New York Mets Fail To Sign Vanderbilt’s Kumar Rocker

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Kumar Rocker. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

After selecting Kumar Rocker with the No. 10 overall pick, the New York Mets have decided not to sign the star Vanderbilt pitcher to a major league contract.

Rocker was projected to be a top five pick in the 2021 MLB Draft after leading the Commodores to the 2019 and 2021 College World Series, winning the championship in 2019. After falling in the draft and landing at No. 10 for the Mets, many people thought it was a steal of a pick for a player that was so highly regarded. According to MLB.com Mets beat reporter Anthony DiComo, the Mets were concerned with an elbow issue which was discovered when Rocker traveled to New York in mid-July for his physical.

“This is clearly not the outcome we had hoped for and wish Kumar nothing but success moving forward,” said Mets General Manager Zack Scott in a statement. “We’re excited about the players we have signed and look forward to watching them develop and contribute to the organization in the years to come.”

Rocker will not be returning to Vanderbilt, according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi, but will most likely play professional baseball in an independent league. Rocker’s agent, CAA’s Scott Boras, worked to keep a deal in place with the Mets but ultimately was unsuccessful. The Mets and Rocker originally agreed upon a $6 million deal when he was drafted last month.

“Rocker is healthy according to independent medical review by multiple prominent baseball orthopedic surgeons,” said Boras in a statement. “Immediately upon conclusion of collegiate season, he had an MRI on both his shoulder and his elbow. When compared to his 2018 MRIs, the medical experts found no significant change. Kumar requires no medical attention and will continue to pitch in the regular course as he prepares to begin his professional career.”

Last week, Rocker’s teammate Jack Leiter signed a league maximum contract with the Texas Rangers worth $7.9 million. Leiter was drafted by the Rangers with the No. 2 overall pick.

SS&E Announce New F&M Bank Arena To Open In Clarksville

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The Predators newest venture, Sabertooth Sports and Entertainment LLC (SS&E), have announced that the new event center being built in Clarksville, Tennessee will be named F&M Bank Arena. This comes after SS&E and Clarksville-based F&M Bank entered a multi-year naming rights agreement on behalf of F&M Bank Arena in May.

“We can finally put a name on the vision Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett has had for this region for such a long time–F&M Bank Arena,” says Nashville Predators and SS&E President and CEO Sean Henry. “Seeing the next chapter in this venue’s life be written by a dynamic, local organization like F&M Bank, led by President and CEO Sammy Stuard, with meaningful input from Mayor Durrett, City of Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and Austin Peay State University Athletic Director Gerald Harrison, is proof of what can happen when passionate, creative individuals collaborate for the greater good of their communities. While we didn’t call it the hippodrome–one of my personal favorites–seeing the name F&M Bank Arena attached to an event center that will be used and enjoyed for generations to come marks another milestone on the way to creating something special in Clarksville.”

Construction continues at F&M Bank Arena’s downtown location of First Street and College Street. Ground broke on the facility in November 2020, and the venue is scheduled to open during the 2022-23 season under SS&E management. SS&E will be responsible for F&M Bank Arena’s day-to-day operations and will be charged with booking the facility to bring the venue to life and make it flourish. F&M Bank Arena will hold approximately 6,000 fans for concerts; 5,500 for basketball game; and 5,000 for hockey games.

“It is exciting to finally be able to say the name out loud… F&M Bank Arena!” says Stuard. “We look forward to actively promoting the brand, not only as an investment in our downtown area, but also as an expression of F&M Bank’s commitment to economic development.”

F&M Bank Arena’s primary tenant will be Austin Peay State University, whose men’s and women’s basketball teams will call the facility home. In addition to the facility’s main event space, which will be able to host sporting events, concerts, banquets, conventions, trade shows and other events, the multi-level venue will feature a separate sheet of ice to be used for youth and adult hockey leagues as well as figure skating. The main arena bowl will also be able to add an ice surface, giving it the ability to host hockey tournaments and attract larger on-ice events or competitions much like the existing Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue. Using these ice sheets, the Predators will offer a variety of learn-to-skate programs at F&M Bank Arena, continuing their mission to expose and grow hockey to more Middle Tennessee residents.

The F&M Bank Arena will also contain luxury suites, premium seating, private hospitality space, party rooms, and common areas that will have full access to the arena bowl. The Austin Peay men’s and women’s basketball teams will move their coaches’ offices and training facilities into F&M Bank Arena, which will also house their practice court.

Vanderbilt’s Jack Leiter Officially Signs To Texas Rangers With $7.9 Million Bonus

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Jack Leiter. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Former Vanderbilt pitcher and 2021 MLB Draft No. 2 overall pick Jack Leiter signs a contract with the Texas Rangers with a $7.9 million signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

The signing bonus marks the second largest in MLB history for a drafted pitcher since Gerrit Cole received $8 million from the Pittsburgh Pirates  in 2011. Since Cole’s signing, the MLB has changed the rules regarding signing bonuses for draftees, meaning that under the new system Leiter is the highest paid.

Leiter had one of the best seasons in all of college baseball this past season putting up 179 strikeouts, tied with teammate Kumar Rocker for the most in all of NCAA DI. He had an 11-4 record averaging 14.6 strikeouts per 9 innings with a 0.845 WHIP. He posted a 2.13 ERA across 110 innings and pitched a 16-strikeout no-hitter against South Carolina in his SEC debut on March 20.


“It’s so special, I’m forever thankful for the two years I spent there,” said Leiter in a press conference. “[Vanderbilt’s program] is really similar to the ideas and principles in the Texas Ranger organization. You’re a person first and a baseball player afterwards.”

Vanderbilt saw seven players get drafted in this years draft including two in the first round in Leiter and Rocker. This year’s draft was the fourth time in the past five years that the Commodores had at least seven players selected in an MLB Draft.

“From coach [Tim] Corbin, coach [Scott] Brown at Vanderbilt, and the entire staff at Vanderbilt from top to bottom, I can’t thank them enough,” Leiter shared.

Leiter will not play in the Rangers minor league system this current season but will instead be heading back to Vanderbilt in the fall to finish his degree. He will also be working out in a joint program through both Vanderbilt and the Rangers, according to Rangers General Manager Chris Young.

Universities Of Texas, Oklahoma Formally Apply To Join SEC

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Photo: Courtesy of the SEC

After weeks of speculation and analysis, both the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma have informed the Big 12 they are leaving in 2025 and have formally requested to join the already powerful Southeastern Conference (SEC).

On Tuesday, July 27, the schools released the joint letter sent to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, expressing their interest in joining the conference. A move of this magnitude hasn’t been seen since the creation of the Big 12 conference and will most likely shake up the rest of the Power-5 conferences.

On Monday, July 26, Texas and Oklahoma released a joint statement saying they would not be renewing its contracts with the Big 12 conference after it expires in 2025. The statement goes as such:

“The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Oklahoma notified the Big 12 Athletic Conference today that they will not be renewing their grants of media rights following expiration in 2025. Providing notice to the Big 12 at this point is important in advance of the expiration of the conference’s current media rights agreement. The universities intend to honor their existing grant of rights agreements. However, both universities will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving collegiate athletics landscape as they consider how best to position their athletics programs for the future.”

SEC Commissioner Sankey also released a statement regarding the two Big 12 universities applying for membership into the SEC:

“The University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas, two esteemed academic institutions with storied athletics programs, today submitted formal requests for invitations to become members of the Southeastern Conference in 2025.

While the SEC has not proactively sought new members, we will pursue significant change when there is a clear consensus among our members that such actions will further enrich the experiences of our student-athletes and lead to greater academic and athletic achievement across our campuses. The Presidents and Chancellors of the SEC, in their capacity as the conference’s Chief Executive Officers, will consider these requests in the near future. Per the Bylaws of the SEC, a vote of at least three-fourths of the SEC’s 14 members is required to extend an invitation for membership.”

The ball is now officially in the SEC’s court, specifically each school’s president/chancellor, to either approve or vote down Texas and Oklahoma’s entry into the conference. The addition of both schools will force the conference to rearrange its divisions for football and scheduling for future seasons.

Eddie George Prepares To Lead TSU Football As First-Year Head Coach

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Eddie George. Photo: Courtesy of Tennessee State University Athletics

Being a first year head coach is tough for anyone at any level, but being one of the greatest running backs in the history of the NFL and a Tennessee Titans legend can add some extra stress. Eddie George is entering his first year as skipper of the Tennessee State University football team but in Monday’s Ohio Valley Conference Football Media Day on July 19, he seemed as cool and confident as ever.

“I’m looking forward to compete against these great universities, these wonderful coaches, and really to inspire and mentor these great young men,” George said. “We’re just really excited about this first year.”

George, a graduate of Ohio State University and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, had no intentions of becoming a coach. He wanted to spend time with his family, work on his acting career, and focus on his other independent ventures. Yet he decided to take the job after much consideration and realizing just how much he could get out of it–working with young men, helping them both on the field and in the classroom.

“I never thought that I would enjoy [coaching] as much as I have,” he said. “From being a player and looking at every level, I saw the grind and the stress involved in coaching and wanted no part in that. Now that I’ve done my due diligence, some soul searching, and since I’m in the business, it’s been really rewarding. This has been a tough season for me personally, losing both my parents in a span of two months. I realized I needed this opportunity more than it needed me.”

The upcoming 2021-2022 season will look a bit different from past seasons, as the OVC and many conferences underwent a spring season in early 2021 and will now have to play a normal fall season. This unprecedented schedule pushes up and rearranges the normal workouts and training that college football players are used to. Because of this, George and his new staff have had to get players ready and healthy in a shorter amount of time, in addition to getting accustomed to their first year of coaching.

“There are four different phases to a season. There’s the actual season, winter conditioning, the spring season, and then summer conditioning. This year has been interesting because between the spring and summer there was maybe a month where these kids had a chance to recover, get their bodies right, and really get ready for the rigors of the season,” George explains. “We had to keep that in mind as a staff to not put too much on them too early on.”

The Tigers struggled last season, going 2-5 snd winning their sole two games against Eastern Illinois and UT Martin. In this year’s OVC Preseason Football Poll, TSU was picked to finish fifth in the conference behind UT Martin, SEMO, Austin Peay, and the expected winner, Murray State. Among the Tigers roster were eight players who were named to the All-OVC Preseason Football Team, the most only behind Murray State who had 10. This list includes OVC Freshman of the Year Devon Starling.

“I feel it’s exciting [to play for George] because I get to pick his brain and learn from him. I know he can help my game go to another level,” said Starling. “All I ever wanted was an opportunity to get better and become the best I can be as a player and a person. I feel like Coach George coming here has become a great role model.”

Starling, who led all freshmen nationally in rushing, finished the season with 648 yards on 124 carries and three touchdowns. The Antioch, Tenn. native averaged 5.2 yards per carry, 92.6 yards per game, and ranked 16th nationally. Last season, he recorded three 100-yard games with a season-best 149 yards at Murray State, one week before running for 134 yards against UT Martin.

“As soon as we came in, we introduced ourselves and had a long conversation about what he expected from me and what I expected from him,” Starling shared. “One thing about him is he asked me what I needed from him. It wasn’t just him asking what he needed from me, so I could tell he cared about more than just the football aspect.”

As a Hall of Fame running back himself, George plans to build his team around Starling and the offensive line. With a great running game, it can take pressure off of the quarterback and allow him to succeed while forcing the defense to stop both the run and passing game.

“It’s important for us to establish a culture. I believe in winning and establishing a team from the inside out,” George said. “I believe by having a strong and powerful running attack, it allows us to become more efficient.

George will be taking the field as head coach of the Tigers on Sept. 5 as the team takes on Kentucky State for their first home game at none other than Nissan Stadium, the arena that the former Titan accomplished so much in. While George’s journey to this head coaching position was not a quick and easy one, it was one that he never imagined he’d love so much.

“It’s been fulfilling and fascinating.” George explains, “Every morning when I wake up, I have the opportunity to be a difference maker. It’s not about me anymore, it’s about serving these young men.”

Belmont Men’s Basketball To Play Drake In 2021 ESPN Events Invitational

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Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics.

Belmont is set to take on mid-major powerhouse Drake in the first round of the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational on Nov. 25 at either 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN2 or ESPNU.

On one side of the bracket, Belmont will face Drake with the winner heading to the semifinal round to play the winner of Alabama-Iona. On the other side of the bracket are Kansas, North Texas, Dayton and Miami (FL) who are all strong teams with recent success. Kansas went 21-9 last season and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing to eventual Elite Eight team USC.

The teams in the tournament had a combined record of 153-68 (.692) last season, with three of the top seven winningest teams in the nation, four conference champions, and five teams earning NCAA Tournament berths. Last season, Belmont went 26-4, which included 21 consecutive victories, 30 consecutive conference victories (over two seasons, including tournament), national Top 25 poll votes eight consecutive weeks, and the program’s 12th regular season conference championship in 16 years.

The ESPN Events Invitational will take place Nov. 25-28 from HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida. All games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

College Corner: Vanderbilt Baseball, UTK Extends Coaches, MTSU Pitcher Drafted

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Seven Vanderbilt Baseball Players Taken In 2021 MLB Draft

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

After making their second-straight College World Series appearance, Vanderbilt baseball saw seven of its top players get selected by major league teams in the 2021 MLB Draft. Superstar pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker were both picked in the first round of the draft. Leiter was taken as the No. 2 overall pick by the Texas Rangers and Rocker was taken as No. 10 by the New York Mets.

The Commodores saw three more of its players get picked up in the second day of the draft. Luke Murphy was taken in the fourth round as the No. 110 pick by the Los Angeles Angels, while CJ Rodriguez was taken in the fifth round at No. 158 by the Oakland Athletics and Hugh Fisher was taken in the 10th round as pick No. 288 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. On the last day of the draft, Jayson Gonzalez was picked by the Chicago White Sox in the 17th round at No. 515 while Junior Dominic Keegan was selected by the New York Yankees in the 18th round with the 573 overall pick.

The picks in the 2021 draft mark the fourth time in the last five years that the Commodores have had at least seven players drafted.

 

 

University Of Tennessee Extends Contracts For Nine Coaches

University of Tennessee Athletic Director Danny White has announced that nine of its head coaches will have their contracts extended.

Coaches awarded with extensions were Rick Barnes (men’s basketball), Lisa Glenn (rowing), Kellie Harper (women’s basketball), Matt Kredich (swimming & diving), Alison Ojeda (women’s tennis), Tony Vitello (baseball), Brennan Webb (men’s golf), Karen Weekly (softball), and Chris Woodruff (men’s tennis.)

“First, I’d like to acknowledge the fact that I inherited a very impressive roster of head coaches when I arrived at Tennessee back in January,” says White. “That’s a credit to those who came before me. Extending contracts for successful coaches is one indicator of a healthy athletics program, and we plan on continuing to be aggressive with extensions and rewarding success moving forward.”

All told in 2020-21, 11 Tennessee teams finished their season ranked in the national top 25. Tennessee was also one of only three Division I schools nationwide to advance to the NCAA Tournament in men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, rowing, softball, and baseball.

 

 

MTSU’s Aaron Brown Drafted By Houston Astros

Aaron Brown. Photo: Courtesy of MTSU

Middle Tennessee State University pitcher Aaron Brown was selected by the Houston Astros with the 268 pick in the ninth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Brown is the first Blue Raider selected in the MLB Draft since Aaron Antonini was taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2019.

“We are extremely excited for Aaron being drafted in the ninth round by the Houston Astros,” says Blue Raider Head Coach Jim Toman. “Aaron was a model student athlete, worked very hard, threw strikes and competed at an elite level. His character and team first mentality were exemplary and we are very proud of what he has accomplished.”

Brown finished the season with the sixth-highest single season strikeout total in program history with 113 strikeouts, placing him 25th nationally. His total 113:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 85.2 innings of work put him eighth best in the country. The Mt. Juliet native also struck out 11 or more batters five times throughout the span of the 2021 season and notched a career-high 13 punch outs against Memphis on March 19.

Belmont Athletics Partners With Affinity Licensing

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The Curb Event Center. Photo: By Colby Crosby/Belmont Vision

Belmont University is partnering with Affinity Licensing in a multi-year deal giving the firm exclusive rights to manage the University’s trademark licensing program effective July 1, 2021.

Affinity Licensing is a values-based trademark licensing agency with more than 100 years of collective licensing expertise providing personalized service, industry-leading technology, and strategic revenue objectives to deliver a better approach to brand management.

“Affinity Licensing brings great knowledge and experience that will help Belmont University and Belmont Athletics expand its presence,” says Josh Ward, Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Sales. “Through this process, it has become evident that we can work together to form a strategy that will rapidly move our branding forward. We are excited about this partnership and what it means for our future.”

Affinity will provide a wide-range of technology-rich and personalized services for the University and its valued licensee partners, including product development, retail marketing consulting, and an online system for review and approval of new products and design concepts.

“We are proud to use Affinity’s vendor-friendly licensing model, proven retail expertise, and leading technology tools to help Belmont’s local and national vendors deliver more quality merchandise to the growing base of passionate Bruin fans,” says Brian Eubank, Director of University Partnerships.