I'd like to echo the OP's comments. You have some quality ballplayers- especially on defense and OL, but it is taxing to be on the field that long and the heat may have been an issue.
UT out rushed Bama in yds/carry and total yards this year. UT nearly doubled the average yds Bama allowed running this year. Of course Bama has a lousy a run defense and no decent running backs.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/matchup?gameId=400603886...
UT vs Wisconsin 1981 Garden state Bowl- Dec 13, 1981. average temp 37°
Wille Gault ran back a kickoff for a TD and the speed differential between Gault (who was also a world class high hurdler on the UT track team) and Wiscy was comical.
The last team and thought that they would be clever and call the Vols the "voles" were the Miami Hurricanes in the 1986 Sugar Bowl if I remember correctly. Miami went into the game heavily favored, incredibly arrogant and ended up getting embarrassed on the field