Saturday will represent Champions Weekend on Rocky Top this fall.
During this weekend’s game between No. 21 Tennessee and South Carolina in Neyland Stadium, the Vols’ athletics department will honor championship-winning teams in front of the sold out crowd under the lights.
In addition to the current champions, though, Tennessee will also be honoring the 1998 Tennessee football team during the 25th anniversary of their National Championship season.
Led by head coach Phillip Fulmer in January 1999, Tennessee defeated Florida State by a score of 23-16 in the Fiesta Bowl to earn the inaugural BCS National Championship.
“Really, it’s special to have an opportunity to have all those guys back here,” head coach Josh Heupel said during a Thursday press conference. “Coach Fulmer and those guys have an opportunity to remember and tell a bunch of stories on Friday night. I think they have a social gathering, and then obviously for everybody that’s in the stadium and those watching from Vol Nation, an opportunity to remember and look back on that special season and those guys, too. They’re a huge part of our history, our tradition. It’s been fun for me over the last two and a half years getting to know all of those guys. It’s a special group, they’re still extremely close. Should be a really fun weekend for those guys here Friday and Saturday.”
More from RTI: Three Keys – Tennessee Looking For Key Win Against South Carolina
Tennessee released a hype video with footage of Tennessee’s championship win ahead of Saturday’s game against South Carolina. Check it out below.
"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦"
Excited to welcome back the 1998 National Champions to Rocky Top this weekend.#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/oobQj4a5m4
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 29, 2023
No. 21 Tennessee (3-1) will host South Carolina (2-2) at 7:30 p.m. ET in Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium. The game can be seen on SEC Network.
