OVC Names Katie Risewick To Director Of Compliance And Championships, Jahmil Taylor To Director Of Creative Content

Katie Risewick and Jahmil Taylor. Photos: Courtesy of the OVC

Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner Beth DeBauche has announced the hirings of Katie Risewick and Jahmil Taylor. Risewick will serve as the Director of Compliance and Championships, while Taylor will be the Director of Creative Content. Both begin their roles next week.

“Jahmil and Katie will be terrific additions to our dedicated OVC staff, given their passion for intercollegiate athletics, commitment to service, and reputation for hard work,” says DeBauche. “I am delighted they have joined our team as we strive to provide an exemplary experience for our OVC student-athletes.”

Risewick worked as a Special Projects Manager at the Evansville Sports Corporation from May 2018 until August 2021, which included working with the Ohio Valley Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships held at the Ford Center. She was also involved with the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Elite Eight and National Championship, the NCAA Division II Cross Country Regionals & Championships and the High School Basketball Showcase. In August 2022, she graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisville. While in graduate school she interned with the University of Louisville Athletic Department.

Taylor graduated from The University of Mount Union in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Media and with a minor in Sport Business. While there, her worked with the sports information department where he planned and created engaging content for Mount Union’s athletic social media platforms. Additionally, he worked with Raider Student Media, a student-led media apparatus that produced feature stories and short films, as well as planning and covering school events.

Belmont Earns ESPN+ OVC Program Of Excellence Award

Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont University was recognized by the Ohio Valley Conference on Friday (Sept. 9) as part of the league’s 2022 OVC Program of Excellence.

Honoring outstanding achievement in live event video production for ESPN+, Belmont was awarded top honors in the category of Best Pre-Produced Feature.

Under the leadership of Director of Athletic Video Operations Christian Sadler, Belmont has received 11 honors from Sports Video Group (SVG) and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) the last six years as part of the annual SVG/NACDA College Sports Media Awards. This includes three national finalist nods in 2022 for Outstanding Live Game Production, Collegiate Athletics-Supported and Outstanding In-Venue Video, Collegiate Student.

Belmont University has produced a number of accomplished professionals in sport media, in front of and behind the camera, which includes Emily Proud (CBS Sports), Paris Lawson (Oklahoma City Thunder), Madison Blevins Hock (WBIR-TV), Christian Kaposy (Cumberland University), Jacob Lutz (Nashville Predators/Bridgestone Arena), Jeanette Morley (Tennessee Titans) and more.

Vanderbilt Unveils Tennis Facility Renderings As Part Of Vandy United Project

The Lummis Family Tennis Center renderings. Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

As part of its Vandy United campaign, Vanderbilt has dropped artists’ renderings of the upgrades for the Lummis Family Tennis Center.

Fred and Claudia Lummis, both graduates of the class of 1976, and their sons have made the lead gift with the goal of inspiring and facilitating gifts from other alumni and donors to champion state-of-the-art tennis facilities for both the Vanderbilt and greater Nashville communities.

“The Lummis Family Tennis Center will ensure that our tennis programs have the facilities necessary to meet the standard of excellence we have all come to expect,” says Candice Lee, Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director. “Thanks to the generosity of Fred and Claudia Lummis and their family, our student-athletes will enjoy the best experience in collegiate tennis. The center will also offer improved fan and game day experiences to bring Nashville’s tennis community and Commodore Nation even closer to our programs.”

Award-winning architectural design firm Populous, master architect for Vandy United’s signature projects and for notable tennis structures such as Wimbledon AELTC and the Hengqin International Tennis Center in China, is spearheading design of the on-campus complex.

The Lummis Family Tennis Center renderings. Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

“Vanderbilt’s alumni and supporters know that their gifts will not only benefit current students, but generations to come,” says Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. “This generous gift by the Lummis family will long enable student-athletes to realize more of their potential, while providing a destination for Nashville tennis fans. It is representative of Vanderbilt’s signature collaborative spirit and the all-in attitude that will make Vandy United a success.”

The five current courts in the indoor portion of the existing tennis complex will be renovated into a more generous and playable four courts with additional circulation space, and five new indoor courts will be added. Other additions include new seating options to provide unobstructed viewing of all courts, air conditioning, new upward-facing LED lighting, and upgraded and insulated interior walls with a ball-resistant covering. All existing student-athlete and coaches’ facilities will also be renovated and upgraded.

The expanded and renovated tennis center will exceed all requirements needed to host all levels of NCAA postseason competition.

The Lummis Family Tennis Center renderings. Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

“Claudia and I are thrilled to help Vanderbilt tennis write the next chapter in a storied history,” says Fred Lummis, founder and chairman of Platform Partners LLC. “Captaining the men’s tennis team was one of the great privileges of my years at Vanderbilt. My experiences as a student-athlete provided some of the best memories and most valuable lessons of my life.” He continues, “Our goal is to help create a center of tennis excellence not only for Vanderbilt to compete for championships, but to serve the Nashville tennis community. We hope that our gift inspires others to contribute to this transformative project, and Claudia and I look forward to seeing current and future Commodores create their own lasting memories.”

Two outdoor courts will be added to the current layout, the entirety of which will be resurfaced under new lights. New interior court fences and ornamental perimeter fences and gates will also be installed. Fan amenities, such as more fixed chair-back seating options, wheelchair-accessible observation areas, additional patio space and shaded areas, will complement circulation improvements, and viewing spines between courts will enhance spectator engagement.

The Lummis family’s gift builds upon the foundation laid by Brownlee O. Currey Jr., whose contributions to Vanderbilt’s existing tennis center will continue to be honored through the Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Pavilion.

The Lummis Family Tennis Center renderings. Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

“We are incredibly grateful for the Lummis family’s lead gift to our tennis facility project,” Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Aleke Tsoubanos adds. “This project will provide our student-athletes the opportunity to train, develop and compete at one of the premier tennis facilities in the country. We are thrilled to begin building a home for the future of our programs that supports our mission of providing the best student-athlete experience in all of college tennis. We look forward to welcoming fans to the new facility to cheer on the Dores in our pursuit of more SEC and national championships.

The Vandy United campaign has raised $300 million to invest in the upgrade and growth in Commodores athletics.

TransPerfect Music City Bowl Opens Auditions For National Anthem, ‘God Bless America’ Performers

Chapel Hart singing the National Anthem at the 2020 Music City Bowl. Photo: Courtesy of the TransPerfect Music City Bowl

The TransPerfect Music City Bowl is accepting video auditions from singers who are interested in performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” during the 25th edition of the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Dec. 31, 2022 at Nissan Stadium.

In a new partnership with Amazon, the bowl has launched the Amazon Voice of the Bowl for the third edition of the contest. The most recent Amazon Voice of the Bowl were 2020 national anthem winners Chapel Hart who recently earned the “Golden Buzzer” on America’s Got Talent. The trio have taken the country music scene by storm, collaborating with artists such as Darius Rucker and earning praise from country legends like Dolly Parton on social media.

“The Amazon Voice of the Bowl has been become an integral part of our bowl game,” says Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. “By showcasing the talent the Music City has to offer, we are able to highlight what makes this city unique while simultaneously honoring our nation at our game. We want to thank Amazon for their support of our local music industry and look forward to the hundreds of submissions over the next few weeks and finale at Ole Red on Broadway.”

Applications for the national anthem must not exceed one minute and 30 seconds, while “God Bless America” auditions can be no more than a minute long. Performers are asked to provide their name, age, email address and contact phone number with their entry. Over the next month, interested applicants can submit a file or link of their acapella performance to anthem@nashvillesports.com.

Five finalists will be announced the week of Sept. 26 and will perform live at the Amazon Voice of the Bowl finale on Oct. 8 at Nashville’s Ole Red.

TSU Partners With The Zone To Support Student-Athlete Mental Health

Tennessee State University has announced a partnership with The Zone, a mobile app designed to monitor and improve the mental health of student-athletes.

The partnership will promote the physical and mental wellness of TSU student-athletes as a continued priority for the University. Tennessee State joins seven universities around the US currently using The Zone’s software within their athletic program.

“I’m thrilled to have The Zone at TSU,” says head football coach Eddie George. “The well-being and mental health of our student-athletes is something that’s very important to me as a Head Coach.”

Created by former student-athletes, The Zone’s technology allows student-athletes to access wellness resources, easily communicate with campus staff, and track their mood. School administrators can access aggregate data and insights surrounding student-athlete wellness through a personalized dashboard, giving teams a unique understanding of what is happening within the athletic program while maintaining student privacy.

“We are so excited about our partnership with The Zone!” says Sash-Sha Collier, Executive Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Wellness. “Our student-athletes will have an opportunity to access a library of resources that will help them to manage everyday stressors. As a Division I student-athlete, it’s so important to be able to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. The Zone is a great opportunity to provide that to our athletes and improve our overall standard of care!”

Last year, 51 percent of student transfers were due to mental health-related issues. By using The Zone, TSU can continue its commitment to using innovation to drive high performance and allow players to feel their best on and off the field.

“We are thrilled to partner with Tennessee State Athletics for the upcoming school year,” says Erik Poldroo, co-Founder of The Zone. “Tennessee State has continuously shown the importance of mental health and how it impacts physical performance on and off the field. By bringing a personalized solution to their players and staff, we couldn’t be more excited to grow this partnership and help them achieve their program goals.”

Vanderbilt Wide Receiver Jayden McGowan Named SEC Freshman Of The Week

Jayden McGowan scoring a 75 yard TD vs. Elon. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Following his first 100-yard performance as a collegiate receiver, Vanderbilt’s Jayden McGowan has been named SEC Freshman of the Week.

The Laurens, South Carolina native becomes the fifth Commodore to earn SEC Freshman of the Week honors since the award was instituted in 2005 and the first since CJ Bolar in November 2018.

McGowan made four catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in Vandy’s 42-31 victory over Elon on Saturday (Sept. 3). The rookie scored his touchdown against the Phoenix on a 75-yard bomb from Mike Wright. It marked the longest pass play for the Commodores since Sept. 7, 2019 (Riley Neal to Chris Pierce).

By eclipsing the 100-yard mark, McGowan became the third Vanderbilt freshman since 2005 to record a 100-yard receiving game. Earl Bennett accomplished the feat three times in 2005, while CJ Duncan reached the mark once in 2014.

McGowan and the Commodores will put their 2-0 record on the line this Saturday (Sept. 10) against No. 23 Wake Forest. Kickoff at Vandy’s FirstBank Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT and tickets are on sale now.

94.9 FM The Fan To Serve As TSU Football Flagship Radio Station

Tennessee State University Athletics and Cromwell Media announced that, beginning Sept. 3, TSU Tigers football games will be heard on its flagship station 94.9 The Fan.

In addition to a live broadcast of the games, a new weekly show hosted by Head Coach Eddie George and Outkick 360’s Jonathan Hutton will air Mondays throughout the season at 6 p.m. on 102.5/106.3 The Game. The weekly shows will kick off on Sept. 5, broadcasting live from Sixth & Peabody.

Coach George will also make a weekly appearance with former Tennessee Titans teammate, Derrick Mason, on Chase, Willy & D-Mase every Friday at 1 p.m. on 102.5/106.3 The Game.

“I’m thrilled to be back on the Nashville airwaves with a weekly show that talks up Tennessee State football while growing our fan base across the city,” says George.

Veteran announcer Greg Pogue begins his 11th season as the Voice of the Tigers and will be joined in the booth by a pair of former Tennessee Titans teammates of George–Chris Sanders and Brad Hopkins.

The Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Pregame show will begin 30 minutes before kickoff as Pogue sits down with George to discuss the upcoming game.

“We are excited about our increased partnership with Cromwell Media as the home for Tennessee State football,” notes Dr. Mikki Allen, TSU Director of Athletics. “This partnership will be a win for all parties involved as it will serve our Big Blue fans locally and listeners across the nation. This will create more value for TSU Athletics and corporate partners who utilize our radio assets to support their brands and drive revenues.”

“The addition of TSU to our already strong lineup was a natural fit,” adds Chase McCabe, Cromwell’s Sports Program Director. “The tradition of TSU combined with Eddie George’s football knowledge further solidifies our position as Nashville’s Best Sports Talk. I look forward to having Eddie as a prominent member of our team while helping grow the TSU brand.”

TSU football games on 94.9 FM can be heard outside of Nashville in Rutherford county on 95.1 FM.

TSU football games will also air nationally on Sirius XM, the TSU Tigers app, the TuneIn app, Alexa smart speakers, and the iGoRadio app.

TransPerfect Music City Bowl Unveils 25th Anniversary Logo To Kick Off College Football Season

The TransPerfect Music City Bowl has unveiled its commemorative 25th anniversary logo ahead of the first official college football weekend.

The logo unveiling kicks off the start of the college football season leading up to the Music City Bowl game day on New Year’s Eve at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.

“Since 1998, the TransPerfect Music City Bowl has been honored to help transform one of Nashville’s slowest weeks to now one of its busiest,” says Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. “This college football season, we look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary not only with this commemorative logo, but by also highlighting some of the top moments, players and coaches and most importantly fans who have helped transform our bowl game to what it has become today.”

Throughout the college football season, the Bowl will allow fans to vote on the 25th anniversary team, highlight the top 25 moments in Bowl history and more through its social media channels.

The 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl between Tennessee and Purdue was the most watched (5.6 million viewers on ESPN) and most attended (69,489 fans) in the Bowl game’s history.

This year’s game will televised nationally on ABC.