Titans Hire Mical Johnson As First Female Scouting Assistant Among Other Additions

Mical Johnson. Photo: By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have named Mical Johnson as a full-time scouting assistant, the first woman to do so for the organization. Johnson’s hire comes alongside multiple other additions to the Titans’ football staff.

Johnson played for the Belmont Bruins tennis team from 2015 to 2019. She later served as the Amy Adams Strunk Women in Football intern where she helped put the advanced reports together for the coaches during the 2020 season for the team’s weekly opponent. Johnson will work in both college and pro scouting, evaluating players, monitoring the daily waiver wire, and assisting in the preparation for free agency and the NFL Draft.

Mical Johnson with the Belmont tennis team in 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics.

The Titans also announced the addition of Blaise Taylor as a pro scout and Matt Miller as a college scout, transitioning from their previous roles as scouting assistants. Taylor’s focus will be involved in advance scouting for upcoming opponents, as well as evaluating potential free agents for the free agency period every spring. Miller will have a region of colleges to visit, evaluate, and gather information on prospects for the annual NFL Draft. Both will retain portions of their previous roles as scouting assistants.

Kiara Mayo has accepted this year’s Amy Adams Strunk Women in Football Training Camp internship in Scouting and Operations. She is currently a graduate student at Belmont University and will begin during training camp.

Titans GM Jon Robinson and coach Mike Vrabel created the offseason internship program, adding a role on Vrabel’s coaching staff, and a spot on Robinson’s personnel staff that would also be dedicated to women after attending the Women’s Careers in Football Program. They called it the ‘Amy Adams Strunk Women in Sports Program,’ named after the team’s controlling owner.

The organization also hired Kylan Butler as the Bill Walsh Offensive Fellowship Coach for the upcoming season. He previously served as the offensive coordinator at Morehead State in Kentucky. Butler will work with all of the skill positions on the offense, including quarterbacks.

Chris Janson To Perform Pre-Race Concert At Ally 400

Chris Janson

Chris Janson is set to perform the pre-race concert at the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at the Nashville Superspeedway on June 20.

Janson, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, will display his high-octane, multi-instrumental talents while performing his No. 1 hits on a stage near the start-finish line between the morning Cup Series qualifying session at 10:05 a.m. and the afternoon “Ally 400” at 2:30 p.m.

“I’m super thrilled to be performing at the NASCAR Cup Series pre-race concert at Nashville Superspeedway on June 20th,” says Janson. “I’m pumped to have NASCAR back in Nashville for the first time in 10 years with a sold out crowd. I can’t think of a better combination than racing fans & country music fans. It will be a glorious day!”

Janson took home the award for ACM Video of the Year for his Gold-certified, inspiring hit song “Drunk Girl,” which also earned the Song of the Year title at the 2018 Music Row Awards. His chart-topping, triple-Platinum smash “Buy Me A Boat” earned the iHeartRadio Music Awards Country Song of the Year. Janson’s No. 1 hits include multi-week chart topper “Done,” “Good Vibes,” “Fix a Drink,” and his current single, “Waitin’ On 5,” can be heard now on the airwaves.

“As Middle Tennessee’s home track for NASCAR Cup Series racing, we understand the importance of infusing the heart of Music City into our events,” says Erik Moses, Nashville Superspeedway’s president. “We’re thrilled that Chris Janson will bring his special brand of entertainment to our Father’s Day race weekend and are certain our fans from across the state and around the country will enjoy his show before America’s best drivers take the green flag for the Ally 400.”

Tickets are available for Nashville Superspeedway’s first two races on its Father’s Day weekend slate, including the “Tennessee Lottery 250” NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, June 19 (2:30 p.m. CT, NBCSN) and the “Rackley Roofing 200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race under the lights on Friday, June 18 (7 p.m. CT, FS1).

This will be the first Cup Series race in Middle Tennessee in 37 years. Grandstand gates open at 9 a.m. on Father’s Day. The race can be watched on NBCSN at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Belmont Athletics Hires Tommy Henry As Director Of Sales And Sponsors

Belmont University has announced the hire of Tommy Henry to the position of Director of Sales & Sponsorships.

Henry will take a lead role in growing corporate sponsorship revenue and will support Belmont’s basketball season ticket and group sales efforts.

Henry, a North Carolina native, spent the past three years at Winthrop University. As development coordinator, Henry spearheaded fundraising campaigns for Winthrop’s athletic development organization, the Eagle Club. Among Henry’s notable accomplishments while in Rock Hill, he helped increase major donors by 229 percent, grew group ticket sales by 137 percent and created premium-level seating for basketball and baseball.

Henry has also worked as assistant director of admissions at Belmont Abbey University and as a group and corporate sales representative for the Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He also worked as sales director for the Washington Football Team.

Henry graduated from Xavier University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in business. He is completing a master’s degree in business administration from Winthrop University.

Belmont Unveils New Crockett Center For Athletic Excellence Practice Facility

Members of the Belmont Board of Trustees joining Belmont Athletic Director Scott Corley, University President Bob Fisher with his wife Judy and the head coaches of men’s and women’s basketball teams, tennis team and volleyball team. Photo: By Sam Simpkins/Courtesy of Belmont University

Belmont University has officially opened its new practice facility on Thursday, May 27, now named the Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebration.

Outgoing Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher, Director of Athletics Scott Corley and Board of Trustees Chairman Marty Dickens welcomed and addressed a gathering of Belmont student-athletes, alumni and guests.

“This is a historic day for our University and athletic program,” Fisher says. “The Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence serves as a magnificent centerpiece to bridge the proud history and exciting future of Belmont Athletics. Dan is a visionary who understands and values how college athletics can shape a young person’s character and empower them with the drive, persistence and discipline needed to succeed in any chosen career. I am so honored and grateful for Dan’s continued generosity to Belmont, this being the latest example in providing student-athletes resources to thrive academically, athletically and spiritually.”

Pictured (L-R): Caleb Hollander, Grayson Murphy and Tate Pierson of the Belmont men’s basketball team. Photo: by Sam Simpkins/Courtesy of Belmont University

The new Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence will serve as the primary training home for Belmont’s nationally-regarded men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs, and complement the existing game day facility at the Curb Event Center. In addition to housing two full courts for basketball and volleyball, the two-story, 45,000 square-foot facility features athletic training and strength and conditioning space, a video room with theatre-style seating, locker rooms, coaches’ offices, conference rooms, equipment rooms and team lounge areas.

The Center, named for local businessman and former owner of Franklin American Mortgage Dan Crockett, connects to the University’s recently-opened tennis facility and serves as the latest example of Belmont’s meteoric rise within NCAA Division I athletics.

Belmont women’s basketball head coach Bart Brooks with his wife and two children. Photo: by Sam Simpkins/Courtesy of Belmont University.

“This is an incredibly special day for me since Dan has been a good friend since we were 13 years old playing baseball on the same Little League team,” says Corley. “Whether in sports or business, he developed a culture that promoted a team-first mentality while pursuing excellence in every detail, which I’m proud to say are also hallmarks of Belmont’s Athletics programs. Having his name on the Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence will remind our student-athletes on a daily basis of our continued commitments to these tenets.”

After being a successful two-sport athlete in football and baseball at Lambuth University, Crockett graduated and began a business career at a small, struggling mortgage broker in Brentwood, Tennessee. In 1994, the firm’s owners gave Crockett the opportunity to purchase the company. At 26, he became a business owner, immediately changing the name to Franklin American Mortgage and establishing a vision to become a Top 20 lender. In 2018, Franklin American sold to Citizens Financial Group. A former member of Belmont’s Board of Trustees, one of Crockett’s daughters is a rising sophomore at Belmont.

Belmont Bruins mascot Bruiser with members of the university’s cheerleading team. Photo: by Sam Simpkins/Courtesy of Belmont University

“Belmont is a visionary place in its mission to reach young people from all walks of life, not only in the United States but abroad as well,” Crockett says. “The University has grown into a larger institution but still connects on a personal level with its students, and athletics is a means to that end. Athletics teach so much to young people – tenacity, resilience, teamwork, leadership, accountability, respect, patience, and discipline, to name a few. Inspiring our youth with the powerful opportunity of athletics is among one of the many things for which I am passionate, and I truly believe the qualities learned help prepare these young men and women for the opportunities that life will bring post-education.”

This new facility comes months after the opening of the new Tennis Courts and parking garage which is directly next to the Crockett Center for Athletic Excellence.

Pictures of the event can be found on the Belmont Bruins website.

St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Announces New Date For Nashville

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series in Nashville is returning on Saturday, November 20, 2021 after having to cancel last year due to the pandemic.

The St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series team is working hard to create a great event for participants that meets the guidelines and recommendations set by public health entities as it relates to COVID-19. All registered participants will be receiving an email with more information.

To register for the event or to learn more, visit rocknroll.com/nashville.com.

Folds Of Honor Tennessee To Host First Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament

 

Folds of Honor Tennessee is set to host its first annual celebrity golf tournament on June 21 at the Governors Club in Brentwood.

The event will help raise money and bring awareness to the non-profit which helps provide educational scholarships to the families of fallen and disabled American service members. In the 2020-21 academic year, Folds of Honor awarded 253 scholarships at $1.25 million in educational impact in the Tennessee area.

“We are excited to bring together our friends from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and corporate America for the common cause of helping military families who paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedom,” says Christopher King, president for Folds of Honor, Tennessee. “We can’t all serve in the military, but we can support the families of those who protect our country.”

The tournament will feature big names in music and sports which include Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, Lee Brice, Tyler Farr, Jamie Johnson, Chase Rice, Charlie Esten, Randy Houser, Mitchell Tenpenny, Michael Ray, Jelly Roll, Dee Jay Silver and many more.

A few notable auction items include two VIP passes to join Danica Patrick aboard the super yacht Ocean Pearl at The 2022 Monaco Grand Prix; a round of golf in Las Vegas with Brice and LPGA pro-golfer Danielle Kang; a 4-day Dove Hunt in Argentina; a 7 day vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with a two bedroom suite at the oceanfront Diamond Resort; and signed guitars and other celebrity memorabilia.

All those interested in participating in this celebrity charity event can register now. If you are interested in purchasing a foursome or becoming a sponsor, please email jkreifels@foldsofhonor.org.

The event schedule goes as follows:
9:30 – Registration
11:30 – Shotgun start
4:00 – Happy Hour with music by Dee Jay Silver
4:30 – Auction/Awards/Special Guest/Dinner
5:30 – Concert by the Steel Drivers

Big Machine Music City Grand Prix To Honor Driver Bryan Clauson

The Big Machine Music City Grand Prix will honor the late race car driver Bryan Clauson by naming the pole winner trophy after him.

The driver who wins the pole will receive the Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy on August 7, an accolade that highlights the event’s partnership with Tennessee Donor Services to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation.

“Bryan Clauson was the definition of a racer,” says Matt Crews, CEO of Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. “He was an extremely talented driver and just an incredible person. Losing him was very painful on the entire racing community, but his legacy lives on, and there’s no truer statement than that.”

A ferocious competitor on the racetrack, Clauson was incredibly giving off the track. He promoted animal welfare causes and was an ambassador for Cancer Treatment Centers of America, a national oncology network of hospitals and outpatient care centers.

Clauson was also an extremely versatile and accomplished racecar driver who worked his way up the racing ladder with his 112 career USAC victories, ranking him fifth all-time. Clauson was a nine-time USAC champion who made his way to INDYCAR, first in Indy Lights and then in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, making his debut in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. Sadly, Clauson passed away on Aug. 7, 2016 at the age of 27 after injuries sustained in a crash at the Belleville Midget Nationals in Kansas.

“Bryan was an organ donor,” says Crews. “He ended up saving five lives and helped heal about 75 people through tissue donation. His heart literally lives on. By presenting the NTT P1 Award winner with the Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy, we at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix want to recognize Bryan’s generosity and encourage others to #BeTheGift.”

Taylor McLean, Bryan’s sister, along with their father and mother, Tim and Diana Clauson, will hand the Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy to the NTT P1 Award winner.

“Bryan was a very giving person,” says McLean, marketing program specialist at Indiana Donor Network, where she oversees the Driven2SaveLives program. “We are so proud of his accomplishments on the track, but we are prouder of the person he was off of it. He helped so many people and never hesitated to take the time to interact with his fans.

“When Bryan died, he gave the best gift of all – the gift of life – through his decision to sign up as an organ donor. Organ donation not only saved the lives of the people who received his organs, but Bryan’s donation started a movement in the racing community.” She continues, “We are so proud of our Bryan, and it is extremely humbling to continue Bryan’s legacy in this sport in partnership with the Music City Grand Prix and Tennessee Donor Services.”

The Bryan Clauson Pole Trophy will be presented to the NTT P1 Award winner on Saturday, Aug. 7 following qualifying for the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR SERIES race. The date marks the five-year anniversary of Clauson’s passing.

Each car entered in the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix NTT INDYCAR Series race will also be provided #BCstrong decals to run during the event weekend which has shown the motorsports industry’s collective remembrance of Clauson.

Nashville Named One Of The Top Seven Sports Destinations In the World

Photo By Brad Moore/Tennessee Titans. Courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Nashville has been named one of the top seven sport destinations cities in the world and the only American city by Sports Pro.

Music City has been the focus of many large sporting events over the past five years and continues to compete with other cities to host events, including a recent bid to host a 2026 FIFA World Cup game.

The Sports Business Journal named Nashville as America’s best sports city back in 2019. The city has hosted March Madness games, the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament and more recently the 2019 NFL Draft which was the highest attended and most watched NFL Draft in history. Music City also continues to be a hot destination for the UFC, CONCACAF soccer games like international friendlies or the Gold Cup.

Nashville continues to grow as they just added a MLS team who will be playing in a brand new stadium starting in 2022 at the Nashville fairgrounds. Also, this year Nashville is hosting a NASCAR weekend with three races in June and the first ever Big Machine Music City Grand Prix IndyCar race in August.

The six other destinations included on the list are, Santiago, Chile; Glasgow, Scotland; Senegal; Budapest, Hungary; Saudi Arabia; and Indonesia.