1983 Tennessee Volunteers football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1983

| team = Tennessee Volunteers

| sport = football

| image = Tennessee Volunteers logo.svg

| image_size = 125

| conference = Southeastern Conference

| short_conf = SEC

| record = 9–3

| conf_record = 4–2

| head_coach = Johnny Majors

| hc_year = 7th

| off_coach = Walt Harris

| oc_year = 1st

| off_scheme = Multiple

| def_coach = Larry Marmie

| dc_year = 1st

| def_scheme = 5–2

| captain = Reggie White

| stadium = Neyland Stadium

| champion = Florida Citrus Bowl champion

| bowl = Florida Citrus Bowl

| bowl_result = {{Tooltip|W|Won}} 30–23 vs. Maryland

}}

The 1983 Tennessee Volunteers football team (variously "Tennessee", "UT" or the "Vols") represented the University of Tennessee in the 1983 NCAA Division I-A football season. Playing as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team was led by head coach Johnny Majors, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and three losses (9–3 overall, 4–2 in the SEC) and a victory over Maryland in the Florida Citrus Bowl. The Volunteers offense scored 282 points while the defense allowed 165 points.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1983

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 3

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Pittsburgh

| opprank = 10

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 3–13

| attend = 95,824

| source = {{Cite news |date=September 4, 1983 |title=Pitt dumps Vols, 13–3, on long touchdown pass |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107869825/pitt-dumps-vols-133-on-long-touchdown/ |access-date=August 18, 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|agency=Associated Press |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 10

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = New Mexico

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 31–6

| attend = 89,792

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107869993/lobos-fall-before-80792-tennessee-fans/|work=The Santa Fe New Mexican|title=Lobos fall before 80,792 Tennessee fans|date=September 11, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 24

| w/l = l

| opponent = Auburn

| opprank = 11

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 14–37

| attend = 95,185

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107870116/auburn-rebounds-with-win/|work=The Montgomery Advertiser|title=Auburn rebounds with win|date=September 11, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 1

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| opponent = The Citadel

| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Memphis, TN

| score = 45–6

| attend = 20,351

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107870244/vols-outmuscle-the-citadel/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=Vols outmuscle The Citadel|date=October 2, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 8

| w/l = w

| opponent = LSU

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| tv = TBS

| score = 20–6

| attend = 94,478

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107870393/uts-vols-surprise-lsu-206/|work=The Leaf-Chronicle|title=UT's Vols surprise LSU, 20–6|date=October 9, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 15

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Alabama

| opprank = 11

| site_stadium = Legion Field

| site_cityst = Birmingham, AL

| gamename = Third Saturday in October

| score = 41–34

| attend = 77,237

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71536445/last-quarter-surge-lifts-vols-past-tide/|work=Johnson City Press|title=Last quarter surge lifts Vols past Tide|date=October 16, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 22

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Georgia Tech

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| score = 37–3

| attend = 94,478

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107870601/vols-dont-let-down/|work=The Jackson Sun|title=Vols don't let down|date=October 23, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 29

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Rutgers

| site_stadium = Giants Stadium

| site_cityst = East Rutherford, NJ

| score = 7–0

| attend = 19,201

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107870840/running-wild-jones-sets-rushing-mark-in/|work=Johnson City Press-Chronicle|title=Running wild, Jones sets rushing mark in shaky Vol win|date=October 30, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 12

| w/l = l

| homecoming = y

| opponent = Ole Miss

| gamename = rivalry

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| tv = TBS

| score = 10–13

| attend = 95,585

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107870951/rebels-celebrate-1310-upset-of-tennesse/|work=The Greenwood Commonwealth|title=Rebels celebrate 13–10 upset of Tennessee|date=November 13, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 19

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Commonwealth Stadium

| site_cityst = Lexington, KY

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = CBS

| score = 10–0

| attend = 57,985

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107871112/ut-vols-take-100-win/|work=Kingsport Times-News|title=UT Vols take 10–0 win|date=November 20, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 26

| w/l = w

| opponent = Vanderbilt

| site_stadium = Neyland Stadium

| site_cityst = Knoxville, TN

| tv = CBS

| score = 34–24

| attend = 93,426

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107871290/jones-reaches-new-heights-in-ut-win/|work=The Tennessean|title=Jones reaches new heights in UT win|date=November 27, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 17

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| opponent = Maryland

| opprank = 16

| site_stadium = Florida Citrus Bowl

| site_cityst = Orlando, FL

| gamename = Florida Citrus Bowl

| tv = Mizlou

| score = 30–23

| attend = 50,185

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107871385/tennessee-beats-maryland-3023/|work=The Morning News|title=Tennessee beats Maryland 30–23|date=December 18, 1983|accessdate=August 18, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

Roster

{{American football roster/Header

| year = 1983

| team = Tennessee Volunteers

| teamcolors = f

| offensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=2|class=Sr|first=Lenny|last=Taylor|pos=WR|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=6|class=Jr|first=Alan|last=Cockrell|pos=QB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=24|class=Sr|first=Clyde|last=Duncan|pos=WR|link=y}}

| defensive_players =

{{American football roster/Player|num=71|class=Fr|first=Darrin|last=Miller|pos=LB|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=92|class=Sr|first=Reggie|last=White|pos=DE|link=y}}

{{American football roster/Player|num=97|class=Jr|first=Tony|last=Simmons|pos=DE|link=y|dab=Tony Simmons (defensive end)}}

| special_teams_players=

{{American football roster/Player|num=4|class=Jr|first=Fuad|last=Reveiz|pos=K|link=y}}

}}

{{American football roster/Footer

| head_coach = *Johnny Majors

| asst_coach =

Walt Harris – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Doug Mathews – Running backs
Kippy Brown – Wide receivers
David Cutcliffe – Tight ends
Phillip Fulmer – Offensive line
Larry Marmie – Defensive coordinator/inside linebackers
Bill Shaw – Defensive line
Mike Sweatman – Outside linebackers
George Catavolos – Defensive backs
Todd Berry – Graduate assistant
Dennis Therrell – Graduate assistant

| roster_url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/1983

| accessdate=

}}

Team players drafted into the NFL

The following players were selected in the 1984 NFL draft:

class="wikitable" width="80%"
align="center" style="background:#FF8200;color:#FFFFFF;" \| Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Clyde Duncan	Wide Receiver	1	17	St. Louis Cardinals
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Mark Studaway	Defensive End	4	85	Houston Oilers
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Curt Singer	Tackle	6	167	Washington Redskins
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Randall Morris	Fullback	10	270	Seattle Seahawks
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Lenny Taylor	Wide Receiver	12	313	Green Bay Packers
align="center" bgcolor="" \| Glenn Streno	Center	12	327	Detroit Lions
align="center" bgcolor=""

References:{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/draft.htm?redir |title=1984 NFL Draft |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=March 12, 2012}}

The following players were selected in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft:

class="wikitable" width="80%"
align="center" style="background:#FF8200;color:#FFFFFF;" \| Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL club
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Reggie White	Defensive End	1	4	Philadelphia Eagles
align="center" bgcolor=""

References:

References

Tennessee

Category:Tennessee Volunteers football seasons

Category:Citrus Bowl champion seasons

Tennessee Volunteers football