MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Maryville College’s football history runs deep.
They had the first football team in East Tennessee, predating the Tennessee Vols.
The first SEC night game was held on their campus when Kentucky played against Maryville College in 1920. The Scots also played in the very first Citrus Bowl, known then as the Tangerine Bowl, on Jan. 1, 1947.
“1946 was a great year for Maryville football," John Painter, Maryville College's assistant athletic coordinator of communication, said. "We won nine games. We've not won nine games, believe it or not, since that season."
Maryville College ended their regular season with a perfect record of 9-0.
"It was actually probably our best season ever," Maryville College Archivist Amy Lundell said. "The most that anyone ever scored against us was one touchdown that season prior to this bowl game."
Their record granted them an invitation to the inaugural Tangerine Bowl. The game would be played at the Greater Orlando Stadium in front of a capacity 9,000 spectators.
The Scots opponent for the game: The Catawba Indians from North Carolina.
“They also were having a great season they were eight and two," Painter said.
Although it was the inaugural bowl game, there was still a bit of the pomp and circumstance that you see today.
“Obviously there was a Tangerine Queen who was voted on locally in Orlando," Lundell said. "They also decided to use the profits from the game to help support a local children's hospital."
Although Maryville went undefeated for the regular season, it was all Catawba from the opening kickoff.
“They were bigger, and they were also a bigger squad size, so they were subbing guys in and out and Maryville was pretty much what you saw was what you got," Painter said. "So, they got ahead 18-0 in the first half. Maryville finally broke through and scored in the fourth quarter I believe. Then Catawba scored one more score. So, 31-6 was the final.”
Even though they were defeated, Maryville College returned home in good spirits.
“It was a happy celebration when they got back you know, hey, great season, you know, they honored all the letter winners, you know, they had a big banquet when they got back later that month in January,” Painter said.
The Maryville Scots have appeared in only one other bowl game since. That being the 1960 Rocket Bowl, when they defeated Millsaps College 19-0. The Tangerine Bowl, however, holds a special place in the legacy of Maryville College.
"It is something that generations still talk about," Lundell said. "Many of the alums who were on this particular team, their children and their grandchildren have gone to Maryville College and played on the football team. So, it is still something very much in the memory of the college."