Today on Rocky Top: Softball Postseason Continues, Football Coaches Keep Talking

Tennessee softball and comments from Butch Jones on Peyton Manning and Phillip Fulmer on Jones headline the Vols news on Rocky Top for Friday, May 13.

Good morning and Happy Friday to everybody in Vol Nation. There’s lots of good news surrounding Tennessee athletics this month, even as some programs continue playing.

The softball Vols are getting a huge stroke of good fortune in their SEC Tournament opponents as they try to make a run, and the football Vols continue to do a lot of talking.

In this rendition of football talking, it’s coming from coaches, former, current, and prospective. We’ve got Phillip Fulmer talking up the Vols, Butch Jones talking up Peyton Manning, and rumors still surrounding Manning himself.

But let’s start with the softball news.

Tennessee softball to face LSU in SEC Tournament on Friday – UTSports

"The third-seeded Volunteers with take on No. 7 seed LSU in the semifinals after defeating South Carolina, 5-1, in Thursday’s quarterfinal game. LSU beat No. 2 seed Kentucky, 3-1, to advance to the semifinals."

Phillip Fulmer: Jones and Vols are close to playing for titles – Brandon Shields of the Jackson Sun

"“No one likes it when things don’t go your way,” Fulmer said. “But you have to look at your program every day and ask yourself ‘Are we getting better?’“I think Butch is doing that, and we’re getting better. He’s getting us to a place where we can compete for championships I believe. We’re going to find out. And then getting there is one thing and staying there is another.”"

Butch Jones comments on Peyton Manning coaching – Ryan Callahan of 247Sports

"“We talk all the time,” Jones said of Manning, “and I think anything Peyton Manning does, he’ll be successful. But coaching is a completely different animal than playing, as any great player would tell you.”"