Christian Coleman wins 100M and 200M National Championships

Christian Coleman wins 100M and 200M National Championships

Posted on June 9, 2017
Christian Coleman – UT / Credit: UT Athletics

EUGENE, Oregon – Tennessee junior Christian Coleman became the second person in NCAA history to win four sprint national championships in one year as he won the 100m and 200m dashes on day three of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Historic Hayward Field on Friday.

After sweeping the 60m and 200m championships during the indoor season, he came back and won the 100m and 200m titles on Friday. Only #VFL Justin Gatlin has ever accomplished that feat as he pulled it off in 2002.

Coleman won the NCAA Championship in the 100m with a time of 10.04. The Atlanta native jumped out to a lead thanks to his lightning start and held on as he won by .08 seconds over Houston’s Cameron Burrell. Coleman had set the collegiate record during the prelims as he ran a time of 9.82 seconds. That was the fourth-fastest time by an American ever, and made Coleman the ninth-fastest person in the world. He wasn’t able to match that time as the race was run into a 2.1 m/s headwind.

Coleman became the first person to sweep the 60m and 100m races in the same year since Jeff Demps of Florida did it in 2010. Coleman’s title is the sixth in Tennessee history following Reggie Jones (1974), Sam Graddy (1984), Terry Scott (1985) and Justin Gatlin (2001 and 2002). Tennessee now has the second-most 100m National Champions in NCAA history, behind only USC’s eight titles.

Coleman had to come back 35 minutes after the end of the 100m and run in the 200m dash final. The Atlanta native, posted a time of 20.25 despite running into a 3.1 headwind. Coleman had a fierce challenge from LSU’s Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake. Coleman jumped out to the lead, but Mitchell-Blake made up ground on the straightaway, however Coleman was able to hold him off at the line as he won 20.25 to 20.29.

The 200m title was the fourth 200m championship in school history as Coleman joined Reggie Jones (1975) and Justin Gatlin (2001 & 2002). Tennessee now has 10 men’s sprint titles in school history, as they became the third school in the NCAA to hit that milestone as they joined USC (12) and Florida State (10).

This was Coleman’s fifth career NCAA Championship as he also claimed the indoor 200m title last season. Coleman now ranks second in Tennessee history with five individual national championships. Justin Gatlin notched six national titles during his Tennessee tenure. This is the third straight year that the 100m and 200m titles have been swept as Arkansas’ Jarrion Lawson (2016) and USC’s Andre De Grasse (2015) have done it the past two years.

Sophomore Zach Long recorded a 12th place appearance in the 5000m final. Long crossed the line in 14:42.94 in the 5000m race. Long earned second team All-America honors with his finish. Long closed the race with a final 400m of 1:01.47 which was his fastest split of the competition. The race went out slow with the first with the first six full laps being run in 1:12 or higher, but that got faster as the race went on.

Matthew Zajac posted a mark of 54.81m (179-10) on his first throw in the discus competition. He finished in 18th place after ending the first flight in seventh place in his first career NCAA Championship appearance. Zajac finished the season ranked seventh in school history in the event with his best mark of 58.22m (191-0) which came at the SEC Championship as he earned a bronze medal in the event.

The Tennessee men’s team finished in a tie for seventh place with SEC rival LSU. The Vols tallied 20 points with all of those earned by Coleman’s two first-place finishes. The women’s squad finished the competition with two points and will not have anyone competing on day four of the NCAA Championship.

10 Vols earned 12 All-American honors during the 2017 Outdoor Championship. LONG ADD. Coleman was a first-team All-American in the 100m and 200m races. Zach Long (5000m), Nathan Strother (400m), Cameron Brown (Hammer) and Seth Whitener (Hammer) earned second-team All-America honors. The men’s 4x400m team of Mustaqeem Williams, Ari Cogdell, Malik Elion and Strother earned second-team honors as well. On the women’s side, Chelsea Blaase earned first-team All-America honors with a seventh place finish in the 10,000m race and Shania Collins notched a spot on the second team for the 200m dash.

A select few Vols will continue their season as they compete at the USATF Championships from June 23-25 as they attempt to make the USA Team for this summer’s World Championship in London.

NCAA Championship Schedule & Results

Wednesday’s Results
100m Semifinal: 1. Christian Coleman, 9.82 (+1.3)
200m Semifinal: 3. Christian Coleman, 20.21
400m Semifinal: 9. Nathan Strother, 45.53 (+1.6)
4x100m Relay Semifinal: 18. Tennessee (Darryl Harris, Mustaqeem Williams, Malik Elion, Christian Coleman), 39.57
4x400m Relay Semifinal: 14. Tennessee (Mustaqeem Williams, Ari Cogdell, Malik Elion, Nathan Strother), 3:06.00
Hammer: 12. Cameron Brown, 68.55m (224-11); 15. Seth Whitener, 66.14m (217-0)

Thursday’s Results
200m Semifinal: 16. Shania Collins, 23.40 (+1.7)
10,000m Final: 7. Chelsea Blaase, 33:06.86
Shot Put Final: 18. Cassie Wertman, 16.22m (53-2.75)
Hammer Throw Final: Stamatia Scarvelis, Foul

Friday’s Results
100m Final: 1. Christian Coleman, 10.04 (-2.1)
200m Final: 1. Christian Coleman, 20.25 (-3.1)
5000m Final: 12. Zach Long, 14:42.94
Discus: 18. Matthew Zajac, 54.81m (179-10)

-UT Athletics

 

Preparations Underway for European Tour

Preparations Underway for European Tour

Posted on June 9, 2017
Admiral Schofield / Credit: UT Athletics

KNOXVILLE — With the Tennessee Basketball program set to get an early jump on the 2017-18 season during a summer tour Spain and France, the Volunteers held their first of 10 extra summer practices Friday at Pratt Pavilion.

The trip overseas, which runs Aug. 2-12, will see the Vols make stops in Barcelona, Valencia and Paris. The 11-day trip will feature three exhibition games against European clubs and plenty of sightseeing — unique and valuable opportunities for building team chemistry heading into the college season.

“We’re all excited about this trip for a lot of reasons,” rising junior Kyle Alexander said. “Some of us — myself included — have never been overseas before. So that whole experience will be something new for a lot of us. But also, the opportunity to get some extra team practice time during the summer and then play three actual games, that’s going to help our development as a team. We’re very fortunate to have an opportunity to make a trip like this, and we plan to make the most of it.”

NEWCOMER JERSEY NUMBERS

Four of Tennessee’s five newcomers were on hand for Friday’s workout as forwards Zach Kent (Magnolia, Delaware) and Derrick Walker (Kansas City) as well as junior college transfer Chris Darrington (Toledo, Ohio; Vincennes University) and graduate transfer James Daniel III (Hampton, Virginia; Howard University) are officially enrolled. Only forward Yves Pons (Fuveau, France) has yet to arrive on Rocky Top.

All five newcomers have been assigned their jersey numbers.
3 – James Daniel III
15 – Derrick Walker
32 – Chris Darrington
33 – Zach Kent
35 – Yves Pons

Rising junior Brad Woodson has switched jersey numbers and will wear No. 12.

THE TRAINING ROOM

With preparation for Europe underway, three Vols are sidelined with injuries.

James Daniel III remains limited as he recovers from a chipped bone in his left ankle — the same injury that caused him to miss all but two games last season at Howard.

Also continuing to progress in his rehab is guard Lamonte Turner, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder last month. Barring any setbacks, Turner could return to full participation by the end of the summer.

Forward John Fulkerson, who continues to rehab the dislocated right elbow and fractured right wrist that limited him to just 10 games last season, underwent surgery on his left shoulder last month to repair a torn labrum. The Kingsport, Tennessee, native is sidelined indefinitely.

All three will be unavailable for this month’s Rocky Top Summer League, which begins June 15.

EUROPEAN TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1 | AUG. 2 | DEPARTURE
Overnight flight to Barcelona

DAY 2 | AUG. 3 | BARCELONA
Orientation walking tour
Las Ramblas
La Boqueria Food Market
Practice (optional)
Welcome dinner

DAY 3 | AUG. 4 | BARCELONA
Guided tour of the city
1992 Olympic sites
Montjuïc Hill
Olympic team-building experience

DAY 4 | AUG. 5 | BARCELONA
Guide tour of La Sagrada Família
GAME ONE

DAY 5 | AUG. 6 | BARCELONA | VALENCIA
Travel to Valencia via Cambrils
Catamaran cruise with BBQ lunch
Evening at leisure

DAY 6 | AUG. 7 | VALENCIA
Bullfighting museum & arena
GAME TWO

DAY 7 | AUG. 8 | VALENCIA
Beach time in Valencia
Paella cooking class (optional)

DAY 8 | AUG. 9 | VALENCIA | PARIS
Tour City of Arts & Sciences
Mercado Central
Evening flight to Paris

DAY 9 | AUG. 10 | PARIS
Guided tour of the city
Champs-Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
GAME THREE

DAY 10 | AUG. 11 | PARIS
Visit the Louvre Museum
Eiffel Tower (evening)
Seine River cruise
Farewell dinner

DAY 11 | AUG. 12 | RETURN
Flight back to the United States

-UT Athletics

 

Tony Vitello Introductory Press Conference

Tony Vitello Introductory Press Conference

Posted on June 9, 2017

Full Presser Video | Full Transcription 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics John Currie officially introduced new Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello during an introductory press conference today at Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

The entire press conference as well as a full transcript can be found at the links above.

Vitello comes to Tennessee after four seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas, where he helped lead the Razorbacks to three NCAA tournaments, including a trip to Omaha for the College World Series in 2015.

-UT Athletics

UT baseball coach Tony Vitello / Credit: UT Athletics
Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles & Wife Welcome Baby Girl

Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles & Wife Welcome Baby Girl

Posted on June 9, 2017

Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles and wife Jenna welcomed a new addition to their family on June 8: daughter Rayni Bell, who joins big brother Jett (3).

Love and Theft had to cancel their CMA Fest performance on Thursday afternoon (June 8) because Jenna went into labor. Newcomer Filmore covered their vacant spot on the Chevrolet Park Stage.

Congrats to the happy couple.

photo by Stephen Barker Liles

Night 1 Photo Gallery: CMA Fest’s Nissan Stadium With Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan & More

Night 1 Photo Gallery: CMA Fest’s Nissan Stadium With Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan & More

Posted on June 9, 2017

More than 50,000 fans packed Nissan Stadium for Night 1 of CMA Fest to see performances by Brett Eldredge, Cole Swindell, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan.

But the crowd also got a couple of surprises: both Garth Brooks and Lauren Alaina made unannounced visits to the stage. Garth treated fans to a set of some of his biggest hits, including “The Thunder Rolls,” “Callin’ Baton Rouge,” “The River” and “Friends in Low Places,” while Lauren joined Cole onstage to sing “Middle of a Memory.”

Other highlights from the evening included crowd-favorites “Drunk on a Plane” by Dierks; “Vice” and “Automatic” by Miranda; and Luke closing the evening with a set that featured “That’s My Kind of Night” and “Country Girl (Shake It for Me).”

Check out our photo gallery from Night 1 at Nissan Stadium.

photos by Jason Simanek

Jimmy’s blog: UT receivers coach likes `cocky’ wideouts

Jimmy’s blog: UT receivers coach likes `cocky’ wideouts

Posted on June 9, 2017

By Jimmy Hyams

It’s been said that wide receivers are tough to coach.

They can be arrogant, stubborn, self-centered.

But there is another trait among wideouts that Tennessee’s new receivers coach Kevin Beard welcomes.

“I love ‘em cocky,’’ Beard said. “I love ‘em. Why? That’s who you are. That’s all the great receivers.

“It’s not about, `Oh, you can’t handle those guys because they’re cocky.’ No, you’ve got to explain to them when and when not to exercise those actions. Once you learn how to cultivate them and coach them up on when should and shouldn’t, you’ve got a great football player. So I like them cocky.’’

Beard also likes them big and fast. That’s what he looks for when he recruits receivers.

“You have two things you just can’t teach and that’s speed and size,’’ Beard said. “But more than anything, one thing I find myself writing down: Are they dynamic? Can I just get the ball in their hands and forget what everybody else is doing? They’re going to figure out a way to make a play. You can win with those type guys.

“As a coach you’re always trying to figure out a game plan. If you’ve got a guy that’s dynamic, you just call the play and let him go do what he does. That’s one of the things I look for — just a guy that has juice.’’

Beard’s definition of juice might be different from some.

“A lot of people say `juice’ like the rah rah guy,’’ Beard said. “No, I want a guy you can see on the field that he loves to play the game of football. And every play he makes, you can see it in his body language.

“He’s not just `get up off the ground and go back to the sideline or go back to the formation.’ Now I’m not talking about getting no penalties, but I want the guy that you can tell he’s excited about playing football. I love those type of guys.’’

While Beard says he likes size, would he take a 5-foot-8 receiver who is dynamic?

“I would,’’ he said, “but the only thing is, you don’t want your team full of 5-8 dynamic guys. Then you’re like, `We need to get bigger.’

“You have to pick and choose, and in this conference, you need physical guys. So with this being considered one of the most physical conferences in the country, you can’t have too many 5-8 guys.

“They can be physical but they’re small. And everybody’s big in this gladiator league, so you don’t want to fill your team up with too many 5-8 guys.’’

Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all  http://www.bigkahunawings.com/

 

Kelsea Ballerini Teams With Cracker Barrel & NASH Icon for a Night of Legendary Karaoke [Photo Gallery]

Kelsea Ballerini Teams With Cracker Barrel & NASH Icon for a Night of Legendary Karaoke [Photo Gallery]

Posted on June 9, 2017

On the heels of the June 7 release of her new single, “Legends,” Kelsea Ballerini partnered with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and NASH Icon for a night of karaoke at Ascend Amphitheater on Thursday evening (June 8). Three lucky karaoke contestants—Kaila Dakota, Chelsea Rhodes and Karen Meiers—got the chance to show off their pipes on the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage in the contest dubbed Kelsea Ballerini’s Legends of Country Karaoke, which was hosted by NASH Icon’s Jason Addams.

Karen’s cover of Reba McEntire’s “Fancy” netted her the $500 Visa gift card grand prize, while Chelsea and Kaila received $100 Cracker Barrel gift cards for their renditions of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” and Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine,” respectively.

“As part of the release of my new single, ‘Legends,’ I teamed up with my friends at Cracker Barrel and NASH Icon to host the Legends of Country Karaoke,” says Kelsea. “I had so much fun listening to the fans karaoke some of my favorite songs from country music legends.”

Check out a photo gallery of the night’s events.

photos by Jason Simanek; Karen, Kaila and Kelsea close-up photos courtesy Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Watch Blake Shelton Team With the Oak Ridge Boys to Sing “Elvira” at the Grand Ole Opry

Watch Blake Shelton Team With the Oak Ridge Boys to Sing “Elvira” at the Grand Ole Opry

Posted on June 9, 2017

As Blake Shelton was headlining a gig at the Grand Ole Opry last night (June 8), the Oak Ridge Boys were doing the same thing across town at Ascend Amphitheater.

Once the Oaks finished their set, they hopped on their bus and motored over to the Opry, where they joined Blake onstage for a rendition of “Doing It to Country Songs” before transitioning into crowd-favorite “Elvira.”

Watch Blake and Oak Ridge Boys in action.

Vince’s View: Ranking SEC’s toughest consecutive weeks stretch on 2017 schedules

Vince’s View: Ranking SEC’s toughest consecutive weeks stretch on 2017 schedules

Posted on June 9, 2017

By Vince Ferrara

Which SEC team has the toughest consecutive week stretch of 3 or 4 games in the 2017 season?

Who you play, where you play and when you play opponents matter.

Below you’ll find my rankings, why and each team’s schedule, so you can form your opinions with the schedules in front of you.

For some measure of what’s difficult, I’ve listed the Athlon preseason Top 25 rankings next to those schools, since that is the first common and popular preseason publication that’s out in stores and online.

In bold in the team schedules is the stretch of consecutive weeks that I’ve deemed the toughest 3 or 4 consecutive week stretch for each team. That means no open week or FCS opponent in-between tough games. One team has two stretches (LSU) that I think are most difficult.

My Toughest Consecutive Week Stretches In The SEC In 2017
*(3 or 4 straight weeks) 1 is toughest
1. Ole Miss (Sept. 30 to Oct. 21)
2. Mississippi State (Sept. 16 to 30)
3. Vanderbilt (Sept. 16 to Oct. 7)
4. Arkansas (Oct. 7 to 28)
5. LSU #2 (Nov. 4 to 18)
6. LSU #1 (Oct. 7 to 21)
7. Georgia (Oct. 28 to Nov. 11)
8. Kentucky (Nov. 11 to 25)
9. Missouri (Nov. 4 to 25)
10. Texas A&M (Sept. 23 to Oct. 14)
11. Florida (Oct. 28 to Nov. 11)
12. Tennessee (Oct. 14 to 28)
13. South Carolina (Oct. 28 to Nov. 11)
14. Auburn (Oct. 7 to 21)
15. Alabama (Oct. 7 to 21)

Vince’s View
Ole Miss will have to face perhaps the three best teams in the SEC in their 4-week rough stretch…at #1 Alabama, at #9 Auburn, vs. Vanderbilt and vs. #11 LSU. What will be left of Ole Miss after Alabama and Auburn (the two best teams in the SEC) back-to-back on the road when they return home for the last two? Brutal.

Mississippi State’s 3-week stretch against ranked opponents (vs. #11 LSU, at #15 Georgia and at #9 Auburn) features the 2nd, 3rd and 4th best teams in the league in my opinion, after Alabama. Two of those three games are on the road in back-to-back weeks.

Vanderbilt’s 4-week stretch of 4 straight ranked opponents is rough as well. It goes: vs. #22 K-State, vs. #1 Alabama, at #16 Florida, vs. #15 Georgia. You may argue it should have been at #1 or #2. Two factors pull from this a little. Three of the four games are at home, plus, I don’t think Kansas State is that good, not Top 25 at least. That’s Vandy’s best chance to win one of those games. Of the 14 SEC teams, Vandy is tied with Florida for the most games this season vs. ranked teams, 5.

Arkansas has a 4-game stretch that sees the Hogs on the road three times. Arkansas starts at SC followed by a road game at #1 Bama then home to #9 Auburn and closing out at Ole Miss. The Texas A&M game in Arlington is a “home” game this year, which means only three true SEC home games for Arkansas. That contributes to the bunched-up conference road games. It doesn’t help that the Razorbacks’ open week is so early in week 3. They could use it much more later in the season.

With two stretches of really tough games on the schedule, LSU has the toughest overall schedule in the league. Arkansas had the distinction of having two brutal stretches of games in 2016. The Fighting Orgerons could play all 12 games against teams with a winning record overall when it’s all said and done. Syracuse will be better, BYU is a regular 8-win team, Troy could be a 7-8 win team and UT-Chattanooga is a terrific FCS playoff level program. Both of LSU’s two tough stretches include 2 of 3 games vs. ranked opponents and 2 of 3 games on the road. Plus, LSU’s two tough stretches are only separated by an open week, so some may view that as 6 straight tough games against 4 ranked teams and 4 road games. Sheesh.

Georgia has #16 Florida in Jacksonville, South Carolina at home and then at #9 Auburn. SC is tricky because of what UGA emotionally invests in the UF game the week before, and I think the Gamecocks will be improved. Georgia only plays 3 ranked teams this season, but none are at home.

Kentucky’s toughest stretch is at the end of the season in the last three games: at Vanderbilt, at #15 Georgia and vs. #18 Louisville. Part of the reason for the tough stretch of games being late is the opponents. The other is the middle of SEC play for UK which features 4 of 5 conference games at home, leaving those last two road games before the rival Cardinals come to town.

Florida plays 5 ranked opponents this season, but the games are all spread out, and get this, none of the five are true road games. Therefore, UF’s most difficult three weeks is #15 Georgia in Jacksonville, at Mizzou and at South Carolina.

The last four games stand out as the most difficult for Missouri. It starts with ranked teams, #16 Florida and #19 Tennessee, before road games at Vandy and Arkansas. The tougher games are at home, so that helps ease the blow a touch. A September open date is not helpful, however.

Texas A&M has a 4-game stretch vs. Arkansas in Arlington, South Carolina at home, #1 Alabama at home and then at #16 Florida. It’s four games and includes Alabama, so that’s challenging in itself. Here’s a crazy note on A&M’s 2017 schedule. With the Arkansas game counting as a road game this season, Texas A&M won’t play it’s 2nd true conference road game until the second-to-last week of the season November 18!

The Tennessee Volunteers don’t have the gauntlet in 2017 like they did a year ago. The tougher games are more spread out this season. There are no ranked teams in consecutive weeks as we view it now. South Carolina at home, at #1 Alabama and at Kentucky sets the bar for toughest stretch on the schedule for the Vols. South Carolina will be improved, Alabama needs no explanation and the week after playing the Tide (at UK) is usually rough on teams. Tough or not, Vols fans don’t want to hear about that or a UK team on the rise. With the series history and program history for both, losing to Kentucky cannot be comprehended. Relative to most UT schedules we see, this stretch is not too bad. One advantage that Tennessee did have with the schedule last season that it clearly won’t this year is that all 8 conference opponents had the Vols in their stretch of toughest games in 2016. This year, they are only in three: Alabama, LSU and Missouri. That should mean that teams may not be as beat-up this year when the Vols come around on the schedule as they were last year, especially since Tennessee was on the back-end of many of those tough stretches.

South Carolina opens it’s tough 3-week period with Vanderbilt at home, followed by at #15 Georgia then #16 Florida at home. Georgia and Florida should be the top two teams in the East, so it is not a Ric Flair (always heard at Williams-Brice Stadium) strut across the field by any means.

Auburn closes out it’s tough three-week stretch with two road games at #11 LSU and at Arkansas after a home game with Ole Miss. What helps is less is expected from Ole Miss and Arkansas this season, although still neither game will be easy.

Alabama, the best team on paper again, has the least challenging tough stretch of consecutive weeks in the SEC. It matches the schedule overall after the epic tilt vs. #3 FSU in the opener in Atlanta. Bama has another perfect open week (before LSU after 8 games) and it has no consecutive road games all season. Alabama and South Carolina are the only SEC teams without two-straight road games. In fact, several teams even have three in-a-row on the road.

2017 SEC Football Schedules – Team-by-Team
*Bold denotes toughest consecutive week (3 or 4) stretch
ALABAMA
Sept. 2 vs. Florida State (Atlanta) 3
Sept. 9 FRESNO STATE (G-Five)
Sept. 16 COLORADO STATE (G-Five)
Sept. 23 at Vanderbilt
Sept. 30 OLE MISS
Oct. 7 at Texas A&M
Oct. 14 ARKANSAS
Oct. 21 TENNESSEE 19
Oct. 28 Open date
Nov. 4 LSU 11
Nov. 11 at Mississippi State
Nov. 18 MERCER (FCS)
Nov. 25 at Auburn 9

ARKANSAS
Aug. 31 (Thu) FLORIDA A&M (Little Rock) (FCS)
Sept. 9 TCU
Sept. 16 Open date
Sept. 23 vs. Texas A&M (Arlington)
Sept. 30 NEW MEXICO STATE (G-Five)
Oct. 7 at South Carolina
Oct. 14 at Alabama 1
Oct. 21 AUBURN 9
Oct. 28 at Ole Miss
Nov. 4 COASTAL CAROLINA (G-Five)
Nov. 11 at LSU 11
Nov. 18 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 25 MISSOURI

AUBURN
Sept. 2 GEORGIA SOUTHERN (G-Five)
Sept. 9 at Clemson 7
Sept. 16 MERCER (FCS)
Sept. 23 at Missouri
Sept. 30 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Oct. 7 OLE MISS
Oct. 14 at LSU 11
Oct. 21 at Arkansas
Oct. 28 Open date
Nov. 4 at Texas A&M
Nov. 11 GEORGIA 15
Nov. 18 LOUISIANA-MONROE (G-Five)
Nov. 25 ALABAMA 1

FLORIDA
Sept. 2 vs. Michigan (Arlington) 10
Sept. 9 NORTHERN COLORADO (FCS)
Sept. 16 TENNESSEE 19
Sept. 23 at Kentucky
Sept. 30 VANDERBILT
Oct. 7 LSU 11
Oct. 14 TEXAS A&M
Oct. 21 Open date
Oct. 28 vs. Georgia (Jacksonville) 15
Nov. 4 at Missouri
Nov. 11 at South Carolina
Nov. 18 UAB (G-Five)
Nov. 25 FLORIDA STATE 3

GEORGIA
Sept. 2 APPALACHIAN STATE (G-Five)
Sept. 9 at Notre Dame
Sept. 16 SAMFORD (FCS)
Sept. 23 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Sept. 30 at Tennessee 19
Oct. 7 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 14 MISSOURI
Oct. 21 Open date
Oct. 28 vs. Florida (Jacksonville) 16
Nov. 4 SOUTH CAROLINA
Nov. 11 at Auburn 9
Nov. 18 KENTUCKY
Nov. 25 at Georgia Tech

KENTUCKY
Sept. 2 at Southern Mississippi (G-Five)
Sept. 9 EASTERN KENTUCKY (FCS)
Sept. 16 at South Carolina
Sept. 23 FLORIDA 16
Sept. 30 EASTERN MICHIGAN (G-Five)
Oct. 7 MISSOURI
Oct. 14 Open date
Oct. 21 at Mississippi State
Oct. 28 TENNESSEE 19
Nov. 4 OLE MISS
Nov. 11 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 18 at Georgia 15
Nov. 25 LOUISVILLE 18

LSU
Sept. 2 vs. BYU (Houston)
Sept. 9 UT-CHATTANOOGA (FCS)
Sept. 16 at Mississippi State
Sept. 23 SYRACUSE
Sept. 30 TROY (G-Five)
Oct. 7 at Florida 16
Oct. 14 AUBURN 9
Oct. 21 at Ole Miss
Oct. 28 Open date
Nov. 4 at Alabama 1
Nov. 11 ARKANSAS
Nov. 18 at Tennessee 19
Nov. 25 TEXAS A&M

OLE MISS
Sept. 2 SOUTH ALABAMA (G-Five)
Sept. 9 UT-MARTIN (FCS)
Sept. 16 at California
Sept. 23 Open date
Sept. 30 at Alabama 1
Oct. 7 at Auburn 9
Oct. 14 VANDERBILT
Oct. 21 LSU 11
Oct. 28 ARKANSAS
Nov. 4 at Kentucky
Nov. 11 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (G-Five)
Nov. 18 TEXAS A&M
Nov. 23 (Thu.) at Mississippi State

MISSISSIPPI STATE
Sept. 2 CHARLESTON SOUTHERN (FCS)
Sept. 9 at Louisiana Tech (G-Five)
Sept. 16 LSU 11
Sept. 23 at Georgia 15
Sept. 30 at Auburn 9
Oct. 7 Open date
Oct. 14 BYU
Oct. 21 KENTUCKY
Oct. 28 at Texas A&M
Nov. 4 UMASS (G-Five)
Nov. 11 ALABAMA 1
Nov. 18 at Arkansas
Nov. 23 (Thu.) OLE MISS

MISSOURI
Sept. 2 MISSOURI STATE (FCS)
Sept. 9 SOUTH CAROLINA
Sept. 16 PURDUE
Sept. 23 AUBURN 9
Sept. 30 Open date
Oct. 7 at Kentucky
Oct. 14 at Georgia 15
Oct. 21 IDAHO (G-Five)
Oct. 28 at UConn (G-Five)
Nov. 4 FLORIDA 16
Nov. 11 TENNESSEE 19
Nov. 18 at Vanderbilt
Nov. 25 at Arkansas

SOUTH CAROLINA
Sept. 2 vs. NC State (Charlotte)
Sept. 9 at Missouri
Sept. 16 KENTUCKY
Sept. 23 LOUISIANA TECH (G-Five)
Sept. 30 at Texas A&M
Oct. 7 ARKANSAS
Oct. 14 at Tennessee 19
Oct. 21 Open date
Oct. 28 VANDERBILT
Nov. 4 at Georgia 15
Nov. 11 FLORIDA 16
Nov. 18 WOFFORD (FCS)
Nov. 25 CLEMSON 7

TENNESSEE
Sept. 4 (Mon.) vs. Georgia Tech (Atlanta)
Sept. 9 INDIANA STATE (FCS)
Sept. 16 at Florida 16
Sept. 23 UMASS (G-Five)
Sept. 30 GEORGIA 15
Oct. 7 Open date
Oct. 14 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 21 at Alabama 1
Oct. 28 at Kentucky
Nov. 4 SOUTHERN MISS (G-Five)
Nov. 11 at Missouri
Nov. 18 LSU 11
Nov. 25 VANDERBILT

TEXAS A&M
Sept. 3 (Sun) at UCLA
Sept. 9 NICHOLLS STATE (FCS)
Sept. 16 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE (G-Five)
Sept. 23 vs. Arkansas (Arlington)
Sept. 30 SOUTH CAROLINA
Oct. 7 ALABAMA 1
Oct. 14 at Florida 16
Oct. 21 Open date
Oct. 28 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Nov. 4 AUBURN 9
Nov. 11 NEW MEXICO (G-Five)
Nov. 18 at Ole Miss
Nov. 25 at LSU 11

VANDERBILT
Sept. 2 at Middle Tennessee (G-Five)
Sept. 9 ALABAMA A&M (FCS)
Sept. 16 KANSAS STATE 22
Sept. 23 ALABAMA 1
Sept. 30 at Florida 16
Oct. 7 GEORGIA 15
Oct. 14 at Ole Miss
Oct. 21 Open date
Oct. 28 at South Carolina
Nov. 4 WESTERN KENTUCKY (G-Five)
Nov. 11 KENTUCKY
Nov. 18 MISSOURI
Nov. 25 at Tennessee 19

23 Years After Attending His First CMA Fest, Blake Shelton Reflects on Seeing “My Dreams in Front of Me”

23 Years After Attending His First CMA Fest, Blake Shelton Reflects on Seeing “My Dreams in Front of Me”

Posted on June 8, 2017

As Blake Shelton gears up for his headlining gig at Nissan Stadium on Friday night (June 9), the 40-year-old superstar sat down with Nash Country Daily on his tour bus on Lower Broadway to reflect on his first CMA Fest experience in 1994, when the event was known as Fan Fair. At the time, Blake was a 17-years-old aspiring singer/songwriter who had recently moved to Nashville after graduating high school in Oklahoma.

“The first CMA Fest I came to was in 1994, and it was at the Fairgrounds out here, and I met Ronna Reeves, got my picture with her,” says Blake. “I met Deborah Allen, she gave me a kiss on my cheek. I met the Bellamy Brothers, and I saw Ricky Lynn Gregg.

“I wasn’t big on standing in super-long lines, but I think that’s really what had me hooked because those are all the artists at the time that I was hearing on the radio. I walked by all the booths. All the record companies used to have a booth and their artists would come sign. That’s back when artists would cooperate. Not like us big egomaniacs that we have now [laughing]. It was magical for me because it took all my dreams and all that stuff, even though I hadn’t accomplished anything. I’d just moved to town during that week. My dreams were literally in front of me. These were my heroes. Country music singers shaking peoples’ hands and taking pictures with them and talking to them, and these people were real, and it had a huge impact on me.

“To see how CMA Fest has grown, back then it was Fan Fair. I still call it Fan Fair now. It’s incredible because I miss it for personal reasons, being at the Fairground, being what it was, but what a blessing that it has grown to this proportion and now it takes over downtown Nashville. What that does for downtown Nashville, you can’t imagine how downtown Broadway has changed from 1994 to now. About this time of day right now, you’d be getting out of here, and now it’s literally unimaginable how far country music reaches around the globe and how far artists go out of their way to get here for this week. I don’t know anything else like it.”

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