Lady Antebellum will try to score their 11th No. 1 single with the release of “What I’m Leaving For” on Feb. 18.
Penned by Sam Ellis, Micah Premnath and Laura Veltz, “What I’m Leaving For” is featured on Lady A’s 2019 album, Ocean, and follows the release of lead single, “What If I Never Get Over You.”
“I wore out the demo for this song,” says Lady A’s Dave Haywood. “I immediately related to it. It’s so hard stepping away from your family the way we do, and that song is such a great, beautiful way of articulating what we’re out here doing this for—our families, and those that we love and the fans that love us, too. This song is a beautiful picture of that push and pull of our journey.”
“This song really describes exactly where we’re at in our lives and the give and take to try to find a personal balance with career and family,” says Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “Whether you are in the military, returning from maternity leave or just experiencing those tender-hearted ‘goodbyes,’ we hope it resonates and evokes a piece of comfort in the example we set for our children.”
Lady A’s video for “What I’m Leaving For” features a number of “home movies” with the trio’s six kids.
Kansas City, MO – June 10, 2019 – Training Facility: Portrait of Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES was voted the winner of the Pete Rozelle Trophy, awarded to the Super Bowl LIV Most Valuable Player.
Mahomes led Kansas City back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, tied for the second-largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The Chiefs became the first team to record three comebacks of at least 10 points in a single postseason in NFL history.
This is the 30th time that a quarterback has won the award and at 24 years and 138 days old, Mahomes is the youngest quarterback and third-youngest player to win the Super Bowl MVP award.
The youngest players to win Super Bowl MVP:
PLAYER
TEAM
SUPER BOWL
AGE
Marcus AllenHOF
L.A. Raiders
XVIII
23 years, 302 days
Lynn SwannHOF
Pittsburgh
X
23 years, 317 days
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City
LIV
24 years, 138 days
Mahomes completed 26 of 42 passes for 286 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown.
The award is chosen by a panel comprised of 16 media members and by fans interactively through the National Football League’s official website, NFL.com.
-NFL Communications
The Colquitt family was also a winner in the game as a VFL winsd the Super Bowl for the 11th consecutive season.
The @Chiefs defeat the 49ers 31-20 to win the #SuperBowl in Miami. First SB in 50 years is a win for KC. #VFL P Dustin Colquitt is a SB champion like his brother and his father. pic.twitter.com/TCuj9T8IsZ
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The No. 22/22 Lady Vols couldn’t overcome the high-powered offense of No. 1/2 South Carolina, falling 69-48 in Colonial Life Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Tennessee (17-5, 7-2 SEC) was led by junior Rennia Davis who posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while freshman Tamari Key blocked a career-high nine shots to set a new Lady Vol freshman single-game record.
Zia Cooke led USC (21-1, 8-1 SEC) with 20 points. Destanni Henderson and Aliyah Boston were also in double figures, finishing with 12 and 10, respectively.
Tennessee got off to a rocky start with turnovers on its first two possessions, but Lou Brown got UT on the board by scoring on a layup to tie the game at two-all a minute in. Key kept the Lady Vols in it defensively, blocking three shots in the first three minutes of play, but South Carolina managed an 8-4 lead before the media timeout. Rae Burrell gave Tennessee a spark offensively, hitting a 3-pointer following the break, but South Carolina rallied with five quick points to lead by eight at the 2:44 mark and then closed out the quarter with a 6-0 run to take a 21-9 advantage into the second period.
Both teams struggled to score at the outset of the second quarter, combining for just three points in the opening four minutes. Tyasha Harris broke the slump with a jumper for USC, while Davis answered on the other end to make the score 24-13 Gamecocks with 5:44 left in the half. Following a timeout, Harris hit a 3-pointer to set off a 10-2 run that would put USC up 34-15 by the 2:37 mark. The 19-point deficit would hold until Kasiyahna Kushkituah and Jazmine Massengill combined for four unanswered points to close out the quarter and bring the halftime score to 38-23.
The Lady Vols picked up where they left off in the second half, scoring the first six points of the period to extend their run to 10-0 and cut the lead to nine just over two minutes in. Three and a half minutes later, the Gamecocks had built their lead back up to 14 at 45-31, but Davis responded with five straight points for UT to cut the deficit to 11 with 2:26 remaining in the quarter. Henderson heated up for USC in the closing minutes, scoring seven points off a 9-0 South Carolina run that moved the score to 56-36 entering the final stanza.
The teams largely traded baskets through the opening minutes of the fourth. Tennessee mounted a 5-0 run with 3:14 left in the game to cut USC’s lead to 16, but LeLe Grissett killed that momentum with an old fashioned three-point play with 1:39 to play, and South Carolina went on to win 69-48.
Up Next: The Lady Vols return home to host No. 9/8 Mississippi State on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m., and the game will be televised by the SEC Network and carried on Lady Vol Network radio stations and via live audio stream on UTSports.com.
Serious Shot Swatting: Freshman Tamari Key blocked a career-high nine shots against USC, a figure that places her at second among UT’s single-game leaders (Kelley Cain holds the record with 12) and sets the single-game record among freshmen. She broke the previous mark of seven set by Cain and Candace Parker. Key’s season total now stands at 70, which is good for eighth place on UT’s all-time single-season list only 22 games into the season.
Double-Double Davis: With 18 points and 10 rebounds against USC, junior Rennia Davis recorded her eighth double-double of the season and the 26th of her career. She ranks 11th all-time in career double-doubles among Lady Vols.
Put Kasi On The Line: Junior Kasiyahna Kushkituah went four of four from the free-throw line on Sunday. She has now hit 14 of 16 free throws in SEC play for an average of 87.5 percent. That’s an increase of nearly 40 percent over her career average of .478. UT finished 11 of 12 from the free throw line for 91.7 percent, marking its second-best day of the season.
Defense A Bright Spot: USC entered the game averaging 88.8 ppg. and shooting 49.3 percent in conference games. Tennessee held the Gamecocks to just 69 points on 37.7 percent shooting on the day.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 22/22 Tennessee (17-4, 7-1 SEC) will play its second No. 1-ranked team of the season, as the Lady Vols travel to Columbia to take on No. 1/2 South Carolina (20-1, 8-0 SEC) in Colonial Life Arena at 1:02 p.m. ET on Sunday.
UT previously faced off with No. 1/1 Stanford on Dec. 18, playing competitively before falling, 78-51, at Maples Pavilion.
This will mark the 59th meeting in a series that began in 1972, with Tennessee leading 58-10. The Lady Vols will try to snap a two-game losing skid to the Gamecocks, but the Big Orange will try to extend a two-game winning streak in games played at Colonial Life Arena.
Sunday’s match-up will offer a battle between the SEC’s first-place team, South Carolina, and the Lady Vols, who are tied with Mississippi State for second place with one loss apiece.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Sunday’s game will be televised by ESPN2 with Courtney Lyle (PxP) and Carolyn Peck (Analyst) handling the call.The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone calling the action for the 21st season and Bobby Rader serving as the studio host.
A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on Vol Network Affiliates in the black bar at the top of the page.
Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.
SECN+ games are online broadcasts and are available only on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets.
All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
LADY VOLS VS. NO. 1 TEAMS
The Lady Vols are 14-34 all-time in contests vs. No. 1-ranked teams, including 6-7 away, 2-12 at home and 6-15 at neutral sites.
Coach Pat Summitt was 14-31 in those contests, while Holly Warlick was 0-2 during her tenure and Kellie Harper is 0-1, with her team falling to Stanford earlier this season, 78-51, on Dec. 18.
This marks the first time since 2011-12 that the Lady Vols have faced two No. 1 teams in a season. UT went 0-2 that year, losing to Baylor twice.
This is the 15th time the Lady Vol program has had multiple games vs. No. 1 teams in the same season.
Tennessee’s last win over a No. 1-ranked team was on March 6, 2005, when the Lady Vols beat LSU, 67-65 in the SEC Tournament title game in Greenville, S.C.
UT’s last true road win over a No. 1 came on Jan. 24, 2004, when the No. 2 Big Orange upended top-ranked Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium, 72-69.
UT has gone 0-7 vs. No. 1 teams since its last win on March 6, 2005.
BATTLE OF SEC LEADERS IN LEAGUE PLAY
South Carolina’s No. 1 scoring offense (88.8) in league games faces Tennessee’s No. 1 scoring defense (58.8).
The Gamecocks’ 49.3 field goal percentage in SEC games meets the Lady Vols’ 35.1 field goal percentage defense.
South Carolina, No. 1 in rebounding offense (47.2) and rebounding defense (30.6), meets Tennessee, which ranks second (41.8 and 31.9) in those categories
UT freshman Jordan Horston (6.0) and USC senior Tyasha Harris (5.5) rank No. 1 and No. 3 in assists per SEC game.
Tennessee’s Tamari Key (4.5) and South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston (1.9) stand No. 1 and No. 4 in blocked shots in league contests.
Lady Vol Rennia Davis (81.1) and Gamecock Aliyah Boston (80.8) rank No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in free throw percentage in SEC play.
THE ROAD LEADING UP TO THIS
Tennessee enters Sunday having won six of its last seven and nine of its last 11.
UT has won six straight SEC games and is 3-1 in league road contests, dropping only an 80-76 decision vs. #13/13 Kentucky on Jan. 5.
Rennia Davis is averaging 22.7 points per game over her last five, shooting 50.0 percent from the field, 38.5 on threes and 89.5 at the charity stripe.
Jazmine Massengill is averaging 10.7 ppg. and shooting 54.2 percent over the last five games.
South Carolina comes in riding a 14-game winning streak since losing to No. 17/23 Indiana at the Paradise Jam in the U.S.V.I. on Nov. 28.
The Gamecocks are coming off an 87-32 win at Ole Miss. on Thursday night. UT collected an equally impressive 84-28 victory at Ole Miss on Jan. 9.
USC’s closest game of late was an 81-79 home win over No. 9/9 Mississippi State on Jan. 20.
RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME
Junior forward Rennia Davis poured in 22 points to lead No. 22/22 Tennessee to a 78-69 victory over in-state rival Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Thursday night.
Davis scored 16 of her points in the second half to hit double figures in points for the 19th straight game and for the 33rd time in her past 34 games. Jazmine Massengill was Tennessee’s (17-4, 7-1 SEC) second-highest scorer with 14 points, and Jordan Horston and Rae Burrell each turned in 11.
Vanderbilt (12-9, 2-6) was led by Koi Love who had 16 points. Kiara Pearl added 13.
NOTES FROM THE LAST GAME
Team Effort: Tennessee had four players in double figures (Davis – 22, Massengill – 14, Burrell – 11, Horston – 11), and every player who saw action contributed at least two points.
Burrell Back In Double Digits: Sophomore Rae Burrell came off the bench to turn in 11 points against the ‘Dores. It’s the ninth time this season she has scored 10 or more and the third time in SEC play.
Massengill Hitting Her Stride: Jazmine Massengill turned in her second double-digit performance in three games, setting a new SEC high of 14 points against Vandy while doling out three assists. She has now scored 10+ points on six occasions this season.
Davis Making Moves: Rennia Davis recorded her fifth 20+ game of the season and the 12th of her career. Twelve career games with 20+ points ties her with Semeka Randall and Daedra Charles for ninth all-time among Lady Vols. Additionally, she raised her career total to 1,239, passing Abby Conklin to rank 32nd all-time among Lady Vol scorers.
Shooting 50 Percent Or Better: The Lady Vols hit 51.7 percent of their shots against Vandy, marking the ninth time this season and the fourth time in SEC play they have shot 50 percent or better. That occurred only three times during the entire 2018-19 season.
UT-USC SERIES NOTES
UT enters Sunday’s contest with a 50-8 advantage in the series, including 21-2 in Columbia, 22-3 in Knoxville and 7-3 at neutral sites. UT has won the last two times in Columbia.
Tennessee is 5-3 vs. USC during the postseason and is 1-0 in overtime, taking a 79-73 extra-frame decision over the Gamecocks in the Palmetto State on Feb. 15, 1996. UT is 3-2 vs. USC in the SEC Tourney.
Since 2012, the series has been very streaky. UT won three straight, then USC took three in a row. After the Lady Vols claimed three consecutive wins, South Carolina now is trying to make it three in a row in its favor.
Kellie Harper has a 1-3 record vs. South Carolina as a head coach. She was 0-1 while at Western Carolina, and 1-2 while at NC State, beating the Gamecocks, 55-53, in Raleigh on Dec. 4, 2011, the last time she and Dawn Staley met on the hardwood.
In the other two contests, both on the road, NC State suffered a 74-71 setback on Dec. 13, 2009, and a 77-63 loss on Dec. 12, 2010.
Harper was 5-0 vs. USC as a player, participating in the only overtime game between these schools in 1996.
Since 2010, UT and USC each have won four SEC regular-season titles, with UT winning or sharing in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015 and USC doing so in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
After defeating South Carolina, the regular season SEC champs at 14-2, the 13-3 Lady Vols went on to claim the 2014 SEC Tournament title in Duluth, Ga.
Tennessee lost to South Carolina, 64-60, on Feb. 2, 2012, in Knoxville, but rebounded to defeat USC in the 2012 SEC Tournament semifinals in Nashville, 74-58, en route to its 16th SEC postseason championship.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina returned two starters and six total letterwinners from last season’s 23-10 squad that was second in the SEC at 13-3.
USC was picked by the media to win the SEC this season. The coaches projected USC second.
The Gamecocks start three freshmen from the nation’s No. 1 class, with rookie Aliyah Boston leading the way in scoring (13.2) and rebounding (8.9).
RECAPPING USC’S LAST GAME
Leticia Amihere scored 16 points and No. 1 South Carolina held Mississippi scoreless in the first quarter and limited Ole Miss to two points in the first half en route to an 87-32 win on Thursday night.
The Gamecocks (20-1, 8-0 SEC) led 18-0 after one period in Oxford and scored 27 unanswered points before Mississippi (7-14, 0-7) got its first basket. South Carolina led 32-2 at the break.
THE LAST TIME WE MET THE GAMECOCKS
A combined 18 second-half points from the sophomore duo of Rennia Davis and Evina Westbrook was not enough for the Lady Vols to complete a frantic comeback against No. 13-ranked South Carolina, which notched an 82-67 win at Thompson-Boling Arena on Feb. 24, 2019.
Tennessee (17-10, 6-8 SEC) cut the Gamecocks’ lead down to seven points twice in the second half despite a 16-point deficit at the half.
In the loss, four Lady Vols recorded double-digit points on the afternoon: Davis (15), Zaay Green (12), Cheridene Green (11) and Westbrook (10). Freshman Rae Burrell added seven points from the bench, as Davis and Cheridene Green led Tennessee on the glass with nine rebounds apiece.
The Gamecocks (20-7, 12-2 SEC) were propelled by a 28-point performance from redshirt senior guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore, who connected on three of seven shots from beyond the arc.
THE LAST TIME WE MET IN COLUMBIA
Senior Mercedes Russell recorded a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double to lead No. 6/6 Tennessee to an 86-70 victory over No. 9/8 South Carolina on Jan. 14, 2018, at Colonial Life Arena.
Jaime Nared added 21 points as the Lady Vols (16-1, 4-1 SEC) bounced back from their first loss of the season with a win over the defending national champions and their second consecutive victory in Columbia. UT was fueled by a balanced attack, with five different players reaching double figures.
Tyasha Harris put on an offensive display for South Carolina (14-3, 3-2 SEC) with a game-high 28 points and four assists. The Gamecocks were able to cut the deficit to four with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Tennessee relied on strong defense and timely scoring to end the game on a 16-4 run.
Santa Clara, CA – November 11, 2019 – Levi’s Stadium: Emmanuel Moseley (41) of the San Francisco 49ers during a regular season Monday Night Football game (Photo by Kohjiro Kinno / ESPN Images)
Here’s my Super Bowl prediction and some notes on the game directly from the NFL Communications office.
My predicted winner is in CAPS and bold..
2018 Season Prediction Record: 167-100 (63%) 2019 Conference Championship Round Record: 2-0 (100%) 2019 Season Prediction Record: 175-92 (66%)
SUPER BOWL LIV:
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS VS. Kansas City Chiefs
The National Football League is commemorating the end of its 100th season in Miami with Super Bowl LIV, featuring the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers, the designated road team, and the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the designated home team. FOX will televise the contest from Hard Rock Stadium, with kickoff slated for 6:30 PM ET.
Including the postseason, 49ers quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO (23-5, .821) and Chiefs quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES (27-8, .771) have a combined career winning percentage of .794, the highest combined winning percentage among opposing starting Super Bowl quarterbacks (minimum 25 starts).
The 49ers would record their sixth Super Bowl victory, tied with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowl titles by one franchise. San Francisco also captured Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV and XXIX.
The team would become just the second club in NFL history to win a Super Bowl after finishing the previous season with four-or-fewer wins, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams.
San Francisco would win the Super Bowl for the first time in 25 years. At the same stadium, on January 29, 1995, the 49ers concluded the NFL’s 75th season with a 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Miami.
Head coach KYLE SHANAHAN and his father, MIKE SHANAHAN, would become the first father and son head coaches to win Super Bowls. Mike won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII as head coach of the Denver Broncos.
San Francisco would improve to 6-1 in Super Bowls, and 3-0 in Miami Super Bowls (also XXIII after the ’88 season and XXIX after the ’94 season).
With a Kansas City win…
Nearly 50 years to the date of their last Super Bowl appearance (January 11, 1970, Super Bowl IV), the Chiefs would have their first world championship in five decades.
In the 60th season of the Chiefs franchise, the Lombardi Trophy would return to Kansas City for the first time since the AFL merged with the NFL prior to the 1970 campaign. LAMAR HUNT, who founded the franchise in 1960 and passed away in 2006, helped to create the AFL. He also asked then-NFL Commissioner PETE ROZELLE to call the game the Super Bowl.
Head coach ANDY REID would win his first Super Bowl. Reid would have 222 career wins, including postseason. Only five coaches in the history of the league have more victories, including the postseason.
Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES would become the second-youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl (BEN ROETHLISBERGER, Super Bowl XL).
The 49ers, who were 4-12 in 2018, became the third team to advance to a Super Bowl after winning four-or-fewer games the prior season, joining the 1999 St. Louis Rams (4-12 in 1998) and the 1988 Cincinnati Bengals (4-11 in 1987).
San Francisco earned a trip to Miami with a 37-20 win over Green Bay in the NFC Championship. Running back RAHEEM MOSTERT rushed for 220 yards, the second-most ever in an NFL postseason game, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON’s 248 rushing yards for the Los Angeles Rams on January 4, 1986. Mostert also became the third player in postseason history to rush for at least four touchdowns in a single game, joining RICKY WATTERS (five) and LEGARRETTE BLOUNT (four).
Quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO has a 23-5 (.821) career record as a starter, including the postseason, and makes his first-career Super Bowl start.
Tight end GEORGE KITTLE has 2,945 career receiving yards and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer MIKE DITKA (2,774) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first three seasons in league annals. Wide receiver EMMANUEL SANDERS joined Pro Football Hall of Famers WALTER PAYTON and LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, along with ODELL BECKHAM JR., as the only non-quarterbacks to record both a passing and receiving touchdown in multiple games since 1970. Wide receiver DEEBO SAMUEL had three games with at least 100 receiving yards in 2019, the most by a rookie in franchise history.
Rookie defensive lineman NICK BOSA has recorded three sacks in the 49ers first two postseason games and can become the third rookie since 1982 when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least four sacks in a single postseason, joining GREG TOWNSEND (4.5 sacks in 1983) and GARIN VERIS (four in 1985). Defensive lineman ARIK ARMSTEAD has recorded a sack in each of San Francisco’s two postseason games this year while cornerback RICHARD SHERMAN has registered an interception in both the Divisional and Championship rounds. Defensive lineman DEE FORD spent five seasons (2014-18) with Kansas City and recorded a career-high 13 sacks and seven forced fumbles with the Chiefs in 2018.
Kansas City won the AFC Championship with a 35-24 win over the Tennessee Titans. Quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES led the Chiefs back from a 10-0 deficit, giving Kansas City its first lead on a highlight-reel, 27-yard run just prior to halftime. He also threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver SAMMY WATKINS caught seven passes for 114 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown. Earlier, the Chiefs captured the AFC West division title (12-4) for a fourth consecutive year, the longest streak in franchise history.
The Chiefs have scored at least 30 points in each of Mahomes’ first four career postseason starts, tied for the second-longest postseason streak in the Super Bowl era. At 24 years and 138 days old on Sunday, he is the fifth-youngest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. With a victory, Mahomes would become the youngest player to win both an NFL MVP award and a Super Bowl championship, surpassing Hall of Famer EMMITT SMITH (24 years, 233 days old on the last day of his MVP 1993 season). Mahomes recorded 75 touchdown passes and 9,238 passing yards in his first 30 career games, both the most by any player through his first 30 career games in NFL history.
Running back DAMIEN WILLIAMS has four touchdowns this postseason, including three in the Chiefs Divisional Round victory. Williams has nine total touchdowns in his first five postseason games, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer TERRELL DAVIS (nine) and LARRY FITZGERALD (nine) for the most by a player in his first five postseason games in NFL history. Wide receiver TYREEK HILL has 21 career touchdowns of at least 40 yards, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer JERRY RICE (21) for the third-most such touchdowns in a player’s first four seasons in NFL history. Tight end TRAVIS KELCE became the first tight end in NFL history with four consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Since 2017, Hill and Kelce have combined for 7,795 receiving yards, the most by a wide receiver-tight end teammate duo over a three-season span since 1970.
VFLs and Knoxville area players in the Suoer Bowl Dustin Colquitt – P – Kansas City (Tennessee) Emmanuel Moseley – CB – San Francisco (Tennessee) Jalen Hurd – WR – San Francisco (one-time Vol) *RESERVE/INJURED Jonathan Kongbo – DE – San Francisco (Tennessee) *not on 53-player roster/Futures contract
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Despite a season-high 16 points from freshman Uros Plavsic and a career-high 13 points from junior Jalen Johnson, Tennessee fell, 86-73, at Mississippi State Saturday in Starkville.
The Bulldogs were paced by Reggie Perry and D.J. Stewart Jr. who finished with 24 and 20 points respectively.
The Vols (12-9, 4-4 SEC) were led by career-best scoring outputs from Plavsic and Johnson, along with freshman Santiago Vescovi, who scored 16 of his own.
Tennessee senior Jordan Bowden scored all 12 of his points in the second half.
A balanced opening 12 minutes that saw five different Vols (and five different nationalities) pen their names on the score sheet, and a 12-4 run spanning a period of five minutes gave UT a 21-17 lead at the under-eight media timeout.
Mississippi State (14-7, 5-3 SEC) responded with six straight points before the Orange & White used a 13-5 run to close the half and head into the locker room with a 34-28 advantage.
Out of the break, the Bulldogs came out firing, taking a 45-40 lead less than six minutes into the half. Their charge was spearheaded by a 10-0 run over two minutes.
Over the next six minutes, MSU continued to control the game, stretching its lead to 63-52 with 7:50 remaining.
MSU stifled each of UT’s late comeback bids, increasing its lead to as many as 17 points to cement the final score and close the afternoon.
Le Streak Continues: Junior Yves Pons closed the contest with one block, marking the 21st consecutive game he’s notched at least one rejection.
Up Next: The Vols are back in action for their second consecutive road contest when they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama on Tuesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
After cancelling 26 shows in 2019 as frontman Randy Owen dealt with vertigo and migraines, Alabama has revealed more than a dozen rescheduled dates on their 50th Anniversary Tour.
The band will get back on the road this summer and fall with announced stops in Nashville, Indianapolis, Detroit and more. A number of special guests will perform at select dates, including The Charlie Daniels Band, The Beach Boys, John Michael Montgomery, Don McLean and Restless Heart. Tickets are on sale now.
Alabama was celebrating a half-century of making music with their 50th Anniversary Tour in 2019, before postponing the trek about halfway through.
Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour
July 10 | Colonial Life Arena | Columbia, SC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 11 | Spectrum Center | Charlotte, NC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 17 | Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, TN (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 18 | Bridgestone Arena | Nashville, TN (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
July 31 | Intrust Bank Arena | Wichita, KS (w/ The Beach Boys)
Aug. 1 | WinStar World Casino & Resort | Thackerville, OK
Aug. 8 | Thunder Valley Amphitheater | Bristol, TN (w/ John Michael Montgomery)
Aug. 21 | Martin Luther King Jr. Arena | Savannah, GA (w/ Don McLean)
Aug. 22 | Hertz Arena | Estero, FL (w/ Don McLean)
Sept. 17 | Donald L. Tucker Civic Center | Tallahassee, FL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
Sept. 18 | Columbus Civic Center | Columbus, GA (w/ John Michael Montgomery)
Oct. 2 | Mohegan Sun Arena | Wilkes-Barre, PA (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
Oct. 3 | Wicomico Civic Center | Salisbury, MD
Oct. 15 | Bankers Life Fieldhouse | Indianapolis, IN (w/ Restless Heart)
Oct. 16 | Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center | Madison, WI (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
Oct. 23 | Fox Theatre | Detroit, MI
Oct. 24 | Van Andel Arena | Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Restless Heart)
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Tennessee men’s basketball team returns to action on Saturday afternoon for a road contest against Mississippi State. Tipoff from Humphrey Coliseum is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Saturday’s game can be seen on ESPNU, online through WatchESPN, which can be accessed at espn.com/watch, and on any mobile device through the ESPN App. Drew Fellios and Dalen Cuff will have the call.
Fans can also listen in on their local Vol Network affiliate to hear Bob Kesling and Bert Bertlekamp describing the action.
Last time out, UT fell to Texas A&M in a defensive battle, 63-58. The Vols were led by junior John Fulkerson, who tallied 15 points and seven boards. Three of Fulkerson’s seven rebounds were offensive bringing his season total to 39 and his season average to 1.9 to lead the team.
A victory on Saturday would give the Vols their 10th consecutive victory over teams from the state of Mississippi and prevent Tennessee’s first three-game losing skid since Feb. 22 through March 1 of the 2016-17 season (Vanderbilt, South Carolina and LSU).
Up next, Tennessee will hit the road for its second of two consecutive road contests, when it travels south to take on Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
THE SERIES
• Tennessee leads its all-time series with Mississippi State, 85-43, dating to 1924.
• The Vols own a narrow, 30-28 advantage when the series is played in Starkville and have won four of their last five games at The Hump.
• Tennessee is 6-1 against MSU under head coach Rick Barnes.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give the Vols 10 consecutive wins over teams from the state of Mississippi.
• Prevent UT’s first three-game losing skid since Feb. 22 through March 1 of the 2016-17 season (Vanderbilt, South Carolina, LSU).
STORYLINES
• This week one year ago, Tennessee was ranked No. 1 in both major polls.
• Six or more international student-athletes are likely to see action in Saturday’s game.
• Vols freshman Uroš Plavšić and Bulldogs redshirt junior Abdul Ado are both graduates of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga.
• In Tennessee’s eight games since the calendar flipped to 2020, junior Yves Pons has totaled 25 blocked shots (3.1 bpg).
• Vols forward John Fulkerson has three double-doubles in UT’s last six games and is averaging 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds during that span.
• In his first five college games, true freshman Santiago Vescovi averaged one turnover every 4.4 minutes played. But in the last three games, he has averaged one turnover every 22.8 minutes (four turnovers in 91 minutes).
LAYUP LINES
• Tennessee leads the SEC in both scoring defense (60.0 ppg, 10th nationally) and field-goal percentage defense (.378, 15th nationally).
• During SEC play, junior forward John Fulkerson leads the team in scoring (11.9 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg) while shooting .653 from the field and .864 from the free-throw line.
• The Vols are on pace to finish the regular season with 189 blocks. That would be the fifth-highest single-season total in program history.
• Junior forward Yves Pons has blocked at least one shot in every game this season. He leads the SEC and ranks 18th nationally with 2.7 bpg. His 3.1 bpg during SEC play also leads the league.
• Freshmen Josiah-Jordan James (13-28) and Santiago Vescovi (14-36) combine to shoot .422 from 3-point range during SEC play.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Mississippi State is riding a four-game conference win streak with victories over Missouri, Georgia, Arkansas and Florida. The Bulldogs are 13-7 (4-3 SEC).
• MSU head coach Ben Howland, like Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, is in his fifth year in Starkville, looking to build off MSU’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years. The Bulldogs finished 2018-19 with a mark of 23-11 and finished sixth in the SEC before ultimately falling to Liberty in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament.
• The Bulldogs have been led this season by the outstanding play of sophomore forward Reggie Perry. Perry leads MSU in scoring (16.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.0), averaging a double-double while also showing his versatility as both a playmaker (2.3 apg) and defender (1.0 bpg). His 10.0 boards per game also lead the SEC.
• Perry put together one of his best performances of the season in State’s victory at Florida on Tuesday night, pouring in a career-high 27 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
• Senior guard Tyson Carter has shown great production for the Bulldogs, ranking second in scoring (13.6 ppg) and steals (1.3 spg) and first in assists, dishing off 3.5 assists per contest. His contributions have stayed consistent while coming off the bench in each of the last five games.
• One notable native of Starkville, Mississippi, is Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Rice was born in Starkville and grew up in the nearby town of Crawford. He later attended Mississippi Valley State, where he set numerous NCAA I-AA football records before becoming arguably the greatest NFL receiver of all-time.
LAST TIME VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
• A second-half run vaulted No. 8 Tennessee to an 83-76 victory over Mississippi State in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on March 15, 2019, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
• All-SEC wing Admiral Schofield finished with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor. Senior Kyle Alexander also posted a dominant performance, dropping 16 points on 8-of-11 shooting, with nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
• SEC Player of the Year Grant Williams chipped in 16 points, and All-SEC point guard Jordan Bone narrowly missed a double-double with 14 points and nine assists. Junior guard Lamonté Turner was also effective at getting open shots for his teammates, dishing out eight assists to go with four steals. Fellow junior Jordan Bowden rounded out UT’s double-digit scorers with 10 points.
• Mississippi State had four players score in double figures, with Aric Holman’s 20 points on five 3-pointers leading the way.
• Similar to the first half, both teams traded buckets to begin the second half. However, a 10-0 run by Tennessee made it a 13-point game with 9:33 to play. The run was highlighted by a merciless one-handed slam by Schofield over a Mississippi State player that brought the crowd to its feet and gave the Vols all the momentum.
• The game was never closer than seven points after the swing in UT’s favor. Tennessee sealed the victory by knocking down seven of its final nine shots. For the game, UT shot 52 percent (34-of-66) from the floor.
• The first half went back and forth as both teams traded baskets. The Bulldogs held an early lead, but the Vols responded with a 9-0 run to pull ahead with 10 minutes left.
• Tennessee maintained at least a two-possession game for the remainder of the period to head into the break up, 34-28.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Junior Dale Ellis grabbed a school-record seven steals as the Vols defeated the Bulldogs 54-44 at “The Hump” in Starkville on Jan. 20, 1982.
• Bill Justus’s two game-winning free throws in the third overtime in Starkville on March 6, 1967, gave the Vols the outright SEC regular-season title. Justus scored 14 in the contest.
• While Justus earned the credit for sealing the win in Starkville in 1967, the Vols would not have contended for the win without 35 points from Knoxville native Ron Widby, who went on to be a Pro Bowl punter for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
• Ernie Grunfeld scored 37 and Bernard King added 30 as the “Ernie & Bernie Show” rolled to a 97-87 win in Starkville. on Jan. 25, 1975.
ROAD WARRIORS
• Dating to the start of the 2017-18 season, Tennessee is 17-10 (.630) in true road games.
• That includes victories at Kentucky, Iowa State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Memphis and Florida.
MINUTE DISTRIBUTION SHOWS YOUTH
• During SEC play, freshmen account for 40.1 percent of Tennessee’s total minutes played.
• The Vols regularly start two true freshmen in guards Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi. They average 32.1 and 26.0 minutes, respectively, in SEC games.
PONS RIDING BLOCK STREAK
• Yves Pons, the SEC’s leading shot-blocker, has blocked at least one shot in every game this season.
• His streak of 20 straight games with at least one block is the longest such streak by a Vol since at least the 1997-98 season (research is ongoing).
• Pons has blocked three or more shots in 12 games this season, including a program-record-tying six-block effort against Jacksonville State on Dec. 21.
• With 11 regular-season games left to play, he already ranks tied for ninth on UT’s single-season blocks list. The record is 73, by C.J. Black in 1997-98.
PONS ON NBA MOCK DRAFT BOARD
• Junior forward Yves Pons currently appears on ESPN’s latest 2021 NBA Mock Draft, released Jan. 22.
• ESPN projects Pons to go to the Philadelphia 76ers as the 52nd overall pick.
The Hot Country Knights—a band fronted by an incognito Dierks Bentley—announced they will hit the road for their One Knight Stand Tour this spring. The 13-date tour kicks off on April 7 in San Diego, making additonal stops in L.A., Boston, Atlanta, Nashville and more. Hannah Dasher, Tenille Townes, Rachel Wammack and Lainey Wilson will provide support during various stops.
The Hot Country Knights are comprised of Dierks’ road band, performing ’90s-esque country tunes while donning aliases, mullet wigs and over-the-top attire from the era. The Hot Country Knights feature lead singer Douglas “Doug” Douglason, lead bass player Trevor Travis, lead guitarist Marty Ray “Rayro” Roburn, fiddle player Terotej “Terry” Dvoraczekynski, steel guitarist Barry Van Ricky and percussionist Monte Montgomery.
“The Knights started as a live band playing at a little place called Teasers on ‘Two for Tuesdays,’ and they just couldn’t get enough of us down there in Murfreesboro,” says Doug Douglason. “We’ve got a little money now, so Barry did some work on the van. We got a few little outstanding legal issues handled so we are free and clear to cross state lines again. Yeah baby, the Knights are riding again!”
Tickets go on sale on Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. local time, with pre-sale for Citi cardmembers beginning on Feb.4 at 10 a.m. local time.
The band’s debut single, “Pick Her Up,” will impact country radio on Feb. 3. In January, the band signed a recording contract with Universal Music Group Nashville, which is Dierks’ longtime label partner.
The Hot Country Knights released their second song, “Asphalt,” on Jan. 31. Watch the cheeky new video below.
One Knight Stand Tour
April 7 | San Diego, CA | House of Blues
April 8 | Los Angeles, CA | The Wiltern
April 9 | San Francisco, CA | The Regency Ballroom
April 16 | Chicago, IL | Joe’s Sports Bar
April 17 | Rosemont, IL | Joe’s Live
April 18 | Royal Oak, MI | Royal Oak Theatre
April 20 | Washington DC | 9:30 Club
April 21 | Brooklyn, NY | Music Hall of Williamsburg
April 22 | Boston, MA | House of Blues
April 24 | Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre
April 25 | Talladega, AL | Talladega Superspeedway
April 29 | Nashville, TN | Ryman Auditorium
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In conjunction with Super Bowl LIV, Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith was awarded with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Trophy at the 15th annual Johnnie L. Cochran Foundation Jr. Salute to Excellence Awards, hosted by the Fritz Pollard Alliance on Thursday evening at the Broward County Convention Center.
The Fritz Pollard Trophy honors a college player who has exemplified extraordinary courage, community values, and exceptional performance on the field, while the awards ceremony celebrates individuals and organizations who display outstanding performances on the field, in front offices and across the U.S. by exemplifying diversity, courage and meritorious performance.
In a room full of NFL legends, including Harry Carson, John Lynch and Tony Dungy, VFLs Jacques McClendon and Reggie McKenzie, and NFL executives including the league’s commissioner Roger Goodell, the 6-6 Smith delivered as heartfelt of a speech as his play on the field thanking his family, including his late mother Dorsetta Smith, and Vols coaching staff and medical staff for contributing to his success.
“When I got my letter from Tennessee, I knew it was my home,” Smith said. “I’ve had my fair share of obstacles and setbacks. My mom died at the age of 15. Being quite honest, I fell into a state of depression and not really sure what my purpose was.
“I had to rely on the things that I always relied – my family and faith.”
Smith found the recognition to be particularly special because of the legacy of the trophy’s namesake Fritz Pollard, who was the first African-American to become a head coach in the NFL and one of the first two African-American players in the league. Recalling Pollard’s historical milestone and with Black History Month a couple a days away, Smith says the moment means much more.
“Knowing the legacy that Fritz Pollard established and to be receiving an award with his name is truly humbling and a blessing,” the Jackson, Tenn., native said. “This time of year, especially, I often think of those that came before me and paved the way for many of the opportunities that I am able to take advantage of both in football and outside of my sport.
“The scripture Deuteronomy 6:11, ‘we drink from wells we did not dig, we are warmed by fires we did not build’, is something I think about and hope to be able to pass that energy on to others.”
Others to be honored include the Miami Dolphins Football Club (Paul J. Tagliabue Award), Richard Lapchick, PhD (Dan Rooney Lifetime Achievement Award), and NFL Executive Vice President, Football Operations Troy Vincent, President of 49ers Enterprises and EVP of Football Operations Paraag Marathe and the City Furniture Florida Business, who will all receive Salute to Excellence Awards.
Smith has been forging an impressive legacy of his own both on and off the gridiron.
Smith was diagnosed with blood clots in February of 2018, but returned to play for the Vols in 2018. Another setback occurred in October of 2018 and Smith missed the final five games of the season. He again fought back to return to football. A plan was developed by the Tennessee medical staff, in collaboration with specialists, which minimizes Smith’s risk for recurrent blood clots, while allowing him to play football.
Smith started 12 games at left guard in 2019 en route to All-SEC First Team honors from the coaches and media. He was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week twice this fall. After missing the final five games of the 2018 season and a comeback to football questionable, Smith returned to his dominant ways and spearheaded Tennessee’s six-game win streak to end the season. SEC Network analyst and offensive line expert Cole Cubelic named Smith to his All-America First Team.
The Jackson, Tenn., native continued his commitment to the community even during a busy football season. Smith is an active speaker to youth groups, elementary schools and organizations across the state and led coat drives for Knoxville Area Rescue Ministry (KARM) during the 2018 and 2019 seasons where over 1,000 coats were donated each year because of his efforts.
The grandiose evening was highlighted by remarks from Goodell who shared a few words.
“This is an important organization,” Goodell said. “We have a lot to be proud of. The people that are here are committed to finding solutions. I want to take a moment to congratulate all of the award winners tonight. It is an impressive group. I can see why each of them are so deserving”
Smith will stay in South Florida until Feb. 3 along with four other Vols student-athletes as part of The Big Orange Combine, an immersive experience that includes working behind the scenes at the Super Bowl.
Smith recently announced that he will return to the Volunteers for his senior season. His commitment to his team and community continues to garner recognition as the o-lineman was selected as one of three finalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award given to the nation’s top all-around student-athlete, which will be awarded to the winner on Feb. 18.
![Hot Country Knights Announce “One Knight Stand Tour” & Drop Cheeky New Video for “Asphalt” [Watch]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2020/01/23123503/Hot-Country-Knights-UMG.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
