Five Vols Grab Six Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Honors

Five Vols Grab Six Athlon Sports Preseason All-SEC Honors

Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Led by two honors for rising senior wide receiver Marquez Callaway, five Tennessee football players recently grabbed preseason All-SEC honors from Athlon Sports.

Callaway collected second-team accolades as a specialist as well as fourth-team honors as a wide receiver.

Rising seniors Darrell Taylor, an outside linebacker, and Nigel Warrior, a defensive back, were named to the third-team defense, while rising sophomore cornerback Bryce Thompson was named to the fourth-team defense.

Rising junior running back Ty Chandler joined Callaway on the fourth-team offense.

Callaway enters the 2019 season as one of Tennessee’s most experienced offensive players with 62 receptions, 1,011 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in his career. He also holds a 13.4 yards per punt return average and has returned two punts for touchdowns in his career.

Taylor was Tennessee’s Team MVP in 2018 after leading the Vols with eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. The Waverly, Va., native had three sacks and forced two fumbles at No. 2 Georgia and collected National Defensive Player of the Week honors following a four-sack game against Kentucky.

Warrior has started 24 consecutive games for the Vols at safety and has 169 career tackles. He finished second on UT with 64 stops in 2018. The Duluth, Ga., native was 13th in the SEC with 83 tackles in 2017.

Thompson snagged FWAA Freshman All-America honors and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2018. He finished as the highest-graded true freshman cornerback in the nation after leading Tennessee with three interceptions and 10 total passes defended.

Chandler has proved to be a threat to score every time he touches the ball in his two seasons on Rocky Top. In 23 games, he has rushed for 935 yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He had two touchdowns of at least 75 yards in 2018 and became the first Volunteer running back with a touchdown reception in three-straight games in program history. The Nashville, Tenn., native also returned a kick 91 yards for a score in 2017.

 

UT Athletics

Tennessee Basketball to Face Washington in Toronto

Tennessee Basketball to Face Washington in Toronto

Credit: UT Athletics

Knoxville, Tenn. — The Tennessee basketball program will make its Canadian debut next season as the Volunteers are set to face Washington as part of the James Naismith Classic on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Toronto.

The Volunteers and Huskies will meet at Scotiabank Arena, home of the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs. It will be the first-ever meeting between the programs, and the game will be administered by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The inaugural James Naismith Classic tripleheader event also features a game between Buffalo and Harvard and a matchup of Rutgers and St. Bonaventure.

Tickets for the James Naismith Classic will go on sale to the general public on Friday, May 31 via all Ticketmaster locations and the Scotiabank Arena box office. Game times and television broadcast information will be released at a later date.

In their second season under the direction of head coach Mike Hopkins, the Huskies won the 2019 Pac-12 regular-season championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Washington finished with a 27-9 (15-3 Pac-12) record.

Hopkins has led UW to back-to-back 20-win seasons and has claimed consecutive Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors.

“We’re appreciative of being included in the James Naismith Classic and are looking forward to competing against a really well coached Washington program that we have a lot of respect for,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “I know from experience that these events hosted by the Naismith Hall of Fame are great experiences for our players and fans. Having the opportunity to showcase Tennessee basketball in Canada is a big deal. Canadian basketball continues to showcase tremendous growth and outstanding coaching while producing world-class players.”

Next season’s Tennessee-Washington clash will be UT’s first meeting with a Pac-12 opponent since facing Oregon in the 2016 Maui Invitational. Tennessee is 18-11 all-time against current members of the Pac-12.

Vols head coach Rick Barnes owns a 30-22 career record against current members of the Pac-12. Washington is the only Pac-12 school he has never faced.

Dr. James Naismith, known as the inventor of the game of basketball, was born in Almonte, Ontario on Nov. 6, 1981.

“Without Dr. James Naismith, the game we celebrate and cherish may not exist,” President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame John L. Doleva said. “We are very proud to honor him with the inaugural James Naismith Classic in Ontario at Toronto’s iconic venue, Scotiabank Arena. The Hall of Fame is a global museum, honoring basketball greats from countries around the world, and we’re excited to be hosting six teams in Canada this fall.”

The Tennessee-Washington clash is believed to be the first time a University of Tennessee athletic team has ever competed in Canada.

Tennessee has had three all-time men’s basketball lettermen from Canada (all from Ontario), most recently forward Kyle Alexander (2015-19).

Basketball development in Canada has exploded in recent years, and the country is now a top producer of elite talent. A total of 18 Canadian players have been selected in the NBA Draft in the past decade.

And several Canadian standouts have blossomed into stars at the NCAA level in recent years, including names such as R.J. Barrett, Luguentz Dort, Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

UT Athletics
Kane Brown Scores 4th No. 1 Single With “Good as You”

Kane Brown Scores 4th No. 1 Single With “Good as You”

Kane Brown scored his fourth consecutive No. 1 single as “Good as You” ascended to the top of both the Billboard Country Airplay chart and Mediabase chart this week.

“Good as You” was co-penned by Kane, Brock Berryhill, Shy Carter, Taylor Phillips and Will Weatherly. The tune follows previous No. 1 singles “Lose It,” “Heaven” and “What Ifs.”

“Good as You” is featured on Kane’s 2018 sophomore album, Experiment.

The video for the slow-jam features highlights of Kane’s marriage to Katelyn Jae in 2018, including the ceremony, reception, fireworks and a pre-wedding tattoo.

photo by NCD

Midland’s Mark Wystrach Gets Engaged to Ty Haney

Midland’s Mark Wystrach Gets Engaged to Ty Haney

Midland frontman Mark Wystrach, 39, is engaged to Ty Haney, 30.

Mark shared the news via Instagram with a few pics of his bride-to-be and her new ring, along with the caption: “Popped THE QUESTION and @ty_haney had the answer I was lookin’ for!!!”

Ty is the founder and CEO of Outdoor Voices, an active-wear apparel company.

Congrats to the couple.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByA2wk-hmQH/

 

main photo by Curtis Hilbun, AFF-USA.com

Lauren Alaina Announces Headlining Tour & Drops Throwback Video for “Ladies in the ’90s”

Lauren Alaina Announces Headlining Tour & Drops Throwback Video for “Ladies in the ’90s”

Lauren Alaina will hit the road this fall for her headlining That Girl Was Me Tour.

Kicking off on Sept. 14 in Columbia, Mo., the nine-date tour will make additional stops in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Nashville and more. Filmore will serve as support on eight dates. Tickets go on sale on May 31.

That Girl Was Me Tour

Sept. 14 | Columbia, MO | The Blue Note
Sept. 19 | Warrendale, PA | Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Sept. 20 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom
Sept. 21 | Richmond, VA | The National
Sept. 26 | Boston, MA | Paradise Rock Club
Oct. 3 | Columbus, OH | The Bluestone*
Oct. 5 I |ndianapolis, IN | 8 Seconds Saloon
Oct. 24 |Atlanta, GA | Buckhead Theatre
Oct. 25 | Nashville, TN | Exit/In

*Opener to be announced later

In addition to the tour new, Lauren recently released her new video for “Ladies in the ’90s.” The throwback clips pegs Lauren as the host of home-shopping channel LVC and pays homage to many of those rad products from the ’90s, including slap bracelets, moon shoes, butterfly hair clips and more. Check out the new video below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

ACM Announces Special Award Honorees, Including Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride & More

ACM Announces Special Award Honorees, Including Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride & More

The Academy of Country Music announced its special awardees for the 13th annual ACM Honors ceremony, which will take place August 21 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

In addition to previously announced Songwriter of the Year Award winner Shane McAnally, the ACM Honors will pay tribute to a number of artists—and a film—for their specific achievements, including Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Rodney Crowell, Kye Fleming, Billy Joe Shaver, Gayle Holcomb and A Star Is Born.

Check out the list of awardees, awards and past winners below.

Brooks & Dunn and Martina McBride

Cliffie Stone Icon Award: This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader who throughout their career has advanced the popularity of the genre through their contributions in multiple facets of the industry such as songwriting, recording, production, touring, film, television, literary works, philanthropic contributions and other goodwill efforts.
Past Winners: Alabama, Bob Beckham, Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Crystal Gayle, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, George Jones, George Strait, The Judds, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jerry Reed, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, Kenny Rogers, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, The Statler Brothers, Mel Tillis, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, Keith Whitley, Hank Williams, Hank Williams Jr., Bob Wills, Dwight Yoakam and Alan Jackson.

Gayle Holcomb

Gary Harber Lifting Lives Award: This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry professional who is devoted to improving lives through the power of music, has a generosity of spirit, and is committed to serving others, voted on by the ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors.
Past Winners: Brooks & Dunn, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy, Reba McEntire, Montgomery Gentry, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker.

Miranda Lambert

Gene Weed Milestone Award: This award is presented to a country music artist, duo/group or industry leader for a specific, unprecedented or outstanding achievement in the field of country music during the preceding calendar year.
Past Winners: Jason Aldean, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, George Burns, Kenny Chesney, Jeff Foxworthy, Merle Haggard, Gayle Holcomb, Loretta Lynn, Little Big Town, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt.

Kacey Musgraves

Jim Reeves International Award: This award recognizes an artist or industry leader for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.
Past Winners: Joe Allison, Bill Boyd, Garth Brooks, Steve Buchanan, Joe Cates, Eric Church, Dick Clark, Roy Clark, Al Gallico, Merv Griffin, Jim Halsey, Alan Jackson, Ken Kragen, Lady Antebellum, Sam Louvello, Thurston Moore, Charlie Nagatani, Buck Owens, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Roy Rogers, Bob Saporiti, Louise Scruggs, Dinah Shore, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Jeff Walker, Jo Walker-Meador, Bill Ward and Rob Potts.

Rodney Crowell, Kye Fleming and Billy Joe Shaver

Poet’s Award: This award is presented to a country music songwriter for outstanding and longstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their career, with special consideration given to a song or songs’ impact on the culture of country music.
Past Winners: Bill Anderson, Bobby Braddock, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Shel Silverstein, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Guy Clark, Jack Clement, Hank Cochran, Dean Dillon, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, Harlan Howard, Kris Kristofferson, Bob McDill, Roger Miller, Buck Owens, Eddie Rabbitt, Fred Rose, Don Schlitz, Cindy Walker, Jimmy Webb, Hank Williams, Matraca Berg and Norro Wilson.

Shane McAnally

Songwriter of the Year Award: This award is presented to an individual known predominately as a songwriter, selected by a Professional Panel of judges composed of songwriters, publishers, producers, and performing rights organization representatives.
Past Winners:
Ross Copperman, Dallas Davidson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Roger Miller and Rhett Akins.

A Star Is Born

Tex Ritter Film Award: This award recognizes an outstanding television movie, series or feature film released during the preceding calendar year which prominently features country music.
Past Winners: Beer For My Horses, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Country Strong, Crazy Heart, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, Nashville, O Brother, Where Art Thou, Sweet Dreams and Walk the Line, among others.

photo by Arroyo/O\’Connor, AFF-USA.com

Fox’s Summer Concert Series Features Country-Heavy Lineup, Including Michael Ray, Justin Moore, Big & Rich, Runaway June & More

Fox’s Summer Concert Series Features Country-Heavy Lineup, Including Michael Ray, Justin Moore, Big & Rich, Runaway June & More

Fox & Friends’ annual All-American Summer Concert Series will feature a country-heavy lineup this season.

Eli Young Band, Michael Ray, Rodney Atkins, Walker Hayes, Big & Rich, Runaway June, Justin Moore and Phil Vassar are all set to perform live from Fox Square—the plaza outside the network headquarters in New York—on their respective dates, which run every Friday from May 31 to the end of August.

Concerts for the Fox and Friends‘ All-American Summer Concert Series are free for the public and held on Fox Square at 48th Street and 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The concerts are also streamed online.

Check out this year’s lineup below.

May 31: Eli Young Band
June 7: Michael Ray
June 14: Rodney Atkins
June 21: Jefferson Starship
June 28: Walker Hayes
July 5: Big & Rich
July 12: Runaway June
July 19: Phil Vassar
July 26: Skillet
Aug. 2: Justin Moore
Aug. 9: TBD
Aug. 16: Newsboys
Aug. 23: Kool & the Gang
Aug. 30: TBD

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Tracy Lawrence Marches On With 16th Studio Album, “Made in America” [Listen to Lead Single]

Tracy Lawrence Marches On With 16th Studio Album, “Made in America” [Listen to Lead Single]

Tracy Lawrence will release his 16th studio album, Made in America, on Aug. 16.

The 12-song offering features eight songs co-penned by Tracy. Additional songwriters include Chris Stapleton, Flip Anderson, Monty Criswell and more.

“I am extremely proud of my new album,” says Tracy. “It is possibly the most personal album I have ever released. I co-wrote eight out of the 12 songs, pouring my heart and soul into each of the songs. I feel it will resonate with my fans and country music lovers across this nation.”

Tracy, who scored a number of No. 1 hits in the 1990s with songs like “Time Marches On” and Texas Tornado,” shared the new album’s title track/lead single on May 24. The new tune, which was penned by Tracy, Rick Huckaby and Adam Sanders, celebrates the hardworking men and women that exemplify American fortitude.

Listen to “Made in America” below.

Made In America Track List & Songwriters

  1. Made in America (Tracy Lawrence, Rick Huckaby, Adam Sanders)
  2. Forgive Yourself (Tracy Lawrence, Rick Huckaby)
  3. Running Out of People to Blame (Tracy Lawrence, Carson Chamberland, Mark Nesler)
  4. When the Cowboy’s Gone (Tracy Lawrence, Wyatt McCubbin, Carson Chamberland)
  5. Nothin’ Burns Like You (Tracy Lawrence, Carson Chamberland, Mark Nesler)
  6. First Step to Leaving (Tracy Lawrence, Mark Nesler, Rick Huckaby)
  7. It Ain’t You (Tracy Lawrence, Paul Nelson, Rick Huckaby)
  8. Givin’ Momma Reasons To Pray (S. Camp, Chris Stapleton)
  9. Work On My Willie (Tracy Lawrence, Rick Huckaby, Flip Anderson)
  10. Chicken Wire (Monty Criswell, Rick Huckaby)
  11. Just the South Coming Out (Rick Huckaby, Wade Kirby)
  12. Stay Back a Hundred Feet (Monty Criswell, Rick Huckaby)

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Eric Church’s Outlaw Saga Continues Inside Prison in New Video for “Some of It” [Watch]

Eric Church’s Outlaw Saga Continues Inside Prison in New Video for “Some of It” [Watch]

Eric Church debuted his new video for “Some of It” during his concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on May 25.

The new clip serves as the sequel to Eric’s “Desperate Man” video, which featured Eric evading agents from “EMI”—which happens to be the name of his label—as he and the song’s co-writer, Ray Wylie Hubbard, embarked on a mission to distribute music to the people.

Eric’s new video for “Some of It” picks up with Eric entering prison. While serving his time on the inside, Eric’s wife and daughter continue their lives on the outside. As the daughter grows, she stays in contact by writing letters and shipping her dad a guitar—piece by piece—which Eric slowly reconstructs with the help of other inmates and an understanding prison guard. The daughter’s letters inspire Eric to pen “Some of It,” which leads to a jam session in his cell.

Eventuality Eric is released from prison—but this story isn’t over. As the video ends, the scene cuts to an unknown man on the phone who ominously declares, “He’s out.”

“Some of It,” which was penned by Eric, Jeff Hyde, Clint Daniels and Bobby Pinson, is featured on Eric’s 2018 album, Desperate Man.

Watch the new video below.

photo by NCD

Tennessee Selected as No. 2 Seed for NCAA Chapel Hill Regional; schedule, bracket and ticket info

Tennessee Selected as No. 2 Seed for NCAA Chapel Hill Regional; schedule, bracket and ticket info

UT Baseball / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee will be playing baseball in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 after being selected as the No. 2 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional hosted by the University of North Carolina.

The Vols will take on No. 3 seed Liberty to open regional play at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, May 31. Regional host North Carolina will take on UNC-Wilmington in the second game of the day and both contests will be streamed live on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.

Regional play is a double-elimination format with the winner of each of the 16 regional sites advancing to Super Regional play.

This will be Tennessee’s 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and first since 2005, ending a 14-year drought. The Big Orange have made four College World Series appearances as well (1951, 1995, 2001 and 2005).

Ticket packages for the NCAA Chapel Hill Regional will go on sale Wednesday at noon while single-game tickets will be available starting Thursday at noon through the UNC ticket office website by clicking HERE. Single-game tickets will be $15 while full-session tickets can be purchased for $60. Gates will open two hours prior to first pitch and the stadium will be cleared between games.

Parking will be available in the Rams Head Deck for $10 and in the Craige Deck for free (levels 5-9). Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, there will also be free parking available in the Bowles Lot, the Raleigh Road Visitors Lot and on Stadium Drive. Disability parking is available for $10 in the Rams Head Deck. Ridge Road will be closed to through traffic for the weekend.

For more information on accessible parking, please visit the UNC Department of Transportation and Parking website.

2019 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional Schedule

Friday, May 31
Game 1: #1 North Carolina (38-18) vs. #4 UNCW (32-29), 2 p.m.
Game 2: #3 Liberty (42-19) vs. #2 Tennessee (38-19), 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 3
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.

Monday, June 3
Game 7, if necessary, 4 p.m.

NCAA Tournament Bracket | Tickets

-UT Athletics

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