SportsFest 2025 – Saturday, June 28th

SportsFest 2025 – Saturday, June 28th

SportsFest returns on Saturday, June 28th, 2025 at Knoxville Expo Center!

SportsFest

Saturday, June 28th, 2025

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Knoxville Expo Center

*FREE ADMISSION!!!

———————————————————————————————————————————–

———————————————————————————————————————————–


Join us on Saturday, June 28th at the Knoxville Expo Center for SportsFest!  This indoor festival celebrates all things sports!  There will be an awesome buy, sell, trade card show, a special football clinic featuring VFL QB Erik Ainge, pickleball, karate, soccer, and more!  Learn, play, shop, trade, interact, SportsFest has something for all ages. Exhibitors will be on-site offering a fun-filled day for the entire family.

SportsFest has all your bases covered!  Learn, play, watch! From the novice sports fan to the diehards, SportsFest has something for everyone.

———————————————————————————————————————————–


Scheduled to appear…

Erik Ainge– VFL QB from 2004-2007 and spent two seasons with the New York Jets for 2008-2010 after being drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in 2008. Sports Animal host of the Erik Ainge Show Weekdays from 9a-12pm on 99.1 FM.

Jayson Swain– VFL WR from 2003-2006 and NFL WR with the Chicago Bears in 2007.  He is currently 6th all-time in UT history with 126 receptions. Swain is also 13th in career receiving yards with 1,721. Jayson also hosts the Josh & Swain show on 99.1 The Sports Animal from 12p-3p as well as his podcast The Swain Event.

Sterling HentonFormer Vols QB 1986-1990 and DJ “Sterl the Pearl”

Todd Kelly Jr.– Former Vols Defensive Back 2014-2018

Carlos Lopez of Vamos Vols

***Special Appearances by former head football coach of the Tennessee Volunteers Phillip Fulmer and the 2024 National Championship Tennessee Volunteers College World Series Baseball Trophy!

Check back for updates!


If you are interested in being a vendor or an exhibitor at SportsFest visit here.


PRESENTED BY…


Thanks to our SportsFest 2025 Sponsors…







ATTENDING VENDORS

  • Visit My Smokies
  • Sports Treasures
  • Vol Shop
  • Underdog Collectibles
  • Ted Russell Ford Lincoln
  • Dick’s House of Sport
  • Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
  • Knoxville Smokies
  • Premier Martial Arts
  • Carroll Sports Academies
  • Pickleville
  • AYSO Region 128
  • Nautical Boat Club
  • Vital Hydration
  • Step Up to Life Ministries
  • Local Internet Pro
  • American Home
  • Renewal by Andersen
  • Josh Hemphill State Farm
  • McLain’s Painting Service
  • Tiaras to Go
  • Knoxville Family Chiropractic
  • Old South Candy




Videos from past years below…




VFL TODD HELTON HEADED TO COOPERSTOWN

VFL TODD HELTON HEADED TO COOPERSTOWN

Courtesy / UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee baseball legend Todd Helton is headed to Cooperstown after being selected for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, as revealed by the MLB Network on Tuesday evening.

In his sixth year eligible for selection, Helton appeared on 79.7 percent of the ballots from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, surpassing the 75 percent threshold. He becomes just the second player in Southeastern Conference history to be voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Auburn’s Frank Thomas (2014).

Selected with the eighth overall pick in the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft by Colorado, Helton spent his entire 17-year Major League career with the Rockies and is still the franchise leader in games played (2,247), runs scored (1,401), hits (2,519), doubles (592), home runs (369), RBI (1,406), total bases (4,292) and walks (1,335).

Helton was a five-time MLB All-Star (2000-04), four-time Sliver Slugger award winner (2000-03), three-time Gold Glove winner (2001, 2002, 2004) and won the National League batting title in 2000. He also helped lead the Rockies to their first and only World Series appearance in franchise history in 2007. Helton joins Larry Walker as the second Rockies’ player to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Already a member of the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame (Class of 2008), the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2017) and the National College Baseball Hall of Fame (Class of 2021), Helton had arguably the most decorated and dominant career of any player in program history and is still considered one of the greatest two-way players to ever play at the collegiate level.

During his time on Rocky Top, Helton was a standout performer at the plate and on the mound, setting numerous program records during his storied career. The Knoxville native still sits atop UT’s record book in career RBI (238), walks (147) and saves (23). He also holds single-season records for runs batted in (92 in 1995), earned run average (0.89 in 1994) and saves (12 in 1995).

Helton earned a multitude of national awards and accolades during his three seasons on Rocky Top, including winning the 1995 Dick Howser Trophy and earning National Player of the Year honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Helton was also named the 1995 SEC Player of the Year, a two-time first-team All-American (1994 & 1995) and a Freshman All-American (1993).

In his final season at UT, Helton helped lead the Volunteers to 1995 SEC regular season and tournament titles, as well as their first Men’s College World Series appearance in 44 years.

“What Todd Helton did for the Colorado Rockies organization is nothing short of legendary,” Tennessee baseball head coach Tony Vitello said. “Nonetheless, folks here think just as highly of all he has accomplished in our great state. What he has done in this community prior to, during and after his time on Rocky Top may never be duplicated.

“He went from being a local superstar in high school to being a hometown representative for the University of Tennessee here in Knoxville. As many I’m sure have mentioned, he was not just a two-way standout on the baseball field but also a legit two-sport athlete. Athleticism helped create those opportunities, but extreme competitiveness helped fuel his success. Ever since his days of success in Major League Baseball have concluded, he has given back to UT in every way you can possibly imagine. He truly deserves every bit of love he receives from Vol Nation.”

The official induction ceremony for the 2024 Hall of Fame selections will take place in Cooperstown, New York on July 21.

For more information on Helton’s Hall of Fame selection and this year’s National Baseball Hall of Fame Class, click HERE.

Courtesy / UT Athletics
Basketball Game vs. Alabama an “Orange Out”

Basketball Game vs. Alabama an “Orange Out”

Courtesy / UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee announced Wednesday that its men’s basketball game today against Alabama will be dubbed an “Orange Out.”

Fans are encouraged to arrive early and wear orange Tennessee attire to Food City Center for the matchup. Doors to the arena open at 12:30 p.m. and tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

In addition, the first 2,000 students in attendance will receive an “Orange Out” shirt for the matchup between a pair of teams in the top seven nationally in NET, KenPom, ESPN BPI and BartTorvik metrics rankings.

The contest between No. 6/7 Tennessee (13-4, 3-1 SEC) and Alabama (12-5, 4-0 SEC) is sold out and will be televised live on ESPN2. It is the third of six confirmed sellouts at Food City Center this season, a new venue record for the Volunteers.

Limited tickets are still available for just three remaining home games. Fans can buy their seats for the Jan. 30 contest against South Carolina HERE, the Feb. 7 outing versus LSU HERE and the Feb. 17 meeting with Vanderbilt HERE.

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.

Courtesy / UT Athletics

107.7 WIVK – General Contest Rules

OFFICIAL RULES

FOR CUMULUS RADIO STATIONS CONTEST & SWEEPSTAKES

A complete copy of these rules can be obtained at the offices of any radio station owned and/or operated by Cumulus Media Holdings Inc. (“Sponsor”) during normal business hours Monday through Friday or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to 3280 Peachtree Road, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30305, Attn: Legal Department.

Sponsor will conduct all Cumulus radio station contests and sweepstakes (“Contests” and “Sweepstakes”), including on-air contests, online and text-based sweepstakes, and contests and sweepstakes conducted through a Cumulus radio station’s social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.), substantially as described in these rules, and by participating, each participant agrees as follows:

  1. No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited.  All federal, state, and local regulations apply.
    Eligibility.
      This Contest is open only to legal U.S. residents age eighteen (18) years or older at the time of entry with a valid Social Security number and who reside in the Station’s Designated Market Area (“DMA”) as defined by Nielsen Audio, who have not won a prize from the station in the last 90 days or a prize valued at $500 or more in the last 180 days, and whose immediate family members or household members have not won a prize from the station in the last 90 days or a prize valued at $500 or more in the last 180 days.   Void where prohibited by law.  Individuals age 13 to 17 may be eligible to participate in Contests and Sweepstakes with the approval of a parent or legal guardian, provided that the parent or legal guardian is a legal U.S. resident at least 18 years of age at the time of entry with a valid Social Security number and resides in the Cumulus radio station’s listening area. Unless otherwise specified, Employees of Cumulus Media Holdings Inc., its parent company, affiliates, related entities and subsidiaries, promotional sponsors, prize providers, advertising agencies, other radio stations serving the Station’s DMA, and the immediate family members and household members of all such employees are not eligible to participate. The term “immediate family members” includes spouses, parents and step-parents, siblings and step-siblings, and children and stepchildren.  The term “household members” refers to people who share the same residence at least three (3) months out of the year. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
  2. Contest or Sweepstakes Period. The Contest or Sweepstake will begin and end at the times specified by Sponsor.  Sponsor’s computer is the official time keeping device for all Contests and Sweepstakes.
  3. How to Enter. Entry methods for Contest and Sweepstakes will be specified by Sponsor and entries must be received during the Contest or Sweepstakes Period to be eligible. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification.  Sponsor shall not be responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, inappropriate or misdirected entries, all of which will be disqualified.  In the event of a dispute as to any entry, the authorized account holder of the email address or telephone number used to enter will be deemed to be the participant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned the telephone number by the wireless carrier or an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address.  Potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. All entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be returned.  Sponsor reserves the right to contact entrants and all other individuals whose email address is submitted as part of a Contest or Sweepstakes.  Time Delay Between Over-the-Air Analog Signal and Other Signal DeliveryDue to the time delay that exists between a Cumulus radio station’s analog over-the-air signal and its online webcast, listeners who listen to a Cumulus radio station online may hear Contest or Sweepstakes information or a cue to call later than listeners listening to the station’s analog over-the-air signal. As a result, the odds of an online listener winning a Contest Sweepstakes may be diminished
  4. Winner Selection. Contest and Sweepstakes winners will be determined according to the method specified by Sponsor at Sponsor’s sole and exclusive discretion.  The winning entrant will be contacted using the email address and/or telephone number provided with the entry and may be awarded the prize (subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with the terms of these rules or the specific Contest or Sweepstakes rules).  Sponsor’s decisions as to the administration and operation of Contests and Sweepstakes and the selection of potential winners is final and binding in all matters related to the Contest or Sweepstakes. Failure to respond to the initial verification contact within three (3) days of notification will result in disqualification.
  5. Verification of Potential Winner. POTENTIAL CONTEST AND SWEEPSTAKES WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR WHOSE DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST OR SWEEPSTAKES. The potential winner must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules and/or the Office Rules of the specific Contest or Sweepstakes, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. The potential winner will be notified by email and/or telephone call, after the date of random drawing. The potential winner will be required to sign and return to sponsor, within three (3) days of the date notice is sent, an affidavit of eligibility and a liability/publicity release (except where prohibited) in order to claim his/her prize, if applicable.  A winner who returns the affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period will be deemed to have accepted the prize and thereafter will not be permitted to rescind their acceptance of the prize and/or return the prize.  If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the affidavit of eligibility and/or the liability/publicity release within the required time period (if applicable), or if the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. In the event that the potential winner of a contest or sweepstakes prize is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor may award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries.
  6.  Prizes. Contest and Sweepstakes prizes will be as specified by Sponsor.  Winner is responsible for all taxes associated with prize receipt and/or use.  Odds of winning a Contest or Sweepstakes prize depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to the number of eligible entries received by Sponsor during the Contest or Sweepstakes Period and the number of listeners participating at any given time.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any listed prize for one of equal or greater value for any reason.  For prizes that involve travel, unless otherwise specified, trips must be taken within the stated time periods or will be forfeited, winner and guest must travel on the same itinerary, and winner’s guest must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.  Trips are non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided at the Sponsor’s sole discretion.
  7. Entry Conditions and Release. By entering a Contest or Sweepstakes, each participant agrees to: (a) comply with and be bound by these Official Rules, the Office Rules of the specific Contest or Sweepstakes, and the decisions of Sponsor, which are binding and final in all matters relating to any Contest or Sweepstakes; (b) release and hold harmless Sponsor, Cumulus Media Inc., and its subsidiaries, related and affiliated companies, participating sponsors, the prize suppliers and any other organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the Contest or Sweepstakes, and each of their respective past and present officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liability, including but not limited to negligence and damages of any kind to persons and property, including but not limited to invasion of privacy (under appropriation, intrusion, public disclosure of private facts, false light in the public eye or other legal theory), defamation, slander, libel, violation of right of publicity, infringement of trademark, copyright or other intellectual property rights, property damage, or death or personal injury arising out of or relating to a participant’s entry, creation of an entry or submission of an entry, participation in a Contest or Sweepstakes, acceptance or use or misuse of prize (including any travel or activity related thereto) and/or the broadcast, exploitation or use of entry; and (c) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, expenses, and liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to an entrant’s participation in the Contest or Sweepstakes and/or entrant’s acceptance, use, non-use or misuse of the prize.
  8. Publicity. Except where prohibited, participation in a Contest or Sweepstakes constitutes winner’s consent to Sponsor’s and its agents’ use of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
  9. Taxes. All State, Local, Federal and or other taxes, duties, tariffs, title fees, licensing fees, or other fees for prizes awarded in any Contest or Sweepstakes become the sole responsibility of the winner.  All those who win a prize or prizes valued $600 or more in any given year will be issued an IRS Form 1099 to report their winnings.
  10. General Conditions. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify any Contest or Sweepstakes, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Contest or Sweepstakes, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of a Contest or Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
  11. Limitations of Liability. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest or Sweepstakes; (2) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest or Sweepstakes; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or Sweepstakes or the processing of entries; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrant’s participation in the Contest or Sweepstakes or receipt or use, non-use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Contest or Sweepstakes, provided that if it is not possible to award another entry due to discontinuance or completion of the Contest or Sweepstakes, or any part of it, for any reason, Sponsor, at its discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In event that production, technical, programming or any other reason causes more than stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available or claimed, Sponsor reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate, unawarded, eligible prize claims.
  12. Disputes. Entrant agrees that: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with a Contest or Sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, other than those concerning the administration of the Contest or Sweepstakes or the determination of the winner, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (ii) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with a Contest or Sweepstakes, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved exclusively by the United States District Court or the appropriate state court located in the entrant’s Cumulus radio station’s listening area; (iii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering a Contest or Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (iv) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest or Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state in which the entrant’s Cumulus radio station is located, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the state in which the entrant’s Cumulus radio station is located or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the state in which the entrant’s Cumulus radio station is located.
  13. Entrant’s Personal Information. Information collected from entrants is subject to Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, which is available on every Cumulus radio station’s website under the “Privacy Policy” link. All entry blanks, forms, devices, and materials gathered during the course of entry, as well as all information contained on or within, shall become the sole property of Sponsor to be used, disposed of or destroyed in its sole discretion. Sponsor is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information entered by website users, and assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to a Cumulus radio station website.
  14. Sweepstakes Results. A winners list may be obtained thirty (30) days after the conclusion of a Contest or Sweepstakes by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Sweepstakes Sponsor identified below.

SWEEPSTAKES SPONSOR: CUMULUS MEDIA HOLDINGS, INC., 3280 Peachtree Road, Suite 2300, Atlanta, GA 30305, Attn: Contests and Sweepstakes.

Knox County is About to Enter a Hiring Freeze

Knox County is About to Enter a Hiring Freeze

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knox County government is soon to enter a hiring freeze.

That news coming Thursday from CFO and Co-Chief of Staff Chris Caldwell who says the move is aimed at saving money and keeping the county from dipping into its “rainy day fund.”

“We discussed this during our budget process and decided it would be a way to reduce the amount of fund balance – or rainy-day fund – used,” Caldwell said. “It’s basically a cost-saving measure to reduce the amount of reserves needed this year.”

The county currently has 26 open positions:

  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office patrol officer
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office assistant kitchen manager
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office medical assistant
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office nurse
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office correctional officer
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office support services technician
  • Juvenile Service Center correctional officer
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office commissary assistant
  • Parent Educator
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office property officer
  • Knox County Health Department medical assistant
  • Knox County Health Department dentist
  • Knox County engineering laborer
  • Public Building Authority project manager
  • Probation case manager
  • Groundskeeper
  • Knox County Sheriff’s Office secretary
  • Knox County Health Department medical assistant
  • Accounting system technician
  • Permits technician
  • Convenience center operator
  • Health services clerk
  • Engineering and Public Works officer manager
  • Public health fitness coordinator
  • Knox County Health Department care coordinator
  • Public Building Authority telecommunications technician

According to Caldwell, the freeze is set to begin on July 1 and will stay in place until at least December; it is not expected to impact any county services.

Caldwell adds that the county is hoping to save between $500,000 and $750,000 over the six month freeze.

Knox County is soon to enter a hiring freeze. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Stolen Knoxville Food Truck Found in Nashville, Police Say

Stolen Knoxville Food Truck Found in Nashville, Police Say

Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Knoxville Police Department has tracked down Dulcie’s Cafe’s trailer, a food truck that was reported stolen out of Knoxville earlier this week.

The business took to social media to ask for help after security cameras caught a person in a Home Depot truck rental pull up to the trailer at 701 N. Cherry Street in the early morning hours on Sunday and drive away with it.

Knoxville Police Department officials reporting Thursday that the trailer has been found and recovered in Nashville.

No word on a suspect or suspects. KPD says the investigation remains ongoing.

The business took to social media to ask for help after security cameras caught a person Home Depot truck rental pull up to the trailer at 701 N. Cherry Street and drive away with it. (Courtesy: Dulcie’s Cafe)
Vols to Visit Syracuse for 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Vols to Visit Syracuse for 2025 ACC/SEC Challenge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second consecutive year, the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team will face Syracuse in the ACC/SEC Challenge, as announced Thursday afternoon by ESPN.

The Volunteers will travel to Syracuse, N.Y., to face the Orange at JMA Wireless Dome, with action set for Dec. 2. The game time and ESPN network designation will be announced in the future.

Tennessee owns a 5-3 all-time ledger versus Syracuse and has won each of the last four contests. This is the third year in a row the two teams will square off in non-conference action, with each outing at a different location.

Most recently, the Volunteers collected a 96-70 home win on Dec. 3, 2024, in last year’s Challenge behind a game-best 26 points from fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier. The prior season, Tennessee posted a 73-56 victory on Nov. 20, 2023, in the Allstate Maui Invitational opener in Honolulu, with fifth-year guard Dalton Knecht scoring 17 points to lead all scorers.

The first two triumphs in Tennessee’s four-game series winning streak came over two decades ago. The Volunteers notched a 66-62 home victory on Jan. 19, 2002, and eared an 83-70 road decision on Dec. 22, 2000, in the lone top-25 matchup—both were in the top 12—in series history.

Tennessee sports a 1-1 record on the road against Syracuse. It dropped a 98-65 result on Nov. 28, 1993, in its first visit there.

The Volunteers are 1-1 in the SEC/ACC Challenge, which started during the 2023-24 season. They fell at North Carolina, 100-92, on Nov. 29, 2023, in a top-20 showdown.

Tennessee is 126-101 all-time against the current ACC membership. It owns an 8-1 such record over the last four years (2021-25), including registering a perfect 4-0 figure in 2024-25. Head coach Rick Barnes is 85-77 versus the current ACC schools, including 6-10 against Syracuse.
The SEC went 14-2 in the 2024 Challenge after splitting the inaugural 2023 edition. Overall, the SEC is 21-9 in the event.

To keep up with the University of Tennessee men’s basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.

2025 ACC/SEC CHALLENGE MATCHUPS
Florida at Duke (Dec. 2)
Georgia at Florida State (Dec. 2)
North Carolina at Kentucky (Dec. 2)
Miami at Ole Miss (Dec. 2)
Missouri at Notre Dame (Dec. 2)
Oklahoma at Wake Forest (Dec. 2)
Virginia Tech at South Carolina (Dec. 2)
Tennessee at Syracuse (Dec. 2)
Texas A&M at Pittsburgh (Dec. 2)
Clemson at Alabama (Dec. 3)
Louisville at Arkansas (Dec. 3)
NC State at Auburn (Dec. 3)
Mississippi State at Georgia Tech (Dec. 3)
LSU at Boston College (Dec. 3)
Virginia at Texas (Dec. 3)
SMU at Vanderbilt (Dec. 3)

Lady Vols To Play At Stanford In ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Lady Vols To Play At Stanford In ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge returns for the 2025-26 college basketball season, and so does a classic clash between historic rivals Tennessee and Stanford.
 
The Lady Vols, ranked No. 7 in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25, will travel to face the Cardinal on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Maples Pavilion. The match-up will be one of 16 games scheduled over the course of two days featuring two of the premier conferences in women’s college basketball.
 
The contest follows previously-announced Big Orange women’s tilts for the upcoming season vs. NC State (Nov. 4 in Greensboro, N.C.) and vs. Louisville (Dec. 20 in Brooklyn, N.Y.).
 
This will mark the first occasion eight-time NCAA champion UT will meet the three-time NCAA champs since an unranked Big Orange squad fell to a No. 2 Cardinal team, 77-70, on Dec. 18, 2022. The Lady Vols, though, own a 25-14 all-time record in a series that began in 1988 and was discontinued after that 2022 meeting.
 
The 2025 ACC/SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge is slated to take place over Dec. 3-4. Games will be televised across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ACC Network and SEC Network, with specific designations to be announced later.
 
The Challenge finished the inaugural year in 2023 with a 7-7 tie between the leagues. The SEC, however, went 10-6 in the Women’s Challenge last season to bring the two-year total to 17-13. Tennessee earned one of the SEC’s triumphs in 2024, defeating a talented Florida State squad, 79-77, on Dec. 4 at Food City Center in Knoxville.
 
The Lady Vols, who are under the leadership of head coach Kim Caldwell for the second season, are coming off a 24-10 campaign that saw an exciting, fast-paced team advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 in her first campaign. That squad knocked off UConn during regular season and ended Ohio State’s perfect home court season winning streak during the NCAA Second Round, heightening anticipation on Rocky Top heading into 2025-26.
 
UT returns three of its top four scorers and rebounders, including junior guard and All-SEC Second Team/SEC All-Defensive Team performer Talaysia Cooper (16.6 ppg., 5.6 rpg., 3.2 apg., 3.1 spg.), senior forward Zee Spearman (11.7 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) and senior guard Ruby Whitehorn (11.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 1.7 apg.). Additionally, it welcomes back key 2024-25 contributors in junior forward Alyssa Latham (3.9 ppg., 3.7 rpg.) and redshirt sophomore guard Kaniya Boyd (4.0 ppg., 1.3 apg., 1.3 spg.).
 
Also expected to return to the court is redshirt senior guard Kaiya Wynn, who missed all of last season due to injury but averaged 4.4 ppg. and 2.6 rpg. in 2023-24 and has appeared in 94 contests for the Big Orange during her career. She is the only player on the roster to appear in a Tennessee-Stanford game, doing so in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
 
Caldwell and her staff also have recruited extremely well, adding a transfer portal class rated No. 1 by ESPN’s Charlie Creme and a high school signing group rated No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation by most analysts. The transfer class includes 6-foot-4 forward and Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year Janiah Barker of UCLA (7.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 1.4 apg.), 5-7 guard and All-ACC Second Team selection Nya Robertson of SMU (18.5 ppg., 62 3FGs, 111 FTs) and 6-5 forward Jersey Wolfenberger of LSU (4.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 63% FG). The stellar prep class includes McDonald’s All-Americans Mia Pauldo, Deniya Prawl and Jaida Civil, as well as Mia’s twin sister, Mya, and Lauren Hurst, all of whom rank among ESPN’s top 60 recruits in the class of 2025.
 
Stanford, which is unranked in the aforementioned ESPN poll, finished 16-15 a year ago during Kate Paye’s first season as head coach. The Cardinal, though, hopes to bounce back quickly by landing a consensus No. 3-rated 2025 recruiting haul, featuring a trio of players ranked among the nation’s top 21 and joining Tennessee as the only schools in the class to accomplish that feat.

Dollywood Water Safety Day!

Dollywood Water Safety Day!

As the most trusted water park in the Smokies, Dollywood’s Splash Country is committed to educating families about how to stay safe while having fun in the water this summer!

Water Safety Day on June 26 features the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, a free 30-minute swim lesson at the Mountain Waves wave pool. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is a one-day event that happens at pools and water parks around the world!

Join Dollywood’s Splash Country, Covenant Health, WVLT Local 8 News and 107.7 WIVK for Water Safety Day on Thursday, June 26th!

We will kick off the day with the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson at 10 a.m. which is a free 30-minute swim lesson at the Mountain Waves wave pool. The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson is a one-day event that happens at pools and water parks around the world!

All Water Safety Day activities including the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson are included with your water park admission. You can win your way in by listening to 107.7 WIVK all week!

Deadline to Apply for New School Voucher Program in Tennessee is This Week
Robin Joffe

Deadline to Apply for New School Voucher Program in Tennessee is This Week

Story courtesy of WVLT: KNOXVILLE, TN (WVLT) – Private schools have prepared for Gov. Bill Lee’s new school voucher program with nearly 40,000 families looking to cash in on the scholarships.

This coming school year, only 20,000 students will be granted scholarships from the program. State numbers show 244 private schools have opted-in to allow families to use the scholarships at their private school.

This includes all 10 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Knoville.

“It’s been very rewarding for the schools as well as the families of course,” interim superintendent for the Diocese of Knoxville, George Valadie, said. “There was a lot of leadup to it; a lot of education to our families, a lot of education of families in our parishes.”

The schools in this part of East Tennessee include Knoxville Catholic and Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Valadie added some families are not having to switch schools to get this scholarship.

“Some of the families who have applied and received vouchers were already enrolled,” Valadie said.

Some schools are having to put students on a waitlist with so many families trying to attend certain schools. Valadie said some schools are already full.

“We had some families reach out to a school and a specific grad that they were trying to get into, we were just full. But, another family reached out, a similar family, and the grade they wanted to get into was open,” Valadie said.

Valadie said how the process works of accepting students through the voucher program is that a family will reach out to the state and notify them of the school they’re looking to send their child to. Then, it falls on school leaders to accept them.

Valadie added some students have notified school leaders of their plans to attend, but others they hear about for the first time, so they will ask the family questions about the student before giving their decision.

Regardless of any factors, Valadie believes families should have this choice.

“They might not consider us. They may consider a different private school, but at least they can find the one that works best for their student, so I think that’s what matters,” Valadie said.

The deadline to apply for the program is June 13, and the enrollment deadline is July 15.

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn Introduces Bill to End Taxpayer Funding for NPR and PBS

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn Introduces Bill to End Taxpayer Funding for NPR and PBS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Free Americans from Ideological Reporting (FAIR) Act to stop federal taxpayer dollars from being sent to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) after years of left-wing politically biased reporting under the guise of public broadcasting. Senator Blackburn has long pushed to ensure taxpayers are not footing the bill for biased media, and this bill would codify the executive order President Trump issued on May 1, 2025.

“For far too long, American taxpayers have been forced to foot the bill for NPR and PBS while they push left-wing propaganda,” said Senator Blackburn. “The FAIR Act would cut off taxpayer funding to these partisan outlets, ensuring the American people aren’t forced to subsidize media that disparages conservatives and does the left’s bidding.”

BACKGROUND
  • NPR and PBS have benefited from taxpayer dollars for years while showing a consistent pattern of editorial bias, left-leaning political slant, and a lack of public accountability. NPR and PBS have violated the spirit of public broadcasting by forcing American taxpayers to fund content that misrepresents and excludes conservative viewpoints.
  • Last year, Senator Blackburn called for NPR to lose its funding after it suspended an editor who exposed the outlet’s partisan bias.
  • NPR’s CEO, Katherine Maher, testified before Congress where she admitted to botching coverage of Hunter Biden’s laptop and was grilled about the bias in the organization. Maher has also made statements calling President Trump a “fascist” and a “deranged racist sociopath.” PBS has pushed radical leftist gender ideology, releasing a movie called “Real Boy,” about a transgender teen.
  • President Trump issued an executive order on May 1, 2025, preventing federal dollars from funding NPR and PBS directly through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) or indirectly through member station dues.
THE FAIR ACT

The FAIR Act would:

  • Permanently bar CPB from directly funding NPR and PBS;
  • Permanently bar CPB from indirectly funding NPR and PBS by ensuring that licensees and permittees of public radio and television stations, as well as any other recipients of CPB funds, do not use federal funds for NPR and PBS; and
  • Require the heads of all agencies to identify and terminate direct or indirect funding of NPR and PBS. 

Click here https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/services/files/599EC3E1-18D7-4316-8F6A-A748C3B36111? for bill text.

Sweet Summer Fun with Dollywood!

Sweet Summer Fun with Dollywood!

WIVK and Dollywood are teaming up to send one lucky listener to Dollywood and Dollywood Splash Country for some sweet summer fun!

Enter below for your chance to win: 4 tickets to Dollywood, 4 Timesaver Passes, Tasting passes, a parking pass and a gift basket, 4 tickets to Splash Country, a parking pass, an all day Dollywood Splash Country Retreat reservation, H20 Timesaver passes and free food! 

Sign up to win Sweet Summer Fun at Dollywood and Splash Country 2025!

Sign up here for a chance to win 4 tickets to Dollywood, 4 tickets to Dollywood’s Splash Country, a parking pass for each park, meal vouchers, timesaver passes and more!

Name(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
We will text you or call you if you win
Address(Required)
Knox County Sheriff’s Office says Deputies Attempted to Pull Over a Vehicle Which Led to a Multi-County Chase and Three Arrests
TDOT Smartway camera

Knox County Sheriff’s Office says Deputies Attempted to Pull Over a Vehicle Which Led to a Multi-County Chase and Three Arrests

A multi-county police chase ends with three people arrested.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office says deputies tried to pull over a car on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard last night (Wednesday), but it didn’t stop and sped onto I-40 East leading deputies on a chase from Knox County, through Sevier County and into Jefferson County.

On I-40 East in Sevier County, Troopers with the Tennessee Highway Patrol deployed spike strips and the car stopped near Exit 407.

After a brief foot chase, three people were taken into custody.

During the chase, the sheriff’s office says the suspects threw two guns out of the car. and deputies found drugs in the car after the chase.

I-40 West was closed for an extended period of time, but has reopened.

KCSO says it was connected to the 313 Initiative.

Football TV Windows, Two Additional Game Times Announced
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Football TV Windows, Two Additional Game Times Announced

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Television windows for the 2025 Southeastern Conference football schedule, as well as additional game times were announced by ESPN Wednesday afternoon.

Two non-conference home games for Tennessee will air on SEC Network. The Volunteers host UAB on Sept. 20 at 12:45 p.m. ET and will take on New Mexico State for Homecoming on Nov. 15 at 4:15 p.m.

Five of Tennessee’s SEC games have been flexed – at Mississippi State (Sept. 27), Arkansas (Oct. 11), at Alabama (Oct. 18), Oklahoma (Nov. 1) and at Florida (Nov. 22). Flex kickoff times are slated between 3:30-4:30 p.m. or 6-8 p.m.

The Vols’ road game at Kentucky on Oct. 25 will be in the night window – between 6-8 p.m. Nov. 29 Senior Day in Neyland Stadium versus Vanderbilt is set for the afternoon window – between 3:30-4:30 p.m.

For all listed windows (early, afternoon, night, flex), the exact start time within such window(s) will be confirmed no later than six days prior. Fans and viewers looking for more information on this new era for the SEC and ESPN can visit SECNetwork.com/sec-on-abc-and-espn.

Tennessee’s first three games times were previously announced. The Vols open the season on Aug. 30 in the Aflac Kickoff Game at noon ET on ABC. Tennessee then plays back-to-back 3:30 p.m. games in Neyland Stadium – ETSU (Sept. 6) and Georgia (Sept. 13).

Tickets to the season-opener in Atlanta are on sale now at AllVols.com. Season tickets are sold out for the third consecutive year. Fans interested in purchasing future new season tickets can fill out the 2026 season ticket interest form.

2025 Tennessee Football Schedule  
all times Eastern
Aug. 30, vs. Syracuse (Aflac Kickoff Game in Atlanta), noon, ABC
Sept. 6, ETSU, 3:30 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+
Sept. 13, Georgia, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Sept. 20, UAB, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network
Sept. 27, at Mississippi State, Flex
Oct. 11, Arkansas, Flex
Oct. 18, at Alabama, Flex
Oct. 25, at Kentucky, Night
Nov. 1, Oklahoma, Flex
Nov. 15, New Mexico State, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network
Nov. 22, at Florida, Flex
Nov. 29, Vanderbilt, Afternoon

TV Windows
Early – noon-1 p.m. ET
Afternoon – 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET
Night – 6-8 p.m. ET
Flex – 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET or 6-8 p.m. ET 

Weather

  • Forecast
  • Currents
  • Planner