At stake: Pride, and avoiding the distinction as the worst team in Tennessee Volunteer history. With two games remaining in what had already been dubbed the Season of Constant Sorrow, Tennessee was 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the SEC. Following the announcement of Phillip Fulmer's forced resignation, the team had reeled the entire week and lost to lowly Wyoming for Homecoming. Would the team find its footing against Vanderbilt, or would they become the worst in Tennessee history by losing eight games in a season?
In-game context: After a scoreless first quarter, Montario Hardesty finally got the Vols on the board with an eight-yard TD with 11:25 to go in the second. Daniel Lincoln added three points on the next series. Things were looking good, and on Vandy's ensuing possession, somebody got a pick six. Guess who:
Impact: That put the Vols up 17-0 and the game out of reach for the Commodores. Brent Vinson's Pick Six Poop Out occurred not long after, and Tennessee went into the locker room 20-0. Vandy scored 10 in the second half, but Tennessee finally had its second SEC win, and more importantly, had avoided that historical eighth loss.