WIVK-FM

Season Opener vs. West Virginia Set for National TV Broadcast on CBS

Posted on May 30, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee’s season opener versus West Virginia on Sept. 1 in the 2018 Belk College Kickoff at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. has been slated for a 3:30 p.m. ET kick and will be broadcast nationally on CBS.

The Volunteers will put their 12-game winning streak against non-conference opponents on the line against the Mountaineers in one of the premier week-one games of the college football season.

When UT and WVU square off on Sept. 1, it will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the gridiron. The Vols have won nine consecutive season openers dating back to 2009.

CBS also released a handful of other select games as well as broadcast windows for its SEC ON CBS package this season.

The SEC ON CBS has been the highest-rated regular-season college football package on any network for nine consecutive seasons. The 2018 SEC ON CBS schedule, the Network’s 18th consecutive season providing national coverage of Southeastern Conference football, presents a total of 17 games, including the SEC Championship on Saturday, Dec. 1 (4:00 p.m. ET).

This year’s schedule kicks off on Sept. 1 with West Virginia vs. Tennessee at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. Other SEC ON CBS games announced today include last year’s SEC Champion Georgia visiting South Carolina on Sept. 8; last season’s SEC West Champion Auburn hosting LSU on Sept. 15; and Florida vs. Georgia in their annual rivalry game on Oct. 27.

There will be three consecutive Saturday doubleheaders late in the season and two Thanksgiving weekend games, putting multiple college football games on CBS in four of the final five regular-season weekends.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL TODAY, the Network’s pre-game, halftime and post-game studio show, provides all the college football news and highlights throughout the day.

CBS Sports’ coverage of the entire 2018 SEC on CBS football schedule will be available to stream live via the CBS All Access subscription service, with additional coverage on CBSSports.com and the CBS Sports app.

To view the entire release from CBS and the broadcast windows for this season, click HERE.

-UT Athletics

Jimmy’s blog: McElroy turned off by UT giving up last year

Posted on May 30, 2018

May 30

By Jimmy Hyams

Greg McEroy said it was borderline disgusting at times watching Tennessee’s team flounder last season.

“There was nothing more infuriating than putting on the tape and watching Tennessee at the end of the season and just seeing how dejected they would get when something when South,’’ said the SEC Network analyst. “Then seeing how quickly they would go in the tank when they didn’t get off to a decent start.’’

UT went in the tank so often, it lost eight games for the first time in school history (4-8) and went winless in SEC play for the first time in school history (0-8).

Jeremy Pruitt, a highly successful defensive coordinator at Florida State, Georgia and Alabama, has been charged with reviving a once storied program.

It won’t be an easy — or a quick — fix.

“I just want to see this team, more than anything else, be competitive,’’ McElroy said. “Even if they aren’t winning games against the upper tire SEC East, at least be competitive. Keep it within 10 points. Keep it within a touchdown so you have a chance to steal it at the end of the game.

“That’s what I want to see. Not the 50-17 blowouts (against Missouri) that we saw time to time in the second half of last season.’’

That’s why McElroy says UT’s record might not be the ultimate measuring stick for progress under Pruitt.

“I don’t know, necessarily, if progress is going to be measured by wins and losses,’’ McElroy said. “I don’t think it can be. When you’re completely changing how the program is being operated … I want to see them more competitive if things go South early. Will they show up and play in the second half as hard as humanly possible. We didn’t see that all the time last year.’’

Pruitt didn’t even see it in the spring game. He called out some players for “flat out quitting.’’

McElroy, who covered the game for the SEC Network, said he didn’t notice players quitting. But he did see other signs of concern.

“I think the defensive performance was disappointing,’’ McElroy said. “The lack of tackling, the lack of pursuit, the lack of fundamentals and gap soundness when it comes to the run game,’’ he said. “All those things are areas that need to be addressed.

“I didn’t notice on the field a lack of effort. But I did notice a significant lack of execution.’’

Lack of execution played a role in UT’s miserable season. The Vols blew several games it could have won – at Florida and Kentucky, are examples.

“I think Jeremy wants to stress to his kids that it’s never going to be easy,’’ McElroy said. “It’s going to be adverse. Its’ going to be difficult.

“There’s going to be times when things aren’t going your way and you have to stick with it and not get dejected and come out on the other side feeling good.’’

McElroy expects Pruitt to make practice tougher than games, just like Nick Saban did when McElroy played for the Crimson Tide and led the team to the 2009 national championship.

“Pruitt wants practices to be exponentially more difficult than what any of the Volunteer players will face Saturdays in the SEC,’’ McElroy said. “That’s the whole mantra of what Jeremy Pruitt is trying to create. He wants Saturdays to be a cake walk compared to the work they put in during the week and in the offseason.’’

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

Country Music Association Creates New Scholarship in Honor of Kix Brooks

Posted on May 30, 2018

The Country Music Association has announced the launch of the inaugural CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship, a year-long program designed to provide emerging artists with unique professional and educational opportunities in the country music industry.

The CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship is named after country music legend Kix Brooks, the former chairman of the CMA Board and long-serving board member. Kix also happens to be one half of the greatest country music duo of all time—Brooks & Dunn—and he is the host of American Country Countdown on Westwood One radio stations.

“The KixStart Artist Scholarship program was developed by 2017 CMA Board artist relations committee chair, Marion Kraft and vice chair, Mary Hilliard Harrington, both visionary artist managers, as a means to provide one-of-a-kind mentorship to artists within our country community,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA CEO. “We’re thrilled to open our arms to our artist community and offer these invaluable tools as these artists continue to invest in their growing careers.”

“Last year when Mary Hilliard and Marion suggested we do something to better aid those artists that could use a little extra help, or a ‘kick start’ to help them over that tipping point, we all knew it was a good idea,” said Kix. “I suppose calling it KixStart was a little tip of the hat to me for getting this committee going in the beginning. I’m honored, but I’m not taking any credit for this one.”

CMA and its staff will help connect each selected artist with professionals within the industry, as well as providing educational support and opportunities to participate in CMA-related events during CMA Fest, CMA Songwriters Series and C2C: Country to Country festival in the U.K. A scholarship fund has been established by CMA to cover expenses related to the program.

CMA KixStart Artist Scholarship submissions will be accepted starting on June 1. The deadline for submissions is June 30 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

photo by AFF-USA.com

Victims say Suspects Ran Them Down in Vehicle

Posted on May 30, 2018

Two sisters are in custody charged with multiple counts of Attempted Murder. Officials say Tuesday night 24-year-old Jalisa Waterson and her 17-year-old sister were involved in a fight near Washington Pike and Whittle Springs.

Responding officer found four victims that had been hit by a vehicle. Three had to be taken to the hospital but have already been released.

Officials say the victims and suspects had been involved in an confrontation at Belle Morris Elementary School. Afterwards, the four victims were walking down Fairview Street when they say a Nissan Altima ran them down at a high rate of speed. The victims identified the driver and passenger as the sisters.

The two were charged with four counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder.

Gregg Wins 2018 Senior CLASS Award® in Softball

Posted on May 30, 2018

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – All-American shortstop Meghan Gregg has been selected as the 2018 Senior CLASS Award® winner in softball. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Gregg is the second student-athlete from Tennessee to win a Senior CLASS Award following fellow softball athlete Madison Shipman’s win in 2014.

“I am so honored to receive the Senior Class Award,” said Gregg, who helped the Lady Vols to one Women’s College World Series appearance and two trips to the NCAA Super Regionals in her career. “Being able to join the list of athletes who have received this award in the past is so humbling because of their impressive athletic ability and high character. The four areas that this award highlights have all been achieved because of the core values of the Tennessee softball program. Living by the core values of Servant Warrior, Competitor, Integrity, Passion, Respect and Preparation, my teammates and I have grown into women of great character and esteem. I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given by being a part of such a prestigious program. I feel that I am confident and ready for the next chapter of my life because my coaches, Ralph and Karen Weekly, have prepared me for my future career.”

Already earning first-team All-SEC and first-team NFCA All-Region honors this season, Gregg set new Tennessee program records for career home runs (57), RBIs (263) and slugging percentage (.712). A 2017 first-team NFCA All-American, Gregg earned SEC Player of the Year, All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive Team honors as a junior after finishing the season ranked among the top-15 nationally in six major offensive categories and breaking the Tennessee single-season RBI record (79). Earning all-conference honors each season of her career, Gregg was named first-team All-SEC as a sophomore and to the Freshman All-SEC Team in 2015.

“Ralph and I are tremendously proud of Meghan,” said Karen Weekly, who serves as Co-head Coach of the Lady Vols along with her husband, Ralph. “Not only has she set a standard of excellence on the playing field, she is an exemplary student and leader in the community. The Senior CLASS award is one of the most prestigious honors bestowed upon a collegiate student-athlete, and Meghan is truly deserving.”

Beyond the field, Gregg has remained committed to excellence in the classroom, to prioritizing community outreach and to maintaining a high level of personal character. A 2017 third-team CoSIDA Academic All-American and an Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete, Gregg already has graduated with a degree in kinesiology with a concentration on pre-pharmacy and has been accepted to the University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy. Gregg also has taken part numerous community service projects, most notably in Autism Speaks, the Challenger Games, Take Back the Night, Voloween events, MLK Marches, Goals for Girls, Light the Night and softball meet and greets. Selected by her coaches to take part in the VOLeaders Academy, Gregg participated in the VOLeaders Academy’s yearlong curriculum and a 13-day study-abroad trip to Brazil in 2016 where she and fellow Tennessee student-athletes learned about the nation’s culture and used sports as a means to enact positive change.

“Meghan Gregg is an exceptional student-athlete and role model,” said Erik Miner, the award’s executive director. “What she’s been able to accomplish on and off the field in her four years at Tennessee is remarkable. Our sincere congratulations to Meghan, her team and to the University of Tennessee.”

CONTACT
Erik Miner
(913) 563-5412
[email protected]

ABOUT THE AWARD
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Premier Sports Management manages the award.

-UT Athletics

Craig Morgan to Receive One of the U.S. Army’s Highest Civilian Awards

Posted on May 30, 2018

Country star Craig Morgan—who spent almost 10 years on active duty in the U.S. Army in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions—will be awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in recognition of his dedication to entertaining troops and their families around the world.

The Outstanding Civilian Service Medal is one of the highest awards that the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian. The Army is recognizing Craig for his significant dedication to supporting military members who have served their country, often in harm’s way.

Craig has made 15 overseas tours for U.S. troops and performed for more than 37,000 service members and their families all over the world. The presentation will take place at the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of the United States Army (GLAC AUSA) annual Army Ball on June 23 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Craig, who has scored numerous Top 10 hits over his career (“That’s What I Love About Sunday,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Bonfire”), recently completed his 10th USO Tour to entertain U.S. military members stationed overseas. The eight-day tour visited seven countries and included stops in western Tokyo, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq and Spain as well as the Korean Peninsula where the U.S. Army veteran was once stationed.

Craig served in the Army for nearly two decades, both as an active duty soldier and in the reserves.

photo by Jason Simanek

Jimmy’s blog: Barnes OK with expanding NCAA field

Posted on May 30, 2018

By Jimmy Hyams

SANDESTIN, FLA. — The Atlantic Coast Conference has proposed expanding the NCAA men’s tournament field from 68 to 72 teams.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes has no objection.

“I don’t think at any point in time when we expanded, has it ever hurt the tournament,’’ Barnes said Tuesday at the SEC Spring Meetings. “It’s only made it better.

“My gut feeling is it’s not going to hurt us in any way, shape or form. I think somewhere along the line it will be good because there are so many teams now (that are deserving of a bid.) There is real parity whether we want to admit it or not.’’

That parity has led many teams on the bubble to complain about being snubbed. In most cases, teams didn’t do enough to get an invite. But in some cases, teams compare resumes and feel they were more deserving that some teams that got an at-large bid into the 68-team field.

“Allowing more teams to get in it, I would be all for it,’’ Barnes said.

Barnes noted that the tournament has increased from 16 to 24 to 32 to 48 to 64 now 68 teams.

“At no point in time has expansion hurt us,’’ Barnes insisted.

Meanwhile, Barnes said he is unsure if he will sign another grad transfer.

Richmond grad transfer Khwan Fore, who committed to Tennessee April 30, said he has re-opened his recruiting, although UT is still an option.

“We’ll wait and see,’’ Barnes said about signing another grad transfer. “We are in position where we’ve got one scholarship. We’ll wait and see what we do with it.’’

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

Darius Rucker Scores 9th No. 1 on the Country Charts With “For the First Time”

Posted on May 30, 2018

Darius Rucker scored his ninth No. 1 single this week as “For the First Time” ascended to the top of the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

“For the First Time” is the second single from Darius’ 2017 album, When Was the Last Time, which also spawned No. 1 hit, “If I Told You.” Co-penned by Darius, Derek George and Scooter Carusoe, “For the First Time” also represents the 11th Top 10 hit of Darius’ country career.

“There’s a lot of nostalgia in ‘For the First Time,’” says Darius to Nash Country Daily. “The line ‘Say you never drank from the bottle of some two dollar wine, run barefoot through the mud’—that’s stuff you do in high school and college, so it was a fun one to write.”

Darius and Lady Antebellum will join forces for a co-headlining tour dubbed the Summer Plays On Tour. Kicking off on July 19 in Toronto, Ontario, the 30-date tour will make stops in Seattle, San Diego, Chicago and more. Darius will also perform at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on June 7 as part of CMA Fest.

photo by Jason Simanek

Barnes Adds Bryan Lentz to Basketball Staff

Posted on May 29, 2018

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Tuesday that he has hired Bryan Lentz in a Video Coordinator/Director of Player Development role.

Lentz, who has prior history working alongside Barnes, fills the vacancy created when Riley Davis accepted an assistant coaching position at Texas-Arlington in April.

“I’ve known Bryan for a long time,” Barnes said. “He was with us at Texas, and he did an outstanding job. Then he took an opportunity at Appalachian State and was great there as well. When this position opened up, I immediately knew Bryan could be an ideal fit.”

Lentz comes to Tennessee following four seasons as an assistant coach at Appalachian State. Prior to that, the Hickory, North Carolina, native spent four years as a special assistant on Barnes’ staff at Texas, where he was involved in all aspects of internal operations within the Longhorns program. During his time at Texas, the Longhorns compiled an 87-48 record and made three NCAA Tournament appearances (2011, 2012, 2014).

Lentz began his coaching career working for nine years coaching alongside his father, legendary Lenoir-Rhyne head coach John Lentz. During that stretch, the Bears won five South Atlantic Conference regular-season titles, one SAC Tournament title and made to five NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. In his final two seasons at L-R, Bryan served as the Bears’ associate head coach.

A four-year letterwinner at Lenoir-Rhyne—which is also Barnes’ alma mater—Lentz finished his collegiate playing career with 1,374 points and ranked fifth in school history in assists (388), steals (159) and free-throw percentage (.824). He was named South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year in 1996-97 and earned second-team All-SAC honors as a sophomore in 1997-98.

Lentz earned his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Lenoir-Rhyne in 2000. He and his wife, Christy, have two sons, Luke and Owen.

UT Athletics

If Morgan Evans Didn’t Write His Hit Song “Kiss Somebody” About Wife Kelsea Ballerini, Then Who?

Posted on May 29, 2018

With a title like “Kiss Somebody,” a lot of folks assume Morgan Evans wrote his hit single about his newlywed wife Kelsea Ballerini. Wrong.

The Aussie native didn’t write the song about his soulmate . . . he wrote it about his mate.

“A lot of people asked me if I wrote [“Kiss Somebody”] about Kelsea,” says Morgan. “No. The answer is absolutely no. It was inspired by a mate of mine, actually. I used to stay with him in Nashville before I moved here, and he went through this really rough breakup and he was devastated. And, I was with him through that period, and I went back to Australia. A year and a half later, I came back and he was still devastated over this situation. And, I was like, ‘Dude! You need to kiss somebody!’ And so, the lyrics kind of go, “Sometimes you’ve got to drink about somebody / Sometimes you’ve got to cry and miss somebody / Sometimes you’ve got to kiss somebody.’”

“Kiss Somebody,” which Morgan penned with Chris DeStefano and Josh Osborne, is currently No. 13 on the Mediabase chart.

If you’re wondering what is the first love song Morgan wrote about Kelsea, it’s “Dance With Me.”

“I’ve written a lot of love songs in my life, but this is my favorite one I’ve ever written,” says Morgan. “It’s my favorite one for a lot of reasons, it’s the first one I wrote for [Kelsea] . . . I wrote it one morning on a Tuesday at 9 o’clock in the morning. I was waiting for her to come on the TV. She was singing on the morning show. And the morning show was, like, talking about gossip or something like that, and it was the worse thing I’d ever seen so I couldn’t watch it. So I put it on mute, and I picked up the guitar and I just started playing this. This first verse and chorus came out in 20 minutes. It’s called ‘Dance With Me.’”

Watch Morgan perform “Dance With Me” below.

photo by Jason Simanek