Meyer, Tebow, Richt, Snead, Saban... they have all come and gone. Time to edit some material for tonight's shows. Tune into WATE-TV6 Sports at 6 and 11 for complete coverage from Hoover!
It's the final day here in Hoover. The Vols will make their appearance at the Wynfrey Hotel just after 10am local time.
The non-Knoxville media is convinced that new Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin is going to give them all sorts of great copy/soundbites. They are expecting him to talk trash about rival teams and coaches.
Probably not going to happen. SEC commissioner Mike Slive has these guys on a very short leash this week.
I'd be stunned if Kiffin comes up with any "Urban cheated" comments...
This was worth the price of admission... well, at least worth the meal money.
This morning South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier apologized, admitting that he was the one that picked Ole Miss quarterback Jevon Snead over Florida's Tim Tebow in the preseason SEC coaches voting.
Spurrier said that his director of operations filled out the sheet, he looked at it quickly, and said the list looked fine. Spurrier apologized to Tebow and Florida for the error, saying that he takes full responsibilities.
Today Spurrier officially changed his selection...
On Tuesday I made the trip to Ooltewah to interview future Tennessee Vols defensive end Jacques Smith. He is one of the most articulate high school athletes I've ever interviewed.
He also appears to be the Vols top recruit in the Class of 2010.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on August 11, 2009 - 10:49pm
The latest from the Associated Press... on the new media policy the SEC is hoping to implement this season. The media has taken serious umbrage with this thing...
Submitted by Mark Nagi on August 28, 2009 - 3:32pm
Later tonight Hardin Valley Academy will play their first varsity home football game. The Hawks are hosting West.
Win or lose, this will be a historic moment for that school.
Head coach Wes Jones has done a nice job over the past couple of years, taking kids that orginally were slated to go to Farragut, Bearden or Karns, and made them into their own team.
Sunday night at 11pm on WATE-TV6 Sports, we will air a behind the scenes look at this game... be sure to tune in.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 4, 2009 - 9:03am
After more than nine months, college football season makes its return to Knoxville.
It's been perhaps the most eventful off season in the history of Tennessee's program. New coaches, new players, stadium renovations... these aren't your fathers Volunteers. I've been asked a few times what I think the Vols will do this season.
Yes, they are talented, but they are also young at some key spots. They will take some lumps in the SEC.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 7, 2009 - 10:59pm
Tennessee and UCLA have played 14 times in a series that began in 1965. But I always think about the matchup that nearly happened between the Vols and the Bruins.
In 1998 (the first year of the BCS), Tennessee, UCLA and Kansas State all played on the final day of the regular season. They were each undefeated.
Kansas State ended up losing in double overtime of the Big 12 Championship Game, while the Vols rallied for a victory in the SEC Championship Game.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 12, 2009 - 7:49pm
The Vols/UCLA game has been over for less than 20 minutes, and I am already reading tweets and facebook messages from Vols fans, saying that the 2009 Tennessee football season is done.
Of course, they still have a minimum of 10 games left to play, but that is besides the point. Will Tennessee respond to their 19-15 loss to the Bruins with a win at top-ranked Florida next weekend?
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 16, 2009 - 9:19pm
The first game I ever saw inside Neyland Stadium was back in 1994. The Vols hosted top-ranked Florida.
The Gators were sooooo much better than the Vols on that day. 31-0 was the final...
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 19, 2009 - 10:13pm
Last week I was asked by a friend if I would be going to Gainesville for the Tennessee/Florida game. I said no, 6 Sports Director Jim Wogan would be making the trip south.
Even if Jim had decided not to go, there was no way I’d be there. My wife Jennifer was in the motherly way, and had a due date of September 28th.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 26, 2009 - 3:07pm
Boys and Girls,
If you don't want to shell out the bucks to watch the Vols and Ohio on pay-per-view, and if you have lost your poncho and decide to stay home, we have you covered.
I'll be blogging about the game, right here at marknagi.com.
The SEC kind of frowns upon any kind of live blogging about games... so I'll be updating key moments, as they happen...
Check back often starting at 7pm... at marknagi.com!
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 26, 2009 - 7:18pm
Some major empty pockets in the stands at Neyland Stadium, and that is not a major surprise. The weather and the opponent (Ohio) combining to make the less than capacity attendance a reality.
6 Sports Director Jim Wogan is at the game, and tweets that there might be 65,000 in the house.
The Bobcats kicked off to Tennessee, and the Vols started things on their own 31 yard line.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 26, 2009 - 7:51pm
With Ohio leading 14-7, Tennessee goes for it on fourth and one from the Ohio 21. Crompton... play action, fakes to Hardesty... who makes the catch, and runs it down to the Ohio 3.
On the very next play, Crompton throws the fade, hits Brandon Warren for the touchdown. Game tied at 14.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 26, 2009 - 8:18pm
Terrible, terrible call by Ohio. On 3rd and 29, deep in their own territory, the Bobcats call a screen pass.
Tennessee's Chris Walker not fooled. He picks off the pass, runs it 7 yards into the end zone... Vols now on top 21-14 with 7:23 remaining in first half.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 26, 2009 - 8:44pm
Halftime at Neyland Stadium. Vols leads Ohio 24-17.
Crompton made a great pass to Denarius Moore, down to the Ohio 20. That put them in field goal range for Daniel Lincoln, who makes a 38 yard field goal.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 26, 2009 - 9:30pm
Time to start editing.... Vols leading Ohio 24-20 in the middle of third quarter. Highlights tonight after 11pm (we are showing the Penn State/Iowa game) on WATE-TV6.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on September 30, 2009 - 10:18am
Right now there is no one in Knoxville receiving more grief than Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton.
Through four games, he has eight interceptions. The Vols passing attack has been so limited in effectiveness that some fans are calling for UT to bring back the wishbone.
We all know this isn't what Tennessee had in mind. You know what? Tennessee isn't what Crompton had in mind either.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on October 8, 2009 - 10:26am
On Saturday Tennessee and Georgia will play at Neyland Stadium, and rarely has this game been so far off the national radar. Neither team is ranked in the top 25. Neither team has a realistic shot to win the SEC East.
Both teams share something in common... disgruntled fan bases.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on October 22, 2009 - 7:21pm
Today the Florida rivalry is tops to a majority of Vols fans, but few football rivalries can complete with the history, the tradition, the respect and dis-respect of Tennessee/Alabama.
The series started all the way back in 1901. The Crimson Tide currently hold a 46-38-7 advantage.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on October 30, 2009 - 1:19am
Steve Spurrier.
Just the mere whisper of the name of the Johnson City native used to give Vols fans the chills, because from 1993-1997, Spurrier owned the Vols.
The quietest I ever heard Neyland Stadium was in 1996, after Tennessee fell behind 7-0 on the opening drive against the Gators. Spurrier turned down the chance at a long field goal in the rain, instead going for it on 4th and 11. Danny Weurfell hit Reidel Anthony for a touchdown, and the UT crowd was immediately silenced. Florida would eventually take a 35-0 lead, and win 35
Submitted by Mark Nagi on November 6, 2009 - 5:30pm
I've never been able to explain to my friends up north just how large a state Tennessee is.
Memphis and Knoxville share the same "TN" after the comma, but the cities are as far apart, and as different as can be... as are the football programs that represent their respective universities.
(Editor's note. Using the word "as" four times in one sentence...
Submitted by Mark Nagi on November 10, 2009 - 9:49pm
Ok, I’ll admit it. I believe there is some truth to a few of the popular conspiracy theories. Not the one that says 9/11 was planned and executed by the White House, and not the one that maintains the moon landing was really shot in a Hollywood studio.
But in 2009, when it comes to the charges that the Southeastern Conference has made sure Florida and Alabama would play for the league championship?
Submitted by Mark Nagi on November 12, 2009 - 9:27pm
I have gone back and forth on this prediction all week.
The Vols had momentum heading to Oxford. They had won three out of four games, including a 56-28 pounding of Memphis. A defeat so devastating Tommy West lost his job immediately thereafter.
Then three Vols freshman football players, Mike Edwards, Nu'Keese Richardson and Janzen Jackson, were arrested early Thursday morning for attempted armed robbery.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on November 19, 2009 - 10:26pm
In 2005, quarterback Jay Cutler led Vanderbilt to a come from behind win over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium. It was such a big deal to the Commodores and their fans that they produced a DVD, titled "Victory in Knoxville."
It was their first win against the Vols in 23 years. Vanderbilt finished 5-6 that season.
In 2009, the Commodores look much, much worse than that 2005 team, or even the 2008 squad that went to a bowl game for the first time in a quarter century.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on November 24, 2009 - 2:27pm
The year was 1984. "Who's The Boss" debuted on ABC. Prince's "Purple Rain" is released, and Carl Lewis wins four gold medals in track and & field at the Summer Olympics.
And Kentucky's football team beat Tennessee's football team.
Since then, Tony Danza stopped cleaning houses in Connecticut, Prince changed his name to a symbol and then back to Prince, and Carl Lewis had a memorbale turn singing the National Anthem before an NBA game.
Submitted by Mark Nagi on December 15, 2009 - 1:48pm
I watched Montana edge Appalachian St. in a snowstorm to earn a spot in the Football Bowl Subdivision (the artist formerly known as Division 1-AA) national championship game against Villanova.
The next night a computer selected Alabama and Texas to play for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national championship game.
Nothing like a decimal point to get fans excited. The Crimson Tide's .998 and the Longhorns' .943 will be remember for decades...
Submitted by Mark Nagi on December 16, 2009 - 3:52pm
There is a battle underway between The New York Times and the Tennessee football program. The latest round sent over the wall comes from George Vecsey. The full article, which was published December 14th, can be found here...
On Saturday I stood outside a gate at Neyland Stadium, waiting for the Vols scrimmage to end. When it did, local sports anchors, reporters, writers, photographers and bloggers were waved inside by representatives of the football team.
You see, media is not allowed to attend Vols scrimmages. Honestly? That's fine with me. It is the perogative of Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley to run the program as he sees fit.
