University of Tennessee
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Volume 136 Issue 4
2018
utdailybeacon.com @utkdailybeacon
Thursday, August 30, 2018
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DAILY BEACON STAFF AND POLICY INFORMATION EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Kylie Hubbard Managing Editor: Tyler Wombles Copy Chief: Paige Greene Campus News Editor: Cat Trieu City News Editor: Allie Clouse Sports Editor: Blake Von Hagen Asst. Sports Editor: Will Backus Engagement Editor: Alec Apostoeai Digital Producer: Leann Daniel Asst. Digital Producer: Tara Halley Opinons Editor: Margot McClellan Photo Editors: Emily Gowder, Megan Albers Design Editor: Kyla Johnson Production Artist: Grace Atter
Letter from the Sports Editor: I like football When I was two years old, I attended my first Tennessee football game. Do I remember it? No. My grandparents say I did not make a peep the entire game, except for when the concessions vendor walked by. They bought me whatever I wanted, of course. And I bought a football. Some 19 years later, I will be in the press box at Neyland Stadium on Saturday’s this fall. I look forward to covering a sport I love watching, and I hope to provide great coverage. As Jeremy Pruitt enters his first season as head coach in the wake of the worst season in program history, there are many unanswered questions. Who will start at quarterback? How will the offense look under Tyson Helton? Will previously-injured stars return to their old form? There are not many answers. One thing I do know is that I cannot wait to get started.
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Blake Von Hagen, Sports Editor
Letter from the Asst. Sports Editor: I like football too As a student at the University of Tennessee, it’s hard to not get excited about Tennessee football, even if you aren’t particularly a fan of the Vols. The feeling in the air when college football is around the corner is unlike any other feeling you can experience. My excitement for this season is magnified by my position at the Beacon. I am honored to be able to cover the Tennessee football team this season, and watch the growth and steps it will take under first year head coach Jeremy Pruitt from a different perspective than just a casual observer. So far, covering Tennessee football has been a blast, and we’ve just seen short snippets of some very vanilla practice. I can’t imagine the feeling I’ll get when we make the trip to Charlotte for Tennessee’s home opener against West Virginia. There are so many interesting storylines this season swirling about the Tennessee football program, and it will be fun to watch them all play out. I hope that I’m able to provide great coverage of Tennessee this season, and I hope that the sport of college football as a whole is filled with memorable and impactful moments. Thank you for reading and keeping up with the Beacon. Here’s to a good season.
The Daily Beacon is published by students at The University of Tennessee on Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The offices are located at 1345 Circle Park Drive, 11 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0314. The newspaper is free on campus and is available via mail subscription for $200/ year or $100/semester. It is also available online at: www.utdailybeacon.com
Will Backus, Asst. Sports Editor The Daily Beacon is printed using soy based ink on newsprint containing recycled content, utilizing renewable sources and produced in a sustainable, environmentally responsible manner.
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2018 Vols football season predictions from the editors Blake Von Hagen, Sports Editor There is a first year coaching staff. There is a quarterback battle, where the victor is supposedly still not decided. There are talented players returning from injury. How healthy will the previously-injured players be? How well will the returning players mesh with a coach who did not recruit them? Who will the starting quarterback be? One thing is certain. The Vols face a daunting schedule. The stretch of Florida, No. 3 Georgia, No. 9 Auburn, No. 1 Alabama and South Carolina is one of the most difficult stretches for any college football team this season. Throw in games against No. 17 West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt … It will be a really tough task for a first-year coaching staff, who are coming into a program that just had its worst season in school history. Assuming the Vols take care of business against ETSU, UTEP and Charlotte, they are still left with nine games; none of which are “gimmies.” It will be a rebuilding season for Tennessee. I have the Vols going 5-7 this season. West Virginia’s offense is too much, too early. The Florida game should be a close one, but I give the Gators a slight edge. Georgia, Alabama and Auburn simply have too much firepower. If the South Carolina game was being played in a vacuum, I would take Tennessee. However, it is being played on the road immediately following that brutal set of games, so I lean Gamecocks. The Vols will beat Kentucky and Vanderbilt, while falling to Missouri. How much patience will Tennessee fans have with Jeremy Pruitt in his first year? Only time will tell.
Will Backus, Asst. Sports Editor Tennessee has a huge hurdle early on in the season against No. 17 West Virginia in a neutral site game, and it could be a tone-setter for the whole team. The Mountaineers boast what projects to be one of the most explosive offenses in college football, led by Heisman and hopeful and familiar face Will Grier. Last season was historically the worst for Tennessee, but an entirely new coaching staff has gone a long way in soothing the hurt that the team likely felt following a 4-8 performance. First year head coach Jeremy Pruitt has done a great job building a staff with high level experience, consisting of 24 conference championships and 14 national titles amongst staff. Plus, almost all of them have worked together in some capacity before. That being said, this season is not an easy one for Tennessee. Back-to-back away games against Georgia and Auburn, the teams that played for the SEC Championship last season, may be the roughest two-week stretch in the nation. Not to mention, Tennessee has to play the defending national champions Alabama the week after that. Charlotte, UTEP, and ETSU are the only games on Tennessee’s schedule that one can look at and soundly say that Tennessee will most likely win. I think Tennessee downs three SEC opponents in Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Florida at home to go 6-6 in the regular season, and 3-5 in the SEC. From there, their post-season fate is in the air, and a bowl win to cap off a 6-6 season should be seen as a step in the right direction for Tennessee.
Tyler Wombles, Managing Editor Although Tennessee fans are already showing their trademarked optimism for the 2018 season, this won’t be the season that Jeremy Pruitt wins double-digit games or takes the SEC East (although both of those milestones are likely in the Vols’ near future). However, this will be a tone-setting year for the Vols and a successful one at that. Jeremy Pruitt’s team will showcase the toughness that has so many fans excited for his tenure at the helm, laying the foundation for teams to come. The Vols will fall to West Virginia in their season-opener despite a commendable performance, but will respond by notching blowout wins over ETSU and UTEP, giving fans a chance to breathe easy before a brutal SEC schedule. Florida will take the win over the Vols in a low-scoring, hardfought battle, and Georgia, Auburn and Alabama will easily dispatch the Tennessee team still learning to compete with the current powerhouses of the conference. The Vols will scratch out a win over an overhyped South Carolina team, giving Pruitt his first signature win with the program. On a wave of momentum, the Vols will win games against Charlotte and Kentucky, but will lose to the Missouri team that should be getting a lot more hype than it has so far. Finally, Tennessee defeats Vanderbilt to finish the regular season with a 6-6 overall record (3-5 SEC), ending at .500 in Pruitt’s first year. Tennessee will play in a slightly better bowl game than expected, ending the season on a high note and raising excitement for 2019, the year Pruitt’s Vols will make a run for an SEC East title.
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Rumph aiming to teach more than just football Will Backus Asst. Sports Editor New Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt built a staff consisting of mostly men he had worked with before, or who had previously worked together themselves. Co-defensive coordinator and outside linebacker’s coach Chris Rumph is no exception. In fact, it was this family feel that drew him away from his previous stint at Florida to come to Tennessee. “It’s all about the people,” Rumph said. “I’ve worked with Coach Pruitt, Coach Sherrer, Tyson (Helton), Tracy Rocker.” Rumph was the defensive line coach at Alabama from 2011 to 2014, where he bumped into Pruitt, who served as defensive backs coach for the Crimson Tide from 2010 to 2012. Rumph’s accolades speak for themselves; he is a two-time national champion and one-time SEC champion while coaching for Alabama. Since 2007, he has coached 20 players who ended up being drafted in the NFL, including three in the first round. Rumph has also coached four All-Americans, two of whom were unanimous, and he mentored
Clemson defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers to both the Bronko Nagurski and Ted Hendricks Awards in 2010. He served as co-defensive coordinator at Florida last season and was the assistant head coach for defense at Texas before that. He’s had SEC experience since the early 90s, playing as a linebacker for South Carolina from 1991 to 1994, where he recorded 141 tackles. It’s fair to say that Rumph has an impressive coaching resume. However, it isn’t his long list of accolades that sets him apart from other coaches; it’s how he treats his players, and the bonds that he forms with them that makes Rumph arguably one of Tennessee’s most important coaches. “I think it’s been pretty awesome,” redshirt junior linebacker Darrell Taylor said. “I think he’s teaching us more about football, and he’s showing us how to be a man too.” By all accounts, from former players and coaches who Rumph has worked with, he is a trustworthy coach who not only looks out for his players, but guides them as well. Rumph regularly hosts gatherings at his house where he and the players eat together and spend time with each other in order to form a closer bond. He has emphasized that building trust is one of the key aspects of coaching, and the
Co-defensive coordinator and outside linebacker’s coach Chris Rumph running drills with a player during Tennessee football practice. Tara Halley / The Daily Beacon
players seem to have received that message well. “It builds a lot of trust when he lets us come in,” Taylor said. “I think trust is beneficial because you’ve got to be able to trust coaches to make the right calls, and coaches have to be able to trust players.” Rumph understands that an important aspect of coaching is the connections you build with both the players and coaches. By teaching the athletes to be better men, he’s not only setting them up to be successful football players; he’s
teaching them skills necessary for life after football. Rumph isn’t just invested in football players; he’s invested in people who happen to play football. “I try to be genuine, I try to be who I am,” Rumph said. “I try to treat people the way I want to be treated. It’s more than football. It’s life.” “If the only thing that you learn from me is how to tackle, then I’ve failed.”
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Football 101: things to know if you don’t know football Tyler Wombles Managing Editor It’s that time of year again. Fans across the country will be sporting the apparel of their chosen teams and making their way to the stadiums to witness one of America’s favorite spectacles: football. For those of us who love the game whether it’s at the pee wee, high school, college or professional level, there is no better season. But not everyone is particularly wellversed in what is arguably the most complex and strategized sport in the world. For those of you that aren’t, here’s a quick lesson on Football 101.
scored or the ballcarrier is tackled or pushed out of bounds. Except for during special teams plays, which feature kicking opportunities, an offense and a defense will always be facing each other on the field. The offense’s goal is to move the ball across the field into the opponent’s end zone, thus scoring a touchdown, while the defense is looking to stop the offense from doing so.
typically the quarterback, throws it to another offensive athlete. The offense has four chances to move the ball every 10 yards; each of these chances is called a “down.” This is designated by stating which down it is and how many yards are left before the total of 10 is reached. For example, if the offense is on its third down, and needs only three more yards, it would be designated as “third down and three.”
receiver, hand it to a runner or take it and run himself. The running back is typically the player who runs with the football, while wide receivers and tight ends, who are usually bigger and stronger than receivers, run routes across the field and look to catch it. Offensive linemen block defenders, keeping them away from the quarterback as he looks to pass or from the runner as he tries to make it to the end zone. Defenders have set positions as well. Defensive linemen try to get past offensive linemen and either tackle the quarterback or the runner, while linebackers line up behind them and read the offense to make tackles. Cornerbacks and safeties cover receivers alongside the edges and the deep parts of the field, mainly trying to stop the offense from completing passes.
For special teams, think kicking. This is when a team’s kicker either tries to make a field goal (kicking the ball through the uprights of the goal posts) or transfers possession of the ball to the other team by booting it off of a tee or punting it. Teams typically opt to punt the ball on fourth down instead of going for however many yards are still needed, as the ball will change hands where they were if the offense fails to acquire the first down, usually giving the other team very good field position and a strong chance of scoring.
Strategy is key
The breakdown Football is divided into plays; there is no continuous action. Coaches will signal to their players what they want the play to be, and the players on the field will run it. On every play, each team must field 11 players, and they are almost always assigned set positions on the field. Plays end when points are
Offenses in football attempt to move the ball toward the opposing end zone through two ways: running the football and throwing it. To run the ball, a player takes the football and attempts to evade defenders while his teammates block for him, while in passing the ball, a player,
What do the positions mean? Each player on the offense and defense is assigned to a specific position whenever they are on the field. Offensive positions include the quarterback, the running back, wide receivers, offensive linemen and tight ends. The quarterback’s job is to lead and direct the offense by taking the ball from the center, one of the offensive linemen, and either throw the ball to a
As in almost every other sport, the way to win in football is to score more points than your opponent. Coaches work to accomplish this by designing dynamic, explosive offensive plays to break through the defense, and by teaching their defenders to properly deter the opposing offenses. Some offensive schemes place more value on running the football than throwing it, while others strive to air it out and others still look for a balanced attack. Each coaching staff has its own values about how to move the ball downfield. Defensively, the same is true, as coaches value different ideas and schemes to try to stop offenses. In football news and popular culture, coaches often dominate the headlines more than their players. Many coaches at the college and professional level are paid millions of dollars and become household names if they find success, but can face intense scrutiny and even termination for losing.
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Projecting Tennessee’s starting lineups for Team 122 Will Backus Asst. Sports Editor
Offense Soon, Tennessee fans and media alike will have an answer to the question: Who will be the starting quarterback for the Vols this season? All signs point to that being redshirt sophomore Jarrett Guarantano, who started six games for the Vols last year. Beside Guarantano, the Vols are expected to run a committee of running backs which could include Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and graduate transfer Madre London. Either Chandler or Jordan, both of whom played last year, could see the lion’s share of carries for Tennessee. Tennessee got a boost in the offseason at wide receiver with the return of Jauan Jennings, but he may not start this year. The two receivers to watch are Marquez Callaway and Brandon Johnson, who led the team in receiving yards last season. Behind them, Jennings and sophomore Josh Palmer will likely split time. Tight end may be another position group that is utilized by committee, but junior transfer Dominick Wood-Anderson, standing at 6-foot-4, 257 pounds, should see the most snaps, with Eli Wolf and Austin Pope both factoring into the offense heavily. The offensive line could look completely different than last season, with a few holdovers. Trey Smith will likely get the nod at left tackle, JUCO transfer Jahmir Johnson should hold down left guard, graduate transfer Brandon Kennedy will take the center spot, with Ryan Johnson at right guard and Drew Richmond at right tackle.
Defense Tennessee will be making the switch to a 3-4 multiple defense this year, meaning some players will be giving completely new spots a look, while others will remain largely in the same position. Along the defensive line, Kyle Phillips and Alexis Johnson are expected to hold down the “end” position, while Shy Tuttle will anchor the middle at nose tackle, with JUCO transfer Emmit Gooden and freshman Kingston Harris pushing for time there. Linebacker has been a big spot of competition for Tennessee in the offseason, and the Vols have multiple players who can contribute. Converted defensive ends Darrell Taylor and Jonathan Kongbo are the lead candidates to hold down the SAM and JACK spots, which are virtually interchangeable. Daniel Bituli, one of the best tacklers statistically on Tennessee’s roster, will likely take the middle linebacker spot. At WLB, it will be interesting to see if Darrin Kirkland Jr., who has been held out of scrimmages for undisclosed reasons, will be good to go. If not, expect Quart’e Sapp to get the nod there. Sapp will still likely play a lot, regardless of Kirkland’s status. The Vols have a few intriguing young options at corner, including freshmen Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson. Taylor and Thompson could very well gain the start at corner against West Virginia, but more veteran members such as Baylen Buchanan and Marquill Osborne will get nods as well. At safety, Nigel Warrior is a lock to start on one side of the backend. The safety opposite to him is more of a question. Senior Micah Abernathy has the experience edge, but freshman Trevon Flowers has turned some heads in fall camp. It’s likely that both get looks against West Virginia.
Tennessee returns a good majority of its starters on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball for this season, as well as several players who saw a significant amount of snaps last season. This isn’t to say that any starting spots are guaranteed, and with an entirely new coaching staff, some new faces are expected to start, or play significant time this year.
Top: Jarrett Gurantano, #2, and Offensive Coordinator, Tyson Helton, during practice on Aug. 28, 2018. Bottom: Eli Wolf, #80, during practice on Aug. 28, 2018. Contributed by Tara Halley / The Daily Beacon
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Special Teams There are a lot of holes to fill left by some of Tennessee’s most prolific special teamers that departed in the offseason. Brent Cimaglia, who attempted 13 kicks last season, converting eight, will fill the void left by Aaron Medley. Meanwhile, on the punting side, Joe Doyle aims to replace Trevor Daniel, one of the best punters statistically to take the field for the Vols. There are a few players who can handle kick and punt return duties, including Chandler, Callaway and Osborne. Wide receiver Jordan Murphy took a lot of reps at both returner spots in camp. Even if an athlete starts against West Virginia, that is no guarantee they will have that spot further on in the season. It will be interesting to see how some ongoing battles, like in the secondary, play out during the year ahead.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Tennessee vs. West Virginia September 1st
Tennessee vs. ETSU September 8th
Tennessee vs. UTEP September 15th
Tennessee vs. Florida September 22nd
Tennessee at Georgia September 29th
Tennessee at Auburn October 13th
Tennessee vs. Alabama October 20th
Tennessee at South Carolina October 27th
Tennessee vs. Charlotte November 3rd
Tennessee vs. Kentucky November 10th
Tennessee vs. Missouri November 17th
Tennessee at Vanderbilt November 24th
Top: Jonathan Kongbo, #99, and Darrell Taylor, #19, interact during practice on Aug. 28, 2018. Bottom: Jonathan Kongbo, #99, runs through a drill alongside teammates Jordan Allen, #8, Austin Smith, #30, and Darrin Kirkland Jr.,#34. Contributed by Tara Halley / The Daily Beacon
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Kennedy’s transfer brings optimism to Tennessee amongst SEC rule change Will Backus Asst. Sports Editor It was not too long ago that graduate transfer offensive lineman Brandon Kennedy found himself at the center of a controversy that led to rule changes in the SEC. It was not a position that Kennedy particularly wanted to be in, at least initially. “I’m not a big media guy,” Kennedy said. “So it was kind of hard for me. But I feel like I adjusted to it well and took everything in stride.” Kennedy, who still has two years to play for Tennessee, graduated from inconference rival Alabama in December after serving as a backup center for the Crimson Tide. When Kennedy announced his transfer, Alabama head coach Nick Saban immediately decided to block his transfer to Tennessee, a school Kennedy had shown interest in, as well as Auburn, another of Alabama’s biggest rivals. Saban had attempted that type of move before, and it was perfectly within his jurisdiction to do so again. Under
the old rule system, Kennedy could have appealed this block to the SEC, but he instead bided his time. Due to this unique situation, the SEC decided to take another look at the rules it had in place. These rules stated that to move intra-conference, a graduate transfer needed a waiver from the SEC to play immediately at the school to which they transferred. Essentially, Kennedy’s destinations could be limited by Alabama and their administration by rule. However, in June, the SEC voted to change the rules so that a waiver would not be required, and a player transferring intraconference would be eligible to play immediately. The vote passed, meaning Kennedy was free to choose his own destiny. Shortly thereafter, Kennedy announced his decision to transfer to Tennessee. It was a huge addition for Tennessee as Kennedy comes from a team that is very familiar with success. “I just want to push them,” Kennedy said. “Because I’m coming from a championship team, so I want to bring that leadership here.” Kennedy had already formed a relationship with Tennessee head coach
Jeremy Pruitt while they were both at Alabama. With that and with players constantly reaching out to him, Kennedy has quickly acclimated to his new football program. “I was a little nervous at first,” Kennedy said. “But as I got here, people came around me, and they all accepted me, and I feel like I gained their trust pretty quick.” Tennessee’s offensive line has been widely questioned due to its poor performance last season when it allowed 35 total sacks. The mark ranked among the worst in the SEC and around the nation. Though Kennedy spent his time at Alabama as a backup, he’s stepping into a very thin Tennessee offensive line in which he will immediately be one of the more seasoned members. He projects to start at center on Sept. 1 in Tennessee’s season opener against West Virginia. With the addition of Kennedy and the return of tackle Trey Smith, the weak point of Tennessee’s offense could now turn into one of its strengths. “I think he has quickly earned the respect of his teammates by the way he practices,” Pruitt said. “I think everybody in our program is excited that he’s here.”
Brandon Kennedy during practice on Aug. 28, 2018 at Anderson Training Center. Tara Halley / The Daily Beacon
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Previewing Tennessee’s first opponent of the 2018 season Blake Von Hagen Sports Editor
The start of the Tennessee football season is a few days away, which means it is time to look at the Vols’ first opponent of the 2018 season. New head coach Jeremy Pruitt is set to lead Tennessee in his debut at the helm against West Virginia on Sept. 1, and will do so using a mixture of returning upperclassmen, graduate transfers and true freshmen. The Mountaineers are led by head coach Dana Holgorsen, who is in his eighth season as the head man in Morgantown. West Virginia is going to rely heavily on its quarterback, Will Grier, who is a former Florida quarterback. Grier, a redshirt senior, led the Mountaineers to a 7-3 record to start the 2017 campaign before going down with an injury, which led to a disappointing 0-3 finish to the season for his club. He passed for 3,490 yards and 34 touchdowns during the 2017 season. Grier’s efforts earned him the “Big 12 Newcomer of the Year” award. Now, he is healthy once again after recovering from the broken finger he suffered against Texas last season. “(Will Grier) is very talented,” Pruitt said. “He can make all the throws, beat you with his feet and extend plays. He’s a runner. He’s tough. He has experience.” West Virginia returns four of Grier’s top five receivers from last year’s team. The class is headlined by All-American David Sills, who has been highly touted since he was in middle
school. As a seventh grader in 2010, Sills verbally committed to play college football for USC. In 2014, he decommitted from the Trojans and signed with West Virginia. He moved from quarterback to wide receiver as a freshman in college. Last season, Sills was selected to the first team 2017 College Football All-America Team after catching 60 passes for 980 yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior year. His 18 touchdowns earned him a tie with Memphis’ Anthony Miller for most receiving TDs in college football last year. Joining Sills in the air raid attack will be Gary Jennings and Marcus Simms. Jennings, a senior, caught 97 passes for 1,096 yards and one touchdown last year. He had 13 receptions for 189 yards in the season-opening loss to Virginia Tech in 2017. “These guys go get the ball and have really good ball skills,” Pruitt said. “They’re instinctive as players and compete for balls in the air. You have to be able to play the ball in the back end.” Marcus Simms, a junior wide receiver, scored five touchdowns on 35 catches in his sophomore season. Simms will be a more viable option this season, as the Mountaineers will no longer have Ka’Raun White, the team’s second-leading receiver in 2017, who was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. “Yeah, they (West Virginia) are a really good offense,” Tennessee redshirt junior linebacker Darrell Taylor said. “And as the competitor I think it does make it more fun. It’s a bigger
challenge for us and we’ve just got to make sure we execute our game plan.” On the defensive side of the ball, West Virginia is not nearly as powerful. While the offense ranked No. 23 in the country last season, the Mountaineers defense came in at No. 109 in total defense. West Virginia has had to replace both starting cornerbacks from the 2017 roster, as well as several defensive linemen. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, who has held the same position since 2014, will have to patch holes in the defense this season and likely hopes the offense can outscore opponents. As Tennessee and West Virginia get set to play, it is the tale of two stories. Tennessee comes in to the matchup with hardly any expectations for the 2018 season, whereas the Mountaineers enter with loads of praise and high aspirations for this campaign. Tennessee and West Virginia will open the season in Charlotte, N.C. in the Belk College Kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is listed for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS. Top photo: Darrell Taylor, #19, practices with teammates on Aug. 28, 2018 at the Anderson Training Center. Tara Halley / The Daily Beacon Bottom photo: Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt during the SEC Media Days press conference at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Ga on July 18, 2018. Curtis Compton / Atlanta JournalConstitution/TNS
Lovingood living a life of service on and off the field Blake Von Hagen Sports Editor In the early 2000s, a six-year old boy roamed the Tennessee football practice fields while his father was working. That six-year-old is now living his lifelong dream as a member of the Vols football team, though Riley Lovingood, Tennessee’s long snapper, is a name still unknown to many. “The life of a long snapper is not a glorious one,” Lovingood, a redshirt junior, said. “You know when you sign up for it, you’re not going to get your name known, but that is kind of how I live my life.” As a child, he spent time around the football team because his father, Jeff, served as the team chaplain under then-head coach Phillip Fulmer. Lovingood said he got to see Tennessee at its
best, and he believes the team is ready to turn things around under new head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Growing up, Lovingood had the common dream of playing college football. Unlike others who hoped to play quarterback, running back, wide receiver or any position that puts a player in the spotlight, he knew that he wanted to be a long snapper from early on in his life. “Since eighth grade ... is when I started,” Lovingood said. “A guy named Adam Miles who snapped here taught me, and I realized that was the spot to go play college football, and go pro. So I was like, ‘Ok, I have to become the best guy in the country at this.’” So far, Lovingood is on the right track. He was invited to the 2014 Rubio Long Snapping Top 12 Camp in Los Angeles during high school. As a redshirt freshman and a redshirt sophomore at Tennessee, he started every game as the long snapper for then-Vols punter
Trevor Daniel. With under four minutes left in the game against Georgia, on Oct. 1, 2016, Lovingood snapped the ball to Daniel for a punt. Daniel punted it to the 6-yard line, where Lovingood was waiting to catch the ball, and make a crucial play in the Tennessee win. “There have been many times over the years where we punt the football and have a couple gunners out there that are hard to block because of their ability,” head coach Jeremy Pruitt said. “Maybe they are just fast.”” “We’ve rested them on defense when they are our best players just so they could play on punt team. We’re going to play our best players on special teams.” But Lovingood does not aim to make a name for himself. Just as he saw his father serve as the team chaplain, Lovingood sees his position the same way. “I knew when I came in I was going to be
a role player,” Lovingood said. “I am here to serve the team. The way I live my life is Galatians 5:13, I am here to serve people. So off the field I am here to serve. That’s my job as a long snapper; I get to serve this team.” When people ask him what position he plays, Lovingood said he has received some odd and confused looks. “You kind of take it with a grain of salt, you just laugh about it,” Lovingood said. “‘Yes I throw the ball between my legs for a living.’” As Tennessee prepares to open the season on Saturday against No. 16 West Virginia, Lovingood will likely be starting as the long snapper on the Vols’ punt team. It’s unlikely that many people will notice. “No one is coming to Neyland Stadium to watch me,” Lovingood said. “But I know if I can help my team out, and at the end of the day we win, then that plays a role in my life, because I know I am going to serve my team.”
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Thursday, August 30, 2018 • The Daily Beacon
STR8TS No. 1176
LOS ANGELES TIMES CROSSWORD • Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
Tough
6
3
Previous solution - Medium
7 6 8 8 9 7 6 2 3 3 4 2 1 5
7 2 7
6 4 9
1 8 4 9 2
Š 2018 Syndicated Puzzles
7
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8 9 7 2 3 3 4 2 5 7 6 8 6
3 5 4 2 2 4 3 5 3 1 7 6 4 9 8 5 8 6 7 6 4 9 8 5 2 1 9 7 6 3 5 4 8 7 1 2 3
How to beat Str8ts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These QHHG WR EH ÂżOOHG LQ ZLWK QXPEHUV WKDW complete a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;straightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to see how â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;straightsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are formed.
SUDOKU No. 1176
Medium
Previous solution - Very Hard
5 4 3 6 9 8 2 1 7
4 2 3
7 7 6 3 8 2 2 8 9 4 7 8 3 2 1 6 3 2 9 4 6 5 The solutions will be published here in the next issue.
8 7 6 4 2 1 5 3 9
9 5 2 1 7 6 3 8 4
3 6 4 9 8 5 1 7 2
7 8 1 2 3 4 6 9 5
2 3 5 8 1 9 7 4 6
6 1 8 7 4 2 9 5 3
4 9 7 5 6 3 8 2 1
7R FRPSOHWH 6XGRNX ¿OO WKH ERDUG by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. Š 2018 Syndicated Puzzles
5 4
7
1 2 9 3 5 7 4 6 8
For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts, Sudoku and other puzzles, check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store at www.str8ts.com
ACROSS 1 Sickly complexion 7 Eugene of â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Pieâ&#x20AC;? movies 11 Grand Canyon hrs. 14 Current unit 15 Finnish telecom giant 16 Something to slip on? 17 Fabricated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Murphy Brownâ&#x20AC;? star? 19 Omega-3 source 20 Ongoing 21 It can get you down 23 Fabricated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Help!â&#x20AC;? star? 26 Scents 27 Coalition creators 28 Olympians using boards 30 Often-injured knee ligament, for short 31 Illinois River city 33 Clergy ... and four answers in this puzzle? 41 Fragrant blooms 42 MLB scoreboard letters 43 Metallic sounds 45 Like some relations 49 Language VWXGHQW¡V challenge 50 Fabricated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girlsâ&#x20AC;? star? 52 Knocks their socks off 54 Soccer star Messi 55 Whichever 56 Fabricated â&#x20AC;&#x153;La La Landâ&#x20AC;? star? 61 Urban center? 62 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your gameâ&#x20AC;? 63 Paradise 64 Old union member: Abbr. 65 Sicilian volcano 66 Studio dweller DOWN 1 __-Man 2 Q&A session on Reddit 3 Clinic worker: Abbr.
8/30/18
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4 Eastern Mediterranean region 5 Expert in futures? 6 Mix again 7 Frequent Mastroianni co-star 8 Ticker tape, briefly? 9 Goes (for) 10 Grammy-winning satirical artist Al 11 Magnet for a narcissist 12 Searches high and low 13 Winter temp range 15 Campbell of â&#x20AC;&#x153;House of Cardsâ&#x20AC;? 18 Storage spots 22 Noble objective 23 Checkers move 24 Whenever 25 City whose VWDWH¡V SRVWDO code is half its name 28 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shoulda thought of that!â&#x20AC;? 29 Slight reaction? 31 One-striper: Abbr. 32 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The X-Filesâ&#x20AC;? subjects 34 Thinks ahead
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35 Something to slip on 36 Large deer 37 Allied gp. since 1948 38 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are you out __?â&#x20AC;? 39 Drunken noodles cuisine 40 Nautical wheel 43 Duplicates 44 Billy McBride on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goliath,â&#x20AC;? e.g. 45 Smooch in a lift
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46 Prove successful 47 Carol beginning 48 Rat out 49 Clinic supply 50 Writer Mario Vargas __ 51 A, to Merkel 53 __ liquor 57 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Round __ virgin ... â&#x20AC;? 58 Pub initials 59 Diarist AnaĂŻs 60 Noir pistol
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FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Daily Beacon • Thursday, August 30, 2018
Pruitt instills culture change for Vols following tumultuous offseason Cory Sanning Staff Writer There is a different aura surrounding the Tennessee Volunteers. Following an offseason filled with public scrutiny and university transactions, Tennessee welcomed five-time national champion Jeremy Pruitt, who established his name from coaching some of the NCAA’s stingiest defenses at Georgia, Florida State and Alabama. With week one’s matchup against West Virginia just days away, Pruitt feels confident in his team’s preparation and expects Tennessee fans to be ready to go. “You work so hard in January and February all the way through spring training and summer conditioning,” Pruitt said. “As a coaching staff, everybody in our program is excited and I’m sure people are all over the country.” Having logged a .881 win percentage as an assistant coach, the football field isn’t the only way Pruitt has instilled change in the Vols since spring practice. For a university longing for a rise in on-thefield success, Pruitt has already brought a cultural transformation not seen in the Knoxville area since Phillip Fulmer took the reigns of the program back in 1992. It all began with a shift in feel during spring and fall practice. “It starts with the staff. I think it’s got to be everyone involved, from the strength and conditioning, nutritionist, the player development, the training room, academics,” Pruitt said. “There were probably some things that needed to be tweaked … but I think everyone has to be on the same page, and we are, so we are excited about the direction we are headed.” Pruitt’s intensity has also begun to rub off on Tennessee’s roster as well. “Since he got here, he’s always been intense,” defensive lineman Shy Tuttle said. “He’s kept that same level [of intensity] since the spring, I haven’t saw any change.”
While many were excited over the addition of a second practice field to the Anderson Training Center, the attention during summer practice quickly changed, as a silent breeze swept through the air and the sound of clashing shoulder pads followed minutes later. Gone are the days of practicing to the tone of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long” blaring over the loud speakers. The quiet serenity of the game of football and that sound alone now surrounds the perimeter fences around Tennessee’s football Fort Knox. While some may be miffed with the omission of the “smokey grey” uniforms, a return to roots is what Pruitt feels the Vols need and he feels comfortable relying on Athletic Director Phillip Fulmer to get there. “He knows what it took to have success at Tennessee and he knows some of the mistakes that were made along the way,” Pruitt said. “The one thing he can do is point me in the right direction on some of those decision makings.” Having coached 44 NFL Draft picks, including 13 first round selections, Pruitt is looking to bring that same pedigree to the Vols as they still hunt for their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. He has learned under the tutelage of several successful coaches. Alabama coach Nick Saban praised Pruitt’s pedigree at SEC Media Days. “He is hard working, dedicated and organized with exceptional knowledge of the game,” Saban said. “He is an excellent recruiter who does a great job developing players and earning their respect. He will do a great job at Tennessee and we wish him the best.” For a program that experienced so much success in the latter half of the 1990s and for much of the 2000s, the Vols will now be faced with the difficult task of climbing to the mountain top once again. While an immediate turnaround in the winloss column could be difficult, Pruitt now has the building blocks in place. Only time will be the deciding factor on whether that pyramid will fall once again.
2018
14
FOOTBALL
PICK ‘EM
Kylie Hubbard Editor-in-Chief
Tennessee 35 vs. West Virginia 27 Miami vs. LSU Alabama vs. Louisville Michigan vs. Notre Dame Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech Washington vs. Auburn Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Tyler Wombles Managing Editor Tennessee 21 vs. West Virginia 35 Miami vs. LSU Alabama vs. Louisville Michigan vs. Notre Dame Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech Washington vs. Auburn Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Blake Von Hagen Sports Editor Tennessee 20 vs. West Virginia 34 Miami vs. LSU Alabama vs. Louisville Michigan vs. Notre Dame Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech Washington vs. Auburn Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Will Backus Asst. Sports Editor Tennessee 24 vs. West Virginia 35 Miami vs. LSU Alabama vs. Louisville Michigan vs. Notre Dame Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech Washington vs. Auburn Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Margot McClellan Opinions Editor Tennessee 24 vs. West Virginia 35 Miami vs. LSU Alabama vs. Louisville Michigan vs. Notre Dame Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech Washington vs. Auburn Florida State vs. Virginia Tech
Rob Harvey Sports Columnist
File photo // The Daily Beacon
Tennessee 21 vs. West Virginia 31 Miami vs. LSU Alabama vs. Louisville Michigan vs. Notre Dame Ole Miss vs. Texas Tech Washington vs. Auburn Florida State vs. Virginia Tec
FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Thursday, August 30, 2018 • The Daily Beacon
15
As John Ward would say, it’s football (food) time in Tennessee! Margot McClellan Opinions Editor There’s Christmas, and then there’s fall semester here at the University of Tennessee flagship campus – it’s the most wonderful time of the year, at least if you are a fan of football. Besides nationally-recognized holidays, football, as with most sports, brings people together; it also has a way of dividing people via team rivalries. However, if there is one thing all sports fans can come together for (and even those who are not as enthusiastic), it is the cuisine de la tailgating/ game day party. Classic game day dishes Since game days are strictly for enjoying oneself, these classic dishes are often spins on favorite comfort foods with the additional convenience of being easy to prepare, transport and eat from a paper plate on the back of a pickup truck or from a sofa in a crowded living room. Typically, there is quite a bit of frying and oven-baking going on, as well as the inclusion of meat, cheese and starchy food – all of the really tasty stuff. Jalapeño Poppers- A sensation of spiciness, mellow creaminess, and the tang of salt come together in this innovative game day finger food. These are jalapeños which have been halved and de-seeded, stuffed with cream and cheddar cheese, wrapped in bacon, then baked in the oven or breaded and deep-fried. Since they already have many flavors coming together, sauce is optional. Otherwise, it is recommended
that they are served with a creamy ranch or cheese sauce. Fried Chicken or Popcorn Chicken- A favorite across the board and the hallmark of Southern comfort food, these simple chicken snacks can be served plain or sauced with varying levels of spiciness. Personally, I like to accompany them with a complementary dipping sauce. Most flavors pair well with chicken, so the sauce can be sweet, savory, tangy, spicy or creamy. I also advise supplying milk for those adventurous folks who like to live dangerously. Nachos- Probably the most affordable, least time-consuming and most accommodating option. A nacho bar is simple to set up and personalize, since it consists of tortilla chips layered with a myriad of toppings. A good nacho spread includes most of the major food groups: ground meat, typically beef; dairy in the form of cheese and sour cream; vegetables as a variety of peppers, tomatoes, salsa and lettuce. Burgers, Sliders and Sloppy Joes- When is it not a good time to have burgers? For indoor game day festivities, I recommend sliders; they tend to be less messy due to their small size and can be easily prepared in an oven. For outdoors, hand-seasoned burgers cooked to perfection on a grill is best, particularly if there is a small burger bar set up to allow for customization of toppings and sauces. Sloppy Joes are a great addition to a more barbecue-themed grill-out and are more of an outdoor food. Finger Foods and Sides- In addition to these dishes, there must be sides to keep your main entrée company on your plate and foods for snacking after the initial meal is over. Why
quit when you’re ahead? I personally prefer finger foods for both sides and snacks, since they require less cutlery (hence less plastic waste), and they are usually fairly cost-effective and easy to prepare. Sides are typically vegetable or potato-based, such as green beans, collard greens, macaroni-and-cheese, French fries or potato salad. Classic game day finger foods typically include pigs-in-a-blanket, cocktail sausages, pickled foods, cheese plates, sampler platters or even small skewers to be quickly tossed on the grill.
It’s football (food) time on Rocky Top! continued online Photo Courtesy of Pexel
Things to do on game day if you just don’t like football Cat Trieu Campus News Editor It goes without saying that we are huge on football in Big Orange Country. However, with football fanatics also come those who are not too keen on the sport. With game days taking over pretty much all of Knoxville, what should the non-football people do? Homework in the library Just because football games are happening on campus doesn’t mean classes slow down. If you’re not a fan of all the noise happening on campus on game day, head to Hodges and catch up or get ahead on homework. With a lot of people at the game, the library is bound to be super empty — and super quiet. Go to the parties anyway Go to the game parties — or even the game
itself — anyway. The football doesn’t have to be the main event for you; maybe you will even run into others who aren’t there for the game. Whether or not you like football, you can be there for the food and the social aspect. Go see a movie While everyone else is out in the heat for the game, you can go to the movies, where you can sit in a room that’s not only dim but also air conditioned. If you’re not feeling up to going out on game day since the streets can get crazy crowded downtown, invite a few friends over, plop down on the couch, heat up some popcorn and enjoy a chill home movie night or Netflix binge-watching session. Do laundry Laundry isn’t the most exciting way to spend your Saturdays, but it might be the best thing to do while everyone is away watching the game. You won’t have to deal with lugging your laundry
around or fighting for a washer or dryer; empty machines will be there waiting for you. Go for a hike If you want to go outside without being near a football game, go for a hike. Whether you go by yourself or with friends, places like Ijams and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park can take you away from the craziness of game day. Go on a road trip Get away from campus altogether. Plan a trip with your pals or go home and visit family. For a short weekend trip, most students go to Gatlinburg, TN, to visit the Smokies or Asheville, North Carolina, to check out the Downtown Art District and museums. The best way to avoid traffic would be to leave Friday night and return Sunday. Even though football may not be your cup of tea, try finding some way to support your school on game day, no matter where you are or what you do.
Head to the library for some quiet studying during the game. Quinn Phillips / The Daily Beacon
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The Daily Beacon â&#x20AC;¢ Thursday, August 30, 2018
FOOTBALL PREVIEW