Daniel Named Burlsworth Trophy Candidate

Daniel Named Burlsworth Trophy Candidate

Posted on November 2, 2017
Vols P Trevor Daniel / Credit: UT Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tennessee punter Trevor Daniel has been named one of 63 national candidates for the 2017 Burlsworth Trophy, as announced this week by the Burlsworth Trophy in conjunction with the Springdale (Ark.) Rotary Club.

Now in its eighth year, the Burlsworth Trophy recognizes the most outstanding Division I (FBS) football player who began his collegiate career as a walk-on and has since demonstrated an exceptional on-field performance.

The award is named in honor of Brandon Burlsworth, a former University of Arkansas offensive lineman who began his career as a walk-on with the Razorbacks. Burlsworth went on to become a 1998 All-American and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1999. Tragically, he was killed in a car accident 11 days after the National Football League Draft. His life story was released in a major motion picture, “Greater,” last year.

Through eight games this season, Daniel has 47 punts for 2,209 yards and a 47.0-yard average, which ranks second in the SEC and fourth in the nation. Daniel’s 19 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line and 21 punts of 50 or more yards lead the SEC. His 19 punts inside the 20 also rank fourth among Power Five schools.

Daniel’s 47.0-yard season average is on track to break Tennessee’s all-time record and his 45.6 career punting average ranks second among active NCAA punters, regardless of division, and is tops in UT history. Daniel’s 72-yard punt in the fourth quarter versus South Carolina this season also marked the longest punt in a regular-season game by a Vol since VFL Joey Chapman booted a 74-yard punt against Pacific in 1990.

In 2016, Daniel cemented himself as one of Tennessee’s all-time greatest punters. He ranked third in the SEC and 11th nationally with a 44.6 punting average and boomed 21 punts of at least 50 yards, including a conference-long 70-yarder against South Carolina. Daniel also pinned the opposition inside the 20-yard line 28 times.

To start the 2015 season, Daniel entered preseason camp in a three-way battle with a fifth-year senior and a highly touted freshman for the first-team punter spot but Daniel soon established himself at the Vol’s starting punter through his consistency and work ethic. In 13 games, Daniel punted 60 times for a 45.7 average which ranks second in UT history. The average ranked eighth in the NCAA and second in the SEC. Daniel had 25 punts downed inside the 20 and a long punt of 61 yards in his debut against Bowling Green in Tennessee’s season-opening game. In addition to earning a spot on the Ray Guy Award Watch List and being a Burlsworth Trophy candidate, Daniel was named to the 2015-16 Pro Football Focus Team of Bowl Season.

The Dickson, Tennessee native joined the Vols as a walk-on in 2013 and earned the second-team punter position as a redshirt freshman in 2014. Daniel was awarded a scholarship prior to the 2015 season.

The Brandon Burlsworth Foundation and the Springdale Rotary Club will host an awards ceremony on Dec. 4 in Springdale, Arkansas to honor the three finalists and to announce the 2017 winner.

-UT Athletics

 

Radio Romance Talks About Winning Nash Next 2017, Honing Their Sound on Lower Broadway, Musical Inspirations & More

Radio Romance Talks About Winning Nash Next 2017, Honing Their Sound on Lower Broadway, Musical Inspirations & More

Posted on November 2, 2017

Jim Casey talks with Radio Romance about:

  • winning Nash Next 2017
  • celebrating their win with family and friends
  • forming the band
  • naming the band after an Eddie Rabbitt album
  • being inspired by ’90s country and rock
  • writing songs
  • earning their stripes by playing Nashville’s Lower Broadway
  • managing their overly excited manager

Show Participants

  • Radio Romance: Sam Hayes (lead singer), Josh Gramling (lead guitar), Moises Padilla (drums), Adam Smithwick (bass)
  • Jim Casey, NCD editor in chief

Jimmy’s blog: Would Jon Gruden make a good college coach?

Jimmy’s blog: Would Jon Gruden make a good college coach?

Posted on November 2, 2017

By Jimmy Hyams

While Butch Jones remains Tennessee’s coach, many in the Vol Nation have moved on.

They even have a target: Jon Gruden.

We’ve seen this before. Tennessee fans clamored for Gruden in 2012, before Jones was hired.

Gruden was the sexy name then. He’s the sexy name now. He will continue to be a sexy name when it comes to coaching vacancies.

Five years ago, a member of the UT Board of Trustees told me Tennessee offered Gruden $5 million a year for six years – a $30 million guarantee. So much for the UT fans that think the administration goes on the cheap with very football hire – a bogus premise.

Gruden said no then for the same reasons he would say no now, if approached: The 20-hour rule, NCAA recruiting restrictions, NCAA rules in general, booster involvement, and the headaches that come with the job.

College coaches work 100 hours a week.

How much does Gruden have work during the fall: 20 hours? 30? He might watch film incessantly, but his hours obligation to ESPN doesn’t compare to those of a coach.

Remember this: Gruden is undefeated since he was fired by Tampa Bay in 2009.

Remember this: Gruden makes $6.5 million a year for ESPN and a few million more for commercial endorsements.

Remember this: Gruden hasn’t coached in college since 1989 when he was an assistant for Walt Harris at Pacific. The extent of his college coaching (counting his graduate assistant stint at Tennessee): four years.

And while I like Gruden personally and professionally, there is no guarantee he would be a winner in college.

His NFL resume is good but not great. He won a Super Bowl with the Bucs in 2002, but his overall record as a head coach: 100-85.

Dan Wolken, columnist for USA Today, isn’t sold on Gruden as a college coach, either.

“Would he even be a good college coach?’’ Wolken said when speaking earlier this week at the Knoxville Quarterback Club. “I don’t know.

“The thing about college football: It’s a developmental game. The NFL is scheme, chess pieces, Xs and Os. You move the pieces around. You try to outcoach people. Try to outscheme people.

“Obviously, it’s a players’ game. But it’s the best of the best.

“In college, you’ve got a guy from 18 years old to 21. A huge chunk of their football and personal development goes into that. That’s why college coaching is different.

“Would Gruden be good at that? I don’t know.’’

My thought: No. Gruden doesn’t have the patience for developing players. He wants ready-made stars, ready-made quarterbacks, ready-made receivers, etc.

But what if you hired Gruden?

“He’d be a great face of the program,’’ Wolken said. “He’d be great talking to the media. He’d bring all kinds of attention. But it’s a unique challenge. I’ve just never heard any indication that he really would do it.’’

So why doesn’t Gruden put to rest rumors he might be UT’s coach?

“I think Jon Gruden enjoys people talking about Jon Gruden,’’ Wolken said. “I think that is fairly well established over the years.

“Everyone’s got an ego in this business. Everyone likes it when they’re wanted. Everyone likes being the apply of somebody’s eye. Everybody likes to be a little bit unattainable or at least give that vibe.’’

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

Everything You Need to Know About the 51st CMA Awards Show, Including Performers, Presenters, Nominees & More

Everything You Need to Know About the 51st CMA Awards Show, Including Performers, Presenters, Nominees & More

Posted on November 2, 2017

From nominations and notes to performers and presenters, here’s everything a country music fan needs to know about the 2017 CMA Awards.

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 8

Time: 8 p.m.–11 p.m. ET

Location: Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena

Television Station: ABC

Hosts: Carrie Underwood & Brad Paisley

Solo Performers: Garth Brooks, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Pink, Carrie Underwood and Alan Jackson

Collaborative Performances: Kelsea Ballerini & Reba McEntire; Dierks Bentley & Rascal Flatts; Maren Morris & Niall Horan; Brad Paisley & Kane Brown; Tim McGraw & Faith Hill; Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker & Keith Urban

Presenters: Dustin Lynch, Lauren Alaina, Luke Combs, Brett Young, Trisha Yearwood, Bobby Bones, Jimmie Johnson, Karlie Kloss, Lea Michele, Michelle Monaghan, Tyler Perry, Jason Ritter, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Ruby Rose, Brittany Snow

Nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the artist)

  • Garth Brooks
  • Luke Bryan
  • Eric Church
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban

SINGLE OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the artist, producer, and mix engineer)

  • “Better Man” – Little Big Town; Producer: Jay Joyce; Mix Engineer: Jason Hall, Jay Joyce
  • “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban; Producer: Dann Huff, Keith Urban; Mix Engineer: Chris Lord-Alge
  • “Body Like A Back Road” – Sam Hunt; Producer: Zach Crowell; Mix Engineer: Zach Crowell
  • “Dirt On My Boots” – Jon Pardi; Producer: Bart Butler, Jon Pardi; Mix Engineer: Ryan Gore
  • “Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert; Producer: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Mix Engineer: Eric Masse

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the artist and producer)

  • The Breaker – Little Big Town; Producer: Jay Joyce
  • From A Room: Volume 1 – Chris Stapleton; Producer: Dave Cobb, Chris Stapleton
  • Heart Break – Lady Antebellum; Producer: busbee
  • The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit; Producer: Dave Cobb
  • The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert; Producer: Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf, Eric Masse

SONG OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the songwriter)

  • “Better Man” — Songwriter: Taylor Swift
  • “Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Songwriter: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Olsen
  • “Body Like A Back Road” — Songwriter: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne
  • “Dirt On My Boots” — Songwriter: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley
  • “Tin Man” — Songwriter: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the artist)

  • Kelsea Ballerini
  • Miranda Lambert
  • Reba McEntire
  • Maren Morris
  • Carrie Underwood

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the artist)

  • Dierks Bentley
  • Eric Church
  • Thomas Rhett
  • Chris Stapleton
  • Keith Urban

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the group)

  • Lady Antebellum
  • Little Big Town
  • Old Dominion
  • Rascal Flatts
  • Zac Brown Band

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the duo)

  • Dan + Shay
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • LOCASH
  • Maddie & Tae
  • Brothers Osborne

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR (Award goes to each artist)

  • “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett (feat. Maren Morris)
  • “Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson
  • “Kill a Word” – Eric Church (feat. Rhiannon Giddens)
  • “Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney (with P!nk)
  • “Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the musician)

  • Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
  • Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar)
  • Dann Huff (Guitar)
  • Mac McAnally (Guitar)
  • Derek Wells (Guitar)

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR (Award goes to the artist and director)

  • “Better Man” – Little Big Town; Director: Becky Fluke and Reid Long
  • “Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban; Director: Carter Smith
  • “Craving You” – Thomas Rhett (feat. Maren Morris); Director: TK McKamy
  • “Vice” – Miranda Lambert; Director: Trey Fanjoy
  • “It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne; Director: Wes Edwards and Ryan Silver

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD (Award goes to the artist)

  • Luke Combs
  • Old Dominion
  • Jon Pardi
  • Brett Young
  • Lauren Alaina
Kenny Chesney: “God Gave Me a Big Lemon . . . And We’re Still Squeezing”

Kenny Chesney: “God Gave Me a Big Lemon . . . And We’re Still Squeezing”

Posted on November 2, 2017

The juice is worth the squeeze, Kenny.

On Oct. 27, Kenny Chesney bottled up his energetic stadium shows into a new 30-song album, Live in No Shoes Nation. The live offering includes songs curated from the last 10 years of Kenny’s shows, and features A-list guest artists such as Eric Church, Taylor Swift, Grace Potter, Zac Brown Band, Dave Matthews and more.

The way Kenny tells Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, corking up the sweet sounds of his new album started with God giving him “a big lemon.”

“[The album] spans a decade of my life,” says Kenny. “And, to be able to work with Zac [Brown] and with Eric Church . . . it’s just been the most beautiful, strange, fun journey you could think of, you know? I mean, it’s something that when you’re a kid, you don’t dream of having all those friendships, having that much fun, which is what music is supposed to be, and touring is supposed to be fun. And when we started this journey and started making this record, Live in No Shoes Nation, you know, and when I went on my first bus, I think God gave me a big lemon and said, ‘Okay, you squeeze all the juice out of it you want to,’ and we’re still squeezing every single drop out of that we possibly can.”

Keep squeezing, Kenny.

Kenny Chesney: Live in No Shoes Nation

  1. “Flora–Bama”
  2. “Summertime”
  3. “Big Star” (with Taylor Swift)
  4. “Boston”
  5. “When I See This Bar” (with Eric Church)
  6. “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems”
  7. “Anything But Mine”
  8. “Down the Road” (with Mac McAnally)
  9. “Guitars and Tiki Bars”
  10. “Hemingway’s Whiskey”
  11. “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven” (with Zac Brown Band)
  12. “I’m Alive”
  13. “Save It for a Rainy Day” (with Old Dominion)
  14. “Pirate Flag”
  15. “Somewhere With You”
  16. “I Go Back”
  17. “One Step Up”
  18. “American Kids”
  19. “You And Tequila” (with Grace Potter)
  20. “Young”
  21. “There Goes My Life”
  22. “Out Last Night”
  23. “Dust on the Bottle” (with David Lee Murphy)
  24. “Coastal”
  25. “The Boys of Fall”
  26. “Noise”
  27. “Old Blue Chair”
  28. “The Joker” (with Dave Matthews)
  29. “Three Little Birds” (with Dave Matthews)
  30. “Happy on the Hey Now”

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