Even though Jim Bowman’s scouting report for the 1971 Sugar Bowl between Tennessee and Air Force was made almost 36 years ago, it could apply today.
The teams meet again Saturday for the first time since that Jan. 1 game in New Orleans, this time in Knoxville, Tenn. The Volunteers won the previous meeting 34-13 after jumping out to a 20-0 lead.
Bowman, associate athletic director for recruiting support at Air Force, scouted the Vols during the 1970 season in games against Vanderbilt and UCLA, and UCLA offensive coordinator Dick Vermeil provided some words of wisdom.
“Dick Vermeil told me that Air Force would need some breaks because Tennessee was a really good football team,” Bowman said. “I saw that for myself, but we had a good team that year. Air Force had beaten Missouri on the road in St. Louis, and that was a huge victory for us. We also beat Stanford and quarterback Jim Plunkett in Falcon Stadium.”
The bottom line to Bowman’s scouting report read: “They will try to run you out of the Sugar Bowl. We must have a Missouri or Stanford performance to win. Anything less than 100 percent from all 55 players will not be enough.”
And to rub it in, a stray dog got on the field at Tulane Stadium and put on a run-chase show for more than 10 minutes, delaying play and the telecast of the game.
“The dog had more possession time than we did,” Bowman said last week.
Tennessee was 10-1 in the 1970 regular season – losing 36-23 to Auburn but beating Alabama 24-0 and UCLA 28-17 – and Air Force was 9-2 – losing 46-35 to Oregon and 49-19 to Colorado but beating Missouri 37-14 and Stanford 31-14.
None of the participants today, except possibly for Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, even think about the first meeting. Fulmer played in the game for Tennessee.
“Back then, there weren’t as many bowl games, and the teams who played in bowl games were all good,” Fulmer said. “It was a tough, physical game. Air Force had a good passing game, but they create different challenges today.
“I never dreamed then that I’d be the head coach of a team playing against Air Force. I have great respect for all the service academies.”
Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry isn’t dwelling on the 1971 game, and says the Falcons must contend with Tennessee’s great team speed, especially the defensive unit.
He has tried to bring a little bit of the Vols’ Neyland Stadium and their more than 100,000 fans to Air Force’s practices. The Falcons practiced while serenaded by loud playing of the “Rocky Top” tune that is heard frequently during Tennessee games.
“I hope our players are tired of hearing me and tired of hearing that song,” DeBerry said. “The last time Air Force played Tennessee was a long, long time ago. I haven’t mentioned it. I want this team to stand on its own merits.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
