On a night where the Vols squared off against the possible 2012 SEC champions, Tennessee honored their 1997 SEC championship team before the game.

Former head coach Phillip Fulmer and over 40 members of the 1997 team gathered at midfield before the kickoff and were welcomed by a strong ovation.

“Today was really really special,” Fulmer said. “To share it with my family on the field, my extended family and the football team. Especially with that particular class.”

The Volunteers finished the 1997 season with a 10-1 record and a 7-1 mark in the SEC, with the only loss coming to rival Florida.

The team went on to represent the SEC East in the SEC championship where they defeated the Auburn Tigers 30-29. The Vols ended up losing 42-17 to eventually co-national champion Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

“(The Class of 1997) were kind of the foundation of a lot of what we accomplished here,” said Fulmer. “I think they were the No. 1 recruiting class in 1994 and it turned out that we won an SEC championship with them.”

The SEC champions had an astonishing 15 future NFL players on the roster. Highlighted by Peyton Manning, Shaun Ellis, Jamal Lewis and Leonard Little.

“I’m glad Peyton was able to come back because he had a lot to do with that,” the former coach said.

Fulmer was also honored for the recent announcement of his induction to the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. Fulmer will be inducted in December.

“It’s a great honored and I’m just lucky to have had the success that I did,” Fulmer said.

Fulmer was the head coach of Tennessee from 1992-2008 going 152-52 during his tenure. The former coach won six SEC East titles, two SEC championship and the 1998 National Championship.

“With something like this you’d have to have 10,000 tickets to take to New York to thank everybody that had a part in it,” Fulmer said. “Starting with my wife for being so supportive, a lot of great coaches that were very loyal to Tennessee for a very long time and a bunch of great players.”

The former coach also weighed in on current head coach Derek Dooley’s situation.

“We all need to get focused on the same page, pulling in the same direction,” Fulmer said. “They need a big win somewhere and start going in the direction they want to go.”