Editor’s note: Today concludes Tennessee Week. Our special series — “Undefeated. Unexpected. Unforgettable.” — celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Vols’ 1998 national championship season.

Even though I covered Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team, I had plenty to learn as I shared their various stories during a series of stories commemorating the 20th anniversary of those very special group of Vols.

Here are the 13 most significant things that I learned about the 1998 Vols:

1. Tennessee’s players were tattletales (in a good way)

I never would have imagined that UT’s football players had so much power and weren’t afraid to wield it. If a player on the 1998 team wasn’t working hard enough in practice or offseason workouts, the team leaders would tell their coaches those players shouldn’t play. And the coaches listened.

2. The Vols held full practices during what was supposed to be summer workouts

Former UT quarterback Peyton Manning was known for his dedication to offseason workouts and coercing teammates to participate. However, with Manning and other leaders gone from the 1997 team, the Vols upped the intensity with full workouts without pads or coaches all summer. According to several Vols, that made preseason camp easy.

3. Al Wilson became a leader during the 1997 SEC Championship Game

Wilson had never won a significant championship when the Vols trailed Auburn at halftime in the 1997 SEC Championship Game. The fiery middle linebacker wasn’t going to let that one slide by. Wilson challenged Manning and defensive end Leonard Little that night and, subsequently, assumed the leadership role that would define him for the 1998 season.

4. David Cutcliffe was very concerned about UT’s offense

Cutcliffe, UT’s offensive coordinator, never said he was worried about UT’s offense in public before spring practice or again before fall camp, but he was. Cutcliffe knew a Manning-like approach wouldn’t work, so he had to adapt. He eventually decided to field a power running football team. It worked. Tennessee actually increased its scoring average to 33.2 from 32.9 from 1997, just in a very different way.

5. Phillip Fulmer thought the Georgia game was a key turning point

I would have thought the Florida game was the early season game in which the Vols began to believe. However, Fulmer thought the Georgia game as significant or even more so. The Vols hammered the Bulldogs 22-3 in Athens to get to 5-0. In retrospect, Fulmer’s thoughts on the game makes sense. UT won a rival game on the road just one week after losing their offensive focal point, tailback Jamal Lewis, to a knee injury for the remainder of the season.

6. Al Wilson wasn’t afraid to fight teammates on national television

There is intensity. Then there is Wilson intensity. Wilson challenged safety Fred White to a fight if he ever slowed up on a play after White had done so early in the season. White never did that again. That intensity permeated through UT’s defense in 1998.

Photo courtesy of University of Tennessee Athletics

7. The Arkansas fumble should have never happened

Admittedly, defensive tackle Jeff Coleman said the infamous fumble against Arkansas would have never taken place had he been in the game because he was gassed. That opened up the door for Billy Ratliff to take Coleman’s place. The rest is history.

8. The Arkansas game bonded the Vols immensely

Tasting potential defeat and rising from the ashes changed the Vols’ mindset in the Arkansas game. They hoped and thought they could be a national championship team before beating the Razorbacks in dramatic fashion. The Vols absolutely knew they would be champions after escaping with a victory against the Hogs.

9. The Vols knew Cutcliffe would be hired by Ole Miss before the SEC Championship Game

Coaches like to say distractions don’t affect them, but that’s not really true. UT’s offense started slow against Mississippi State in the SEC Championship Game perhaps because of Cutcliffe’s pending departure, which was almost common knowledge to the team. Still, the Vols persevered and beat Mississippi State 24-14 to win their second consecutive SEC title and a chance to play for a national championship.

10. Randy Sanders wasn’t sure he’d be called on to replace Cutcliffe for the Fiesta Bowl

This seemed like a no-brainer at the time, but Fulmer had a decision to make. He could have chosen someone else to take Cutcliffe’s place or Fulmer could have assumed game-plan and play-calling duties himself, but he trusted Sanders. That turned out to be a great call.

11. Dwayne Goodrich didn’t speak to any teammates during his jail stay

I expected Goodrich, UT’s standout defensive back, to tell me that his teammates helped him get through his 8-year jail sentence. That wasn’t the case. Goodrich withdrew from his teammates because he was ashamed of his actions. The Vols welcomed Goodrich back with open arms when he was released.

12. Ratliff still thinks about Brandon Burlsworth every day

Ratliff’s son is now 22. That’s the same age that Brandon Burlsworth was when he was killed in a car accident in 1999. That further reminds Ratliff of Burlsworth, who was Arkansas’ All-American offensive guard. According to several former players, Burlsworth beat up on UT’s defensive line in the Arkansas game. Ratliff didn’t hold a grudge and has always kept Burlsworth and his family in his heart.

13. Wilson’s son is cured and doing well

Wilson’s son was diagnosed with brain cancer when he was 15-years-old. That wouldn’t stop the young man. Carrington Wilson has graduated from Triveca University where he is still a baseball player pursuing his master’s degree.

Phillip Fulmer cover photo courtesy of University of Tennessee Athletics.