Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Volume 140, Issue 14 Wednesday, November 17, 2021

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UT reinstates mask mandate effective Monday MORE ON PAGE 2

Photo by: Lewis Walton, Contributor

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

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Mask whiplash: Mandate reinstated days after system-wide lift ABBY ANN RAMSEY Staff Writer DANIEL DASSOW Campus News Editor On Tuesday, just one day after UT System President Randy Boyd announced that the system would lift mask mandates on all campuses in response to a bill signed by Governor Bill Lee, UT Knoxville announced plans to reinstate a mask mandate in most buildings beginning Monday, Nov. 22.

In an email to the UT community, Chancellor Donde Plowman said that the university planned to put a mask mandate back in place in order to comply with federal Executive Order 14042, which requires CDC mask guidelines in all buildings where work is conducted through federal contracts.

UT, along with a few other higher education institutions, was granted exemption from the state law shortly after Boyd’s announcement that the mask mandate was lifted, according to the State Comptroller’s website. In a constantly evolving climate of legal struggle between public entities and state officials, Plowman said that the mask mandate should be back on Nov. 22, “unless a court steps in.”

“We are waiting until Monday because the Tennessee attorney general has filed a lawsuit arguing that the federal vaccine mandate is unlawful and unconstitutional,” Plowman said.

“Court rulings in that lawsuit or other legal proceedings could come by the end of this week and may provide additional clarity as to what UT Knoxville, as a federal contractor, will be legally required to do.”

Plowman encouraged students to be respectful of the wishes of peers and instructors where masks are concerned for the next week while no mandate is in place.

“In the meantime, please make whatever personal choice you think is best while being respectful of your fellow students, professors and all members of our campus community. If someone asks you to mask up, please consider doing so. That person may have a reason to be concerned about contracting COVID-19,” Plowman said. “Our students have shown what Volunteer leadership and courage look like. I am so proud of the way you have handled this semester by taking care of yourselves and one another.”

While announcing that mask requirements would be lifted at all UT campuses on Monday evening, President Boyd also said that UT had requested an exemption to allow for more flexibility at each campus to decide how to apply the law in accordance with executive orders from the Biden administration.

“The University of Tennessee System has applied for an exemption to allow each campus and institute the flexibility necessary to implement the requirements of the federal executive order as required by certain federal contracts with UT campuses and institutes,” Boyd said. “If we receive the exemption, you will hear directly from

your leadership as to how the federal executive order may apply to your campus or institute.”

The end of the mask mandate, which is projected to be temporary, comes as case counts on campus are declining and many students have stopped wearing masks despite previous mandates.

Upon beginning this semester, the university only required masks in classrooms. This, however, was quite a shift from the original plan as they initially said there would be no mask mandate on campus. The change of plans was further complicated when case numbers continued to rise and Chancellor Donde Plowman instituted a mask mandate in all indoor spaces on campus.

Lindsey Campbell is a sophomore majoring in finance. Before the lift of the mandate, she said she was not surprised when UT started the year changing their initial mask plan.

“In the weeks leading up to school I was expecting something to change from what we were told last year,” Campbell said. “... the beginning of the school year I knew multiple people who got COVID so I again wasn’t surprised when the policy changed.”

While some students feel it is time for the mask mandate to go, the CDC recommends the continuation of masks on campus in their guidelines for institutes of higher education (IHEs).

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‘Bikes For A Better Knox’raises funds for profit AUTUMN HALL Contributor

On Oct. 28, a group of students came together to raise money for a local non-profit organization, Two Bikes. Originally a class project, the students’ campaign, Bikes For A Better Knox, quickly bloomed into much more. In just two weeks, the group has already raised nearly $1,000 to donate to the non-profit.

Two Bikes is located in the historic Old City of Knoxville. Their mission is to provide affordable bicycles and repairs to those who do not have the means by which to afford these resources and cannot travel to utilize them.

They also host several classes that help to educate bicyclists of all ages and skill levels across Knoxville. For every bicycle purchased in the shop, they pledge to give away another bicycle to a community member in need.

Junior Lindsey Savell, team leader for the student fundraising group known as “Bikes For A Better Knox,” explained the group’s motive to choose to fundraise for Two Bikes.

“They’re a unique local non-profit in the heart of our favorite Scruffy City! There are many great

bike shops in Knoxville, but Two Bikes’ mission is much more than that of your average bike store,” Savell said. “We’re lucky to live in a city with so many great places to spend time on two wheels, such as Ijams and Baker Creek. And although some view biking as a leisure sport, it’s a necessity for others. Many people in our town rely on bikes as a basic means of transportation, and Two Bikes wants to help provide bikes and services to those underserved communities in Knoxville.”

Although Two Bikes provides many services and resources for community members, Bikes For A Better Knox is fundraising specifically to support the upcoming Mobile Bike Repair Program.

Executive Director for Two Bikes, Mitchell Connell, said there is a distinct need for the program.

“We’ve noticed that sometimes the people who need bike service the most don’t have the capacity to travel here so we’re gonna reach out to them,” Connell said.

For this program, Two Bikes team members will travel to underserved neighborhoods with equipment in order to repair bicycles, free of charge. The organization plans to begin running the Mobile Bike Repair Program in 2022.

Two Bikes is hosting a First Bike Dinner on

Nov. 14 from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Brookside. This dinner will include a three course dinner by local chef Jeffrey Dealejandro, as well as a cocktail hour, silent auction and a presentation from local technology entrepreneur Brandon Bruce and his son about their experiences in long-distance biking.

Tickets for the dinner can be purchased on the event website. Proceeds from this event will be used to fund the Mobile Bike Repair Program.

Bikes For A Better Knox is almost halfway to their $2,000 goal and hope to reach the goal by a Nov. 30 deadline through their GoFundMe page and Facebook page.

For those who cannot donate money but would still like to help Two Bikes, Bikes For A Better Knox member Madelynn Harris noted that there are other kinds of helpful donations.

“Two Bike accepts used bikes to refurbish and sell in their shop. Donated bikes is what keeps the non-profit running because by donating these used bikes it allows them to keep the bikes they sell at their shop at an affordable price for everyone,” Harris said.

The Bikes For A Better Knox campaign ends soon, but you can continue to follow Two Bikes’ work by viewing updates and upcoming events on their website.

CAMPUS NEWS

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

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Hodges Library central galleria named for Brenda Lewis Peel, first Black UT graduate DANIEL DASSOW Campus News Editor

On Friday afternoon, university leaders were joined by a crowd of friends and family of Brenda Lewis Peel, the first Black graduate of UT, to dedicate the central galleria of Hodges Library in her name. In 1964, Peel, who studied psychology, became the first Black student to earn a bachelor’s degree from the university.

Peel, a native of Knoxville, left Westminster College in Pennsylvania in 1961 and transferred to the newly integrated UT to join the effort to desegregate higher education in her home community.

After graduating, she worked as an educator and counselor for 30 years, first in the Knox County Schools system and later in the Atlanta Public Schools system, after receiving a master’s degree and EdS from Georgia State University.

Peel and her family were joined by dozens of community members near the main entrance to Hodges Library, where the trailblazer’s name was newly inscribed over the main walkway. Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement Tyvi Small gave opening remarks.

“Today we welcome home a Volunteer who paved the way for so many of us at the University of Tennessee,” Small said. “Ms. Peel embodies the Volunteer spirit. Her actions changed history. Ultimately, by doing what was right, she earned her

rightful place in our history.”

Small credited the work of past and present members of SGA for pushing the university towards renaming buildings for pioneers of integration. Recent alumna Maria Urias, as well as current SGA Student Body President Claire Donelan and Vice President Reggie Williams have been instrumental in the process not only of renaming the Hodges galleria, but also several dorm buildings for Black trailblazers.

Williams spoke about what the dedication of the galleria means to students.

“This recognition of Ms. Peel is so important for all students, especially students of color, because it shows that they can come into a space and feel inspired to persevere through tough assignments throughout the semester, as well as long study nights so they are able to graduate with their bachelor’s degree because there was someone before us who set that example,” Williams said.

Chancellor Donde Plowman also gave remarks at the dedication ceremony, honoring Peel as an example of courage for all UT students and leaders.

“The courage that Brenda Peel showed as a college student ... to show that kind of courage and her commitment at that young age to move society forward not just for herself, but for all those who came behind her, that just continues to inspire me,” Plowman said. “It’s an example of what it means to be a Volunteer.”

Plowman said that Peel had shared with her and other leaders the lessons that have guided her

throughout her life. These are to do your best, to not let anyone knock you off your path and to always help others along the way. Citing Peel’s later career as an educator and counselor, Plowman said she had taken her degree from UT and paid it forward.

“I can think of no greater values to hold as Volunteers and no better example of the Volunteer spirit — the courage, the service, the leadership we talk about all the time — I can think of no better example than Brenda Peel,” Plowman said. “I am so proud to have her name forever, forever on the walls of this library.”

Peel was unable to speak at the ceremony, so two of her children, Dana Peel Dudley and Joey Michael Peel, spoke on her behalf. Dudley said her mother was an “educator to the end.”

“She is forever a part of the history of this prestigious university, Tennessee and a part of American history,” Dudley said. “Honoring mom’s accomplishments sends a signal to everyone that they can also achieve their goals despite the various obstacles that life throws at you.”

In a deeply personal statement, Dudley shared the ways in which her mother’s dedication to education had inspired not only her children, but also the thousands of students she helped throughout her career.

“My brother and I have been blessed to be influenced by mom’s accomplishments, and it has meant for us advanced degrees and careers we are proud of,” Dudley said. “But the really important things mom taught us were how to persevere

through challenges with faith and family. She taught us the importance of treating others how you want to be treated. She taught us how to reach our goals well. And she taught us that, when we reach our goals, we are obligated to help others reach their goals.”

Before a crowd of old friends and family, some of whom had attended high school alongside Peel, her daughter shared her gratitude that her mother’s legacy would be enshrined in one of the most popular places on campus.

“Mom, what you have done is extraordinary because being the first is never easy,” Dudley said, fighting back tears. “You have paved the way for all of us. You are the smartest and kindest person I know, a class act. My hat’s off to you.”

(From left to right) SGA Student Body Vice President Reggie Williams, Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement Tyvi Small, Joey Michael Peel, Dana Peel Dudley and Chancellor Donde Plowman with Brenda Lewis Peel at the dedication ceremony of the Brenda Lewis Peel Galleria in Hodges Library. Daniel Dassow / The Daily Beacon

7 resources for those facing food insecurity this Thanksgiving AURORA SILAVONG Contributor

or proof of income, although you may be asked for contact information in case of a food recall.

Big Orange Pantry According to Feeding America, 12.3% of households in Knox County experienced food insecurity pre-pandemic, and the rate is projected to rise to 13.3% through 2021. With supply-chain issues raising prices on groceries, many in the community are struggling to afford food, let alone all the fancy fixings for the holidays.

If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, it does not mean you have to miss out on a hearty Thanksgiving meal this year.

There are many local resources available including churches and food pantries.

Smokey’s Pantry Smokey’s Pantry is open every Tuesday from 4-6 p.m., and it is open to all in the Knoxville community. The pantry operates out of Tyson House, which is located at 824 Melrose Place right outside of Hodges Library. Those interested can also call to schedule an appointment to pick up food and hygiene products outside of normal operating hours, although Tuesday is when there is most likely to be fresh produce and meat. Smokey’s Pantry does not require ID

food. More information and a link to order forms can be found on the pantry’s website.

FISH Pantries FISH Hospitality Pantries operates food pantries across Knoxville, including Smokey’s Pantry. Hours vary across locations, which can be found on the FISH website. Anybody, regardless of religious affiliation or socioeconomic background, can pick up food from a FISH pantry and they do not require ID or proof of income.

Smokey’s Pantry is located in the Tyson House, on Melrose Place behind Massey Hall.

File / The Daily Beacon Operated out of Greve Hall by the Dean of Students office, Big Orange Pantry was started in 2020 as a way to provide emergency food assistance to students and employees of UT. The pantry is open every weekday afternoon except Tuesday and is, therefore, a helpful alternative to Smokey’s Pantry. Big Orange Pantry recently teamed with the UT Culinary Institute to create the Food4All program, which provides readyto-eat meals created from unused dining hall

Salvation Army The Salvation Army operates a handful of offices in Knox County and surrounding counties, many of which have food pantries and can put you in contact with other programs to address your needs. Those interested in seeking help from the Salvation Army are encouraged to call their nearest office for more information or submit a form on their website

Second Harvest Second Harvest of East Tennessee serves Knox County and 17 other nearby counties.

They do not operate pantries themselves, but they can direct you to resources, especially if there is not an operational pantry near you.

Those needing help can call or submit a web form. A list of food pantry locations can be found on their website.

Love Kitchen The Love Kitchen provides meals and food boxes to housebound, unhoused and unemployed members of the Knoxville community.

They are open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested are encouraged to reach out over the phone or through email. Contact information can be found on the Love Kitchen website.

Local churches Several area churches operate food pantries, and many organize free meals or food distribution on Thanksgiving. United Way’s Tennessee 2-1-1 website is an excellent way to search for resources, and you can narrow your search by zip code. Be aware that many churches are abiding by COVID-19 restrictions such as masking or reduced hours, and some will require ID. Take note of each churches’ requirements, and do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

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NEWS // OPINIONS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Career coach and recruitment director Mary Mahoney retires after 45 years at UT MADELINE COOPER Contributor

Mary Mahoney posted on Twitter on June 5, 2021 before volunteering at Smokey’s Closet on Volunteering with the Vols Day. Courtesy of Mary Mahoney’s Twitter, @mwmvol76

Mary Mahoney is a woman loved and known by many UT students, whether they have noticed her while buying a suit from Smokey’s Closet, have been assisted by her with resume building or have simply recognized her name in an email notification. Mahoney has been a vital part of UT, and after 45 years, four months and four different positions, she has decided to retire from her most recent role as assistant director for employer development.

While Mahoney could not imagine spending her career anywhere else than the institution she so dearly loves, she did not always plan to work at UT after graduating.

“I graduated in 1976 from UT during a downturn in the economy when jobs were hard to find,” Mahoney said. “At that time students didn’t think about moving back home with their family — that was almost embarrassing and so I was desperately looking for a job to avoid having to rely on my parents for help.”

Mahoney interviewed and soon gained a position at UT as a receptionist for the Panhellenic building. Though she originally agreed to stay for at least a year, she quickly fell in love with UT work life just as she once fell in love with UT student life as an undergraduate.

Following her first year of work at UT, Mahoney then became coordinator of Off-Campus Housing. While this office no longer exists due to the rise of accessible internet services, it was once an important part of assisting incoming students with finding living arrangements.

Since she was born and raised in Knoxville, Mahoney had plenty of knowledge already on hand for the job and excelled just as she did in her previous position.

Though Mahoney enjoyed her work, she saw other opportunities that awaited her at UT and wanted to continue to test her strengths. In 1987, she became career resource center coordinator at the Career Planning and Placement

Office where she oversaw a division centered around providing specialized career resources.

It was not until 1992 that Mahoney entered her position as assistant director for recruiting, which she described as the “perfect balance” between helping students find their right career path and connecting them with outside organizations.

Executive Director of the Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration Stephanie Kit first met Mahoney in 1995 while she was interviewing for what was then called Career Services. They worked together for 26 years.

“Mary was an enthusiastic and energetic professional all the way up to her last day,” Kit said. “She loves UT and always wanted the career center to be the best it could be.”

Over the years, Mahoney has seen first-hand the growth and transformations that have occurred at UT, including the numerous name changes to the career center and the transition from a 12-person career center committee to a staff made up of 22 full-time workers, four graduate assistants, 10 peer career advisors and three work-study students by the time she left the office.

Mahoney also served as a witness to the numerous technological advancements that occurred at UT. Mahoney recalls the difficulty of having to deal with paper copies of info cards and resumes and the excitement the office felt upon receiving their first fax machine.

In her 45 years working at UT, Mahoney had numerous accomplishments as the university lead for the Smokey’s Closet JCPenney Suit Up event, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Employers, president of the Tennessee Association of Colleges and Employers, a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, a 40-year ticket holder for UT football games and more.

While Mahoney’s retirement has been a distinct loss, the UT community remembers the numerous contributions she made to the university and its students. Mahoney herself looks back fondly on the memories she has made here and looks forward to being a spectator of the future growth that is to come for UT. Whether as a dedicated alumna, avid sports fan, diligent employee or friend, Mahoney has lived up to her status as a self-identified Vol for life.

“When I was deciding where to attend college, I had opportunities with other major universities, but I ended up deciding on UT and I think it’s one of the best decisions I ever made. I embraced being a student and then employee at UT,” Mahoney said. “I am proud of what I have accomplished. For many who think staying with one organization for 45 years is unusual I say when you find something that you truly love, and you enjoy doing and it’s not a chore to get up and go to every day then you have found what is your life calling and you should live in the moment and enjoy it.”

OPINION: Rumor Has It: What we don’t know about the Illuminati

LAUREN REID Columnist

The Illuminati was once a confirmed, real secret society. But it’s not the real Illuminati that pop culture circulates different theories around. The real one was formed in what’s now considered Germany and existed from 1776 to 1785. In summary, a professor known as Adam Weishaupt founded the society with the goal of promoting reason and opposing the influence of religion on society — he wanted to remove religion from the government.

There were three main requirements to be a part of this society: full consent from every member, a considerable amount of wealth and, basically, fame. There were 13 different

levels of hierarchy within the society and 13 degrees of initiation to go along with them. Every member also supposedly made a promise to sacrifice their own interests and needs for those of the society.

There is extremely limited information about the Illuminati’s structure and rituals.

But, from seized papers, we do know that in order to move up a level within the society’s hierarchy, a member had to report every single book they owned and write a list of their weaknesses and their enemies. We also know that by 1782, the society had over 600 members. By 1784, there were over 2,000 members of the not-so-secret society.

In 1784, an arrest was made on confirmed Illuminati members in which additional papers and documents were seized. These documents and papers defended ideas that threatened the church, such as suicide and atheism. Supposedly, there were also instructions for abortions found in these papers. This arrest proved the Illuminati as a threat to the church, and the Duke of Bavaria banned the creation of any society not previously approved by law and even explicitly banned the Illuminati. This is where the official, confirmed society “disappeared.”

But, as time has gone on, the world hasn’t forgotten the secret society. Actually, if anything we’ve fictitiously created a new one.

There are a lot of individuals out there who believe the Illuminati never disappeared and has continued to live throughout the centuries. It’s believed celebrities and politicians make up a majority of the society’s members. It’s also believed by these individuals that a lot of historical tragedies are the “works” of the Illuminati, such as the JFK assassination.

Somewhere down the road, the belief that the Illuminati was tied to satanism came along.

Some individuals believe that secret members of the society, like Jay-Z or Kim Kardashian, sold their souls to the devil in order to reach their fame. There’s no real evidence or confirmation to this. But, there are celebrities who people believe confirmed their association with the secret society, like Jay-Z’s signature triangle hand symbol or Beyonce’s lyrics in “Formation” where she directly addresses rumors of her association to the group. Some also believed that the all-seeing Eye of Providence being on the back of a $1 bill confirms the government’s association as well.

The popularity of these theories comes in spurts. After the recent tragedy at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival, they’ve sparked once again. The internet and conspiracy theorists are accusing the rapper of sacrificing his fans that night in an unknown satanic ritual that somehow ties him to the Illuminati. One

theory went as far as thinking the sacrifice was for Kris Jenner’s 66th birthday.

There are parts I do believe and don’t believe when it comes to the Illuminati conspiracy theory. I do believe that there could be a secret society of politicians and celebrities from all over the world. I do think it’s possible this “elite” group has pulled some strings in different historical events and historical tragedies to somehow advance their publicity. But, I don’t think the Illuminati has anything to do with satanism or satanic rituals. I don’t think anyone genuinely sells their soul to the devil to attain fame.

Rumor has it … the Illuminati isn’t what we think it is.

Lauren Reid is a senior at UT this year majoring in journalism. She can be reached at lreid9@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

CITY NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

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‘Dexter: New Blood’ recap and review: A revival to mend an unhappy ending AUTUMN HALL Contributor

Courtesy of IMDb

Everyone’s favorite serial killer, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), returns to kill again in Showtime’s new 10-episode miniseries, “Dexter: New Blood.” The revival is set nearly 10 years after the finale of the original series, “Dexter,” and its first episode did not disappoint.

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

Despite the show’s popularity, fans were extremely disappointed with the way it ended in 2013. The show had a procedural formula that allowed Dexter to barely escape consequences for his actions each week, which quickly faltered when it was time for the show to end.

The infamous finale gave way to many loose ends as Dexter sailed away in a hurricane, faking his own death in order to start a new, killing-free life. With this being said, fans were excited when the new season was announced in Oct. 2020, hoping for a recovery of “Dexter” and further explanation of its ending.

In the new miniseries, Dexter, who is now known by the pseudonym Jim Lindsay, has given up his career as a blood spatter analyst at the Miami P.D. after nearly being incarcerated for his murders.

He is now leading a much more simple life in the small town of Iron Lake, New York, where everyone knows everything about each other — or so they think. He lives in an isolated cabin in the snowy woods, works at a local fish and

game store called Fred’s and often “converses” with his sister, Deb, who died in the season finale of the original series.

Oh, and we can’t forget the tiny detail that he is dating the chief of police despite being a mass murderer.

It seems that Deb has now taken over the role of Dexter’s inner conscience. This is a transition from his late adopted father, Harry, who Dexter often had hallucinations about and talked to throughout the original series, despite his death occurring long before the time of the show.

Even though he manages to suppress his Dark Passenger — his self-proclaimed desire to kill — for a decade, Dexter is not getting over his undying urge to kill anytime soon. He quickly loses his composure when Matthew Caldwell, the son of a wealthy local, returns to Iron Lake for the winter along with several other reckless tourists.

During his first interaction with Dexter, Caldwell attempts to purchase a gun from Fred’s and is denied because of a hold on his FBI background check. He immediately starts to become hostile towards Dexter, which creates a growing curiosity concerning whether or not the Dark Passenger will finally take over.

This sets the scene for the rest of the episode, and when Dexter goes to Caldwell’s house to drop off the gun after his background check

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is cleared, he is told that Caldwell has recently killed five people in a boating crash.

At this point, Dexter finally has the ammunition to drive him to kill once again. Caldwell is the number one target of this episode, and target he is indeed! After nearly being shot by Caldwell, Dexter gives in and brutally murders him after a decade without bloodshed.

This return to killing is most likely driven by the return of Dexter’s abandoned son, Harrison. When Harrison confronts him, Dexter denies that he has a son and insists that he does not know Harrison in order to conceal his identity. Harrison leaves after their interaction, but the two are seen together at the end of the episode after Dexter’s Dark Passenger returns and he decides to reveal his true identity.

Do I think that Dexter should have been killed in the finale of the original series? Definitely, but I am still hopeful that Clyde Phillips’ — the executive producer of the first four seasons of “Dexter”— return will help to revive aspects of Dexter’s past and provide a long awaited proper ending for Dexter.

Of course, I still cringe at the thought of wasting hours of my time watching eight full seasons of “Dexter” just to be disappointed by one of the worst series finales in television history.

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OPINIONS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Letter to the Editor: Knoxville’s city council remains in good hands

JACK VAUGHAN Contributor Knoxville voted on election day to re-elect its five City Council members on the ballot this year: Tommy Smith, Andrew Roberto, Seema Singh, Lauren Rider and Gwen McKenzie.

These five will make up the majority for the next four years.

This year’s city election cycle had a different tone than most in the past due to the Knox County GOP playing an active role in supporting candidates of its choice. Never before had a political party been so explicitly involved in these nonpartisan races. Their hand-picked slate of five GOP-backed candidates took on the five left-of-center incumbents in the general election held Nov. 2.

And their effort failed. The injection of partisanship by the county republicans mobilized liberal voters as much as it did conservative voters in this double-digit Biden-won city.

Each of the five incumbents bested their opponents by 11 to 15-point margins.

In the District 4 race, Lauren Rider bested the GOP slate’s marquee candidate, Jim Klonaris, who alone raised nearly $100,000 to fund his voter outreach efforts, an endless amount of yard signs and a slew of mail pieces.

The District 4 race’s margin was the median outcome among the five races on the ballot, providing for a visual of where each of the slates was able to perform best across the city.

Note that the top two vote-getters in August district primaries face off in a city-wide general election.

The other four races were decided by similar margins. Each incumbent easily carried North, South and East Knoxville, plus most of West Knoxville south of Middlebrook Pike. Each incumbent council member over-performed in their respective districts, most evident in Gwen McKenzie’s strong showing in East Knoxville.

The northwest edge of the city from West Hills to Inskip was the only part of Knoxville that the challengers were able to consistently win. While these neighborhoods have drastically shifted left over the past decade, they still

remain most fertile for conservative candidates to gain a foothold while aiming for city office.

This year’s record-breaking turnout for a non-mayoral year city election can be credited in part due to the GOP’s explicit involvement, but that increase was among both conservative and liberal voters. Turnout overall made up 85% of that of 2019, when (https://twitter. com/MayorKincannon)Mayor Indya Kincannon was elected by a 5-point margin.

The next map shows 2021 turnout as a percentage of 2019 turnout by precinct, showing which parts of the city came close to matching mayoral-year turnout.

Assuming the GOP tries this again in 2023, turnout for a mayoral race will likely be record breaking. But in the end, Knoxville is still a blue city: Obama, Clinton and Biden comfortably won the city in the past four presidential contests. It’s a near impossible lift for upfront partisan Republicans to win here.

It is for the best that Knoxville voters did not buy into the negativity and laughably-exaggerated outrage offered by the GOP-backed candidates in the race. In one video shared by the party, Knoxville was declared as “the worst city to call home” in the state. It’s one thing to run on ideas to make our city better, but decrying Knoxville as an awful, crime-ridden city did them no favors.

Former Amb. Victor Ashe, the longest serving mayor in Knoxville history, has been an outspoken critic of the Knox County Republican Party’s attempt to win seats on city council.

“The current GOP leadership is an aberration and is clueless about the traditions of the city,” Ashe said. “The GOP chair does not even live in the city.”

Daniel Herrera, the chair of the local GOP, moved to Karns from Charlotte just three years ago. Herrera himself has lost two municipal elections before: once in New Jersey and once in North Carolina.

“Their current game plan will fail every time but a few can make money off of it,” Ashe said.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com Jack Vaughan is a junior studying communication studies and political science. He can be reached at cvaugha7@vols.utk.edu or on Twitter @theJackVaughan.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

Film According to Grant: Close friend writes, directs ‘Rian and Sameer’ GRANT T. MITCHELL Columnist

Left: Tanay Mankad. Right: Grant T. Mitchell.

Courtesy of Grant T. Mitchell I’ve written this first paragraph repeatedly in so many ways. There are versions I wrote where I would come out and say, “this article is about my friend who is making a movie!” or, “I have a story to tell you.” But I decided the first was too straightforward and the others I thought of were trite. So, here I am, explaining to you my conundrum while also giving you a breakdown of things.

My close friend, Tanay Mankad, is a University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) alum, and he is now working on a short film he wrote and is directing called “Rian and Sameer.”

That said, this all started in a geology class lab my freshman year and Mankad’s junior

year of college.

We were working in a group, pleasantries were exchanged and eventually he asked me what I loved to do and, in essence, what I wanted to be when I grew up.

I told him that I love stories more than anything. The way they flow, the way they breathe and create life like an ecosystem does. I told him I wanted to be a screenwriter, and at the time, I did.

From there we talked on and on about our greatest influences and inspirations for film and stories. We talked for hours about Martin Scorsese, David Fincher, the Coen brothers, Paul Thomas Anderson and all other directors we gravitated towards. It was one of those chance meetings with a person where it feels like you’ve known them all your life even though you had only just met them.

Now, the conversations about other’s careers in film has shifted instead to conversation about our own careers and lives ahead. For Mankad, he has taken the dreams and life he sought in film and turned them into a reality.

From a political science major at UTK to someone who just received credit on an episode of the HBO Max mini-series “Through Our Eyes.”

Mankad was a graduate from Knoxville’s Farragut high school with a planned trajectory of getting a law degree and becoming a lawyer.

All the while he would keep his passion for film and creating stories of his own on the side. It

was something Mankad would later realize wasn’t for him because law wasn’t the thing that made him go on impassioned speeches and occasional tangents about how great filmmakers have an intimate understanding of what makes life so beautiful and complicated.

In an interview I had with Mankad recently, he explained how it all began when he saw Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1997 film “Boogie Nights,” and Anderson’s 1999 film “Magnolia.”

“I saw the way the characters talked in conjunction with the music, in conjunction with the overall look of the film and I said to myself ‘I want my movies to look like that and I want my movies to sound like that,’” he said.

By the latter-half of Mankad’s college career, he could no longer deny that his dream was to make films of his own and so he made the decision to tell his family what it is he truly wanted to do.

“It got down to me showing them (his parents) what I had to write, and that’s it. As it turns out, that’s what won them over.”

From there, the next step for Mankad was to apply to multiple master of fine arts (MFA) programs. After weighing his options, Mankad landed on Pepperdine’s MFA program. Next thing he knew, he was packing his bags and moving to California for the start of the rest of his life.

Now, two weeks out from shooting, Mankad

shares the topic of his short film “Rian and Sameer.”

“It focuses on a Latina-American girl named Rian who is getting a phone call in 15 minutes telling her whether her parents will be deported back to Chile or not. Meanwhile, her best friend Sameer is trying to keep her (Rian’s) spirits up while waiting for this call.”

When asked about the motivation behind writing this story, Mankad answered thoughtfully.

“I have friends who are Hispanic-American, as well as Latino-American, and I found that during this Trump-era presidency their sense of security was threatened. These are people who have been in the United States in some cases for longer periods than their own home countries. Yet they are still considered outsiders.”

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com Grant Ti. Mitchell is a senior at UT this year majoring in public relations. He can be reached at gmitch16@vols.utk.edu.

Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon’s editorial staff.

CITY NEWS

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

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Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens: ‘An elevated happy hippie bar’ KEENAN THOMAS Staff writer

Inside of Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens, a crystalthemed bar in Market Square constructed using 45,000 pounds of crystals, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Keenan Thomas / The Daily Beacon

Where specialty cocktails meet gemstones, Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens radiates positive vibrations within Market Square’s bar scene.

Located directly next to Preservation Pub, Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens opened on March 1 of this year. It took three years to complete since the building was acquired. Technically, it is a part of Preservation Pub, with access be-

tween the two on the rooftop to carry drinks from pub to bar. However, it’s a non-smoking, vegetarian and cocktail based bar. It’s open from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on most days, opening earlier on Saturdays and Sundays.

This bar is owned by the Preservation Pub Company. Scott West and his wife, who the bar is named after, own Bernadette’s Crystal Gardens. One of the general managers, John Colquitt, talked about the bar and its opening.

“It’s our newest bar that we’ve opened on Market Square, I believe it’s number four now,” Colquitt said. “It’s supposed to be a little bit prettier, a little bit more where you can walk in and have a nice cocktail and sit down. It’s got a whole bunch of rocks and gems that they’ve collected from all over the country.”

The rocks and gems make up the crystals, fossils and stones that decorate the entirety of the bar. West talked about the quality of gemstones and items that are on display.

“It’s Museum quality pieces,” West said. “I could have opened a museum with these crystals, but instead we opened a fun place to go hang out and eat and drink with your friends.”

In total, there are around 45,000 pounds of crystals throughout the bar, totaling to about 94.2 million carats worth. West put this number in a unique perspective.

“The distance to the sun in miles in karats in

this building,” West said.

Bernadette West designed everything in the bar, from the painted tables to the gemstone butterfly wings at the entrance. She received help from some designers that work with gems and crystals for the actual bar, with Scott’s brother acting as a contact and crystal expert for them.

These designs comprise the four floors of the bar. The first floor known as the Amethyst Lounge has a huge bar that runs opposite to several booths. The second floor is the Quartz Lounge, which is still being finalized, but will feature DJs and other musical events. The third floor is the rooftop Gemstone Forest, filled with tables, crystal trees and a huge collection of gems and crystals. Finally, there’s the fourth floor right above the Forest called the Citrine Mezzanine, which is still open air but has a covering. In a sense, it’s a little more formal and intimate.

“If you want to talk to a significant other, then Preservation Pub is pretty loud,” West said. “The live band is cranking some punk rock music on the stage and the guy smoking is next to you. It’s not as romantic as you come over here, it’s non-smoking, it’s got really cool more EDM style music, you can get a booth and have some privacy and you can hear each other.”

Along with that, the menu is reflective of Bernadette’s taste. The food is vegetarian, with cauliflower pizza and veggie sliders. The cocktails are all specialty made, each with a different alcoholic base and natural ingredients. For example, the Moonstone cocktail is made with rum whereas the Peridot is made with gin.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

Interior of Bernadette’s, a crystal-themed bar in Market Square, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021.

Keenan Thomas / The Daily Beacon

5 restaurants serving authentically delicious ramen in Knoxville AUTUMN HALL Contributor

Ramen is a traditional Japanese noodle soup consisting of wheat noodles and either a meat or fish-based broth. Common toppings for this soup include chashu pork, flavored egg, menma or nori seaweed.

Store-bought ramen is a staple of college life for many students because of its cheap cost and simple level of preparation, but it does not compare to an authentic, flavorful version of this classic dish.

Although there are plenty of amazing ramen-serving restaurants to choose from in the Knoxville area, this list highlights only a couple of personal favorites.

Zen Ramen House & Sushi Bar Do yourself a favor and walk over to 1909 Cumberland Avenue to try a ramen bowl from Zen Ramen House & Sushi Bar. This restaurant offers six different varieties of ramen, including chashu, beef, chicken, spare rib, roast duck and seafood.

The dishes are cooked to the level of spice

that you choose. All orders are topped with boiled egg, shredded black fungus, corn, scallion and green vegetables.

Their chicken bowl is by far one of the best ramen bowls that I have ever eaten — you can’t miss out on this restaurant that is just a short walk from campus.

right next to The Golden Roast.

It is conveniently located on the edge of campus, so you can swing by in between classes for a quick lunch or end a long day with a delicious bowl of ramen.

Fin-Two Japanese Ale House

Located at 11509 Kingston Pike, this restaurant is a favorite among Knoxville locals and offers a wide variety of ramen that many people deem as the most authentic in the area. This restaurant offers special tatami floor seating for a more traditional dining experience.

Although this East Japanese Restaurant is a bit of a drive compared to the others listed, it is definitely worth your time.

Located at 122 S Central Street, Fin-Two Japanese Ale House is only a five minute drive from the University of Tennessee. The restaurant is an izakaya, which means that it is a place to unwind, drink and eat. They offer tonkotsu, tori shio and yasai shoyu ramen.

It is also located just outside of Market Square, which is perfect for a date night or a night out with friends.

Jai Dee Thai & Japanese Cuisine Offering a combination of both Thai and Japanese cuisine, Jai Dee Thai & Japanese Cuisine has a wide variety of authentic foods to choose from. Their ramen is topped with boiled egg, seaweed, scallions and pink kamaboko, with your choice of protein.This restaurant is located at 823 Melrose Place,

East Japanese Restaurant

Ichiban Asian Cuisine Ichiban Asian Cuisine is located at 7507 S Northshore Drive and offers affordable, authentic cuisine to the Knoxville community.

They offer seven choices of ramen, including veggie, chicken, tonkotsu, beef, shrimp, roast duck and seafood with a variety of vegetables as toppings.

The restaurant’s name, Ichiban, translates to number one, and the ramen here definitely lives up to its name.

Zen Ramen House and Sushi Bar located on Cumberland Avenue offers six varieties of ramen. Each dish is served with vegetables.

Courtesy of the official Facebook of Zen Ramen House & Sushi Bar

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NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Heupel: ‘Competitive nature has to be the same’ against South Alabama ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

The Volunteers are ready to take on South Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 at Neyland Stadium.

Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon Tennessee has played a lot of very good football programs this season. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel’s first season as head coach of the Vols saw five top-25 teams on the slate — Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Pitt and Kentucky.

Tennessee went 1-4 in those games, but that was almost to be expected. Heupel was expected at the beginning of his freshman season to beat the bottom of the SEC East and the two

easier non-conference opponents — Bowling Green and South Alabama.

The Jaguars may not have the talent of Alabama or Georgia, but they’re a dangerous matchup for the Vols in another way — South Alabama has nothing to lose and is one win away from being bowl eligible for the first time since 2018.

Heupel and the Volunteers are looking for a bowl berth of their own Saturday. Tennessee is likely to be favored in their last two games, needing only one win between the two to reach a postseason bowl for the first time since beating Indiana in 2019.

Heupel was adamant his team would not overlook a South Alabama team that has played good football against quality opponents so far this season.

“For us, we talk about ‘us’ every week.

That’s true this week,” Heupel said. “Control the controllables, control preparation, be really consistent in who we are.”

“No matter how the stadium sounds or looks, our competitive nature has to be the same … I think that’s a way we have grown as a football team with our preparation.”

The Jaguars are 5-5 on the season, taking then-ranked Louisiana to the wire and losing by just 2 to Texas State.

South Alabama has faltered in intensity since the early season, dropping two in a row

heading into their penultimate game against the Volunteers on their biggest stage of the season. Part of that drop in efficiency stems from the quarterback situation The Jaguars were led by former South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley before he suffered an MCL tear in the middle of the season.

Bentley, who had 15 touchdowns on the year before the injury, was playing his best football at the college level after stints with the Gamecocks and Utes of Utah.

Redshirt sophomore Desmond Trotter will likely start under center for the struggling Jaguars’ offense this Saturday. Trotter has thrown for 380 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in four games this season.

The Jaguars have played well defensively throughout the year, allowing opponents in the Sun Belt to just under 23 points per game. Redshirt junior and converted safety AJ DeShazor leads the unit, averaging 5.5 tackles per game.

The Vols have not been a group to overlook smaller opponents with just as much potential for victory as anyone. When asked about Tennessee’s future, Heupel reiterated that Tennessee football was focused on the Jaguars this week.

“This Saturday, South Alabama is the only one we get to play this week,” Heupel said. “We need to be ready to go play.”

No matter how the stadium sounds or looks, our competitive nature has to be the same.

JOSH HEUPEL TENNESSEE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel on the sidelines as Vols play the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday Oct. 9, 2021.

Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon

Euphoric Cheese Shop combines community support, local goods, specialty cheese LAUREN WARD Contributor Euphoric Cheese Shop co-owners Amy Burritt and Cheri Intveld didn’t originally plan to have careers surrounding cheese. Though Burritt’s family had their own cheese shop called South Slope Cheese Co in Asheville, North Carolina, she and Intveld felt that having their own cheese shop in Knoxville was the way to go.

Although the best friends had experience working with specialty food, they said that they found that charcuterie making was what truly

Euphoric Cheese Shop co-owner Amy Burritt is all smiles at their Knoxville, Tenn location.

Nov. 10, 2021.

Erick Gomez / Contributor

brings people together. They also liked the idea of people gathered around a beautiful board as a time to eat and talk.

“It was kind of that dream 20 years in the making I’d say,” Burritt said. “When we were young we had talked about opening a coffee shop, but Knoxville has lots of coffee shops, and really good ones. So we decided to do something different.”

Burritt had a degree in communications and marketing and Inveld’s was in family services.

Burritt spoke about their paths to opening Euphoric Cheese Shop.

“When you’re in school, there’s so much emphasis put on what your degree program is and what you’re gonna do immediately after college,” Burritt said. “And I think both Cheri and I had the experience of following the circuitous path that didn’t lead where either of us necessarily planned. But it’s okay. And it’s actually kind of fun.”

Wende White is a cheesemonger with a culinary background and has been working at Euphoric Cheese for over three months. She spoke about her own experience and background.

“You’re expected to know what you want to do for the rest of your life and there’s too much pressure there,” White said. “That’s not for everybody, and that’s okay.”

The shop opened on Feb. 18, 2021, and White spoke about how the business has been booming ever since.

“I’ve had a line out the door on a Saturday.

And it doesn’t matter what day it is. On Tuesday, they said they were slammed, it was unbelievable,” White said.

With a choice of around 75 to 100 cheeses rotating weekly, there’s plenty to choose from with local providers such as Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN, and Sequatchie Cove Creamery in Chattanooga, TN. Aside from their charcuterie eats, there’s coffee from Knoxville Coffee Company and chocolate from Paula and Sinclair in Nashville, along with many other local brands shown throughout the store.

There are multiple shelves and tables filled with local goods displayed in an array for customers to enjoy. Some tables have pickled vegetables, tiny jams, boards, utensils, olive oil selections, cookbooks and more.

“We try to give you all the accompaniments that you need to build your tray, if you’re gonna build it yourself,” White said.

Some best sellers for the boards are the Red Dragon cheddar cheese and the Tennessee Whiskey cheddar, and they’re always happy to serve and be personable with their clientele.

“Customer service is number one, absolutely,” White said. “Nobody walks in through that door that we don’t speak to them within the first 15 seconds that they’re here. And if we fail to do that, then it’s because we have 30 people standing in line waiting for some cheese.”

White explained that there are not many op-

Knoxville’s Euphoric Cheese Shop has a wide variety of snacks available. Photo taken Wednesday Nov. 10, 2021.

Erick Gomez / Contributor portunities to find more quality, savory foods in East Tennessee, and Euphoric Cheese brings possibilities to local residents that may not have realized were possible.

“A lot of people don’t know anything more than their grocery store cheeses. So we are the avenue that can open up that Fromage world for people,” White said. “Whole Foods doesn’t have everything, and we’re here to fill a gap that was much needed.”

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

SPORTS

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

VFLs: Coleman highlights big defensive showing RILEY THOMAS Staff Writer

Offensive players normally highlight the top former Vols in the NFL, but in week 10, the defensive players stole the spotlight.

Let’s switch it up this week and begin with how the VFLs on defense performed.

Justin Coleman - DB, MIA Coleman kicked off week 10 of the NFL season on Thursday versus the Ravens, and he had an incredible performance. The Dolphins defensive back racked up 3 tackles, 2 pass break ups and put a lid on the contest with the game sealing interception in the 22-10 upset win over Baltimore.

Derek Barnett - DE, PHI Barnett wreaked havoc upfront for the Eagles against the Broncos. He picked up 2 tackles — one for a loss — and applied pressure all day on Teddy Bridgewater, sacking him once.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin - LB, DET Reeves-Maybin had his second highest tackling performance of the season against the Steelers, tallying 8 tackles, including one for a loss, in the first tie of the season.

Emmanuel Moseley - DB, SF Moseley had a solid performance on Monday Night Football against the Rams. He had 4 tackles and a pass breakup in the 31-10 win.

Shy Tuttle - DT, NO Tuttle racked up his season high in tackles and the second most in his career, with 5 tackles and a pass breakup in the 23-21 loss to the Titans.

Cam Sutton - DB, PIT Sutton did not record a stat on Sunday, but he saw snaps on defense and special teams in the tie versus the Lions.

Malik Jackson - DT, CLE Jackson only tallied 1 tackle in the blowout 45-7 loss to the Patriots.

Darrell Taylor - OLB, SEA Taylor made his comeback on Sunday, after suffering a scary neck injury in week six against the Steelers. He picked up 1 tackle in the 17-0 loss to the Packers.

Former cornerback Justin Coleman returns an interception during the Vols’ 45-42 overtime victory over South Carolina on Nov. 4, 2014.

File / The Daily Beacon

Now, let’s check out the VFLs on offense.

Marquez Callaway - WR, NO Callaway scored the lone touchdown for VFLs in week 10. In his return to the Volunteer state, the Saints wideout hauled in 2 catches for 37 yards in the loss to the Titans. The Saints were without Alvin Kamara, as he was out with a knee sprain on Sunday.

Cordarrelle Patterson - RB, ATL Patterson was bottled up by the Cowboys defense on Sunday. The Falcons tailback had an underwhelming performance in Dallas, rushing the ball 4 times for 25 yards and only racking up 1 catch for 14 yards in the 43-3 loss.

Patterson suffered a sprained ankle later in the game that could cost him several weeks.

Josh Palmer - WR, LAC Palmer caught three balls for 22 yards in the loss to the Vikings on Sunday.

Jauan Jennings - WR, SF Jennings racked up a catch for 3 yards on Monday Night Football against the Rams.

Jakob Johnson - FB, NE Johnson saw time on offense and on special teams in the lopsided win over the Browns.

Trey Smith - OG, KC Smith had another excellent performance in the interior for the Chiefs, playing every snap in the win on Sunday night over the Raiders.

Finally, lets see how those on the special teams performed.

Michael Palardy - P, MIA Palardy punted the ball a season high 8 times for an average of 43.5 yards a punt.

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Football Grades: Georgia prevails in Vols matchup JOSH LANE Sports Editor

Against Georgia, Tennessee imitated a typical Knoxville day this side of Daylight Savings Time. Things were bright early on, but everything got dark fast.

So it was as the Vols fell to the No. 1 Bulldogs 41-17 Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee jumped out to a 10-7 first quarter lead, but was outscored 34-7 the rest of the way.

Here’s how the Vols graded out.

Quarterback Grade: CHendon Hooker had his worst outing for the Vols in a game where he needed to be perfect to pull off an upset. Hooker not perfect — only solid.

Hooker completed 65% of his passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, good for a passer rating of 123.8 — not bad numbers by any means, but not enough to take down the Bulldogs.

Hooker’s worst throw of the night was picked off by Georgia’s Derion Kendrick, which directly resulted in a Georgia touchdown. He later fumbled the ball, which Georgia recovered and turned into another touchdown. Alongside the turnovers, Hooker was inaccurate — reverting to early season form by struggling to connect on the deep passes.

Joe Milton III came off the bench in place of Hooker late in the fourth quarter and led the Vols on a touchdown drive, passing for 88 yards and a touchdown in garbage time.

Running backs Grade: D Tiyon Evans did not play Saturday against Georgia as he delt with the same lingering injury that has kept him out of three games this season and limited him to carry last week at Kentucky. In Evans’ absence, there was a noticeable drop in production against the nation’s best run defense.

Jabari Small had the lion’s share of snaps, but totaled just 49 yards on 12 carries. Freshman Jaylen Wright was not much better, amassing just 14 yards on 8 carries.

Hooker ended up with the most carries of any Tennessee rusher, thanks to a number of collapsed pockets. Usually an elite runner, Hooker forced too much on the ground — 7 yards on 17 carries.

Receivers Grade: B The receiving room was one of the few

bright spots in an otherwise uninspiring game, thanks to a career day from Cedric Tillman.

The redshirt junior hauled in 10 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. His longest reception of the evening was a 53-yard catch and run.

Velus Jones Jr. was the Vols’ second-leading receiver, totaling 8 receptions, 44 yards and a touchdown. His score was a 9-yard catch that capped off the Vols’ first drive of the game, after Hooker had just barely overthrown him on a potential house call on the second play from scrimmage.

JaVonta Payton caught just one 8-yard pass on the first drive of the game and injured his left arm as he was tackled. Payton had a touchdown in six of his last seven games, but was forced to come out after just two targets.

Ramel Keyton came in the game in place of Payton and had some sparking moments, totaling 5 catches for 48 yards with a long of 15.

Jalin Hyatt had 24 receiving yards on 5 receptions, and Princeton Fant caught an 8-yard pass.

Offensive line Grade: D Tennessee’s offensive line did not have a good evening against Georgia’s talented front seven. The line played its second consecutive game at full strength, but to no avail.

Georgia racked up 6.0 sacks — its secondhighest total of the season — and 9.0 tackles for loss — a new season high. The offensive line penalties were at a minimum, but it didn’t matter, as Hooker was under pressure all evening and the Vols couldn’t establish a ground attack.

Front seven Grade: C Tennessee’s own front seven did not play at the same caliber of Georgia’s. The Vols only sacked Stetson Bennett twice, once by Matthew Butler and once by Byron Young. Defensive lineman Omari Thomas tackled Kenny McIntosh for a 4-yard loss on a first quarter run, but outside of that, the Vols’ defense had just two other tackles for loss.

The Vols did have 7 quarterback hurries and 2 pass breakups from Ja’Quain Blakey on the line, but Georgia also ran for 4 touchdowns on the ground.

Secondary Grade: CTennessee’s secondary turned in a similarly forgettable performance. They allowed Bennett to pass for 213 yards and a touchdown without forcing a single turnover.

In total those numbers are not terrible, but six of Georgia’s receivers averaged doubledigit yardage per catch. The Bulldogs evaded tackles and made Tennessee pay for it.

Special team Grade: A Chase McGrath attempted one field goal Saturday, sinking a 24-yard chip shot. He was perfect on his two point-after attempts.

Paxton Brooks punted 4 times, averaging 45 yards per punt with a long of 49. He pinned Georgia inside the 20 once.

Between kickoff and punt returns, Jones had 5 returns for 74 yards.

Coaching Grade:B To Josh Heupel’s credit, his Vols were unusually confident heading into a matchup with No. 1 Georgia. They truly believed they could give Georgia a run for its money, and for about 25 minutes of game time, they did.

Heupel’s scheme worked well enough. He designed plays to combat Georgia’s strengths, but Hooker was off just enough to negate the effects.

Heupel was aggressive on fourth down conversions. The Vols converted three times on fourth down, but twice turned the ball over on downs in Georgia territory. Heupel can’t be blamed for not converting. The flow of the game dictated those calls and he had the analytics to back himself up.

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Overall Grade: CTennessee gave Georgia more trouble than anyone else has this season just by scoring 2 touchdowns. In one sense, it was a moral victory for the Vols.

Still, Tennessee was truly confident that it could do something special, but in the end, the game turned into a standard Tennessee-Georgia blowout.

The Vols have made leaps and bounds in Heupel’s first season, but they still have a ways to go before being capable of an upset of that caliber.

Photos top to bottom: 1)Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker No. 5 looks for a receiver as lineman Cade Mays blocks.

2)Tennessee linebacker Bryce Young celebrates a sack.

3)Tennessee tight end Jacob Warren No. 87 lifts Wide Receiver Cedric Tillman No. 4 after a touchdown catch.

4) Vols enter the field during the Tennessee vs.

Georgia football game on Nov. 13, 2021 in Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN. 5)Bulldogs sack QB Joe Milton III during the Tennessee vs. Georgia football game on Nov. 13, 2021.

Jamar Coach / The Daily Beacon

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SPORTS

SPORTS

Wednesday, November 17, 2021 • The Daily Beacon

11 11

Basketball Grades: Vols blitz East Tennessee State University ETHAN STONE Assistant Sports Editor

Tennessee basketball struggled out of the gate against UT Martin to start the season but has since played three straight periods of really solid basketball.

The Vols blitzed East Tennessee Sunday evening to improve to 2-0 on the season, downing a decent Buccaneers squad, 94-62.

Here’s how Tennessee graded out against former Vols assistant coach Desmond Oliver’s new unit.

Backcourt Grade: BTennessee’s talented backcourt had another good showing in game two.

Freshman point guard Kennedy Chandler and senior guard Victor Bailey Jr. led the way for the group on offense, combining for 25 points and 8 assists. Bailey led the team in plus/minus with 32.

Chandler showed once more his nearly unparalleled ability to score from anywhere on the court, connecting on a circus layup in the first half and splashing 2 shots from deep in his second straight double-digit scoring performance.

Junior guard Santiago Vescovi struggled from the field Sunday, shooting 3-11 for just 7 points and 1 three-pointer in 24 minutes.

Defensively, Vescovi and freshman guard Zakai Zeigler were once again the Tennessee backcourt’s best defenders, nabbing 5 steals.

Auburn transfer Justin Powell was Tennessee’s most efficient scorer, dropping 11 points on 4-6 shooting in 17 minutes of play.

On the negative side, Tennessee guards turned the ball over 7 times, three of which came from Vescovi.

Perimeter defense held together better than it did against UT Martin, but there is still definitely room for improvement for when quicker offenses come to town.

Frontcourt Grade A+ After really struggling in the first half against UT Martin offensively and defensively, Olivier Nkamhoua came to his own Sunday afternoon against the Buccaneers.

Nkamhoua was the best player on the court, scoring 23 points and grabbing 8 boards in just 24 minutes of play while committing zero fouls.

Super senior John Fulkerson made his return to the court to round out the start-

ing frontcourt with Nkamhoua and junior do-it-all Josiah Jordan James. The trio were lights out for Tennessee from start to finish in the paint or otherwise, combining for 38 points, 24 boards and 6 assists.

Fulkerson finished 4 points away from a double-double. Nkamhoua finished 2 rebounds away from the same achievement.

Some easy layups were missed between the trio, which is always a concern — however, it is tough to find a legitimate issue from the Vols’ frontcourt otherwise.

Offense Grade: B+ Something Tennessee fans will notice in the box score is a lack of a barrage from deep. ETSU allowed the Vols to work inside more than the Skyhawks of UT Martin did, allowing Tennessee to shoot a fair 46% from the field.

Tennessee still shot the ball well from downtown, draining 43% of all attempts for a final line of 10-23.

The biggest falter from Tennessee’s 32 point win over the Buccaneers were the avoidable missed layups, as mentioned earlier. The Vols went 15-33 from less than five feet, missing out on a couple of and one opportunities in the process.

Quick guards such as Chandler and Ziegler were able to capitalize on the respect ETSU had to have for Tennessee shooters from deep, opening up driving lanes and post-up opportunities from Fulkerson and Nkamhoua, who couldn’t seem to miss in his best game as a Vol. ETSU is not one of the better defenses the Vols will face this season, but a good performance is a good performance.

showing Barnes is still working on minutes distribution in the early going of the season.

The lineup of Chandler, Bailey, James, Nkamhoua and Fulkerson seemed to fare especially well, but there were multiple times Barnes had Zeigler and Chandler in the game at the same time to emphasize perimeter defense.

The breakout of Nkamhoua in this game is interesting. Barnes has always been able to develop players well and get the best out of their specific skillset, and it seemed Nkamhoua’s performance Sunday was long overdue.

Scoring 90+ in two straight games – no matter the opponent – is always impressive.

The Vols seem to be rolling on the offensive end with Chandler running the show, but the true test starts Saturday against a stout Villanova squad in the Vols’ first early-season tournament.

Kennedy Chandler, No. 1, shooting the ball during the UT vs ETSU game.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Josiah-Jordan James, No. 30, falling after losing the ball during the UT vs ETSU game in Thompson Boling Arena on Sunday Nov. 14, 2021.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Head coach Rick Barnes during the UT vs ETSU game in Thompson Boling Arena on Sunday Nov. 14, 2021.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Defense Grade: A Tennessee forced a lot of bad shots from the Buccaneers Sunday, holding Oliver’s squad to just 34% shooting on the afternoon. The Buccaneers like to take the open three, as shown by their first 8 shots which were all from deep.

Tennessee made shooting from downtown difficult though. ETSU shot 10-32 from three on the day.

The Vols forced 17 turnovers which produced 26 points on the offensive end, also adding 4 blocks.

ETSU averaged just .83 points per possession.

Coaching & overall Grade: A Nine Vols played 10 minutes Sunday,

John Fulkerson, No. 10, goes for a goal during the UT vs ETSU game in Thompson Boling Arena on Sunday Nov. 14, 2021.

Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Horston guides Lady Vols past offensive struggles ANDREW PETERS Staff Writer Tennessee secured its third win of the season Monday night with a win over South Florida, 52-49.

The game came down to the last second and the Lady Vols managed to get by after a few made free throws.

Here are three takeaways from the Lady Vols performance.

Horston guides Lady Vols Jordan Horston was the spark all night for the Lady Vols with 24 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and a pair of steals. Horston was one of two Lady Vols in double figures on the night and was one of the only bright spots on offense.

Horston scored 12 of the Lady Vols’ 14 points in the fourth quarter, including a clutch jumper and 3 made free throws that pushed the Lady Vols past the Bulls.

“She’s long,” South Florida head coach Jose Fernandez said. “She’s tough to defend because she’s so big as a guard so she can pull up and shoot over our guys.”

Horston also cut down on her turnovers from last game, which proved to be a big part of Tennessee’s win. Her presence on the court will be key with Rae Burrell still out for the near future.

“I think we need Jordan to play like Jordan Horston can play,” head coach Kellie Harper said. “I think that’s going to be finding ways for her to be aggressive on the ball, with ball.

I think that’s been a difference maker in our last two games.”

Key’s presence proves to be big In Tennessee’s first pair of games, center Tamari Key was limited in playing time because of early fouls. Key did not have that

same problem Monday, and she was able to stay on the court for 37 minutes.

Key put up 10 points, but her real contribution came on the defensive end. Key swatted 6 shots and pulled in 7 defensive boards.

“I take pride in my defense,” Key said.

“Getting blocks is just something that’s fun for me to do.”

The stat sheet doesn’t show it, but just having Key on the court was vital for the Lady Vols. Standing at 6-foot-6, she is able to deter the offense from driving in for a quick basket and instead forces a shot from outside the paint.

“I think for us the scheme rally helped tonight,” Harper said. “She was able to roam the paint and find where she helps. She’s the most effective when we can put her in that position.”

Offensive struggles continue The Lady Vols scored 109 points in their sole exhibition game. In their following three games, the Lady Vols didn’t break the 60-point mark.

Missed free throws, low field goal percentages and many, many missed threes have all been themes for the Lady Vols offense through three games.

Monday was no exception, as Tennessee shot 33% from the field, made no three pointers and made 8-of-18 free throws.

“It was an ugly game for both teams offensively,” Fernandez said.

The Lady Vols are undoubtedly missing some offensive production with Burrell still out, but some adjustments will need to be made before getting into the brunt of their schedule.

“In terms of fixing it we have kids that can make shots that haven’t made them,” Harper said. “Right now I think it’s a little bit of us still trying to find our rhythm offensively.”

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Jordan Horston (25) takes a jump shot against Georgia College at Thompson Boling Arena.

November 3, 2021. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

Michigan State vs. Ohio State Wake Forest vs. Clemson South Alabama (21) vs. Tennesee (42) Texas vs. West Virginia Arkanas vs. Alabama SMU vs. Cincinatti Oregon vs. Utah