Tennessee Vols morning report: New WR coach, Jauan Jennings, basketball wins
The Tennessee Vols finding a receivers coach, updates on Jauan Jennings and basketball lead the Volunteers news for Monday, Jan. 15, 2018.
It was a weekend of success for the main Tennessee Vols sports. Meanwhile, football continues to bring major news. So that leaves us with a lot to get to here in this third Monday of January. We’re already in the middle of the first month of 2018!
As we get set to bring you today’s news on Rocky Top, our focus centers around major football updates. It began with a comment Phillip Fulmer made last Friday and includes another update from Sunday.
Meanwhile, we have basketball news to bring you, as both the men’s and women’s teams saw success over the weekend. We’ll recap both events.
And finally, a few minor sports get some love. There was success everywhere you turned for the Tennessee Vols over the weekend. But let’s start with the football news.
David Johnson hired as Vols WR coach – Blake Toppmeyer, Knoxville News Sentinel
Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt has completed his on-field staff with the hire of David Johnson as wide receivers coach. Johnson comes from the Memphis Tigers, where he spent the past two seasons. Before that, his bloodline was purely in the state of Louisiana.
"He previously coached at Tulane for four seasons, overseeing running backs and tight ends. Before that, he coached St. Augustine High School in New Orleans for three seasons.A New Orleans native, Johnson played in college at Nicholls State."
Phillip Fulmer updates on Jauan Jennings – SportsTalk, WNML
Tennessee Vols athletic director Phillip Fulmer commented on wide receiver Jauan Jennings’s situation last Friday. Jennings was dismissed from the team three days before the last game of the season last year after going on a social media rant against the coaches. However, those coaches have been fired. Meanwhile, the athletic director at the time, John Currie, is also out. And Jennings did meet with Fulmer, so there’s clearly a chance at his return. Here’s what he said.
"“I don’t know exactly where it stands right now because he and Jauan are still discussing. I think he’s put some parameters around it, and I guess everybody’s got to figure out what those are and if they’re really going to do it. That’s up to them right now, and we’ll comment on that more when I know more.”"
Rick Barnes after Tennessee Vols beat Texas A&M – Grant Ramey, GoVols247
Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes coached his 1,000th game on Saturday as the Vols beat the Texas A&M Aggies. The win extended the team’s winning streak to three games and got them to 3-2 in the SEC. Here’s what Barnes said about the state of the Vols after the win.
"“What we keep talking about to our guys, whether we’re up or down, you got to fight until the fight’s over. You got to be smart enough to know how to work the game, whether you’re up or whether you’re down. We played enough games now where, 16 games in, we should be able to know how to work it and play it.”"
Lady Vols defeat South Carolina on the road – Mechelle Voepel, ESPNW
Holly Warlick and the Tennessee Lady Vols rebounded from a heartbreaking loss to the Texas A&M Aggies to beat the South Carolina Gamecocks on the road Sunday. Now, South Carolina was without A’ja Wilson. But it was still a huge win for the program.
"This was the kind of game Tennessee needed on this difficult stretch of their schedule against four ranked teams in a row, three of them on the road. They were edged by Texas A&M, beat South Carolina by double digits, and now go into Notre Dame on Thursday. Next Sunday, they’ll be at home against still-unbeaten Mississippi State, which leads the SEC at 5-0 and has the week to prepare for the Lady Vols."
Smokey, cheer squad post Top 10 finishes – UTSports
The Tennessee Vols cheer team and Smokey as a mascot both finished in the Top 10 at the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships at the Walt Disney World Resort.
"The five-time national champion dance team advanced through the semifinals of the Dance National Championship Saturday night and will compete for another national title Sunday evening.…Smokey, a perennial powerhouse in the world of collegiate mascots, placed 10th nationally, in the mascot competition."