Charlie Severance, 86, a former Tennessee football player remembered for helping keep LSU’s Billy Cannon out of the end zone in the play known as “The Stop,” died on Jan. 23. He is remembered by Tennessee fans for his role in one of the program’s most enduring moments.
Fast Facts
- Full name: Charlie Severance, age 86.
- Known for: Tennessee football player, part of the play known as “The Stop.”
- Date of death: Jan. 23.
- Notable moment: Helped prevent Billy Cannon of LSU from reaching the end zone in the play called “The Stop.”
Legacy and career
Severance’s place in Tennessee football history is defined by his contribution to “The Stop,” a play that has been passed down in Volunteers lore for generations. That effort against Billy Cannon — one of college football’s most storied moments — cemented Severance’s reputation among teammates, students and alumni as a player who helped shape a defining rivalry moment.
Though records of his full playing career and post-football life are not detailed here, the memory of that single play has kept his name alive in the Tennessee community and among college football historians who recall the high-stakes drama of the game.
Public reaction and tributes
Tennessee fans have long remembered Severance for his role in “The Stop,” and news of his passing prompted outpourings of remembrance from Volunteers supporters and alumni who recalled the play as a turning point in the program’s history. The short description announcing his death noted that Tennessee fans remember him for keeping Billy Cannon out of the end zone in that decisive moment.
Severance leaves behind a legacy tied to one of college football’s iconic plays — a quiet but lasting reminder of how single moments on the field can resonate for decades.
Image Referance: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2026/01/25/charlie-severance-death-tennessee-football-stop-billy-cannon/88351969007/