The Tennessee Vols football team hiring Jim Chaney as offensive coordinator lead our Volunteers news for Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2018.
One day after the national championship game, the Tennessee Vols managed to make a huge splash late at night in two different sports. They had a huge win in one sport and scored a huge coup in another.
As we get set to give you our morning updates on Rocky Top, these two stories are really the major stories of the week for UT. The football news is the splash story with such a huge offensive coordinator hire.
However, men’s basketball’s Tuesday victory was another major statement win for this season. We also have some unique swimming news to get to. But let’s start with the football personnel news that stole the show.
Jim Chaney hired as offensive coordinator – Patrick Brown, GoVols247
The Tennessee Vols football team rehired Jim Chaney as offensive coordinator Tuesday night to replace Tyson Helton. Jeremy Pruitt lured Chaney away from the Georgia Bulldogs, where he spent the last three years. Chaney was on Rocky Top for four years from 2009 to 2013, where he served under Lane Kiffin and then became the full-time offensive coordinator for three years under Derek Dooley. After that, he had a two-year stint with the Arkansas Razorbacks and then spent a year with the Pittsburgh Panthers.
"The Vols recorded one of their best ever seasons statistically on offense with Chaney calling the shots in 2012, when Tennessee featured Tyler Bray at quarterback, Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter at wide receiver, Mychal Rivera at tight end and three future NFL players on the offensive line. Tennessee averaged 36 points per game in 2012, a season Chaney completed with a win against Kentucky as the interim coach after Dooley’s firing."
Tennessee basketball blows out Missouri – Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel
The No. 3 ranked Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team moved to 2-0 in the SEC and 13-1 overall with a huge 87-63 win over the Missouri Tigers. The victory followed a blowout win over the Georgia Bulldogs and is the first of two road games this week. Up next for Rocky Top is a trip to the Florida Gators.
"With Admiral Schofield and Grant Williams relegated to the bench in foul trouble, Turner — and the rest of UT’s essential cast — dominated Missouri on its home floor to close the first half. Turner made 3-pointers. So did Jordan Bone, teaming with Jordan Bowden to fuel a 20-point swing."
Pro Swim Series opens in Knoxville – UTSports
The TYR Pro Swim Series opens this week on Rocky Top. Olympic gold medalists Katie Ledecky, Ryan Murphy, Matt Grevers and Simone Manuel along with other Olympic medalists Kathleen Baker, Kelsi Dahlia, Chase Kalisz and Olivia Smoliga are taking part. There will be 10 current Vols in the meet as well along with UT graduate Molly Hannis.
"The meet runs Wednesday through Saturday in Tennessee’s home waters. Wednesday just features a night session with the 800-meter freestyle at 6 p.m. Eastern. For the next three days, preliminaries are at 9 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m."