John Adams: Lady Vols win regional and bring back memories

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee's only softball shortcoming Sunday afternoon was seating.

Wilkins learning about the in-state Vols - Tennessee [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Lady Vols win regional and bring back memories

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee's only softball shortcoming Sunday afternoon was seating.

Poll: UT opening practice off campus is...

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

"Antone Davis"

Source: The Volunteer Historian by Tom Mattingly

Saw former Vol offensive lineman Antone Davis (1987-90) at a West Knoxville eatery tonight.

The young man from Fort Valley, Ga., fresh off a stint on the "Biggest Loser," seemed in good spirits.

He was part of a dominating offensive line that helped pave the way for SEC titles in 1989 and 1990. He won the 1990 Jacobs Trophy as the SEC's best blocker, following fellow Vols Harry Galbreath (1987) and Eric Still (1989).

As good a player as he was, he is a much better person.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Kara Lawson, Sun to make donations to Pat Summitt Foundation

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Former Tennessee star Kara Lawson and the WNBA's Connecticuct Sun will donate $100 to the Pat Summitt Foundation for every 3-pointer Lawson makes this season.

Lady Vols sweep Virginia Tech to advance to Super Regionals

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee advanced to the NCAA softball Super Regionals by sweeping both regional games against Virginia Tech on Sunday at Lee Stadium.

UT forces 2nd game with Va. Tech for regional title

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

The Tennessee softball team forced a decisive game in the NCAA regional Sunday afternoon, defeating Virginia Tech 2-1 at Lee Stadium.

Tennessee vs Virginia Tech Softball Regional Final Live Thread

Source: Rocky Top Talk by Will Shelton

So, the Lady Vol softball team, seeded 7th overall in this year's NCAA Tournament, put themselves in a hole on Friday night in Knoxville. A 1-0 loss to Miami (OH) put the Lady Vols in the loser's bracket right away in the Knoxville Regional, meaning it would take four straight wins to advance to the Super Regionals. They got the first two yesterday, run-ruling both UAB (8-0 in 5 innings) and Miami (8-0 in 6 innings). That puts them in the regional finals today, where they'll face ACC Tournament Champion Virginia Tech and must beat them twice to advance. The Hokies bounced the Lady Vols in Knoxville in this exact scenario in 2008: Tennessee won the first game 7-1, but Virginia Tech responded with a 4-2 win in game two to end

Will Ngakoue see the Vols again? - Tennessee [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Sparks' Parker intent on staying healthy

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

LOS ANGELES — Scoring and rebounding come easily for Candace Parker, the Los Angeles Sparks' star who averaged 19.3 points and 9.1 boards a game in the last two seasons.

Lady Vols softball avoids elimination

Source: The Tennessean

The Tennessee Lady Vols softball team scored consecutive run-rule victories in loser-go-home games, defeating UAB 8-0 in five innings and Miami (Ohio) 8-0 in six innings.

Lady Vols stay alive in NCAA regional

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Backs to the wall, the Tennessee softball team came out swinging at the NCAA Regional on Saturday at Lee Stadium to avoid elimination.

John Adams: Vols have to play catch-up before they will be a step ahead

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Dave Serrano talked about being a step ahead Saturday on the same evening that his Tennessee team finished behind every other baseball program in the SEC.

Zack Godley's start can't stop UT loss

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

A breakout campaign wasn't going to end with one pitch in a bullpen session.

M. Golf. Vols Finish 6th at Stanford Regional

Source: Volunteers Official Site

Turns out it didn't quite matter, but Garrick Porteous' 90-degree lip-out birdie putt on the 18th green Saturday summed up Tennessee's final round here at the NCAA Stanford Regional.

Hokies advance to regional title game, 6-1

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

The irony of Virginia Tech's NCAA regional run at Lee Stadium isn't lost on Hokies coach Scot Thomas.

Vols fail to advance in NCAA golf

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

While Rick Lamb gained ground, Tennessee lost an all-important spot at the Stanford Regional on Saturday and failed to qualify for the NCAA championships.

Baseball. Vols Drop Season Finale to #18 Arkansas

Source: Volunteers Official Site

After Tennessee got a clutch two-out, two-RBI single from Parker Wormsley to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, Arkansas responded with six unanswered runs to fend off the Vols, 8-2.

Mike Strange: Q&A with UT Vice Chancellor/Athletic Director Dave Hart

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Mike Strange visited with University of Tennessee Vice chancellor/athletic director Dave Hart on a wide range of topics.

Baseball. Vols Drop Season Finale to No. 18 Arkansas

Source: Volunteers Official Site

After Tennessee got a clutch two-out, two-RBI single from Parker Wormsley to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, Arkansas responded with six unanswered runs to fend off the Vols, 8-2.

Lady Vols stay alive, face Miami (Ohio)

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee advanced to Saturday night's NCAA softball regional elimination game by run-ruling UAB, 8-0, Saturday afternoon at Lee Stadium.

"The Joys of Advancing Geezerdom"

Source: The Volunteer Historian by Tom Mattingly

There's nothing like a quiet Saturday, away from the hustle and bustle of the things that, by necessity, have to go on during the week.

Did remember that fall Saturdays were often hectic, often stretching into the early hours of Sunday morning, sometimes well beyond.

The day might start in Birmingham or Memphis, maybe even in Los Angeles or Boston.

All you had to worry about was getting on the bus to the stadium and getting back on the bus after the game. Oops, there was a game to be worked, often watched through a pair of binoculars at John Ward's right hand, maybe even for Bob Bell, Randy Smith, or Tom Hammond (at Notre Dame in 2001).

Haywood Harris added the coaches' perspective for a column called the "Majors Memo" or the "Fulmer File." Had things turned out differently, there could have been a column entitled "Kiffin's Korner" or "Dooley's Discourses," given his legal background.

Things are much calmer now, in the summer and in the fall.

Life does not revolve around football, considerably less hectic. Still miss working the visitor's dressing room.

It's still fun to watch the games, many times with Mrs. Historian in Section OO, occasionally accompanied by grandson Gavin McManus.

Ah, the joys of advancing geezerdom.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

JUCO defensive back has ties to the Vols - Tennessee [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Govols247: Reinstated Kenny Hall re-earning respect

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Kenny Hall isn’t just back on the Tennessee men’s basketball team. The senior forward is back and playing as well as just about anyone on the team, according to coach Cuonzo Martin.

Jay Greeson: SEC-Big 12 deal rivals Rose Bowl for power play

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Be it for political or peer pressure, college football was headed for a playoff. You knew it; I knew it; even Smokey knew it.

Miami-Ohio upsets Lady Vols in NCAA softball opener

Source: The Tennessean

Miami (Ohio) stunned No. 5-ranked UT on Friday, winning a 1-0 pitchers' duel to drop the Lady Vols into the loser's bracket of the NCAA regional in Knoxville.

Dooley: UT recruiting on track despite staff turnover

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

JOHNSON CITY -- Tennessee's football coaches felt early last fall that they had finally caught up and gotten back on track with their recruiting efforts.

Miami (Ohio) shuts down Lady Vols, 1-0

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee's talent has not been in question this softball season. The Lady Vols grit and resolve, however, has at times been doubted.

Will Maddox an embodiment of toughness in Vols' loss

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Stopping the blood coming from the mouth of Will Maddox was relatively easy.

M. Golf. Vols Fifth but Not Home Free

Source: Volunteers Official Site

Tennessee placed itself in prime position to advance through the NCAA Stanford Regional, shooting a 7-under-par 273 Friday to climb into fifth place.

More SEC track honors for Annie Alexander, Ellen Wortham

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Tennessee seniors Annie Alexander and Ellen Wortham picked up more SEC track and field honors Friday.

Vols make a move in NCAA regional golf

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Led by Rick Lamb, Tennessee moved up the leaderboard Friday at the NCAA Stanford Regional. Now the Vols have to hold their ground.

Virginia Tech tops UAB, 4-1

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

When Virginia Tech coach Scott Thomas was asked if his program intended on bringing its band to Lee Stadium for the NCAA regionals, he thought to himself he'd like to bring heavy metal rock band Metallica.

Baseball. Vols Fall 10-3 to No. 18 Arkansas

Source: Volunteers Official Site

No. 18 Arkansas used a six-run sixth inning to propel itself to a 10-3 victory over Tennessee on Friday evening at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

M. Track. SEC Announces Track & Field Awards

Source: Volunteers Official Site

The SEC announced its 2012 outdoor track & field awards on Friday, and UT grabbed a pair of major honors and placed five student-athletes on the various all-star teams.

Tennessee Football: 10 Things to Work on over the Summer

Source: Bleacher Report NCAAF

This could truly be the season the Volunteers turn around their misfortune and begin winning some serious football games.  After all, it’s been four years since the Volunteers have won a bowl game or double-digit games.

This could be a great season as they return a total of 19 starters and have a bunch of young talent at nearly every position.

With spring practice over, the Volunteers will turn their focus to fall camp and the regular season.

Although this team is very talented and may be flying the radar, there are still questions this team has to answer before they truly become that surprise team that many Tennessee fans believe they can be.

Here are 10 things the Volunteers have to work on during the summer.

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Video: Top 20 Roundtable -- Georgia

Source: SEC Football Blog

College Football Live's panel of experts preview Georgia's upcoming season.

"Another Out-of-the-Box Practice Routine"

Source: The Volunteer Historian by Tom Mattingly

The announcement that Tennessee would be spending a week or so at Milligan College brought back memories of another out-of-the-box practice routine that occurred in the SEC Championship season of 1997.

Sometime during Florida game week that season, the powers-that-be decided to go to Gainesville a day early, on Thursday instead of Friday. That's what happened.

Whatever the reasons for the extra day might have been, the results weren't good. That decision gave Steve Spurrier another weapon in his motivational bag of tricks. That's something you didn't want to have happen.

The Gators won 33-20, but the Vols did end up winning the SEC East when the Gators "backed out" of the title by losing a couple after beating the Vols. Tennessee, for its part, didn't lose again the rest of the way.

Tennessee ultimately won the SEC crown after beating Auburn at the Georgia Dome.

A week at Milligan during fall camp might be perceived by some as better than an extra night in Gainesville during game week.

Who knows?

WNML's Heather Harrington opined this a.m. that this was just another ply to keep the media guessing about what goes on in practice anyway. That conspiracy theory was quickly shot down by her co-hosts Mickey Dearstone and Jeff Jacoby.

Would guess that most media covering the Vols will get whatever they need about practice from the usual sources. They might have to drive a little farther, but these things always seem to work out one way or the other.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Rebels lose Nickolas Brassell to grades

Source: SEC Football Blog

Nickolas Brassell was in a deep enough hole academically when Hugh Freeze took the Ole Miss job back in December that Freeze never counted on having Brassell on the field next season. Sure, Freeze was always hopeful and did all he could to help Brassell, one of the most dynamic freshmen in the SEC last season, but the official word came down Friday. Ole Miss announced that Brassell was academically ineligible and would transfer. Brassell, who became the first Ole Miss player since 1988 to start on both offense and defense, missed all but a few practices this spring to try and get his academics in order.

Rebels lose Brassell to grades

Source: SEC Football Blog

Nickolas Brassell was in a deep enough hole academically when Hugh Freeze took the Ole Miss job back in December that Freeze never counted on having Brassell on the field next season. Sure, Freeze was always hopeful and did all he could to help Brassell, one of the most dynamic freshmen in the SEC last season, but the offcial word came down Friday. Ole Miss announced that Brassell was academically ineligible and would transfer. Brassell, who became the first Ole Miss player since 1988 to start on both offense and defense, missed all but a few practices this spring to try and get his academics in order.

Video: SEC-Big 12 bowl game

Source: SEC Football Blog

Chris Low discusses the new SEC-Big 12 bowl game.

Video: One Good Thing -- Ole Miss

Source: SEC Football Blog

Edward Aschoff discusses how new Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze took big steps to improving things off the field for the Rebels.

GatorNation links: Top targets countdown

Source: SEC Football Blog

Derek Tyson and Jeff Barlis write: There are six or seven spots left in Florida's 2013 class and a few needs to fill. Some of the top prospects in the nation are considering the Gators, and it would be difficult to turn them away. GatorNation is ranking the top 12 uncommitted prospects for Florida over the next six weekdays, two-a-day style. No. 12 | No. 11 Michael DiRocco writes: ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach sees brighter days ahead for the Florida football team, which is why he has the Gators ranked No.

Bud Ford files breach of contract claim against UT

Source: Knoxville News Sentinel

Retired University of Tennessee sports information director Bud Ford has filed a claim against UT for breach of contract.

Take Two: SEC-Big 12 partnership

Source: SEC Football Blog

The days of the Rose Bowl being the bowl of bowls could soon be coming to an end now that the SEC and the Big 12 have agreed on a five-year bowl partnership. The new deal, announced Friday, will have the champions of the Big 12 and SEC meet in a New Year's Day bowl game annually beginning with the 2014 season. So while it won’t have the tradition of the Rose Bowl, it’ll have the viewers and it’ll have the popularity. We’re seeing more and more how power is truly the most important component in college football, and this is a great example.

Schedule analysis: Auburn

Source: SEC Football Blog

Today, we dissect Auburn's schedule as the Tigers enter the 2012 season with a new offensive coordinator and new defensive coordinator: Nonconference opponents (with 2011 records) Sept. 1: vs. Clemson (10-4), in Atlanta Sept. 15: Louisiana-Monroe (4-8) Nov. 3: New Mexico State (4-9) Nov. 17: Alabama A&M (8-4) SEC home games Sept. 22: LSU Oct. 6: Arkansas Oct. 27: Texas A&M Nov. 10: Georgia SEC road games Sept. 8: at Mississippi State Oct.