The Best Plays of 2009: Choosing the field of 16

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jun 1, 2010 6:58 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

I wrote in the Rocky Top Tennessee 2010 preseason magazine/book/annual that the 2009 season was a bit like throwing up after your favorite meal; whatever goodness it held going down, the ending soured the whole thing. Even a faint whiff of the formerly appealing makes you want to hurl again.

That's a real shame, though, because there were actually some great football moments in 2009. Because the positive memories of 2009 are vulnerable to extinction in light of how the season ended (and because it's summer), we decided to go ahead with a Best Plays of 2009 Bracket even if it sometimes conjures up bad memories along with the good.

Every season, I compile a list of highlights -- plays that are scores, runs over 10 yards, receptions over 20 yards, big hits, etc. For the 2009 bracket, I've already pared that list of 264 plays down to the following thirty-six, and now it's up to the RTT community at large to select the field of 16.

The candidates:

WKU_8	(2nd and 0) Bryce Brown rush for 2 yards to the WKU0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 13:41.
WKU_21	(1st and 10) M. Hardesty rush for 43 yards to the WKU0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 07:28.
UCLA_14	(3rd and 9) Prince, Kevin sacked for loss of 2 yards to the UCLA0 (Rogan, D.), Rogan, D. safety, clock 01:41.
Florida_6	(2nd and 16) [shotgun/1 back], Tebow, T. left flat pass intercepted by Eric Berry at the UF20, Eric Berry return 0 yards to the UF20.
Florida_12	(2nd and 6) [shotgun/2 backs], Tebow, T. rush over right end for 11 yards to the UT2, fumble forced by Montori Hughes, fumble by Tebow, T. recovered by UT Dennis Rogan at UT2, Dennis Rogan for 35 yards to the UT
Florida_18	(3rd and 4) [shotgun/0 backs], Tebow, T. crossing pass incomplete to James, B. (Janzen Jackson). BIG HIT.
Ohio_11	(3rd and 29) Scott, T. pass intercepted by Chris Walker at the OHIO7, Chris Walker return 7 yards to the OHIO0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 07:23.
Auburn_1	(1st and 10) Richardson, N. rush for 41 yards to the AU24, 1ST DOWN UT (Thorpe, N.).
Auburn_13	(2nd and 7) Crompton, J. pass complete to Hardesty, M. for 31 yards to the AU0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:36.
Georgia_4	(3rd and 3) Cox, J. pass intercepted by Chris Walker at the UT44, Chris Walker return 0 yards to the UT44 (Gerald Williams), QB hurry by Dan Williams.
Georgia_6	(2nd and 0) J. Crompton pass complete to Gerald Jones for 6 yards to the GA0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 13:10.
Georgia_8	(1st and 10) J. Crompton pass complete to Denarius Moore for 33 yards to the GA0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:29.
Georgia_14	(1st and 10) M. Hardesty rush for 39 yards to the GA0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 04:06.
Georgia_16	(1st and 10) J. Crompton pass complete to Gerald Jones for 51 yards to the GA0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:59.
Georgia_19	(4th and 1) Cox, J. pass complete to Moore, M. for 7 yards to the UT40, fumble forced by Art Evans, fumble by Moore, M. recovered by UT Eric Berry at UT40, Eric Berry for 46 yards to the GA14 (Glenn, C.). BIG HIT.
Alabama_1	(3rd and 5) Greg McElroy RF pass incomplete, QB hurry by Berry, E.. BIG HIT.
Alabama_12	(1st and 10) Mark Ingram rush over left tackle for 5 yards to the UA43, fumble forced by Berry, E., fumble by Mark Ingram recovered by UT Rogan, D. at UA43.
Alabama_13	(3rd and 5) Crompton, J. crossing pass complete to Jones, G. for 11 yards to the UA0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 01:19.
Alabama_14	(1st and 0) Lincoln, D. kickoff 11 yards to the UT41, on-side kick, recovered by UT on UT41.
Alabama_15	(2nd and 15) Crompton, J. deep pass complete to Stocker, L. for 23 yards to the UA27, 1ST DOWN UT (Robby Green).
South Carolina_1	(3rd and 8) Garcia, S. pass complete to Cunningham, J. for 14 yards to the SC43, fumble forced by Jackson, J., fumble by Cunningham, J. recovered by UT Williams, D. at SC43.
South Carolina_4	(1st and 10) Hardesty, M. rush for 14 yards to the SC0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:00.
South Carolina_6	(2nd and 10) Garcia, S. rush for 7 yards to the SC29, fumble forced by McCoy, R., fumble by Garcia, S. recovered by UT Rogan, D. at SC29, Rogan, D. for 7 yards to the SC22, out-of-bounds.
Memphis_1	Oku 69-yard kickoff return
Memphis_6	(2nd and 0) J. Crompton pass complete to Gerald Jones for 17 yards to the MEM0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 09:32.
Memphis_11	(1st and 10) J. Crompton pass complete to Luke Stocker for 23 yards to the MEM0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:11.
Memphis_16	(3rd and 3) Hudgens, W. pass intercepted by Eric Berry at the UT6, Eric Berry return 7 yards to the UT13 (Rucker, M.;Singleton, C.) (Dennis Rogan).
Memphis_24	(1st and 10) J. Crompton pass complete to Denarius Moore for 16 yards to the MEM0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 12:38.
Vanderbilt_10	(3rd and 6) Crompton, J. pass complete to Moore, D. for 11 yards to the VU0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:16.
Vanderbilt_11	(2nd and 4) Crompton, J. pass complete to Stocker, L. for 16 yards to the VU0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:05.
Vanderbilt_17	(3rd and 2) Adams, M. pass intercepted by Brown, W. at the VU25, Brown, W. return 25 yards to the VU0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:03, QB hurry by Walker, C..
Kentucky_7	(1st and 10) M. Hardesty rush for 13 yards to the UK0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:54.
Kentucky_20	(3rd and 5) M. Hardesty rush for 20 yards to the UK0, 1ST DOWN UT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 15:00.
Virginia Tech_6	(2nd and 0) M. Hardesty rush for 4 yards to the VATECH0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:43.
Virginia Tech_10	(3rd and 19) Taylor, T pass intercepted by Janzen Jackson at the TENN23, Janzen Jackson return 29 yards to the VATECH48 (Wang, E).
Virginia Tech_11	(1st and 10) J. Crompton pass complete to M. Hardesty for 47 yards to the VATECH1, 1ST DOWN TENN (Chancellor, K).

Everybody has different criteria for what constitutes a good play. Some judge exclusively on individual effort, some on team effort. Some account for context and the importance of the play to the outcome of the game. Some mix and match and go primarily on gut.

That's all part of the fun, I think, and so I won't impose any particular criteria for selection. So leave your top 16 in the comments below. At the very least, note the handful you really believe should be included. If you're having problems remembering any of these, ask away.

And just for posterity's sake, here are the winners from the last several years: 2008, 2007, 2006.

So . . . who should make the field of 16 in 2009?

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Comments

My favorite play of the ones listed

is the Moore touchdown against Georgia. I’m probably biased because I was at the game, in the upperdeck right above the corner of the end zone he scored in, but I thought he was out of bounds 3 yards back. It took the official several seconds to signal a touchdown. Every time I see that reply, I still have no idea how he kept his foot from coming down while still getting the ball over the pylon.

by dmiles on Jun 1, 2010 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

I agree that this is best of the year

by Incipient_Senescence on Jun 1, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Wes Brown!

Joel’s write-up says it all. here

by ChattVol on Jun 1, 2010 8:49 AM EDT reply actions

Even if this is like throwing something back up

last year this exercise was like remembering a death…hopefully it’ll keep getting better.

My choices for seeding:

1. Denarius Moore diving TD vs UGA
2. Wes Brown TD vs Vandy
3. Hardesty OT game winner at UK
4. Hardesty screen pass TD vs Auburn
5. Chris Walker INT/TD vs Ohio
6. Hardesty spin move TD vs South Carolina
7. Gerald Jones bomb TD vs UGA
8. Eric Berry fumble ret vs UGA
9. Alabama onside kick
10. Hardesty TD run vs UGA
11. Crompton to Stocker Alabama final drive
12. Tebow fumble
13. Hardesty TD run vs VT
14. Hardesty screen pass vs VT
15. UCLA safety
16. Hardesty TD run vs WKU

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Jun 1, 2010 10:00 AM EDT reply actions

Well, I'm with you on 13 of 16

But I replaced the onside kick, safety, and any WKU play with a Stonewall Jackson hit, another Hardesty TD (vs. UK), and a Johnson TD.

by Incipient_Senescence on Jun 1, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions

God 2008 was pathetic...

pretty bad when a big hit is your best play of the year… that’s getting close to “properly covered/properly fielded punt” territory.

by Caban on Jun 1, 2010 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Actually, a punt that made the final list of nominees last year

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Jun 1, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

lost in the voting right away

but still

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Jun 1, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Janzen Jackson big hit vs. Florida
Rogan 35 yd fumble return vs. Florida
Unblockable Walker TD vs. Ohio
Hardesty TD vs. Auburn
Moore TD vs. Georgia
Hardesty TD vs. Georgia
Jones long TD vs. Georgia
Berry return vs. Georgia
pass to Stocker vs. Alabama (why didn’t we do that again?)
Hardesty spin move against Carolina
Wes Brown TD vs. Vandy
Hardesty game-winner vs. Kentucky
Hardesty 14-yd TD vs. Kentucky
Hardesty TD vs. VT
Hardesty screen pass vs. VT

I’m going off the board for #16:

Austin Johnson’s shining moment against Carolina. Just a really well-designed play, and in my opinion, the most memorable from that game.

by Incipient_Senescence on Jun 1, 2010 1:23 PM EDT reply actions

I'm just listing things off the top of my head

And I think I’m also biased by being at the UGA/Bama games.

Hardesty TD run against UF
Chris Walker INT return against Ohio
Hardesty TD catch against Auburn
Moore TD catch against UGA
Jones TD catch against UGA
Hardesty TD run against UGA
Berry fumble return against UGA
Onside recovery against Bama
Stocker up the seam against Bama
Hardesty sick nasty spin move against SCarolina
Wes Brown INT return against Vandy
Hardesty OT winner against UK

If I had to choose 4 more…I’d go with the safety against UCLA, Janzen’s hit against Florida, Johnson’s TD reception against SCarolina, and something from the Memphis game (surely 1 of those 8 TD’s was highlight reel material…right?).

by VolnVA on Jun 1, 2010 3:42 PM EDT reply actions