Thank You, Vol Seniors: James Wilhoit

He turned out to be a game-winner, a clutch kicker, an All-SEC first teamer. But for a moment in time, James Wilhoit was the most hated Tennessee football player of all time, at least in my mind, if not the mind of Vol nation at large.

Let me set the scene: 2004 vs. Florida. Erik Ainge had just completed an improbable 13-yard touchdown pass to Jayson Swain, and only the extra point stood in the way of tying the game against the hated Gators at 28-all. One kick, one point. A formality, really -- but a formality that Wilhoit yipped into oblivion, leaving the Vols trailing 27-28 with about four minutes remaining and sending this blogger into a stream of profanity not rivaled by any episode of HBO's Deadwood.

Then, redemption. In the form of this:

If you can't tell, that's Wilhoit nailing a 50-yard winner. Florida faithful will tell you Wilhoit's game-winning 50-yard masterpiece was ill-gotten, set up by the referees' tomfoolery and assorted blunders. Vol fans will tell you it was just darn good officiating in action, or at least karmic retribution for Jabar Gaffney's non-catch TD in 2000. Whatever it was, it was beautiful, I suppose. I didn't actually see the kick, as I believe I hold the distinction of being the only able-bodied man in Neyland Stadium that night not standing when Wilhoit's toe met ball. Instead, I was seated in section II, doubled over, head in hands, hoping but not believing that the same guy who choked away an extra point from 17 yards could win the game from 50 yards out. The explosion of the crowd let me know I was wrong. Sometimes, I really like being wrong.

(Video from YouTube)