Today On Rocky Top: Vols Release Phil Cofer From NLI

Mar 27, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; A general view during Tennessee Volunteers practice for the midwest regional of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

From WZTV

"Tennessee has released 6-foot-8 forward Phil Cofer from the basketball letter of intent he signed in November.    Athletic department spokesman Tom Satkowiak said Friday that Cofer had been granted a release. Satkowiak said 6-8 forward CJ Turman also is expected to seek a release, though Tennessee hasn’t received a formal request from him yet. Guards Larry Austin Jr. and Jordan Cornish received releases Wednesday. All four recruits signed with Tennessee when Cuonzo Martin was coaching the team. Martin left for California on April 15 and was replaced Tuesday by Donnie Tyndall. Tyndall had said Thursday he believed Cofer and Turman were leaning toward requesting releases. Cofer, the son of former Tennessee football player Mike Cofer, now restarts his recruiting process and could go to Tennessee or another school."

From The Tennessean

"The Tennessee men’s basketball team released signee Philip Cofer from his Letter of Intent on Friday. Another signee, CJ Turman, will be granted his release once he completes the proper paperwork.UT spokesman confirmed Cofer’s release. New UT coach Donnie Tyndall told the News Sentinel on Friday that Turman will be let go.“We will be releasing him, too,” Tyndall said in a text message. “We wish him well but want guys that want to be here.”Tyndall planned on meeting with Turman in person as soon as possible, he said Thursday. But that meeting will not take place. Turman wasn’t interested. “I’m not going to meet with him,” Turman told the News Sentinel in a text message on Friday.The 6-foot-9 forward/center from Morgan County High School in Madison, Ga., declined to elaborate."

From WBIR

"Annie Aldrete smashed two home runs and Ellen Renfroe pitched seven solid frames on her birthday to lead No. 8 Tennessee to a 6-3 win over No. 9 Kentucky on Friday at John Cropp Stadium.Tennessee (38-8, 13-6 SEC) scored three in the first, two in the second and one in the fourth. Kentucky (39-10, 12-7 SEC) plated two in the second and one in the fifth.Aldrete went 2-for-4 with the two homers, three RBIs and three runs. Madison Shipman and Melissa Davin each had a hit and a run scored.Renfroe (24-5) tossed seven strong innings, fanning six batters with one earned run allowed."

From the UT Daily Beacon

"Only two members of the Tennessee baseball team have experienced it live.But nearly everyone in orange has heard the rumors.“I’ve heard Alex Box Stadium at LSU is a blast,” southpaw Andy Cox said. “It’s gonna be crazy. I know there’s going to be a ton of fans there, hopefully like 12,000 on Friday and Saturday night. It’s a great atmosphere, great playing surface, great team and I’m looking forward to it.”Cox, along with 31 other members of the current UT squad, will turn that hearsay into reality as the Volunteers travel to LSU for the first time since 2011, opening up a three-game set tonight at 8 p.m.For the first time this month, head coach Dave Serrano has extensively shuffled his weekend rotation, bringing in two crucial hurlers that have thrived primarily in the Vols’ bullpen this year.In Friday’s opener against the Tigers, UT will trot out junior Peter Lenstrohm (1-1, 2.13 ERA) in what will be the Paradise Valley, Ariz., native’s first career start in orange. The righty has been one of Serrano’s most consistent relievers as of late, having surrendered just one hit and no runs in his last six outings."