Smith Earns AP All-SEC Honors

Smith Earns AP All-SEC Honors

Posted on December 4, 2017
Trey Smith – UT / Credit: UT Athletics

ATLANTA– Tennessee freshman offensive lineman Trey Smith has been named to the The Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference Second Team, as announced by the AP on Monday.

Smith is Tennessee’s first offensive lineman to earn AP All-SEC honors since Dylan Wiesman earned Second Team accolades in 2015.

The Jackson, Tennessee, native was the only Tennessee offensive lineman to start all 12 games for the Vols in 2017. He had eight starts at right guard, three at left tackle and one at left guard. Smith led the Vols in pancakes and was UT’s second-highest rated offensive lineman behind only senior Jashon Robertson. Smith became the first Tennessee true freshman to start at left tackle in at least 30 years.

Smith made several highlight reels with his physical blocking style and showed the poise of a veteran player despite 2017 being his first year of college football. Smith’s blocking helped pave the way for career-best seasons by running backs John Kelly(778 rushing yards), Ty Chandler (305 yards) and Carlin Fils-aime (215 yards).

Smith, who is also a candidate for Freshman All-America honors, was the No. 1 overall rated player in the nation in 2017 recruiting according to ESPN.com.

Wolf Accepts Invitation To 93rd East-West Shrine Game

Posted on December 4, 2017
Ethan Wolf – Vols TE / Credit: UT Athletics

TAMPA, Fla. — Tennessee senior tight end Ethan Wolf has accepted an invitation to play in the 93rd East-West Shrine Game. The game will be held on Jan. 20, 2018, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff on NFL Network.

The East-West Shrine Game Radio Network will also have a live audio broadcast.

Wolf will be the 48th Vol to play in the East-West Shrine Game, which started in 1925, and the first VFL to take part in the game since Justin Coleman in 2015.

Wolf played in 50 games over his four-year UT career with 47 starts. He finished his career with 91 receptions for 998 yards and seven touchdowns. His 91 career catches are the second-most ever by at Tennessee tight end (Reggie Harper had 98 from 1977-80) and his 998 receiving yards rank third among UT tight ends behind only Harper’s 1,141 yards and Mychal Rivera’s 1,018 from 2010-12.

Wolf joins an elite list of football greats, such as Tom Brady, John Elway, Brett Favre and 74 NFL Hall of Famers, who have played in the East-West Shrine Game, in addition to more than 265 East-West Shrine Game alumni on NFL rosters each year. A strong performance at the East-West Shrine Game can greatly impact a player’s chances of a career in the NFL. More than 100 players from last year’s game signed with professional teams this spring, and more than 70 made final NFL rosters.

“The most important element of East-West Shrine Game has always been supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children,” East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson said. “But during game week, it also affords our players an unmatched opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first taste of a potential career in the NFL.”

While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an international pediatric specialty health care system that treats children in orthopaedics, spinal cord injuries, cleft lift and palate, and burns, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

East-West Shrine Game tickets will be available for purchase at this link or through tickets.com. Game tickets are $15 general admission seating (price does not include service fees).

About Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

Vols In East-West Shrine Game

  • 1932: Gene McEver, Herman Hickman
  • 1934: Beattie Feathers
  • 1946: Bob Dobelstein
  • 1964: Steve DeLong
  • 1965: Frank Emanuel
  • 1976: Ron McCartney
  • 1977: Mickey Marvin, Andy Spiva
  • 1979: Robert Shaw
  • 1980: Craig Puki, Bill Marren
  • 1981: Tim Irwin, Brad White
  • 1982: Anthony Hancock
  • 1983: Mike Miller
  • 1985: Johnnie Jones
  • 1986: Eric Swanson
  • 1988: John Bruhin, Terry McDaniel
  • 1990: Kent Elmore, Tracy Hayworth
  • 1991: Roland Poles
  • 1992: Tom Myslinski
  • 1996: Scott Galyon, DeRon Jenkins, Jason Layman
  • 1998: Jonathan Brown, Robert Poole
  • 1999: Jeff Hall
  • 2001: David Leaverton
  • 2003: Omari Hand
  • 2004: Rashad Baker, Casey Clausen, Gibril Wilson
  • 2005: Jason Respert
  • 2006: Jason Hall
  • 2007: Jayson Swain
  • 2008: Jonathan Hefney
  • 2009: Ramon Foster
  • 2010: Chris Scott
  • 2011: Chris Walker
  • 2012: Tauren Poole
  • 2014: Zach Fulton, Rajion Neal, James Stone
  • 2015: Justin Coleman
  • 2017: Ethan Wolf

-UT Athletics

 

Garth Brooks Scores First No. 1 Single in More Than 10 Years With “Ask Me How I Know”

Garth Brooks Scores First No. 1 Single in More Than 10 Years With “Ask Me How I Know”

Posted on December 4, 2017

Garth Brooks scored his first No. 1 single in more than 10 years as “Ask Me How I Know” ascended to the top of both the Mediabase and Billboard Country Airplay charts. Garth’s previous No. 1 single was 2007’s “More Than a Memory.”

“Ask Me How I Know,” which was penned by Mitch Rossell, is Garth’s 20th career No. 1. This feat also marks a full-circle moment for Garth, as this week is the 28th anniversary of his first No. 1, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” on Dec. 9, 1989.

“I’m so proud of the Pearl Records team for working so hard for this number one,” said Garth. “Congrats to Mitch Rossell on his first cut—so happy for you, pal! And to country radio, four decades later, thanks for still believing. I’m humbled and very grateful.”

Garth is kicking off the final North American run of the Garth Brooks World Tour this week, returning to Nashville on Dec. 9, where he will play seven shows at Bridgestone Arena to mark the end of the tour.

photo by Jason Simanek

Performers Announced for the 2018 New Faces of Country Music Show, Including Midland, Lauren Alaina & More

Performers Announced for the 2018 New Faces of Country Music Show, Including Midland, Lauren Alaina & More

Posted on December 4, 2017

Up-and-comers know they’re on the right track when they’re invited to play the New Faces of Country Music show at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. Only a handful of rising stars get the honor of performing before the industry crowd, which includes radio programmers, executives and members of the national media.

Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Midland, Carly Pearce and Michael Ray will take the stage at the Omni Hotel for the 2018 New Faces show on Feb. 7.

The New Faces of Country Music show can help artists reach the “next” level—just ask the 2014 class of Cam, Brothers Osborne, Kelsea Ballerini, Old Dominion and Chris Janson.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

John Prine: 2018 Tour

John Prine: 2018 Tour

Posted on December 4, 2017

Singer/songwriter John Prine will embark on a select series of tour dates in 2018, including stops in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and more. Tickets will be available for pre-sale beginning on Dec. 6, with general on-sale starting on Dec. 8. Every ticket sold for these upcoming shows will include a CD of John’s forthcoming album, which is expected to drop in the spring.

John Prine Tour Dates

April 13
New York, NY
Radio City Music Hall*

April 14
Philadelphia, PA
Merriam Theatre†

April 25
Milwaukee, WI
Riverside Theatre

April 27
Chicago, IL
Chicago Theatre

April 28
Champaign, IL
Virginia Theatre

May 11
Beaver Dam, KY
Beaver Dam Amphitheater (tickets excluded from album bundle)

May 12
Indianapolis, IN
Clowes Hall

May 19
San Diego, CA
Balboa Theatre

May 23
Folsom, CA
Harris Center

May 24
San Francisco, CA
The Warfield

June 2
Norfolk, VA
Chrysler Hall‡

*co-headline with Sturgill Simpson (solo)
†with very special guest Kurt Vile
‡with very special guest Margo Price
additional tour dates to be announced

photo by John Kurc/Sacks & Co.

Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery Announces “Here’s to You Tour”

Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery Announces “Here’s to You Tour”

Posted on December 4, 2017

In support of the Feb. 2 release of Montgomery Gentry’s new album, Here’s to You, Eddie Montgomery will embark on a headlining tour of the same name.

Here’s to You will be Montgomery Gentry’s eighth studio album—the first since the duo’s Troy Gentry died in a helicopter accident on Sept. 8.

“I’m anxious to get back out on the road and play some new music for our friends and fans,” said Eddie. “Next year marks the 20th anniversary of our band—we’ve got lots to celebrate and look forward to in 2018.”

After opening for Alabama on Jan. 19 and 20, Eddie’s headlining tour will kick off on Feb. 9 in Columbia, Mo., and make more than 20 stops before capping on Sept. 15 in Ventura, Calif.

Here’s to You Tour

Jan. 19
Sioux Falls, SD
Denny Sanford Premier Center+

Jan. 20
St. Charles, MO
The Family Arena+

Feb. 9
Columbia, MO
The Blue Note

Feb. 10
Springfield, IL
Boondocks

Feb. 23
Indianapolis, IN
8 Seconds Saloon

March 2
Clifton Park, NY
Upstate Concert Hall

March 3
Lynchburg, VA
Phase 2

March 9
Jordan, NY
Kegs Canalside

March 10
Warrendale, PA
Jergel’s

March 16
Medina, OH
Thirsty Cowboy

March 17
Columbus, OH
The Bluestone

March 22
Augusta, GA
Country Club Dance Hall and Saloon

March 23
Birmingham, AL
Iron City

June 2
Marion, KS
Chingawassa Days Festival

July 6
Ft. Loramie, OH
Country Concert at Hickory Hill Lakes

July 13
New Salem, ND
ND Country Fest

July 14
Pierz, MN
Pierz Freedom Fest

July 20
Hillsboro, MO
Jefferson County Fair

July 21
Springville, IN
The Boogie

July 27
Ridgefield, CT
Ridgefield Playhouse

July 28
Bar Harbor, ME
Criterion Theater

Aug. 2
West Allis, WI
Wisconsin State Fair

Aug. 17
Zanesville, OH
Muskingum County Fair

Sept. 8
Manistee, MI
Little River Casino

Sept. 15
Ventura, CA
Boots and Brews

+ Supporting act for Alabama

photo courtesy of Average Joes Entertainment

George Strait Named “Texan of the Year”

George Strait Named “Texan of the Year”

Posted on December 4, 2017

George Strait will add a Texas-sized honor to his résumé on March 22.

The Lone Star State native has been named the “2018 Texan of the Year” by the Texas Legislative Conference.

George will be presented with the award on March 22 at the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center. He will be joining an array of prominent past honorees who have won the award, including George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, T Boone Pickens, Ray Benson, David Robinson and more.

“No one has done more than George Strait to raise awareness and funds for the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts,” said conference chair Doug Miller. “He put his well-earned reputation on the line and asked not only his fellow Texans to step up, but all Americans. And they have.”

To date, George’s efforts on behalf of Hurricane Harvey victims have raised more than $50 million.

It would hardly be a stretch to consider George the greatest country music artist of all time. He certainly has the numbers: 44 Billboard No. 1 singles (60 across all charts), the most of any artist in any genre of music, and 22 CMA awards, more than any other country entertainer. And few can match The Cowboy, as he’s often referred to, for longevity. He’s been a star practically since his debut in 1981 with “Unwound.” George has been a model of consistency since that time, with 33 platinum albums to prove it.

photo by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com

Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans Get Married in Beachfront Ceremony

Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans Get Married in Beachfront Ceremony

Posted on December 4, 2017

Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans got married on Dec. 2 in an intimate beachfront ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Kelsea posted a few social media messages via Twitter and Instagram to share the good news, including a photo of the couple—legs only—relaxing on the beach, with the caption: “Mr & Mrs. Evans.”

Mr & Mrs. Evans.

A post shared by Kelsea Ballerini (@kelseaballerini) on

After dating for nine months, Kelsea and Morgan got engaged on Christmas Day, 2016.

photo by Jason Simanek

Phillip Fulmer tweets hype video calling for UT to “come together”

Phillip Fulmer tweets hype video calling for UT to “come together”

Posted on December 3, 2017

Here’s a tweet with a video sent out by new University of Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer’s account

Saturday, his account tweeted this message to the fan base as well.

UT President Joe DiPietro issued the followed statement via Twitter on the change at AD to Phillip Fulmer.

Turner, Vols Hold Off Georgia Tech on the Road, 77-70

Turner, Vols Hold Off Georgia Tech on the Road, 77-70

Posted on December 3, 2017
Lamonte Turner – UT G / Credit: UT Athletics

ATLANTA — Despite a sluggish offensive showing, the Tennessee men’s basketball team rallied in the final minutes to hold off Georgia Tech, 77-70, Sunday at McCamish Pavilion.

Lamonte Turner led the way for the Volunteers (6-1), tying a career-high with 24 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor. He was also crucial in the closing minutes of the game, when Tennessee made 17-of-19 from the charity stripe in the final three minutes of action, burying all seven of his attempts during that stretch.

Grant Williams finished with 11 points and six boards after being limited due to foul trouble. Admiral Schofield and Jordan Bowden both added 10 points each to round out UT’s double-digit scorers.

The Yellow Jackets were led by center Ben Lammers, who tallied 17 points and nine rebounds in the contest, including 15 points in the second half to help Georgia Tech stay within striking distance.

Tech fought back to make things interesting in the second half by using a 7-2 run to make it a one-point game with 2:58 remaining. The Vols answered with an 11-1 run of their own and capped off the change in momentum with a Turner three-point play on an and-one. The swing gave UT an insurmountable 69-58 edge with 51 seconds left.

After a slow start, the Vols’ offense started clicking after the first media timeout, using an 11-4 run to pull ahead of the Yellow Jackets, 15-12. During the stretch, UT was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and knocked down a trio of 3-pointers.

Tennessee closed out the half by hitting five of its last seven shots and holding Georgia Tech without a basket over the final 2:30 of play. The Volunteers entered halftime with a 35-29 lead. Williams paced the Vols with 10 points, five boards and a pair of blocks before the break.

TURNER FUELS UT OFFENSE: With the Vols struggling to get a basket down the stretch, Lamonte Turner knocked down the only pair of shots from the field for UT during the final nine minutes of play. Turner had 13 points during the final 6:25 of play to prevent Tennessee’s offense from going stagnant.

CLOSING OUT WITH THE FREEBIES: After attempting only two free throws in the first half, the Volunteers made it to the charity stripe 25 times in the second period, converting on 84 percent (21-25) of those trips. Of the second-half attempts, 19 came in the final three minutes of action to help UT seal the victory.

UP NEXT: After Sunday’s win, UT returns home for a three-game home stand that against Lipscomb (Dec. 9), North Carolina (Dec. 17) and Furman (Dec. 20).

-UT Athletics

 

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