FORT COLLINS, Colo. – In an effort to ensure the safety of the athletes, coaches, staff members and fans, Triple Crown Sports has announced it will move the 2020 Cancun Challenge to Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Florida.
While the Lady Vols’ 2020-21 schedule hasn’t been released, Kellie Harper‘s squad is among the teams slated to participate in the tournament.
EFSC sits in the heart of Florida’s Space Coast. Located just south of Cape Canaveral, Melbourne is moments away from the Kennedy Space Center and the city’s cultural hub, providing the perfect backdrop for the 2020 edition of the popular Thanksgiving week event.
Games will be played at the Titan Field House, which is home to Eastern Florida’s men’s and women’s basketball programs. The arena seats approximately 1,500 fans, maintaining the classic intimate setting of the Cancun Challenge.
Final details involving hotels, fan packages, tournament field and schedules will be released at a later date. Fans are asked to refrain from booking lodging until team hotel and other amenities are announced.
Thomas Rhett’s 2013 debut album, It Goes Like This, spawned three consecutive No. 1 singles: “It Goes Like This,” “Get Me Some of That” and “Make Me Wanna.”
When TR was planning his 2015 sophomore album, Tangled Up, he knew he needed a lead single that wouldn’t crash and burn. Ironically enough, Thomas Rhett chose to lead off his upcoming album with a single titled “Crash and Burn,” which was penned by Chris Stapleton and Jesse Frasure.
When it was released in April 2015, the R&B-infused break-up song burned a path up the charts, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart by September to become TR’s fourth No. 1.
As TR recently told Kix Brooks of American Country Countdown, “Crash and Burn” is a song that’s still very “close” to him.
“Any [demo] that I get pitched with Chris Stapleton’s voice, I’m more than likely gonna put it on hold in the first place, and then go cry myself to sleep ’cause I can’t sing like [him],” says Thomas Rhett. “And then I’m gonna wake up and figure out how I’m gonna make it my own. From the first time I heard ‘Crash,’ I just knew that I loved the melody and I loved Chris singing it—I didn’t even know what the song was about. Then, when I found out it was a song about heartbreak—it’s like the happiest break-up song that I’ve ever heard—I knew that I had to have it, and everybody at the label loved it. So the next task was, ‘How are we gonna go cut this and, you know, remotely compared to how Stapleton did it?’ So, we cut it, and, obviously, I had to drop it a few keys, but it turned out great, man. Now when I sing it, I feel like I was a co-writer on the song—that’s how close it is to me.”
Thomas Rhett scored his 15th No. 1 single in May 2020 with “Beer Can’t Fix,” which featured Jon Pardi.
Luke Combs’ four year-career on the charts has been nothing short of amazing. It’s also been historic.
Luke’s latest accomplishment? Luke is the first artist in country music history to have his first two albums—This One’s for You and What You See Is What You Get—spend at least 25 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Luke’s 2017 debut album, This One’s for You, has spent 50 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, tying him with Shania Twain’s Come On Over for the all-time record of most weeks at No. 1.
Luke’s 2019 sophomore album, What You See Is What You Get, has spent 25 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
In addition, Luke is the first country artist in history whose first eight singles have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart: “Hurricane,” “When It Rains It Pours,” “One Number Away,” “She Got the Best of Me,” “Beautiful Crazy,” “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “Even Though I’m Leaving” and “Does to Me.”
Of Luke’s eight No. 1 hits on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, seven have had multi-week runs at No. 1. Luke’s 2018 No. 1 hit, “One Number Away,” ruled the chart for one week, while “Beautiful Crazy” reigned for seven weeks in 2019.
Collectively, Luke’s eight singles have spent 25 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
“Hurricane” – 2 weeks at No. 1 (May/June 2017)
“When It Rains It Pours” — 2 weeks at No. 1 (November 2017)
“One Number Away” — 1 week at No. 1 (June 2018)
“She Got the Best of Me” — 4 weeks at No. 1 (October/November 2018)
“Beautiful Crazy” — 7 weeks at No. 1 (March/April 2019)
“Beer Never Broke My Heart” — 2 weeks at No. 1 (August 2019)
“Even Though I’m Leaving” — 5 weeks at No. 1 (November/December 2019/January 2020)
Parmalee has been added to Blake Shelton’s drive-in concert event on July 25. The country quartet will perform at the drive-in movie theater concert as the featured pre-show artist.
Blake’s new, one-night-only concert, which was filmed exclusively for drive-in theaters across North America, is being presented by Encore Live in a new series dubbed Encore Drive-In Nights. Blake’s concert will feature special guests Gwen Stefani and Trace Adkins.
“This is such a great way to enjoy music with your family and friends and stay safe,” said Blake. “I’m excited we’re getting the chance to perform a concert for fans and we’re going to go back and play old hits like ‘Austin,’ newer songs like ‘God’s Country’ and we might even introduce something brand new! So fill up those popcorn tubs and get ready for some country music!”
Eric Church released a new studio performance video for his hard-hitting new single, “Stick That in Your Country Song.”
The new clip features Eric and his crew, including longtime backup singer Joanna Cotten, getting after it in the studio.
Penned by Davis Naish and Jeffrey Steele—and produced by Jay Joyce—“Stick That in Your Country Song” tackles societal issues ranging from guns and drugs to veterans and school teachers. Eric croons the emphatic chorus, “Stick that in your country song / Take that one to number one / Get the whole world singing along / Stick that in your country song.”
“My favorite thing about country music is how it has never been afraid of real life,” said Eric in a release. “For as long as I can remember, it has been the musical compass of reality in the world. Our music needs more of that. Real people, real lives, real places. That’s what this song is. It’s about people from the front line to the food line. And it also happens to kick like a f***ing mule.”
“Stick That in Your Country Song” is currently No. 33 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after three weeks.
Watch Eric’s new studio performance video for “Stick That in Your Country Song” below.
With the decisions by the Big 10 and Pac 12 to play conference-only football this season, it’s sparked the questions on if the other three Power 5 conferences will follow-suit.
What would a 10-game conference schedule look like in the SEC? I think adding 2021 and 2022 crossover opponents to the existing 8-game conference schedules would be the easiest, fairest solution.
21-22 crossovers UF: vs. Ala at TAM UGA: vs. Ark at MSU UK: vs. LSU at OM Mizz: vs. TAM at Aub SC: vs. Aub at Ark UT: vs. OM at LSU VU: vs. MSU at Ala
Ala: at UF vs. VU Ark: at UGA vs. SC Aub: at SC vs. Miz LSU: at UK vs. UT MSU: at VU vs. UGA OM: at UT vs. UK TAM: at Miz vs. UF
I think conferences just playing teams within their conference that have the same health and safety guidelines and protocols is the most likely scenario. However, some want to see conference-only with a plus-one out of conference.
Bo Nix (10) throws a touchdown in the first half. Auburn football at Florida on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019 in Gainesville, FL Todd Van Emst/AU Athletics
SEC schools that have long-time non-conference ACC rivals have expressed the desire to maintain those games, even if the rest of the non-conference games are canceled.
The question is, how do you do that when only 4 of the 14 SEC teams have that ACC rivalry game?
Florida/Florida State South Carolina/Clemson Georgia/Georgia Tech Kentucky/Louisville
Any solutions to that question will almost certainly not involve any school outside of the Power 5 conferences. These decisions to cancel non-conference games are, in part, about consistency in COVID-19 procedures to assure safety to not put schools and their seasons in jeopardy because of smaller budget schools that can’t test as well (if at all) and come with an unknown on safety measures. Bottom line, even if schools are close in proximity, Group of 5 or FCS schools are highly unlikely as plus-one opponents.
My first thought on how to fill the plus-one non-conference game exception for the other 10 SEC teams was to look into the ACC. There are two problems with that. Notre Dame’s 6 scheduled games with ACC teams complicates things. Would the ACC have their 8 schools that aren’t playing Notre Dame schedule an additional ACC opponent or allow them to add a Power 5 school out of conference? Adding a conference game would make the ACC games unequal. That could be messy unless the rest of the schools get to add someone outside the conference from the P5. Another issue is, if you take the Notre Dame opponents off the table, there are very few matchups that make geographical sense when paired with the SEC.
Here’s one example of what I came up with to fill-out the plus-one for the 10 remaining SEC teams.
Notre Dame scheduled 2020 ACC opponents off the table: Wake Forest, Pittsburgh, Duke, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Louisville
Miss State/NC State (already scheduled) Tennessee/North Carolina Auburn/Florida State Alabama/Miami LSU/Virginia Tech Ole Miss/Virginia Vanderbilt/Boston College Missouri/Syracuse —————————— Arkansas/Notre Dame (already scheduled) Texas A&M/??? (a state of Texas Big 12 school, if available)
Not great no matter how you switch the pairings, right?
What’s a fun, clean solution to a plus-one format that keeps the four SEC/ACC non-conference rivalries intact by filling out that extra game for the other 10 SEC schools?
The Big 12.
The SEC needs to find that plus-one for the remaining 10 schools. The Big 12 has 9 conference games among their 10 schools. If they want to be level with the Big 10 and likely other P5 conferences by playing 10 games, they’ll need a dance partner from the P5s to get to 10 games. 10 teams needing games from each conference. Oh, and then there’s the fact that there are already as many games vs. Big 12 teams on SEC schedules in 2020 as there are ACC rivals, 4. Perfect.
Here’s what my 2020 SEC/Big 12 Football 10-Game Challenge proposal looks like.
Tennessee/Oklahoma (already scheduled) LSU/Texas (already scheduled) Ole Miss/Baylor (already scheduled) Vanderbilt/Kansas State (already scheduled) Missouri/Kansas Arkansas/TCU Texas A&M/Texas Tech Miss State/Iowa State Alabama/Oklahoma State
Auburn/West Virginia
Maintaining the four scheduled SEC/Big 12 matchups would be great. I think Tennessee traveling to Oklahoma would be safer and more likely than a much closer G5 opponent. If other P5 conference schools are deemed safe, the little bit farther travel shouldn’t change things.
The last 6 from each conference are the only ones I had to pair-up. Here’s my thinking on each with what I considered.
Missouri and Kansas are restarting their rivalry in the future, but why pass-up on dusting that off this fall? They haven’t played since 2011. But they’ve had 120 all-time meetings. Game history of the other 5 Big 12 schools: West Virginia (last year) Oklahoma State (2018) TCU (1990) Texas Tech (2011) Iowa St (2011 – 104 times)
Arkansas is an easy pairing with any of their old conference foes, but I went with the closest school, TCU. The Horned Frogs and the Razorbacks have played 70 times, the last coming in 2017. Game history of the other 5 Big 12 schools: West Virginia (never) Oklahoma State (future schedule) Texas Tech (2015) Iowa St (1973 – once) Kansas (1906)
Texas A&M and Texas Tech is another match-up that makes geographic sense. The Aggies and the Red Raiders also have squared off 70 times in their history. Their last meeting was 2011. Game history of the other 5 Big 12 schools: West Virginia (2014 – once) Oklahoma State (2019 – bowl game) TCU (2001 – 92 times) Iowa St (2011) Kansas (2011)
After I paired the 3 above fairly easily, that left me with Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State from the SEC versus Oklahoma State, West Virginia and Iowa State from the Big 12 to finish the puzzle.
Mississippi State and Iowa State have never played, while the Bulldogs have had prior meetings with the Cowboys and Mountaineers, so they come together next. Game history of the other 5 Big 12 schools: West Virginia (2007) Oklahoma State (2013) TCU (1936 – once) Texas Tech (1970) Kansas (1981 – once)
Alabama has West Virginia on their beefy future schedules, so I gave the Crimson Tide the Cowboys, who they’ve only played once all-time (2006.) Game history of the other 5 Big 12 schools: West Virginia (future schedule) TCU (1975) Texas Tech (2006 – once) Iowa State (2001 – once) Kansas (never)
That leaves Auburn with West Virginia. Those two have played just twice, most recently in 2009. Oklahoma State was a strong consideration since they’ve never played, but that would give Alabama the Mountaineers again. I’m sure Nick Saban wouldn’t mind WVU (his home state and an easier opponent,) but I went the other way. If you flip-flopped those last two, I’m good with that too. Game history of the other 5 Big 12 schools: Oklahoma State (never) TCU (1981) Texas Tech (1954- once) Iowa State (never) Kansas (1988)
This plus-one format would either be a 9th game with 8 SEC opponents or a 10th game with the 8 scheduled SEC games and the 2021 crossover added as the 9th game. No plus-one with rival games in 2020 in a 10-game SEC-only schedule with 2021 and 2022 crossover opponents is another option as well.
I know, it’s unlikely, but while I worked on this and while you read it, we both were able to think more about football match-ups rather than…well, you know.
DALLAS – Tennessee sophomore Eric Gray has been named to the watch list for the 2020 Doak Walker Award, which is presented to the nation’s top collegiate running back, the SMU Athletic Forum announced on Wednesday.
Gray, a native of Memphis, closed the 2019 season in spectacular fashion, racking up 366 yards and four touchdowns in the final two games of the year. He earned most valuable player honors of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl with a game-high 120 yards rushing, the game-winning score and the recovery of a key onside kick.
Gray finished his freshman campaign with 539 yards rushing on 101 carries to go along with 13 receptions and five total scores. Off the field, Gray earned SEC Academic Honor Roll accolades as a kinesiology major.
The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will name 10 semifinalists in November, and three finalists, as voted on by the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee.
The committee will cast a second vote in December to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of past recipients, former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives. The recipient of the 2020 Doak Walker Award will be announced live on The Home Depot College Football Awards.
2020 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Brent Cimaglia, Sr., PK
All-SEC First Team (Athlon, College Football News, Phil Steele)
Eric Gray, So., RB
Doak Walker Award Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
Velus Jones Jr., Sr., WR/RS
All-SEC Third Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Trey Smith, Sr., OL
First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Sporting News)
Second-Team All-American (Walter Camp)
All-SEC First Team (Athlon, College Football News, Phil Steele)
Bryce Thompson, Jr., DB
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Henry To’o To’o, So., LB
Bednarik Award Watch List
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
Tennessee Volunteers basketball sophomore guard Josiah-Jordan James recently spoke to the media via Zoom video conference. You can watch that in full below, courtesy of UT Athletics.
He talked about adjusting to Rick Barnes’ tough coaching, getting healthy, use of yoga to improve his body, high praise for his new teammates and now eligible Victor Bailey, how he’s been impacted by the positive Covid-19 tests of some of his teammates and much more.
Josiah-Jordan James – UT guard / Credit: UT Athletics
Brad Paisley headlined a unique three-day concert event in St. Louis, Nashville and Indianapolis on July 10, 11 and 12.
The shows, dubbed Live From the Drive-In, featured a varied lineup in each city consisting of Brad, Darius Rucker, Jon Pardi, El Monstero, Yacht Rock Revue and Nelly.
Brad’s Nashville performance from the Nissan Stadium parking lot on July 11 was live-streamed for free on his Facebook page. Viewers had the option of making a donation to The Store, which they did to the tune of $26,000.
“I’m told that those of you who hit the tip jar on our @facebook live broadcast from the Nashville show raised 26k for @thestore_nashville!!” said Brad on Instagram. “Thank you! I know these are trying times, thank you for helping to feed people. #liveatthedrivein”
Brad and wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley teamed with Belmont University and Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee to open The Store—a free grocery store that serves individuals and families experiencing food insecurities and financial hardship.
The Store, which opened in March 2020, operates as a year-round free grocery store that allows people to shop for their basic needs. Clients are given the opportunity to come to The Store for a one-year period. There is no charge to those referred or to the people and agencies that send them. They may shop for food to supplement their income during times of crisis and as they work toward self-sufficiency.
Brad and Kimberly were inspired to get involved in the Nashville project after volunteering at a similar organization, Unity Shoppe, in Santa Barbara, Calif.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Year two of the Kellie Harper era is fast-approaching, and Lady Vol basketball season tickets for the eagerly-awaited 2020-21 season are on sale now.
Excitement is high, as Tennessee returns three starters and eight total letterwinners from last season’s 21-10 squad. That nucleus helped UT tie for third in the SEC and put itself in position for an NCAA Tournament bid.
By visiting AllVols.com, Big Orange fans can select from a variety of season ticket options starting as low as $115. The popular Lady Vol Pass ticket option also returns this season at a rate of $125. Both the season ticket package and the Lady Vol Pass will include the highly-anticipated Revival Series match-up between Tennessee and UConn.
Our 2019-20 season ticket holders are able to renew their season tickets now by visiting AllVols.com or by clicking here. The deadline to renew season tickets for the 2020-21 season is Friday, July 31.
New this year is a benefit for fans who renew season tickets or make new ticket purchases and opt to pay via eCheck prior to the July 31 deadline. By paying via eCheck, purchasers will receive two complimentary tickets to one 2020-21 home game (excluding UConn). Fans who pay via eCheck will receive an email later this fall with information regarding how to redeem the complimentary ticket offer. For the first time, season ticket and Lady Vol Pass purchases prior to July 31 can also be made by utilizing a payment plan option.
Thus far, only the date for the home game with UConn has been announced. That contest is slated to take place on Jan. 21. The complete non-conference schedule and SEC slate will be released when all contests are confirmed.
The Lady Vols return a talented trio of starters in 6-2 All-SEC senior guard/forward Rennia Davis (18.0 ppg., 8.2 rpg., 2.5 apg.), 6-1 junior guard/forward Rae Burrell (10.5 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 21 3FGs) and 6-5 sophomore center Tamari Key (7.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg., 2.8 bpg.). Sophomore Jordan Horston, a 6-2 SEC All-Freshman guard (10.5 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 4.6 apg.) who started 22 contests a year ago, could be considered a fourth returning starter due to her extensive experience.
Also back are 6-4 senior center Kasiyahna Kushkituah (5.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 49% FG, 31 games played), 5-8 sophomore guard Jessie Rennie (2.7 ppg., 25 3FGs, 46% 3FG, 30 games played), 6-3 redshirt senior forward Jaiden McCoy (2.7 ppg., 1.8 rpg., 26 games played) and 6-5 sophomore center Emily Saunders (3.7 ppg., 2.2 rpg., 1.0 bpg., 71% FG, 10 games played).
The Lady Vols have at their ready five of their top six scorers and rebounders from 2019-20, including the top four in each category. The team welcomes back 80.8 percent of its scoring, 76.4 percent of rebounding, 78.6 percent of blocks, 71.0 percent of steals and 64.8 percent of assists from last year’s squad. The Big Orange women also retained 80.6 percent of their field goals, including 73.3 percent of their three-pointers, and 84.8 percent of free throws from a year ago.
The returning cast will be joined by Keyen Green (13.9 ppg., 7.5 rpg., 59% FG), a first-team All-ASUN graduate transfer forward/center from Liberty, who should bolster UT’s inside presence. The Lady Vols’ three-member rookie class includes 6-0 guard Destiny Salary (four-star prospect, #57 by espnW HoopGurlz), 6-1 guard/forward Tess Darby (#86 by Blue Star Media, four-star prospect by ProspectsNation.com, three-star prospect by espnW HoopGurlz) and 6-2 guard/forward Marta Suárez (a four-star prospect by Blue Star Europe).
