FB PREVIEW: #7 Vols Set to Host Golden Flashes Under Neyland Saturday Night Lights
Courtesy / UT Athletics

FB PREVIEW: #7 Vols Set to Host Golden Flashes Under Neyland Saturday Night Lights

Posted on September 14, 2024

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 7/9 Tennessee will look to continue its torrid start to the season when it welcomes Kent State to Neyland Stadium for a matchup under the lights on Saturday night.

MORE INFO

GAMEDAY & BROADCAST INFO

#7/9 TENNESSEE (2-0 | 0-0 SEC)

 Game Notes Roster Schedule Stats Record Book 

KENT STATE (0-2 | 0-0 MAC)

 Game Notes Roster Schedule Stats Digital Game Program Gameday Info Tennessee Athletics App Digital Ticketing Guide Clear Bag Policy Follow @UTGameday Buy 2024 Record Book Buy Tennessee Gear Heupel Monday Presser

The Vols enter this weekend’s contest ranked second nationally in scoring offense at 60.0 points per game following back-to-back dominating wins over Chattanooga and NC State.

NEYLAND STADIUM, PRESERVED BY PILOT

Last month, Tennessee Athletics and Pilot broke new ground in college sports by entering a multi-year partnership that preserves the iconic venue’s name and enhances the stadium experience for future generations. Under the terms of the agreement, which is slated for up to 20 years and could extend further, the names of Neyland Stadium and Shields-Watkins Field remain unchanged. Pilot is designated as the presenting partner of the Neyland Stadium renovation project and the official travel stop of Tennessee Athletics.

Neyland Stadium. Home of the Vols. Proudly preserved by Pilot.

BROADCAST INFO

Saturday’s game will be televised on the SEC Network with Tom Hart (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline analyst) on the call. Coverage will begin at 7:45 p.m. with kickoff slated for 7:55 p.m.

UT fans can listen to Tennessee’s official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (Local: WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1) over 65 stations across the state of Tennessee and the southeast, SiriusXM (Ch. 161 or 190) and the SiriusXM app (Ch. 960), as well as the Varsity App. A live audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on UTSports.com​ and the Tennessee Athletics App. A Vol Network celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2024. 

Bob Kesling (PxP), VFL Pat Ryan (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action, with VFL Jayson Swain handling sideline duties for the Vol Network radio broadcast. The Big Orange Countdown pregame show begins two hours prior to kickoff at 5:45 p.m. The pregame show is hosted by John Wilkerson, Brent Hubbs, VFL Jayson Swain and a rotating VFL special guest each week. 

The Spanish broadcast is available locally on WNML-AM 990 with Carlos Lopez (play-by-play) and VFL Fuad Reveiz on the call. That version is also available on UTSports.com and the Tennessee Athletics app. 

GAMEDAY INFO / TIMELINE

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee’s 2024 gameday policies, please visit the Tennessee Football Gameday Information page on UTSports.com.

The gameday timeline as well as other important information is listed below.

Will Call Opens at Gate 21 – 3:45 p.m.
Truly’s Tailgate Opens – 3:45 p.m.
Vol Village Opens – 4:15 p.m.
Vol Walk – 5:30 p.m.
Gates Open – 5:45 p.m.
Pride of the Southland Band March – 6:05 p.m. (Pedestrian Bridge)
Pride of the Southland Band Pregame Performance Begins – 7:41 p.m.
National Anthem/Flyover – 7:43 p.m.
*Flyover performed by a C-17 from 317th Airlift Squadron – Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vols Run Through the T – 7:52 p.m.
Kickoff – 7:55 p.m.

NEW NEYLAND STADIUM FAN ENHANCEMENTS FOR 2024

A host of new fan enhancements are in place this season.

RockyTopWiFi, Neyland Stadium’s Wi-Fi system, debuted during the 2023 season and is fully functional throughout Neyland Stadium for the 2024 campaign. Fans are encouraged to utilize the network and stay connected on their mobile devices during the game.

Other fan enhancements include but are not limited to upgraded speakers, new televisions, trading cards, commemorative tickets and various concession upgrades throughout the stadium.

For more information on all the new Neyland Stadium fan enhancements for this season, click HERE.

TICKETS AND PARKING

Tickets for Saturday’s game are officially sold out. Tickets and parking passes to all Tennessee Athletics events, including football, are digital and can be accessed through a mobile device to improve security and reduce the risk of ticket fraud as well as make the process more convenient for fans.

Fans will gain admission into Neyland Stadium via a unique QR code which will be scanned directly from a mobile device. For quick and easy entry into Tennessee Athletics venues, fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app from the App Store (iPhone) and Google Play (Android). Your mobile device is the ticket on gameday. All valid digital tickets will display a moving barcode or a hold near reader (tap-and-go) icon. PLEASE NOTE: SCREENSHOTS OF TICKETS WILL NOT SCAN AT THE GATE AND WILL NOT ALLOW ENTRY!

Printed PDF tickets will no longer be issued or accepted for entry at any Tennessee Athletics venue. The only authorized sources for tickets to Tennessee Athletics events are the Tennessee Athletics Ticket Office, AllVols.com, the venue box office where the athletic event is taking place and Ticketmaster.

A complete step-by-step guide on how to best access and use your digital tickets and parking passes, including diagrams and FAQ is available here.

TENNESSEE ATHLETICS APP

Fans are encouraged to download the new and improved Tennessee Athletics App, which houses the GBO Zone, allowing fans to play trivia, take part in stadium light shows and much more. 

Search “Tennessee Athletics” in the Apple or Google Play Store or use this LINK to download.

GAMEDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Vol Village Presented by Toyota: Vol Village presented by Toyota, serves as the ideal spot to view the Vol Walk and the Pride of Southland Band march. Admission is free to all fans with or without a game ticket. Located across from Circle Park, Vol Village features live music, food trucks and beverage stations, interactive displays and fun activities for all ages.

Vol Village will highlight a new artist or band during each home game with a pregame concert series, providing Vol fans with the ultimate pregame atmosphere. Brian Clay will be this week’s featured artist. Vol Village opens at 4:15 p.m. for Saturday’s game.

Truly’s Tailgate: Located outside Gate 9, fans can stop by for food and drinks at Truly’s Tailgate. Fans may enter Truly’s prior to gates opening without having a ticket scanned. When gates open, fans will need to scan their ticket to enter Truly’s.

New to Truly’s this season is the addition of the Vintage Volunteer Shop, where fans can purchase classic gameday merchandise with all their favorite marks and logos.

Truly’s will open at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday and remain open for the majority of the game, giving fans in the south concourse a variety of food, drinks, television entertainment and additional restroom options. Truly’s will close at the end of the third quarter.

For complete gameday information, visit UTsports.com/gameday.

NEED TO KNOW

Defensive Domination
Tennessee’s defense has not surrendered a touchdown in three straight games dating back to last season’s Citrus Bowl victory. That is the longest streak for the Vols since three straight contests in 1985. That year, UT allowed six points to Georgia Tech on Oct. 26 (two field goals), shutout Rutgers on Nov. 2 and held Memphis to seven points on Nov. 9 (blocked punt return for a touchdown). In the FBS this season, the Vols rank fourth in third-down defense (4-26, .154), sixth in total defense (185.0 ypg), 10th in scoring defense (6.5 ppg), 10th in red zone defense (2-4) and 11th in rushing defense (56.5 ypg).

In last week’s 51-10 win over No. 24/23 NC State, UT’s defense limited the Wolfpack to just 143 yards of total offense (104 passing, 39 rushing) – the fewest yards allowed during the Josh Heupel era. NC State was only able to manage 27 yards of offense in the second half. The Big Orange also racked up 13 tackles for loss on the night – the second most in a game during defensive coordinator Tim Banks‘ tenure.

Sampson’s Super Start
Junior running back Dylan Sampson is off to a stellar start to the 2024 campaign. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native enters week three leading the SEC in total rushing yards (256) and rushing yards per game (128.0) while his five rushing touchdowns are tied for first in the league and third nationally.

Dating back to last season, Sampson has posted three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances and has found pay dirt 13 times in his last 14 games played. During last Saturday’s victory over NC State, Sampson posted a career-best 169 all-purpose yards to go along with two touchdowns to lead the Vols to a rout in Charlotte.

Tennessee Tight End Trio Thriving
UT’s tight end room is the deepest it’s been throughout the Heupel era and has shined early and often through two games this season. All three of the Vols’ primary tight ends – Ethan Daivs, Miles Kitselman and Holden Staes – have already reeled in a touchdown catch this year. Both Kitselman and Staes found the end zone in last weekend’s win over the Wolfpack.

Tennessee’s tight ends have recorded at least one receiving touchdown in four straight games dating back to last season’s victory over Vanderbilt. They have combined for six touchdowns during that four-game stretch, including three this season.

The Neyland Effect
Neyland Stadium is once again one of the nation’s most electric environments and toughest places to play for visiting teams. Over the past two seasons, the Vols are 14-1 inside of its confines, outscoring opponents 709-280. In the Josh Heupel era (since 2021), UT is 19-4 at home and has outscored its opponents 1,038-458 with 16 of those wins coming by double digits. Tennessee’s 14 home wins since the start of the 2022 season are tied for third in the nation and tied for second in the SEC.

Neyland Stadium will be sold out for 15th consecutive game on Saturday. UT has ranked in the top five nationally in attendance in each of the last two seasons, ranking No. 3 in total attendance (713,405) and No. 4 in average attendance (101,915) while leading the SEC in attendance in 2023.

SERIES HISTORY

Tennessee vs. Kent State: 0-0-0 (First Meeting)
Saturday will mark the first ever meeting on the gridiron between the Vols and Golden Flashes.

It will be the third time that UT is facing an opponent from the state of Ohio in the Heupel era and the fourth time taking on a MAC opponent in that span. The Vols defeated Bowling Green, 38-6, in Heupel’s first game on Sept. 2, 2021, and also bested Ball State (59-10 in 2022) and Akron (63-6 in 2022).

Tennessee has a 10-0 record against current (MAC) teams: Akron (3-0), Ball State (1-0), Bowling Green (2-0), Buffalo (1-0), Ohio (2-0) and Northern Illinois (1-0).

ABOUT KENT STATE

Kent State is led by head coach Kenni Burns, who is in his second season with the Golden Flashes after serving as the assistant head coach at Minnesota. Kent State returned nine offensive and six defensive starters from last year’s team that finished 1-11.

The wide receiver duo of Luke Floriea and Chrishon McCray has been effective to start this season with a pair of touchdowns each while accounting for 21 of the team’s 37 receptions and 290 of the squad’s 383 yards through the air. Junior quarterback Devin Kargman has played the majority of the snaps under center through two games and has completed 33 of 66 pass attempts for 374 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Junior defensive end Kameron Olds has led the charge defensively for the Golden Flashes with 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, 10 total tackles and a pass breakup. Fellow defensive lineman Stephen Daley has also been effective, posting three TFLs and a sack to go along with 13 tackles and a fumble recovery. Linebackers Rocco Nicholl and Mason Woods enter the game tied for the team lead in tackles with 14 apiece.

Brotherhood Forged In The Trenches
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Brotherhood Forged In The Trenches

Posted on September 14, 2024

Football games are won and lost in the trenches, and Tennessee’s offensive line has become more than a collection of talented athletes. They have created a bond that transcends the field, becoming brothers through the shared sacrifice and relentless hard work needed to win those battles on Saturdays. It’s evident that this unit’s strength lies not only in their physicality, but in the unbreakable camaraderie that has formed in the weight room, practice field and locker room.

A Brotherhood Unlike Any Other

Center Cooper Mays, a fifth-year veteran and preseason first team All-American, perfectly captures the essence of the brotherhood shared among the offensive line.

“It’s a fantastic brotherhood that brings you closer together than any other experience in life,” Mays said. “You see their true sides come out, especially after fall camp and going through the dog days of summer with them. It just brings you closer together.” 

Mays’ words reflect the gritty reality of being an offensive lineman—a role that demands not only physical endurance but trust and loyalty between teammates.

The offensive line is often considered the heart of the team, but it’s a position that doesn’t always receive glory. These players rarely score touchdowns or make it onto highlight reels, yet they play a critical role in every offensive play. The pressure to perform builds strong relationships, as they know they must rely on one another to ensure the success of the drive.

It’s a fantastic brotherhood that brings you closer together than any other experience in life. You see their true sides come out, especially after fall camp and going through the dog days of summer with them. It just brings you closer together.

Cooper Mays

Diverse Backgrounds, Unified Goal

Gearing up for his 40th start this weekend against Kent State, right guard Javontez Spraggins, another key piece of this experienced line, speaks to the diversity within the group and how it has strengthened them.

“We have a bunch of different guys from a bunch of different places, coming together to complete one goal and one purpose,” the fifth-year senior said. “It’s pretty diverse, but when you bring us all together, that camaraderie unites us for one purpose.”

That purpose is clear: winning football games. Tennessee’s offensive line has been a semifinalist in back-to-back years for the Joe Moore Award – which recognizes the best offensive line unit in college football – speaking volumes about the hard work that the Vols’ offensive line and coaching staff has put in. The group has protected and paved the way for one of the top rushing attacks in college football under head coach Josh Heupel.

With four of last year’s starters returning, including Mays, Spraggins, and tackle John Campbell Jr., the group’s chemistry is unmatched. Campbell, now in his seventh collegiate year and second at Tennessee, could have moved on but chose to return, driven by the relationships he’s built in Knoxville.

“I just wanted to stay with the guys, that O-Line room,” Campbell said. “Those are my boys … I love the room; it’s just great people in there. If you see somebody down, they’re going to pick them up. It’s just a brotherhood as an O-Line room. We’re all servants, that’s what we’re held for. I just love to be with those guys.”

Campbell’s decision underscores the depth of the connection these linemen share. More than just teammates, they are brothers in arms, pushing each other through adversity and celebrating each other’s victories.

TUSCALOOSA, AL - October 23, 2021 - Offensive Line Coach Glen Elarbee of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

A Culture of Support

At the helm of the O-Line room fostering this brotherhood is offensive line coach Glen Elarbee. Elarbee has instilled a culture that’s not just X’s and O’s, focusing on building a family atmosphere within the group.

“We talk about it all the time; there’s stuff outside of football that we talk about. There are things in life,” Elarbee explained. “We were in there after chapel the other day, and I was telling them, ‘I know I don’t say it enough, but I love every single one of you in here.'”

We have a bunch of different guys from a bunch of different places, coming together to complete one goal and one purpose. It’s pretty diverse, but when you bring us all together, that camaraderie unites us for one purpose.

Javontez Spraggins

Elarbee’s approach has clearly resonated with his players, many of whom opted to stay at Tennessee for another year rather than pursue professional opportunities. This decision speaks to the atmosphere he’s helped create.

“I think there’s a family in that room, and they enjoy being in it,” Elarbee said. “It’s a healthy, fun environment. When it’s time to get to work, by gosh, it has to happen, but we enjoy playing the game too.”

Once in the family, you are always in the family — as evidenced by Elarbee and Heupel adding Parker Ball, a former Vol offensive lineman, to the staff as a graduate assistant. Elarbee praised Ball’s football intelligence, calling him “the smartest guy in this building.” Ball’s presence not only reinforces the sense of continuity within the unit, but also provides another layer of support for the linemen, further emphasizing the “family” feel of the group.

Off the Field Bonds

Additionally, the best team building happens off the field away from the bright lights and cameras. Whether they’re in the locker room or outside the facility, the O-Line remains inseparable. The group enjoys a good steak at Dayne Davis’ house, EA College Football 25 and fishing along the Tennessee River, among other activities.

This off-field connection is just as crucial to the offensive line’s success as the on-field performance. Football is a demanding sport, both physically and mentally, and having teammates who double as close friends can make all the difference when it comes to maintaining focus and motivation throughout a grueling season.

“We’re always together,” Spraggins said. “Being around each other and the camaraderie, all that makes a difference when you’re coming together on the field to complete a task.”

The Road Ahead

The 2024 season looks like another promising one for this offensive line. The unit boasts a combined 123 collegiate starts, with Spraggins leading the way with 39. Mays has gone 16 consecutive games without allowing a sack and touts 34 career starts in the middle of the trenches. This sustained success is a display of their skill, discipline, and – perhaps most importantly – their chemistry with one another.

Newcomer Lance Heard, a former five-star recruit, adds even more depth to an already loaded unit. After transferring from LSU, where he earned SEC All-Freshman honors, Heard has quickly integrated himself into the line’s culture. Senior Andrej Karic has earned the starting nod at left guard after returning from injury, bringing with him four years of experience at the Power Five level.

With these pieces in place, the Vols’ offensive line looks poised to continue its dominance. But as the players will continue to say, their success isn’t just about talent or technique.

KNOXVILLE, TN - August 31, 2024 - Offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins #76 of the Tennessee Volunteers before the game between the Chattanooga Mocs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

“Look to your left, look to your right, and say, ‘Let’s go.’ That’s just how it is,” Spraggins said. “The coaches know that once we put our five guys out there, we’re going to get the job done.”

For Tennessee’s offensive line, football is more than a game; it’s a shared journey. Through the grind of practice and the heat of competition, they’ve become a unit defined not only by their impressive stats, but by the strength of their relationships. They play for one another, and that connection could be the key to their success as they set their expectations high. Whether it’s in the trenches or around the grill, the bond these linemen share makes them more than just a group of players—it makes them a family.

Alcoa Police Searching for Multiple Arson Suspects after Porch Fire on North Linden

Alcoa Police Searching for Multiple Arson Suspects after Porch Fire on North Linden

Posted on September 13, 2024

Alcoa, TN (WOKI) The Alcoa Police Department is searching for multiple arson suspects after a porch fire on North Linden Street.

APD officials say home surveillance cameras caught the suspects, whom they believe to be juveniles, lighting a bag on fire and throwing it onto the porch of a house on North Linden.

APD says a red truck seen in the video is suspected to be the vehicle in which the suspects drove up to the house and then fled the scene.

You can view the entire surveillance footage here.

Those with information or additional video footage regarding the incident are asked to email Lieutenant Sparks at [email protected] or submit an anonymous tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at (865) 215-7165.

APD believes multiple juvenile suspects were involved in lighting a bag on fire and throwing it on the porch of a house on North Linden. (Courtesy: APD)

‘The Dragon’ in Blount County Reopens After Being Closed Due to Wildfire

‘The Dragon’ in Blount County Reopens After Being Closed Due to Wildfire

Posted on September 13, 2024

UPDATE: The latest update by TDOT on Saturday just before 4 p.m., in on ‘X’; Mark Nagi with TDOT posts US 129 “The Dragon” is now back open.

Blount County, TN (WOKI) A stretch of The Dragon, also known as U.S. 129 and a popular route for drivers in Blount County, has been closed because of a wildfire.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation shut down the road Friday afternoon from the state line to the Chilhowee Dam.

Officials with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office echoing TDOT saying the 11 mile stretch would be closed for an extended time as the fire, which broke out this morning, had jumped the roadway.

There is no word yet on the size or scope of the fire.

Stretch of The Dragon closed due to grass fire, TDOT says.
Kenneth DeHart, Accused in Blount County Deputy’s Death, Could Face Death Penalty

Kenneth DeHart, Accused in Blount County Deputy’s Death, Could Face Death Penalty

Posted on September 13, 2024

(Story courtesy of WVLT News)

Maryville, TN (WVLT) Kenneth DeHart Jr., the man accused of shooting two Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies in February, injuring one and killing the other, could face the death penalty.

The state filed two notices Friday, one seeking the death penalty, saying it will seek the death penalty in the case, which began at the start of the year when DeHart was taken into custody.

According to BCSO, Deputies Shelby Eggers and Greg McCowan stopped DeHart after he was found to be driving erratically. During the stop, the situation escalated, and DeHart shot both deputies, injuring Eggers and killing McCowan, BCSO said.

DeHart was also the subject of a five-day manhunt following the shooting. Several agencies assisted in the search, including the U.S. Marshals, Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and more. DeHart was taken into custody at a Knoxville home following the search.

Following the state’s filing, DeHart’s own legal representative, Stephen Ross Johnson of Ritchie, Davies, Johnson & Stovall, P.C., filed his own motion claiming there were issues in DeHart’s preliminary hearing in February.

Johnson claimed in the filing that DeHart had requested to attain his own counsel, but was not given enough time between his arrest and his preliminary hearing to do so. Johnson said it cost DeHart the chance to adequately seek bail and “move to suppress unconstitutionally obtained evidence” in his case.

After he was taken into custody, Sheriff James Lee Berrong commented, saying DeHart should face the death penalty for his actions.

Also charged in connection to the shooting are DeHart’s girlfriend, Carrie Matthews, DeHart’s brother, Marcus DeHart and a man identified as Maurice Warren. All three of them were charged with accessory after the fact, BCSO said, for assisting DeHart while he was on the run.

In April, DeHart was indicted on 21 counts related to the case.

Kenneth DeHart’s first court appearance. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Suspect in Custody after Sweetwater Shooting, Police Say

Suspect in Custody after Sweetwater Shooting, Police Say

Posted on September 13, 2024

Sweetwater, TN (WOKI) A man is in custody after a shooting in Sweetwater.

Sweetwater Police say it happened in the 400 block of Patton Street on Tuesday.

Police say two men had had a fight, and one had shot the other in the shoulder.

That suspect, Elisha Goins, had left the scene but was found within 30 minutes and taken into custody.

The injured man was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.

Goins is facing one count of aggravated assault and two charges of reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

Elisha Goins (Courtesy: SPD)
Sevierville 11-year-old Battling Rare Virus from Mosquitoes
Courtesy of WVLT

Sevierville 11-year-old Battling Rare Virus from Mosquitoes

Posted on September 12, 2024

An 11 year-old girl in Sevierville is battling a rare virus from mosquitoes.

According to the CDC, less than 100 people in the US are infected with the La Crosse virus each year, with most of the cases coming from kids 16 or under.

Brynlee Henderson is one of only a few in the state who’s been infected so far in 2024. Her symptoms started on August 31st while her family was vacationing in South Carolina, when headaches, fevers, and extreme light sensitivity continued, the family came home and went to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Doctors told the family they believed Brynlee had been infected with the rare virus.

Routine things like eating, drinking, and communicating clearly have been a struggle for the Brynlee due to brain swelling.   She was released from the hospital yesterday (Thursday) but will likely have lingering effects from the La Crosse virus.

A Man is Arrested for Making Threats at a McMinn County School
Courtesy of WVLT

A Man is Arrested for Making Threats at a McMinn County School

Posted on September 12, 2024

A McMinn County man is facing felony charges for making school threats.

The McMinn County Sheriff’s Office says 44-year-old Joshua Webb after they were told a man near Niota Elementary School had made the threat. A Department of Homeland Security agent responded to Webb’s house on County Road 255.

Webb is facing three charges of threats of mass violence, which is a felony in Tennessee.

More Arrests at East Tennessee Schools for Threats of Mass Violence, False Reporting and Arson

More Arrests at East Tennessee Schools for Threats of Mass Violence, False Reporting and Arson

Posted on September 12, 2024

School threats and arrests continue in Knox County Schools.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office responding to five school threats yesterday (Thursday) morning.   A twelve-year-old seventh-grade female student from Cedar Bluff Middle was arrested for threats of mass violence, a twelve-year-old Gibbs middle school female student was arrested for false reports and an 11-year-old, Hardin Valley Middle School female student has been arrested for Threats of Mass Violence. 

The Knox County Sheriff’s Fire and Explosive investigation unit, along with Juvenile Detectives investigating a trash can that was intentionally set on fire at South Doyle High School arrest a 14-year-old male student at the school for Attempted Aggravated Arson, setting fire to personal property, and vandalism.   

Several law enforcement agencies in Roane, Morgan and Loudon Counties are investigating a string of school threats, with several students being taken into custody.

District Attorney General Russell Johnson says waves of posts on social media speculate about what happened at Rockwood High School this week.  A person or group of people have been circulating two “vague and non-specific” posts threatening violence at Rockwood High School, but those posts are four years old by a troubled child.

Johnson also said the person or group who’s dredging up the old posts likely have some animosity towards Roane County law enforcement.

The DA says a Wartburg Elementary School student was charged Wednesday for statements they made in class and a Roane County High School student was charged for making their own statements. Two Cherokee Middle School students were charged, one made a verbal threat and the other falsely reported a threat last week.

SEC Reveals Vol Baseball’s 2025 Conference Schedule
UT Sports

SEC Reveals Vol Baseball’s 2025 Conference Schedule

Posted on September 12, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference announced the 2025 league schedules for all 16 baseball teams Thursday afternoon.

Tennessee, the reigning national champion, has a loaded home slate that features series against Florida (March 14-16), Texas A&M (April 4-6), Kentucky (April 18-20), Auburn (May 2-4) and Vanderbilt (May 9-11) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium this season.

The Vols’ road series include trips to Alabama (March 21-23), South Carolina (March 28-30), Ole Miss (April 11-13), LSU (April 25-27) and Arkansas (May 15-17).

Each of UT’s first three home SEC series—Florida, Texas A&M and Kentucky—will feature a battle between 2024 College World Series participants.

UT’s series against the Gators will be just the second time it has opened its conference slate in Knoxville since 2018 when Tony Vitello took over as head coach.

Eight of the Vols 10 SEC opponents played in an NCAA regional last season, with three of those teams advancing to an NCAA super regional. Tennessee’s showdown with the Aggies on April 4-6 will be a rematch of last year’s CWS final, which saw the Big Orange will two of three games to claim their first-ever national title on the diamond.

The SEC Tournament will once again be held at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama. The tournament will begin on Tuesday, May 20 with the championship game slated to be played on Sunday, May 25.

Tennessee returns 17 letterwinners from last year’s team and welcomed in the nation’s No. 1 ranked signing class by Perfect Game to go along with several high-profile additions from the transfer portal.

The Vols’ full 2025 SEC schedule can be seen below. All series other than the final weekend of conference play are currently scheduled to be played Friday-Sunday but are subject to change to Thursday-Saturday based on television. Those altered series dates will be announced when the TV schedule is released in January or February.

UT’s full 2025 schedule will be released later this fall.

Tennessee Baseball 2025 SEC Schedule

March 14-16: FLORIDA (Knoxville, Tenn.)
March 21-23: at Alabama (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
March 28-30: at South Carolina (Columbia, S.C.)
April 4-6: TEXAS A&M (Knoxville, Tenn.)
April 11-13: at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
April 18-20: KENTUCKY (Knoxville, Tenn.)
April 25-27: at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
May 2-4: AUBURN (Knoxville, Tenn.)
May 9-11: VANDERBILT (Knoxville, Tenn.)
May 15-17: at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)
May 20-25: SEC Tournament (Hoover, Ala.)

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