By Zion Murray
Twenty-five years later, the memories of 9/11 remain, and the impact has changed the lives of thousands, as well as left a nation grieving. For the University of Tennessee, Sept. 11, 2001, was also a day when the game of football seemed very small.
The Tennessee Volunteers were ranked No. 8 in the nation and were preparing for one of the biggest games on their schedule: a trip to Gainesville to take on No. 2 Florida. The rivalry between these two schools has been one of the defining matchups in the SEC, and it was set to feature a clash between two unbeaten teams.
The Vols’ Tuesday routine was disrupted as the attacks unfolded. As the entire nation was left in shock by this tragedy, Tennessee canceled its normal media events. The state of the nation during this time really put the game into perspective.
The contest between the Vols and the Gators was originally scheduled for Sept. 15, 2001. However, the game would no longer take place on that date after the SEC and other major conferences within college athletics decided to postpone all of the games that were scheduled to take place that weekend.
Instead of standing on the sidelines of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer spent part of the weekend striving for something that means more by helping those affected by the terrorist attacks. On Sunday, Sept. 16, Fulmer appeared on WATE-TV in Knoxville for a telethon benefiting the American Red Cross and its relief and recovery efforts.
The University of Tennessee purposefully used this time to continue looking for ways to help. The following week, the Vols held the “Meet the Fans” event at the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, where players and coaches signed autographs while fans made donations to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The initiative proved effective as they raised over $3,000 for the cause.
Sports are powerful in the way they can unite people and bring them together for a greater good. Tennessee’s football program used its platform in a way to bring hope and aid to those who needed it most. The servant-hearted spirit was fitting for a university that has long carried and represented the Volunteers’ nickname.
Eventually, the college football season would resume, and for the Vols, all paths led to the Swamp. The matchup between Tennessee and Florida was scheduled for Dec. 1, becoming the final regular-season game of the Vols’ 2001 campaign. The Vols entered the game ranked No. 4 and would go on to earn an upset victory against No. 2 Florida in Gainesville, 34-32.
The 2001 Vols were eventually remembered for many things. They defeated tough competition in the form of ranked teams, produced one of the best rushing seasons on Rocky Top through Travis Stephens, reached the SEC Championship game, and finished 11-2 after defeating Michigan in the Citrus Bowl.
However, their response to the attacks and effort to help those in need also belong at the forefront of the story as well. Fulmer and his players rallied the community around a cause greater than football, coming together to support those in need. On a day when the country was reminded how fragile life could truly be, the Volunteers demonstrated that football could wait.