Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Nathan Niehaus explaining his decision to leave the football program leads our Volunteers news for Friday, Aug. 9, 2019.
Happy Friday! The Tennessee Vols are now just over three weeks away from the start of football season, and things are getting more exciting by the minute. Football is back to taking over our news days, and that’s no different today.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with three football stories. It includes one player’s decision to leave the program. We also have a practice recap to bring you. Simply put, football is taking over the news.
However, beyond football, there’s also a story surrounding the Cross Country and Track and Field program. So we’re spreading it out a bit. Let’s start with the news recapping another football fall camp practice.
Football completes first week of fall camp – Ryan Callahan, GoVols247
The Tennessee Vols football team finished its first week of fall camp with another practice on Thursday. It was their sixth practice, lasted approximately two hours, and involved pads.
"Two periods of Thursday’s practice were open to media. It was Tennessee’s second practice since senior defensive lineman Emmit Gooden suffered a season-ending knee injury and redshirt junior offensive lineman Nathan Niehaus decided to end his football career for health reasons."
Nathan Niehaus explains decision to leave UT – Dan Harralson, VolsWire.com
News broke on Wednesday that Tennessee football offensive lineman Nathan Niehaus decided to leave the program. On Thursday, he tweeted out a note explaining his decision. Niehaus mentioned the injuries he has sustained and the stress it has put on his body. His decision to leave the program due to injuries puts him in a category with Chance Hall, Eric Crosby and Melvin McBride, all offensive linemen who were forced to retire due to injury. That also applied to Darrin Kirkland Jr. on the other side.
"Niehaus appeared in 10 games for the Vols in 2018, starting in six contests. The 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive lineman reshirted in 2016 and did not see any action during the 2017 season."
Track and Field, Cross Country schedule released – UTSports
Tennessee Vols Cross Country and Track and Field program director Beth Alford-Sullivan released the 2019-2020 schedule for the sport. While cross country begins this month, indoor track and field begins at the start of next year. Meanwhile, outdoor track and field will begin one week into next spring. Cross country championships are set for November, indoor track and field championships are set for March, and outdoor track and field championships are set for May through June.
"Tennessee opens the 2019 cross country season at home, hosting the first edition of the Tennessee Triangular meet at the Cherokee Farms Cross Country Course in Knoxville. The Vols and Lady Vols will welcome UT-Chattanooga and UT-Martin to Rocky Top on Friday, August 30."