Tennessee Vols morning report: CFB HoF nominees, basketball to face Maryland
All the rage surrounding the Tennessee Vols right now involves baseball, and for good reason as UT get set to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in this weekend’s NCAA Super Regionals. However, on Monday, there were no new updates regarding that sport.
Instead, our morning update on Rocky Top leads with two major stories in football and men’s basketball. The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame nominees are out and involve numerous people affiliated with UT. Meanwhile, men’s basketball added a key game for 2022-23.
There’s another men’s basketball story involving the death of a player, and we have a Pat Summitt story regarding an honor she received. Finally, we’ll close out with three separate stories surrounding tennis awards, as they came out Monday. Let’s dive in with football.
Three former Vols, Josh Heupel on Hall of Fame ballot – FootballFoundation.org
Eric Berry, Willie Gault and Larry Seivers are all up for the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame. Tennessee Vols football head coach Josh Heupel is also up due to his playing days with the Oklahoma Sooners. The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced the names Monday.
"The announcement of the 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2023, with specific details to be announced in the future.The 2023 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2023, and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. They will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2023 season."
Men’s basketball to face Maryland in New York – HoopHall.com
For the first time since the mid-1980s, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team will take on the Maryland Terrapins. UT will face the Terps at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 11 as part of theBasketball Hall of Fame Invitational.
"Tickets for the 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational will go on-sale at 10 a.m. Monday, June 13 and will be available to purchase online at seatgeek.com and in-person at the Barclays Center American Express Box Office. Game times and television broadcast details will be released at a later date."
Former basketball All-American passes away – UTSports
Danny Schultz, who played for Tennessee basketball in the early 1960s, passed away over the weekend. He was 79.
"A star guard for the Volunteers under head coach Ray Mears from 1962-64, Schultz posted a career scoring average of 17.2 points over 45 games. He was the first Vol during the Mears era to earn All-America acclaim, garnering second-team honors from Converse in 1964.During that 1963-64 campaign, Schultz shot a career-best .473 from the field and .894 (101 of 113) from the free-throw line."
Pat Summitt makes U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame – TeamUSA.org
Legendary Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt, who passed away in 2016, was named to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, Class of 2022. The class will be honored and inducted with a ceremony set to take place on Friday, June 24.
"As a coach, Summitt helped lead the U.S. women’s team to gold at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. During her tenure as the women’s basketball head coach at the University of Tennessee, Summit led the squad to eight NCAA championships and compiled more wins than any other Division I college basketball coach in NCAA history, a record that stood until 2020, and never missed the NCAA tournament in 38 years. As an athlete, Summit won Olympic silver as a co-captain at the 1976 Games. Summit is the first woman inducted in the coaching category."
ITA Regional Awards recognizes Vols –WeAreCollegeTennis.com
Two Tennessee Vols men’s tennis players won Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional awards as part of the Ohio Valley Region. Freshman Shunsuke Mitsui earned Rookie of the Year, and graduate senior Adam Walton earned Senior of the Year.
"Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and players for their excellence on the court and in their communities throughout the season."
Three Vols earn ITA All-American awards – UTSports
In addition to earning the Ohio Valley Regional Senior of the Year, Adam Walton earned ITA All-American honors. He joined sophomore Johannus Monday as the two Tennessee tennis players to earn ITA Singles All-American honors, and he and senior Pat Harper earned ITA Doubles All-American honors.
"This marks just the sixth time Tennessee has landed three or more players on either the ITA or NCAA All-American lists.With his latest honor, Walton becomes a back-to-back All-American to close his collegiate career after finishing the year ranked second and was the third overall seed in the NCAA Singles Championship, in which he advanced to the semifinals. Walton finished the year at 26-8 in overall singles action and was 19-6 in dual singles matches."
Lady Vols earn ITA Regional Awards – WeAreCollegeTennis.com
Despite no All-Americans, three Tennessee women’s tennis players were recognized as ITA Ohio Regional Award winners. Graduate student Tenika McGiffin earned Most Improved Senior, senior Rebeka Mertena earned Senior of the Year, and freshman Elza Tomase earned Rookie of the Year for that region.
"The Division I Playing Awards include: Wilson ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Senior, ITA Senior Player of the Year, ITA Community Service, and ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award.The national award winners will be announced next Monday, June 13th."