Back in 2008, Tennessee football and the Clemson Tigers both moved on from longtime head coaches. The Vols fired Phillip Fulmer as they stumbled to a 5-7 season, and Tommy Bowden resigned after a 3-3 start, leading Dabo Swinney to take over on an interim basis.
Fulmer and Bowden had only met once, in 2003, with Clemson winning in the Peach Bowl 27-14. They also had a connection dating back to 1998, when Bowden coached the Tulane Green Wave to an undefeated season. They were the only undefeated team left standing alongside the national champion Vols.