The Tennessee Vols still being a topic conversation on the final day of SEC Media Days leads our Volunteers news for Friday, July 19, 2019.
Happy Friday, and welcome to the end of SEC Media Days week! The college football preseason is now officially underway, and lots of it relates to the Tennessee Vols. So it’s pretty much the same excitement that comes with beginning of the holiday season in Knoxville.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with more things said related to UT at SEC Media Days on Thursday. Two East schools and one West school took the podium to close out the day, and yes, the Vols were brought up again.
But there’s more football news related to player profiles that have changed and an assistant being recognized. Basketball staff raises and tennis players being recognized are also on the slate. But let’s start with Media Days.
Final teams take the podium at SEC Media Days – SECSports.com
The Vanderbilt Commodores, Kentucky Wildcats and Auburn Tigers took the podium to wrap up SEC Media Days on Thursday, and yes, the Tennessee Vols were still a topic of conversation. Derek Mason specifically noted that beating UT three straight times makes Vandy relevant in the SEC East. Here’s a bit of what he said on that topic.
"“I think for us, time and time again, it’s been about trying to make sure that we could keep up with that program, you know, up the road, but there’s a big — there’s a big combat zone going on the SEC East side of the conference, and right now, looking at Tennessee, where they’re at, Jeremy Pruitt’s done a good job, but for us, we’ve got to continue to make sure that we just don’t focus on Tennessee, we focus on winning games in our conference.”"
Football jersey numbers, weight listings updated – Patrick Brown, GoVols247.com
Tennessee football updated its jersey numbers and weight listings for 23 new players. This includes the new recruits, early enrollees and transfers.
"The Vols welcomed 12 new players — 10 early enrollees plus Michigan defensive line transfer Aubrey Solomon and Georgia defensive back transfer Deangelo Gibbs — back in January, and those players now have been in the program for more than seven months and participated in spring practice."
Basketball assistants receive raise – Mike Wilson, Knoxville News Sentinel
The two returning Tennessee Vols men’s basketball assistant coaches both received raises. Newcomer Kim English, who joins then from the Colorado Buffaloes and replaces Rob Lanier, who took the head coaching job with the Georgia State Panthers, earned a salary of $310,000.
"Michael Schwartz’s rise to the associate head coach role with Tennessee basketball this offseason also made him the highest-paid Vols assistant. Schwartz, who joined the staff in 2016, earned a $65,000 raise to an annual salary of $340,000. Assistant coach Dez Oliver — the lone remaining staff member from Barnes’ original 2015 staff — received a raise of $50,000 to bring his annual salary to $325,000."
Chris Weinke a member of Florida Hall of Fame class – UTSports
In a twist of irony, two people affiliated with the Tennessee Vols are members of the 2019 Florida Sports Hall of Fame class. Football quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke joins Chuck Rohe, who was the track and field coach from 1963 to 1971, as a member.
"Weinke, who won a national championship in 1999 and a Heisman Trophy in 2000 as a player at Florida State, is entering his second year on the Volunteers’ staff after coaching running backs in 2018. The 2019 Florida Sports HOF enshrinement ceremony will take place on Nov. 12 at the Amway Center in Orlando."
Men’s and women’s tennis named ITA All-Academic – itatennis.com
The Tennessee Vols men’s and women’s tennis teams were named Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic teams Thursday. Three individuals from each team were also named scholar-athletes.
"The ITA All-Academic Team award is open to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). All varsity letter winners should be factored into the cumulative team GPA for the current academic year (including fall 2018 and spring 2019)."