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Tennessee, Washington Schedule 2029-30 Football Series

Posted on January 19, 2022

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee and Washington of the Pac-12 will meet on the gridiron for the first time with a home-and-home series in 2029 and 2030, the two programs announced on Wednesday.

The teams will square off on Sept. 1, 2029, in Neyland Stadium, before the Volunteers return the trip to Seattle on Sept. 7, 2030, in Husky Stadium.

“We are thrilled about scheduling a high-caliber Pac-12 program like Washington,” Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “These schools offer fans the chance to experience two very unique venues on the water in great cities. We appreciate Jennifer Cohen and the University of Washington administration in collaborating with us on this endeavor.”

Tennessee vs. Washington / Credit: UT Athletics

The sites are two of only three on-campus college football stadiums where fans can arrive by boat with Baylor’s McLane Stadium being the other. Both Neyland Stadium and Husky Stadium offer over 100 years of tradition-rich history. Husky Stadium opened to the public on Nov. 27, 1920, while Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field followed one year later on Sept. 24, 1921.

The series represents the first time that Tennessee will face a Pac-12 opponent in the regular season since traveling to Oregon on Sept. 14, 2013. That was also the Volunteers’ last game in the Pacific Northwest.

Existing season ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2022 campaign now by visiting AllVols.com. Fans wishing to purchase new season tickets can do so as well at AllVols.com or by contacting the UT Athletic Ticket Office at (865) 946-7000.

-UT Athletics

Highlights/Postgame/Stats/Story: #24 Vols Grab Road Win at Vanderbilt, 68-60

Posted on January 19, 2022

NASHVILLE – The 24th-ranked Tennessee basketball team held off in-state foe Vanderbilt Tuesday at Memorial Gymnasium, securing its sixth straight road win over the Commodores with a 68-60 victory.

Santiago Vescovi led Tennessee (12-5, 3-3 SEC) in scoring with 14 points, also grabbing six rebounds. Uros Plavsic, who was inserted into the starting lineup for the third time this season, scored a season-high 13 points and had seven rebounds in a season-high 21 minutes.

Kennedy Chandler filled the stat sheet with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists, five steals and a block. Zakai Zeigler scored 11 points all at the free throw line, going 11-for-12 at the charity stripe. Zeigler also had four steals.

Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr., the preseason SEC player of the year, led the Commodores (10-7, 2-3) with 18 points, but was held to just 3-for-10 shooting.

After Tennessee took an eight-point lead on a Plavsic hook shot in the paint with 3:41 remaining, Vanderbilt answered with an 8-0 run, capped by back-to-back threes from Trey Thomas and Pippen Jr. to tie the game at 60 with 1:22 remaining.

The Vols answered on the ensuing trip down the court, as Plavsic put back a missed Zeigler three to put Tennessee in front, 62-60. Zeigler then stole the ball on Vanderbilt’s inbounds pass, was fouled and then knocked down two free throws.

Capped by Vescovi and Zeigler both hitting pairs of free throws in the final 36 seconds of game time, the Vols finished the game on an 8-0 run of their own to seal the win.

For the first 32:19 of game time, neither team led the game by more than four points.

Plavsic finally pushed Tennessee’s lead to five points with an and-one layup with 7:41 remaining, giving the Vols a 50-45 advantage. Tennessee steadily pulled ahead from that point until Plavsic’s hook shot that put the Vols ahead by eight and then led to Vanderbilt’s 8-0 run.

Like the majority of the second half, the first half was a back and forth affair. Tennessee took a 33-32 lead into the halftime break.

Vescovi had nine points for the Vols in the opening period, while Justin Powell had eight. Chandler contributed six points, three rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Tennessee played the final 16 minutes of the first half and the entirety of the second half without starting forward Josiah-Jordan James, who left the game due to injury at the 16:03 mark of the first half and did not return.

UP NEXT: Tennessee returns to Thompson-Boling Arena on Saturday for a rematch with No. 13 LSU. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.

VOLS CREATING TAKEAWAYS: Tennessee entered Tuesday’s game ranking seventh in Division I with 10.3 steals per game as a team. Against Vanderbilt, the Vols recorded 14 steals—their second-most against an SEC opponent this season.

The Vols’ point guard duo of Kennedy Chandler and Zakai Zeigler combined for nine steals.

-UT Athletics

Michael Ray Tops Billboard Airplay Chart with “Whiskey And Rain”

Posted on January 19, 2022

Congrats to Michael Ray as “Whiskey And Rain” moves into the number-one spot on the Billboard country music airplay chart.

Michael shares, “This is incredible. I knew this song was something special, but I never dreamed it would be this impactful. I’m so thankful to my team who kept pushing to get this song to No. 1, and I’m grateful for the fans who found ‘Whiskey And Rain’ just as special as I do. Your support means everything, and I can’t wait to keep bringing you compelling Country music.”

“Whiskey And Rain” is his 4th chart-topper, and in an emotional social media post, Michael shared what achieving success with this song meant to him…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Ray (@michaelraymusic)

Michael Ray’s week got even better when one of his musical heroes, Gary Allan, sent his a message of congratulations…

The song also achieved another amazing milestone – “Whiskey And Rain” has now surpassed 100 million global streams.

Michael shared on social media “What started as a little country song Josh Thompson and Jesse Frasure had written about pouring whiskey on your sorrows and letting the rain wash it all away has now just surpassed 100 million streams and become my 4th No. 1 song at country radio. Thank y’all for giving life to ‘Whiskey and Rain” and continuing to make this Florida boy’s country music dreams come true!!!!”

“Whiskey And Rain” is one of the 7-tracks from Michael’s EP, Higher Education.

Michael Ray added, “I owe the success of ‘Whiskey And Rain’ to all of y’all who love Country music just as much as I do.”

Watch the music video to the number-one song in country music this week – “Whiskey And Rain.”

Photo Credit: Sean Hagwell

Chris Stapleton Opens Up on 60 Minutes and Shares the Keys To His Success

Posted on January 19, 2022

Did you catch Chris Stapleton‘s recent appearance on 60 Minutes?

During the interview Chris shared with 60 Minutes reporter Sharyn Alfonsi Stapleton that he really doesn’t know if a song will be hit when he’s done writing it…

Chris, his wife Morgane and producer Dave Cobb talk about the creative process of making an album…

Watch the full segment HERE

One of the bits of trivia that fans will learn from this interview, is that Chris Stapleton’s current single “You Should Probably Leave” is actually a song that has been around for a while before it finally found a home on his 2020 album, Starting Over.

“You Should Probably Leave” is knocking on the door to the number-one spot on the Billboard country music airplay chart.

Photo Courtesy of Chris Stapleton

Dolly Parton to Release New Album to Accompany Novel Co-Written with James Patterson

Posted on January 19, 2022

Dolly Parton‘s next album Run, Rose, Run will arrive March 4th.

The new album ties in with Dolly’s upcoming novel co-authored by James Patterson, also titled Run, Rose, Run, which is available Marth 7th.

Dolly says, “It was a dream of mine to write this new book Run, Rose, Run with James Patterson and I am thrilled to share this new music that was inspired by it.”

The book is the story of a young woman who leaves her home with the dream of making it big in Nashville while a dark secret from her past threatens everything she’s tried so hard to achieve.

The 12-track album will go hand-in-hand with the story of the novel.

Run, Rose, Run track listing:

Side A:

“Run”
“Big Dreams And Faded Jeans”
“Demons” (with Ben Haggard)
“Driven”
“Snakes In The Grass”
“Blue Bonnet Breeze”

Side B:

“Woman Up and Take It Like A Man”
“Firecracker”
“Secrets”
“Lost and Found” (with Joe Nichols)
“Dark Night, Bright Future”
“Love or Lust” (with Richard Dennison)

Fans can check out the lyric video for “Big Dreams And Faded Jeans” now.

Talking about the track Dolly shares, “So many people come to Nashville with their sack of songs. Whether they’re running from anything or not, they’re running towards a future. That’s what ‘Big Dreams and Faded Jeans’ is all about.”

Run, Rose, Run the album will be available to fans on March 4th, with the novel arriving 3 days later on March 7th.

Photo Credit: Stacie Huckeba
Photo Courtesy of Dolly Parton & Butterfly Records

Justin Moore Announces The Country On It Tour with Granger Smith

Posted on January 19, 2022

Justin Moore is hitting the road in 2022 with The Country On It!

Justin launches the tour in Pensacola on April 22nd with Granger Smith.

Along the 12-stop run of shows Sean Stemaly, Heath Sanders, Scott Stevens, Lucas Hoge, and The Reeves Brothers, will join Justin for opening spots.

Fans can also look for a very special appearance by Earl Dibble Jr on The Country On It tour.

Fans that can’t make it to The Country On It tour dates will still have plenty of chances to see Justin perform live this year as he shows schedule before and after the tour going all the way to mid-September as on now.

Along with his most recent number-one hit “We Didn’t Have Much” – Justin will be out performing his current single at country radio “With A Woman You Love.”

Photo Credit: Coby Villalobos

Vols in the NFL – Super Wild Card Weekend Update

Posted on January 19, 2022

Seven former Tennessee Volunteers were represented on active rosters on Super Wild Card Weekend in the 2022 NFL Playoffs. Emmanuel Moseley shined for the San Francisco 49ers, leading the team in tackles in a down-to-the-wire win over the Dallas Cowboys.

San Francisco at Dallas was a thrilling contest that featured a pair of VFLs coming out victorious. Moseley recorded 12 total tackles and had 10 solo stops in the win, while teammate Jauan Jennings made three catches for 29 yards. With a stop on the final drive of the game, the 49ers won, 23-17, and advanced to the Divisional Round where they face the Packers in Green Bay on Saturday.

Trey Smith continued his dependable play for the Kansas City Chiefs, logging 65 snaps at right guard in a 42-21 victory over Pittsburgh. Smith helped lead the Chiefs to 478 yards of total offense, and he did not give up a sack or a hurry on 47 passing plays.

On the other sideline, Cameron Sutton logged five tackles for the Steelers, the most he has recorded in a playoff game in his five-year NFL career. He finished the year with 56 tackles in 17 games played in the defensive secondary.

VFL in the NFL graphic / Credit: UT Athletics

While the Eagles fell to Tampa Bay, Derek Barnett made three tackles and recorded a half-sack on Sunday afternoon.

Six former Vols are still alive in the NFL Playoffs and enter the Divisional Round next weekend. Morgan Cox’s Tennessee Titans host Cincinnati on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The San Francisco 49ers, with three former Vols, take on the Green Bay Packers, with one VFL on the practice squad. Smith and the Chiefs host the Bills at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Derek Barnett – DE – Eagles
Made three tackles and half a sack against Tampa Bay as the Eagles were eliminated, falling 31-15

Tyler Bray – QB – 49ers
Practice Squad

Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Bye week

Jason Croom – TE – Eagles
Injured Reserve

Joshua Dobbs – QB – Steelers
Injured Reserve

Alex Ellis – TE – Cardinals
Practice Squad

Jauan Jennings – WR – 49ers
Caught three passes for 29 yards in San Francisco’s upset win over Dallas on the road

Jakob Johnson – FB – Patriots
Saw 15 snaps in a cold Saturday night game at Buffalo as New England fell, 47-17, and was eliminated

Josh Malone – WR – Packers
Bye week, Green Bay hosts San Francisco on Saturday

Emmanuel Moseley – CB – 49ers
Led the 49ers in tackles, making 12 stops, 10 of the solo variety. It was the second-most tackles Moseley made in a game since his rookie season in 2018 and the most he has tallied in his four playoff games.

Trey Smith – OL – Chiefs
Started his first postseason game, seeing 65 snaps in a win over Pittsburgh. The rookie did not allow a hurry or a sack in the game. Kansas City advanced to play Buffalo, at 6:30 p.m. Sunday

Cameron Sutton – CB – Steelers
Logged five solo tackles on Sunday night against Kansas City. The Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs

Kendal Vickers – DE – Raiders
On Vegas’ active roster at Cincinnati, the Raiders fell, 26-19, and were eliminated

-UT Athletics

Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt Sing “Wishful Drinking” on The Late Show

Posted on January 18, 2022

Did you catch Ingrid Andress and Sam Hunt‘s recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert?

The two singers were on the show to perform their duet “Wishful Drinking” – in fact it was the first live performance of the song for Ingrid and Sam.

Watch it here…

Photo Courtesy of Ingrid Andress and Sam Hunt

Tennessee Tabbed No. 19 in D1Baseball.com Preseason Rankings

Posted on January 18, 2022

D1Baseball.com Preseason Poll

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee baseball will start the 2022 season ranked 19^th in the D1Baseball.com Preseason Top 25.

This marks the second preseason top 25 ranking for the Vols, who checked in at No. 21 in the Perfect Game Preseason Top 25. Preseason polls from USA Today, Baseball America and the NCBWA have yet to be released.

The Southeastern Conference led all leagues with eight teams ranked in the preseason top 25, including six in the top 10. The full D1Baseball.com Preseason Poll can be seen HERE.

UT is coming off one of its best seasons in program history, posting a 50-18 record and advancing to the College World Series for the first time since 2005. Tennessee was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation in 2021 – its highest ranking in program history – and finished the season ranked as high as No. 5 in the polls. The Big Orange finished the year ranked sixth in the final D1Baseball.com rankings.

The Vols hosted a regional for the first time since 2005 and hosted a super regional for the first time ever, posting a perfect 5-0 record in the NCAA tournament’s first two rounds before making the program’s fifth trip to Omaha. UT reached the 50-win mark for just the third time in program history and finished the season tied for the most wins in Division I college baseball.

Tennessee also posted its best finish in conference play since 1995, going 20-10 in league games to win the SEC Eastern Division for the first time since 1997. UT carried that success into the postseason, advancing to the SEC Tournament Championship game for the first time since 1995. The Vols also had a program record five players earn postseason All-America honors in 2021.

Tennessee returns 24 letterwinners from last season’s Omaha team, including “Super Seniors” in Evan Russell, Luc Lipcius and Redmond Walsh. The Big Orange also added a handful of marquee transfers and welcomed the nation’s No. 5 ranked signing class according to Baseball America and Perfect Game. Russell, sophomore pitcher Blade Tidwell and junior outfielder Jordan Beck have already garnered preseason All-America honors for this coming year.

UT begins its 2022 campaign at home on the weekend of Feb. 18-20 against Georgia Southern. The Vols’ home slate features 37 home games, including SEC series against South Carolina (March 18-20), Missouri (April 8-10), Alabama (April 15-17), Auburn (April 29-May 1) and Georgia (May 13-15). UT’s full 2022 schedule can be seen HERE.

For season ticket information, visit AllVols.com or call the Tennessee Athletics ticket office at (865) 656-1200 or 1 (800) 332-VOLS. Information on single-game tickets will be released in the near future.

-UT Athletics

Johnny Dailey Premieres Acoustic Version of “Beers In It”

Posted on January 18, 2022

Johnny Dailey is debuting the acoustic version of his song “Beers In It.”

Talking about the track, Johnny shares, “I wrote ‘Beers In It’ with some of my good buddies Dave Turnbull and Randy Montana. The inspiration behind this song came from all the hard working people out there and how we all need to check out from the grind every now and then. There are moments in life that are just better with a beer in it!”

Check out the video here…