Mocs Magic in Knoxville 1958 (when Sheriff Bookie Turner almost went to jail)

Photo by From WBIR TV

It's been five years since the Chattanooga Mocs and Tennessee Volunteers faced off in football. Kickoff next Saturday is at 12:45 p.m. at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. The University of Tennessee website states that football between the neighboring schools began on November 12, 1892, and the last game was played on September 14.2019.

The website says Chattanooga has won only two games against the Vols – in 1905 and 1958. The teams have tied twice – in 1909 and 1910. The Mocs' 1958 game made national headlines and resulted in several police officers being hospitalized after what authorities called a “riot.”

WBIR TV in Knoxville covered Chattanooga's 1958 victory in detail in 2019, by a final score of 14-6. The Mocs were led that year by future pro quarterback Johnny Green. The headline read, “Mocs' 1958 victory over Vols ended in turmoil and political warfare.”

The “riot” occurred when Chattanooga fans began tearing down the goal posts and Knoxville police rushed toward the visiting crowd.

Author Jim Matheny said, “The Mocs and Vols have one of the oldest and most one-sided football rivalries in the history of either team. There is no game or postgame in history that compares to the November 8, 1958, clash. Ten people were arrested and eight police officers suffered various injuries.”

Authorities fired tear gas into a crowd, including women and children, attempting to leave the stadium. Knoxville Fire Department eventually used hoses to disperse the crowd.

Hamilton County Sheriff James “Bookie” Turner was at the game and told the Associated Press that the Knoxville Police Department was “a poorly trained thug force.” Knoxville's Director of Public Safety David Garrison responded, “The only mistake was not arresting Sheriff Turner.”

A goal post was stolen from Shields-Watkins Field and brought back to Chattanooga. On campus on McCallie Avenue, students hung a crudely made model of the Knoxville police chief while clinging to the stolen goal post.

The AP quoted University of Chattanooga President Dr. David Lockmiller as saying Knoxville police handled the incident poorly.

Dr. Lockmiller announced that there would be no classes at UC next Monday.

According to WBIR-TV, no players were involved and officials said both teams behaved in a sportsmanlike manner.

Author Matheny said that the Vols hosted a rematch in October 1959 and almost everyone spoke with “humor” about the previous year’s game.

The Knox County Sheriff jokingly offered to take Sheriff Turner into protective custody during the 1959 game.

Sheriff Turner said he was grateful for the offer, but he did not need protection. Sheriff Turner said a portion of the goal post taken from Knoxville in 1958 has been installed as a foot railing in a snack bar beneath Chattanooga's stadium, where any fan is invited to set foot on the Vols. The University of Chattanooga joined the UT system in 1969 and changed its name to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Read the full report with pictures from WBIR TV, Knoxville by clicking here.