Tennessee Vols morning report: Jay Graham hired as RB coach
Jay Graham returning to the Tennessee Vols to serve as running backs coach leads our Volunteers news for Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020.
The tragic week of the sports world, which is leading up to Super Bowl Sunday at the same time, continues, and it’s affecting the Tennessee Vols more than anybody. However, as life goes on, there is a ton of news to get to once again.
Our morning update on Rocky Top this Wednesday leads with another major assistant coach hire for the football program. UT is bringing another former player home to serve in a capacity he has served in before, making things very interesting.
However, we also continue our coverage recapping the men’s basketball debacle from Tuesday along with individual recognition for a women’s basketball player. Finally, a softball preview story is in the works. But let’s start with the big football news.
Jay Graham returning as running backs coach – Grant Ramey, GoVols247
After losing David Johnson to the Florida State Seminoles, the Tennessee Vols have hired Jay Graham as running backs coach. Graham, who played running back for the Vols from 1993 to 1996, was a graduate assistant in 2005 and was their running backs coach in 2012, returns after seven years with Jimbo Fisher’s staff.
"Graham and Pruitt were together at Florida State in 2013. Two years ago, Graham left the Seminoles to go with Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M."
Rick Barnes recaps loss to Texas A&M – Grant Ramey, GoVols247
In an embarrassing matchup that had some fans angry at the way referees handled things, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team lost 63-58 to the Texas A&M Aggies Tuesday night at home. It was their worst loss of the year, as they fell to 12-8 and 4-3 in league play while A&M improved to 10-9 and 4-3. Here’s a bit of what Rick Barnes said about the game.
"“It’s pretty simple, when you give up 23 offensive rebounds and you only get for yourself. I’m not sure you deserve to win a game. That’s what I told our guys.”"
Rennia Davis earns SEC Player of the Week – SECSports
Coming off a 30-point performance in which she led the Tennessee Lady Vols to a victory over the LSU Tigers, Rennia Davis earned SEC Player of the Week honors. Davis helped UT remain competitive with the UConn Huskies on the road in a loss before that game, but it was her LSU performance that earned her the award.
"Tennessee’s Rennia Davis ran her streak of scoring in double figures to 18 consecutive games, averaging 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals last week in No. 22/23 UT’s split with #3/5 UConn and LSU. Davis finished 16 of 27 from the field for 59.3 percent accuracy. She was four of nine from three-point range (44.4) and went 10 of 11 from the free throw line (90.9)."
Softball ranked in top 15 in three new polls – UTSports
After being ranked in the top 15 in two polls last week, the Tennessee Lady Vols softball team were in the top 15 of two new softball preseason polls Tuesday. They came in at No. 12 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Coaches’ Poll, No. 14 in the Softball America ranking and No. 11 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 poll.
"The Orange and White begin their season at the competitive Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 8 against Northwestern, ranked 14th on the NFCA poll and 15th in the USA Softball standings, and then head on to Puerto Vallarta Mexico for the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge Feb. 13-15. In their first two weekends of action the Lady Vols will see four teams ranked in the polls and contended in the 2019 playoffs including No. 5/5 Arizona, No. 22/22 Arizona State and No. 6/6 Texas."