The Tennessee Vols adding another non-conference opponent to their 2020 football schedule leads our Volunteers news for Friday, May 10, 2019.
Happy Friday! The Tennessee Vols enter the weekend in the midst of one tournament and being eliminated from another, while one team has another scheduled regular season event. But that’s not all we have going on.
Our morning update on Rocky Top actually leads with the football program. Updates to its 2020 schedule were revealed yesterday, and we’re going to get into that. We also have a former Vol who is a legend opening a restaurant in Knoxville, so that’s even more news related to football.
After that, we’ll preview a baseball series and recap softball and track and field in their respective SEC Tournament events. We also have softball and women’s golf awards to bring you. Simply put, there’s a ton of news to cover. Let’s start with the football schedule.
Tennessee football adds Troy to 2020 schedule – Patrick Brown, GoVols247
The Tennessee Vols football team added the Troy Trojans to its 2020 schedule. In addition to them, UT’s non-conference slate includes the Charlotte 49ers, the Furman Paladins and the Oklahoma Sooners on the road.
"Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt is long-time friends with new Troy coach Chip Lindsey, who was Auburn’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons and took the Trojans job after initially leaving the Tigers to become the offensive coordinator for Les Miles at Kansas earlier this offseason. Troy was 10-3 in 2018 under Neal Brown, now the head coach at West Virginia."
Peyton Manning to open restaurant in Knoxville – WATE
Former Vol Peyton Manning is going to open a Western-themed restaurant adjacent to the UT campus. The restaurant will be called ‘Saloon 16’ and open inside the renovated Hilton Garden Inn Hotel on Cumberland Avenue.
"Saloon 16 will aim to recreate a vintage ambience with a jukebox, dart board, live piano and outdoor dining. Once completed in spring 2020, the 112-key hotel will be known as ‘Graduate Knoxville’."
Tennessee baseball begins weekend series – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com
The No. 24 ranked Tennessee Vols baseball team won another non-conference midweek game this past Tuesday. Now they’re back in SEC action with a weekend three-game series on the road.
"After a disappointing showing against Missouri and a midweek victory at home against Austin Peay, the Tennessee baseball team now faces a trip to Gainesville to face its heated rival — the Florida Gators. The Volunteers (33-16, 10-14 SEC) would love nothing more than to add more misery for the Gators (29-21, 9-15 SEC)."
Tennessee softball eliminated from SEC Tournament – WVLT
The No. 2 seed Tennessee Lady Vols softball team was upset by the No. 10 seed Auburn Tigers in the SEC Tournament Thursday. Ranked No. 11 in the nation, UT fell to No. 24 ranked Auburn 2-0.
"A pair of errors, one physical and one in judgement, would help do in the Lady Vols. The Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first and then in the second inning at College Station Texas got new life when a sure second out was dropped by UT."
Softball pitcher a finalist for Freshman of the Year – NCAA.com
Tennessee Lady Vols softball pitcher Ashley Rogers made the cut to be one of 10 finalists for National Freshman of the Year. The NFCA tweeted its finalists on Thursday.
"The top three finalists will be released on May 21. The Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony at the Women’s College World Series banquet on May 28."
Track and Field SEC Championships Day 1 recap – UTSports
The Tennessee track and field program saw sprinters Mustaqeem Williams and Brooklynn Broadwater qualify for conference finals on the first day of the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Meanwhile hammer throw standouts Seth Whitener and Georgios Korakidis both scored at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark.
"Williams (Woodbridge, Va.) secured his spot in the men’s 200m final automatically by winning Heat 1 of the prelims. The senior captain crossed the line with a time of 20.71 – just .01 seconds shy of his season-best – for the third-fastest time of the evening. Combining indoor and outdoor, Williams is set to compete in his fourth-consecutive SEC 200m final on Saturday at 7:25 p.m. CT. Broadwater (Philadelphia, Pa.) advanced to her first career SEC final with a time of 59.66 in the 400m hurdles, placing seventh overall in the preliminary round. The Lady Vol sophomore will run for a conference title Saturday at approximately 7:15 p.m. CT."
Thee women’s golfers earn All-SEC honors – SECSports
Tennessee women’s golfers Micheala Williams and Mikayla Bardwell both made All-SEC women’s golf teams. Williams, a junior, was named second-team All-SEC, and Bardwell made Freshman All-SEC. Meanwhile, sophomore Mariah Smith made the SEC Community Service team.
"The Southeastern Conference on Thursday announced its annual Women’s Golf Awards, which were voted on by the league’s 14 head coaches.…NCAA Women’s Championship will be held May 17-22 at the Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Ark."