KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee senior kick returner Evan Berry has been named a Preseason Second Team All-American by Athlon Sports, as announced by the highly regarded college football publication on Tuesday.
Berry earns the accolade for the second year in a row, having been tabbed a first team selection prior to the 2016 season.
A Fairburn, Georgia native, Berry played in nine games last year and returned 14 kickoffs for 460 yards and one touchdown (ranked eighth in the nation and tied for first in the Southeastern Conference). In 2016, he also led the SEC and ranked second in the country with a 32.9-yard kick return average.
In SEC play, Berry’s 33.3 kickoff return average (12 returns for 400 yards and a touchdown) ranked as the best mark in the conference while his 34.2 career kickoff return average ranks as the best mark among all NCAA football players at all levels. Berry’s career average also ranks first in Tennessee history and his 1,677 career kickoff return yards are the third-most by a Vol.
Berry was the country’s top kickoff returner in 2015, pacing the FBS with a 38.3 yards-per-return average to go along with three return touchdowns. For his efforts, Berry was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and earned first team All-America honors from multiple publications.
Tennessee and Team 121 — previously tabbed with a No. 19 preseason ranking by Athlon Sports — open the 2017 season on Monday, Sept. 4 against Georgia Tech.
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jason Isbell sat down for a very candid interview with CBS This Morning’s Mark Strassmann over the Father’s Day weekend to reflect on being a dad to his 21-month-old daughter, touring, dealing with addiction and his new album, The Nashville Sound, which dropped on June 16.
“It was so bad that I can’t have one drink ever again. That’s gotta be pretty bad,” Jason said, when asked about the drinking habits that led to his dismissal from the Drive-By Truckers in 2007.
That low point was followed by a trip to rehab in 2012, marriage to Amanda Shires in 2013 and the birth of their daughter, Mercy, in 2015, as well as critical and commercial success as a solo artist, culminating with two Grammys in 2016. Now, on the heels of the release of his new album, Jason has embarked on a six-month international tour.
Lady Antebellum’s sixth studio album, Heart Break, which was released on June 9, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums this week.
According to Nielsen Music, Heart Break sold 53,000 equivalent albums (47,000 in pure sales), which was good enough for the No. 4 spot on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Heart Break follows Lady A’s four previous No. 1 albums: Golden (2013), Own the Night (2011), Need You Now (2010) and Lady Antebellum (2008). The trio’s 2014 offering, 747, peaked at No. 2.
After taking a hiatus in fall 2015, Lady A’s Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood got their creative juices flowing by spending about two months together in sunny Florida and Los Angeles last summer. In the process, the Grammy-winning trio created Heart Break, a 13-song offering that was produced by busbee and features a number of well-known songwriters, including Hillary Lindsey, Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally and more.
“When we started working on this record, the goal was to give ourselves some space from the day to day,” said Hillary Scott to Nash Country Daily. “Surrounding ourselves in a new environment with sunny beaches and warm weather really helped free our minds to focus solely on our art. We took some of our favorite writers and other writers we hadn’t worked with before to a new inspiring backdrop, where we were able to just write and soak up the journey.”
Lady A’s recent single, “You Look Good,” is currently No. 12 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after 22 weeks.
University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro announced Tuesday the hiring of Phillip Fulmer as special advisor to the president for community, athletics and university relations.
In this role, Fulmer will serve as an ambassador for the University system at community and athletics events, support the intercollegiate athletic programs at UT campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin, and work with UT government relations and alumni affairs leadership to advocate for the statewide system with elected officials and UT alumni.
“Phillip has been a tremendous asset to the University of Tennessee both on and off the field for more than 40 years,” DiPietro said. “I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with him on the UT President’s Council, and I look forward to working with him in a broader sense to advocate for the University with our key stakeholders.”
Fulmer said he looks forward to working with DiPietro in statewide outreach.
“This is a special opportunity for me. I’ve had the chance to work with Dr. DiPietro for a couple of years in a volunteer capacity, and I was excited when he approached me with this position,” Fulmer said. “I look forward to serving UT campuses statewide, our communities, and UT athletics for the greater good for our great state and the university.”
UT Knoxville Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics John Currie described Fulmer as “a perfect ambassador.”
“As a native Tennessean who has given his all for the Vols throughout his life, both as a student-athlete on the field and during a Hall of Fame coaching career leading our program to its most dominant and successful era in modern history, Coach Fulmer is a perfect ambassador for our University and athletics program,” Currie said. “I’ve appreciated and enjoyed numerous visits with Coach Fulmer since I returned to Knoxville, and I am honored to work with him in support of President DiPietro and Chancellor Davenport as we serve the University of Tennessee, our students and student-athletes.”
Fulmer is a 1972 UT Knoxville graduate who has been affiliated with the for more than 40 years. Fulmer came to UT in 1968 as an offensive guard on the Volunteers football team. He returned as an assistant football coach in 1980 before being named head coach in 1992. In 17 years as head coach, Fulmer led teams to a national championship, two conference championships and seven division titles. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Fulmer has volunteer for the University through the UT President’s Council since 2015. He was awarded the 2016 President’s Council Award for his efforts to advocate for the University system.
The University of Tennessee is the state’s land-grant, higher education institution and flagship public university. It is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Martin; the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Space Institute at Tullahoma; and the statewide Institute of Agriculture and Institute for Public Service.
The University of Tennessee System has a presence in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Through the combined force of its education, research, and outreach, the University serves students, business and industry, schools, governments, organizations, and citizens throughout the state.
One of the Vols men’s basketball newcomers is 6’0 guard James Daniel III from Hampton, Virginia who has transferred in as a graduate from Howard University.
Vols coach Rick Barnes on Daniel: “James gives us not only offensive production but toughness and experience as well. He recognized that our program has a lot of positive momentum and it means a lot to us that this was an important factor for him. He has already distinguished himself individually and now wants to have an impact on team success. Adding James to our roster is significant because it gives us some really good depth in our backcourt and the potential for some potent offense.”
One of the Vols men’s basketball newcomers is 6’1 combo guard Chris Darrington from Toledo, Ohio, who has transferred in from Vincennes University in Indiana.
Vols coach Rick Barnes on Darrington: “Chris brings two qualities we were looking for: confidence and the ability to score the basketball. Chris’ experience at Vincennes was valuable because he has developed an appreciation for what goes into winning. A lot of guys can score, but not many can do so and win. He has been very well coached, and we expect him to come into our program with a great foundation.”
One of the Vols men’s basketball newcomers is 6’8 forward Derrick Walker from Kansas City, Missouri.
Vols coach Rick Barnes on Walker: “Derrick is going to blend nicely into our team due to his combination of size, strength and toughness. We’re also excited about his basketball IQ and the fact that he’s a vocal defender, a good rebounder and an excellent ball-handler and passer for a player of his size. So there are a lot of signs that point to him being able to help us immediately. His next challenge is to get himself into great shape so that he can make the kind of impact we believe he’s capable of.”
There’s good news coming out of Loretta Lynn’s camp.
Almost seven weeks after Loretta suffered a stroke at her Tennessee home in Hurricane Mills, her first public appearance has been announced.
Loretta will host—and perform during—the Tennessee Motorcycle and Music Revival, a four-day event held at Loretta Lynn Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn. (about 60 miles west of Nashville). The Motorcycles and Music Revival will celebrate music, motorcycles, food, art, entertainment and Southern hospitality as 4,500 on-site campers enjoy 400 acres. This year’s event will take place from Sept. 28–Oct. 1.
Loretta’s granddaughter, Tayla Lynn, posted a video on Instagram announcing the event and shared that “Memaw is gonna come down there and sing for ya.”
One of the Vols men’s basketball newcomers is 6’9 forward Zach Kent of Magnolia, Delaware.
Vols coach Rick Barnes on Kent: “Zach obviously adds some needed size and length to our frontcourt, but he’ll also elevate our overall skill level with his ability to pass and shoot the ball, as well as his high basketball IQ. He’s got a solid inside game and is developing an ability to score with his back to the basket. He’s a tough, competitive kid.”
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