Notre Dame had won. I awoke to the final plays in disbelief!

[@darrylnelson6723]

My first year of Tennessee football was Johnny Majors' first year as head coach. We love you John Ward and we miss you. I was a freshman at UT in 1985. "The Sugar Vols" Daryl Dickey is still my favorite Volunteer guarter back. We Love you too Johnny Majors. Go Vols!!!!

[@trewright1482]

I still remember this game as we got down huge and my mom turned the game off and we went to Oak Ridge Mall and someone yells Tennessee has come back Notre Dame is kicking. We watched that final kick in one of the stores and my mom runs out crazy saying Tennessee wins Tennessee wins! I was 10 and my brother 6 at the time. Loved growing up watching the Vols

[@ripperduck]

If any SEC team earns the most respect, its Tenn. These guys will go anywhere, anyplace, anytime. What other SEC team leaves the Deep South and goes up to ND in late fall, or the West Coast at the start of the season? None but these guys do it all the time. Much respect to any teams that is willing to do that and the Vols have done it for a long time. That's why, as an Irish die hard, I have deep respect for the Vols.

[@nickbrown9163]

And Tennessee football fell into the shitter after Ripperduck jinxed them (i'm kidding that it was your comment). If you dislike Alabama you should be cheering for a competant Tennessee program. ND should be good this year. The Clemson game is the game of the year on paper. Tennessee should be improved this year. SEC is loaded as usual.

[@topmech71]

They have always challenged teams from out of conference...and always recruited nationally. One of the reasons they did it too was to draw in great players around the country.

[@LineMountain]

Tennessee hasn’t been relevant for 20 years

[@alphaelkdmt3525]

@@LineMountain yet they still can recruit and have more resources and better facilities than the majority of the schools in the country 🤔

[@LineMountain]

@@alphaelkdmt3525 paper champions?! 9 losing seasons in last 20 years. No SEC titles...

[@MustangCoupe1951]

As a Tennessee fan for some 45 plus years, we love the Notre Dame series. The Notre Dame fans are among the very best who visit Knoxville. They are knowledgeable and great fun. One of the best game I have ever seen was the 1990 game in Knoxville when ND won by 5. We had a wide receiver open in the back of the end zone, and a ND D-back closed and got a finger tip on the ball to preserve the win for ND. Then, the following year, we get this gem in South Bend.

[@dmattinman]

Edward Nethery I was at that game too. Andy Kelley to Carl Pickens and it came oh so close to being a big win for us.

[@FrankRizzo7080]

@@dmattinman as a ND diehard I agree with you! Miss those games with the vols

[@thesbleeder2162]

As a lifelong Irish fan I have been in the audience for two games in South Bend against Tennessee. This one (my heart still hurts a bit) and then in 2005. You have an amazing, classy fan base as well and I hope this series can be revived some day. I remember watching that 1990 game as well. Rocket Ismail on a toss out of a full house backfield went about 40 yards to put the Irish up for good. But Tennessee scored, and then recovered an onside kick. Great game.

[@finisher3x]

This game is always special for Vols fans, but this is probably the greatest college football game in the past 30 years, that no one ever talks about. Matter of fact, the 2 games that Tennessee and Notre Dame played against each other in 1990 and 1991 were both outstanding games with high drama.

[@Nastyfinger1444]

John Ward was a great announcer. From someone who follows FSU this guy was AWESOME!!!

[@danielking9252]

It was great to see two Detroit running backs in the game Aaron Hayden Tennessee #24 Detroit Mumford......Jerome Bettis #6 Detroit Mckenzie Notre Dame.....I watched this game in the Army...2nd Ranger Batt...played against both of them in highschool..Thank you both for the memories!

[@robjohnson8861]

Detroit is known for 1 thing ONLY. Barry Sanders. Too bad he was relegated to such a dismal franchise.

[@robjohnson8861]

@IkeGee1973 yeah Detriot was a monster before and after Sanders. Wait for it....WTF!

[@stephendean2896]

I watched this game The Notre Dame kicker was hurt in the block field goal right before half time and didn't return in the second half. If he had returned he would have made that field goal at the end of the game cause he was a great kicker. I remember thinking it was unbelievable series of events that lead to our victory

[@KevyB1990]

Thank you John Ward for all those great calls of UT Football. We miss you. This was an awesome comeback without question. Probably one of three signature wins for Johnny. The other two being beating the Bear in his last visit to Neyland to break the streak at that time and putting a beatdown on "The U" in the Sugar Bowl in '86.

[@teddycorbin7147]

Kevin Barnard what a terrible radio announcer. Stumbling over words and inaccurate with his calls lol. Holy fuck

[@tennsmoothie]

Teddy - you don't get it. You must not be from Tennessee. Now we have the fucking robot, Bob Kessling.

[@medicineman360]

Teddy, shut up. John Ward epitomized iconic. Many, many of us grew up listening to him. In fact, it was common to watch the game on TV, with the sound off, and listen to the radio. RIP John Ward!

[@medicineman360]

Kevin Barnard Yes! One of the best I got to witness. Remember sitting with our feet in the snow? And not being able to see anything?

[@zackamania6534]

Kevin Barnard top 8 Vols: 1) 98 NC game 2) 98 Lady Vols NC 3) 86 Sugar Bowl 4) 97 SEC championship 5) 98 UT-Ark 6) 82 Bama 7) 10 Kansas bball 8) 08 Memphis game

[@aaronrider4051]

John Ward's commentary is great. "I have absolutely no idea what he was doing." ha ha ha

[@klugermann5806]

John Ward was the best!

[@Qpitmaster]

This will never, ever, ever get old.

[@8avexp]

To us Notre Dame fans, this was a nightmare. Worst collapse at home in ND history.

[@robjohnson8861]

Where was the fight to show the country this was a fluke though. Traveled to Penn State the next week and got beat by 22 points. PSU also scored 35 points.

[@topmech71]

Not a Notre Dame fan but they have great history and that stadium is special, never been there but you can tell. And always loved how they do that deep hum or whatever when the opposing offense is on the field.

[@laddjm]

One of the best comebacks of all time. Go Vols!!

[@JSBrown303]

I always loved how John Ward later on said how folks who were listening told him that they didn't find out the actual final score as in one way or another they shut off their radios when John first said the kick was good!

[@conniemassey330]

And i was there ! Met the team going to the bus to head to the stadium.The players looked like they are going to a funeral . Chief was not in a good mood and Johnny Majors - well he. Was Johnny ;) great memories for sure . I have a game poster with a game ticket signed by Johnny . Its a treasure for sure . Go Vols

[@claygreen7253]

So good! Love you Andrew Kelly. Rhea county 100%. God Bless You AK. We all love you. Dickson county TN loves you.

[@Futurecoach16]

This is by far the greatest UT game ever played. Notre Dame was a great team back then, and there has not been a comeback greater than this in such a tough place. Gotta love the final score by the Vols and watching Carl Pickens take his defender out the back of the endzone allowing Aaron Hayden to get in to the endzone. Receivers today don't work that hard without the ball.

[@claygreen7253]

Dayton TN's Andy Kelly. Best ever QB born in Tennessee. Damn I'm old. 48. Never will forget Kelly. Hope he's doing well. Love you AK

[@alysonbrown13]

@MrGlobalman67 I have been to a few ND/UT games AT ND and I must say I've NEVER experienced as much hospitality from another Team's fans than I have at South Bend. Ole Miss is a close second, but ND fans have gone out of their way to be kind to their opponents fans -EVEN AFTER LOSING- which is a hell of a LOT more than I can say about 98% of other school's fans. And Good Luck this year ND! When you beat the shit out of USC make sure you tell Lane we said hello : )

[@PrimetimeD]

I remember this game. I was at work and knew the Vols were way behind, but my parents called a couple of times to let me know the Vols were coming back. We huddled around this radio in our building which we could barely hear due to static, and when I heard the great John Ward say "NO GOOD. NO GOOD." I went crazy, running around like a wild man. Thanks a lot for posting this.

[@tannermacleod5237]

I was just a toddler but remember Andy Kelly, Carl Pickens, Dale Carter and many many more very talented players

[@topmech71]

IMO Carl Pickens was the best receiver Tennessee has ever had, and they've had some great ones. He did everything receiver, return kicks, punt returns etc.

[@medicineman360]

Was there with the UT band. We were actually sitting inside the little wall, with our feet in snow that had been scraped off the field. The FG attempt was at the opposite side of the field from where we were. The angle we could (barely) see looked like it went in, and the ND fans went nuts, thinking it was good. Then we noticed a small patch of orange, directly behind the goalposts going even more nuts. It had bounced off Jeremy Lincoln's butt and went wide. 🤣🤣

[@Mystic0157]

Down to the 3, Down to the 2, Down to the 1, DOWN TO THE END ZONE!!!!!!!!! John Ward forever.

[@sixsentsoldiers]

A great Voice.

[@chucktilley7155]

I'm from Tuscaloosa so I pull for Alabama obviously but I've always enjoyed listening to John Ward

[@darrylwillett8359]

I still have this newspaper on my wall!

[@staceyduggan2257]

I was at that game...remember it well! Those were the days.....

[@conniemassey330]

Your right ! It was my first big game ever and the weather held driving back to Jackson and then watching it again . We recorded it

[@tommythomason6187]

Tennessee has always been awesome on the gridiron. You look at old clips from the 1960s and they were in the thick of things.

[@acerrspage4205]

One of those rare times a Gator Fan was cheering for the Vols...(actually, anytime any SEC Team is playing out of Conference. This Gator Fan is cheering for them)

[@Sammiejomitchell]

Acerr's Page same here. UT first SEC next against all other schools. Best conference there is.

[@nurseguy7581]

We had kicked my brother in law out of the house after Tennessee got down due to his complaining. He missed the entire comeback. He was out back throwing a football and kicking a football apparently. Right as the field goal was missed, he had punted a football in the backyard and it crashed through the back window of the living room where we were watching the game just as the field goal was missed. CRAZY night

[@davidlounsberry4127]

That's hilarious

[@cool-hf2pe]

Lmfao

[@ricardocavazos7114]

What yr. Was this game ??

[@nickbrown9163]

1991. My friends and i played football after the Vols got crushed. I was shocked to find out Tennessee came back to win. Crazy day

[@jimmorrison1553]

@@nickbrown9163 Crushed? I thought they won that game.

[@goutvols103]

I remember that day well, November 9, 1991. I talked myself into cycling from Nashville to Cookeville and it was quite cold. I was listening to the game on a radio off and on to Cookeville. I arrived in Cookeville and saw the blocked field goal and was trying to change clothes and head up to the airport in Knoxville but I was talked out of it. Coach Majors on this his Sunday show with John Ward was quite animated about the blocked kick. He said that Touchdown Jesus said, "No good, off to the right".

[@ultraollie]

Actually, the video doesn't comment on that, but the reason the kick missed was because the Tennessee player who tried to block the kick overran it a bit and the ball grazed off of his butt. After the game, he thanked his mom for endowing him with a big butt! So technically, Tennessee blocked the final kick; it wasn't a miss.

[@finisher3x]

So many unexpected heroes on this day, making incredible plays. They should have a bronze statue of JJ McClesky's butt cheek as a tribute to that game.

[@Ken-dt7ek]

Absolute magic!! GO Volunteers!!!

[@DAVE43072]

"Give him six!",classic John Ward

[@derkommissar1917]

I don't think anyone knew that had happened until they spoke to the player well after the game had ended. His name was Jeremy Lincoln, and he later played several years in the NFL. ND had the same suspect blocking as on the FG try to end the first half. Lincoln got into the backfield so fast he overran the play, but the ball got just enough of his butt to throw the kick off-line.

[@donhawk5763]

Hard to believe this was nearly 20 years ago. I remember watching this.

[@claygreen7253]

If you are from the SEC and play for Yankee Notre Dame??? He'll never with that shit. I will never forget this game. 14 Dad listening to Ward on the radio. Miss you Johnny Majors.

[@adamallison3685]

JJ was everywhere, seems like he was there 7 years, one year he would play defense the next year offense

[@SteveGaines]

John Ward WAS UT SPORTS... I remember many UT football games that would be on TV and people would turn the sound all the way down...Turn on the radio and listen to John Ward do the "PLAY BY PLAY"...John was the man..

[@eddiewiser1968]

All time favorite.

[@jroyals26]

Look Notre Dame had ol' Granny Clampet on the sidelines.

[@topmech71]

Are you talking about Lou Holtz...great coach, in fact two great coaches here.

[@philipkane9393]

My sister and I were at this game----yes, it was great if you were a Vols fan----but it was a first rate downer for us Irish fans.....c'est la vie! :)

[@ClearBrookExotics]

Thank you, John Ward!

[@holtridge]

I can't believe Jeremy Lincoln blocked that kick after all of these years. He saved the day for sure.

[@medicineman360]

holtridge Well, his butt saved the day. 🤣

[@chandlerwhite8302]

Blocked it with his butt!!!

[@bobmurica4174]

I’ve beena diehard Tennessee since I was 12 years old. My first game was UT beating Auburn in the rain in Knoxville. Cobb’s 70+ yard TD run was right towards where we were sitting. This game however is my favorite. ND was a juggernaut in those days and for UT to go to S.Bend and come from behind was just simply awesome. Lou Holtz lost that game for ND though. For some crazy reason he got away from running the football, which they had done right down UT’s throats the first half, and started throwing. Anyway, one of the greatest wins in UT history and my favorite game ever.

[@donhawk5763]

@FridayTN This game was played November 9, 1991. Tennessee and Notre Dame played in South Bend on November 11, 1978 (Tennessee lost 31-14), in Knoxville on November 10, 1979 (Tennessee won 40-18) which may be the game you're thinking of. They played each other again in Knoxville November 10, 1990 (Tennessee lost 34-29), and in South Bend the next year (this game).

[@finisher3x]

The 1990 game was great as well, despite us being on the losing end. Rocket Ismael was a monster in that game.

[@warblerab2955]

Notre Dame's helmets looked so much better back then.

[@polopimp1000]

Man, like those Tennessee uniforms...so classic

[@joshuagann8026]

Ward spoke that interception into existence

[@christopherthomas1570]

Thank you John

[@1volfan931]

For all the ones who are questioning that final drive that resulted in a missed field goal...let me remind you, that you can't let the game come down to one play, especially if you had your opponent down 21 points and let them come back. No excuses! GBO

[@robjohnson8861]

Totally agree. "Majors, why did you get yourself in such a Fing hole to begin with and had it not been for a lucky missed FG by ND, TN would have lost." It helped the administration validate that Majors time was limited.

[@johncate9541]

They actually led by 24, 31-7, and would have gone up by 27 if that field goal hadn't been blocked at the end of the first half. The video doesn't mention it, but the game-ending field goal was partially blocked as well. Jeremy Lincoln got into the ND backfield so quickly that he actually outran the play. Leonard's kick grazed his butt, and that did just enough to knock the ball off course and wide right. If anyone is to blame, it's the ND coaching staff. You get one field goal blocked in a game, that's one thing. If it happens twice, shame on you.

[@moxfulder5303]

I remember watching with my dad and brother in our den. We all were jumping up and down after that field goal was no good!

[@derkommissar1917]

@mababi33333 I was 19 when this was played. What I remember about it was the field goal we blocked right before halftime. When we got the touchdown, even though UT was still down 17 at the half, I somehow knew we were going to win. On the last ND field goal try, Jeremy Lincoln got in there so quick he nearly overran the kick. It went wide right only because it grazed his butt as Lincoln went past. Also, probably the greatest game in the UT career of future Arenaball legend Andy Kelly.

[@DTCN1974]

I remember this game! Wow...just Wow!

[@JB5GoIrish]

Why did our field goal unit have to ruin this game for us? Congratulations, Tennessee. Amazing comeback, made even more amazing by the fact that it was in South Bend during ND Stadium's feared days.

[@tennsmoothie]

I look forward to the day when Notre Dame Stadium and Neyland are both feared again. Notre Dame is close, just can't get a handle on Kelley - it may be with academics and all, he is doing as well as anyone could. The Irish are Top 10 again at least.

[@thesbleeder2162]

Tennessee's FG Block team was responsible for two blocked FGs, a touchdown, and knocking Craig Hentrich out of the game.

[@mrblujet]

...and reminding yourselve of the glory years. OOOhhhhh how long ago those were.

[@Fultonfalcons86]

man i remember this game shew i feel old now this was a hell of a comeback win for ut.

[@anthonycimino2535]

This is probably the last time the Irish scheduled a SEC opponent in the regular season. Now the Irish play their typical cupcakes at home like Marshall, Nevada, some armed services team, Stanford, etc. Don't lose this tape. We will never see the Irish play a legit SEC team at home ever again!!!

[@michaelwilson9986]

Best of the Best Teams In UT History

[@loudonrebel]

I miss these days.

[@Futurecoach16]

That has got to be the greatest game in UT history. ND was amazing then, and no one gave UT a chance to win that one. A minor technicality, but that screen pass works because Carl Pickens takes his defender out the back of the endzone. I wish receivers today, as a whole, would work as hard without the ball as they do with it, like Pickens did on that play.

[@theinnocentculprit5527]

This is how I pop the cherry on all my radios

[@smokeycoonhoundut6081]

Andy Kelly is still my favorite Vol QB

[@snoopy834]

Wow it's back when we knew how to play football before it came to the point of GEE GOLLY SHUCKS WE WILL TRY HARDER.

[@johnstonejaxfldoxmebitch7388]

Still gives me chills. And Johnny was the best dressed coach of all time.

[@dolphinbuc]

Nothing touches this game!

[@jamieslate8111]

Just awesome

[@davidtn]

Love John Ward!

[@charliebabbitt3314]

ND fan much respect and admiration for Johnny Terrill Majors...Great coach no doubt about it....Great for college football and football in general. I was actually at the 1990 game inTN and had the best time except for the fake tickets I bought but ended up getting in and watched a fantastic game. arguably 2 of the best back to back games I ever witnessed live. One happy, another miserable. Great win for TN....I'd much rather see TN dominate sec over Bama, Auburn, Georgia (although don't particularly mind them either), but lets get it going again TN..! Congrats

[@chriso8593]

Awesome!

[@alysonbrown13]

@BenjaminJacob EVERY video, including the ones from every dame since the National Champrionshiptoday make me miss John Ward. There will never be another. God Bless that Man.

[@zachcarmon9712]

We wanted to gain revenge on notre dame for beating us in Knoxville the year previous one of the greatest games in vol football history

[@ripperduck]

@alysonbrown13 I would be very happy to pass along your best wishes to Lane, when we do wreck the Trojans. And thanks for the kind words about us. I've heard some varying opinions about our fans, but I know damn well that we have nothing but respect for the SEC. They're the best conference and the best teams in the country. And good luck to the Big O....

[@sixsentsoldiers]

The only time i pull for the Vols. Vs. Notre dame.

[@Fultonfalcons86]

@ripperduck yep i agree my vols have no problem going anywhere to play , if i heard correctly we will soon be adding the o-lieo state to the schedule and a few more out of conference big shots as well............. gotta respect ND for adding good teams to there schedule as well:)

[@BillyBong05]

Even Touchdown Jesus couldn't save the Irish. HAHA, good stuff

[@nancyscannell3050]

YOURE NOT VERY FUNNY,JERK!😮

[@TheMemphisSlim]

Happy 76th birthday, Coach Johnny Majors 5-21-2011

[@nickbrown9163]

Coach Majors passed today. Rest in peace.

[@Sev3nD4ys]

You can say, IT'S CRAZY FOOTBALL!!!

[@ut4life05]

Well you are crazy too. John Ward is the best thing thats happened to Tennessee broadcast since the first radio tower went up.

[@Rjb0224]

I was at this game, and this loss ruined ND's chances for a National Title. It was a year where ND had their hands on the #1 ranking like 3 times or something like that. I'm a huge irish fan and I remember this game.

[@troydixson8097]

He's acted like a all-american and I mean played even

[@ut4life05]

You are CRAZY!!!!!!!!

[@skeetculpepper5043]

I loved John Ward great announcer, but boy he lost it the last three years. And I was listening back his first year in 68

[@RikSchneider]

Good to see Tennessee playing Notre Dame, this would make a good annual rivalry.

[@dolphinbuc]

Epic! I went bannanas when Vols pulled this out.

[@chasemarkland5709]

I really wish they would bring these uniforms back.

[@pn1457]

Von Reeves was a beast.

[@ndfaithful]

Miracle at South Bend: the Irish get a first down.

[@PrimetimeD]

John Ward was so awesome. I don't know if any Vols fan anywhere didn't have the TV on mute and listen to John during the games.

[@tennsmoothie]

Definitely

[@nates4444]

great video.. does anyone have a vid from the 2005 UT, LSU game.. that was another game i won't soon forget..... kinda felt bad for the tigers being it was there first home game since Katrina.. but hey GO VOLS

[@chrisdonahue]

RIP JOHNNY MAJORS

[@imperialfist93]

I miss John Ward and Johnny Majors.

[@StFidjnr]

the TOUCHDOWN, AUBURN! one it is.

[@Football__Junkie]

Poor Craig Hentrich had a rough day. At least redeemed himself by joining a Tennessee team

[@goutvols103]

I will never forget the Coach Majors show on that Sunday with John Ward. Coach Majors was obviously still celebrating and when the blocked field goal came up, Coach Majors got animated about the Touchdown Jesus. So instead of his arms raised for a touchdown, Coach Majors waives his arms and said, “No good, off to the right”.

[@tanner9619]

Tennessee had the 3rd hardest schedule in the nation this year no ideal who was 1st or 2nd

[@hillbillyvol]

Big Von Reeves from Austin-East HS, a roadrunner.

[@johncate9541]

I remember him most for the TD pass he threw in the 1990 beatdown of Visor Boy's Gators...