Sept. 3, 2011 | Neyland Stadium | Knoxville, Tenn. | 6:07 p.m.
TELEVISION: VideoSeat Pay-Per-View | RADIO: Vol Network
SATELLITE RADIO: Sirius Premier Channel 217, XM Channel 200 | ONLINE: ESPN3.com (Blacked out in Tennessee)
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Saturday's game is the first-ever meeting between Tennessee and
Montana, as well as the Vols' initial meeting against any member of the
currently constructed Big Sky conference.
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The Sept. 3 contest also marks UT's earliest season opener since 2008
(9/1 vs. UCLA) and earliest home opener since 2006 (9/2 vs. California).
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UT is 84-24-6 (.763) in season openers dating back to 1891. In the last
25 seasons, Tennessee is 22-3-2 (.852) in season openers. Of those 27
games, 14 were played against teams not currently in a BCS conference,
and the Vols are a perfect 14-0 in those contests.
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The Vols have been even more dominant in home openers, going 90-18-5
(.819) all-time in the first game at Neyland Stadium each season.
Tennessee has won 16 consecutive home openers dating to the 1994 season.
Season Opener
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The Tennessee Vols begin their 115th season with a 6:07 p.m. kickoff at
Neyland Stadium against the Montana Grizzlies. Saturday's game marks
the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Tennessee is 14-0 in
home openers all-time vs. teams not currently in a BCS conference. The
Vols are beginning the year against an FCS opponent for the second
consecutive year and defeated UT Martin 50-0 in the 2010 season opener.
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Saturday's game represents the second year in a row the Tennessee
football season will open under the lights at Neyland Stadium and the
31st home opener at night at Neyland Stadium, including the first-ever
night game on Sept. 16, 1972, a 28-21 win over No. 6 Penn State (UT was
ranked No. 7). The Vols are 28-3 all-time in home openers at night.
Tennessee is also opening in Knoxville for the third consecutive year.
>> Tennessee is 84-24-6 (.763) all-time in season openers and 90-18-5 (.819) all-time in home openers.
>> The Montana game begins the second season for Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley.
The 2010 UT squad was 4-3 at home and 6-7 overall, including wins in
the last four regular-season games and the last two played at Neyland
Stadium.
A Tennessee Win Would...
>> Improve the Vols to 85-24-6 (.765) in season openers and 91-18-5 (.820) in home openers all-time.
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Extend Tennessee's regular-season winning streak to five games, dating
back to a 50-14 win at Memphis on Nov. 6, 2010. Five games would mark
the longest regular season winning streak for the Vols since they won
their last five to end the regular season in 2007.
>> Improve the all-time record for the Tennessee football program to 790-340-53 (.690).
>> Extend the Vols' home winning streak to three games.
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Give Tennessee its seventh consecutive win over an unranked Division I
FBS opponent at home, dating back to a 45-19 win over Georgia on Oct.
10, 2009.
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Mark the 16th consecutive win for the Vols in season openers played in
Knoxville, a streak that began with a 35-21 win over New Mexico on
Sept. 6, 1986. It would also mark the 17th consecutive win in home
openers.
>> Improve UT to 9-5 in its last 14 non-SEC games, dating to a 35-3 win over UAB on Sept. 13, 2008.
