Cole Swindell is Ready for a Big Year in 2022 – Including New Shows, & a New Album

Cole Swindell is Ready for a Big Year in 2022 – Including New Shows, & a New Album

Cole Swindell had a pretty great 2021 – but he’s looking to kick it up a notch this year…

Cole is pumped for 2022 and can’t wait to hit the road on his Down To The Bar tour – which starts in February in Peoria, Illinois.

Cole will be out with Travis Denning & Ashley Cooke

Another reason Cole is excited about this year is his duet with Lainey Wilson is off to a fast start. After both Cole and Lainey hit number-one on the Billboard country airplay chart in 2021, they’re hoping to make that climb again together in 2022 with “Never Say Never.”

Photo Courtesy of Cole Swindell

Every Thing Is Bigger In Texas with RodeoHouston

Every Thing Is Bigger In Texas with RodeoHouston

The line for the 90th Anniversary of RodeoHouston has been announced – and it includes a bunch of country music stars.

Starting February 28th and running until March 20th, fans can head to Texas to see Cody Johnson, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Jon Pardi, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Kane Brown, Parker McCollum, Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Chris Stapleton, Brad Paisley, and George Strait, with special guest Ashley McBryde.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage and provides year-round educational support within the community.

Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $550 million to Texas youth and education.

It was a decade after RodeoHouston started that it also became a premiere stop for artists – when in 1942 Gene Autry became the first nationally known performer to headline the entertainment part of the event.

This year’s lineup is a who’s who of entertainment superstars across several genres of music.

Tickets for RodeoHouston go on sale January 13th.

Photo Courtesy of Cody Johnson, George Strait, Parker McCollum/Kimmel Live

Additional Photo courtesy of RodeoHouston

Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey Masters the Glockenspiel

Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey Masters the Glockenspiel

As you listen to Old Dominion‘s current single “No Hard Feelings” – are you enjoying the tones of the glockenspiel?

Glockenspiel? No, it’s not the name of a bookcase at Ikea.

Glockenspiel: a musical percussion instrument having a set of tuned metal pieces mounted in a frame and struck with small hammers.

Matthew Ramsey is showing off his mastery of the instrument during the band’s live shows – check it out here for yourself…

“No Hard Feelings” is from Time, Tequila & Therapy – Old Dominion’s latest album, and it’s also the song that inspired the project’s name.

Watch the music video for “No Hard Feelings” here…

Photo Credit: Mason Allen

Dierks Bentley Gets a Little Extra Time on His Hands

Dierks Bentley Gets a Little Extra Time on His Hands

Originally Dierks Bentley was scheduled to kickoff his Beers On Me tour in Canada this week, but due to circumstances, the tour will now start next month on February 4th, in Missoula, Montana.

So, when your plans change – what do you do if you’re Dierks Bentley?

You bring back “the ‘stache”!

Sharing a picture from his studio, Dierks says “Using the unexpected time off to dig deep into this album I’ve been working on for over a year now. Cant wait to get it out in 2022. Hope your new year is off to a good start.”

Dierks also added, “the ‘stache is back! Thoughts??!”

While people might be torn on their opinion of his facial hair, everyone is on board for a new album!

It’s hard to believe but Dierks has not released a full studio album since 2018’s The Mountain.

Surely to be included on the new project is Dierks Bentley’s current single at country radio – with Hardy and Breland – “Beers On Me”

Photo Courtesy of Dierks Bentley

Tenille Arts Fulfilled a Superfan Moment by Appearing On The Kelly Clarkson Show

Tenille Arts Fulfilled a Superfan Moment by Appearing On The Kelly Clarkson Show

Tenille Arts is happy anytime she gets to be on stage, or is asked to appear on a show – but her recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show was next level for her.

Tenille shared, “If you told this little Kelly Clarkson superfan that she’d be performing on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she would have had a full mental breakdown.”

Tenille also posted a home video of her singing Kelly’s 2004 song “Breakaway.”

Tenille added that this was “a huge bucket list / dream come true moment…I love you, Kelly!”

Watch Tenille Arts sing “Back Then, Right Now” on The Kelly Clarkson Show

Photo Courtesy of Tenille Arts

Jimmy’s blog: Vols prove productive when manage a first down during a possession

Jimmy’s blog: Vols prove productive when manage a first down during a possession

By Jimmy Hyams

Around midseason, Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh said the Vols offense is very productive once it gets rolling by making a first down on a possession.

He was right.

We charted every UT possession this year that resulted in a first down, and the proficiency is prolific.

My unofficial count: Tennessee got a first down on 119 possessions.

Here’s how they fared:

60 touchdowns

10 field goals

24 punts

8 turnovers

11 failed fourth-down tries

4 missed field goals

2 end of game plays

To score a touchdown more than 50% of the time when you get a first down on a possession seems like a high success rate, although I don’t know how that would compare to Alabama or Ohio State or Ole Miss or other high-powered offenses around the nation.

Several of those failed fourth downs were on short-yardage situations, an area where UT’s offense must improve.

Tennessee was also terrific in the first quarter, outscoring opponents 190-51, including a 21-7 advantage over Purdue. UT scored at least 21 points in the first quarter in three games and at least 14 points five times.  It scored at least 10 twice. It got just 9 against Ole Miss and 7 against Florida and Vanderbilt.

At the Music City Bowl, I asked both head coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator Alex Golesh why UT was so proficient offensively in the first quarter. They gave a similar answer: It takes a while for the opposing defense to adjust to the Vols’ up-tempo attack.

UT also might do a really good job of scripting the first 20 to 25 plays.

On the flip side, the Vols weren’t so good in the second quarter, being outscored 143-109. Purdue had a 16-0 edge.

Why the change?

It makes sense that defenses adjusted to UT’s speed of the game, but UT must also adjust. Whether it was lack of adjusting or lack of execution is debatable. But if UT wants to take that next step in the win column and get to nine next year, the second quarter performance must improve.

Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all

Tim McGraw Learned A Lot From Billy Bob Thornton

Tim McGraw Learned A Lot From Billy Bob Thornton

Have you been watching 1883 on Paramount Plus – with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill starring as the Duttons?

The prequel to Yellowstone is a huge hit with fans.

Back in 2004, when he was just starting his acting career, Tim McGraw got a role in the movie Friday Night Lights with Billy Bob Thornton. The two men have bee reunited on 1883 as Billy Bob is a member of the cast that also includes, as we mentioned, Tim’s wife Faith Hill, LaMonica Garrett, Isabel May, and Sam Elliot.

Tim was excited to have Billy Bob as a part of the cast of 1883, “He’s so fantastic. I’m a big fan of his. When Billy Bob showed up on set it was great to see him again. We’ve been friends and kept in touch and hung out together a lot since we did Friday Night Lights.”

Turns that Billy Bob also helped Tim with some acting tips that he still uses today, “Billy Bob taught me a lot during Friday Night Lights. He was like the angel on my shoulder. The best advice he ever gave me is, if you think you’re not doing enough, you’re probably still doing too much. And I’ve taken that to heart.”

Check out Tim McGraw’s acting skills on Paramount Plus’ 1883.

Tim will be back to using his stage skills in April when his new 2022 tour kicks off in Rogers, Arkansas with openers Russell Dickerson, Alexandra Kay, and Brandon Davis.

Watch the music video for Tim McGraw’s song “7500 OBO” which features another acting McGraw – Tim and Faith’s youngest daughter Audrey McGraw.

Photo Courtesy of Tim McGraw

Miranda Lambert Teams with Netflix’s Queer Eye for “Y’all Means All”

Miranda Lambert Teams with Netflix’s Queer Eye for “Y’all Means All”

As fans check out Queer Eye‘s 6th season on Netflix, they’ll notice a new theme song…sung by Miranda Lambert.

Miranda shares the story behind the new theme, “I was asked to write a song for Queer Eye, and thought it was such a cool idea because I love the show. My little brother Luke sent me a few titles and ‘Y’all Means All’ was one of them, and then I wrote it with my friends Luke Dick and Shane McAnally. I’m proud to be part of this amazing show that does so much good. Y’all watch the new season on Netflix!”

If you haven’t checked out the new season yet, watch the trailer for Queer Eye here…

Check out the new theme for Netflix’s Queer Eye from Miranda Lambert – “Y’all Means All”

Miranda Lambert’s current single at country radio is “If I Was A Cowboy.”

Photo Courtesy of Miranda Lambert

Hoops Preview: #7/8 Lady Vols vs. #25/23 Texas A&M

Hoops Preview: #7/8 Lady Vols vs. #25/23 Texas A&M

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 7/8 Tennessee (13-1/2-0 SEC) returns to Thompson-Boling Arena to take on No. 25/23 Texas A&M (10-3/0-1 SEC) on Thursday at 6:32 p.m. ET. 

These teams were picked either second or third in the preseason SEC media and coaches polls, with UT getting the No. 2 nod from the media and A&M getting it from the coaches.

Kellie Harper‘s squad enters on a four-game winning streak since suffering its only loss of the season on Dec. 18 to (then) No. 3 Stanford, 74-63, in Knoxville. The Lady Vols, who are No. 1 nationally in field goal percentage defense, will face a second-straight team that favors the three-ball, with the Aggies ranking No. 1 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (42.1) with 101 makes thus far.

Jordan Walker – Lady Vols / Credit: UT Athletics

UT comes off a game in which it held a hot-shooting Arkansas squad to an 8-of-40 day beyond the three-point arc (20.0 pct.), and it will be tasked with slowing a similar arsenal on Thursday evening. Tennessee rode its defense, rebounding and offensive surges in the first and fourth quarters to a 70-63 road win against the Razorbacks on Sunday in Fayetteville. A 25-15 edge in the final frame overturned a three-point UA lead entering the last 10 minutes.

The Big Orange, which had played since Nov. 10 without Rae Burrell due to injury, welcomed the senior back into the mix at Arkansas. Also back was Jordan Horston, who was out the previous two contests due to illness. Burrell came off the bench and hit her first shot and finished with two points in 12 minutes, while Horston contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes.

Texas A&M, which has lost three of its past five contests and did not play between Dec. 20 and Jan. 2, returned to action on Sunday and fell on the road at LSU, 75-66. The Tigers limited their visitors to 10-of-31 shooting (32.3) from beyond the arc and 32.9 percent overall, and outrebounded A&M, 49-39.

The Aggies’ first loss of the year came on Dec. 5 at home vs. Texas, a squad the Lady Vols toppled in overtime on Nov. 21, 74-70. The other setback came at TCU on Dec. 12, 87-75.

Texas A&M head coach Gary Blair, in his 19th year in College Station and his 37th overall as a head coach, announced prior to the 2021-22 campaign that he will retire at the end of this season, so this could be his final visit to Thompson-Boling Arena at the helm of a program.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

  • Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Carolyn Peck (analyst) and Steffi Sorensen (reporter) will be on the call for the SEC Network broadcast.
  • All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.
  • The contest also can be heard on Lady Vol Network radio stations and by audio stream, with Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone. Now calling the action for his 23rd season, Dearstone is joined by studio host Bobby Rader.
  • A link to the live audio stream can be found on each game’s Hoops Central page or the Lady Vol schedule on UTSports.com.
  • For a list of Lady Vol Network affiliates, please click on the Fans tab at the top of UTSports.com, select Vol Network and then click on Vol Network Affiliates.
  • Air time for games on the Lady Vol Radio Network generally occurs 30 minutes prior to tip-off.

GAME PROMOTIONS

  • Knox County School Day: Donate two new school supplies and receive one complimentary ticket. All donations benefit the Knox County Schools Supply, supporting local teachers and education.
  • Flex Pack: Get admission to five games vs. SEC opponents, with prices starting at $24 at AllVols.com.
  • Free parking and free shuttle service from the Ag Campus (Lot CF near Brehm & Food Science Bldgs.).
  • For additional details and information, please call 865-974-1734 or visit the Fans tab on UTSports.com and click on the Fan Experience link.

UT IN TOP EIGHT IN BOTH POLLS

  • The Lady Vols are ranked No. 7 and 8 in the Jan. 3 and 4 AP and USA TODAY/WBCA Coaches Polls, respectively.
  • UT remained No. 7 for the fourth straight AP polling period and climbed to a season high of eighth in the USA TODAY/WBCA Poll.
  • That is the highest combination of rankings since the Lady Vols were No. 6/7 the week of Jan. 18 in 2018.

ABOUT THE LADY VOLS

  • The Lady Vols are one of the nation’s biggest stories of 2021-22, opening up at 13-1 against one of the NCAA’s toughest schedules despite losing returning starters Rae Burrell (12 games) and Marta Suárez (season) to injuries and with Jordan Horston missing three games, including those on Dec. 27 vs. Chattanooga and Dec. 30 vs. Alabama due to illness before returning against Arkansas on Sunday.
  • Burrell also made her long-awaited return vs. Arkansas (3:03, 1Q), playing 12 minutes and finishing with two points after nailing her very first shot attempt in the first quarter at the 2:10 mark.
  • Tennessee is led by Horston, the 6-2 junior guard, who paces the team in scoring (14.8 ppg.), rebounding (9.2) and assists (4.0 apg.) in a breakout season.
  • Horston is second on the team with five double-doubles and has topped UT in scoring six times.
  • Tamari Key, a 6-6 junior center, is putting up 10.9 ppg. and 9.2 rpg. to go along with 3.8 bpg. She had a triple-double of 10 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks in UT’s 74-70 OT victory over No. 12/21 Texas and her block average currently ranks No. 1 all-time among Lady Vols in a season and she is No. 1 in the nation with 54 total blocks. Key leads Tennessee with seven double-doubles thus far and has scored in double figures in eight of her last nine games for the best stretch of her career
  • Alexus Dye, a 6-0 forward, is third among active UT players in scoring at 10.1 ppg. She is third in rebounding at 8.4 rpg and has three double-doubles, including a 13/10 effort vs. Arkansas on Sunday.
  • Freshman guard/forward Sara Puckett is UT’s fourth-leading scorer. She is putting up 8.1 ppg. and is shooting 48.3 percent from the field, 34.2 percent on threes and 77.8 percent on free throws and has scored in double figures in five of her past nine contests. She got her first career starts vs. UTC and Alabama during Horston’s absence.
  • Graduate guard Jordan Walker, graduate forward/center Keyen Green and senior guard/forward Rae  Burrell follow at 8.1, 7.6, 7.4 and 7.0 ppg.
  • Tennessee now has 11 players averaging double figures in minutes per game, with freshmen Sara Puckett (23.7), Brooklynn Miles (21.5), Kaiya Wynn (10.3)  and Karoline Striplin (10.1) among them.
  • Point guards Jordan Walker and Brooklynn Miles have been UT’s most secure regulars with the ball, accumulating 48/25 and 34/25 assist-to-turnover totals.
  • Eleven different players have scored in double figures this season, including eight who have done so in multiple games.
  • Tennessee scores 71.7 points per game, with 39.4 of that coming in the paint.
  • UT is getting 25.4 points per game from its bench.
  • In SEC play, Keyen Green is shooting 88.9 percent from the field, while Tamari Key is hitting at a 52.9 clip. Key is averaging 15.0 ppg., 9.0 rpg. and 4.0 bpg. to lead Tennessee in conference action.
  • Jordan Walker is putting up 14.5 ppg. in SEC games, connecting on 47.6 of her field goal attempts, including 40 percent on threes, and 77.8 percent from the charity stripe. She has nine assists vs. only three turnovers thus far.
  • In the NCAA Tournament with her previous team vs. Texas A&M last season, Alexus Dye tallied a game-high 26 points and pulled down 11 boards in Troy’s near upset of the Aggies.

EVOLVING OVER THE PAST FIVE GAMES

  • Over the past five games, three Lady Vols are averaging double figures in points, including juniors Tamari Key (13.0) and junior Jordan Horston (12.7), and graduate Alexus Dye (11.8).
  • Even with Rae Burrell on the shelf for most of that time, Tennessee has seven more players averaging better than four points and three rebounds per contest, including graduates Keyen Green (9.2 ppg./3.4 rpg.) and Jordan Walker (8.4/4.4), and freshmen Sara Puckett 8.2/3.4) and Karoline Striplin (7.3/4.3).
  • Freshmen Brooklynn Miles (4.2/3.2) and Kaiya Wynn (4.0/3.8), and sophomore Tess Darby (4.0/3.8) also are part of that seven.
  • During that stretch, UT has a scoring margin of +23.6 (79.6-56.0), a rebounding margin of +15.2 (51.2-36.0) and 1.3 assist-to-turnover ratio (98-75). UT also is shooting 45.4 percent from the field while allowing only 28.6 percent by its opponents.
  • Those numbers are even more impressive when one considers Jordan Horston missed two contests due to illness and Rae Burrell remained sidelined until appearing for 12 minutes vs. Arkansas.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE DANDIES

  • The Lady Vols had at least one player record a double-double in the first 11 games this season and now in 13 of 14 contests, led by Tamari Key with seven (including a triple-double), Jordan Horston with five, Alexus Dye with three and Kaiya Wynn with one.
  • That gives Tennessee 16 total double-doubles this year, surpassing the 2020-21 total of 13 in only 11 contests in 2021-22.
  • The 11-game streak, which was both a season-opening UT record and an overall program best, came to an end vs. UTC. Karoline Striplin (12/9) and Alexus Dye (15/8) were oh-so-close to continuing the run.

GOOD AT BEING GRITTY

  • UT has shown itself to be a tough, gritty team, coming from behind in 11 games to win.
  • The Lady Vols have bounced back from deficits in the fourth quarter five times this season to taste victory (Southern Illinois, South Florida, Texas, Va. Tech, Arkansas).
  • UT also came from 20-down in the second quarter vs. No. 3/3 Stanford, cutting the deficit to three in the second half with a 17-0 run spanning the second and third periods before eventually falling to the Cardinal.
  • An example of UT’s resolve can be found in its ability to score 20 or more points in fourth quarters, doing so the past four games and in nine total contests this season.

LOOKING BACK AT THE LAST GAME

  • No. 7/9 Tennessee picked up a hard-fought win on the road on Sunday, taking down the Arkansas Razorbacks, 70-63, at Bud Walton Arena.
  • Tennessee (13-1, 2-0 SEC) had five players in double figures, with junior Tamari Key leading the team with 17 and graduate Alexus Dye recording a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Graduate Jordan Walker finished with 13, junior Jordan Horston had 12 and graduate Keyen Green rounded out the scoring with 11.
  • Amber Ramirez was the leading scorer for Arkansas (10-4, 0-1 SEC) with 26, while Makayla Daniels had 11.
  • The Lady Vols won their fourth straight game and posted their best record through 14 contests since opening 15-0 in 2017-18. The Razorbacks dropped their second straight game.

NOTABLES FROM OUR LAST GAME

  • DOUBLE-DOUBLES CONTINUE: Graduate Alexus Dye recorded her third double-double as a Lady Vol with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Tennessee has managed 16 double-doubles on the season with at least one UT player recording a double-double in 13 of 14 contests.
  • DEFENSE ON POINT: UT held the Razorbacks to a field goal percentage of just 30.3 percent, almost 11 percent below their season average of 43.2 percent. Tennessee has held all 14 foes in 2021-22 to 36 percent shooting or below and 10 of 14 opponents to 31 percent or lower. Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the NCAA in field goal percentage defense at 30.2 percent.
  • RAE RETURNS: Senior Rae Burrell returned to the court for her first game action since suffering a lower leg injury in the season opener vs. Southern Illinois on Nov. 10. She made her debut in the Arkansas game with 3:03 left in the first quarter and hit her first bucket at the 2:10 mark. She played 12 minutes on the day and finished one of two from the field.
  • DROPPING 20s: After tallying 20 in the opening stanza vs. Arkansas, Tennessee has scored 20+ first-quarter points in its last four games and in five of its last six contests. The Lady Vols had no 20-point first-frame efforts through their first eight contests this season. UT also has accumulated 12 20-point quarters in its last four games, including four vs. ETSU and UTC, and two vs. Alabama and Arkansas.
  • RALLYING THE TROOPS: Tennessee overcame an eight-point Arkansas lead in the third quarter and recorded its 11th come-from-behind win of the season. UT also overcame a three-point fourth-quarter deficit to card its fifth final-frame comeback of the year.

UP NEXT: ON THE ROAD FOR TWO

  • The Lady Vols will hit the road for their next two contests, visiting Ole Miss on Sunday at noon CT (1 ET) and Vanderbilt on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT (9 ET).
  • Both of those contests are slated to be televised by SEC Network.

UT-TAMU SERIES NOTES

  • Tennessee holds an 8-7 all-time record vs. Texas A&M, dating back to Dec. 19, 1997.
  • UT is 3-2 in Knoxville, 1-4 in College Station and 4-1 at neutral sites vs. the Aggies.
  • The Big Orange women are 6-7 vs. hall-of-fame coach Gary Blair and A&M since the Aggies joined the Southeastern Conference.
  • The Lady Vols will be looking to halt a three-game series losing streak, in which A&M was the higher ranked team on all three occasions. UT is above the Aggies in the polls this year.
  • Kellie Harper is 0-3 vs. Texas A&M and Gary Blair. Her 2015-16 Missouri St. team fell, 74-65, in College Station on March 19, 2016, in the NCAA First Round. UT suffered a two-point home loss (73-71) on Feb. 16, 2020, and lost, 80-70, on the road on Feb. 14, 2021.
  • A&M is 2-0 in overtime games vs. UT, with both of those taking place in College Station.
  • In the initial meeting between these teams in Knoxville, on Feb. 28, 2013, Tennessee defeated A&M, 82-72, on Senior Day to give UT an SEC regular-season championship on the Lady Vols’ home court. Tennessee had been picked to finish as low as fifth in the league and returned no starters.
  • Tennessee made its first-ever women’s basketball appearance in College Station on Jan. 26, 2014, and the (then) #11/12 Lady Vols picked up a key victory over the (then) #17/15 Aggies, 76-55. A&M was the SEC leader at the time of that defeat.
  • UT’s first two contests vs. Texas A&M came in tournaments, including one regular-season event in 1997-98 and one postseason event during the 2007-08 campaign.
  • In the first meeting, the #1/1 Lady Vols rolled to a 105-81 victory over the Aggies at the Northern Lights Invitational in Alaska in game two of a three-game stay.
  • The famed “Three Meeks” dazzled #8/9 A&M on Dec. 19, 1997, as Chamique Holdsclaw tallied 29, Semeka Randall tossed in 23 and Tamika Catchings added a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds for #1/1 UT in the high-scoring affair.
  • Kellie (Jolly) Harper was UT’s point guard in that game, and she was the Lady Vols’ fourth player in double figures with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers.
  • In 2008, Candace Parker scored 26 points and Alexis Hornbuckle chipped in 14, as the Lady Vols defeated Texas A&M, 53-45, in the Oklahoma City Regional Final to advance to the Final Four in Tampa.
  • After both of those tourney wins over the Aggies, the Lady Vols would advance to, and win, the NCAA Final Four in 1998 and 2008. Incidentally, UT also beat Arkansas in the 1998 NCAA Final Four semifinal when Gary Blair was then coach of the Razorbacks.

ABOUT TEXAS A&M

  • Texas A&M is led in points per game by the dynamic guard trio of Kayla Wells (17.1), Jordan Nixon (13.9) and Destiny Pitts (11.4).
  • The Aggies have hit 17, 30 and 30 three-pointers this year to pace the nation’s No. 1 team in three-point field goal percentage (42.1). Qadashah Hoppie has fired in 18 treys of her own to add to A&M’s season total of 101. UT has 57 by comparison.

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH

  • Gary Blair is in his 19th year at Texas A&M and 37th season overall as a head coach, owning records of 440-173 in College Station and 848-336 combining stops at Stephen F. Austin, Arkansas and A&M.
  • Blair has led his teams to 27 NCAA appearances, two NCAA Final Fours and one NCAA title (2011). His 1998 Arkansas team met UT in the Final Four.

LAST TIME TEXAS A&M PLAYED

  • Alexis Morris scored a career-high 30 points and No. 19 LSU defeated No. 23 Texas A&M 75-66 on Sunday in Baton Rouge.
  • Morris was 9-of-16 shooting with four 3-pointers. Khayla Pointer hit four threes and scored 17 points, while Jailin Cherry added 10.
  • Destiny Pitts tossed in 18 points with four 3-pointers and had 11 rebounds for the Aggies (10-3), the defending SEC regular-season champs. Qadashah Hoppie added 16 points and Kayla Wells 13.
  • The Aggies came in leading the nation at 43.5% from the 3-point line but made only 10-of-31 against LSU and shot 33% overall.

WHEN UT AND A&M LAST MET

  • No. 16/19 Tennessee pulled within one late in the fourth but couldn’t overcome a No. 6/5 Texas A&M team that shot 63 percent from the floor in the final quarter and also hit 17 of 22 free throws in that period, falling 80-70 in Reed Arena on Feb. 14, 2021.
  • Senior Rennia Davis led UT (12-5, 6-3 SEC) with 25 points. Sophomore Tamari Key turned in her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Rae Burrell added 18 points, while Kasiyahna Kushkituah had 10 boards and eight points.
  • Destiny Pitts was the high scorer for Texas A&M (19-1, 10-1 SEC) with 18 points, and Jordan Nixon was close behind with 15. Aaliyah Wilson and Kayla Wells turned in 13 points apiece, and Ciera Johnson added 10.

-UT Athletics

Vols in the NFL – Week 17 Update

Vols in the NFL – Week 17 Update

Alvin Kamara’s score pushed the New Orleans Saints to victory, 18-10, keeping them in the playoff picture in the NFC. Kamara’s offensive efforts highlighted the 17th week of NFL play for former Tennessee Volunteers.
 
Kamara, a 2022 Pro Bowl selection, ran for 32 yards, but it was his pass catching that propelled the Saints to victory on the offensive end. Kamara recorded the only touchdown of the game for New Orleans, a 12-yard pass from Taysom Hill. The fifth-year running back finished the day with 68 receiving yards.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara / Credit: UT Athletics

The Saints’ leading receiver in the victory was Marquez Callaway, who made six grabs for 97 yards. The second year wide out has tallied 255 yards in the past three games.
 
Jalen Reeves-Maybin continues to be on a tear in the Detroit Lions’ second-level. He wrapped up eight tackles against Seattle and now has 20 in the last three contests. In a contract year, Reeves-Maybin has shown out, totaling 70 tackles in 14 games. Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said last week, “obviously, we want the player back, because he’s a good player.”
 
Morgan Cox had a strong day for the special teams unit in the Tennessee Titans’ dominating win, 34-3, over Miami. On a cold and rainy day in Nashville, Cox was successful on all 10 snaps (four punts, four extra points, two field goals).
 
The final week of the regular season comes up next week. Seven players and their teams have clinched a playoff berth, while 13 remain in the hunt coming down to the final week.

Derek Barnett – DE – Eagles
Made two tackles in a win over Washington – clinched playoff

Marquez Callaway – WR – Saints
Caught six passes for 97 yards against Carolina

Justin Coleman – DB – Dolphins
Did not play in the game at Tennessee

Dustin Colquitt – P – Browns
Boomed eight punts for 342 yards and a long of 55 on Monday Night Football

Morgan Cox – LS – Titans
Made 10 snaps in the Titans’ win over Miami, four punts, four PATs and two field goals

Jason Croom – TE – Eagles
Injured Reserve

Joshua Dobbs – QB – Steelers
Injured Reserve

Alex Ellis – TE – Cardinals
Practice Squad

Malik Jackson – DT – Browns
Sarted his 16th game of the season on Monday Night Football

Ja’Wuan James – OL – Ravens
Injured Reserve

Jauan Jennings – WR – 49ers
Had two catches for 25 yards in a victory over Houston

Alexander Johnson – LB – Broncos
Injured Reserve

Jakob Johnson – FB – Patriots
Played 26 offensive snaps in a 50-10 win over Jacksonville

Alvin Kamara – RB – Saints
Gained 68 yards through the air and 32 on the ground in an 18-10 win over Carolina. Caught his fifth receiving touchdown of the season

John Kelly – RB – Browns
Practice Squad

Josh Malone – WR – Packers
Practice Squad

Khalil McKenzie – G/DT – Ravens
Did not play in Sunday’s game against the Rams

Emmanuel Moseley – CB – 49ers
Injured Reserve

Michael Palardy – P – Dolphins
Punted four times for 147 yards against the Titans with one inside the 20

Joshua Palmer – WR – Chargers
Caught three passes for 16 yards in a 34-13 win over the Broncos

Cordarrelle Patterson – WR – Falcons
Tallied 28 yards rushing and 24 receiving in a loss to the Bills

Kyle Phillips – DL – Jets
Placed on the COVID-19 reserve list

Jalen Reeves-Maybin – LB – Lions
Took down eight tackles against Seattle and now has 20 tackles in his last three games

Trey Smith – OL – Chiefs
Saw all 61 offensive snaps in the game at right guard and didn’t allow a sack

Luke Stocker – TE – Vikings
Played in his 11th game of the season against Green Bay on Sunday night

Cameron Sutton – CB – Steelers
Wrapped up two tackles in the win over the Browns

Darrell Taylor – DE – Seahawks
Made one tackle in a 51-29 win over Detroit

Bryce Thompson – CB – Saints
Played in his second career contest against Carolina

Shy Tuttle – DL – Saints
Tallied three tackles against the Panthers

Kendal Vickers – DE – Raiders
Placed on the COVID-19 reserve list

Nigel Warrior – DB – Seahawks
Entered his third game of the season against the Lions

Ethan Wolf – TE – Saints
Placed on the COVID-19 reserve list

-UT Athletics

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