Get the Banner Ready!!
March 6th, 2008 | 
Author: It’s time to get that banner ready to go into the rafters, until then, I suppose a flag will have to do…
Take it away, Gus…
Not since Ron Widby hit two free throws against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in triple-overtime in 1967, have the BasketVols been able to say that they were the SEC Champions.
Well, as Bob Dylan always said, “Times they are a changin’…”
After a 41 year drought, it’s official, and everyone in Orange Nation can proudly proclaim that Tennessee is the 2008 SEC Champion!
It wasn’t easy — and it shouldn’t be, considering how much it means — but Bruce and the Barbarians somehow managed to come back when it seemed like they were beat by the Florida Gators. Tennessee came back from a 16-point deficit to beat Florida in Gainesville. Final Score: Tennessee: 89, Florida: 86. In all, five Vols scored in double figures, led by JaJuan Smith with 23.
Meanwhile, in Nashville, in the gym where Tennessee lost its number one ranking last week, the Vanderbilt Commodores managed to beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 86-85 in overtime. With Mississippi State defeated, the Volunteers secured their first outright SEC Regular Season Championship since 1967.
41 years is a long time to wait, but that only makes it sweeter…
Congratulations to Coach Pearl, and BasketVols on winning the championship, and thanks to Coach Mears, without whom this would not have been possible, and all of the players since 1967 who knew … someday … Tennessee would make it back!
It doesn’t end here, but it sure is nice to savor the moment…
– Go Figure ….gif "Get the Banner Ready!!")
About the Author: "Lawvol" -- I'm just a guy living in North Carolina who has an unnatural fascination with the color orange. Just because I'm a Tennessee alum and die-hard Volunteer fan doesn't mean that I can't poke a little fun at the Big Orange and anybody else for that matter.
Feel free to complain all you want. >> Read more from this author
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Posted in College Basketball, News & Notes, SEC Basketball | 
Tags: 2008 SEC Champions, Basketball, BasketVols, Bob Dylan, Bruce and the Barbarians, Bruce Pearl, Championship, Flag, Florida Gators, JaJuan Smith, Mississippi State Bulldogs, NCAA Basketball, Overtime, Rafter Banners, Ray Mears, Ron Widby, SEC, SEC Basketball, SEC Championship, Tennessee Basketball, Tennessee Volunteers, Times They are a Changin, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt Commodores
4 Responses to “Get the Banner Ready!!”
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[...] lawvol at Gate 21 gets the banner ready. [...]
Ed on 
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Just curious. Does any other SEC team have a longer active drought?
That’s a good question. I’ll have to look into that…
Found the answer:
Ole Miss has never won the championship in the regular season, despite being a charter member of the SEC in 1932.
Additionally: UT’s last SEC tourney win was 1979, while only Vandy has a longer drought – 1951. South Carolina has never won, but they joined in 1991.
For data like this, Wikipedia is fantastic.