Today On Rocky Top: Butch Jones Keeping Former Vols Close
By Zach Ragan
From USA Today
"Tennessee football coach Butch Jones let it be known Tuesday that he has worked hard to establish a better relationship with the Vols’ former players than two of his predecessors did.Jones, who spoke to the Nashville Sports Council, was responding to questions about former players who vented their frustration this weekend with Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley while praising Jones for making them feel like they are still a part of the program.“It’s all about our former players; they’re the ones that kind of built the program with their sweat equity,” Jones said. “It’s all about them. They are the program.”Jones had plenty of work to do in repairing the relationship with some of the former Vols, such as linebacker Al Wilson, who said, “I don’t even want to say the names of the two guys who were there between coach (Phillip) Fulmer and coach Jones. They don’t deserve to have their names mentioned with Tennessee football.”Read more at USA Today"
"Tennessee guard Brandon Lopez has a torn right anterior cruciate ligament that will prevent him from playing in the 2014-15 season.School officials announced Tuesday that Lopez had hurt his knee while playing basketball with his teammates on Saturday. The 6-foot-1 walk-on from Knoxville, Tennessee, had appeared in 31 games over the past three seasons.Lopez was the lone pure point guard on Tennessee’s roster. New Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall had mentioned this summer that Lopez had an opportunity to earn much more playing time this season."
From the Times Free Press
"When Tennessee opens preseason football practice at Haslam Field on Friday evening, most of the eyes will be on the 32 freshmen who caused such a stir when they joined the Volunteers’ 2014 recruiting class.That’s understandable when a rebuilding program needs to upgrade its roster first and foremost.Yet there are quite a few older players who will have just as much a say in Tennessee’s fortunes for the 2014 season.With the wait almost over and football now just a couple of days away, the Times Free Press looks at 10 non-freshmen to watch during Tennessee’s preseason training camp in August.Read more at Times Free Press"
From WBIR
"Vols pitcher Kyle Serrano is recovering from a fractured ankle suffered during an ATV accident, according to the University of Tennessee.The accident happened Sunday in Alaska. UT said Tuesday that Serrano is expected to have surgery later in the week and is facing a six to eight week rehabilition period.Serrano, the son of Vols head coach Dave Serrano, is entering his sophomore year at Tennessee."
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