College Corner: Vanderbilt NFL Draft, Belmont Tennis, MTSU Golf

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Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo Drafted By The Colts In The 2021 NFL Draft

Dayo Odeyingbo. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Former Vanderbilt defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts with the 54th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday (April 30).

A three-year starter and All-SEC second team selection in 2020, Odeyingbo played in 44 career games with 29 starts for the Commodores. He collected 125 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, one interception, one caused fumble, two fumble recoveries and 22 quarterback pressures. He has the fifth most tackles for loss in program history.

Odeyingbo’s selection gives the Commodores at least one pick in each of the past six NFL Drafts.

 

Belmont Men’s Tennis Wins OVC Championship

Belmont men’s tennis team. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics/Seth Raborn

The Belmont Men’s Tennis team will be taking on Ole Miss in the NCAA Tennis Tournament in Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday (May 8).

The Bruins punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Tennessee Tech 4-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship, their first ever.

“We are extremely excited to play in the NCAA Tournament,” says Belmont Director of Tennis Mauricio Antun. “We worked hard all these years and to finally see it pay off means a lot for these guys and this program. I am particularly happy for our seniors, who have gotten so close to making the tournament in previous years and will finally have a chance to taste the experience. I would also like to thank all of our former players, who worked hard to put this program on the national stage and they deserved this moment as well.”

Belmont finished the season with a 13-4 record, led by senior and 2021 OVC Men’s Tennis Player of the Year Marko Ilic. Ilic, a three-time All-OVC First Team honoree, ranks fourth in program history in career singles victories with 58.

 

MTSU’s Men’s Golf Team Wins Conference Championship

MTSU men’s golf team. Photo: Courtesy of MTSU Athletics

The MTSU Men’s Golf team won the Conference USA Tournament Championship on Thursday, April 29, marking it’s third straight championship.

The Blue Raiders punched their ticket to the NCAA Men’s Golf Regionals, after defeating North Texas 3-0.

“I’m just so happy for these guys to get to experience this,” says head coach Mark McEntire. “I’ve told a lot of people that this is the best team I’ve ever coached, and now they get to go showcase what they can do on a national level at NCAA Regionals and hopefully beyond.”

The NCAA Regional selection show takes place Wednesday, at 1 p.m. CST and will be televised on the Golf Channel, while Regionals will be played May 17-19.

Nashville Sounds Release Tentative Opening Day Roster

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The Nashville Sounds have released their tentative Opening Day roster prior to their first game on Tuesday (May 4) against the Toledo Mud Hens.

The Triple A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers will feature the organizations top prospects as well as some veteran talent led by manager Rick Sweet.

The Sounds have four players in MLB Pipelines Top 30 Milwaukee prospects. They include catcher Mario Feliciano (No. 5), left-handed pitcher Aaron Ashby (No. 7), outfielder Corey Ray (No. 24) and left-handed pitcher Clayton Andrews (No. 25). Feliciano and Ray both recently made their Major League debuts with the Brewers.

Players with Major League experience include Infielder Dee Strange-Gordon, who is MLB’s active leader in stolen bases with 333, pitchers R.J. Alvarez, Ray Black, Blaine Hardy, Hoby Milner and Chad Sobotka, infielder Zach Green and outfielder Dustin Peterson. Of the 10 players with Major League experience, only Black, Feliciano, Ray and Sobotka have played for the Brewers.

Out of the roster, Alvarez is the only player to have spent previous time with the Sounds. The Florida native pitched in 32 games with Nashville in 2015 and 2016.

The rest of Nashville’s pitching staff include right-handers Luke Barker, Jesús Castillo, Bubba Derby, Thomas Jankins and Miguel Sánchez, and left-hander Quintin Torres-Costa.

Other position players include catcher Brent Diaz, infielders Luis Castro, Chad Spanberger and Jamie Westbrook, and outfielder Weston Wilson.

NASCAR Announces Boys & Girls Club Of America As Youth Community Partner

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NASCAR has announced a multiyear partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America, becoming the Official Youth Community Partner of the sport.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America will work with NASCAR and industry stakeholders to engage more than 4.6 million youth and teens across the country with NASCAR content and experiences.

“As a community leader, Boys & Girls Clubs of America continues to have immeasurable impact on the lives of our country’s youth, and NASCAR looks forward to engaging those efforts in meaningful ways,” says Steve Phelps, president of NASCAR in a press release. “Through this partnership and together with the NASCAR industry, we have boundless opportunities to advance the mission and objectives of Boys & Girls Clubs of America while at the same time introducing young future fans to our great sport.”

The new partnership will focus on three core areas: STEM education, career development, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives. Programming will include both virtual and at-track experiences with an emphasis on local Boys & Girls Club locations within NASCAR race markets.

“Kids and teens need safe places and caring mentors now more than ever, and local Boys & Girls Clubs around the country are doing whatever it takes to empower youth and build new opportunities so they can achieve every success in life,” says Boys & Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark. “We are very excited to partner with NASCAR to elevate this support in communities even further, enabling more high-quality programing and experiences that will have a positive impact on kids and teens.”

NASCAR will collaborate with drivers, teams and tracks to amplify the sport’s commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America and deepen the engagement with club youth and teens. NASCAR partners will also have the opportunity to integrate with the new partnership, and several partners will look to build on their own longstanding relationships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Don’t Bring Cash: Nissan Stadium Announces Transition Into Cashless Payments

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Nissan Stadium. Photo: By Danny Parker/Tennessee Titans

Nissan Stadium will being transitioning into a cashless payment facility, expecting to allow faster payment transactions and commit to a more contactless experience through its Safe Stadium Plan.

The rollout of this new cashless system began earlier this month at the Nashville Soccer Club’s opening match on April 17.

Fans can expect all sporting, concert, and other event purchases from ticketing, parking, merchandise, and concessions to be completely cashless. The move is in-line with many arena’s across the country including 20 NFL stadiums.

Payment methods that will be accepted are credit or debit cards, gift cards, and mobile payment services such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Fans who arrive with cash only will be directed to Ticket Resolution windows near Sections 108, 309 and 338, where they can purchase a gift card with cash.

The Nashville Predators Form Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment

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Predators Holdings, LLC has formed Sabertooth Sports & Entertainment, LLC (SS&E), which will engage in operational and sales opportunities beyond Bridgestone Arena.

This new venture, which was announced on Thursday (April 28), will include project management, consulting, sales, marketing, event booking and production, ice rink operations, venue operations, special event creation, economic development, and all administrative support and other services related to sports, events, venues and entertainment.

“We have been working on the SS&E concept for quite some time,” says Sean Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nashville Predators. “Due in part to the success of the Predators, Bridgestone Arena and our Ford Ice Centers, we have garnered attention from others in the community asking us for assistance with sales, marketing and event operations. As we take this new step forward, we are pleased to not only help our partners, but to elevate our Middle Tennessee communities and accelerate economic development across our region.”

Current partnerships with the Predators including the Simmons Bank Open golf tournament, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, EAMOTION’s Jingle Beat, Music City Winterfest and CMA Fest will now be managed by SS&E.

The Preds already ventured out of Bridgestone Arena, most notably the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch and Bellevue which opened in 2014 and 2019 respectively. As the sport continues to grow in communities on Middle Tennessee, SS&E will further extend the impact of the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy (SHSA) and other programs that originated at the Ford Ice Centers.

One of the first examples of this extension of the impact of the Ford Ice Centers and SHSA is the soon-to-be-named Montgomery County Multi-Purpose Event Center, which is currently under construction in Clarksville, Tenn. Featuring two sheets of ice – one convertible to a full event venue with approximately 6,000 seats, suites and hospitality areas – the building is scheduled to open during the 2022-23 season under SS&E’s management. Serving as the home of Austin Peay State University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, the venue will host a variety of events covering the full entertainment spectrum. Just as the Ford Ice Centers have done for Antioch and Bellevue, the completion of this project will also provide significant economic impact to Montgomery County.

Titans Announce Matt Rogers As New PA Announcer

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Matt Rogers. Photo: By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have officially announced that Matt Rogers will be the teams new public address announcer.

Rogers was one of almost 200 candidates who applied for the position. He was also one of six finalists who were invited to audition at Nissan Stadium. Rogers was selected as the winner after a fan vote online and input from Titans leadership.

“I can not begin to express my gratitude to the Titans organization for trusting me with such an honor,” says Rogers. “I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and fans who have supported me. I am honored and I am ready.”

Rogers is a former football player himself, winning the 2001 Rose Bowl as an offensive lineman at the University of Washington. A California native now living in Spring Hill, has been a season ticket-holder since 2015. Rogers also served as a sports broadcaster for Turner Sports, covering the nation’s top college football teams.

He spent time in TV hosting Really Big Things on Discovery Channel and continues work with the network to this day. He also served as the host for Lifetime’s Coming Home, which honored service men and women coming home from deployment and surprising their families. Rogers was also a finalist on season three of American Idol.

Former Tennessee Volunteer Ron Slay Joins 104.5 The Zone

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Ron Slay. Photo: Courtesy of 104.5 The Zone

Former University of Tennessee basketball star Jon Slay has officially joined 104.5 The Zone’s afternoon show 3HL with Dawn Davenport and Brent Dougherty.

Slay, a Nashville native, played high school basketball at Pearl-Cohn High School followed by prep school Oak Hill Academy. He went on to play basketball at Tennessee and as a senior, was named the Associated Press SEC player of the year and a third-team All American. Slay was also named to the All-NBA D-League Second Team. After college he played professionally in Europe and around the globe for more than a decade. He is considered one of the most entertaining basketball players that the Vols have ever had.

“Our listeners have made it clear that they want us to hire Ron Slay, says Paul Mason, Program Director at 104.5 The Zone. “I am happy to say we listened and we are thrilled Ron Slay will be joining Brent Dougherty and Dawn Davenport on 3HL. 3HL is already a great show, and I look forward to seeing it go to even higher levels.”

“I am both delighted and eager to join the 104.5 The Zone and 3HL families,” says Slay. “I hope to bring joy, energy, and insight to Nashville sports enthusiasts each day. LOCK THE DOOR…LET’S GO!”

3HL is live from every week from Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 104.5 The Zone FM and on 104.5 The Zone’s website.

NHL Announces A Broadcasting Rights Deal With Turner Sports

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The Nashville Predators celebrate an overtime win against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 17, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)

Turner Sports has announced it has reached a seven-year deal becoming the new home for NHL games starting in the 2021-22 season.

The historic partnership was announced by Jeff Zucker, Chairman, WarnerMedia News & Sports, and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The deal will bring 72 regular season games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Stanley Cup Finals and the Winter Classic to TBS and TNT for the first time ever.

“This agreement with the National Hockey League brings one of the most prestigious championships in sports to TNT and fuels our entire Turner Sports and Bleacher Report portfolio with even more premium content for many years to come,” says Zucker. “We’re delighted to spotlight the world’s best hockey league on our leading networks, while continuing to further elevate this marquee property through an ever-expanding array of digital platforms in the years to come.”

ESPN and the NHL also reached a deal where they would broadcast regulars season games and Stanley Cup coverage. These new agreements comes after the NHL and NBC Sports announced that they would be parting ways after this season.

“Turner Sports is known for its outstanding sports coverage, quality and innovation and we are thrilled that this new partnership will provide our fans with the content they love on the platforms and devices of their choice,” says Bettman. “TNT is a proven and acclaimed destination for sports fans and we will also benefit from the deep connection Bleacher Report has with young digital-savvy fans. Having WarnerMedia join the NHL family as co-rightsholders for the next seven years gives us incredible reach, positions us well for the future as the media landscape continues to evolve, and will fuel continued growth for the NHL and our Clubs.”

The partnership will allow fans to stream live NHL games on HBO Max. Bleacher Report will also offer extensive and exclusive NHL content