What Is 1970 Tennessee Vols football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1970 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1970 NCAA University Division season, finishing with a 4–6 record under head coach Doug Dickey. They played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville and competed in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Key Facts

The 1970 Tennessee Vols finished with a 4–6 overall record and 3–4 in SEC play
Head coach Doug Dickey led the team during his fourth season at Tennessee
The Vols played home games at Shields–Watkins Field, now known as Neyland Stadium
Quarterback Bill Mayo started most games and led the team in passing yards
Tennessee lost to rival Alabama 38–0 in October 1970

Overview

The 1970 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the NCAA University Division football season. Competing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the team struggled to find consistency and finished with a losing record.

Under the leadership of head coach Doug Dickey, who was in his fourth season, the Vols played their home games at Shields–Watkins Field in Knoxville. The season marked a downturn in performance compared to previous years, reflecting challenges in both offense and defense.

Record: The team finished with a 4–6 overall record, including a 3–4 mark in SEC play, their first losing season since 1957.
Head Coach:Doug Dickey served as head coach, leading the program from 1966 to 1970 before resigning after the season.
Home Stadium: Games were played at Shields–Watkins Field, which had a capacity of around 60,000 and is now known as Neyland Stadium.
Key Player: Quarterback Bill Mayo started most games and recorded 804 passing yards and four touchdowns on the season.
Notable Game: Tennessee suffered a 38–0 loss to #5 Alabama on October 24, 1970, highlighting the team’s offensive struggles.

Season Performance

The 1970 season was marked by inconsistency, with the Vols winning only four of ten games. Despite flashes of potential, the team failed to gain momentum in conference play.

Offensive Output: The Vols averaged 15.9 points per game, ranking near the bottom of the SEC in scoring offense.
Defensive Struggles: Tennessee allowed an average of 23.5 points per game, with particularly poor performances against ranked opponents.
Non-Conference Play: The team started the season with a 21–18 win over Virginia but lost to unranked Mississippi State.
SEC Results: Wins came against Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Georgia, but losses to Alabama, LSU, and Auburn proved costly.
Final Game: The season ended with a 24–17 loss to Penn State in a non-conference matchup on November 28.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1970 Tennessee Vols compared to recent seasons and conference peers:

Season	Overall Record	SEC Record	Head Coach	Final Points For/Against
1969	7–4	5–2	Doug Dickey	247–161
1970	4–6	3–4	Doug Dickey	159–235
1971	3–8	2–5	Bill Battle	154–261
Alabama 1970	6–5	4–3	Ray Perkins (interim)	218–165
LSU 1970	8–3	5–1	Charlie McClendon	250–145

The 1970 season represented a decline from the previous year’s 7–4 record. While rivals like LSU enjoyed strong campaigns, Tennessee’s offense stagnated and defense faltered. The team’s point differential of –76 underscored their struggles across the season.

Why It Matters

The 1970 season is a notable chapter in Tennessee football history due to its role in ending an era. It marked the final year of Doug Dickey’s tenure as head coach, setting the stage for a program reset.

Coaching Change: Doug Dickey resigned after the season, ending a five-year stint that included a 1966 SEC title but declining results.
Program Transition: The 1970 record led to the hiring of Bill Battle, Tennessee’s first full-time head coach in decades.
Recruiting Shift: The season exposed weaknesses in talent development, prompting changes in recruiting strategy under new leadership.
Historical Benchmark: It remains one of only a few losing seasons between 1957 and 1988, highlighting its significance.
Fan Engagement: Attendance dipped slightly, reflecting fan disappointment and increased scrutiny of the football program.
Legacy: The 1970 team is remembered as a turning point that preceded a rebuilding phase in the early 1970s.

Though not a standout season on the field, the 1970 Tennessee Vols played a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of the program, making it a crucial moment in the school’s football timeline.