Today On Rocky Top: Vols Enjoy Big Turnout At Spring Game

Apr 12, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones signs autographs for fans before the orange and white spring game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

From The Times Free Press

"The first fan arrived at Neyland Stadium at 4 a.m. Saturday to start the line for the one-hour autograph session with Tennessee football coach Butch Jones and his players.The caps on the Sharpies, though, wouldn’t come off for another eight-plus hours.The annual Orange and White Game to wrap up the Volunteers’ spring practice was 11 hours from kicking off.“That’s crazy,” Vols cornerback Cam Sutton said after the Vols put the finishing touches on their second spring under Jones. “I know I would definitely not be out there. We greatly appreciate those fans being out there today.”The announced crowd of 68,548 fans at Neyland on a warm April afternoon was the second-most for a Tennessee spring in the program’s history, besting the crowd of 61,076 for Jones’ first showcase a year ago yet falling short of the 73,801 who came to watch the Vols’ spring game coming off a memorable Sugar Bowl win in 1986.It took little time for Tennessee’s promising young talent on offense to make itself known and perhaps even less time for the countdown to the arrival of summer defensive reinforcements to begin."

From The UT Daily Beacon

"After winning the opening game of the series Thursday on ESPNU, the No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers dropped the last two contests in Athens, Ga., losing Friday 4-1 and Saturday 7-4 to the Georgia Bulldogs at Foley Field.“I’m very disappointed,” head coach Dave Serrano said in a university release. “We got beat on the road; the series taken from us. I give credit to them because they made pitches when they had to, executed offensively when runners were in scoring position and they took advantage of every opportunity we gave them.“They didn’t have to do a whole lot to win the series, and that’s what bothers me most. It wasn’t like they did anything special. They just did the things that it takes to win baseball games.”In the series finale on Saturday, Tennessee (23-11, 6-9 SEC) was out-hit 11-7 in the game. Bulldog pitcher Robert Tyler (4-2) gave up just four hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks while striking out five over six innings of work. UGA (21-14-1, 7-7-1) handed the ball over to right-hander David Sosebee, who earned his first career save with a three-inning outing, where he gave up three hits, one walk and one run.Freshman Nick Senzel and junior Will Maddox stood out at the plate for UT, hitting .417 and .400 for the series, respectively. Senzel drove in a team-best four runs against the Bulldogs, while Maddox crossed the plate a team-high four times. Sophomore shortstop A.J. Simcox also registered a .375 clip (3-for-8) for the weekend.Rookie Kyle Serrano (3-2) took the loss in his seventh career start, allowing six hits and three runs. Bret Marks also surrendered three runs in relief for UT."

From Bleacher Report

"It’s no secret that a large portion of the hype swirling around the Tennessee Volunteers’ spring football practice has centered on highly rated prospects Jalen Hurd and Josh Malone.After Saturday, it’s no secret why.The future was on full display during the Orange and White Game in Neyland Stadium, and an announced crowd of 68,548—the second-largest ever to watch a UT spring game—was there to see Hurd and Malone show out.They didn’t disappoint.Malone was electrifying in leading the Vols with six catches for 181 yards and three touchdowns. The Lebanon, Tenn., standout pass-catcher had been improving throughout the spring and dominated defenders when the ball was thrown his way."