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Letter from the Sports Editor: Thank you
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CALEB JARREAU Sports Editor
I stumbled into the Beacon’s office on the first day of my freshman year, August 2022. Then-Sports Editor Josh Lane assigned me a story to write about the football coaching staff. That led me to my first beat, volleyball.
Lane left the Beacon for The Maryville Daily Times less than three months into his senior year. I am grateful to follow his lead.
Two weeks ago, I accepted a full-time sports reporting position with The Times in Maryville. Getting a job out of college in our industry is challenging, and I am grateful to have a good one before I even graduate.
I get to stay local to the Knoxville area, covering Tennessee football and others — a rare opportunity afforded in a first job out of college. I also get to cover a historic and competitive high school athletics scene — continuing the purest form of sportswriting in prep sports.
Mixed with the opportunity to work under Lane — a friend and mentor — I couldn’t pass up the chance. I am grateful to stay in East Tennessee and work in local news.
With that being said, two of my good friends and talented reporters will continue the award-winning work of the Beacon.
Trevor McGee will take over the sports section. I have had the chance to watch him grow as a reporter since he arrived at Tennessee and began writing, and I trust he will continue to lead the Beacon. With the help of Jack Church, the Beacon’s sports section will continue to be one of the best student media has to offer.
I can’t say enough about my time at the Beacon. I’ve been to the College World Series twice, covering Tennessee’s national title run. I’ve been to the Elite Eight on the men’s side, and two Women’s March Madness runs. I’ve sat in a federal courthouse of an NIL lawsuit and the grass of a war protest. I’ve gotten up at 6 a.m., walking through wet grass with camera gear to cover Tennessee’s annual home cross-country meet.
I’ve been on the sidelines and in press boxes of events I only dreamed of making it to as a kid. The Beacon afforded me those opportunities.
More importantly, I’ve been grateful to cultivate a staff and influence young
Sports Editor Caleb Jarreau in Omaha after Tennessee won its first College World
writers at our newspaper. Playing a part in the growth of the paper has been as a fulfilling experience as I have had, continuing the historic tradition of great sports journalism. I have also gained a community and alumni network, meet-
ing more great people than I can count. So I say thank you, to The Daily Beacon. I have given my all for the publication that gave me my start and has opened more doors for me than I could have ever imagined.
Series. Courtesy of Caleb Jarreau
Dalton Knecht (3) dunks the ball during an NCAA Tournament game against Purdue at Little Caesars Arena. Sunday, March 31, 2024. File / The Daily Beacon
Finding belief: Viral campus outreach minister Cliffe Knechtle visits UT
JED BASO Contributor
“I’ve had questions about my faith for sure. As I came to college, I’ve started figuring out what Christianity is for myself, instead of just being another thing my parents believe. And I’ve started believing it for myself.”
campuses they visit, but this fall has been standout in relation to past seasons. This is the Knechtles’ first time visiting UT, and the father-son duo has noticed an uptick in attendance this semester.
Cole Koogler Sophomore
Monday, Nov. 10, through Wednesday, Nov. 13, hundreds of UT students gathered on HSS Lawn for hours to hear one man speak — Cliffe Knechtle. People came from all over East Tennessee, some driving nearly two hours from Johnson City, to have their questions answered, and even some high school students were skipping classes to be there.
So, who is Knechtle and why did so many people from so far away come to hear him talk?
Knechtle, along with his son Stuart, are Christian apologists known for traveling to colleges around the United States in an effort to answer some of the hardest and most controversial questions relating to Christianity. They have extended their message to social media and have built a following of hundreds of thousands across YouTube and Instagram. Cole Koogler, a sophomore at UT, shared why he came to see Knechtle speak.
“Cliffe is just a really great debater, he answers questions thoughtfully, and he’s very authentic,” Koogler said.
The size of the crowd varies between
“At times we have very small crowds, and at times we have large crowds,” Knechtle said. “So it varies an awful lot. It really just depends on people’s openness to seriously thinking about Christ. When people aren’t seriously open to thinking about Christ, we don’t get very good dialogue. But this year, this fall, has been outstanding.”
People in the large crowd picked Knechtle’s mind on everything from belief, God, life issues and how Christians should believe politically. Those who were grappling with hard issues stepped forward to ask Knechtle for his advice.
Some issues that were discussed were how Christians show love to the LGBTQ+ community, how can God love all of us but send some of us to hell and how can we forgive someone who has hurt us beyond healing.
However, many of those who showed up were there to just listen. The crowd was made up of people from every background, but the majority were Christian students at various levels in their faith.
“It’s good to have these questions answered in a question-and-answer style like Cliffe does,” Jake Lot, a sophomore studying civil engineering, said. “Just solidifying my faith and getting good reminders is just kind of what I’m hoping for.”
Koogler explained his background. He identifies as a Christian but has been grappling with making his faith his own now that he’s in college.
“I grew up in a Christian household,
went to church every Sunday,” Koogler said. “I’ve had questions about my faith for sure. As I came to college, I’ve started figuring out what Christianity is for myself, instead of just being another thing my parents believe. And I’ve started believing it for myself.”
Koogler described how a life of faith is a life of never having the complete picture, of always having questions, and that’s what brought him there.
He said, “I’m hoping to take away more understanding. As a Christian, I have a bunch of questions. I’m pretty sure every Christian does. So I’m here just to gain a clear understanding of who Jesus is and what He’s done.”
Evan Hartsell, a freshmen exploratory major at UT, was just leaving class and decided to stop by to listen in for a while. He explained that he was a Christian, but had moved away from faith in recent years and hadn’t returned since.
“I’ve just heard he’s like a really good speaker, and I’m hoping for a different perspective, maybe something to reignite my beliefs,” Hartsell said. A lot of people in the crowd would agree that they were there to discover what that one word meant for them — belief.
“Everyone believes,” Cliffe Knechtle said. “If you and I lose our jobs this week. And if you get angry and I get depressed, it’s not because of the circumstance. It’s because of our belief system that teaches us how we’re going to respond to circumstances. And if I have a deep faith in Christ, I’m going to have a hope and a resiliency because I know that my life is in God’s hands. If I don’t have faith in Christ, then I’d be giving into despair or depression a lot easier because it’s all a cosmic crapshoot called life.”
Cliffe Knechtle speaks to students outside HSS at the amphitheater. Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
Stuart Knechtle speaks to students outside HSS at the amphitheater. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
Republicans hold the House majority, gain seats in the Senate, flipping control
LOUIE PERRY Staff Writer
In the Senate, Republicans were able to flip three seats — West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania — and came close to flipping three to four additional seats — an unprecedented election result that some media figures found quite surprising. This put the Senate majority in the hands of the Republicans with 53 seats to the Democrats’ 47.
However, the real question in the last few days was regarding who would take the majority in the United States House of Representatives. And that answer came on Wednesday evening, as the Associated Press officially called the House majority for the Republicans, setting a new mandate for Washington — a Republican trifecta.
“We are unified and energized and ready to go. We have to deliver for the American people beginning on day one of the new Congress, and we will be ready for that,” Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (RLouisana) said Thursday.
Republicans won 222 seats in the midterm cycle of 2022 to the Democrats’ 213, but in that period of the 118th Congress, there were regular periods when seats were empty, especially for Republicans, due to resignation, sickness, etc., leading
to periods where Republicans had an even smaller majority.
“Now, with the trifecta in hand, we stand ready and united behind President Trump to deliver on his America First agenda once and for all. As the 118th Congress, it may not always be smooth sailing, and we may have some disagreements along the way, but I’ve always been a firm believer that there’s more that unites us than divides us,” Congressman Tom Emmer, newly re-elected Majority Whip (R-Minnesota) said at a press briefing Thursday after the House Republican leadership election.
Democrat Wins
In this new Congress for 2024, Republicans were able to hold the House. However, Democrats flipped multiple seats, including New York’s 22nd District, New York’s fourth district on Long Island and a third seat in New York’s 19th district.
In California, Republican Congressman Mike Garcia in the 27th district lost to Democrat George Whitesides.
Republican Wins
Yet, Republicans picked up enough seats to counter the Democratic congressional wins. In Pennsylvania, a swing state that Trump carried, Robert Bresnahan beat sixterm Congressman Matt Cartwright in the 8th Congressional district. Sticking in Keystone State, Republicans took the 7th Congressional district, unseating Congresswoman Susan Wild, who’s held the seat since winning in 2017.
In Michigan, Republicans took the 7th Congressional District. This district was formerly represented by Senator-elect Elissa Slotkin, who ran successfully for Michigan’s open Senate seat this year after Senator Debbie Stabenow retired. The GOP was able to flip her former district, another win for the Republicans.
Moving west, Republicans also flipped a congressional seat in Colorado’s 8th dis-
trict, and just on Thursday afternoon, the Associated Press called Oregon’s 5th district for the Democrats.
Alaska’s at-large Congressional seat
Alaska’s single congressional district flipped blue in 2022 after a special election when Representative Don Young passed away in office. He was the longest-serving Republican House member in history, having held the seat since 1973. Unique to Alaska is its rank choice voting system, and at the moment, Republican Nick Begich is leading with a larger margin of four points above Democrat Congresswoman Mary Peltola.
California’s 9th District
The Democrat incumbent, Josh Harder, leads the race but is still too close to call over Republican Kevin Lincoln.
Democrat Josh Harder has held onto his seat in California’s 9th District.
California’s 13th district
One-term Republican Congressman John Duarte leads his Democratic opponent, Adam Gray, by about 3,000 votes, with 30% of the vote still to be counted.
California’s 21st District
Democrat Jim Costa holds onto his seat
in California’s 21st District, beating out Republican challenger Michael Maher.
California’s 45th District
With 93% of the vote counted, incumbent Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steel leads Democrat Derek Tran by a very close margin. She is one of the first Korean-American women to serve in Congress and is in her second term.
Iowa’s 1st District
Incumbent Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks leads by 802 votes over Democrat Christina Bohannan. She’s been a U.S. Representative since 2021, and this race will be closely watched across the country as more votes are tallied.
Maine’s 2nd District
Democrat Jared Golden holds his seat in Maine’s 2nd District, winning against Republican challenger Austin Theriault.
Ohio’s 9th District
Democrat Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur is holding her seat by just 1,100 votes to Republican Derek Merrin. Kaptur has held this seat for 21 terms since 1983.
The stage at the Republican National Convention hosted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July, 2024. Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Louie Perry / The Daily Beacon
California-based band Dawes begins its tour in Knoxville
WILLIAM MEHRING
Despite the distance between Knoxville, Tennessee and Los Angeles, California both cities know a thing or two about good music and LA-based rock band Dawes proved that last Thursday, Nov. 7.
Brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith — lead singer and drums — had announced the band’s tour for their ninth studio album, “Oh Brother,” this summer and finally got on the road to kick off the tour starting at The Mill & Mine.
“Oh Brother” - Dawes concert
After doing some initial research on Dawes, I kept seeing them listed as a “folk rock” band. Once I explored some of their discography and heard them live, however, I will argue that they play more of a soft rock or blues rock style. Most of their songs feature a built-in guitar solo or bridge, often bringing out a “stank face” from band members because of just how good some of these jams are.
The show
The show opened with the band playing
their first track off of the new album, “Mister Los Angeles.” For me, this song serves as the perfect summary for the band’s style, featuring warm guitar chords, authentic lyrics and references to California sprinkled in.
Next up came a couple of great guitar riffs from the songs “Most People,” “Roll with the Punches” and “Front Row Seat.”
Once these chords rang out, it seemed as if a pulse of electricity had been sent through the crowd each time. Ironically enough, the start of “Front Row Seat” marked my time to leave the media pit, but not before I snagged some sweet photos.
During my time up close to the stage, one of the things that stood out to me the most was Taylor Goldsmith’s lyrical delivery. It is one thing to just sing the lyrics as most do, but Taylor used a mix of gestures, facial expressions and vocal inflections to place added emphasis on certain lyrics.
There were a couple of times throughout the show where Taylor even laughed at his lyrics, as he did with the niche line, “I just booked a Taco Bell commercial, I eat a bag of cheese without my hands,” in the song “Mister Los Angeles.”
For a majority of the time, the band’s songs are telling stories from everyday life, as with the line above. Other times, however, Dawes’ lyrics can touch on more
significant topics, such as in the song “Crack the Case.”
Taylor prefaced the song by sharing some of his thoughts on the current times in our country, where a national election has everyone tense. After his words, he spoke on the importance of relationships and how we’re all more or less the same, through lines in the song such as, “It’s really hard to hate anyone when you know what they’ve lived through.”
Whether he is casually singing about eating food or advising his fans to preserve relationships amid differences, Taylor’s words remain authentic no matter the topic.
At this point, the show was 10 songs deep and the crowd’s energy had not dropped one bit. Fans were glad to sing along to the uplifting tune of “When Our Time Comes,” which made for a crowd favorite in the end. To reward the audience, the band’s frontman gave his band a break and asked for three musicians in the audience to play alongside him for a fun rendition of another Dawes hit, “Things Happen.”
Continuing on, the band showcased some diversity with the songs “House Parties” and “All Your Favorite Bands.” While singing about “house parties and local bands, back porches with Bowie fans,” the song is a mix of Dawes’ folk-rock side
with a slight Jimmy Buffet influence. In contrast, “All You Favorite Bands” is a slower song with a piano melody about a wish that I hope comes true for everyone: “And may all your favorite bands stay together.”
Encore
Saving the best for last, the band came back out for a two-song encore, performing a personal favorite of mine — “Someone Else’s Cafe/Doomscroller Tries to Relax.” This song is an example of Dawes at its best. The catchy guitar riffs and meaningful lyrics are still there, but a dramatic transition towards the end of the song serves as the perfect, unexpected conclusion.
While Knoxville was just the start of Dawes’ “Oh Brother” tour, the band will continue to rock shows across the country during their tour that will last until the end of April.
“We still got some work to do, some connections to be made” was a line used halfway through last Thursday’s show, which is an attitude that the band will look to maintain for the rest of their tour.
Contributor
Free haircuts on campus: A win-win for UT students, barber trainees
PATRICK BUSCH Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the Center for Basic Needs hosted a free barbershop popup in the Student Union. Through a partnership with the Master Academy of Barbering, it brought a free and convenient option for students looking to get their haircuts done, all without leaving campus.
The goal of the Center for Basic Needs is to provide students with all the basic resources they need to succeed here at the University of Tennessee and beyond.
Students currently studying at the Master Academy set up their shop in the Student Union’s art gallery where UT students were able to sign up for several different time slots that morning for a haircut.
The Master Academy set up several barber chairs in the space, accompanied by about a half-dozen barber students. There, essentially a fully operating barber shop ran in the Student Union for several hours on Wednesday morning.
This came as a great training opportunity for students in the barber school to gather experience with real-world clients. At the same time, it proved beneficial for UT students, who could avoid traveling far
off campus or paying a few bucks for their haircut.
Blake Pinchback, an employee at the Center for Basic Needs, described why it was important for the organization to host this event.
“I think that it just helps a lot of students, and it’s always a good resource to have,” Pinchback said.
Students expressed their appreciation for this convenient on-campus service that alleviated some of the stress that comes with balancing academics and personal care. These events contribute to a more balanced and fulfilling college experience.
Pinchback saw that students were pleased with the entire experience and with their resulting haircuts.
It wasn’t only students who benefited from the pop-up, but the barber students themselves. Pinchback enjoyed seeing the excitement of the students after getting their new haircut but also being able to see the barbers in training gaining more experience through the pop-up.
“Both seeing the student’s faces when they had their fresh new haircut,” Pinchback said. “But also like getting to see the barbers kind of learn and experience and get better at their jobs.”
The Master Academy took students out
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Barber students from the Master Academy of Barbering offer free haircuts for UT students in the Student Union Art Gallery. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon
of the classroom environment and into practical application for this event. Nathan Tulloch, a student at the Master Academy, described the value he saw in participating in the event.
“Just talking to the students and seeing that they’re getting a service,” said Tulloch. “Right now with the economy, it’s hard to pull off forty bucks when you’re in school.”
Dozens of students were able to come by and receive a free haircut in the three hour window that the pop-up was open.
The collaboration between the Center for Basic Needs and Knoxville’s Master Academy of Barbering proved to be an excellent opportunity for barber students to hone in their skills with real customers and for UT students to take advantage of a free and necessary service, just steps away from their classes.
Opinion: What’s to be expected at the dinner table after one
of our nation’s most divisive elections?
While some of us love Thanksgiving, others despise the lack of table-side-manner many of our relatives display during mealtime. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on things we are thankful for, express gratitude and spend time with family. But somehow, the general rule of thumb to shy away from subjects like money, religion and, namely, politics at the dinner table always seems to be broken. After such a heated election with both sides feeling polarized, what are we in store for this holiday season?
The days of over-politeness regarding “touchy” subjects are long gone. Social media journalists go up to complete strangers every day asking questions like, “What do you do for a living, and how much do you make each year?” or “Who are you voting for in this election and why?” Seeing these videos circulate our phone screens has desensitized us in a way that makes these conversations feel normal. This opening of dialogue is not inherently bad, but in today’s world, political leanings have become a litmus test for morality in some circles. In one of my favorite classes I have ever taken, a course on American government in high school, my teacher said something astounding that has stuck with me ever since. He said that a truly good president is one in whom you can’t really tell any difference in day-to-day life. After all, a president’s job is to head foreign policy and relations. He went on to say that Lyndon B. Johnson was his favorite president because he is one of the only ones who truly understood this role.
This perspective got me thinking about how we often judge presidents by the wrong metrics and how this could be misconstrued at a dinner table this Thanksgiving. It also made me question the validity of my teacher’s statement, as one of the biggest differences between candidates falls under day-to-day impacts like gas and grocery prices.
But when you look closer, you see these changes are often tied to foreign policy, as well as domestic decisions and global market forces. For some voters this election, Trump’s approach to foreign policy — emphasizing energy independence, domestic job creation and reducing foreign aid — resonated as addressing immediate economic concerns. Harris’ campaign, with its focus on women’s and human rights, may have even appealed to some Trump voters who also valued broader societal progress, though maybe felt these priorities did not align with their pressing financial needs. There are strong points on either side
of the aisle and possibly more common ground between the parties than mainstream media lets on. With the rise of globalization comes the rise in divisive media tactics. Rather than winning your allegiance and your vote through ethical means, many newscasters air out-of-context soundbites, highlight and accentuate candidates’ downfalls, and aim to bond with viewers over shared disapproval of “the other side.”
In essence, it becomes less about “Why you should vote for me” and more about “Why you shouldn’t vote for them.” This strategy is inherently polarizing, as it often generalizes these criticisms onto candidates’ supporters. Instead of thinking X, Y, Z just about Trump or Harris, the media subconsciously encourages you to think X, Y, Z about their voters as well.
It’s easy to dislike one person but disliking half the country is a whole other ballgame. How can we push past the narrowminded thinking many of us possess and find common ground with those who value things differently than us?
This holiday season, if touchy subjects arise, I encourage you to listen with an open mind and try to see where people are coming from. Many over-the-top “hateful” views are deeply influenced by the media sources people consume. Clearly these tactics work, as they get people out to vote, but they also deepen divisions. At the core, most Americans want the same things: safety, opportunity and a brighter future for their families. By focusing on these shared goals, we can start bridging the gaps and moving toward real progress. Unity starts at home, and
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to practice it. Let’s take this opportunity to listen with empathy, understand differing perspectives, and begin mending the divides — one conversation at a time. Good luck, friends.
RYLEIGH DOUGALL
Columnist
Columnist Ryleigh Dougall says, “The days of over-politeness regarding ‘touchy’ subjects are long gone.” Ansley Graves / The Daily Beacon
Ryleigh Dougall is a junior at UT this year studying political science. She can be reached at rydougall@gmail.com.
Neyland in Color
How childhood friends went from Campbell County to getting paid to ‘blow stuff up’ on top of Neyland Stadium
CALEB JARREAU
Sports Editor
Chris Honeycutt arrived on the west roof of Neyland Stadium out of breath and sweating through his black, long-sleeved “UT Pyro Crew” shirt. A stack of cardboard boxes sat at his feet, each weighing just under 30 pounds.
Honeycutt, the Pyro Shows crew leader for Saturdays at Neyland Stadium, walked to look at the north roof. It is the toughest challenge for the crew on game days, stretching around the end of the stadium on a non-flat surface.
He peaked over the knee-high ledge to look to the north roof when he got a request — could he
From combat to Neyland Stadium
Massengale’s journey to the top of Neyland Stadium is one that included a deployment overseas.
Massengale, 38, remembers standing on Shields-Watkins Field, experiencing the Tennessee environment as a member of the color guard during his freshman year of college. The energy and emotion he felt was unmatched in that 2004 game against UNLV, putting any game he watched in the stands to shame.
He didn’t finish college, becoming an activeduty infantryman for the Army in the 101st Airborne Division — the legendary infantry known as the “Screaming Eagles’’ — from Feb. 1, 2006,
A graph representing schools who responded to public records requests submitted by The Daily Beacon through the reporting of this project. Caleb Jarreau / The Daily Beacon
bring an extra “cheat sheet” to the roof? The paper has the code for which pyrotechnics are loaded and where, color-coding the entire system.
Cutting through the low hum of the fanfare building outside of Neyland Stadium, Josh Massengale, a fellow Pyro Shows employee, yelled for Honeycutt to make a paper airplane and toss it down. Honeycutt laughed, using his newfound breath while shaking his head.
Jokes like that aren’t new for Massengale or Honeycutt. The two graduated from Campbell County High School in 2004 and now work together with LaFollette-based Pryo Shows to make the Knoxville sky light up over Neyland Stadium.
“How crazy is it that we are just a couple of Campbell County boys,” Massengale said. “Everybody likes to bag on Campbell County because we’re the country folk and the ‘Oh, there’s just hicks up there.’ Well, we’re not doing too bad for a bunch of LaFollette boys.”
a little bit.”
When Massengale returned to Tennessee in 2012, he enrolled again at UT but quickly realized he wasn’t ready for civilian life. He retreated to a cabin deep in Campbell County, living off the land and fishing daily to get acclimated to life in America again. He knew what he was signing up for when he joined the Army, but he did not necessarily know the sights and smells that would live with him forever.
“It was just kind of a reflection time and trying to make up for lost time with family members from being gone for so long,” Massengale said. “My dad’s retired from the Army, so I saw a lot of advice from him on how to reacclimate.”
One day around March 2013, Massengale didn’t pick up his tackle box. It was time, he decided, to get back to work.
Before and after his Army career, Massengale shot fireworks for Pyro Shows — his hometown pyrotechnics company. That led to an opportunity to shoot fireworks at Tennessee games, joining his Campbell County High School classmate and friend of almost 30 years Honeycutt.
The same team that brought him joy while he faced the horrors of war brought him happiness, just from a different point of view.
“I quite literally started at the bottom of this stadium, and now I’m on the top of it,” Massengale said. “And it’s a bizarre feeling. It’s a very emotional thing for me.”
Creating memorable moments at Neyland
In a 280-acre field near Pyro Shows headquarters sits more than 100 magazines of firework product. That is where the warehouse team pulls the product needed for the show.
The crew, including Honeycutt and Massnegale, arrives at Neyland Stadium four hours before kick-off. There’s a tedious setup process that goes into preparing the 30 fireworks positions and two cannons for the day.
They’re accompanied by Tennessee Associate Athletics Director of Marketing and Fan Experience Jimmy Delaney — the contact point for Pyro Shows and Tennessee — as they enter the stadium. By the time Neyland Stadium is filling with fans and kick-off is just over 70 minutes away, Honeycutt finally has time to take a break and eat.
At exactly 20 minutes before kick-off, the first firework is launched to begin Tennessee’s pregame light show. Though the laid-back environment among the crew doesn’t show it, there is a level of stress until the first firework is fired. From there, the show begins at Neyland Stadium.
“Neyland is a place, and you want to be there, and you want everyone to be sharing on socials so someone else is like, ‘Dang, I got to be there,’” Delaney said. “When fans are having a great time, it’s great for us.”
The university budgeted $125,000 annually from 2021-23 for pyrotechnics, according to documents obtained by The Daily Beacon through a records request. The amount budgeted jumped to $170,000 for 2023-25 — a rise attributed to head coach Josh Heupel’s explosive offense scoring more touchdowns. There was also a rise in pyrotechnics being used at basketball events.
The Daily Beacon requested numbers from all 15 public SEC institutions. Kentucky, for example, spent just under $100,000 in 2021-22 before jumping to $151,730 in 2022-23. The money spent jumped again in 2023-24, rising to $182,438. LSU leads the way, spending $186,254 from 2021-22, $226,657 from 2022-23 and $336,487 from 2023-24.
“What I think is cool about us is that kind of comes and goes, but what we have is memorable and a part of it and all of that,” Delaney said.
until his retirement in August 2012 for medical reasons.
During those six-plus years, the LaFallotte native sought out Tennessee games on the Armed Forces Network. He watched one game while stationed in Iraq in 2006 and one game each year while in Afghanistan. Phillip Fulmer’s last year, 2008, was the last time Massengale watched a Tennessee game on the Armed Forces Network.
He cheered on his Vols from a war zone and proudly accepted the title from his platoon members as “that hillbilly redneck from Tennessee.” They playfully jabbed him when Tennessee lost, but they never doubted his love of all things UT. Those games, even from halfway around the world, reminded Massengale of the joy he had experienced in Neyland before his deployment.
“It was just that little piece of home,” Massengale said. “We’re 10,000 miles away in the combat zone. It’s like, man, let’s just watch a football game and remember what it’s like just
Fireworks are ignited as Tennessee football takes on Georgia at Sanford Stadium. Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
SPORTS
“I’ve always felt really good about what we’ve been doing in Neyland Stadium.”
From playing to shooting
Shooting fireworks and creating memorable moments is a rite of passage for Honeycutt.
The Campbell County High School alum decided to start working with Pyro Shows while in college, staying close to where he grew up. He balanced working in the summer with his football career at the University of the Cumberlands. As a 5-foot-9 stocky linebacker, his path to the field was bumpy.
Honeycutt stayed the course, finally starting for the Patriots his senior year. He used the lessons from football to begin coaching and teaching at Campbell County. He still worked with Pyro Shows when he had time before an opportunity emerged that he couldn’t pass up.
Three years ago, just as fireworks moved inside Neyland Stadium, Honeycutt took a fulltime position with Pyro Shows.
“It is pretty cool,” Honeycutt said. “When you sit and think about what we do — get to blow stuff up and get paid for it. That’s every person’s childhood dream.”
While his title is in human resources, Honeycutt acts as the crew leader on Saturdays atop Neyland Stadium. The goal for the crew he leads at Tennessee is simple.
Pyro Shows is there to enhance the environment at Tennessee sporting events while not taking away from the existing traditions. It’s an easy goal for the crew of Tennessee fans to achieve.
“You can’t be local and not be a Tennessee fan,” Honeycutt said. “It’s a lot of fun to be able to get to see a game that you would pay to go to and get paid to see the same game. As a fan, it’s pretty special.”
The local pride extends to high school games as well.
Honeycutt enjoyed pyrotechnics while at Campbell County as a player and a coach. When Justin and Matt Price — a duo that Honeycutt grew up with and coached alongside — went to Grace Christian Academy, they knew who they had to call.
“I think he’s doing Grace on Fridays and Neyland on Saturdays — he’s great in what they do and how they organize everything,” Price said. “It’s a well-run company, and those guys do such a good job at it.”
A Friday night at Grace is scaled down from a Saturday in Neyland. Honeycutt will usually use a tower on the field and another location, like the softball field.
Even with the operation scaled down, the product and effects are still the same as that of Neyland Stadium.
“When you’re running through that, I mean, it gives you chills,” Honeycutt said. “You think it gets those guys ready to go.”
The investment in shooting local high schools goes back to Pryo Shows’ roots as an East Tennessee company. While offices have been set up across the Southeast, Pyro Shows’ corporate headquarters is still run out of LaFollette as it has been since 1969.
Price saw Honeycutt’s passion and demeanor through their years together. It is something he still sees when shooting at Grace on Friday nights.
“He’s a leader in his church up there and, obviously, a man of faith, and that’s very evident the way he handles himself, the way he built relationships with our employers,” Price said. “... I think that servant heart that he has as a coach is probably... the same as over with Pyro Shows.”
The birth of ‘Pyro Jesus’
Massengale has taken to social media to spread his unique view of Neyland Stadium on Saturday, spreading the viral moments from a different angle. His account caught on quickly.
His work was noticed by a member of the UT student section at Neyland who posted, “Notre Dame might have Touchdown Jesus, but we have Pyro Jesus.” The post achieved viral status, and Massengale began getting tagged in it.
At first, he was apprehensive of accepting the nickname, wanting to avoid possibly offending anyone. The overwhelming response resulted in an official username change — one Massengale still uses today.
His following grew to over 6,000 overnight.
“I always reiterate, it’s not just me,” Massengale said. “There’s six of us. I’m just kind of the guy that’s got the Twitter.”
Massnegale takes to his X, formerly known as Twitter, every weekend, posting pictures from the top of Neyland Stadium and showing his support to Tennessee. He is clear to mention he does not represent Pyro Shows with his social media presence, but it is bringing a light to the work Pyro Shows does behind the scenes.
Fans show appreciation for Massengale and his crew’s work. He is creating memories people won’t forget, something he knows firsthand. The icing on the cake is he is getting to do it all with his friend of nearly 30 years — quite the journey for a pair of LaFollette boys.
“Never would I have thought as a kid growing up, one day I was going to be running around Neyland Stadium and shooting fireworks for the walls. Never,” Massengale said. “But here I am, and here we are, for that matter.”
The Weekly Crossword
‘T-Credit’ roundup: Games to watch in Tennessee athletics during week of Nov. 20
TYLER EDMANDS
Contributor
Tennessee athletics will be busy this week, with seven teams competing. Volleyball will be especially busy, playing the last three regularseason matches of the year. Football will also have the last home game of the season.
Nov. 19-24: Men’s and women’s tennis at NCAA Individual Championships
Men’s and women’s tennis will head down to Waco, Texas, to compete in the NCAA Individual Championships. Four players from Tennessee will compete in this prestigious tournament, two men and two women. Shunsuke Mitsui and Alex Kotzen will represent the Vols, while Catherine Aulia and Elza Tomase will be the two for the Lady Vols.
Tennessee has some experience in the NCAA Tournament, with Mitsui reaching the round of 16 last year and Tomase making her third straight tournament appearance this season.
Nov. 20-22: Swimming and diving at Tennessee Invitational
Tennessee will host the annual Tennessee Invitational at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center. This year, the meet will feature Kentucky, UNC Ashville and Virginia. Virginia will certainly be the best of the three, with the women’s team ranked at No. 1 and the men placing at No. 21. Tennessee has had a good start to its season, coming into this week with the women’s team ranked No. 8 and the men at No. 11. After a close loss to Louisville for both teams, Tennessee will look to get back on track before the bulk of its season comes around.
Nov. 21: Men’s basketball at Continental Tire Baha Mar Championship
Tennessee (4-0) will compete in the Nassau, Bahamas Continental Tire Baha Mar Championship. This short tournament will last only two days and feature just four teams. The Vols will face the Virginia Cavaliers in the first round, then either Baylor or St. John’s in the second round.
Nov. 22: Volleyball vs. Arkansas – one “TCredit” opportunity
The Lady Vols (13-10, 6-7 SEC) will host another game at Food City Center as the 2024 season ends. Last week, Tennessee couldn’t pull off the in-season sweep of the Georgia Bulldogs, falling at home in five sets. This loss at home was just the Lady Vols’ third this season and the first since October 16.
The Razorbacks (16-9, 6-7) will head into Knoxville, riding a two-game losing streak. Arkansas has had its fair share of woes away from home, falling to 3-7 on the road after losing the last two. Although it’s late in the season, Tennessee will look to make a final push at the postseason.
Vols celebrate a basket by Grant Hurst (23) during a game against Austin Peay at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.
The Lady Vols are 25-24 against Arkansas, but they are currently on a three-game losing streak. Tennessee has only won one set of the last 10 against the Razorbacks but look for them to finally swing the series back its way this year. Students can earn one “T-Credit” for attending this match.
Nov. 23: Football vs. UTEP
The No. 10 Vols will likely host the last game inside Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon when they take on UTEP. Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) is coming off a tough loss to Georgia in Athens, so expect an aggressive game out of the Vols.
The UTEP Miners (2-8, 2-5 CUSA) have had a disappointing season. Tennessee will be the second and final Power Four team that the Miners face this year after they lost to Nebraska 40-7 in their season opener. The only two wins UTEP has this season are over FIU and Kennesaw State, teams that are a combined 4-16 this season. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between these two teams. Tennessee took the first three easily, winning by an average of 30 points a contest. The Vols have also only allowed 10 total points to UTEP in the three previous games.
Nov. 24: Volleyball vs. South Carolina – one “T-Credit” opportunity
This will be the Lady Vols’ last game inside Food City Center this season. For the final
match, they will face South Carolina again after losing to the Gamecocks in three sets at the beginning of the month. The Lady Vols will hit the road after this game, taking on Texas for the final game of the season.
The Lady Vols are 41-35 against the Gamecocks all-time but have stumbled into a twogame losing streak. The last time Tennessee hosted, they won 3-0 in 2022, making their record against South Carolina 22-13 at home.
Students can earn one “T-Credit” for attending this match.
Nov. 26: Women’s basketball vs. Western Carolina – one “T-Credit” opportunity
The Lady Vols will look to continue their early season success against the Western Carolina Catamounts. Tennessee (4-0) has been dominant so far, winning by an average of 29.5 points a game. The Catamounts (4-1) have also found success early, with their only loss coming to No. 9 Oklahoma.
The Lady Vols are a surprising 10-9 against Western Carolina, with the last matchup coming in 2008. Tennessee currently owns a four-game win streak that dates to 1977. The Lady Vols are well-rested after having not played in over a week, so expect a high-tempo and energetic team for this matchup.
Students can earn one “T-Credit” for attending this game.
Nov. 27: Men’s basketball vs. UT Martin – one “T-Credit” opportunity
The Vols will host the UT Martin Skyhawks. Although Tennessee will endure some jetlag after a quick trip to the Bahamas, they should have enough time to recover before this matchup. The Skyhawks (2-2) have scored more than 62 points in each game they’ve played this season , despite the two losses.
The Vols have never lost to UT Martin, posting a perfect 5-0 record. These two teams haven’t matched up since 2021, when Tennessee won 90-62 at home. Expect a big win for the Vols as they prepare for Syracuse and Miami in the next two weeks.
Students can earn one “T-Credit” for attending this game.
Nov. 27: Volleyball at Texas
The Lady Vols will travel to face No. 14 Texas for the final regular-season game of the year. The Longhorns (15-6, 10-3 SEC) have been dominant this year and are on track to close the season well, winning their last three matches. Tennessee is in the middle of the pack in SEC standings, and a win here could go a long way.
The Lady Vols are 1-11 against the Longhorns all-time. Last year these two teams matched up in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, and the Longhorns won in five sets to send the Lady Vols home.
Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
‘He’s
a warrior’: Nico Iamaleava battles for Tennessee football in loss to Georgia
TREVOR MCGEE
Assistant Sports Editor
ATHENS, Ga. — Nico Iamaleava’s status was left uncertain after suffering an injury against Mississippi State a week ago.
By Friday night, the redshirt freshman was officially cleared to play against Georgia. Battling through an injury, Iamaleava worked all week to compete in Tennessee’s biggest game of the year. When the game went final, it was Georgia sealing a 31-17 win at Sanford Stadium over the Vols. It was tied at 17-all as the teams went to the locker room, but the Bulldogs (8-2, 6-2 SEC) executed better in the second half to knock off Tennessee (8-2, 5-2) in a game surrounded by playoff implications.
“That guy’s a warrior, man,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “He’s a young quarterback. Going to keep getting better, he’s a warrior, man. Guys around him play for him, believe in him. He’s tough, man.”
Iamaleava played his best with a lack of help from those around him. The signal-caller posted a 20-for-33 night with 167 yards and no touchdowns.
“I felt great, man,” Iamaleava said. “I felt great out there. I was happy I could go out there and battle with my brothers. And, yeah man, I wouldn’t go to battle with anybody else besides these guys.”
The yardage total was his lowest of the season — despite playing the entire game. Though the production appeared low on paper, his outing was the result of poor play from the rest of the offense.
“I don’t know what his numbers were,” Heupel said. “Man, he played well tonight, man. He really did. There’s some things that we’re close on. There’s some things we gotta be better in protection, keeping him a little cleaner, but I thought he played really well tonight.”
From a protection standpoint, the Vols surrendered five sacks — a product of having to scramble throughout the pocket on numerous occasions. In the receiving core, multiple drops led to playing behind the chains. Tennessee struggled to be effective on offense much after its opening drive that resulted in a touchdown.
“A lot of frustration,” Iamaleava said. “A lot of anger. You know, we put a lot of work in to come out with a win in this game. We came up short. Didn’t play smart in the second half. It’s going to sting. You got to let it sting and just learn from this.”
In the second half, Georgia outscored Tennessee 14-0. The Bulldogs also outgained the Vols 215 yards to 130 yards. The adjustments at halftime made all the difference as Tennessee failed to take advantage of a tie game on the road in a hostile environment.
“Obviously they adjusted well in the second half,” Iamaleava said. “But, everything we were running, I thought was still there. We’ve got to
do a better job of executing.”
It was unsure whether Iamaleava would even be able to suit up for the match. On Wednesday
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“That guy’s a warrior, man. He’s a young quarterback. Going to keep getting better, he’s a warrior, man. Guys around him play for him, believe in him. He’s tough, man.”
Josh Heupel Head coach
when the SEC student-athlete availability report was released, he appeared as “questionable.” The denotation remained the same on Thursday. By Friday, he was announced as available.
“Our medical staff handled it throughout the week,” Heupel said. “Ultimately got cleared when we announced it from the player report or injury report, whatever they call it.”
Now that Iamaleava’s injury is not long-term, Tennessee must put the loss in the back of its mind. With two regular-season games left and an uphill battle for playoff contention, the Vols have no room for mistakes from here on out.
“Shoot, man we’ve got to flush this one and move on,” Iamaleava said. “Like coach says, we’ve got to move on and get ready for these last two games.”
Tennessee heads back to Neyland Stadium for a non-conference tilt with UTEP on Nov. 23.
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The Tennessee offense huddles during a game against Georgia at Sanford Stadium. Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
