1918 Tennessee (SATC) football team explained

Year:1918
Team:Tennessee (SATC)
Sport:football
Conference:Independent
Record:3–2
Stadium:Waite Field

The University of Tennessee Athletic Council, chaired by Professor Nathan Dougherty, officially suspended varsity football during the World War I years of 1917 and 1918 because the majority of the players were called into military service.[1] In addition, Coach John R. Bender was enlisted as an instructor at Camp John Sevier in Greenville, South Carolina.

During this period without varsity football, two unofficial teams were formed from Army recruits and students. One team represented a training unit called the Fighting Mechanics and the other team represented the Student Army Training Corps (SATC).

For historical purposes, Tennessee considers these games exhibitions and does not count them toward Tennessee's all-time varsity results.[2]

Vanderbilt's program, however, considers the game between the two schools as an official game.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UT Statement on 1917 & 1918 Cancellation of Varsity Football. UTSports.com.
  2. Web site: Tennessee 1918 Football Schedule. UTSports.com.
  3. Web site: Vanderbilt Official Athletic Site – Football. May 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160617205820/http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/history.html. June 17, 2016. dead. mdy-all.