Tennessee second baseman Jorel Ortega spoke about the top-ranked and top-seeded Vols hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Knoxville Super Regional. Video courtesy of UT Athletics.
Tennessee head baseball coach Tony Vitello spoke about his top-ranked and top-seed Vols team hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Knoxville Super Regional. Video courtesy of UT Athletics.
By Jimmy Hyams
Tennessee baseball shattered regular-season attendance records this year.
More records likely will be broken soon, but that depends on when the Lindsay Nelson Stadium renovations can be completed.
And Tennessee athletic director Danny White isn’t sure when that will be.
“I don’t know the answer to that right now,’’ White said in an exclusive interview Tuesday on SportsTalk, 99.1 The Sports Animal. “The earliest I think we could break ground would be following the ’23 season, and I say that because it’s going to take the better part of a year to design, and we can’t start that design process ‘til the project is fully approved by the state in July.’’
White said some utility work or other infrastructure details could be done while the 2023 season is ongoing.
“But that would be by far the earliest,’’ White said. “I’m hopeful we can have it done by the ’24 season, but I don’t know. We haven’t gotten to that point yet, in terms of constructions schedules, to know if that’s possible or not.’’
White said he expects the seating capacity to increase from the current 4,283 to between 6,500 and 8,000.
“I think we’ll be in that range,’’ White said. “We haven’t finalized it yet.’’
White said additional standing-room only areas could allow crowds to expand by a couple thousand.
Regarding the renderings released last week, White said: “I think people are excited. I think they’ve been waiting to see some pretty pictures. The good news is those are more than just concepts and pretty pictures.’’
He added: “The feedback we’ve been getting from our fans and donors has been awesome. There’s a ton of interest in those premium opportunities in the premium tower, with club seats and loge seats and suites, actually, as well, so that’s really helpful for us to kind of figure out where to focus our attention in terms of what we need to build and how we can build a funding plan around that to deliver the project in a way that is financially successful and gets our program where we all want it to be.’’
Last year, Vols coach Tony vitello said he didn’t want the stadium to expend to, say, 10,000 right away. He felt it needed to be increased incrementally. That’s exactly what UT is doing.
The increase of about 2,000 before this season generated a record 154,818 fans, with some crowds exceeding 4,500 with a standing-room-only area. The previous record was 64,107 in 1997.
The Lindsay Nelson renovations, while well below the capacity at places like LSU, Mississippi State and Arkansas, will put UT closer to being on par with the top baseball facilities in the SEC.
“Philosophically,’’ White said, “I’d like to have a set amount of seats that is appropriate for us that works well for us – not only on big weekend games but also midweek games and earlier in the season. But then having a ton of standing-room, social-deck opportunities where we can really swell, maybe by as much as even a couple of thousand, where our capacity is significantly larger than the number of seats.’’
Top-ranked Tennessee (56-7) hosts Notre Dame (38-14) in a Super Regional, starting Friday night.
Tickets on the open market for last week’s Friday game against Alabama State went for over $225.
Some midweek tickets for regular-season games this year went for over $115.
That demonstrates the demand for Tennessee baseball tickets – and the need for renovation and expansion.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
The Country Daily contributor Kenzie is taking on CMA Music Fest 2022.
As she bounces around events Kenzie will be sharing her music fest experience.
First stop – Luke Combs Parking Lot Party.
“I kicked off CMA Fest with a Luke Combs parking lot party at BMI – the crowd was MASSIVE, and the energy was high as folks were getting into the spirit of the week! This event was held to celebrate 8 of Luke’s #1 songs, and to say it was a party would be an understatement. Throughout the evening, Luke brought the songwriters for each song on stage to perform with him.”
“Despite the intense Tennessee heat (and thick humidity following a bit of rain), Luke’s fans showed up in full force to celebrate these songs. Even the balconies of the apartment buildings surrounding the PRO’s parking lot were packed with people hoping to catch the performance. Luke’s acoustic set showcased the lyrics and his passion behind the music, and shone a light on his voice that you can only get when you take away the drums & electric guitars. Nights like this are one of the reasons I love Nashville so much – hearing the stories and songs from the people who wrote them is just pure magic. This was the perfect start to the craziest week of the year in Nashville!”
Check back here for more reports from Kenzie.
Miranda Lambert stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to perform “Actin’ Up” from her recently released album, Palomino.
Watch her appearance here…
Photo Credit: Robert Ascroft
Dustin Lynch is out on his Party Mode tour right now…
Dustin says, “I’ve been so blessed over the years to be able to get out on the road and learn from some of the biggest names in our genre. My band, crew, and I studied with the best and have brought what we learned to our own show, and it’s continued to grow and expand from there. The Party Mode Tour feels like such a culmination of all those years – and then taken to a whole new level.”
The tour, which shares the same name as Lynch’s current single, just added more date for this summer and fall!
Lynch adds, “We went into it with the goal of, ‘How do we make something unique and fun for fans that deserve something a little bigger and a little more fun after a bit of a hiatus?’ I think we’ve nailed it.”
With nearly a dozen new stops, Dustin will be playing shows throughout July, August, September and October – bringing fans music from his latest album Blue In The Sky – which is available now.
Dustin’s added tour stops, and venues, are…
JULY
15 | Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts*
16 | Grant, OK – Choctaw Casino & Resort
AUGUST
19 | West Plains, MO – West Plains Civic Center
27 | Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium
SEPTEMBER
9 | Flagstaff, AZ – Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park
15 | Columbia, MO – 9th Street Live (The Blue Note Outdoors)
29 | Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE
30 | Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
OCTOBER
1 | Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
6 | Wallingford, CT – Toyota Oakdale Theatre
7 | Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
When it comes to the dates he’s already played on the Party Mode Tour, Dustin says, “The reaction we got from our fans on this first run of shows was through the roof! I can honestly text my friends and family and go, ‘This is the best show by a long shot we’ve ever done.’ It’s just FUN. From top to bottom, I feel like the crowd is a part of the show versus watching us play a show. It’s special.”
For more info on The Party Mode tour, head to Dustin Lynch’s WEBSITE
Photo Courtesy of Dustin Lynch
One of the “must sees” on everyone’s trip to Nashville, Tennessee is the Ryman Auditorium.
The story of the auditorium dates back to 1885, when steamboat captain and businessman Thomas G Ryman attended a revival held in a tent. Thomas was so moved that he dedicated his life and wealth to building the Union Gospel Tabernacle, which first opened in 1892.
After Thomas’s death in 1904, the building was renamed after him.
In 1920s the building was leased by promoter Lula C. Naff, and became a stop for performers sweeping through Tennessee – earning the Ryman the nickname “the Carnegie of the South” with such entertainers as Charlie Chaplin, John Philip Sousa, WC Fields, Roy Rogers, Bob Hope, Mae West and Harry Houdini all holding performances there.
President Theodore Roosevelt even held a speaking engagement at the Ryman.
The culture impact of the Ryman Auditorium was solidified in 1943 when the Grand Ole Opry moved in – making it the home to the radio and in-person shows. The legend of the venue grew with performances from Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley, Marty Robbins, Minnie Pearl and many, many other legendary country artists.
The Opry and the Ryman were synonymous with one another for more than 30 years – and earned the building a new nickname, “The Mother Church of Country Music” – a moniker that still holds to today.
In 1974 the Grand Ole Opry moved to it’s current home, The Opry House.
With the Opry gone the Ryman’s future came into question through the rest of the 1970s, and 80s. One time even facing demolition.
The 1990s saw a resurgence in the appreciation of the auditorium, and a restoration process began.
Since then, the 2362 seats of the Ryman have been filled by audiences attending every kind of show possible. Pollstar Magazine, since 2010, has named the Ryman Theatre of the Year 6 times.
Anyone who has seen a show in the auditorium always walks away talking about the quality of sound – and it was built to service that way. Before modern amplifying technology was available the Ryman was designed to project the voice of performers on stage, and has maintained that warm, clear sound for more than a century.
While the Ryman has been a mainstay in country music as a “must play” venue, with the Grand Ole Opry even returning to the stage for special event shows several times a year, it has now it has also been named a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame landmark.
Old Dominion was on hand for the announcement, and lead singer Matthew Ramsey shared his thoughts, memories and feelings on the Ryman Auditorium.
For more information visit Ryman.com
Here are some images of Tennessee Baseball in it’s three NCAA Baseball Regional games in Knoxville at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. Photos taken by our staff photographer, Sam Forman. Click on the first image. It will enlarge to full view and you can scroll through all the images.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Ten members of the Tennessee football program received preseason All-SEC recognition from Athlon Sports, the publication announced on Monday. The Vols were one of four teams in the conference with double-digit selections, and UT’s 10 picks were its most since having 11 named to Athlon’s preseason All-SEC squads in 2016.
Redshirt-senior receiver Cedric Tillman and senior defensive lineman Byron Young highlight the Big Orange contingent with first-team All-SEC selections. Redshirt-senior QB Hendon Hooker and senior linebacker Jeremy Banks represent Tennessee on Athlon’s All-SEC second team.
Senior offensive lineman Jerome Carvin, junior edge rusher Tyler Baron and senior punter Paxton Brooks were recognized as third-team honorees, while junior running back Jabari Small, senior offensive lineman Darnell Wright and senior safety Trevon Flowers garnered fourth-team preseason accolades.
One of the top returning playmakers in all of college football, Tillman gears up for his redshirt senior campaign after a breakout season in 2021. In his first year within head coach Josh Heupel‘s system, he led the Volunteer receiving corps with 64 catches for 1,081 yards and 12 touchdowns—ranking ninth, fifth and third in the SEC in those categories, respectively. He capped the year with four straight 100-yard receiving games and set the school record for consecutive games with a touchdown catch at seven, a streak that continues entering 2022.
In his first season at the FBS level, Young played 11 games with eight starts on the Tennessee defensive line and tied Banks for the team lead in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). He ranked second among UT linemen with 46 total tackles on the year and posted a TFL in six consecutive SEC contests before recording a season-high eight tackles, 2.5 TFLs and his first-career interception against Purdue at the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
A 2021 Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist, Hooker produced one of the most efficient seasons at quarterback in Tennessee history in his first year with the program last fall. The dynamic dual-threat signal caller racked up 3,565 yards of total offense, which ranked fourth in the SEC and fourth in UT single-season history. He shattered school records for passer efficiency rating (181.4) and completion percentage (68.0) and carries a streak of 12 consecutive games with a touchdown pass into 2022, which is the third-longest streak in school history. For the season, Hooker completed 206-of-303 passes for 2,945 yards and 31 touchdowns with three interceptions.
Tennessee’s top tackler last season, Banks finished second in the SEC in total tackles (128) and tackles per game (9.85)—respectively ranking seventh and 13th nationally. He tied with Young for the team lead with 11.5 TFLs and 5.5 sacks and capped his junior campaign with a monster performance in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl against Purdue, leading all players with a career-high 20 tackles while also setting career-bests with 2.5 TFLs and two pass breakups.
A veteran, dominant offensive lineman for the Big Orange, Carvin started all 13 games in 2021 with seven coming at left guard, five at center and one at right guard. Per PFF College, the Memphis native did not allow a sack on 896 offensive snaps last year and has issued only one sack in his last three seasons combined entering 2022. Carvin was a key piece to Tennessee’s offensive unit that set program records for points scored (511) total offense (6,174 yards) and touchdowns (67) in its first year under Heupel.
A local product and talented edge rusher, Baron posted 7.0 TFLs during the 2021 campaign and will combine with Young as one of the league’s most disruptive pass rushing tandems in 2022. The Knoxville native posted 30 tackles last season with 7.0 TFLs, four sacks, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Entering his fifth season with the Vols in 2022, Brooks set new career-bests for punting average (44.0) and punts inside the 20-yard line (18) last fall. The Lexington, S.C. product booted 45 punts for 1,982 yards, including a career-long 64-yard punt in the season-opening win over Bowling Green, and was recognized as a first team CoSIDA Academic All-American at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign.
Small finished his sophomore campaign as Tennessee’s leading rusher, taking 140 carries for 792 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He owned three 100-yard rushing games on the season and ended the year with a career-high 180 rushing yards vs. Purdue in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, including a career-long rush of 60 yards and a two-yard TD plunge. His 180-yard performance tied Travis Henry in the 2001 Cotton Bowl for the second-highest rushing output in a bowl game in program history.
UT’s most consistent presence on the offensive line last fall, Wright started all 13 games at left tackle and saw a team-high snap count of 922 on the season. His blocking contributed to a Tennessee offense that set program records for points scored (511), total offense (6,174 yards) and touchdowns (67).
One of the most experienced returning defensive players for the Big Orange, Flowers elected to return for a fifth season after starting 12 games at safety in 2021. He finished the year ranking eighth among SEC defensive backs with a career-best 82 tackles, which ranked third on the team. The Atlanta native nabbed two interceptions and registered a career-high five passes defended during his senior season, ranking second and fifth on the squad.
Tennessee’s 2022 season begins under the lights of Neyland Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1 when the Volunteers take on Ball State. The season opener will kick off at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on SEC Network.
Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets can do so at AllVols.com or by contacting the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 946-7000.
-UT Athletics
This past weekend Luke Combs played the second of his three stadium shows. First he had a snowy Denver, and Saturday he had a rainy Seattle…but of course, with Luke – when it rains, it pours.
Check out a little video cap from his show…
Luke shared, “When I was 15, I had a running back’s dreams but never did run too far… Thankfully the Broncos and Seahawks have made this ol’ boy’s dreams come true by getting to play in NFL stadiums!”
Luke adds, “Thank you for an unforgettable night and braving the rain with me, Seattle!”
Up next on Luke’s stadium run this year is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 30th…
But technically while it’s not a solo show, Luke will also be playing Nissan Stadium in Nashville this Saturday as a part of CMA Music Fest.
Luke’s latest album Growin’ Up arrives for fans to check out on June 24th…
The 12-tracks on Growin’ Up includes his latest number-one hit “Doin’ This.”
Photo Credit: David Bergman Live Photography Workshops
