April 12, 2010 The University of Tennessee Athletic Department held the 4th annual VOLSCARS on Monday, April 12 at Thompson-Boling Arena. The event, which was put on by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), was hosted by former Vol football players Terry Fair and Fred White. The Volscars is a way to showcase and celebrate the accomplishments of both the men’s and women’s athletic departments. Tennessee student-athletes began the evening on the “orange” carpet with media interviews in true Hollywood style, followed by dinner and the presentation of awards. 2010 VOLSCARS WINNERS AND NOMINEES *Winners in bold Best Supporting Role: Given to the male and female student-athlete who serves as the “unsung hero.” This team member is a high impact player that does not always get all of the credit, but that the team cannot do without. Male Boris Conkic Men’s Tennis Mattias Kahlin Swimming and Diving Zach Osborne Baseball Chris... (more...)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with QB Chris Simms. Simms has started 16 games (23 games played) during his six-year NFL career and has thrown for 3,117 yards and 12 touchdowns, while compiling a 7-9 record as a starter. Last year, he signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Denver Broncos and started one game. In 2008, he joined the Titans during the season after being released by Tampa Bay and played limited snaps in the regular season finale against Indianapolis. His most extensive action came in 2005, when he led the Buccaneers to a playoff berth with a 6-4 record in the final 10 games of the season and threw 2,035 yards and 10 touchdowns. Simms was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the third round (97th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. As a three-year starter at the University of Texas, Simms compiled a 26-6 record as a starter and totaled 7,097 passing yards and 58 touchdowns.  Read More →

April 12, 2010 Head football coach Derek Dooley headlines “Vol Calls” tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central on the Vol Radio Network. Coach Dooley, Defensive Coordinator Justin Wilcox and Offensive Coordinator Jim Chaney are all scheduled to be on the show to talk about spring football practice and the upcoming Orange and White Game this Saturday. Listeners will also get an update on Tennessee’s 22-1, No. 4 ranked tennis team that secured at least a share of the SEC title over the weekend. Fans may call “Vol Calls” to ask a question at 1-800-688-8657 or Tennessee customers of Verizon Wireless may dial # TENN. Tonight co-hosts Bob Kesling and Brent Hubbs will be broadcasting live from Thompson-Boling Arena at the “Volscars” event instead of their normal locale from the Texas Roadhouse at Turkey Creek in West Knoxville. Fans may listen to the show across the state of Tennessee on the... (more...)

The Smoky Mountain Jam will be playing against the Appalachian Rapids for church appreciation night!  Bring in church bulletin or pre-register and everyone gets for just $3.00 each.  Read More →

April 5, 2010 Fans tune in the Vol Radio Network tonight for “Vol Calls” at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central. Coach Bruce Pearl, Coach Derek Dooley, SEC Baseball Player of the Week P.J. Polk and UT tennis sensation John-Patrick Smith are scheduled guests. Fans may call in to ask a question at 1-800-688-8657 or Tennessee customers of Verizon Wireless may dial # TENN. Fans may join Bob Kesling and Brent Hubbs live at the Texas Roadhouse at Turkey Creek in West Knoxville for food and drink specials. Fans may listen to the show across the state of Tennessee on the Vol Radio Network or online at utsports.com.  Read More →

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Smokies, Class AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, proudly announce today its 2010 Opening Day roster. The youngest team in the Southern League a year ago, this year’s team will field 18 returnees from the 2009 season and include Baseball America’s top Cubs prospect (and #13 overall) in shortstop Starlin Castro. A 2009 Futures Game participant and 2009 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star while with High-A Daytona, Castro hit .303 for the Smokies during last year’s Southern League playoffs and then .376 in the Arizona Fall League. Joining him again in the infield will be his 2009 teammates Blake Lalli and Tony Thomas. Nate Samson will also be back for a second stint in Tennessee, along with two newcomers to the team, Jake Opitz and Ryan Flaherty. Flaherty, rated #9 among Cubs prospects according to Baseball America, was Chicago’s second-round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft. In the outfield, Brandon... (more...)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Track and field athletes Matt Maloney and Phoebe Wright have been nominated by the University of Tennessee for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship. The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes. The Southeastern Conference will name the 2010 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship on April 6 in conjunction with National Student-Athlete Day. Maloney, a native of Barrington, R.I., and a graduate of LaSalle Academy, has a 3.43 grade point average, majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll (2010 SEC Academic Honor Roll to be released later in spring) and a three-time VolScholar (3.0 grade point average or better). He earned All-America honors in the javelin in 2007 and has twice finished as the SEC... (more...)

Tennessee's home opener comes against Arizona Aug. 23 on ESPN's Monday Night Football. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The National Football League announced the preseason schedule this afternoon and the Titans will host the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints and Arizona for Monday Night Football. VIDEO: Coach Fisher’s Reaction The Titans open the preseason slate with a trip to Seattle to face the Seahawks (weekend of Aug. 12-15) and will travel to play the Carolina Panthers in week three (weekend of Aug. 26-29). The Titans close out the preseason at home against the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints. The home opener for Tennessee will be against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday, Aug. 23 for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. The Titans also will host the World Champion Saints in the final preseason weekend (Sept. 2nd or 3rd). Final dates and times will be announced over the next month. The NFL is expected to release the regular season schedule in the next... (more...)

Defensive end Jason Babin sacks Colts QB Peyton Manning, forcing him to fumble, in a 2009 preseason game at Indianapolis. NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans have signed Jason Babin to an offer sheet and will learn within a week if the defensive end ultimately will join the organization. While Babin is categorized as an unrestricted free agent, a right-of-first-refusal clause was written into his previous contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, giving them one week to match another team’s offer and retain his rights. If the Eagles decline to match the deal executed today between Babin and the Titans, the contract with the Titans becomes binding and the Titans would not owe the Eagles any compensation. Babin (6-3, 267) has played seven NFL seasons, compiling 197 tackles and 17.5 sacks in 66 career games. Last season in Philadelphia, he played in 12 contests and notched 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The 29-year-old defensive lineman was originally drafted by Houston in the first round... (more...)

March 18, 2010 – Knoxville’s version of March Madness has come to a end with the conclusion of the third annual City of Knoxville vs. Knox County Youth Basketball Tournament this past weekend. League winners from various city and county youth basketball divisions competed Saturday for the City/County “Youth Basketball Challenge” title. The results included: 10 and under girls: 24 – Cedar Bluff Farragut Optimists (CBFO) 18 – Center City Youth Sports Program (CCYSP) 14 and under boys: 34 – Powell 39 – CCYSP 10 and under boys: 20 – Powell 19 – W. Bearden (Sissom) 12 and under boys: 34 – Carter 22 – CCYSP 12 and under girls: 21 – Falcons 12 – CBFO “This is a great way for kids to enjoy an extension of their season,” said Joe Walsh, Knoxville Parks and Recreation... (more...)