Guarantano leads Orange to 34-7 win over White in spring game

Posted on April 22, 2018
Vols QB Jarrett Guarantano / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With redshirt sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano leading the charge, the Orange rolled to a 34-7 victory Saturday afternoon in the 2018 DISH Orange and White Game.

On an absolutely beautiful spring afternoon, 65,098 Tennessee fans made their way to Neyland Stadium to get a first-hand look at the Big Orange in action under first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt and his staff.

Guarantano quickly emerged as the game’s standout performer, going on to earn most valuable player honors. He finished the day 15 of 27 passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with six different receivers, including redshirt sophomore Eli Wolf, who caught five passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore receiver Josh Palmer hauled in three balls for a game-high 77 yards.

Wolf was the recipient of the Harvey Robinson Award as the most improved player during spring practice. Senior defensive lineman Kyle Phillips, who recorded a sack and four tackles for the White, was the winner of the Andy Spiva Award as the most improved defensive player of the spring.

Theo Jackson made the first big play of the game, helping the Orange get on the scoreboard midway through the opening stanza. The sophomore defensive back intercepted a Will McBride pass and returned it 49 yards to the White 15. With a facemask penalty tacked on, Guarantano and company set up shop at the seven. Three plays later, Guarantano found junior wide receiver Marquez Callaway in the corner of the end zone for a two-yard touchdown reception. Sophomore Brent Cimaglia kicked the PAT to make it 7-0 with 7:59 to go in the period.

Guarantano moved the Orange 30 yards in seven plays to set up another score with 14:53 left in the second period. Cimaglia came on to attempt a 43-yard field goal, and he knocked it home to extend the Orange lead to 10-0.

The Orange pushed the lead to 17-0 with 6:46 left in the second quarter after sophomore running back Tim Jordanbulled into the end zone from five yards out and Cimaglia added the PAT. The five-play, 62-yard drive was aided by a 23-yard pass from Guarantano to sophomore wideout Josh Palmer and a 29-yard run from Jordan on the two plays prior to the touchdown.

Guarantano managed to steer the Orange to three more points before the end of the half via a 41-yard Cimaglia field goal. After being sacked for a loss of eight yards by redshirt senior defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo and facing a second-and-23 from the White 42, Guarantano connected on passes of five yards (to sophomore running back Ty Chandler) and 14 yards (to Callaway). Those completions moved the Orange to the White 23, where Cimaglia came on and extended the score to 20-0

Orange stars during the first half were Guarantano (6-12-87, 1 TD), Jordan (5-50 rushing, 1 TD), Callaway (3-30 receiving, 1 TD) and Cimaglia (FGs 43 &41, 2 PATs). For the White, Nigel Warrior returned four kicks for 105 yards (26.0 avg.) and Quarte Sapp recorded five tackles.

With 3:24 left in the third stanza, the Orange struck again. Chandler plunged into the end zone from one yard out, and Cimaglia added the PAT to make it 27-0. Guarantano was four-for-five on the drive, opening with a 20-yarder to Palmer and adding first-down tosses of nine and 17 yards, respectively, to tight ends Wolf and redshirt sophomore Austin Pope to keep the chains moving.

The White finally hit pay-dirt with 3:13 remaining in the game. McBride, a sophomore, connected with redshirt sophomore wide receiver Latrell Williams on a 35-yard scoring strike. Redshirt junior placekicker Laszlo Toser added the PAT to trim the Orange lead to 27-7.

Guarantano and company responded quickly, taking four plays and 1:06 off the clock to move 63 yards and answer for the Orange. The capper was a 29-yard pass to Wolf with 10 seconds left in the game. Cimaglia added the PAT, his fourth of the contest, to make the score 34-7.

The Orange produced 360 yards of total offense, including 226 through the air and 134 on the ground. Jordan finished with 57 yards on nine carries 6.3 (ypc.), while Chandler added 53 yards on 11 attempts (4.8 ypc.).

Defensively, Sapp led all tacklers with 11 stops, including five solos for the White. Junior defensive back Nigel Warrior chipped in eight tackles for the White, including seven solos. Sophomore defensive lineman Kivon Bennettwas the leading tackler for the Orange, tallying four stops, including a sack.

UP NEXT: The Vols will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1 in Charlotte, N.C., as they face off against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.

HOME OPENER: Tennessee will play its first home game on Sept. 8, as the Vols welcome the East Tennessee State Buccaneers to Neyland Stadium.

-UT Athletics

 

Fulmer, Pruitt lead 2018 Big Orange Caravan This May

Fulmer, Pruitt lead 2018 Big Orange Caravan This May

Posted on April 22, 2018
Big Orange Caravan / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer and Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt will headline the five-city Big Orange Caravan fan appreciation tour this May.

Reigning SEC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year Rick Barnes and Lady Vol basketball head coach Holly Warlick will join Fulmer and Pruitt at several of the events.

A collaborative effort between Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, the Big Orange Caravan will make stops in Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta and in the Tri-Cities. The events will feature fan-friendly elements such as meet-and-greets with VFL greats and coaches, a Q & A hosted by “The Voice of the Vols,” Bob Kesling,  appearances by the UT Spirit Squads and Smokey the mascot as well as a photo booth, cornhole, social media station, free popcorn, face painting and more.

“I always genuinely enjoyed engaging with our passionate Tennessee fans during the Big Orange Caravan when I was the football coach, and I’m really looking forward to hitting the road again in my new role as AD,” Fulmer said. “Our fans show their loyalty to our teams by traveling to Rocky Top to support them. Taking the Tennessee experience to our fans’ backyard is a fantastic way to thank them and pay them back for that loyalty—which plays a vital role in our success across all sports.”

The 2018 Big Orange Caravan tour kicks off on Thursday, May 10 at the First Tennessee Pavilion in Chattanooga (5:30-7:30 p.m. ET) before heading to the Expo Center at Agricenter International/Dome in Memphis on Tuesday, May 15 (5:30-7:30 p.m. CT). Nissan Stadium will host the 52nd Annual All Sports Picnic in Nashville on Thursday, May 17 (5:30-7:30 p.m. CT), while SunTrust Park in Atlanta will welcome the next event on Tuesday, May 22 (5:30-7:30 p.m. ET). The Big Orange Caravan will wrap up at the Meadowview Marriott in Kingsport for the Tri-Cities stop on Thursday, May 24 (5:30-7:30 p.m. ET).

Admission to all Big Orange Caravan events will be $5 per person in advance or $10 at the door. Students and youth will receive complimentary admission. Proceeds from admission will go to the local UT Knoxville Alumni Chapters’ scholarship funds (these donations are non-refundable).

Registration is open at BigOrangeCaravan.com.

“Last year the caravan in Memphis was a lot of fun,” said Michael Pham, who received the 2017 Memphis Chapter Scholarship. “It was great to see the reach and size of the Volunteer Family and it meant so much to me to be recognized as the Memphis Chapter Scholarship recipient.”

Online registration will close three days prior to each event. Walk-up registrations will be accepted at $10 per person (credit card or check only). Space is limited. Pre-registered guests will be entered to win prizes from Tennessee Athletics.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase at each event.

“We are excited to be part of Big Orange Caravan again this year and look forward to engaging with future Vols and their families,” said Fabrizio D’Aloisio, Assistant Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions. “It’s an exciting time to be a Tennessee Volunteer as we continue to invest in our students through scholarship, enhancing our already excellent  facilities and providing a world class academic experience.  This is another way for prospective students to learn and experience UT.”

Representatives from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions will be present at each event to celebrate new incoming Vols and share information with families who have students with an interest in attending UT. The incoming freshman class at UT Knoxville is among the best and brightest in school history.

CHATTANOOGA

Date: Thursday, May 10

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: First Tennessee Pavilion

Address: 1826 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37408

$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Chattanooga UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.

REGISTER HERE

MEMPHIS

Date: Tuesday, May 15

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. CT

Venue: Dome of Agricenter International

Address: 7777 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, TN 38120

$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Memphis UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Endowment.

REGISTER HERE

NASHVHILLE

Date: Thursday, May 17

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. CT

Venue: Nissan Stadium

Address: 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213

$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Nashville Region UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Endowment. The Nashville event also will feature a silent auction sponsored by the Nashville Region UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter.

REGISTER HERE

ATLANTA

Date: Tuesday, May 22

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: SunTrust Park

Address: 755 Battery Ave., Atlanta, GA 30339

$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Atlanta UT Knoxville Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.

REGISTER HERE

TRI-CITIES 

Date: Thursday, May 24

Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center in Kingsport

Address: 1901 Meadowview Pkwy, Kingsport, TN 37660

$5 per person / Complimentary admission for students and youth. All proceeds benefit the Sullivan County Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund and the Washington County Alumni Chapter’s Scholarship Fund.

REGISTER HERE

-UT Athletics

 

Watch Maren Morris Sing the National Anthem Before Game 5 of the Nashville Predators Opening Round Playoff Series

Watch Maren Morris Sing the National Anthem Before Game 5 of the Nashville Predators Opening Round Playoff Series

Posted on April 20, 2018

During the Nashville Predators 2017 playoff run to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Preds brought out some of country music’s biggest starts to sing the national anthem on their home ice, including Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley and Faith Hill.

For the Preds 2018 playoff run, which began on April 12 against the Colorado Avalanche, Rascal Flatts had the honor of singing the national anthem before Game 1. Before Game 2 versus the Avalanche on April 14, Brad Paisley kicked off the festivities with his rendition of the national anthem.

Before Game 5 against the Avalanche on April 20, Maren Morris treated fans to her version of the national anthem.

Watch Maren’s performance below.

Watch Dierks Bentley Perform New Songs “Woman, Amen” & “The Mountain” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Watch Dierks Bentley Perform New Songs “Woman, Amen” & “The Mountain” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live”

Posted on April 20, 2018

Dierks Bentley treated fans in L.A. to an outdoor performance of tunes from his upcoming album, The Mountain, during his visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live on April 18.

The Mountain, which drops on June 8, was inspired by Dierks’ June 2017 performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in the town of Telluride in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado.

“I found myself there, constantly reaching for my guitar,” Dierks said. “It was like a gravitational pull. That town and those people just make you want to be creative, I couldn’t describe it. I was like, ‘How do I tell everyone in Nashville this is what I want to write about?’ I realized I couldn’t bring it back, so I had to take everyone out there.”

Dierks returned to Telluride a short time later for a week-long retreat with fellow songwriters Natalie Hemby, Luke Dick, Ross Copperman, Jon Randall, Jon Nite and Ashley Gorley and wrote the bulk of the album’s songs. Dierks co-wrote 10 of the 13 tracks.

Once again, Dierks returned to Telluride—this time with his production team of Ross Copperman, Jon Randall Stewart and Arturo Buenahora Jr—to a tucked-away hideout called Studio in the Clouds in November 2017 to record the album.

During his visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live, Dierks performed the album’s title track and lead single, “Woman, Amen,” which is currently No. 10 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Watch Dierks’ performances below.

photo by Jason Simanek

photo by Jason Simanek

photo by Jason Simanek

Watch Jake Owen Throw It Back to 1982 in New Video for “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)”

Watch Jake Owen Throw It Back to 1982 in New Video for “I Was Jack (You Were Diane)”

Posted on April 20, 2018

Jake Owen dropped an eight-minute video for his new single, “I Was Jack (You Were Diane).”

Jake’s new tune is interspersed throughout the clip that throws it back to 1982 to tell the story of a high school couple—played by MacKenzie Porter and Jake Etheridge—trying to find their paths in life. And wouldn’t ya know it, their paths cross again 10 years later in a familiar diner, with Jake Owen as their server.

Both melodically and lyrically, Jake’s new single is rooted in John Mellencamp’s iconic 1982 hit, “Jack & Diane.” In fact, Mellencamp received a songwriting credit on Jake’s “I Was Jack (You Were Diane), along with songwriters Tommy Cecil, David Ray, Jody Stevens and Craig Wiseman.”

“When I heard the song, I thought to myself, ‘I’m glad I didn’t write this,’ because the legalities behind using a song that is that iconic,” says Jake to Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown. “[The songwriters] sent it to [Mellencamp] and his manager, and they actually got back to us saying that as many times as they’ve heard people try to take that song and do something with it, John’s never been for it. Ever. And, they said that. He gave us his blessing to use it. And, they actually licensed us some of his content to use for our video that we’re making, so it feels good to know that he kind of gave his stamp of approval. I mean, that was a big kind of chance for me—thinking about doing this song—because of the folks out there that are gonna be like, ‘How are you gonna take a classic song like this and redo something that’s already great?’ You know? And, really for us, it was more about paying homage to that song while still making it relevant in today’s world.”

“I Was Jack (You Were Diane)” is currently No. 14 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.

Check out the new video below.

photo by JPA / AFF-USA.com

photo by JPA / AFF-USA.com

photo by JPA / AFF-USA.com

Bebe Rexha Feeling Acceptance From Country Music Community After Collaborative Hit With FGL, “Meant to Be”

Bebe Rexha Feeling Acceptance From Country Music Community After Collaborative Hit With FGL, “Meant to Be”

Posted on April 20, 2018

Bebe Rexha’s “Meant to Be” (featuring Florida Georgia Line) has resided atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 20 weeks, which is the third longest reign in the history of the chart, behind Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” (34 weeks) and FGL’s “Cruise” (24 weeks).

While FGL is known for their collaborative efforts with artists outside of the country genre—see “God, Your Mama, and Me,” “Let Me Go” and “Life Is a Honeymoon”—“Meant to Be” is pop star Bebe’s first foray into country music.

“Here I am this girl that grows up in the pop world, and I write a song with Florida Georgia Line and it’s one of the biggest songs I’ve put out in my life,” says Bebe. “And I think it’s just a record that was honest and true. And I think that people really connected with it on a deeper level.”

“Meant to Be,” which was co-penned by Bebe, Josh Miller, David Garcia and FGL’s Tyler Hubbard, was recently nominated for Top Country Song at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards on May 20.

“To me, it’s saying that the [country music community] is willing to allow me in because they really respect the song,” says Bebe. “And that’s the most important thing for me, more than anything, is for people to respect my music and my songwriting more than anything.”

photo by Arroyo-O\’Connor/AFF-USA.com

Listen to Sugarland’s New Song, “Babe,” Featuring Taylor Swift

Listen to Sugarland’s New Song, “Babe,” Featuring Taylor Swift

Posted on April 20, 2018

Sugarland released a new song, “Babe,” from its upcoming sixth studio album, Bigger, which drops on June 8.

The new album, which was co-produced by Julian Raymond and Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, features 11 songs, 10 of which were co-written by Kristian and Jennifer.

The outlier is “Babe,” a song penned by Taylor Swift and Train’s Pat Monahan that features vocals from Taylor.

“We’ve obviously known [Taylor] for many years,” says Jennifer. “And she was excited we were getting back together and reached out, and said, ‘Hey, I have a song.’ That is a short list, ladies and gentleman, of people to whom she has said, ‘Hey, I have a song. Wanna sing it?’ So, we said, ‘Yeah.'”

“We’ve never really put a song by anybody else on any of our records, so we weren’t really used to kinda sorting through that, and we didn’t want to mess it up,” says Kristian. “So we didn’t tell anybody about it, until we got finished. And she liked it, thank God.”

Taylor posted a video on Instagram on April 20, letting her fans know how happy she is that Sugarland recorded the tune, as well as sharing the song’s origin, which Taylor says she initially co-wrote for her Red album in 2012.

“Hey guys, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the nice things you’ve been saying about ‘Babe,’” said Taylor, in part. “It’s a song I wrote with Pat Monahan when I was making the Red album. I’m so happy that that it gets its own life. I’m so happy that Sugarland wanted to record it and has done such a great job with it. And I’m so stoked to be able to sing on it, too.”

❤️

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on

Listen to “Babe” below.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

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