Tennessee Vols coach Butch Jones addressing the media and Darrell Taylor lead the Volunteers news for Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017.
The Tennessee Vols are back in preparation mode for another football game coming off a bye week. But morale is still no better than it was last week, and after a drama-filled off-week, it may even be worse.
But Butch Jones finally addressed it all with the media Monday, and our news on Rocky Top centers around what he said. We also have a football suspension to bring you. And we have a reminder of a blowout that’s coming to the Vols a week from Saturday.
There is some good news with the program given the return of one key player that we’ll get to.
Outside of football, a women’s soccer player for the Vols continues to get recognition on a weekly basis. And there’s a game to preview tonight in another sport.
Let’s start with the wealth of football news.
Butch Jones addresses South Carolina – Blake Toppmeyer, Knoxville News Sentinel
Coming off of the bye week, Tennessee Vols head coach was back at the podium on Monday speaking to the media about the drama facing the program and preparing for the South Carolina Gamecocks. In it, he addressed a key suspension, which we’ll get to with our next story. But he did say that Marquez Callaway would be back, and he added that team chemistry is fine.
"Tennessee had its most productive bye week in a long time, Vols coach Butch Jones said Monday.It wasn’t all good."
Tennessee Vols DE Darrell Taylor suspended indefinitely – Chris Low, ESPN
Butch Jones told the media Monday that Darrell Taylor would be suspended indefinitely. He was already likely to be suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against the South Carolina Gamecocks due to an altercation he had against the Georgia Bulldogs. However, this suspension comes on the heels of an altercation he appeared to have with a teammate.
"Sources confirmed to ESPN that Taylor, a starter in the Vols’ first five games, was involved in an altercation on the practice field last week with freshman offensive lineman Trey Smith, who required stitches. Smith is not expected to miss any playing time."
Tennessee Vols LB Austin Smith expected back – Wes Rucker, GoVols247
After getting hurt at the start of the season and being unable to see any action, Tennessee football linebacker Austin Smith now looks like he’s finally ready to get back on the field. His return couldn’t come at a better time with Darrell Taylor’s suspension and Todd Kelly Jr.’s season-ending injury.
"The 6-foot-3, 236-pound Atlanta-area native got back on the field during Tennessee’s bye week, and Shoop said he expects the sophomore to be ready for duty against the Gamecocks, even if he’s a “little bit rusty.”"
Tennessee-Alabama game time set – Chip Patterson, CBS Sports
The Tennessee Vols will face the Alabama Crimson Tide on the road at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 as the premiere SEC game on CBS.
"Week 8 has some of the biggest college football games of the year. Tennessee at Alabama headlines the SEC slate and has been picked for the SEC on CBS Game of the Week."
Khadija Shaw named TDS Player of the Week – Top Drawer Soccer
Tennessee soccer junior Khadija Shaw was named the Top Drawer Soccer Player of the Week after helping to lead the Vols to a 6-4 victory over the No. 21 ranked Ole Miss Rebels and a 3-2 victory over the Missouri Tigers. Shaw had one goal and two assists against Ole Miss and hit the game-winner against Mizzou.
"The transfer’s been one of the best new players in the college game, scoring 11 goals in 11 games, while chipping in four assists. Her shift was one of a handful of impressive individual efforts over the past week."