Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano in postgame press conference after the Vols lost at the Kentucky Wildcats 29-26. Apologies for the Vol Network interview audio you may hear. They were in the same room. Difficult setup for all media.
Video: Ethan Wolf on foundation class wanting to get UT back “We have to step back and reevaluate that.”
Tennessee TE Ethan Wolf in postgame press conference after the Vols lost at the Kentucky Wildcats 29-26. Apologies for the Vol Network interview audio you may hear. They were in the same room. Difficult setup for all media.
Video: Colton Jumper on locker room “The first reaction is heartache. It hurts.”
Tennessee LB Colton Jumper in postgame press conference after the Vols lost at the Kentucky Wildcats 29-26. Apologies for the Vol Network interview audio you may hear. They were in the same room. Difficult setup for all media.
Video: Kendal Vickers on defense not getting the final stop “I take responsibility in that”
Tennessee DT Kendal Vickers in postgame press conference after the Vols lost at the Kentucky Wildcats 29-26. Apologies for the Vol Network interview audio you may hear. They were in the same room. Difficult setup for all media.
Video: “There’s nobody who takes more ownership in this football program than Butch Jones.”
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones’ postgame press conference after the Vols lost at the Kentucky Wildcats 29-26.
Video: Final play then Vols run off the field after 29-26 loss at Kentucky
Here’s the final play of the game and the the players and coaches running off the field after Tennessee’s 29-26 loss at Kentucky.
Improved offense, TDs, +4 turnover margin not enough for Vols to beat Cats; now 3-5, 0-5 SEC
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Tennessee came out strong against Kentucky as the Volunteers forced four fumbles in the game and rushed for a season-high 155 yards in the first half on Saturday, but the Wildcats held on for a 29-26 final at Kroger Field.
Tennessee (3-5, 0-5 SEC) now holds a 79-25-9 all-time record against Kentucky (6-2, 3-2 SEC), including a 37-15-3 record in Lexington.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Guarantano completed 18 of 23 passes for a career-high 242 yards in a contest that turned into a battle between two young running back corps. Tennessee’s duo of freshman Ty Chandler and sophomore Carlin Fils-aime combined for 193 yards and two touchdowns while Kentucky sophomore Benny Snell ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns.
The Vols’ defense opened Saturday’s game with a forced fumble on the Wildcats’ first drive. Redshirt senior defensive lineman Kendal Vickersstripped the ball from UK’s Snell on a rush and sophomore defensive back Nigel Warrior recovered it at Kentucky’s 15-yard line. The play set up freshman kicker Brent Cimaglia‘s first field goal of the night that put the Vols up, 3-0.
Kentucky then used a three-minute, 60-yard drive to score the first touchdown of the game before Cimaglia made a 24-yarder to pull UT within one point.
To start the second quarter, the Wildcats capped a five-play sequence with a two-yard rushing touchdown, taking a 14-6 advantage.
With 11:15 left in the second, Tennessee marched 75 yards down the field, gaining 11 yards or more on four plays, before Chandler ran the ball into the end zone to trim UK’s lead to 14-13.
After Kentucky extended its lead to 21-13 on a rushing touchdown by Snell, the Vols made it a one-point game with 1:14 left in the half. UT put together a 10-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Chandler’s second touchdown of the night.
Redshirt junior defensive back Rashaan Gaulden then forced Tennessee’s third fumble which was recovered by senior linebacker Evan Berry in the third. The turnover led to a 30-yard field goal by Cimaglia and gave UT a 23-21 lead.
To start the fourth quarter, Cimaglia hit a 45-yard field goal after Vickers forced his second fumble of the night to put the Vols up, 26-21.
Kentucky rallied back with 4:43 left, scoring the final touchdown of the game with 0:33 seconds on the clock. The Wildcats opted for a two-point conversion, successfully completing a pass from quarterback Stephen Johnson to Snell for the 29-26 final.
Tennessee attempted a final drive as the clock wound down, moving the ball 72 yards down the field to the UK three-yard line. On the final play, Guarantano connected with redshirt senior wide receiver Jeff George for 48 yards.
The Vols host Southern Miss at Neyland Stadium next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tennessee’s homecoming game will be aired on SEC Network.
-UT Athletics
Get to Know 2017 Nash Next Finalist Morgan Leigh Band
The 2017 Nash Next challenge is down to 10 finalists, and in the lead-up to the announcement of the champion on Nov. 1, NCD will be profiling each of the 10 finalists.
Today, we are getting to know the Morgan Leigh Band.
In May, Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group invited aspiring country artists and bands to participate in Nash Next 2017, a grassroots talent search and artist development program for country music. Sponsored nationally by Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, the winner of the competition will receive a recording contract with Nash Next Records under the Big Machine Label Group and garner substantial exposure, commensurate with a major-label release, on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
The 10 finalists were selected by a panel of country radio professionals and will be judged in the finale by a group that includes Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks and Scott Borchetta, president and CEO of Big Machine Label Group. The 10 finalists will perform at the 2017 Nash Next finale event at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is open to the public.
Morgan Leigh Band
Band Members: Morgan Leigh, Paul Coughlin, Reuel Zavala, Eric Cihonski, Gustin Flaig and Ryan Straw
Market: Oxnard/Ventura, Calif.
Website: MorganLeighBand.com
Facebook: MorganLeighBand
Twitter: @MorganLeighBand
Instagram: @MorganLeighBand
How did you get started in music?
I’ve been performing onstage since I was young, whether it was a musical, dance recital, monologue or choir. In a sense, music has always been a part of my life. At a young age, I decided I wanted to be a singer so I did everything I could to make my dreams come true. My parents were extremely supportive and encouraged me along the way. When I was 15, I competed in an international performing contest and something just clicked in my mind. I knew I wanted to be a singer.
At what age did you realize you wanted to make music your career?
Paul Coughlin [songwriter/rhythm guitarist] and I begin writing together when I was 17. He was renting an office space from my dad and I was just getting started as a songwriter. After writing and learning some songs together, we began playing at a local coffee shop in town. At first, we had a handful of people coming to listen, most of which were family members. Then people we didn’t know started coming to our shows. It never occurred to me that we were onto something special until we completely packed the place and had people standing in the street to listen. I’ve always wanted a career in music, but I always second guessed myself with the possibility of it actually happening. Our coffee shop shows gave me the courage and confidence to pursue music as a career. I’ll always think of the coffee shop as the place where it all began.
What three words describe you?
Vulnerable, energetic, fun.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Growing up, my dad always had country music playing in the car and my mom listened to the Beatles and Motown. Shania Twain was my idol, and my favorite CD to sing along to was Best of Motown. I’m a ’90s country girl with a little bit of soul and rock ’n’ roll.
What is unique about your sound?
I think we’ve got a really unique sound because we rock a four-part harmony. I’ve got the best back-up boys and they can sing anything. We write a lot of songs that really showcase our vocals. Plus, we’ve been singing together for five years now, so we know how to blend our voices together.
What three albums would you take with you to a deserted island?
Dixie Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces, Pistol Annies’ Hell on Heels and Kacey Musgraves’ Same Trailer Different Park. These three albums got me through a whole lot while growing up.
What’s a song you wish you had written?
“Gunpowder & Lead,” which was written by Miranda Lambert and Heather Little. I love everything about it—the lyrics, the production and Miranda.
What was the first concert you attended?
John Mayer in San Diego during the Continuum Tour. I was so inspired and so jealous. I wanted to be on that stage so badly and doing what he was doing. I love attending concerts, but it always leaves me itching to get onstage.
What’s the last song you heard that blew you away?
“Dear Hate” by Marren Morris and Vince Gill. It’s such a beautiful song and delivered perfectly. I heard it for the first time a day after the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy and I couldn’t stop listening. I just kept replaying it over and over.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
“Kiss” by Prince.
Where is the coolest place you’ve performed?
Madison Square Garden. That was a huge check off of my bucket list. It was a cool experience singing in New York City at one of the world’s most famous arenas.
What’s the first thing you do after a show?
We head to the bar to drink with our friends. We love having a good time.
What’s your favorite song to cover?
“Gunpowder & Lead” will always be my favorite go-to cover song. I love Miranda’s style.
What was your reaction when you learned you were one of 10 Nash Next 2017 finalists?
We were all shocked. We entered Nash Next on the last day possible. For the local round, we drove four hours to play two songs and thought we had no chance. So when we won the local competition, we were once again shocked. It’s crazy to think that in a few days we will be flying to Nashville to compete in the finals. We are really grateful for the opportunity and support we have received.
What family member or friend has been the most supportive of your music career?
It wouldn’t be fair to spotlight one person because we’ve got an entire family of support back home. We are so incredibly lucky to have such supportive family and friends. They are the reason we recorded our first album, the reason we continue to be asked to play amazing shows all over the country and the reason we are able to say music is our career. We are a team and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without all of them.
Jimmy’s blog: How important is Kentucky game to Jones’ future?
Oct. 27
By Jimmy Hyams
Many Tennessee fans have already made up their mind: Fire Butch Jones!
Why else would so many irrational people strike out at Tennessee athletic director John Currie simply because he encouraged the Vol Nation on Sunday night to support a tennis player who had made the finals of a tournament?
Who cares about tennis when you should be cutting ties with your football coach after losing to Alabama, was the reasoning.
But will Jones actually be fired at some point in the next five weeks?
Before we tackle that question, let’s clear up a few fake news reports from previous days.
Jones’ roughly $8 million buyout is not reduced if Tennessee does not make a bowl game.
Jones’ agent, Jimmy Sexton, has not been negotiating a buyout compromise due to the offset language in Jones’ contract that says UT can reduce its payout to him if he gets another job.
If Jones survives at Tennessee, you can bet Sexton will address that issue. But not at this time.
As you might know, mitigated contracts for head coaches is not Sexton’s style. Two Tennessee coaches fired in the past decade represented by Sexton – Phillip Fulmer and Derek Dooley – didn’t have offset language. Fulmer got $6 million, Dooley $5 million.
In fact, I don’t know of any head coach represented by Sexton that has a mitigated provision.
But back to the issue of Jones.
Contrary to some others in the media, we reported last week that Jones would not be fired last Sunday if he lost to Alabama. He wasn’t.
Some of those same sources are mixed on whether Jones will be fired if the Vols lose at Kentucky this Saturday.
If it’s close, maybe he stays.
If it’s not, he’s gone.
That is the consensus from my sources.
I’m not 100 percent convinced Jones gets fired if he loses at Kentucky, but I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes if he does. The majority of fans have already turned on him. I’m not sure about the key boosters or the administration.
You will hear a lot of misinformation over the next few days about Jones’ status, but here are the things I believe.
I believe Currie doesn’t want to fire Jones.
I believe Jones has to give Currie a reason to keep him.
I believe if Jones wins out, he will be Tennessee’s coach in 2018 – if he wants to stay.
I believe anything short of a 5-0 finish and Jones is gone. You might argue that he could survive at 7-5 if the defeat is a close one to LSU. But I think it’s unlikely.
I believe Tennessee’s ineptness on offense makes it difficult for Tennessee to finish 4-1.
I believe Tennessee without running back John Kelly – suspended for the Kentucky game for a drug citation – will struggle to score more than 14 points against the Wildcats.
There are a couple of X-factors: Home attendance for the Southern Miss game Nov. 4 and the input from Jimmy Haslam and Peyton Manning.
And I believe this: Currie won’t tweet about tennis this weekend.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Listen to Cam’s New Dolly Parton-Inspired Single, “Diane”
Cam is giving fans the first taste of her upcoming sophomore album by releasing the record’s lead single, “Diane,” which was inspired by the storyline of Dolly Parton’s 1973 hit, “Jolene.”
Co-penned by Cam, Jeff Bhasker and Tyler Johnson—the same songwriting team behind “Burning House”—“Diane” is an uptempo tale of a love triangle in which the “other” woman apologetically breaks the news to Diane that her husband is having an affair.
“‘Diane’ is my response to Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene,’” says Cam. “It’s the apology so many spouses deserve, but never get. The other woman is coming forward to break the news to the wife about an affair, respecting her enough to have that hard conversation, once she realized he was married. Because everyone should be able to decide their own path in life, based on the truth. Women especially should do this for each other, since our self-worth can still be so wrapped up in our partners. And in true country fashion, I’ve set the whole raw story to upbeat music, so you can dance while you process it all.”
Listen to “Diane” below.
Cam will launch her nine-date Best Coast Tour on November 28.
photo by Dennis Leupold
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