Today On Rocky Top: Vol Fans Welcome Tyndall To Knoxville

Jan 3, 2014; Hattiesburg, MS, USA; Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach Donnie Tyndall urges on his players during the second half of their game against the Drexel Dragons at Reed Green Coliseum. Southern Miss won, 66-49. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

From WATE

"The excitement surrounding the new University of Tennessee Basketball Coach Donnie Tyndall is causing a big buzz on social media.According to Trendsmap, Donnie Tyndall was a number one trending topic Tuesday night.Former Lady Vols Coach Pat Summitt tweeted, “Welcome to the Tennessee family, Coach Tyndall! Looking forward to meeting you soon and following you next season. #vol for life.”Some UT fans say they’re ready to welcome in the new coach, and are confident he can take the team in the right direction.Just one day in, signs of support already popped up around Knoxville.“It welcomes him to Knoxville, gives him a good vibe and shows that we support him,” said Vol fan Kevin Zartman.A sign at the Bucket Head Tavern reads “Vol Nation welcomes Coach Donnie Tyndall.” Employee Kimberley Hamilton says the owner put it up as soon as he heard the news."

From the UT Daily Beacon

"Following an uncharacteristic series loss to Mississippi State, the No. 8 Tennessee Lady Volunteer softball team bounced back strong, defeating the Furman Paladins 8-0 in six innings on Tuesday night at Sherri Park Lee Stadium.Strong pitching carried Tennessee through most of the game, as three hurlers combined for a three-hit shutout of the Paladins. Sophomore Erin Gabriel got the start, pitching three innings of two-hit ball while setting the tone well for the Lady Vol pitching staff.Gabriel was replaced by junior Cheyanne Tarango who gave up only one hit and struck out three in two innings of work. Ace Ellen Renfroe pitched a quick sixth inning, and was credited with her fourth save of the season.“I was very pleased with the pitching,” co-head coach Karen Weekly said. “No walks and no hit batters, and when you do that good things are bound to happen.”The Lady Vols struck first in the second inning as Melissa Davin scored on a Lexi Overstreet double to left field. Davin then drove in the speedy Shaliyah Geathers in the third on a sacrifice fly to shallow left field."

From AL.com

"After a few years of debate, the structure of SEC football schedules will have a permanent solution soon.Commissioner Mike Slive expects a formatwill be in place by early May.Talk of a nine-game schedule and preservation of traditional cross-divisional rivalries like Alabama-Tennessee were discussed by SEC coaches in a meeting Tuesday.“I don’t think there’s any support for that, it doesn’t seem like” Alabama coach Nick Sabansaid before a Crimson Caravan stop in Huntsville. “I think there’s a little bit more support for staying with an eight-game schedule and everybody playing a ninth opponent that’s in the five major conferences."