INDIANAPOLIS — Four Tennessee Volunteers – punter Trevor Daniel, defensive back Rashaan Gaulden, running back John Kelly, and defensive lineman Kahlil McKenzie – will participate in the NFL Combine this week.
The Combine begins on Tuesday and ends next Monday in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium. The on-field workout portion of the combine starts this Friday and will air on NFL Network.
Daniel and Kelly are scheduled to participate in on-field workouts on March 2, while McKenzie is expected to perform on March 4 and Gaulden should wrap it up on March 5.
In addition to on-field drills, players will participate in the bench press workout, medical examinations, psychological testing, team interviews and media interviews over four jam-packed days.
After spending three seasons as Tennessee’s starting punter, Daniel finished his time in Knoxville with the highest career yards per punt average in UT history at 45.9 yards per punt. He also finished his senior season ranked second nationally and in the SEC with a 47.5 yards per punt average.
Kelly, Tennessee’s starting running back in 2017, rushed for 1,573 yards and 15 touchdowns in his three-year career with the Vols. Kelly finished 2017 as one of two players in the country to lead his team in rushing yards (778) and receptions (37). Kelly finished with 1,077 total yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns in 11 games in 2017.
A three-year contributor on the interior of the defensive line and a UT legacy, McKenzie notched 72 tackles in his Tennessee career, including a career high 35 in 2017. McKenzie started eight games on the defensive front for the Vols in 2017.
A Spring Hill, Tenn. native, Gaulden appeared in 36 games with 19 starts for the Vols after beginning his career in 2014. Gaulden, who missed the 2015 season with an injury, tallied 140 total tackles and broke up nine passes in his career. The versatile defensive back proved to be one of the nation’s top secondary players in 2017 when he tallied 65 stops, including 3.5 TFLs, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and five PBUs.
Florida Georgia Line has teamed with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans for a free street party and concert in Nashville on April 4.
After the Titans debut their brand-new 2018 uniforms, FGL will headline a free concert at the crossroads of Broadway and 1st Ave. at 7 p.m.
The Titans posted a Facebook video of FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley making the announcement on Feb. 24, and since then, more than 600 keyboard warriors have posted comments—including plenty of negative ones—proving people will complain about anything and everything . . . even when it’s FREE.
If FGL’s sold-out show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in 2016 is any indication, the streets will be packed for this free concert.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The SEC released its women’s basketball awards Tuesday on the eve of the postseason tournament, and five Lady Vols received recognition in voting from the league’s coaches.
Nared and Russell picked up Coaches All-SEC accolades for the second time in their careers, but they made the first team in 2018 after earning second-team honors a year ago. It marked the fourth time during the Holly Warlick era UT had two on the coaches’ first team. Cierra Burdick and Isabelle Harrison had that distinction in 2015, while Meighan Simmons and Harrison made the cut in 2014 and Simmons and Bashaara Graves did so in 2013.
Hayes is Tennessee’s second-ever 6th Woman of the Year, following in the footsteps of Alyssia Brewer in 2010. Davis and Westbrook, meanwhile, are the fourth and fifth members of the SEC All-Freshman Team during the past six seasons. It marked the seventh time in history UT has had two players on that squad in the same year.
Nared, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward from Portland, Ore., is the Lady Vols’ leading scorer at 17.2 points per game and is third in rebounding at 7.7. She shoots a team-leading.827 from the free throw line and is first on the squad in steals (64) and third in assists (70) and blocks (19). She has recorded nine double-doubles this season and has scored 20 or more points on 11 occasions. She is among the nation’s leaders and single-season pace-setters at UT in free throws made (153) and attempted (185).
A 6-6 center from Springfield, Ore., Russell is averaging 15.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting .601 from the field to rank among the nation’s leaders and UT’s all-time single-season leaders. She has blocked a team-leading 41 shots and has tallied 31 steals and 26 assists as well. After setting a Lady Vol junior record with 19 double-doubles a year ago, Russell has a senior-record-tying 14 and counting this season. She became only the sixth player in UT annals to eclipse 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds during a career, standing at 1,542 and 1,046 entering the SEC Tournament.
Hayes, a 5-7 guard from Murfreesboro, has been UT’s top performer off the bench all season long, averaging 9.1 points per game to rank fourth on the squad. She also averages 24.5 minutes, 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. She has scored in double figures 16 times and led UT in assists on nine occasions, posting career highs of 17 points vs. ETSU and nine assists vs. Troy and Arkansas. Like Nared, she has been a frequent visitor to the free throw line, making 92 of 131 attempts (.702).
UT’s third-leading scorer and rebounder, Davis averages 12.1 points and 7.6 caroms per contest, starting 27 of 28 games this season. The 6-2 forward from Jacksonville, Fla., is third on the team in steals (33) and fifth in assists (51) while shooting .489 from the field, .333 from the three-point arc and .718 from the charity stripe. She has scored in double figures 17 times and has carded eight double-doubles to stand sixth all-time among UT freshmen. Her rebound average currently ranks sixth as well.
A 6-0 freshman guard from Salem, Ore., Westbrook has handled the starting point guard role in every game, averaging 8.6 points, 4.4 assists and 2.7 rebounds per contest. She has led the team in assists on 18 occasions and scored in double figures 11 times. Her 129 assists are the third most of any freshman in school history, and her 4.4 average is second by any UT rookie. She ranks second on the team in three-pointers made (27) and is tops among regulars at .355 percent on long-range attempts.
AP ANNOUNCES ALL-SEC TEAM:Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell also were named to the Associated Press All-SEC Team which was released on Tuesday morning. Russell was a second-team honoree last season as well.
Decked out in a shiny, sequined bodysuit, Kacey Musgraves stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform the television debut of her new song, “Space Cowboy.”
The new tune was co-penned by Kacey, Luke Laird and Shane McAnally and is featured on Kacey’s upcoming album, Golden Hour, which drops on March 30.
*Releases from the Smokies & U. of Tennessee are below
SEVIERVILLE – The Tennessee Smokies have announced that the Tri-Star Classic presented by Toyota Knoxville has been moved to Lindsey Nelson Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus. The games will take place March 2-4, 2018.
Due to extensive field repair this fall, the field at Smokies Stadium has not fully healed. The University of Tennessee has graciously allowed the event to continue, and the Tri-Star Classic will be played at Lindsey Nelson Stadium to allow the field to mend prior to the 2018 Smokies season.
General admission tickets can be purchased at the University of Tennessee baseball ticket office or online at AllVols.com for $10 per day. Any tickets purchased online must be printed by the buyer before coming to the stadium. UT students and students from any other participating schools may enter for free with their student ID and sit in any general admission areas except for the lower chair back seats.
Tennessee Volunteers season ticket holders can pick up complimentary tickets at the front of the stadium as long as they have identification. All seating will be general admission with the lower chair back seating areas held for Smokies ticket buyers and UT season ticket holders.
Any ticket questions can be directed to the Tennessee Smokies ticket office (865-286-2300) or the Tennessee Athletics ticket office (865-656-1200).
Free baseball parking will be located in Lots GF1, GF2, GF3 and GF4. Free parking will also available in the G16 garage on Sunday. The G16 garage will charge for parking beginning at 2 p.m.on Saturday. Additional parking is located on the street along Todd Helton Drive. Handicap parking is located in marked handicap spaces on Pat Head Summitt Drive and G16 Garage. A full parking map can be found on the document attached to this press release.
Lindsey Nelson Stadium enforces a clear bag policy for fans entering the stadium, more information can be found at utsports.com/clearbag. No alcohol will be served at Lindsey Nelson Stadium during the Tri-Star Classic.
The updated Tri-Star Classic games schedule will be as follows:
Friday, March 2 3:00 p.m. ET: UT vs. ETSU 7:00 p.m. ET: Memphis vs. MTSU
Saturday, March 3 12:00 p.m. ET: UT vs. Memphis 4:00 p.m. ET: ETSU vs. MTSU
Sunday, March 4 12:00 p.m. ET: ETSU vs. Memphis 4:00 p.m. ET: MTSU vs. Tennessee
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the ten-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America’s national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com
-Smokies
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tri-Star Classic baseball tournament scheduled to be played at Smokies Stadium this weekend has been moved to the University of Tennessee’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Changes have also been made to the tournament schedule as well. The complete weekend schedule is as follows:
Friday, March 2 3 p.m. ET – ETSU vs. Tennessee 7 p.m. ET – Memphis vs. Middle Tennessee
Saturday, March 3 12 p.m. ET –Memphis vs. Tennessee (VFL Chris Burke will throw out first pitch before game) 4 p.m. ET – Middle Tennessee vs. ETSU
Sunday, March 4 12 p.m. ET – ETSU vs. Memphis 4 p.m. ET – Middle Tennessee vs. Tennessee
**Home team listed second
Ticket Information
All tickets bought through the Tennessee Smokies will be honored at the main gate of Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Tennessee Volunteers baseball season ticket holders can pick up complimentary tickets at the front of the stadium as long as they have identification. All seating will be general admission with the lower chair back seating areas held for Smokies ticket buyers and UT season ticket holders.
General admission tickets can also be purchased at the baseball ticket office or online at AllVols.com for $10 per day. Any tickets purchased online must be printed by the buyer before coming to the stadium.
UT students and students from any other participating schools may enter for free with their student ID and sit in any general admission areas except for the lower chair back seats.
Any ticket questions can be directed to the Tennessee Smokies ticket office (865-286-2300) or the Tennessee Athletics ticket office (865-656-1200).
Parking Information
Free baseball parking will be located in Lots GF1, GF2, GF3 and GF4. Free parking will also available in the G16 garage on Friday and Sunday. The G16 garage will charge for parking beginning at 2 p.m.on Saturday.
Additional parking is located on the street along Todd Helton Drive. Handicap parking is located in marked handicap spaces on Pat Head Summitt Drive and G16 Garage.
There will be a number of other events happening on Tennessee’s campus throughout the weekend so parking may be limited, especially on Saturday. We encourage all fans to arrive early.
Clear Bag Policy
In order to enhance safety and expedite fan entry at Tennessee athletic events, UT has implemented a clear bag policy at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and all other athletic facilities. Only one clear bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches (gallon size) per person is permitted. Fans are also allowed a small clutch purse not exceeding 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.
Stadium Entry
Please be aware that gates will not open until 90 minutes prior to game time as opposed to two hours like it has been in years past.
Media Credentials
Since the games will now be played at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, all Tennessee baseball season and single-game media credentials will be accepted.
We expect to have a full press box for each of Tennessee’s games, therefore, media seating in the press box will be limited to one (1) representative per media outlet. There will be overflow media seating in the open-air landing below the press box.
With 18 pets of her own (five horses, two mini-horses, seven dogs and four cats), it’s no secret Miranda Lambert has a soft spot in her heart for fury, four-legged friends.
That’s why in 2009, Miranda and her mom, Bev, started the MuttNation Foundation, an organization with the mission of ending animal suffering and homelessness on every front. The foundation has successfully raised millions of dollars to aid organizations, government institutions and entities that build animal shelters for better care and increased pet adoption.
Miranda and Bev’s latest undertaking was providing more than 50 vetted animal shelters across the country with grants ranging from $3,000–$5,000, for a total contribution of $189,000, as part of their Mutts Across America program. The shelters were selected based on criteria that included adoption rate, volunteerism, fiscal responsibility, community presence and more. Mutts Across America has awarded 200-plus shelters more than $775,000 since being founded.
“I am amazed and humbled by the great work these shelters do, and so honored to be able to support their critical efforts on behalf of rescue animals,” said Miranda.
In January, Dierks Bentley opened his fourth Whiskey Row location—the first outside his home state of Arizona—on Nashville’s Lower Broadway.
The three-floor building, formerly the home of Gruhn’s Guitars, features full bars and dining menus, as well as plenty of live music.
The allure of the location on Lower Broadway—among the bars and honky-tonks where Dierks got his start—compelled the Arizona native to open the venue in Music City.
“I love Lower Broadway,” says Dierks to Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown. “I got my start really playing those bars, and I was listening, first and foremost, going down there and hearing bands like BR549 and Jamie Hartford Band. I just love that part of town. It’s such a special part, unique part of Nashville, and even more so now with the way Music Row has kind of fallen off the map. [Lower Broadway] is the heart and soul . . . the pulse of Nashville’s down there, and there’s nowhere else like it.”
Whiskey Row Nashville is open Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–3 a.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–3 a.m.
Former Tennessee guard Scotty Hopson has signed a 10-day contract with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
A 2011 first-team All-SEC performer who scored 1,305 points during his three seasons at Tennessee (2008-11), Hopson previously appeared in two NBA games with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2013-14 season.
Prior to signing with the Mavericks, the 28-year-old Hopson was starring for Turkish club Galatasaray, averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.6 minutes per game. Among his teammates with Galatasaray were former Belmont star Alex Renfroe and former Alabama standout Richard Hendrix.
A native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Hopson came to Tennessee as a McDonald’s All-American and five-star prospect (ranked fifth overall by Rivals in the class of 2008). He helped guide the Vols to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2010.
He appeared in 103 collegiate games, with 98 starts, and averaged 12.7 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting .354 from 3-point range with 151 makes from beyond the arc.
Hopson will wear No. 32 with the Mavs, just like he did at Tennessee.
With Hopson’s signing, Tennessee now has three active players in the NBA. Tobias Harris (18.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and Josh Richardson (13.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg) are starters for the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami Heat, respectively. Two other VFLs hold front office roles, with Ernie Grunfeldserving as president of the Washington Wizards, and Allan Houston holding the title of assistant general manager of the New York Knicks. Houston also is the GM of the Knicks’ G-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.
Chris Darrington – Vols Guard / Credit: UT Athletics
STARKVILLE, Miss. — No. 16 Tennessee heads to Humphrey Coliseum to face one of the hottest teams in the SEC in Mississippi State on Tuesday night. The game will tip at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised live on SEC Network and streamed online via WatchESPN.
The Vols (21-7, 11-5 SEC) are coming off a pair of wins last week over Florida and Ole Miss. Admiral Schofield was named Co-SEC Player of the Week after averaging 20.5 points 7.5 rebounds and three assists in the wins. His week was highlighted by a dominant performance in Oxford during which he scored a career-high 25 points on an efficient 9-of-14 shooting en route to a 73-65 win over the Rebels. On the season, he ranks second on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and first in rebounding (6.9 rpg).
In his third season at the helm, veteran coach Ben Howland has done an incredible job leading the Bulldogs (21-8, 9-7 SEC) this season. Mississippi State is 7-2 over the last month, and between its men’s (18-1) and women’s (16-0) teams, MSU basketball owns a combined record of 34-1 at Humphrey Coliseum this season. Junior All-SEC performer Quinndary Weatherspoon has been State’s best player this season, averaging 14.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.5 spg.
After Saturday’s showdown, the Vols return home for their regular-season finale and senior night in a rematch against Georgia on March 3 at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on SEC Network.
THE SERIES
• Overall: UT leads, 81-43
• In Knoxville: UT leads, 45-11
• In Starkville: UT leads, 29-28
• Neutral Sites: UT leads, 7-4
• Current Streak: Mississippi State has won one
• Last Meeting: MSU won, 64-59, in Starkville, 2/4/17
• Rick Barnes vs. Mississippi State: 5-1
• Rick Barnes vs. Ben Howland: Barnes leads, 5-2
RIGHT NOW
• The Vols are rated No. 12 in the NCAA RPI. MSU is No. 62.
• Co-SEC Player of the Week Admiral Schofield averaged 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in UT’s two wins last week.
• The Vols are shooting .353 from 3-point range in SEC road games and average 6.8 makes.
• KenPom.com rates Tennessee’s strength-of-schedule fourth nationally.
• True freshman forward Derrick Walker posted an outstanding +26 plus-minus rating in Saturday’s win at Ole Miss. He played 22 minutes off the bench.
A WIN WOULD…
• Give the Vols 12 SEC victories for the first time since 2007-08.
• Give the Vols at least six victories during the month of February for the first time since 2013.
• Give Tennessee four wins in their last five trips to Starkville.
• Be Tennessee’s 10th regular-season win away from Knoxville; that would be the most for the Vols since 2007-08 (11).
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
• In his third season at the helm, veteran coach Ben Howland has done an incredible job leading the Bulldogs (21-8, 9-7 SEC) this season. Considered one of the hottest teams in the SEC right now, Mississippi State is 7-2 over the last month.
• During that stretch, the Bulldogs have won games against Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Texas A&M.
• Junior All-SEC performer Quinndary Weatherspoon has been State’s best player this season, averaging 14.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.7 apg and 1.5 spg. The 6-4 guard ranks third in the SEC this season in shooting percentage (.495) and fifth in steals (44).
• Quinndary and his younger brother, Nick Weatherspoon, are the only two players to start every game for the Bulldogs this season. Nick is posting 11.1 ppg while shooting 48 percent overall.
• Mississippi State boasts one of the tallest squads in the league this season, anchored by 6-11 forward Abdul Ado (8.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.0 bpg) and 6-10 forward Aric Holman (10.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg) in the frontcourt.
• MSU ranks second in the SEC in scoring defense (67.1 ppg), trailing Tennessee’s 66.9 points allowed, and third in field-goal percentage (.470).
• In their last outing, the Bulldogs erased a 13-point deficit to force overtime at home against South Carolina on Saturday. MSU never trailed in overtime en route to a 72-68 win. Lamar Peters led the way with 19 points, five assists, four boards and four steals.
• Between its men’s (18-1) and women’s (16-0) teams, Mississippi State basketball owns a combined record of 34-1 at Humphrey Coliseum this season.
LAST MEETING WITH MSU
• Poor free-throw shooting and a sluggish second half spelled trouble for Tennessee as Mississippi State snapped the Vols’ four-game winning streak with a 64-59 victory on Feb. 4, 2017, at Humphrey Coliseum.
• Tennessee was led by 13 points from freshman Jordan Bone—his first game scoring in double figures since Jan. 14. Bone also notched a team- and season-high eight rebounds.
• Fellow freshman Grant Williams was the only other Vol in double figures, finishing with 11 points.
• UT led by as many as 19 in the first half, but saw the lead slip away in the second period as MSU took control inside. The Bulldogs finished the game with 28 points in the paint, 22 of which came in the second half. MSU also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Vols by a 55-45 margin, including a 31-17 edge in the second half.
• The Vols, who shot a season-worst 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from the foul line had difficulty weathering Mississippi State’s second half runs. Chipping away at the deficit, MSU got to within single digits with 11:26 to play after Schnider Herard hit two free throws. Tennessee answered with a Williams jumper and two free throws from Jordan Bowden, but the Bulldogs countered with a 12-1 run that tied the score at 51-51 with 6:10 on the clock.
• Over a minute later, Bone broke the deadlock on a drive to the basket, but MSU knocked down threes on its next two possessions to take a 57-53 lead it would never surrender.
• Tennessee controlled the first half, racing out to a 17-2 lead. The Vols would lead by double figures for the remainder of the frame, pushing the advantage to 29-10 at the 4:50 mark.
MEMORABLE VOL PERFORMANCES AGAINST MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Junior Dale Ellis grabbed a school-record seven steals as the Vols defeated the Bulldogs 54-44 at “The Hump” in Starkville on Jan. 20, 1982.
• Bill Justus’s two game-winning free throws in the third overtime in Starkville on March 6, 1967, gave the Vols the outright SEC regular-season title. Justus scored 14 in the contest. Interestingly, Justus is serving as the Vol Network radio color analyst for Tuesday’s game.
• While Justus earned the credit for sealing the win in Starkville in 1967, the Vols would not have contended for the win without 35 points from Knoxville native Ron Widby, who went on to be a Pro Bowl punter for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
• Ernie Grunfeld scored 37 and Bernard King added 30 as the “Ernie & Bernie Show” rolled to a 97-87 win in Starkville. on Jan. 25, 1975.
MISSISSIPPI LETTERMEN UNCOMMON
• Incredibly, Tennessee has had just one all-time letterman from the state of Mississippi. Sardis, Mississippi, native Torrey Harris played for the Vols from 1995-99.
CURRENT VOLS’ CAREER STATS VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
• In his two career games against Mississippi State, point guard Jordan Bone averages 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 26.5 minutes per game.
• In his two career games against Mississippi State, Jordan Bowden averages 10.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 27.5 minutes per game.
• Admiral Schofield has played three previous games against the Bulldogs, averaging 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting .615 percent overall and .500 from 3-point range.
• In two previous games against MSU, Grant Williams averages 14.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.
TENNESSEE WAS PICKED 13TH IN SEC
• Tennessee was predicted to finish 13th in the 2018 SEC race by an SEC and national media voting panel.
• The Volunteers also were picked 13th last season before posting an 8-10 SEC record to finish ninth.
• The Vols have outperformed their preseason SEC projection every season under head coach Rick Barnes.
TENNESSEE HAS BEEN A BIG DRAW ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON
• Tennessee has played in front of four road sellouts this season. Three of those came in SEC play (Missouri, South Carolina and Alabama), while the other came at Iowa State in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
• While UT’s game at Kentucky wasn’t technically a “sellout,” the crowd of 23,332 filled Rupp Arena to 99.3 percent capacity.
• Through Tennessee’s 11 true road games this season, the crowd has been at an average capacity of 91.9 percent.
• Tennessee’s average true road game attendance this season: 13,856 (21.5 percent increase from last season’s 11,402 per game average)
21 WINS AND COUNTING
• With 21 triumphs thus far, Tennessee has well exceeded last season’s total of 16 wins, and the Vols still have two regular-season games remaining.
• Tennessee has logged its 26th all-time 20-win season and its first since 2013-14, when the Vols finished with 24 victories and advanced to their seventh Sweet Sixteen.
• Tennessee also recorded 21 regular-season victories for the first time since 2009-10 (23).
• In 31 seasons as a Division I head coach, Rick Barnes has now led his teams to 20 or more wins 20 times.
KENPOM RANKS VOLS FOURTH IN NATION IN DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY
• Respected statistical analyst Ken Pomeroy of KenPom.com rates Tennessee fourth in the nation in defensive efficiency, which is the number of points allowed per 100 possessions.
• There are only about 70 possessions for each team in the average college basketball game, so these numbers are higher than the “ppg” statistics commonly used by media.
THREE VOLS COULD MAKE 50+ 3-POINTERS
• Tennessee could boast three players with 50 or more made 3-pointers for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
• Lamonté Turner already has 55 made triples, while Admiral Schofield has 48, and Jordan Bowden has 47.
• In 1999-2000, the three Vols who accomplished that feat were: Tony Harris (73), Jon Higgins (53) and Vincent Yarbrough (53).
• That 1999-2000 squad finished with a 26-7 (12-4 SEC) record, won a share of the SEC regular-season championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to North Carolina in Austin, Texas.
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Brett and Taylor have known each other for more than 10 years.
Love has been a constant theme for Brett since releasing his self-titled debut album in February 2017. The 12-track offering—of which Brett co-wrote 11 songs—is a give-and-take mix of love songs and heartbreak ballads, sans any obligatory “party” anthems that usually pepper a first project in today’s country-radio-friendly-first atmosphere.
“I think, for me, love songs and heartbreak songs are the easiest songs to write because it’s just straight from personal experience,” said Brett to Nash Country Daily. “I think everybody’s felt both of those. Everybody’s been in love, everybody’s had heartbreak. We noticed that when we put it together, the 12 songs that would make the record that we liked, there’s not a party song on this record. I’ve written a ton of party songs, and not that there’s anything wrong with that. I think, in trying to tell my story and let people get to know me, it seemed like we should talk about things that I’ve lived.”
