1972 Tennessee Volunteers football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1972

| team = Tennessee Volunteers

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Southeastern Conference

| short_conf = SEC

| CoachRank = 11

| APRank = 8

| record = 10–2

| conf_record = 4–2

| head_coach = Bill Battle

| hc_year = 3rd

| off_coach = Jim Wright

| captain = Jamie Rotella

| stadium = Neyland Stadium

| champion = Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion

| bowl = Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl

| bowl_result = {{Tooltip|W|Won}} 24–17 vs. LSU

}}

The 1972 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Bill Battle, in his third year, and played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and a victory over LSU in the 1972 Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. The Volunteers offense scored 297 points while the defense allowed 100 points.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1972

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 9

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 15

| opponent = Georgia Tech

| site_stadium = Grant Field

| site_cityst = Atlanta, GA

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ABC

| score = 34–3

| attend = 52,112

| source = {{Cite news |date=September 10, 1972 |title=Vols wreck Tech, 34–3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101340932/vols-wreck-tech-343/ |access-date=May 7, 2022 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |via=Newspapers.com|agency=Associated Press}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 16

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 7

| opponent = Penn State

| opprank = 6

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 28–21

| attend = 71,647

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341175/undefeated-season-ends-early-for-state/|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Undefeated season ends early for State|date=September 17, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 23

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 5

| opponent = Wake Forest

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 45–6

| attend = 66,266

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341374/vol-aerial-attack-blitzes-wf-by-456/|work=The Gastonia Gazette|title=Vol aerial attack blitzes WF by 45–6|date=September 24, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 30

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 4

| opponent = Auburn

| site_stadium = Legion Field

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 6–10

| attend = 69,483

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341643/auburn-does-it-to-tennessee-again-but-t/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Auburn does it to Tennessee again, but this time it's an upset|date=October 1, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 7

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 10

| opponent = Memphis State

| site_stadium = Memphis Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Memphis, TN

| score = 38–7

| attend = 50,201

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341874/interception-vols-key/|work=The Leaf-Chronicle|title=Interception Vols key|date=October 8, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 21

| w/l = l

| rank = 10

| opponent = Alabama

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| gamename = Third Saturday in October

| score = 10–17

| attend = 72,049

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342130/alabama-drops-vols-1710-in-defensive-cl/|work=The Jackson Sun|title=Alabama drops Vols 17–10 in defensive classic|date=October 22, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 28

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 14

| opponent = Hawaii

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 34–2

| attend = 63,903

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342344/tennessee-gridders-drub-hawaii-342/|work=The Daily Advertiser|title=Tennessee gridders drub Hawaii, 34–2|date=October 29, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 4

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 13

| opponent = Georgia

| site_stadium = Sanford Stadium

| site_cityst = Athens, GA

| score = 14–0

| attend = 60,086

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342592/vols-grab-win-over-georgia/|work=Sunday Gazette-Mail|title=Vols grab win over Georgia|date=November 5, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 18

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| rank = 13

| opponent = Ole Miss

| gamename = rivalry

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 17–0

| attend = 70,527

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101342867/vols-vault-into-bluebonnet/|work=The Tennessean|title=Vols vault into Bluebonnet|date=November 19, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 25

| w/l = w

| rank = 12

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 17–7

| attend = 64,836

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101343110/a-gritty-effort-by-kentucky-but-tenness/|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|title=A gritty effort by Kentucky, but Tennessee triumphs 17–7|date=November 26, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 2

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 12

| opponent = Vanderbilt

| site_stadium = Dudley Field

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 30–10

| attend = 34,000

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101343435/stanback-paces-tennessee-to-3010-win-ov/|work=The Paducah Sun|title=Stanback paces Tennessee to 30–10 win over Vandy|date=December 3, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 30

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 11

| opponent = LSU

| opprank = 10

| site_stadium = Houston Astrodome

| site_cityst = Houston, TX

| tv = Mizlou

| gamename = Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl

| score = 24–17

| attend = 52,961

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101343754/quick-striking-vols-muzzle-bengals-late/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=Quick-striking Vols muzzle Bengals' late charge|date=December 31, 1972|accessdate=May 7, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

Rankings

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 0

| poll1lastweek = 14

| poll1_0=15

| poll1_1=7 (1)

| poll1_2=5 (2)

| poll1_3=4 (1)

| poll1_4=10

| poll1_5=11

| poll1_6=10

| poll1_7=14

| poll1_8=13

| poll1_9=13

| poll1_10=13

| poll1_11=12

| poll1_12=12

| poll1_13=11

| poll1_14=8

| poll1_15=

| poll1_16=

| poll1_17=

| poll1_18=

| poll1_19=

| poll2title = Coaches

| poll2firstweek =0

| poll2lastweek =13

| poll2_0=14

| poll2_1=6

| poll2_2=4

| poll2_3=4

| poll2_4=12

| poll2_5=12

| poll2_6=11

| poll2_7=16

| poll2_8=16 т

| poll2_9=13

| poll2_10=13

| poll2_11=12

| poll2_12=11

| poll2_13=11

| poll2_14=

| poll2_15=

| poll2_16=

| poll2_17=

| poll2_18=

| poll2_19=

| poll2_20=

}}

Team players drafted into the NFL

class="wikitable" width="80%"
align="center" style="background:#FF8200;color:#FFFFFF;" \| Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Jamie Rotella	Linebacker	3	62	Baltimore Colts
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Conrad Graham	Defensive back	8	187	Chicago Bears
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Carl Johnson	Back	10	254	Dallas Cowboys
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Richard Earl	Tackle	11	265	Buffalo Bills
align="center" bgcolor=""

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1973/draft.htm?redir |title=1973 NFL Draft |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=March 8, 2012}}

References

Tennessee

Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons

Category:Bluebonnet Bowl champion seasons

Tennessee Volunteers football