Tennessee safety Theo Jackson spoke to the media on Tuesday, in a group session, to review the Miss State win and preview the next opponent Saturday, Alabama.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — University of Tennessee junior forward Rennia Davis has been named to the women’s preseason All-SEC Second Team, according to voting by a select panel of SEC and national media members.
Davis was one of 10 players chosen for preseason all-league honors, including five first-team picks and five second-team selections. The Lady Vol standout earned All-SEC Second Team recognition as a sophomore following her play during the 2018-19 campaign.
A 6-foot-2 product of Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida, Davis led UT in scoring (14.9), rebounding (7.7) and free throw percentage (.856) in her second season on Rocky Top. She ranked No. 1 in the SEC in free throw percentage, No. 8 in rebounding and No. 12 in scoring a year ago.
Davis’ scoring average tied for No. 5 all-time by a UT sophomore, while her rebound average was the ninth-best for a second-year performer at Tennessee. Her sophomore-year double-double total (9) was the sixth-most by an active player in the SEC last season and the second-most by an underclassman.
Texas A&M’s Chennedy Carter was the overwhelming choice for SEC Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee and Rhyne Howard of Kentucky also received votes.
Joining Carter, Dungee and Howard on the All-SEC First Team are LSU’s Ayana Mitchell and South Carolina’s Tyasha Harris. Other All-SEC Second Team members besides Davis include Unique Thompson, Auburn; Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, South Carolina; Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M; and Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt.
South Carolina was predicted to win the 2020 Southeastern Conference women’s basketball championship by the same panel of media members.
Following the Gamecocks, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee and Auburn rounded out the top half of the league. LSU, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt filled out the bottom half.
The Lady Vols were 19-13 overall and 7-9 in SEC play a year ago, tying for eighth place in the league standings. Tennessee enters the 2019-20 season led by new head coach Kellie Harper and returning two starters and six total letterwinners who saw action last year. UT welcomes five new players and another who sat out 2018-19 due to injury.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. South Carolina
2. Texas A&M
3. Mississippi State
4. Kentucky
5. Arkansas
6. Tennessee
7. Auburn
8. LSU
9. Missouri
10. Georgia
11. Alabama
12. Florida
13. Ole Miss
14. Vanderbilt
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
PRESEASON ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
Chelsea Dungee, Arkansas
Rhyne Howard, Kentucky
Ayana Mitchell, LSU
Tyasha Harris, South Carolina
Chennedy Carter, Texas A&M
PRESEASON ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM
Unique Thompson, Auburn
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, South Carolina
Rennia Davis, Tennessee
Ciera Johnson, Texas A&M
Mariella Fasoula, Vanderbilt
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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A trio of Vols were named to the PFF College SEC Team of the Week on Monday after leading Tennessee to its first SEC win of the season last Saturday.
Offensive lineman Trey Smith, safety Nigel Warrior and outside linebacker Darrell Taylor were all recognized for their efforts in UT’s 20-10 victory over Mississippi State.
Smith led an offensive line that allowed just one sack and paved the way for 190 rushing yards. With the Vols clinging to a three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, Smith and the offensive line were dominant in Tennessee’s final possession of the game, a nine-play, 91-yard scoring drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock and effectively iced the game.
Warrior helped lead a dominant effort by the Vols’ defense, limiting Mississippi State to season lows in points (10) and total yards (267). The senior from College Park, Ga., was one of the Vols’ top players on defense, finishing with four tackles, two pass breakups and one of UT’s three interceptions. This is Warrior’s second appearance on the PFF College SEC Team of the Week this season.
Joining Warrior on the defensive team of the week was Taylor, who was a second-team selection after spearheading a dominant performance by the front seven. The redshirt senior linebacker recorded the fourth multi-sack game of his career, registering two sacks along with a forced fumble, and played a major role in limiting the SEC’s leading rusher, Kylin Hill, to just 13 yards on 11 carries.
Now with 14 sacks during his Tennessee career, Taylor is second in the SEC among active players in career sacks, trailing only Florida’s Jabari Zuniga (18.5). Taylor’s six career forced fumbles are also tied for the most among active SEC players. Tennessee’s defense totaled seven sacks in the win, its most in a conference game since Nov. 22, 2008 at Vanderbilt.
The entire PFF College SEC Team of the Week can be found HERE.
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Birmingham, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference released its men’s basketball preseason All-SEC teams Tuesday, and Tennessee senior Lamonte Turner was a second-team selection.
Turner also was one of nine players who received votes for SEC Player of the Year. Voting was conducted by a select panel of both SEC and national media members.
That media panel also projected the 14-team order of finish, and Tennessee was picked to finish fifth in the SEC regular-season race.
A senior guard who graduated in May, Turner on Monday was named to the watch list for the 2020 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award. He was previously selected as the 2018 SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year as a sophomore.
Tennessee enters the season riding the nation’s longest active home win streak, having won 26 straight at Thompson-Boling Arena dating to the 2017-18 SEC Championship season.
The Volunteers’ 57 total wins over the last two seasons are the most among all SEC teams.
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Tennessee senior Jordan Bowden is one of 20 players on the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award watch list, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.
On Monday, fellow Vols senior Lamonte Turner was named to the Hall’s watch list for its Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award.
Named after Hall of Famer and former West Virginia guard Jerry West, the annual honor now in its sixth year recognizes the top shooting guards in Division I basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel selected the 20-man watch list.
Bowden is one of seven SEC shooting guards on this season’s watch list (complete list below), and Tennessee will face seven candidates this year.
Entering his senior season, Bowden has started 68 of the 101 games in which he has appeared. He has improved his scoring average every year of his career and needs just 59 points to join Tennessee’s prestigious 1,000-Point Club.
An explosive and versatile scorer, the Knoxville native averaged 10.6 points per game last season but increased his scoring output to 12.1 ppg during SEC play. Bowden also committed only 35 turnovers in 1,002 total minutes played last year (27.8 mpg). He has made more than 50 3-pointers in each of the last two seasons.
An All-SEC candidate, Bowden is on track to receive his degree in Africana Studies in May.
New to the award this season is fan voting, presented by Dell Technologies, in each of the three rounds. Fans are able to vote starting on Friday, Oct. 18.
By mid-February, the 20-player watch list will be narrowed to 10. In March, the names of five finalists will be presented to West and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2020 Jerry West Award will be announced at ESPN’s college basketball awards show after the Final Four on April 10.
Previous winners of the award include R.J. Barrett, Duke (2019), Carsen Edwards, Purdue (2018), Malik Monk, Kentucky (2017), Buddy Hield, Oklahoma (2016) and D’Angelo Russell, Ohio State (2015).
For more information on the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and the latest updates, log onto www.hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall on Twitter and Instagram.
2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Candidates*
Isaiah Joe, Arkansas
Kamar Baldwin, Butler
Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati
Ty-Shon Alexander, Creighton
Kellan Grady, Davidson
Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy
Anthony Edwards, Georgia
Trent Frazier, Illinois
Joe Wieskamp, Iowa
Tyrese Maxey, Kentucky
Skylar Mays, LSU
Joshua Langford, Michigan State
Temple ‘T.J.’ Gibbs, Notre Dame
Breein Tyree, Ole Miss
Myles Powell, Seton Hall
A.J. Lawson, South Carolina
Mustapha Heron, St. John’s
Desmond Bane, TCU
Jordan Bowden, Tennessee
Sam Merrill, Utah State
*Players can play their way onto and off of the list at any point in the 2019-20 season
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![Carrie Underwood, Eric Church & Thomas Rhett to Headline 2020 Stagecoach Festival [+ Full Lineup]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2019/10/15120800/Carrie-Underwood-Thomas-Rhett-eric_Church-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
Stagecoach Music Festival announced that Carrie Underwood, Eric Church and Thomas Rhett will headline its three-day musical extravaganza in Indio, Calif., in April 2020. TR will headline opening night on April 24, while Carrie will be featured on April 25 and Eric will close the festival on April 26.
The 14th annual Stagecoach Festival will also feature more than 50 additional acts, including Alan Jackson, Dan + Shay, Jon Pardi, Midland, Morgan Wallen, Tanya Tucker and more.
Festival passes go on sale on Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. PT, ranging from $319 (three-day general admission) to $1,299 (three-day reserved seating).
2020 Stagecoach Lineup
Alan Jackson
Billy Ray Cyrus
Brandon Ratcliff
Brett Young
Bryan Adams
Carrie Underwood
Caylee Hammack
Chris Lane
Courtney Marie Andrews
Dan + Shay
Desure
Diplo
Dustin Lynch
Eric Church
Gabby Barrett
Gone West
Guy Fieri
Hailey Whitters
Hardy
Hayes Carll
Ian Noe
Ingrid Andress
Jade Jackson
Jimmie Allen
Jon Pardi
Laci Kaye Booth
Lil Nas X
LOCASH
Marty Stuart
Midland
Mitchell Tenpenny
Morgan Wallen
Neal McCoy
Nikki Lane
Niko Moon
Orville Peck
Pam Tillis
Paul Cauthen
Payton Smith
RaeLynn
Riley Green
Ryan Bingham
Seaforth
Shenandoah
Tanya Tucker
Teddy Robb
Temecula Road
Tenille Townes
The Haden Triplets
The Last Bandoleros
Thomas Rhett
Whitney Rose
ZZ Top
Willie Jones
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Brantley Gilbert’s fifth studio album, Fire & Brimstone, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, moving 36,000 equivalent units according to Nielsen Music.
The new album—buoyed by Top 10 lead single “What Happens in a Small Town with Lindsay Ell—features 15 songs, all of which Brantley had a hand in writing. In addition to Lindsay, Brantley’s new album features guest vocals from Colt Ford, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson.
“With this record, the goal for me was to let each song just be what it was––uninhibited and unfiltered,” says Brantley. “We just followed the song’s instincts. I like to be able to write, and if it feels like the song is leading a certain way, then let’s go chase it.”
Fire & Brimstone follows Brantley’s previous chart-topping albums Just as I Am (2014) and The Devil Don’t Sleep (2017).
Fire & Brimstone Tracks & Songwriters
1. Fire’t Up (Brantley Gilbert, Brandon Day, Justin Weaver)
2. Not Like Us (Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, Amy Wadge)
3. Welcome to Hazeville (Brantley Gilbert, Rodney Clawson, Andrew DeRoberts, Colt Ford) featuring Colt Ford, Lukas Nelson and Willie Nelson
4. What Happens in a Small Town (Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, Josh Dunne) featuring Lindsay Ell
5. She Ain’t Home (Brantley Gilbert, Brian Davis, Justin Weaver)
6. Lost Soul’s Prayer (Brantley Gilbert, Andrew DeRoberts)
7. Tough Town (Brantley Gilbert, Blake Chaffin, Andrew DeRoberts, Josh Phillips)
8. Fire & Brimstone (Brantley Gilbert) featuring Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss
9. Laid Back Ride (Brantley Gilbert)
10. Bad Boy (Brantley Gilbert, Andrew DeRoberts, Josh Phillips)
11. New Money (Brantley Gilbert, Rhett Akins, Brock Berryhill, Brandon Day)
12. Breaks Down (Brantley Gilbert, Jaida Dreyer, Josh Mirenda, Justin Weaver)
13. Man of Steel (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Cole Taylor)
14. Never Gonna Be Alone (Brantley Gilbert, Brock Berryhill, Erik Dylan)
15. Man that Hung the Moon (Brantley Gilbert)
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
![Dwight Yoakam, Larry Gatlin, Marcus Hummon & More Get Inducted Into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame [Photo Gallery]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/602/2019/10/15102112/Dwight-Yoakam-Larry_Gatlin-TA.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
On Oct. 14 at Nashville’s Music City Center, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2019: Larry Gatlin, Dwight Yoakam, Marcus Hummon, Kostas, Rivers Rutherford and Sharon Vaughn.
The star-studded dinner and induction ceremony featured performances from a cache of country luminaries who performed songs from the inductees’ catalogs, including Garth Brooks (“My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”), Brandy Clark (“The Heart That You Own”), Vince Gill (“I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today”), The Oak Ridge Boys (“All the Gold in California”), Brooks & Dunn (“Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You”), Holly Williams (“Timber, I’m Falling In Love”), Sara Evans (“Born to Fly”) and more.
The six new inductees follow in the footsteps of more than 200 previous honorees, including Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Buck Owens, John Prine, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Reed, Dolly Parton and more.
Class of 2019 (with partial songwriting credits)
Songwriters
Songwriter/Artist
Veteran Songwriter
Veteran Songwriter/Artist
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
With John on lead guitar and T.J. providing lead vocals, the guys from Brothers Osborne have been entertaining crowds with their neo-traditional country stylings since dropping their debut album, Pawn Shop, in 2016.
The three-time CMA Vocal Duo of the Year winners recently commemorated their sold-out, three-night run at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in February 2019 with a new album, Live at the Ryman. The 12-song offering, which features fan-favorites “Stay a Little Longer,” “It Ain’t My Fault,” “21 Summer” and more, was released digitally on Oct. 11.
As T.J. and John told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, not only is performing live about having fun, but it also has some therapeutic qualities.
“T.J. is such a great singer, so for me, my guitar is [my voice],” says John. “I feel like all my favorite guitar players like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, all these guys would kind of like want to transcend and just go somewhere else and close your eyes and see what happens. It’s therapy for me. Everything clears. It’s the only point in my life where everything around me just goes away and I can focus only on one thing.”
“If we’re having fun [playing live], we want the crowd to be having fun,” says T.J. “Shows are always the best when you and the crowd can kind of get on the same level and just have a good time.”
John and T.J. are once again nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the upcoming CMA Awards on Nov. 13. In addition, they are nominated for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year for their collaboration with Dierks Bentley on “Burning Man,” as well as Musical Event of the Year for “All My Favorite People” with Maren Morris.
Live at the Ryman Track Listing
photo by NCD
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the Volunteers hit the road for the second time this season and the second time in SEC play with a trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to face the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, head coach Jeremy Pruitt is eager for the challenge with Tennessee’s longstanding rival.
Coined the “Third Saturday in October”, Pruitt has lots of experience with this matchup from different vantage points. However, this will mark the first time Pruitt has coached inside Bryant-Denny Stadium from the opposing sideline.
“It’s a pretty special event,” said Pruitt, who was the Tide’s defensive coordinator (2016-17) and on the staff (2007-12) in addition to playing for Alabama from 1995 and 1996 after transferring from Middle Tennessee State.
“This is the rivalry. This is the game,” Pruitt said. “I grew up watching it, I had an opportunity to play in it. I’ve had the opportunity to coach in it – now on both sides – so this week does It kind of get you going.”
Tennessee will look for its first win in Tuscaloosa since the historical five-overtime marathon in 2003 when the Vols snapped a two-game losing streak on a one-yard quarterback sneak from Casey Clausen that clinched the 51-43 win.
Pruitt said the Vols have “a tremendous challenge ahead” against an undefeated Alabama team (6-0), but with the energy from Saturday’s 20-10 win against Mississippi State – when the Vols sported orange pants for the first time since the Nov. 12, 2016, 49-36 win versus Kentucky – carrying over, he is confident in what he’s seen from his team.
“We are improving up front,” Pruitt said. “Our coaches did a nice job of getting our guys ready to play. Our guys executed the plan and probably covered them a little better in the back end.
“One of the big positives out of the game was the way our offense took over the last eight minutes of the game. We had a 91-yard drive. It was very positive. We challenged them to do that and they did that.
“I thought our guys played hard,” Pruitt said of the defense. “The effort and toughness were not an issue. They played hard and found a way. Getting three turnovers was really, really good. We probably had an opportunity to get a couple of more. Defense did a nice job controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”
Warrior Anchors Defense
Senior defensive back Nigel Warrior touted a strong performance from UT’s defensive line after Saturday’s win against the Bulldogs after it limited MSU running back and SEC rushing leader Kylin Hill to just 13 rushing yards and forced three interceptions.
“I love my defensive line,” a proud Warrior said. “They are the reason I had my success. After I got my pick, I told all of them I love them. They help us out so much just because they make the quarterback panic.”
But it’s also been Warrior, who has the third most tackles on the team (28) and leads in interceptions (two) and pass breakups (five), that has consistently uplifted the defense throughout the first half of the regular season.
“I see a guy that has really developed over the last 22 months,” Pruitt said. “The habits of what he does on the field, off the field, in the locker room, being a leader, in the classroom, Nigel has really matured.
“He’s a good leader on our football team and he’s worked extremely hard to improve his game. I see some confidence there that probably wasn’t there when he first got here. I think he’s playing his best football right now.”
Martin Moves to Sideline to Help Flow of Receiving Corps
After spending the first five games in the booth, assistant head coach and passing game coordinator Tee Martin returned to the sideline this past Saturday against the Bulldogs, to control the on-field flow of the Vols notable receiving group, headlined by seniors Jauan Jennings and Marquez Callaway and junior Josh Palmer.
With the majority of UT’s subbing coming from the wideouts, the staff decided it was best for Martin, who leads the group, to be field level.
“With Tee, we play the most guys at that position, where they roll in and out, and we’re making sure that we get an opportunity to get guys on the field,” Pruitt started. “So, a guy like Tyler Byrd has an opportunity to catch a few balls. I felt like that gave us the best opportunity to have the best substitution plan for our wide receivers.”
With so much production coming from the team’s top receivers, particularly Jennings, who leads with 412 yards and five touchdowns and is the only wideout that has surpassed 20 receptions (29), Pruitt hoped to spread production with Martin’s presence on the sideline.
“With Jauan, Marquez and Palmer, it’s been hard to get these (other) guys on the field the first few games,” Pruitt said. “It was one of the reasons we wanted to move Tee down on the field, because we felt like our top three guys were probably playing more snaps than they probably should.
“We had guys that we felt like could play winning football, but you kind of have to have a feel of when to put them in the game. It’s a lot easier for Tee to be right there to grab them and put them in as opposed to telling somebody from up top. It’s just tough to communicate that based off working from one line on the offensive side from the play caller or giving the plays to signal in.”
Byrd Maximizes Opportunities
Tyler Byrd quickly produced after being called in by Martin against Mississippi State. The senior receiver hauled in a 39-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano to cement the Vols’ first SEC win and conclude an impressive nine-play, 91-yard drive from the offense.
“He’s played in every game on the offensive side of the ball and it just so happened the balls went to him in this game,” Pruitt said. “He took advantage of it, and it was good to see.
“Tyler works hard out there, and he’s really worked hard on his hands, and improving his ball catching ability. That was good to see because he’s always been able to run and is a strong runner.”
A season ago, Byrd also found the endzone against the Tide on a 20-yard reception from Keller Chryst in the second quarter.
Byrd will look to find pay dirt again this Saturday as the Vols and Tide prepare to meet for the 102nd time. Kickoff is slated for 9 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.
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