Nashville Singer/Songwriter David Olney Dies Onstage During Florida Festival

Nashville Singer/Songwriter David Olney Dies Onstage During Florida Festival

Posted on January 20, 2020

Singer/songwriter David Olney, 71, died onstage during the 30-A Songwriters Festival in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., on Jan. 18.

David collapsed onstage after an “apparent heart attack” during a showcase alongside Amy Rigby and Scott Miller.

Amy shared details of the tragedy via Facebook, saying: “David Olney, a beautiful man, a legend, a songwriting poet died last night. I was sitting next to him in the round, had been so honored and looking forward to getting to trade songs with him and Scott Miller. Olney was in the middle of his third song when he stopped, apologized and shut his eyes. He was very still, sitting upright with his guitar on, wearing the coolest hat and a beautiful rust suede jacket we laughed about because it was raining like hell outside the boathouse where we were playing- I just want the picture to be as graceful and dignified as it was, because it at first looked like he was just taking a moment. Scott Miller had the presence of mind to say we needed to revive him. Doctors in the audience and 30A folks were all working so hard to get him to come to. It’s hard to post about this because I can’t really believe he’s gone. I am so sorry for his wife and family and friends and all the people who loved him and his music. Even those who never heard of him. We all lost someone important last night.”

In addition to releasing more than 20 solo albums, David’s songs were recorded by Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Young and more. He is survived by wife Regine, daughter Lillian and son Redding.

David’s official website noted the following: “Olney moved to Nashville [in 1973] after briefly studying English at the University of North Carolina. He quickly fell in with a group of like-minded songwriters that included [Guy] Clark, [Townes] Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell, and Richard Dobson. In the early 1980s, he formed The X-Rays, a jagged rock band that secured a contract with Rounder Records. In 1986, he embarked on a solo recording career that produced more than 20 albums and allowed him to travel the world making music.”

photo by Jim Casey

Jimmy’s blog: Holiday brings athleticism to QB position

Jimmy’s blog: Holiday brings athleticism to QB position

Posted on January 20, 2020

By Jimmy Hyams

During Jeremy Pruitt’s tenure as an Alabama assistant, the Crimson Tide won national titles mainly with pocket passers in a pro-style offense.

But in December, Tennessee signed a mobile quarterback in Jimmy Holiday, who has run an electronically timed 4.38 seconds in the 40 and who has the ability to play multiple positions.

Holiday, who had been committed to TCU, is a bit different from the other scholarship quarterbacks on the Tennessee roster. The 6-foot, 190-pounder rushed for more than 1,400 yards as a senior at Madison, Miss.

Does that represent a change in philosophy for Pruitt?

“We’ve never had a shift in philosophy,’’ Pruitt said during a recent interview on The Sports Animal WNML Radio. “Our number one thing is to be able to recruit a guy that can throw the ball to win games, but at the same time, combine the athleticism that gives you the opportunity to create quarterback runs, to have a guy that can extend plays, that can put pressure on the opponent.’’

That sounds like a Joe Burrow or a Trevor Lawrence or a Justin Fields or a Jalen Hurts.

Those four quarterbacks engineered their teams into this season’s College Football Playoffs.

And when you look at the NFL playoffs, seven of the eight teams in the divisional round had a mobile quarterback, Kurt Cousins of Minnesota being the exception. And Cousins isn’t exactly a statue.

While Pruitt values a quarterback who can run, he also feels it’s important to have an accurate thrower.

“If you’re going to be able to win a championship,’’ Pruitt said, “you obviously almost have to win every game. So to do that, there’s going to be a time when you might not be able to get the running game going. So the quarterback’s going to have to make throws.

“So you’ve got to … have a quarterback that can make all the throws and have the consistency to be able to do that.’’

Whether Holiday can make all the throws at the SEC level remains to be seen.

Even if he can’t, he could be an asset to the offense this year, perhaps running out of the wildcat package or lining up in the slot, or at running back. There’s no reason UT can’t find a way to get Holiday on the field for five to 10 plays a game – depending on the situation.

And if Holiday proves to be an accurate passer, he could be the type quarterback that gives defenses fits – and takes Tennessee to the next level.

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all 

Lady Antebellum Honored With “Angels Among Us Award” by St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Lady Antebellum Honored With “Angels Among Us Award” by St. Jude Children’s Hospital

Posted on January 20, 2020

Following in the esteemed footsteps of Randy Owen, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, John Rich, Darius Rucker and more, Lady Antebellum was honored with the 2020 Angels Among Us Award by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Lady A was recognized at the 31st annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids on Jan. 18 in Memphis. The award recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and lasting contributions to St. Jude.

Over the years, Lady A has supported St. Jude by raising funds and awareness through their own philanthropic organization LadyAID, performing benefit concerts, participating in the This Shirt Saves Lives campaign, spending time with patients and more.

“As parents ourselves, being an ambassador for St. Jude over the years has been one of the most gratifying experiences we’ve had in our career,” said Lady A’s Hillary Scott. “We’ve been all around the country and have seen firsthand the important impact St. Jude has on children and families and the heartfelt community they’ve created. This is one of the highest honors we could receive and we are so thankful to contribute even a tiny part in the amazing efforts made by St. Jude.”

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Gene Watson Invited to Join the Grand Ole Opry

Gene Watson Invited to Join the Grand Ole Opry

Posted on January 20, 2020

During his set on the Grand Ole Opry on Jan. 17, Gene Watson was surprised by Vince Gill with an invitation to join the esteemed club.

“He’s one of the greatest country singers that’s walked the earth,” said Vince during Gene’s introduction. After Gene performed “Sometimes I Get Lucky and Forget” and “Nothing Sure Looked Good On You,” Vince asked, “Would you mind singing ‘Farewell Party’? The Opry told me if you would, you could be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Gene replied, “I’m not sure I have anything left after that kind of surprise.” Gene performed the tune as the sold-out crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Gene, who made his Opry debut 55 years ago at the age of 21, scored a number of Top 10 hits in the 1970s and ’80s, including “Love in the Hot Afternoon,” “Paper Rosie,” “Fourteen Carat Mind,” “You’re Out Doing What I’m Here Doing Without” and more.

Gene’s invitation to join the Opry follows recent inductees Luke Combs (July 2019), Kelsea Ballerini (April 2019), Mark Wills (January 2019), Dustin Lynch (September 2018) and Chris Janson (March 2018).

Gene will be formally inducted into the Opry later this year.

photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

New Court Date Set for Sam Hunt’s DUI Case

New Court Date Set for Sam Hunt’s DUI Case

Posted on January 20, 2020

Sam Hunt is scheduled to appear in a Nashville court on March 17 at 9 a.m. to face misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and having an open container.

The new case details were released after Sam’s initially scheduled court date on Jan. 17.

Sam was arrested in Nashville on Nov. 21. According to the arrest warrant, police were notified that a driver was traveling the wrong way on a Nashville road. Officers located the vehicle going the wrong way and pulled the car over. The driver, identified as Sam Hunt, had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol. A field sobriety test was administered. Sam had a blood alcohol content of .173. The legal limit in Tennessee is below .08.

The day after being charge with driving under the influence, Sam released a statement via Twitter, saying: “Wednesday night I decided to drive myself home after drinking at a friend’s show in downtown Nashville. It was a poor and selfish decision and I apologize to everyone who was unknowingly put at risk and let down by it. It won’t happen again.”

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Hoops Preview: #24/25 Tennessee vs. Alabama

Hoops Preview: #24/25 Tennessee vs. Alabama

Posted on January 19, 2020
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 24/25 Tennessee (14-3, 4-1 SEC) is back home for a Monday night tussle with Alabama (11-6, 1-3 SEC) at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7:02 p.m. ET.

This will mark the 57th meeting between these programs, with the Lady Vols leading the all-time series by a 49-7 advantage. The series has been a streaky one. UA brings a five-game winning spree into Knoxville. That string came after Tennessee had won an otherworldly 42 straight from March 23, 1984, through Jan. 31, 2016.

Tennessee won its third straight league game and picked up its sixth victory in its last seven contests on Thursday night, as the Lady Vols scored 27 points off turnovers and shot 53.3 percent en route to a 78-50 runaway over Florida in Gainesville.

UT also has SEC wins over Missouri (77-66), Ole Miss (84-28) and Georgia (73-56) and is tied for third in the league with Kentucky. UT’s only losses this season are to (then) No. 1/1 Stanford, Texas and (then) No. 13/13 Kentucky. The Lady Vols defeated Notre Dame, which was ranked #15/14 when the teams played in November.

Alabama comes into Monday night’s contest with a week’s worth of preparation. The Crimson Tide women haven’t played since going on the road and defeating in-state rival Auburn by a 75-48 count on Jan. 12. The win over the Tigers was a big one, as Bama had entered that game on a three-game losing skid to open the SEC schedule at 0-3. UA now is tied for 10th in the league standings.

Following Monday night’s battle, Tennessee departs Tuesday for Hartford, Conn. The Lady Vols will renew a storied rivalry with #4/5 UConn on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). The match-up is part of a fundraising effort for the Pat Summitt Foundation, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and both teams will be taking part in festivities leading up to the game.

Alabama, meanwhile, returns to Tuscaloosa, where it will host #12/12 Texas A&M at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday (SECN+).

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Monday night’s game will be televised by the SEC Network with Brenda Van Lengen (PxP) and Christy Thomaskutty (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.

PROMOS

  • Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Lady Vol Basketball will commemorate the life and achievements of the influential American civil rights leader throughout the evening.
  • Gates open at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Tickets are all just $5. Purchase yours today at AllVols.com.
  • There is free parking & shuttle service available from UT’s Ag Campus. Shuttles begin two hours prior to tip-off.
  • Want to be the Jr.Vol of the Game? Sign up for the Jr.Vol Club today and get the chance to see yourself on the video board. Members also receive free Jr.Vol swag, tickets to games for all sports and exclusive Jr.Vol events.
  • Come High-Five the Lady Vols. Kids 12 & younger can pick up a wristband at the Fan HQ table on the concourse to participate in the pregame High-Five Tunnel. Wristbands are limited. To purchase discounted group tickets and reserve wristbands for your team, call 865-946-7000.
  • You can be a part of the Lady Vols’ electric introductions. Make sure to download our light show app courtesy of Coca Cola. The “Hoops Hype” app is available free of charge from the Apple Store or the Google Play Store.
  • Halftime entertainment will be the very popular Mutts Gone Nuts.

RECAPPING OUR LAST GAME

  • The No. 24/25 Lady Vols picked up their third-straight SEC win on Thursday night, defeating the Florida Gators in Gainesville, 78-50.
  • Junior Rennia Davis, playing in front of family and friends who made the drive from Jacksonville, led the effort for Tennessee (14-3, 4-1 SEC), finishing with 18 points and five rebounds. Sophomore Rae Burrell was also in double digits with 11 points.
  • Freshmen Lavender Briggs and Brylee Bartram led Florida (11-7, 2-3 SEC) with 11 points each.

NOTES FROM THE LAST GAME

  • Who Says You Can’t Go Home?: Junior Rennia Davis, a Florida native from nearby Jacksonville, put on a show for her home state, knocking down 10 points in the first quarter alone. She went on to finish with 18 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
  • Turning The Tables: After falling behind 6-2 in the opening minutes of the game, Tennessee put together a 26-5 run over 10 minutes to lead 28-11 by the 7:19 mark of the second quarter.
  • Cashing In On Turnovers: Tennessee forced 16 turnovers against UF, turning them into 27 points to account for more than a third of the UT’s total points on the night.
  • Thunder From Down Under: Freshman Jessie Rennie continued her sharp-shooting ways, going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc against Florida.  She is averaging 60.9 percent over the last nine games. Her season 3-point shooting average of .447 leads the team.
  • Owning The Line: UT hit nine of 10 free throws against Florida and is 57 of 71 in SEC play, shooting 80 percent from the free-throw line in conference games.
  • Potent Offense: The Lady Vols shot 53 percent on the night, marking the eighth time this season and the third time in SEC play they have hit at least half of their shots. That occurred only three times during the 2018-19 season.

MILESTONE WATCH

  • If Tennessee is victorious against the Crimson Tide, Kellie Harper would earn the 300th victory of her 16-year head coaching career.
  • With a win over Bama, UT would claim its 400th SEC regular season triumph. That total ranks first in the league by more than 90 victories.
  • A UT win would equal its 10th home “W” of 2019-20. UT has had at least 10 home victories in every one of Thompson-Boling Arena’s 33 seasons.
  • The Lady Vols are trying to open 5-1 in SEC play for the first time since 2014-15. That year, UT was undefeated through six games and won the SEC title with a 15-1 record.

TRACKING TENNESSEE 

  • Rennia Davis has scored in double figures in 15 straight games and in 16 of 17 contests this season. Including last year, she has scored 10 or more points in 29 of her past 30 games. Davis is third in the SEC in scoring (19.6 ppg.) in league games, is third in double-doubles this season with seven and is third among active SEC players with 25 career double-doubles.
  • Freshman Jordan Horston and sophomore Jazmine Massengill are each averaging 5.4 apg. in SEC play to rank fourth in the league.
  • In SEC play, redshirt senior Lou Brown (Melbourne) has hit six of 12 three-point attempts (.500) and freshman Jessie Rennie (Bendigo) has swished five of nine (.556). The Aussies are dialed in.
  • Freshman Tamari Key is tops in the SEC with a 4.6 blocks per game average in league play.
  • Rae Burrell brings energy and productivity off the bench for UT, averaging 10.4 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and shooting 45% on field goals.
  • After hitting 75 percent on free throws only once the first 13 games, UT has hit 75 percent or better the past four contests and is leading the SEC in league games at 80.3 percent.
  • Just 17 games into the season, UT has blocked 120 shots and is tops in the SEC with 8.0 bpg. in league games. The blocks total is higher than 17 Lady Vol teams had for an entire season, including the 2018-19 squad’s 95.
  • The Lady Vols allowed 69.1 points per game in 2018-19, which was the second highest ever allowed by UT. In 2019-20, UT is allowing a 54.4 average which currently is tops in school history, albeit with a tough schedule ahead.
  • UT is shooting 45.9 percent from the field for the season (3rd, SEC/17th, NCAA) and 50 percent in five SEC games (1st).
  • The Lady Vols have assists on 310 of their 504 field goals (61.5 percent). They are No. 1 at 18.8 apg. in SEC games.
  • UT is shooting 80.3 percent on free throws (No. 1) in SEC play and is led by a trio of players hitting 80+ percent. Kasiyahna Kushkituah entered the season shooting 38 percent for her career and is knocking down 83.3 percent (10 of 12) thus far in league games. Rae Burrell is shooting 81.3 (13-16), while Rennia Davis has hit 12 of 15 (80.0).
  • Freshman Jordan Horston is averaging 12.0 points per game in SEC play, which ranks second on the team. She is tied for the team lead with 27 assists.
  • Jazmine Massengill also has 27 assists in league contests and has committed only six turnovers for a 4.5 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
  • Freshman Tamari Key’s 46 blocked shots rank her No. 12 in the nation and second in the SEC. She is currently averaging 4.6 per game in SEC play, which leads all league players.
  • Rae Burrell had 11 points off the bench vs. Florida, marking the eighth time she has hit double figures as a reserve this season.
  • Jordan Horston had a six-game streak of scoring in double figures end at Florida. With another point vs. Florida and one more vs. Stanford, Horston’s streak would be standing at nine games.
  • Jazmine Massengill shot 53.3 at the free throw line a year ago. This season, she is hitting 76.5 percent, including 80 percent (20-25) in home games.

UT-UA SERIES NOTES

  • The Lady Vols hold a 49-7 all-time record vs. Alabama, dating back to Jan. 22, 1977, but the Crimson Tide is riding a five-game win streak in the series with Tennessee.
  • UT failed to surpass 65 points in any of those losses and gave up 72, 72 and 86 the past three times these schools played.
  • Against the Tide, the Lady Vols are 22-1 in games played in Knoxville, 18-3 in Tuscaloosa and 9-3 at neutral sites.
  • There has never been an overtime game in the series.
  • UT is 16-2 vs. Alabama in Coleman Coliseum, losing for the first time there on Feb. 16, 2017, 65-57.
  • From 2011-16, the Crimson Tide women played in Foster Auditorium, where UT was 2-1, including a 54-46 loss on Feb. 25, 2016.
  • The 2016 loss ended a 42-game UT win streak.
  • Prior to that victory, the last Alabama win was on March 3, 1984, at the SEC Tournament in Athens, Ga., by a score of 85-66.
  • The other came at the 1981 SEC Tournament, as the Tide knocked off #10-ranked Tennessee, 77-71, on Jan. 30.
  • Kellie Harper is 1-2 vs. Alabama as a head coach, forging a 1-1 mark vs. the Tide while at NC State and a 0-1 record as Missouri State’s coach. MSU lost at Tuscaloosa, 65-61, on Dec. 19, 2017, in her last encounter vs. UA.
  • Harper (then Kellie Jolly) was 7-0 vs. Alabama as a player at Tennessee.
  • Alabama director of operations Brian Johnson is a 2016 Tennessee graduate who served as a manager on the Lady Vol staff for four seasons.

ABOUT ALABAMA

  • Alabama enters the game with an 11-6 overall record and 1-3 SEC mark.
  • UA returned four starters and 10 letterwinners from last year’s team that posted a 14-17 record, including 5-11 in the league (11th).
  • Juniors Jordan Lewis and Jasmine Walker lead the Crimson Tide, posting 13.4 ppg. and 11.5 ppg., respectively. Walker also pulls down 6.9 rpg.

RECAPPING BAMA’S LAST GAME

  • Alabama bounced back in a big way with its largest margin of victory in Auburn Arena after defeating the Tigers (6-9, 0-4 SEC), 75-48, Sunday afternoon. The win for the Crimson Tide (11-6, 1-3) was its first in 2020 and its first in SEC play.
  • Junior Jasmine Walker tallied her third double-double of the season after dropping in 23 points, including knocking down four three-pointers to go along with 10 rebounds.
  • Junior Jordan Lewis poured in 16 points, six rebounds and a game-high five assists. Senior Cierra Johnson also added 11 points and four assists off the bench, while junior Ariyah Copeland chipped in 10 points in the win.

THE LAST TIME WE MET THE CRIMSON TIDE

  • Zaay Green recorded her first career double-double and No. 20/17 Tennessee out-rebounded Alabama, 49-44, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a UA team that shot a blistering 50 percent from the floor en route to an 86-65 Tide victory in Tuscaloosa on Jan. 17, 2019.
  • Green finished the day with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while fellow freshman Rae Burrell managed 12 points and seven rebounds.
  • Alabama (10-8, 2-3 SEC) was led by junior Cierra Johnson, who had 17 points and seven rebounds. Ariyah Copeland finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Shaquera Wade added 15 points.

LAST TIME IN KNOXVILLE

  • Jaime Nared had a game-high 22 points, but it was not enough as No. 11/11 Tennessee lost to Alabama 72-63 on Feb. 15, 2018, in Thompson-Boling Arena.
  • The Lady Vols (21-5, 9-4 SEC) came out on the losing end of a streaky game that saw leads exchanged on three different double-digit runs. Tennessee had the advantage in the paint, out-rebounding the Crimson Tide 45-39, but Alabama (16-10, 6-7 SEC) won the game behind a 42.6% field goal percentage.
  • Tennessee had three players in double figures. Nared led the Lady Vols with 22 points, Rennia Davis scored 18 and Mercedes Russell added another 11. Both Davis and Russell collected double-doubles on the night, grabbing 10 and 11 rebounds, respectively.

UT Athletics

Vols Stifle Vanderbilt, 66-45, win 5th straight in series

Vols Stifle Vanderbilt, 66-45, win 5th straight in series

Posted on January 18, 2020
Vols G Jordan Bowden / Credit: UT Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A dominant defensive effort and a 21-5 run to begin the second half allowed the Tennessee basketball team to push past Vanderbilt, 66-45, Saturday inside Memorial Gym.

The result improved UT’s record to 11-6 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, while Vanderbilt fell to 8-9 overall and 0-4 in league action.

Senior Jordan Bowden led the Tennessee offense, finishing with 21 points while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 7-of-8 from the foul line.

Juniors John Fulkerson and Yves Pons each added 12 points for the Vols.

Fulkerson also pulled down eight rebounds, while Pons rejected four shot attempts, marking his fifth consecutive multi-block game.

Freshman Josiah-Jordan James also was tough on the boards for the Big Orange, grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. James also dished off a game-high five assists.

Both offenses started slow, with the squads shooting a combined 37 percent (7-of-19) from the field in the contest’s opening eight minutes, good for a 9-9 score line.

Shortly after the under-12 media timeout, Vanderbilt took a 13-11 lead. But over the next four minutes, the Vols locked down the Commodores defensively and used a 10-0 run to take a 21-13 lead with just more than six minutes remaining in the first half.

Vanderbilt responded to the Vols’ run with a 7-0 spurt of its own to close the opening half. However, UT held onto a slim 21-20 lead heading into the locker room.

Out of the break, Tennessee broke things open with a 10-0 run, during which eight points came inside the paint, to increase its lead to 31-20.

As the half wore on, the Vols continued to stretch their lead and their run to begin the second half, taking a 42-25 lead with 12:24 remaining in the contest.

During the game’s final 10 minutes, Tennessee continued to stifle the Vanderbilt offense while maintaining its efficient shooting mark on the other side of the floor, increasing its lead to as many as 22 points.

Memorial Memories: Tennessee’s win Saturday gave Jordan Bowden—UT’s lone active senior—a perfect 4-0 career record in Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym. The Vols have won four straight in their in-state rival’s home facility, with Bowden starting three of those games and averaging 12.0 points in the four victories.

Le Streak Continues: Junior Yves Pons has now recorded at least one block in each of the Vols’ first 17 games, marking the longest streak since C.J. Black recorded a block in 18 consecutive games over portions of two seasons in 1998. Pons finished the night with four blocks and has recorded multiple blocks in each of Tennessee’s SEC contest this season.

As One Streak Continues, Another Concludes: The Vols held Vanderbilt to an 0-25 night from 3-point range. It was the first time since the 3-point shot was introduced in the 1986-87 season (spanning 1,080 games) that the Commodores failed to knock down at least one 3-point attempt.

Blackjack’s Night: Following the victory, redshirt junior Jacob Fleschman was informed by head coach Rick Barnes in the locker room that he was being placed on scholarship for the spring semester. Pandemonium ensued.

Up Next: The Vols return home Tuesday night to host Ole Miss at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff is slated for 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

Box Score | Highlights | Photo Gallery | Coach Barnes Postgame Presser | Yves Pons Postgame on SEC Network

-UT Athletics

Audio: Wife and husband MMA fighters from Knoxville making Bellator debuts Jan. 25 on national stage

Audio: Wife and husband MMA fighters from Knoxville making Bellator debuts Jan. 25 on national stage

Posted on January 18, 2020
Emilee King / Credit: 99.1 The Sports Animal

By Vince Ferrara / @VinceSports

Knoxville continues to produce high-level, hot prospects in mixed martial arts.

Former University of Tennessee football player “VFL” Ovince St. Preux and Scott “Hot Sauce” Holtzman are the two most recognized Knoxville-based MMA fighters in the UFC. There are quite a few others that have recently earned fights with national promotions. There are more in the Knoxville pipeline headed to the national stage in several major national promotions.

Two of the latest in that category just happen to be…married!

Yes, the wife and husband duo of Emilee and Jason King will both make their Bellator debuts Saturday, January 25th at The Forum in Inglewood, CA at Bellator 238 Budd vs. Cyborg. You can watch it on DAZN.

See the full card HERE.

Friday, I spoke to Emilee King in-studio to discuss her career and the great opportunity she and Jason have with Bellator next Saturday and the opportunity that fighting for Southeast MMA promotion based out of Knoxville, Valor Fighting Challenge, has helped their careers. Listen to that full interview below.

Bellator 238 Poster / Credit: Tapology
Reserve Your Tickets Now for UT’s 2020 NSD Events in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville

Reserve Your Tickets Now for UT’s 2020 NSD Events in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville

Posted on January 18, 2020
Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt, Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer, offensive coordinator Jim Chaney and defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley will headline three National Signing Day events across the state of Tennessee on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and Thursday, Feb. 6.

Pruitt, Fulmer, Chaney and Ansley will recap the 2019 season, give analysis on the 2020 recruiting class and look ahead to next fall at the events in Knoxville (Feb. 5.), Memphis (Feb. 6) and Nashville (Feb. 6).

The Vols will enter the 2020 season with the nation’s second-longest win streak among Power 5 teams after capping the 2019 season with six straight victories, including an exciting 23-22 victory over Indiana in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Jan. 2.

Tennessee will wrap up the 2020 signing class on Feb. 5 after adding 21 new Vols during the Early Signing Period in December.

UT finished the 2019 season 8-5 and 5-3 in the SEC and will return All-SEC First Team offensive lineman Trey Smith next fall as well as Gator Bowl MVP running back Eric Gray and freshmen All-Americans linebacker Henry To’o To’o and left tackle Wanya Morris.

Tennessee will host the first National Signing Day celebration event at 6:30 p.m. ET (doors open at 6 p.m.) on Wednesday, Feb. 5, on the Tennessee Terrace Level at Neyland Stadium. Admission to the event is $30 and includes appetizers, drinks and a cash bar. Free parking will be available at the G-10 parking garage. Reserve your tickets HERE.

The celebration continues the next day on Thursday, Feb. 6, with a lunch in Memphis and an early-evening event in Nashville.

The FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms will host the Memphis event at 12:30 p.m. CT (doors open at noon). Admission is $30 per person and includes lunch. Reserve you tickets for the Memphis lunch HERE.

The Barn at Sycamore Farms in Nashville will welcome fans to the NSD early-evening event at 5:30 p.m. CT (doors open at 5 p.m. CT). Admission is $30 per person and includes appetizer, drinks and a cash bar. Reserve your tickets for the Nashville event HERE.

Parking is free and onsite in both Memphis and Nashville.

A $5 gift from each registration goes to the local Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund in each city.

Wednesday, Feb. 5
Neyland Stadium – Tennessee Terrace Level (Knoxville)
Enter Neyland Stadium at Gate 19
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST (Doors open at 6 p.m. EST)
Admission: $30 (includes appetizers, free water and soft drinks and a cash bar)
$5 gift from each registration goes to local Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund
Parking: Free parking is available in the G-10 Parking Garage
Reserve your tickets: http://alumni.utk.edu/NSD20Knoxville

Thursday, Feb. 6
FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms (Memphis)
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST (Doors open at noon CST)
Admission: $30 per person (includes lunch menu/offering)
$5 gift from each registration goes to local Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund
Parking: Free parking is available onsite
Reserve your tickets: http://alumni.utk.edu/NSD20Memphis

The Barn at Sycamore Farms (Nashville)
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. CST (Doors open at 5 p.m. CST)
Admission: $30 (includes appetizers, free water and soft drinks and a cash bar)
$5 gift from each registration goes to local Alumni Chapter Scholarship Fund
Parking: Free parking is available onsite
Reserve your tickets: http://alumni.utk.edu/NSD20Nashville

 

UT Athletics

Signees Johnson, Springer Named to Midseason Team for Naismith High School Trophy

Signees Johnson, Springer Named to Midseason Team for Naismith High School Trophy

Posted on January 17, 2020
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee basketball signees Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer have been named to the 25-man 2020 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Boys High School Midseason Team, qualifying each of them as finalists for the Naismith High School Boys Player of the Year Award.

The Atlanta Tipoff Club identifies athletes and coaches from around the country who exemplify outstanding talent and success. The Naismith High School Trophy for Boys Player of the Year is among the highest honors a high school basketball player can receive.

Tennessee joined Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina as the only four programs in the nation to have multiple signees make the 25-man Naismith midseason team.

Johnson and Springer join fellow signee Corey Walker Jr. to comprise what ranks as the nation’s fifth-best basketball recruiting class according to ESPN and Rivals.com.

Springer is a 6-4 guard from Charlotte, North Carolina, who is attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is rated as a top-20 prospect nationally.

Last year, Springer played a key role in leading IMG Academy to the 2019 Geico High School National Championship while averaging 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. IMG Academy is currently ranked No. 2 in the state Florida and 20th in the country.

Johnson is a 6-5 guard out of Shelbyville, Tennessee, who attends The Webb School in Bell Buckle. He is currently rated as the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee and is the state’s two-time reigning Division II-A Mr. Basketball. Johnson also is rated as a top-25 prospect nationally.

Before a knee injury late in 2019, Johnson averaged 30.5 points and 10.5 rebounds early in his senior season. He could potentially return to action before TSSAA postseason play.

The competition for the Naismith High School Trophy for Boys Player of the Year continues, as the Atlanta Tipoff Club will further narrow its list to 10 semifinalists early next month. The five finalists are announced on Feb. 20, and the 2020 Boys Player of the Year will be revealed March 10 in Atlanta.

 

UT Athletics

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