The Tennessee Volunteers football team was back on the practice field Tuesday afternoon and The Sports Animal was once again there. Watch below.
Video: Watch Tennessee Football Spring Practice 10
Williams Named Unanimous Consensus First-Team All-American
After being tabbed a first-team All-American by the Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday, Tennessee’s Grant Williams earned unanimous consensus first-team All-American status from the NCAA.
“It’s honestly incredible,” Williams said. “I never dreamed of earning this. I am thankful for everyone who has helped me reach this point. I want to thank my teammates, my coaches and the Lord. When you put as much work in and work as hard as I have, it’s a blessing to have that recognized.”
The NCAA uses four different entities to designate student-athletes as “consensus” All-Americans: AP, National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Sporting News and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).
Williams joins Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Bernard King (1976-77) and two-time SEC Player of the Year Dale Ellis (1982-83) as the only Vols ever to be named a consensus first-team All-American. Ernie Grunfeld (1976-77) earned consensus second-team recognition, as did Chris Lofton in both 2006-07 and 2007-08).
“To be able to join elite players like Bernard and Dale, it’s incredible to think about because not many people have that honor,” Williams said. “I am definitely honored to be there, but there is more work to be done. They both went on to have long and successful careers, and I hope to do the same.”
Williams is just the sixth SEC player to earn consensus first-team All-American status in the last 10 years, and he is the first SEC player to do so since 2016.
The junior forward established himself as one of the nation’s most versatile and efficient players this year, averaging 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He also shot 57 percent from the field and an impressive 82 percent from the free-throw line.
Williams ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in scoring (1st), field-goal percentage (2nd), free-throw percentage (5th), rebounding (7th) and assist/turnover ratio (10th). He has moved into the top 10 on UT’s all-time career lists for blocks (3rd/160), free-throw attempts (3rd/661), free throws made (4th/501) and offensive rebounds (8th/257). He also ranks 12th in scoring with 1,629 career points.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native helped the Vols (31-6) earn their first Sweet Sixteen bid since 2014 and match the program record for wins in a single season. Williams also played a critical role in this year’s team setting program records for points, field goals made, assists and blocks.
Williams’ list of postseason honors is extensive. He has been named SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-SEC performer—both for the second straight season. He also was named to the SEC Community Service Team, SEC All-Tournament Team and the USBWA District IV Player of the Year.
Williams is up for consideration for several National Player of the Year honors, being tabbed to the Men’s National Ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, a Citizen Naismith Trophy finalist, an Oscar Robertson Trophy finalist and a Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year finalist.
Williams and Duke’s Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett were the only players in the country to be unanimous consensus first-team All-Americans this season.
2019 Consensus All-America Selections
First Team
*R.J. Barrett, Duke
Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
Ja Morant, Murray State
*Grant Williams, Tennessee
*Zion Williamson, Duke
* Unanimous
Second Team
Jarett Culver, Texas Tech
Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
Markus Howard, Marquette
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
Third Team
Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
Mike Daum, South Dakota State
Kyle Guy, Virginia
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
Dedric Lawson, Kansas
P.J. Washington, Kentucky
Others Receiving Votes
Chris Clemons, Campbell
UT Athletics
James Earns Several Prep Honors, will Enroll in May
Tennessee basketball signee Josiah-Jordan James earned several noteworthy prep honors this spring while completing his senior season at Porter-Gaud School in North Charleston, South Carolina.
The top-20 prospect and five-star point guard was selected to compete in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game, becoming just the eighth Tennessee signee—and the first since Tobias Harris in 2010—to earn that distinction.
James also was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of South Carolina, and he earned honorable mention on the Naismith High School Boys’ All-America Team.
A five-year starter for Porter-Gaud, James helped lead the school to three state championships. The Cyclones advanced to the SCISA AAA semifinals this spring, with James averaging 29.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.3 blocks and 4.9 assists per game.
James will complete his high school degree requirements in early May and will enroll at Tennessee for mini-term, which begins May 8.
Pember, Gaines Enjoy Successful Springs
Fellow incoming freshman signee and Knoxville native Drew Pember helped lead Bearden High School to the Tennessee Class AAA Championship last month. The Bulldogs avenged their loss from last year’s title game, defeating the defending champs from Memphis East.
Pember was named to the Class AAA All-Tournament Team for his efforts after averaging 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game.
Leading the Bulldogs to an impressive 32-5 record and a top-50 national ranking, Pember also was named to the regular season All-District Team, the All-District Tournament Team and the All-Region Tournament Team. The 6-9 forward averaged 8.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game during his senior season despite being limited for part of the year. He scored in double figures in nine games, had four double-doubles and recorded at least five blocks in seven outings.
Davonte Gaines rounds out Tennessee’s incoming freshman class. His Hargrave Military Academy postgraduate basketball team went 35-3 this season. The Buffalo, N.Y., native showcased his skills with several highlight-reel dunks throughout the year. The 6-7 wing is a versatile player, recording four quadruple-doubles and 11 triple-doubles during his senior season at Health Sciences High School in New York.
Gaines plans to enroll at UT on May 8, and Pember will enroll in June.
UT Athletics
Jake Owen Said He Had a “Few Cocktails” and Verbally Abused Golfer Phil Mickelson at a Wedding
Jake Owen, an avid golfer, was no fan of “The Match,” a $9-million-winner-take-all game of 18 holes between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in November 2018.
Phil won the match, which was televised via pay-per-view.
Jake, who was a guest on Barstool Sports’ Fore Play podcast, shared his story of verbally abusing Phil at the wedding of golfer Jordan Spieth, which occurred the day after “The Match.”
“I did give Phil Mickelson a lot of s**t though at Jordan Spieth’s wedding,” said Jake on the podcast. “I had a few cocktails and I saw [Phil] across the room . . . So I walked over to him, and I was like, ‘Hey Phil, you owe me f**ing $29.99!’ I was like, ‘For wasting four hours of my life with the s***tiest golf I’ve ever seen. You guys hype this whole thing up about the big match? You guys couldn’t even make three birdies between the two of you?’ I’m like, ‘I want my $29.99 and apologize to me for some s***ty golf!'”
Phil got the last laugh, though. He pulled out a wad of cash, showed Jake a $100 bill and said, “I won 90,000 of these yesterday.” Phil confirmed Jake’s story via Twitter.
Listen to a clip of the podcast below, which contains NSFW language.
True story😊
— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) April 2, 2019
photo by NCD
Luke Combs Tops Luke Combs for Most Weeks at No. 1 on All 5 Billboard Country Charts
For the third week, Luke Combs is simultaneously topping all five of Billboard’s country charts (Hot Country Songs, Country Airplay, Country Streaming Songs, Country Digital Song Sales and Top Country Albums).
Luke’s “Beautiful Crazy” is No. 1 on four charts, while his album, This One’s for You, is No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. Luke is now the only artist in country music history to top all five charts for three weeks.
Kane Brown was No. 1 on all five charts for one week in October 2017.
In addition, Luke’s “Beautiful Crazy” is No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for the sixth straight week. According to Billboard, the record for most weeks atop the chart is eight, which Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” accomplished in 2003.
With his latest No. 1 single, Luke is first country artist in history whose first five singles have reached No. 1, following previous chart-toppers “Hurricane,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “One Number Away” and “She Got the Best of Me.”
Luke is nominated for Male Artist of the Year at the upcoming ACM Awards in April. He was recently named ACM New Male Artist of the Year.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Tara Thompson Gets Engaged
Tara Thompson revealed via Instagram that she got engaged to boyfriend Josh Smith on March 31.
Tara, who was part of the 2016 CMT Next Women of Country Tour, shared a photo of the engagement from the London Eye observation wheel in London, England.
“Comin’ from a girl that said she would NEVER get married…My stubborn ass said YES💍… bc he’s perfect,” said Tara, in part, via Instagram.
Tara released her debut EP, Someone to Take Your Place, in 2016.
Congrats to the happy couple.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban & Old Dominion Added as Performers at ACM Awards + Presenters Announced
The Academy of Country Music announced the additions of Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Old Dominion as performers for the ACM Awards on April 7.
Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Khalid, Miranda Lambert, LANCO, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, George Strait and Carrie Underwood.
In addition, presenters for the ACM Awards were announced, including Lauren Alaina, Beth Behrs, Clint Black, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jessie James Decker, Hunter Hayes, Jay Hernandez, Lady Antebellum, Midland, Nancy O’Dell, Danica Patrick, Carly Pearce, Dennis Quaid, Michael Ray, Cole Swindell and Wilmer Valderrama.
This year’s “ACM Flashback” segment, which teams current artists with past favorites, will feature Brooks & Dunn performing with Luke Combs, and George Strait performing with Miranda Lambert. In addition, Miranda, the most-awarded artist in ACM Awards history with 32 wins, will perform a flashback medley of her greatest hits.
Collaborations include:
- Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson
- Dierks Bentley & Brandi Carlile
- Eric Church & Ashley McBryde
- Dan + Shay & Kelly Clarkson
- Florida Georgia Line & Jason Aldean
- Maren Morris & Brothers Osborne
- Kane Brown and Khalid
The awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
Watch Alan Jackson Perform “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” at Loretta Lynn’s All-Star Concert
In honor of Loretta Lynn’s 87th birthday on April 14, a number of artists took part in her All-Star Birthday Celebration Concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on April 1, including Alan Jackson, Brandy Clark, Darius Rucker, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Jack White, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Margo Price, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Trisha Yearwood and more.
In addition to teaming with Lee Ann Womack to sing Loretta and Conway Twitty’s 1973 duet, “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” Alan Jackson performed his post-9/11 ballad, “Where Where You (When the World Stopped Turning).”
While the serious nature of the song may seem out of place at a birthday celebration, it was revealed that Loretta personally requested that Alan perform the touching song.
Watch Alan perform “Where Where You(When the World Stopped Turning).”
photo and video by Lauren Smith/Nash Country Daily
Watch Keith Urban Jump Out of a Cake to Fulfill Loretta Lynn’s Birthday Wish
In honor of Loretta Lynn’s 87th birthday on April 14, a number of artists took part in her All-Star Birthday Celebration Concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on April 1, including Alan Jackson, Brandy Clark, Darius Rucker, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Jack White, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Margo Price, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Trisha Yearwood and more.
But Keith Urban took the cake.
As Cam led the crowd in a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” a three-tiered cake—which was fake—was wheeled onto stage. As the song concluded, Keith sprang from the cake, fulfilling Loretta’s tongue-in-cheek birthday wish.
A little backstory: When the concert was announced in January, Lorreta said, “I am so excited to celebrate my 87th birthday with all my friends. This is the first time I’ve ever had a birthday party! My birthday wish has come true. The only other wish I have is that Keith Urban jumps out of my birthday cake!”
After Nash Country Daily posted Loretta’s wish via Twitter, Keith Urban responded by saying: “@lorettalynn… your wish is always my command Miss Loretta!!!! – KU.”
@lorettalynn… your wish is always my command Miss Loretta!!!! – KU pic.twitter.com/g4DHLj2cEu
— Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) January 15, 2019
Keith is a man of his word. Watch him spring from Loretta’s cake.
photo/video by Lauren Smith/Nash Country Daily
Daytime Talk Show “Pickler & Ben” to Be Canceled
After two seasons, syndicated daytime talk show Pickler & Ben—which is hosted by Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron—will be canceled.
The show, which debuted in 2017 with producer Faith Hill, now reaches 176 markets, but media company E.W. Scripps has deemed the show to have limited long-term profitability. Filmed in front of a live studio audience in Nashville, Pickler & Ben will continue to air until September.
The show recently netted a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host.
photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com
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