TSU’s Roar City Meet & Greet To Feature Eddie George, Brian Collins, More

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Tennessee State University fans will get a chance to meet and hear from TSU’s football, basketball, and track coaches from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29, as the Tigers Alumni Association host Roar City.

First year head football coach and Tennessee Titans legend Eddie George will be at the Meet & Greet event as well as men’s basketball head coach Brian “Penny” Collins. They will be joined by women’s basketball coach Ty Evans, track & field coach Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice, and TSU Athletic Director Dr. Mikki Allen. The night will be hosted by the “Voice of the Titans” and 2021 Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame inductee Mike Keith.

There are three tiers of tickets available for fans. All purchases will act as donations to the Nashville Chapter of the TSU Alumni Association. The Bronze donation is worth $19.12, Silver is worth $191.20, and Gold is worth $1,912.

The Tigers will kick off their football season on Sept. 5 at Grambling State and host their first home game of the year at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 18 against Kentucky State.

College Corner: Vanderbilt Baseball, UTK’s Ralph Weekly Retires, TSU Football

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Vanderbilt Beats Stanford 6-5, Avoids World Series Elimination

Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt shocked the college baseball world on June 23, coming from behind to beat Stanford 6-5 in a walk-off. With the win solidified, the team avoided elimination from the College World Series.

After a rough start for starting pitcher Christian Little, giving four runs in three innings, the Commodores were able to pick up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on two RBI singles. Vanderbilt was down 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth when Javier Vaz picked up a two out walk, followed by Spencer Jones’ single. Vaz was able to advance to third after an overthrow.

This set the stage for freshman Enrique Bradfield Jr. who singled to right field, allowing Vaz to score and Jones to advance to third, tying the game at 5-5. Carter Young stepped up to the plate and took one pitch before Stanford’s Brendan Beck threw a wild ball over the catcher’s head letting Jones score the game winning run.

The Commodores will now play NC State on Friday, June 25, for the second time after losing 1-0 on Monday. Vandy will most likely have one of their two aces, Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker, on the mound for Friday’s matchup.

 

University Of Tennessee Head Softball Coach, Ralph Weekly, Retires

Ralph Weekly. Photo By Kelly Gerdin/Tennessee Athletics

University of Tennessee’s head softball coach Ralph Weekly is retiring after 30 years as a coach and 20 years with the Lady Vols. His wife and assistant coach Karen Weekly will take over his position, agreeing to a contract extension through June of 2025.

“First, I’d like to acknowledge the extraordinary tenure and legacy of Ralph Weekly,” says Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White. “He and Karen have built Tennessee softball into one of the top programs in all of college softball. Ralph has given his all for Tennessee for more than two decades, and he certainly elevated the stature of our program in every facet during that span.”

Weekly has career record of 1,450-481-2 (.750) that includes stints at Pacific Lutheran (1986-94), Chattanooga (1995-98, 2001), and Tennessee (2002-2021). He is No. 4 all-time among NCAA softball coaches in career wins. Under Weekly, the Lady Vols have become one of the nation’s premier programs, reaching the postseason every year since 2004, hosting 16 straight NCAA Regionals, advancing to 11 Super Regionals, and making seven trips to the Women’s College World Series where they placed in the top-3 on five occasions, including two national runner-up finishes.

“I have worked every day since I entered the military at age 17,” says Weekly. “I have had a fulfilling life as a father, husband, student, soldier, special agent, teacher and coach. In every endeavor, I have been surrounded by amazing people whose talents allowed me to succeed and made me a better person. I thank Joan Cronan for hiring us at Tennessee and allowing Karen and I to mentor and coach hundreds of wonderful young women. I was fortunate to work with many fantastic coaches and administrators, to include the legendary Pat Summitt. I thank every player I ever coached for their commitment to excellence on and off the playing field. Each player, male or female, has a place in my heart. I will always be a VFL and cherish the memories I made at each stop. Most of all, I thank my family for their support, patience and counsel. Karen is the smartest person I have ever known. I know she will make Tennessee softball even greater and continue our quest for a national championship.”

 

TSU Football Announces 2021-22 Schedule

Tennessee State University has announced the dates and times for home games for its 2021-22 football season with first year head coach and Titans legend Eddie George.

The Tigers are set to make their return to Nissan Stadium on Saturday, September 18 versus Kentucky State with a 2 p.m. kickoff. They will also play under the lights for Homecoming night with a late 5 p.m. start October 30 against Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State Racer. The other two home games at Nissan Stadium will be against OVC teams Tennessee Tech on October 16 at 2 p.m. and Austin Peay on November 13 at 2 p.m..

During the 2021 delayed season, the Tigers went 2-5 losing to Austin Peay 27-20, Murray State 35-13, and Tennessee Tech 24-10.

Fans can catch George’s first season with TSU at Nissan Stadium by buying tickets on the athletic department’s website.

Titans 5K To Be Held August 21, Registration Open Now

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The Titans 5K is set for Saturday, Aug. 21 and is open for registration. The race will give fans the opportunity to meet and run with former players, cheerleaders, and Titans mascot T-Rac.

A portion of the money made from the 5K event will go to the Titans Fund, which aims to help contribute to the Nashville community. All those who participate will receive a commemorative t-shirt and a ticket to the Titans game against the 49ers on Dec. 23.

The course as been designed around Nissan Stadium and downtown and will end at the stadium’s 50-yard line. Refreshments will be provided and an award ceremony will take place after the race where the fastest finisher for each age group (male and female) will receive a commemorative football and overall fastest participants (top 3 male and female) will receive personalized Titans jersey.

The prices for the 5K are currently $45 and will increase to $50 after June 30. Late registration from August 19-21 will cost $65 and will close at 6:30 a.m. CST on the day of the race.

Below is a map of the Titans 5K course.

Diageo Partners With NFL Becoming First Official Spirits Sponsor

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Photo Courtesy of Diageo plc

Diageo, one of the world’s leading alcoholic beverage companies, has become the first official spirits sponsor of the NFL. The multi-year sponsorship is structured with the NFL fan in mind and will include opportunities for on-site activation and engagement with adult fans, as well as broadcast, digital, and social content from NFL Kickoff through the Super Bowl.

“NFL games have the powerful ability to bring people together, and that very much ties into what our brands at Diageo are all about: bringing people together to celebrate life,” says Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Diageo North America Ed Pilkington. “This is a perfect match. We are energized about bringing new and exciting programs and experiences to the NFL’s passionate adult fan base, while continuing to use our platform to champion social responsibility in every way.”

Diageo owns some of the most popular liquors and spirits in the world including Johnny Walker, Sminroff Vodka, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, and Guinness. Crown Royal has already had a significant footprint with the NFL and this sponsorship takes it to the next level. This collaboration will include Responsible Drinking programs, integration into marquee events such as NFL Honors, and, involvement in the NFL International Series games in London starting in the 2022 season.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Diageo, a global leader in the spirits industry, to the NFL family as our first ever spirits sponsor,” says Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Vice President of NFL Partnerships Renie Anderson. “We look forward to working with Diageo on innovative programs to elevate their business, as well as furthering the important message around responsible drinking.”

Diageo’s role as the first Official Spirits Sponsor of the NFL is just the latest example of the company continuing to grow in the sports and entertainment world. In 2017, Crown Royal became the first spirits brand to advertise during a televised NFL game with its “Water Break” Responsible Drinking campaign. Back in 2004, Diageo became the first company in the industry to partner with Nascar after the auto racing company lifted its longstanding ban on distilled spirits sponsors. Diageo currently has 12 NFL team and stadium deals, making this partnership a natural progression in further unifying the two organizations.

The American Flag Football League Announces Data Partnership With LSports

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Photo: by Todd Kirkland/AP Images for American Flag Football League

The American Flag Football League (AFFL) is continuing to grow as they and LSports, a global leader in the delivery of real-time sports data solutions, enter into an exclusive data distribution partnership valued at $6 million.

The five-year agreement was announced by LSports Co-Founder and CEO Dotan Lazar, and AFFL CEO Jeffrey Lewis. As the Official Data Partner of the AFFL, LSports will have the exclusive rights to the distribution of the league’s data. LSports will generate live statistics and odds for all AFFL games beginning at the start of the 2022 season.

“We’ve long since recognized the American market growth and we expect it to greatly evolve in the next few years. The agreement with AFFL definitely secures LSports a place there,” says Lazar. “This deal positions LSports next to a select few who own exclusive rights to official sports, highlighting our unique offerings. AFFL odds will be a great addition to our already vast offerings.”

The partnership follows the AFFL’s recent announcements, including its agreement with CBS Sports to broadcast games this summer, the launch of the league’s women’s division, and a commitment to equal pay as both the men’s and women’s champion will earn a grand prize of $200,000.

“Partnering with LSports is an important step in broadening the AFFL’s awareness and bolstering our relevance in the mainstream,” says Lewis. “As sports betting continues to grow here in the U.S., this will connect the AFFL to more fans, bringing them closer to our game and the rising popularity of flag football.”

The AFFL offers the highest level of competitive flag football and has attracted some of the NFL’s biggest names in years past, including Michael Vick, Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, Vince Young and Danny Wuerffel. The league features a 7-on-7 format on a 100-yard field and 60-minute games with 15-minute quarters played over a running clock.

The Men’s AFFL tournament is scheduled for July 23-25 in Indianapolis and will move to Houston, Texas for the remaining rounds starting August 14. The inaugural Women’s AFFL tournament will debut on August 21-22 and 28-29 in Houston, Texas.

Column: How The Julio Jones Trade Represents The State Of Sports In Nashville

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Titans helmet and footballs during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns at Nissan Stadium on DECEMBER 06, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Alison P. McNabb/Tennessee Titans

After months of speculation on where he might land, seven-time Pro-Bowler Julio Jones has become a Tennessee Titan, wearing No. 2 in navy and silver. The 2021 Titans are now set up to have Jones, Derrick Henry, and A.J. Brown as offensive weapons for quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Jones is widely considered the best receiver currently in the game and statistics show that, in fact, he is. The future Hall of Famer has 12,896 receiving yards and 60 touchdowns in his 10-year career on 848 catches. He’s caught over 100 passes in three of his seasons, and he had at least 80 catches and 1,300 yards in every year from 2014-19 with an average of 104 receptions for 1,565 yards during that time period.

For those passionate Titans fans who remember, just six seasons ago this franchise went 3-13 and was at the bottom of the NFL. Yet so much has changed in those years both for the Titans and for the Nashville sports scene as a whole.

Over the past three years, the Titans have become one of the most exciting teams to watch as Henry has become the best running back in the league, winning the rushing title in 2019 and 2020 as well as Offensive Player of the Year 2020. On the same coin, the city also welcomed Tannehill as quarterback. Coming in from Miami in 2019 with little to no success and a season-long injury in 2017, he led the team to the 2019 AFC Championship and won Comeback Player of the Year.

Tannehill’s arrival coincides with Mike Vrabel‘s hire as head coach which has resulted in two playoff appearances in his first three seasons as the team’s skipper. Vrabel has built the team into one that people want to talk about instead of the one where people ask: “Do the Titans play in Nashville or Memphis?”

Since Vrabel and Tannehill have joined the team, Nashville has seen a boom in extra sports exposure and expansion. The city has seen a new MLS team and new stadium, the biggest NFL Draft in history, Nascar’s return, and IndyCar arriving. Not to mention that Music City is on the short-list for MLB expansion.

However, the growth in Nashville sports doesn’t stop there. The Predators have become one of best teams in the NHL, and Bridgestone Arena is arguably the most difficult hockey arena to play in since their Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2017. Every year the team is always considered a top contender, and the team proved this season that, even after a slow start, they have enough grit and leadership to fight for the postseason.

The Nashville Soccer Club kicked off their inaugural season in 2020 by fighting their way to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Now the team is soon set to open their brand new stadium at the Nashville Fair Grounds and is rapidly growing its fan base.

Top tier motorsports are also making their return to the city with Nascar racing over a nearly sold out Father’s Day Weekend at the Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon. This will mark the first time a Cup Series race has taken place in Nashville in 37 years. In August, Nashville will host the inaugural IndyCar Big Machine Music City Grand Prix with a street-course being built downtown and around Nissan Stadium.

In just a few years we have seen all of this expansion, but Nashville is no stranger to absurd growth as population has increased 12.84% in the past 10 years.

The signing of Julio Jones is the perfect example of how Nashville and its sport scene has grown into a market that strives to compete, win, and attract other people who want the same. With this most recent trade, Jones brings with him a hype and talent to an already experienced and talented Titans team.

As the roster stands right now, the 2021 Tennessee Titans look like a team that is ready to win it all.

Titans Partner With Williamson County Sports To Launch Girls Flag Football League

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The Tennessee Titans and Williamson County Sports Conference are partnering to form the first-ever interscholastic girls flag football league in the state of Tennessee.

The sport will be offered to female high school students in Williamson County’s nine public schools in the spring of 2022. Teams will play each other once throughout a six-week, eight-game season beginning in March. All nine teams will qualify for the league championship, tentatively scheduled to occur at Nissan Stadium in May.

“We are excited about partnering with the Tennessee Titans and offering another athletic option for the young women in Williamson County Schools,” says Darrin Joines, District Athletic Director, Williamson County Schools. “Girls Flag Football is a growing sport across the country, with many states already sanctioning the sport through their high school athletic associations. Piloting the program in WCS will allow TSSAA to gauge interest in the sport. We are honored to serve as the pilot district for Tennessee and look forward to making Girls Flag Football a part of our high school athletic programs during the 2021-22 school year.”

The league will begin in partnership with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) with the potential to expand to other counties as an official TSSAA-sanctioned sport in future years. TSSAA will advise in the area of game officials, championship planning, tournament format, rules interpretations, and any other areas that may be helpful in setting a framework for Girls’ Flag Football to grow in Tennessee. NFL FLAG, which has led efforts to expand women’s flag football across the U.S. at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels, will also partner with the program to provide training and guidance.

“TSSAA is grateful for the commitment of the Tennessee Titans and Williamson County schools for providing this opportunity for young women,” says Bernard Childress, TSSAA Executive Director. “Girls Flag Football is quickly becoming popular in the Southeast and across the country. We look forward to this partnership as we work together to expand participation opportunities for students in Tennessee.”

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Williamson County and the TSSAA for helping us bring this vision to life,” says Titans Sr. Vice President, Chief Marketing & Revenue Officer Gil Beverly. “Creating more opportunities for young women in our state to grow their passion for football is a huge priority of ours and we’re thrilled to take a big step forward with this partnership.”

The Titans have a long-standing commitment to developing youth football across its region. Throughout the season, the team honors High School Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year recipients and hosts the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards every fall. Recently, the team awarded over $350,000 in grants to youth football organizations across the state.

Titans Trade For Falcons Receiver Julio Jones

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Photo: By Alison P. McNabb/Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons to trade for wide receiver Julio Jones, pending a physical.

The full terms include the Titans trading their 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round selection to Atlanta in exchange for Jones and a sixth-round pick in 2023.

Jones, a seven-time Pro-Bowler, is a massive addition for the Titans, who finished 2nd in the NFL in total offense a year ago but lost top performers in receiver Corey Davis and tight end Jonnu Smith earlier this offseason in free agency.

Jones was a first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft. He established himself as one of the premier wide receivers in college football at the University of Alabama. In 40 games, he caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards with 15 touchdowns and accumulated 3,084 all-purpose yards.

A 6-foot-3, 220-pounder, Jones has 12,896 receiving yards and 60 touchdowns in his 10-year career, on 848 catches. He’s caught over 100 passes in three of his seasons, and he had at least 80 catches and 1,300 yards in every year from 2014-19, with an average of 104 receptions for 1,565 yards during that time period.

Jones is Atlanta’s all-time career leader in receptions (848), receiving yards (12,896) and 100-yard receiving games (58), and his 60 touchdown receptions rank second.

With an average of 95.5 receiving yards per game through 135 career games, Jones ranks first in NFL history, topping Calvin Johnson’s previous record of 86.1 receiving yards per game. His 12,896 career receiving yards already place him 20th in league annals. Jones’ 58 career 100-yard receiving games put him fourth all-time behind Jerry Rice (76), Randy Moss (64) and Marvin Harrison (59). Among all players in NFL history with at least 848 career catches, only Moss’ 15.6-yard average ranks higher than Jones’ average of 15.2 yards per reception.