104-5 The Zone Presents The Top Moments of the Decade
Celebrate The Best Moments Over The Last 10 Years
It's a play, game, event, or achievement that determined our top sports moments of the decade across middle Tennessee. The Zone's criteria for consideration were sports moments that took place between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2009 either in the middle Tennessee area or by an athlete or team from the middle Tennessee area. Controversial or "infamous" moments, while certainly "memorable", were not considered. We hope you enjoy re-living the best memories that the 2000's had to offer.
View Moments #25-#11 Here
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10. ESPN's College Gameday Visits Vanderbilt
Gameday paid visit to the unbeaten Vanderbilt Commodores as they hosted Auburn. The 'Dores downed the Tigers to move to 5-0 on their way to the school's first bowl appearance since 1982.
9. Steve McNair Named NFL's Co-MVP
In 2003 Steve McNair produced the best numbers of his career, including 24 touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of 100.4. The Titans ended the year at 12–4 and McNair and Colts QB Peyton Manning were named co-NFL MVPs following the season.
8. Vanderbilt Upsets #1 Florida At Memorial Gym
Students poured onto the court at Memorial Gym after the Commodores pulled off their first victory over a top-ranked team since Jan. 13, 1993. Derrick Byars and Shan Foster each scored 24 points as Vanderbilt snapped the nation's longest winning streak by upsetting the Gators, 83-70. Vandy took the lead in the first half and led by as many as 16 points late as they beat the nation's best shooting team at its own game, outshooting the Gators 57.1 percent to 44 percent.
7. Paul Kariya Moves To Smashville
Left winger Paul Kariya signed a two-year, $9 million deal with the Preds, a move that put Nashville in NHL playoff contention. Kariya was the most recognizable player in franchise history. He spent 10 seasons with Anaheim and Colorado, recording 705 points (311 goals and 394 assists) in 657 career NHL games.
6. Belmont Downs Lipscomb In Overtime Thriller For NCAA Tournament
With the first ever trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line for both schools, Bruins guard Justin Hare helped Belmont defeat Lipscomb in an overtime thriller to become 2005-06 Atlantic Sun Champions.
5. Commodores Win On Rocky Top
Vanderbilt's football team defeated Tennessee for the first time since 1982. Commodore quarterback Jay Cutler hit freshman wide receiver Earl Bennett in the final minute to win the battle at Neyland Stadium.
4. Titans Become AFC Champions And Head To Super Bowl
Before a record crowd of 75,206 at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium, the Titans came up with 23 unanswered points in the second half to become 1999 AFC Champions. The Jaguars lost just three games all season -- all to the Titans. The number 3 - the amount of times the Titans defeated the Jaguars this season. Tennessee's latest win, 33-14 over Jacksonville in the AFC Championship on Sunday, put the Titans in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. Tennessee to a seven-game win streak to Atlanta to face off against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.
3. Nashville Rallies To Save The Predators
Fans joined for a 15-hour rally held by a local group trying to sell enough season tickets to keep the Predators' lease in effect. Canadian billionaire and a California businessman also had separate offers for the Predators, but Jim Balsillie's $220-million bid stalled after a letter of intent was signed in May 2007. ''Our Team Nashville'' doubled its original goal of 300 tickets sold and the Preds were soon purchased by a group of local businessmen.
2. Titans Come Up One Yard Short In Super Bowl XXXIV
Considered by many to be the most exciting Super Bowl ever, the St. Louis Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV after receiver Kevin Dyson was tackled by linebacker Mike Jones one yard short of sending the game into overtime on the final play. Titans quarterback Steve McNair, only the second black quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, was at times breathtaking, completing 22 of 36 for 214 yards, and he set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 64. Tennessee's bruising Eddie George, who dominated the second half, finished with 95 yards on 28 carries.
1. The Music City Miracle
In what was one of the wildest plays in NFL history, Titans fullback Lorenzo Neal fielded the kickoff and handed to tight end Frank Wycheck, who threw across the field to wide receiver Kevin Dyson. Executing the play called ''Home Run Throwback'', Dyson raced to the end zone, giving the Titans a 22-16 AFC Wildcard victory. To this day analysts still argue if Wycheck's toss was a lateral. However, no one can argue what that play did for the Titans stability in Nashville.
