George Cafego, College Football Hall of Fame Class of 1969

George Cafego made his long-term impact on the Volunteers starting in 1938 with successful games leading to narrow wins over Alabama and LSU. His difficulty to bring down on offense and his tenacity on defense led to the newspaper dubbing him with the nickname “Bad News.” One of the leading reasons for his delayed success on Saturdays may have been the other moniker for which he was known, Practice Bum. Legendary Coach, and Hall of Fame resident, Robert Neyland said of Cafego “On the practice field he couldn’t do anything right, but for two hours on a Saturday afternoon he did everything an All-America is supposed to do.” It was Cafego who helped lead Neyland’s 1938 squad to their first perfect season, and the 1939 squad to a season where they did not allow a single point until the Rose Bowl. Cafego, injured, played only one minute of the game, which Tennessee lost, 14-0, evidence of Cafego’s benefit to the team. “Bad News” was a two-time top team Heisman finalist, back-to-back First Team All-American, and the 1938 conference MVP.