Coronavirus has everybody quarantining. Tennessee Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt talking about it leads our Volunteers news for Tuesday, April 14, 2020.
As everybody continues to stay inside amid COVID-19, the Tennessee Vols continue to make news in different way. In fact, staying inside can be part of the story at times. That was no different on Monday, so midway through April, we still have plenty of things to cover.
Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with another discussion about the football program dealing with quarantining. Coming off that legendary zoom call over the weekend, it’s been entertaining, to say the least, to see all the ways this has had an impact on the athletic programs.
Beyond that story, though, we also have more direct news to cover, including a new player added to the basketball program and the death of a major figure in the athletic department. Let’s start with more news surrounding the football program.
Jeremy Pruitt talks dealing with quarantine – 3HL,104.5 The Zone in Nashville
With spring practice and recruiting still on hold for the Tennessee Vols football program, Jeremy Pruitt is trying to figure out ways to make use of this time in which everybody is quarantined. On Monday, he talked about a wide range of those issues in a radio interview. Here is a bit of what he said on how this impacts position battles.
"“Do the guys that have maybe been here four or five years, do they have more experience in how to handle fall camp? Sure they do. Do they understand the demand and grind of an SEC schedule, sure they do. But I do think that guys that are mature enough to learn to work and study and know what they’re looking for, how to improve their game, there is plenty of resources out there to do that. It gives them a chance to compete once we get started.”"
Men’s basketball adds another commitment – Ken Lay, VolsWire.com
While not officially part of the Tennessee Vols basketball 2020 recruiting class, another prospect committed to Rocky Top on Monday. He announced his decision on Twitter.
"The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team picked up a commitment from a North Carolina high school shooting guard Monday. Kent Gilbert, a senior at D.H. Conley High School in Greenville, North Carolina, announced that he is headed to Knoxville to play for coach Rick Barnes and the Volunteers."
Bud Fiels passes away – UTSports
Arthur L. “Bud” Fields Jr., a major figure in the Tennessee Vols athletics department, passed away last Friday at age 87. Fields started men’s volleyball as a club sport in 1967 and became the first head coach of the women’s volleyball NCAA varsity program that started on Rocky Top a decade later, a role he held for two years. He is in the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Field’s 1977 squad placed first in the state and fourth in Region II. The following year, his Lady Vols went 20-14-3 and finished second in the state. He continued to coach UT’s men’s club program for several more years."