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.
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
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.”
![Jason Aldean Surprises Fans With Unannounced Show Outside the Hall of Fame [Photo Gallery]](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/1446/2017/06/08145040/2017-06-07-Jason-Aldean-pop-up-concert-at-Chevrolet-Park-Stage-in-Walk-of-Fame-Park-photo-by-Jason-Simanek.jpg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
As the CMT Music Awards were ending last night (June 8) at 9:30 p.m. CT, two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year Jason Aldean decided it was the perfect time for an impromptu show outside the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Thousands of fans swarmed the lawn at Walk of Fame Park to hear Jason play his pop-up set, including fan-favorites “Dirt Road Anthem,” “She’s Country” and current single, “They Don’t Know.” Jason’s show, which was in honor of his new Asphalt Cowboy exhibit at the Hall of Fame, was capped off with a fireworks display.
Check out some of the photos below.
Photos by Jason Simanek, unless otherwise noted
By Jimmy Hyams
College football coaches who like to throw temper tantrums might get thrown out of games before the contest ends.
The NCAA has adopted a rule saying coaches can’t leave the sideline to argue with officials, unless given permission by the official.
It seems unlikely a ref would invite a coach onto the field to get a butt chewing.
Thus, any offending coach will be assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty. Getting two in the same game will result in ejection.
“It’s designed to curb coaches behavior,’’ said SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw, who conducted a seminar for media at the annual SEC Spring Meetings last week.
Coaches are allowed to go onto the field during a timeout or to assess an injury to a player. A coach might also step onto the field to call plays.
But not rip into a ref.
What is the reaction of the coaches?
“I don’t think anybody loves it,’’ Shaw said, “but they don’t want to be the first one ejected.’’
Among the leading coaching candidates to get flagged: Alabama’s Nick Saban, South Carolina’s Will Muschamp and Tennessee’s Butch Jones.
How quickly coaches conform will make for an interesting study this season.
Another rule change regards the uniform. Players are required to wear knee pads and pants that cover the knees. A player that cuts his pants a few inches above the knee will be asked to leave the field for one play or until his uniform conforms. A player may be allowed to stay in the game and not miss a play if his team calls a timeout.
While this rule isn’t supposed to go into affect until 2018, if a player is in clear violation of the rule – for example, cutting the pants to 3-6 inches above the knee – the player will be sent to the sideline.
Shaw said this can be policed by officials before a game — letting the players and the coaches know what complies to the rule.
“The medical community says we need knee pads for football,’’ Shaw said.
Shaw said the targeting rule has not changed but player behavior has. He said it’s apparent more players are avoiding helmet-to-helmet contact and not leading with the crown of their helmet.
Shaw said five targeting fouls were called from the SEC collaborative replay headquarters in Birmingham; last year was the first time replay officials could call targeting. He said the SEC had two more targeting calls than the year before.
Shaw also said forcible contact to the neck or head by a helmet or shoulder hit on a defenseless player is a 15-yard penalty. Many cases of a defenseless player occur on returns – punts, kickoffs, interceptions, fumbles — when the would-be tackler doesn’t see the blocker coming.
The NCAA has enacted many rules aimed at player safety in the past half decade.
Because of the emphasis on safety, Shaw said: “The game is safer than it’s ever been in the history of football.’’
In other topics:
*Players can no longer leap or hurdle over the snapper to block a field goal or extra point attempt. In the past, a player could leap or hurdle as long as he didn’t touch another player. However, Shaw said a player standing within a yard of the line of scrimmage is allowed to jump over the snapper to block a kick provided he doesn’t make contact with another player. Finding such an athletic player would be difficult.
*The horse-collar rule has been expanded to say if a tackler grabs a ballcarrier by the back of the shoulder pads OR near the name plate area and immediately pulls the runner down, that is a foul.
*Last year, the length of an SEC game was 3 hours, 26 minutes, ranking near the middle of all conferences. Two games lasted less than three hours, four went over four hours (two were overtime games). Shaw said he doesn’t have a time limit in mind since so many college offenses vary from a triple-option to a pass-every-down spread, but he thinks officials can cut about 5-6 minutes out of a game. How? By “keeping the game moving’’ and slicing a couple minutes out of halftime. While halftime lasts 20 minutes, officials used to start the halftime clock when both teams had exited the field. Now that clock will start when the last play of the first half ends.
*Shaw said collaborative replay is used in some form by all Power 5 conferences. He said the average length of replay in the SEC was 1:26. It was about 1:45 the first two weeks of the season as officials adjusted to collaborative replay. Shaw said collaborative replay resulted in 8 percent improvement on getting calls correct.
Regarding replay, Shaw said: “It gives the coach a second level of confidence; it gives me a second level of confidence that we will get it right.’’
Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
Before the trophies were dished out at the 2017 CMT Music Awards last night (June 7), the stars walked the red carpet in their best duds and dresses. From Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban to Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum—and everyone in between—check out 99 of our favorite photos courtesy of Tammie Arroyo/AFF-USA.
photos by Tammie Arroyo/AFF-USA.
Check out show 10 of the SportsRadioWNML.com exclusive weekly video podcast “The Big 3 with Heather & Will.”
Sports Radio WNML hosts Heather Harrington and Will West discuss and debate current local and national sports topics including the Tennessee Volunteers.
This week they talk about Bob Stoops retiring, are the Warriors the best NBA team of all-time and if the Predators will win the Stanley Cup. Plus, a bonus question for the magic eight ball with the Power T!
Watch the latest show below and find out more about the weekly feature HERE.
Over the past eight months, Keith Urban has been nominated for seven ACM Awards, two Grammys and five CMA Awards.
How many did he win? Zero, zip, zilch, nada. When it came time to vote, the industry decided that Keith’s Ripcord album, multiple singles like “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and entertainment prowess weren’t numero uno. Time and time again, Keith heard someone else’s name called. Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Garth Brooks . . . and on and on it went until Keith was left with an 0/14 stat line.
However, when the vote was put in the hands—or click finger—of the fans via the CMT Music Awards, Keith reigned supreme. The superstar came home with four trophies last night (June 7), including Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year, Collaborative Video of the Year and Social Superstar.
“This award is for everyone watching that voted for this, everyone in the room tonight,” said Keith after winning the night’s top honor, Video of the Year for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” “This award is for all you guys, everybody outside that couldn’t get in, everybody that comes to see us play in concert. I wish God’s blessing for all of you and your families. I love making music, I love making videos, I love making records, I love writing songs, I love touring, I love what I get to do, maybe more that ever. You guys allow me to do that and when you support this music and connect with it the way you do, cause that’s all I’m trying to do, I’m just trying to make a connection, so God bless every one of you.”
Watch Keith’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoIKv3xxuMA
photo courtesy CMT Music Awards
By WNML Staff
We have a really neat new feature exclusively here at SportsRadioWNML.com! It’s called Rocky Top Traditions. It’s presented by People’s Home Equity.
This week’s Rocky Top Traditions (3 & 4) bring you back to the accomplishments of Gene McEver and looks at General Neyland’s Grave. Listen to those in this post below.
A VOL for Life. Why does University of Tennessee sports mean so much to so many? For some it’s cherished memories of afternoons in Neyland Stadium beating Bama or Florida. For others it’s being huddled around a radio with family pulling for our beloved teams. Through the years we tell our friends and family about these games, people and victories. We’re proud to be Tennessee Vols!
Sports Radio WNML, the flagship station of the Vol Network, and John Wilkerson are proud to bring these moments to life in a new series called “Rocky Top Traditions.” John is a Knoxville native, the co-host of Tennessee’s longest running sports show and the voice of Tennessee baseball. His knowledge of the history of all Tennessee sports is unmatched, and he has the rare ability to bring a story to life.
Check back soon for the next two exclusive presentations of Rocky Top Traditions presented by People’s Home Equity!
EUGENE, Oregon – Tennessee junior Christian Coleman set a collegiate record in the 100m and advanced to the finals in both the 100m and 200m dashes on day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Historic Hayward Field on Wednesday.
Coleman’s time of 9.82 seconds broke Ngoni Makusha’s collegiate record of 9.89. Coleman surpassed that mark by .07 seconds, which is the same amount of time between Makusha’s mark and the ninth-best time in collegiate history. Coleman’s mark also ranks as the best 100m time in the world during the 2017 year. The wind-legal time also ties Coleman for ninth place on the all-time world list and makes him the fourth fastest American in history, trailing only Tyson Gay, #VFL Justin Gatlin and Maurice Greene. Coleman also set a school record and a NCAA Championship record.
Coleman now ranks in the top two in collegiate history in all four sprinting events. His times of 6.45 seconds in the 60m and 20.11 in the 200m at the NCAA Indoor Championship are tied for first and second, respectively. At the NCAA East Prelims, Coleman recorded a 200m time of 19.85 which ranks as the second-fastest time in collegiate history.
Coleman also booked his spot in the 200m final as he cruised to a time of 20.21. The Atlanta native slowed up over the final steps with his place in the final secure. He will be the third time-qualifier for Friday’s final.
Two Vols were competing in their event final as senior Cameron Brown and sophomore Seth Whitener took 12th and 15th in the hammer throw competition. Brown recorded a throw of 68.55m (224-11) on his second attempt, the second-best mark in school history. His throw was one inch from Whitener’s school-best mark. However, the two Tennessee throwers were competing against the greatest hammer throw fields in NCAA history. By the end of the prelims, eight throwers had surpassed the 70.00m mark. In NCAA Championship history, no other hammer final has had more than five throwers cross that threshold.
Prior to this season, Wes Boudreau had held the school record at 67.84m (222-7) for the past 21 years, but Whitener and Brown have combined to surpass that mark three times this year. Whitener posted the best mark with a 68.59m (225-0) mark at the NCAA East Prelims. Brown passed the mark for the first time at the SEC Relays with a throw of 68.19m and then set a personal best in his final NCAA competition representing Tennessee today.
Junior Nathan Strother finished the 400m dash with a time of 45.53 in his lap around the track. The ninth place finish was one spot out of qualification for Friday’s final. The time was the fourth-fastest of the 22 400m races that Strother has run during his Tennessee career.
The men’s 4x100m relay team of Darryl Harris, Mustaqeem Williams, Malik Elion and Coleman finished in 18th place as they finished in 39.57. The team had trouble on the second exchange costing them precious time as they took sixth in their heat and failed to qualify for the final.
The men’s 4x400m relay team of Williams, Ari Cogdell, Elion and Strother finished in 14th place. The foursome crossed the line in 3:06.00, which was fourth place in their heat.
The attendance for day one of the NCAA Track & Field Championship was 9,917. The Vols start day two tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET as Stamatia Scarvelis goes for the hammer throw national championship. Cassie Wertman will compete in the shot put final and Chelsea Blaase will compete in the 10,000m final. Shania Collins will try to qualify for the final of the 200m. All the events will be shown on the ESPN family of networks.
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 Schedule
200m Semifinal: Shania Collins
10,000m Final: Chelsea Blaase
Shot Put Final: Cassie Wertman
Hammer Throw Final: Stamatia Scarvelis
Friday’s Schedule
100m Final: Christian Coleman
200m Final: Christian Coleman
5000m Final: Zach Long
Discus: Matthew Zajac
Saturday’s Schedule
200m Final: Shania Collins
-UT Athletics
