Kenny Chesney To Executive Produce ‘More Than A Voice’ On SEC Network

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Kenny Chesney. Photo: Danny Clinch

Country recording artist Kenny Chesney is dipping his toes into the SEC original show SEC Storied as an executive producer for its “More Than a Voice” episode that spotlights iconic football play-by-play voices from around the SEC. “More Than a Voice” kicks off the the 11th season of SEC Storied which begins Sunday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

The show focuses on the SEC’s original rise to becoming a cultural institution in the south. In the early days of television, the announcers’ calls of the games became synonymous with the teams themselves, and those announcers also became part of the fabric of the conference. Among them are John Ward at Tennessee, Larry Munson at Georgia, John Forney and Eli Gold at Alabama, Mick Hubert at Florida, Jim Fyffe and Rod Bramblett at Auburn and many more

“It was important for me to be a part of this film, because John Ward was such a big part of my life growing up and loving sports in east Tennessee,” says Chesney. “With his voice and his words, he painted a picture of Tennessee football that captured my imagination and the imaginations of so many. Meeting him was one of the highlights of my life–and I’m thrilled to be a small part of this film that sheds light on his genius and so many of the other voices who have made the Southeastern Conference really special.”

The eight-time Entertainer of the Year’s passion for how people connect in the moment was forged as a youngster listening to Ward’s play-by-play of University of Tennessee football on WIVK. An athlete who often trained with various college and professional teams, Chesney holds the record for the most Billboard No. 1 country songs, has sold over 30 million albums and topped the all-genre Billboard 200 nine times.

This is Chesney’s fourth film in association with ESPN Films, following “Boys of Fall,” “The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story” and “The Believer” on legendary former SEC football coach and 1966 Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier.

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint Adds Location At Nissan Stadium

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Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint is adding a location at Nissan Stadium with a new outpost anchoring the North End Zone. The popular BBQ spot will serve fans at all Titans home games, as well as other major sports and entertainment events at Nissan Stadium, including Major League Soccer and concerts like The Rolling Stones, Kenny Chesney, and Elton John.

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint will make its home in a stand-alone building next to Gate 2. The culinary lineup features Martin’s Bar-B-Que fan favorites like Smoked Wings, BBQ Nachos, and Martin’s Homemade BBQ Chips with Ranch Dip. The restaurant will smoke all its meat overnight on location at Nissan Stadium in a Titans x Martin’s co-branded rig parked in the middle of North End Zone; it takes up to 24-hours to smoke, and as a result Martin’s offerings are more limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“As a proud Titans season ticket holder since 1999–game one, season one through today–it’s incredibly surreal for me to open a Martin’s at Nissan Stadium,” says Pat Martin, founder of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint. “For almost 15 years I’ve had the privilege of feeding the good people of Nashville, and this Titans partnership is the realization of a longtime dream. Seeing our smoker make its home right smack in the heart of the End Zone, serving the best fans in the NFL cheering on the greatest team in the NFL while enjoying our BBQ is a crazy wonderful moment for me and my entire Martin’s family. Go Titans!”

The 2021-2022 Titans football season coincides with the restaurant’s 15th anniversary, as the original Martin’s first opened its doors in Nolensville in October 2006. Today, there are seven Martin’s locations peppered across the greater Nashville area, as well as Louisville, Birmingham, and Charleston. The organization plans to open a new Martin’s in Hendersonville later this year.

“We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint the past several years, and what makes this partnership even more special is Pat’s love for the Titans,” says Titans Sr. Vice President, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer Gil Beverly. “The fact that they’ll be coming into Nissan Stadium overnight to smoke the barbecue is an example of Martin’s dedication to their craft and commitment to our fans, and we couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome them into our home this season.”

Martins is the third Nashville restaurant to find new homes at Nissan Stadium this year. Last month, hot chicken joint Party Fowl and Slim & Husky Pizza Beeria also announced they’d bring their food to Titan game days.

The Titans Name Team Captains Ahead Of Season Opener

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The Tennessee Titans have named its five captains for the upcoming NFL season, voted on by the players. Just two days away, the Titans will host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday (Sept. 12) at Nissan Stadium to kick-off their season.

The players selected to represent the team are safety Kevin Byard, running back Derrick Henry, quarterback Ryan Tannehill, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and punter Brett Kern.

This marks the first captaincy selection for Simmons who is heading into his third NFL season. Byard was previously voted a captain in 2019 and 2020 while Henry, Kern, and Tannehill were previously voted captain in 2020.

“They represent the team, and who we want to be, and help carry that message from me, the coaching staff, and into the locker room,” says head coach Mike Vrabel. “There’s no restrictions on leadership. Guys are going to be able to lead whether we name them a captain, or they were voted by their teammates as captains, that is critical to understand.”

After a few run-ins with Covid, the entire roster is virus-free and available for Sunday’s game.

Waverly Central High School Football To Play Home Game At Nissan Stadium

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Nissan Stadium. Photo: By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

Waverly Central High School football will play a home game at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 16 after being devastated by the recent flooding in Middle Tennessee, Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill and Sr. Vice President and Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer Gil Beverly announced in a press conference on Wednesday (Sept. 8).

“We are really excited to be able to do that for them,” Nihill says. “We are looking for ways to make it a meaningful fundraiser for the high school, to help them get back on their feet.”

Members of the Titans organization will also be heading to Waverly today (Sept. 9) for disaster recovery and relief. In addition to the teams’ $150,000 raised for flood relief, the Titans also donated $50,000 for Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Disaster Relief Fund.

The team also delivered donated equipment to the Waverly High School football team on Tuesday (Sept. 7). Included were helmets, girdles, practice pants, practice jerseys, equipment bags, knee pad sets, cleats, shoulder pads, and athletic training and medical supplies. Also delivered was a 65-inch television, two new sets of washers and dryers, and a refrigerator, courtesy of LG.

Titans, See Rock City Partner To Restore Historic East Tennessee Barns

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Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans and See Rock City have unveiled the restoration of three “See Rock City” barns in East Tennessee. The barns, which feature Titans and See Rock City branding, celebrate both a historic Tennessee tradition and the start of the Titans’ 2021 season.

The barns were painted by visual artist doughjoe, a member of Nashville’s Norf Art Collective, and took roughly a month to complete through multiple storms, including Tropical Depression Ida.

“The Titans are proud to represent the entire state of Tennessee, and we are honored to partner with See Rock City to celebrate the legacy of these historic barns,” says Gil Beverly, Titans Sr. Vice President, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer. “See Rock City barns are treasured pieces of Tennessee history and a big reason why that corner of our state is so widely renowned. We’re excited to be able to give these three a little extra shine and celebrate the start of our season with Titans fans in East Tennessee.”

See Rock City barns first appeared in 1936, brainstormed as a marketing tool by Rock City Gardens founder Garnet Carter and painted by American sign painter Clark Byers. The barns, numbering 900 at their height, quickly turned into Americana icons and drove visitors from around the country to Lookout Mountain. Today, approximately 50 barns remain, with the remaining majority in Tennessee.

“I love our Tennessee Tough collaboration with the Titans organization as they continue to cement their commitment to the people of east Tennessee,” says See Rock City President and CEO Susan Harris. “As a fan of the team, I’ve seen the work they’ve done in Nashville and I appreciate their desire to branch out to our part of the state.

The 3 Titans/See Rock City barns can be found:
1189 Shellmound Road, Jasper, TN
510 Piercy Road, Jasper, TN
6087 HWY 411, Madisonville, TN

Titans Celebrate NFL Season Opener With ‘Kickoff Week’ Festivities

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Photo: By Brad Moore/Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are set to play their first game of the 2021-22 regular season against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday (Sept. 12). To celebrate the opening game, the organization is inviting fans to participate in Titans Kickoff Week presented by Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, featuring a number of activities and giveaways.

Starting on Tuesday (Sept. 7) Titans fans are encouraged to “Titan Up the Town” by picking up a free Titans yard signs available at the Titans Pro Shop, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Nashville-area Dunkin’ locations. Pickup locations can be found here.

The week also includes a Titans Pop-Up Shop featuring a limited-edition clothing line, an exclusive Season Ticket Member Block Party headlined by country singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd, and a search for tickets to the season opener during the Titans Scavenger Hunt.

For more information on this week’s events leading up to the opening game, click here.

The Titans play the Cardinals at Nissan Stadium on Sunday. The game will air on CBS, with kickoff scheduled for noon CT.

Former Tennessee Titan Jurrell Casey Retires

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Jurrell Casey. Photo: By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

Former Tennessee Titan defensive lineman Jurrell Casey has announced his retirement after 10 seasons in the NFL, nine of which were spent with the Titans.

Casey was selected to the Pro-Bowl five times during his career, including in 2020 during his final season with the Titans. He is a six-time defensive captain and a two-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. He ranks seventh in franchise history with 51 sacks—second only to Jevon Kearse (52) in the organization’s “Titans era.”

Casey, who played his final NFL season with the Broncos in 2020, started 140 of his 142 career NFL games, totaling 686 tackles, 51 sacks, 59 tackles for loss, 19 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

“This is a proud day for Jurrell, his family and the Titans family,” says Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk. “There is no greater model for what a player can achieve both on the field and in the community than Jurrell. His five Pro Bowls and two Community Man of the Year awards are part of a tremendous legacy for others to follow. He has a passion for improving the lives of others that shines through in big ways with his work with multiple organizations in our community but also in the quieter, day-to-day interactions on a personal level. On the field, he was a force and helped establish a standard as we rebuilt a culture of success during his tenure, ultimately serving as a captain on the 2019 team that advanced to the AFC Championship Game. On behalf of our entire organization, I congratulate him on a fantastic career, and we will always consider him part of the Titans family. I look forward to seeing what is next for him because I know that no matter what is in store he will continue to make those around him better.”

Casey was drafted by the Titans in the 2011 NFL Draft in the third round with the 77th overall pick. A California native, Casey came out of the University of Southern California where he was named to the Pac-12 All-First Team in 2010 and the Pac-12 All-Second Team in 2013.

Giving back to the Nashville community, he and his wife, Ryann, established The Casey Fund, a non-profit dedicated to raising money for establish re-entry programs, inner-city youth programs, mentoring and halfway houses. He was also a regular at community events and he served as a spokesperson for United Way of Metropolitan Nashville.

Casey was twice recognized as the Titans Community Man of the Year and with that honor nominated for the league’s Walter Payton Award in 2016 and 2018.

College Corner: Liza Corso, MTSU Football & Bonnaroo, Hall Of Fame Tip-Off Tournament

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Lipscomb Freshman Liza Corso Wins Silver At Tokyo Paralympics 

Liz Corso. Photo: Courtesy of Lipscomb Athletics

Lipscomb track & field runner Liza Corso took home the Silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in the 1500m T13 on Saturday (Aug. 28). Corso finished with a personal best time of 4:30.67 to claim the medal.

Corso, a graduate of Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover, New Hampshire, is the first Lipscomb student-athlete to compete and/or win a medal in the Paralympic Games. The 18-year-old is legally blind and has been running and participating in team sports since she was a young girl.

Corso will come back to Nashville with her Silver medal and is set to compete with the Bisons Track & Field and Cross Country programs this fall.

 

 

MTSU Football Offers Free Entry To Season Opener For Bonnaroo Ticket Holders 

MTSU is giving Bonnaroo ticket holders free entry into Saturday’s football opener between the Blue Raiders and Monmouth University on Sept. 4. The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival was cancelled on Tuesday (Aug. 31) due to campground conditions from rain caused by Hurricane Ida.

“Our athletic department hurts for our friends in the Middle Tennessee community because of this setback,” says Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “MTSU has a long history of the university and its alumni supporting Bonnaroo every year, both as guests and in its operation, and we hope that this offer to come to our campus and enjoy some Blue Raider football this Saturday can help those affected make the best out of an unfortunate circumstance.”

Ticket holders can show their Bonnaroo tickets at box offices located at Gates 1, 3 and 4 the day of the game to receive reserved seat tickets, while supplies last. Fans can enjoy many of the game day amenities around Floyd Stadium, including tailgating in the Grove, the Family Fun Zone, and the Blue Raider Beer Garden.

 

 

Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tickets On Sale September 10

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament will go on sale to the general public Friday, Sept. 10. The tournament will feature four teams, including the University of Tennessee.

The Volunteers will face Big East powerhouse Villanova while the University of North Carolina takes on Purdue in Connecticut from Nov. 20-21.

The Vols’ opening game against Villanova tips off at 12 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 20 and will be televised on ESPN News. Also on Saturday, Purdue is slated to face North Carolina at 3 p.m. CT.

Pending the outcome of those two games, Tennessee will be matched up with Purdue or North Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 21 in either the championship game, televised on ABC at 12 p.m. CT, or the consolation game at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.