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Feels like ’98: Steve Spurrier recalls Tennessee fan that accurately predicted national title run
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Coach Steve Spurrier will always remember that time on the beach.
Prior to the 1998 season, Spurrier came across a Tennessee fan covered in orange and he just had to reach out to him.
“How those mighty Vols gonna be this year?” he asked.
“National champs!” the fan replied.
Spurrier probably laughed to himself and half-expected that answer, but he would have no idea how correct that mystery beach man would be.
Both teams were expected to be good that season, Spurrier’s Florida Gators received a preseason No. 3 ranking while the Vols came in at No. 10.
During Week 3 of the ’98 season however, No. 6 Tennessee took down No. 2 Florida in Neyland after the Gators fumbled four times during the matchup, and Spurrier was probably forced to think back to that random fan on the beach.
The Vols went on to win every game that year and win the National Championship of course, and somewhere, Spurrier knew that random beachgoer was out celebrating.
“I’ll be damned if he wasn’t right.”
Love the story of @SteveSpurrierUF passing a Tennessee fan covered in orange on the beach prior to the 1998 season. Spurrier: "How those mighty Vols gonna be this year?" The fan, unaware it was Spurrier, declares: "National champs!" Spurrier: "I'll be damned if he wasn't right."
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) September 18, 2018
Jordan Dajani covers SEC football for Saturday Down South and is a University of Tennessee graduate. He also has experience working in the NBA and with ESPN.
