TSU’s Darius Harper Jr., Kaleb Mosley Earn OVC Player Of The Week Honors

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Tennessee State University (TSU) football’s Darius Harper Jr. and Kaleb Mosley both took home Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week awards after their performances in the season finale win over Texas A&M-Commerce (TAMUC).

Harper earned Defensive Player of the Week, while Mosley earned his third Specialist of the Week honor.

Harper, a Nashville native played his final game as a Tiger against TAMUC and saved, arguably, his best performance for last. The senior finished with a career-high five tackles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a TD, a 20-yard fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.

Harper intercepted a pass on the first play from scrimmage and returned it 44 yards for a score, while his second went for a return of 28 yards. His biggest play of the game came on the final play of the contest as he broke up a would-be game-tying touchdown pass from TAMUC.

Mosley had a bounce-back performance to earn his third Player of the Week award as he was also playing in his final game as a Tiger. Mosley was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goal attempts (47, 36, 25) and had an extra point to finish with 10 points. The dual-threat specialist had a nice day punting the ball, with nine punts for 350 yards. He had a long of 55 and averaged 38.9 yards per punt, with one landing inside the 20-yard line.

TSU finishes their season with a 4-7 record. The Tigers took home five OVC Player of the Week awards during the season.

Vanderbilt’s Wesley Schelling Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week

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Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt long snapper Wesley Schelling is the latest Commodore to receive a conference honor as he’s been named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.

The Nashville native recovered a fumble for a touchdown in Vandy’s win over Florida, while also executing all nine long snaps.

Schelling became just the fifth FBS long snapper since 2003 to record a touchdown. His recovery on a muffed punt gave the Commodores their fourth non-offensive touchdown of the season.

The product of Pearl-Cohn’s football program has executed on all 90 long snaps this season and all 205 in his career. He was fourth team Preseason All-SEC according to Phil Steele entering 2022 and is a three-time Academic All-SEC Selection.

Schelling becomes the fourth Vandy player to take home a conference player of the week honor this season, joining Mike Wright (Nov. 14, Offensive), AJ Swann (Sept. 19, Freshman) and Jayden McGowan (Sept. 5, Freshman). It’s the most weekly awards in one season for Vandy since 2018.

The Commodores (5-6) will look to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2018 as they will finish the 2022 regular season on Saturday when No. 9 Tennessee visits FirstBank Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Former Vanderbilt Athletic Director Paul Hoolahan Dies At Age 72

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Paul Hoolahan. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Former Vanderbilt athletic director Paul Hoolahan died Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the age of 72.

Hoolahan took over the athletic department when Roy Kramer left to serve as commissioner of the Southeastern Conference. During his tenure at Vanderbilt, Hoolahan led a significant modernization and improvement of the department’s business operation, fundraising efforts and facilities.

He then left Nashville to take over as executive director of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, a position that he held until he retired in 2019. Hoolahan cemented the Sugar Bowl as one of the top postseason games in college football. The contest hosted five national championship games in the Bowl Championship Series before joining the New Year’s Six bowls and the rotation to host College Football Playoff semifinal games.

A native New Yorker, Hoolahan played football at North Carolina, which is where he got his start in athletics administration before arriving joining Vanderbilt.

Hoolahan is survived by his wife, Katherine, and three daughters: Kate, Molly and Megan.

Lipscomb Clinches Win Over Belmont, Ending Battle Of The Boulevard Drought

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Photo: Courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics

The Lipscomb Bisons walked away from the 149th installment of the Battle of the Boulevard victorious, beating Belmont 77-75 in an exciting early season matchup at Allen Arena.

The game saw 16 lead changes and big performances by Belmont’s freshmen Cade Tyson and Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who scored 15 points and 12 points, respectively. Meanwhile, sophomore Bison Trae Benham helped lead the way for Lipscomb, scoring 21 points and having seven rebounds.

However, Jacob Ognacevic‘s layup with just one second left on the clock handed Lipscomb the win over their street sharing rival. Ognacevic came off the bench to score 16 points.

With the win, Lipscomb snaps a six-game losing streak to Belmont.

The first half was back and fourth with neither team running away, but two good free throws, a layup and a jumper for Lipscomb closed the half with a 37-34 lead.

Belmont opened the second half fast, going on a 12-2 run scored by Tyson, senior Ben Sheppard and graduate transfer Drew Friberg. Belmont took a 10-point lead with 14:40 left in the game, but great work by Benham and Ognacevic helped narrow the lead.

From there, neither team took more than a seven point lead. Lipscomb commanded with about four minutes left, forcing Belmont’s young team to play catch-up.

With the win, Lipscomb takes a 76-73 series lead all-time over the Bruins in one of the most historic local rivalries in all of college basketball.

Lipscomb, now with a 2-1 season, will head to South Bend, Indiana to face Notre Dame on Friday (Nov. 18). Belmont, now 1-2, also returns to action on Friday when they face Tarleton State in the first round of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam.

Vanderbilt Football Wins First SEC Matchup After 26-Game Losing Streak

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Mike Wright. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

For the first time in three years, the Vanderbilt Commodores have won a game against an SEC rival with a 24-21 win over No. 24 Kentucky on Saturday (Nov. 12).

After staring off 3-1 this season, Vandy has lost five consecutive SEC games, including a close 17-14 loss to Missouri. However, this win over a ranked Kentucky team showed the resilience that head coach Clark Lea‘s team has.

Lea’s first season with the team was a forgettable one, with only two winning games the entire season. He has now doubled that and added a conference win to his growing resume.

Clark Lea. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

“There were opportunities for them to make assumptions about the outcome. We got behind late, but they just kept fighting. I think when you stay in the fight and you believe, good things happen. They were able to make it happen in the end,” an emotional Lea said in a postgame interview with SEC Network.

Senior quarterback Mike Wright had a great performance against the Wild Cats going 12 of 23 in passing for 184 yards with an interception,. He also ran for 126 yards, scoring a rushing and a passing touchdown.

The Commodores were down 21-17 with nearly five minutes left in the game when Wright led Vandy down the field to win the game. He completed a 40-yard pass to Quincy Skinner Jr. on fourth-and-11 to the Kentucky 9 yard line, setting up the winning score.

His performance against Kentucky won him a SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor.

“There’s going to be a lot to clean up but we like to learn from wins and I’m proud of Mike,” Lea added. “Mike’s had a tough year personally, but he’s fought through that, stayed with his teammates and prepared every week. He’s made some big plays for us this season, and he came up with a big one there at the end to connect with Will Sheppard. I thought he really did some nice things to keep us in the game early.” He continued, “I’m proud of all the guys. They earned that. It’s been a long run, and they earned it.”

The Commodores have just two games left this season staring with its matchup against Florida on Saturday, Nov. 19, followed by No.5 Tennessee on No. 26. Both games will be at FirstBank Stadium.

Vanderbilt Unveils Details For Ingram Center For Student-Athlete Success

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Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt has announced the creation of the Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success, which will be funded with part of the lead gift to the Vandy United campaign made by longtime supporter and Board of Trust member John R. Ingram.

Housed within the McGugin Center, this initiative represents a restructured approach to how Vanderbilt Athletics will support academic, personal and career development.

“The Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success symbolizes the continued promise of the Vandy United campaign to give our student-athletes every opportunity to succeed,” says Candice Storey Lee, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director. “Thanks to John Ingram’s generosity, the Center will help today’s champions become tomorrow’s leaders. It’s fulfilling to see this vision come to fruition after lengthy and intensive planning, including significant time and energy personally invested by John.

“Our student-athletes are incredible and deserve our very best. The Ingram Center is one tangible example of what ‘our very best’ looks like.”

This past year, in addition to winning two conference championships, an individual national championship and competing in a world championship, Vanderbilt student-athletes were honored as SEC Community Service Award winners and CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, as well as a Fulbright Scholar and the recipient of the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship.

All Vanderbilt student-athletes will benefit from the Center’s planning and mentorship, and will receive personalized support tailored to meet their specific needs. Examples include financial literacy, leadership training, domestic and international service-learning opportunities, internships, personal branding and name, image and likeness support, and entrepreneurship development. Under the direction of Associate Athletic Director Alison Wenzel, the center will combine the efforts of current student services and student-athlete development staff in one entity.

“The Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success is an innovative approach to providing a holistic experience for student-athlete,” explains Wenzel. “We will walk alongside them though their journey at Vanderbilt and provide resources so they can explore their passions. Who are they, what drives them, and where will they find success after Vanderbilt—all of these questions and more will be answered through the student-athlete support services provided by the Ingram Center.”

Additional staff will soon join Vanderbilt’s team, and the network of support will also include collaborations with alumni, campus partners and local community members.

“At its core, Vandy United reflects the university’s commitment to the lifelong growth and development of everyone in our Vanderbilt community,” says Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. “The Ingram Center for Student-Athlete Success fits this vision perfectly by harnessing the collaborative power of faculty, coaches, staff, alumni and the Nashville community to support student-athletes as they strive for excellence on and off the field.”

Honored earlier this year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame as its Tennessean of the Year, in part for his work bringing Major League Soccer and GEODIS Park to the Nashville community, Ingram has been a longtime advocate for the transformative potential of the student-athlete experience at Vanderbilt. A member of Vanderbilt’s Board of Trust, he echoed the chancellor’s sentiments.

“Vanderbilt student-athletes are exceptional young people with bold dreams,” Ingram notes. “It is our responsibility to invest in them and ensure that we deliver them to their next destination prepared to reach their potential. I am honored to support this initiative ”

Vanderbilt Assistant Football Coach Takes ‘Step Back’ After Pro-Kanye West Tweet

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Vanderbilt defensive back football coach Dan Jackson has announced he’s taking a “step back” from the team after backlash regarding a pro-Kanye West tweet earlier this week.

West has been under fire this past month and has lost major sponsors over antisemitic comments made on social media and in interviews. His comments led the the suspension of both his Twitter and Instagram.

Jackson posted support on social media for West, stating that he is “two steps ahead of everyone else.” He has since deleted the post and issued an apology where he says, “To be clear, antisemitism has no place in our society, and I reject all forms of hate.”

Athletic Director Candice Storey Lee made a statement regarding Jackson’s post and said that there will be an internal review regarding the situation.

The statement reads:

“There have been several questions and concerns expressed about a recent comment made by our defensive backs coach, Dan Jackson, on social media. As a department we understand and hear very clearly how this situation has impacted members of our community and those outside of Vanderbilt. Our internal review of the matter began immediately over the weekend, and I now want to provide an update.

“To be clear, Vanderbilt rejects antisemitism, racism and discrimination in all its forms. Consistent with Vanderbilt’s process for addressing reports of discrimination, the matter has now been referred to our Equal Opportunity and Access office for review. It is important the university follow its standard process and conduct a thorough review of the complexities of this incident. Coach Jackson and I have agreed that he will step back from his responsibilities with the team during the Equal Opportunity and Access office’s review.”

Head coach Clark Lea also made a statement regarding Jackson, saying, “It is important the university follow its standard process and conduct a thorough review of the complexities of this incident.”

Press Kit: A Run Down Of College Basketball’s Opening Week In Nashville

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Destinee Wells. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

College basketball is officially back and there are a ton of games for Nashville college hoops fans to watch this week.

There are four games that fans can sink their teeth into tonight (Nov. 7), including the highly anticipated matchup between the Vanderbilt men and Memphis at Memorial Gym at 7 p.m. CT. Vandy is coming off a very good season where they finished 19-17, marking their first winning season since 2016-17. The Commodores made a short run in the SEC Tournament and eventually made it to the NIT Quarterfinals.

Vandy will be without star Scotty Pippen Jr., but have a firm foundation built by Jerry Stackhouse, as well as solid leadership and experience from Liam Robbins, Jordan Wright and Quentin Millora-Brown.

Jerry Stackhouse. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Robbins is a 7-foot fifth-year senior from Iowa who will be one of the team’s biggest keys for success. Last season, he averaged 6.8 points and four rebounds per game, and blocked 30 shots–the most on the team. He only played 15 games during the 2021-22 season so his ceiling is very high and can be opposing teams’ worst nightmare.

Wright started every game last season and averaged 12.3 ppg–the second most on the team. He also led the team in rebounds with 6.4 rpg and shot 42 percent from the field. The team will look to Wright to be its leading scorer.

Less than two miles up the road, the Belmont men’s basketball team will be hosting the Ohio Bobcats to kick off their season.

The Bruins will look very different this season compared to their last two after losing all-conference players such as Grayson Murphy, Nick Muszynksi and Luke Smith. Belmont’s team will be very young and inexperienced, but they will have help from All-OVC First Team senior Ben Sheppard.

Sheppard will be the heart of the Bruins this season as the team will be relying heavily on him to create offensive production. Last season, he started all 33 games and led the team in scoring, averaging 16.2 ppg and shooting for nearly 50 percent from the field.

The Bruins are also entering their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference, so this is a season that fans will most definitely want to keep an eye on.

Over in North Nashville on the Tennessee State University campus, the Tiger’s men and women’s basketball teams will be taking on historic HBCU Frisk University at the Gentry Center. The women’s team will face Fisk at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s game following right after.

The TSU women’s team is also in a transitional year as three of their top scorers are no longer on the team. They will have help from Gia Adams who played 31 games, averaging 12.9 ppg.

Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. Photo: Courtesy of TSU Athletics

The men’s team were picked to be one of the favorites in the OVC this season with returning stars such as Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. who is set to be one of the most impactful players in the conference. Fitzgerald averaged 11.7 ppg, 77 assists, 33 steals and shot 34 percent from the three-point line.

On Wednesday (Nov. 9), the Belmont women’s basketball team will host Chattanooga in their season opener as they begin a highly anticipated 2022-23 season. The ladies are coming off another historical season, winning their second straight OVC Tournament title and picking up an NCAA Tournament win against Oregon. In the end, the team lost 70-67 to the Lady Vols of Tennessee in the second round of the March Madness Tournament.

The Bruins received 14 votes in the Associated Press Preseason Women’s Basketball Poll. They welcome back the OVC Tournament MVP Destinee Wells who’s already solidified herself as a Belmont legend, leading the Bruins to two NCAA Tournament wins. Last season, Wells averaged 16.7 ppg, 140 assists, and shot for 45 percent from the field. She is supported by Tutti Jones who averaged 11.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 87 steals. The Bruins will be back at it on Sunday (Nov. 13) as they welcome No. 5 Louisville to the Curb Event Center. Belmont’s women’s team will be must-see basketball.

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

The Vandy women’s team also readies for its second season behind Shea Ralph who led the Commodores to a successful 2021-22 campaign where they finished 16-19 and 12-5 at home. They went on to win two games in the WNIT before losing to MTSU 55-53.

They will be playing Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green tonight before returning home on Thursday (Nov. 10) to welcome Samford to Memorial Gym. The ‘Dores will be welcoming back stars Jordyn Cambridge and Iyana Moore. Cambridge, a Nashville native, started all 33 games last season and averaged 10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, assisted 146 and had 129 steals. Moore is coming off a stellar freshman season where she averaged 12.7 ppg and shot 39 percent from the 3-point line.

Lipscomb’s women’s team played their season opener at noon today, falling to TCU 69-62. They will play at Northern Kentucky on Thrusday and then have their home opener against Mississippi Valley State on Saturday (Nov. 12) at Allen Arena. The player to watch is Jalyn Holcomb who averaged 10.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, and shot nearly 40 percent from the field.

The Bisons’ men’s team will be opening their season against South Dakota on Wednesday before returning to Nashville to host Campbellsville-Harrodsburg on Saturday. They have ASun Preseason Player of the Year Ahsan Asadullah returning who is going to be a massive problem for defenses across the conference. He led the team in almost every major category, averaging 15.2 ppg, 9 rpg, having 114 assists, and notching 25 blocks.

Lipscomb and Belmont will face off in an early Battle of the Boulevard on Nov. 14 at Allen Arena at 7 p.m. CT.