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DANIEL DASSOW Editor-in-Chief
It’s an odd time to be a humanities major who wants to see UT succeed, because I no longer know whose success I am rooting for. Actually, it’s an odd time to be anything other than a business major.
If you want to know where the university is headed, you should look at this year’s historically large freshman class.
My college, the College of Arts and Sciences, accepted 13 more first-year students this fall than last fall, according to data from UT’s Office of Institutional Research and Assessment. The Haslam College of Business, meanwhile, accepted 495 more first-year students this fall than last fall. Over 55% of the growth of this year’s freshman class was due to growth in Haslam.
This year, for the first time, more freshmen were accepted into the Haslam College of Business than into the College of Arts and Sciences. The former accepted 1,966 freshmen across its 10 majors. The latter accepted 1,747 freshmen across its 41 majors.
If Haslam’s growth continues, it will far eclipse Arts and Sciences as the largest college by enrollment. Just five years ago, there were about
600 more arts and sciences majors than business majors.
We have been told this year by administration that the College of Arts and Sciences is a bulky, unwieldy thing that should be split up into a divisional structure, if not separate colleges.
You know what’s also bulky? A $227 million, 306,000 square foot Haslam College of Business building sitting where Dunford, Greve and Henson Hall now sit. It’s hard to visualize, but it will be massive, the 7th largest building on campus and the largest academic facility. You know what’s unwieldy? A Haslam introductory course with 800 students.
Next fall, campus will echo with the sounds of hydraulic mandibles taking apart historic buildings to make way for a rapidly growing business program. The president of the UT System is a businessman and our chancellor is a scholar of business management, who once led the department of management in Haslam. Chancellor Plowman’s C.V. demonstrates a Midas touch for enrollment growth.
If fall 2022 was about anything, it was about growth and profit and success and predictive models and budgets and expenditures. Welcome to the University of Business, Knoxville.
What’s the story of this semester? I have no doubt that when it’s told by popular historians, it will be a narrative of glory. In Neyland, we were unstoppable. College GameDay came to
Knoxville twice. The number of applications was unprecedented, and the student body broke records for size.
But I worry that this semester was also a tipping point in the culture of UT, away from a scrappy place where history majors and supply chain majors co-existed in a peaceful balance to a sleek commercial product where less profitable programs are given the boot to make room for a hungry Haslam.
The divide on campus between faculty and administration is deepening, and while football success is a rush and no doubt attracts students from all over the country, is it enough to hold this place together, especially when it has begun tearing at the seams? Why does growth seem to be the only metric of success around here these days, and whose success is it, anyways?
I will graduate before the balance on campus shifts indelibly towards business education. My successors at the Beacon will be here to capture it, just like we were here this semester to document a crazy ride. We’ll be out of print until school starts back in January, but you can follow along for online news and updates until then.
See you on the other side, Vols.
BYRON HUGHES Dean of Students
This week marks six months on Rocky Top for my family and me and I can confidently say that the newness of this place has not subsided. The drive up the Hill each morning to reach the Student Union still feels fresh and exciting. And, within that short time “Rocky Top” has quickly become the favorite song of our two young kids, who constantly ask for it to play on repeat.
As I am asked what impresses me the most about UT, there are often two reflections I share. First, the affinity that Vols have for being Vols is impressive. Secondly, this enduring appreciation for this community also means that everyone I have met is genuinely interested in the success of my role as Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students. As I learned early on from a student leader in my transition, this role is critical to how students feel they can thrive personally, socially, and academically within the UT community. What I know from my two decades in higher education is that the adjustment in these three domains of the student experience is most progressive when students believe they
matter, and they belong.
My time in higher education leadership has been in large communities similar to UT - places where affinity to a central identity (like being a Vol) is strong and pervasive. One of the clearest observations I have had though is that meaningful belonging does not occur in large spaces where students wear orange and sing “Rocky Top”. Sure, these community spaces heighten our sense of excitement and love of UT. Yet — it is within smaller circles of enduring friendship where a student determines whether they matter and belong.
In these places they can dive deeply into diverse understandings of themselves and others. In these places they are invited with grace to agree, disagree, and commit to common purposes. In these places they can build courage to transform the larger community for the benefit of all humanity. And, in these places they more fully realize that their gifts are meant for others.
One important step for increasing the probability of mattering and belonging in these types of places is to push forward “Vol is a Verb” as a way of life. A few years ago, Student Life launched this initiative in response to unfortunate incidents of bias within our community. Everywhere you look you may notice t-shirts bearing this saying, accompanied by: “Be you. Bear the torch.” I am excited for us to dive deeper
into how we help students explore, practice, and live “Vol is a Verb.” More than a saying, it is a call for action to co-create a Rocky Top community where all students can believe they matter and belong.
I know though, that this starts with as many offices, departments, and organizations as possible creating events and experiences that allow students to journey towards a committed life of facilitating belonging for others. Over the next semester a working group of my colleagues –students and administrators – will map a new vision for this important community initiative.
Ultimately, “Vol is a Verb” is a call to live with a focus towards the needs of others. To effectively balance individualism with community. Our talents are the greatest gift we give to others – particularly when we use these talents to move towards the margins to transform our community for the better. These courageous moments can add up to our entire life being a gift of service to others. To care, to act – is to serve. As Chancellor Donde Plowman often says – leadership is the willingness to act.
This first semester on Rocky Top has inspired me greatly to believe that this is what it means to be a Vol. And, I am beyond excited to continue doing this work with, and for, all students.
Take care, be well, and Go Vols!
As the holiday season rolls around, not only is it a time for shopping and celebrating, but it is also a time to give back to the community. Knoxville and the broader East Tennessee area is home to a number of nonprofit organiza tions that take care of everything ranging from animal welfare to arts and culture.
It can be difficult to discern what charities and causes to donate to, especially when trying to find one that aligns with all of one’s values. Some popular charities, such as the Salvation Army, have come under fire in recent years for discriminatory practices. It’s important to do research into an organization before handing over any money.
For the cash-strapped college student, an alternative way of giving is through volunteer work. Most organizations accept volunteers year-round, but some do see an increased need during the holiday season.
Another popular method is through Amazon Smile. Amazon Smile is no different from the regular Amazon website, except shoppers may designate a charitable organization to benefit. Amazon then donates a small portion from eli gible purchases. Many local nonprofits partici pate in the program, and it is a good option to help out while doing holiday shopping.
For almost two decades, Feral Feline Friends of East Tennessee (FFF) has worked to control the stray cat situation in the area. In addition to their trap-neuter-release program, FFF also maintains a network of feline foster homes and hosts adoption events at local PetSmarts. The organization is 100% funded by donations and is always looking for volunteers and fos ter homes. Applications can be found on their website.
This network of volunteer doulas helps patients across East Tennessee access re productive health care, including emergency contraception and abortion care. With the ban on abortion in Tennessee and the loss of vital reproductive health clinics in Knoxville, it is becoming harder for patients to find afford able, supportive care. Mountain Access Brigade steps in and fills in those gaps, and donations go directly to clients’ needs. At present, they do not have the capacity to coordinate volunteers full-time, but those interested are encouraged to follow their social media for more informa tion.
The East Tennessee Equality Council, known colloquially as “Knox Pride,” is an or ganization dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights. In ad dition to holding events, including the annual PrideFest, Knox Pride runs a community and outreach center in South Knoxville that offers
resources and support. Money donated to Knox Pride goes to funding its operations, as well as to many other queer organizations in the area. A portion of the funding is also distributed to individuals in need.
Bridge Refugee Services
Bridge is an organization dedicated to help ing refugees rebuild their lives in East Tennes see. Since 1982, Bridge has helped to resettle over 2,400 refugees from across the world. The organization partners with institutions on the federal, state and local levels to offer a variety of services, including case management and employment assistance. Bridge is always look ing for volunteers, especially to form commu nity assistance teams, which work with indi vidual families.
The Knoxville Family Justice Center (KFJC) prides itself as a “one stop shop” for survivors of abuse in the area. It offers a large variety of resources and services, including legal aid and social services. Any survivor can access KFJC’s services, regardless of immigration or criminal status, and all services are free of charge. In ad dition to direct monetary donations, the cen ter also has an Amazon Wishlist and accepts donations through other means, which can be found on their website. KFJC is also looking for
volunteers to help with administrative tasks, outreach and fundraising.
Helping Mamas partners with other orga nizations in the community to provide support to struggling families across East Tennessee. It collects and distributes donated essential goods and also coordinates family support workers. In addition to monetary donations through its website, Helping Mamas also ac cepts donations of items at their West Knox ville office. The organization also has an Ama zon Wishlist.
Originally founded to care for those living with HIV and AIDS, Positively Living has ex panded its operations to service the most vul nerable populations in the community, such as families facing homelessness or struggling with addiction or mental illness. In addition to affordable healthcare at their Ailor Avenue clinic, the organization also provides food as sistance and transportation services, as well as a housing assistance program. Donations can be made directly through the website. Those interested in volunteering are encouraged to contact Jessica Langer, Senior Director of De velopment and Marketing.
Aug. 14: Tennessee’s quarterback duo set to lead team on and o� the field
Aug. 24: ‘Voliday Inn’: Housing turns to hotel, o�-campus apartments amid shortage
Aug. 31: Tennessee Athletics unveils premium Neyland gameday experience
Oct. 3: Students sleep on sidewalk for lease at popular apartments near campus
Oct. 10: Large-scale academic restructuring moves to board approval after heated deliberations
Oct. 14: On eve of Alabama game, Plowman says athletic success, campus growth ‘interrelated’
Oct. 15: Tennessee wins shootout against Alabama on last second field goal
Oct. 17: Pandemonium reigned again in Knoxville as fans celebrated Alabama victory
Oct. 26: UT’s rapid progress on Campus Pride Index challenges ‘LGBTQ-unfriendly’ status
‘There is no space’: Bustling town hall protests relocation of humanities departments, student programs
Dec. 4: Tennessee set to face Clemson in Orange Bowl
Dec. 5: Hendon Hooker, Josh Heupel earn SEC awards
Sept. 7: Plowman on campus growth: ‘It’s tight, I’ll grant you that’
Sept. 12: First Lady Jill Biden, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visit UT on Road to Success tour
Sept. 12: Following UT housing complaints, students, faculty weigh in
Sept. 24: Vols’ o�ense carries Tennessee to win over Florida
Sept. 25: ‘If I die, I don’t care’: From afar, Iranian students join fight to topple Islamic Republic
Nov. 1: Tennessee ranked No. 1 in first CFP ranking
Nov. 1: New $227M Haslam College of Business building approved by Board of Trustees
Nov. 7: Time and Place: A look into the drastic potential makeover on the Strip
Nov. 9: Tennessee midterms yield few surprises as incumbents dominate
Nov. 14: Medical professionals remain divided as open letter opposes Tennessee abortion laws
Nov. 16: Hectic day for UT Swifties after Ticketmaster crash
Nov. 26: Vols stomp Commodores 56-0, secure first 10-win regular season since 2003
Cover: No. 13 Oliver Nkamhoua dunks the ball o a fast break against the McNeese State as teammate Zakai Ziegler celebrates on Nov.30, 2022.
1. Students camp out on Ayres Lawn on Friday, Oct. 14 to get a spot in the crowd at ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of Saturday’s much-anticipated home game against Alabama.
2. Hendon Hooker warms up on Sept. 19.
3. Members of a paired sorority and fraternity ride in front of their Smokey-themed oat at the Homecoming Parade on Oct. 21.
4. Senior Morgahn Fingall spikes the ball in Tennessee’s matchup with the Citadel on Sept. 16. at ompson-Boling Arena.
5. Students learning to salsa dance at the International Festival on the Ped Walkway. Friday, Sep. 30.
6. Members of Plastic Free UT protest single use plastics on campus for International Day of Climate Action. Monday, Oct. 24.
7. Squirrel White celebrates a 63-6 victory over the Akron Zips on Sept. 17.
8. Students voted for the picture that best captures fall 2022 on Rocky Top, the photo of Smokey and Davey Crockett leading fans in a chant during the game against Alabama on Oct. 15 won by a landslinde.
9. e UT Men’s Basketball team prepares for a warm up before the season opening game against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 7.
10. No. 2 Rickea Jackson celebrates during game against UMass on Nov. 22.
11. Jill Biden visits campus on Road to Success Tour on Sept. 12.
12. Smokey slams gator on Sept 17.
13. No. 15 Bru McCoy during the game between the Florida Gators and the Tennessee Volunteers on Sept. 2.
14. Sinan the squirrel roasts gator amongst College GameDay fun on Sept. 24.
15. Freshmen waited in line over 12 hours to sign a lease at the TENN on Cumberland Ave.
16. No. 31 Mackenzie George signals for a throw in during the LSU game at the Regal Soccer Stadium on Friday, Oct. 14.
17. Starship robot races to make delivery.
18. Josh Kiszka, lead singer for Greta Van Fleet, during the concert in ompson-Boling Arena on Sept. 28, 2022.
19. Smokey rushes the eld a er a touchdown on Sept. 24.
Faculty and students concerned with UT’s plans to relocate departments housed within Greve, Dunford and Henson halls – which are slated for demolition – held a crowded town hall meeting on Dec. 1 in Strong Hall.
In late October, the UT Board of Trustees ap proved construction plans for a new $227 million Haslam College of Business building that will be larger and more expensive than its initial $100 million plan. The college has seen a 42% increase in enrollment since 2018. The addition will be built on the land where Greve, Dunford and Henson now stand.
The buildings, formerly dorms, are home to the history department, Marco Institute for Medi eval and Renaissance Studies, Humanities Center, Student Disability Services, the College of Social Work, psychology lab spaces and office spaces for other humanities faculty. They also house Big Or ange Pantry, the Vol Study Center and space for the Office of Information Technology.
While the new Haslam building will replace the space mostly filled by humanities-focused offic es, the office of Provost John Zomchick said plans for a new arts and humanities building are part of a ten-year update to the Campus Master Plan, which will be presented to the Board of Trustees in February.
Since becoming aware of plans to tear down the historic buildings, faculty members have ex pressed concern with what they see as a lack of communication from administration.
The Twitter account “Death of Dunford” has
protested the demolition and relocation, and a petition which demands that Chancellor Donde Plowman promise to be transparent about plans, provide space equal to what units have now, keep units together and not move units off campus against their will has begun circulating.
Receiving chuckles from colleagues and stu dents, Dave Strickler, a second-year doctoral stu dent in the history department, said he’s not upset about the buildings coming down, joking that even cockroaches hesitate to get out of the elevator and enter the hallways.
“And I’m also not upset that Haslam business will need more space and is getting the building. Good for them,” Strickler said. “Because the truth is, we all need more space. Our concern is with the proposed plan about what to do with us.”
The proposed plan would move the history de partment to spaces in Blount Hall and Walters Ac ademic Building but would show a 25% decrease in space compared to Dunford.
Associate Dean for Research and Facilities Larry McKay, Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Ozlem Kilic and Zomchick attended the town hall to hear concerns.
McKay told The Daily Beacon in an email that the downsize “is largely because the private facul ty offices in Dunford (which are former residence rooms) are oversized relative to most other offices on campus.”
While proposed plans for the history depart ment’s relocation keep it on campus, Ryan Good man, program coordinator in the Marco Institute, said his program would be moved to Cherokee Mill Business Park on the corner of Sutherland Avenue and Concord Street, about a mile and a half from campus.
He said an overwhelming amount of students come to office hours for medieval studies courses, but this move would limit their ability to do so.
Associate Director of the Humanities Center Monica Black, the creator of the “Death of Dun ford” account, voiced concerns about the center’s possible relocation to Cherokee Mills, pointing out the importance of graduate students and faculty members being able to collaborate and find com munity.
Several psychology lab spaces will join the move to Cherokee Mills. Michael Olson, a psychol ogy professor, said that being located at the center of campus provides psychologists with a neces sary, accessible participant pool for research.
“The one thing I begged for was to be able to have space on campus,” Olson said. “And the one thing I was told is that I won’t.”
McKay emphasized that people should give the Cherokee Mills space a chance before shoot ing down the idea because he and his colleagues have evaluated many options before coming to this conclusion.
“We really encourage them to come out and take a look at what’s available because the bottom line is … there is no space left on campus,” McKay said.
Several people in attendance cited UT’s recordbreaking growth as a reason, but not an excuse, for this displacement and students’ struggle to find housing.
“It is the university’s fault by over-admitting students to this university that the housing cri sis in Knoxville is as bad as it is,” Eliza Wilcox, a second-year English doctoral student said.
Undergraduate students echoed these claims, including Olivia Kapinos, a junior history major and transfer student, who has seen the effects of a crowded campus during her first year on Rocky Top.
“I chose UTK because I fell in love with our his tory program, and I was so excited to come here, and I was promised a lot of things, and those things just kind of failed,” Kapinos said. “To men tion a few things: transfer credits, parking, hous ing, all of those things. Those things build up as a student.”
Asante Knowles, a second-year psychology
graduate student, said he has felt frustrated with administration’s communication during his time at UT, which made him hesitant about attending the town hall.
Before plans for relocation were made, faculty were encouraged to review available information on the Office of the Provost’s website. Despite the information, faculty and students said they feel a lack of communication and as if they do not have a say in what happens with their relocation.
“This makes no sense regardless of how much space you do or do not have, regardless of how much money you do or do not want to make, com municate it with the people that you have to work with on a daily basis,” Knowles said. “Because now my perception is, you didn’t want me at the table.”
On Tuesday, Chancellor Plowman posted a Tweet inviting students to her open office hours. The next day, “Death of Dunford” reposted it and wrote, “And yet: when @utkhistorygrads arrived yesterday at said office hours, the chancellor dis missed their rightful concerns about being dis placed from their departmental community & told them that ‘protesting does no good.’”
One of the students that attended office hours was Strickler.
“What we were hearing was that voicing dis agreement with the current plan is unwelcome, disruptive, problematic,” Strickler said, adding that Plowman did listen to what the students said but expressed that protesting was not a good use of their time.
“To be fair, I agree with her,” Strickler said. “I’d rather not be spending my time this way. I’d rather this not be an issue.”
Zomchick, who was a professor in the English department before he became provost, reinforced his support for the humanities, despite popular perception.
“My purpose for being here tonight is really to listen, to understand what the concerns were, to take those concerns back and see how we can answer those concerns,” Zomchick said. “I care deeply about our students. I’ve been here 37 years, it’s really important. I’m a humanities faculty
myself and we’ve got issues to address and I’m prepared to address those issues.”
Spencer Lowery runs down the UT football field to the checkerboard end zone every Saturday, but he isn’t scoring any points for the Volunteers. He isn’t even carrying a football.
Instead, Lowery holds a black leash attached to Smokey the Bluetick Coonhound himself, silky ears flapping beside the man with the pearly-white smile.
Sitting on the leather couch in his living room, Lowery, surrounded by friends, reflects on his experience as one of Smokey’s handlers and how he has grown as a man since coming to UT.
One of three handlers of the beloved Smokey, 20-year-old Lowery is a junior and member of Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity. Lowery applied for the position along with 10 other AGR members, as the fraternity has been providing handlers for the last 40 years. Handlers must be a member of the fraternity as well as reside in the house for the term that they are chosen.
This year, Andrew Fuson is the only senior, and Gabe Patton is the second junior besides Lowery. Patton and Lowery’s terms will carry
over to their senior year, and one junior will be selected as the third handler.
Patton joked about Lowery’s interview during the application process. He described Lowery as the friend who makes everyone laugh with his jokes and threw in a jab or two about his appearance.
“Spencer probably got it because he’s a pretty boy. The spirit department liked his, well, his image,” Patton said. “He’s real good with people. He killed his interview.”
The task of becoming a handler is not a one-step process. AGR members can apply at the end of their sophomore year. From there, applicants are interviewed by the spirit department and Smokey’s current owner, and letters of recommendation are encouraged.
“If I could have a personal testimony here, thank you,” Lowery said, giving his friend a sarcastic glance. “I believe I brought some real communication and leadership qualities to the table. They ate that up. I was able to relay my experiences with livestock to Smokey and they loved it.”
Growing up in Lebanon, Tennessee, Lowery spent a lot of time with animals. His Great Pyrenees dog, Jeffrey, kept him company as well as the flock of goats his family raised.
Lowery, along with his parents and brother, started as early as bottle-feeding with several
of the goats.
Lowery has a large group of friends, both in his fraternity and around campus. They work out, do homework in the library and eat out together from time to time. Since freshman year, Lowery’s inner circle has changed briefly, due to acclimating to campus and being away from home.
“Initially, I think freshman year I wasn’t as grounded,” Lowery said. “After I joined AGR and got to spend time with older brothers who were looking out for me, I really just found my place and I blossomed.”
Patton slapped a hand to his forehead and laughed: “Blossomed? Literally, you could’ve said any other word.”
Being one of Smokey’s handlers is rewarding as it is, but it has its perks outside of Neyland. Handlers are invited to do a lot of other events, including banquets and meet and greets with professional photographers so they can take pictures of the famous dog.
“One time, Coach Heupel and his assistant requested us to meet him and his family with Smokey,” Lowery said. “We also met Luke Bryan at the Georgia game. That was quite a time. I think there’s a picture somewhere of Luke kissing Smokey on the head, and we’re in the background.”
Through this opportunity, Lowery has had
the chance to meet and interact with a variety of individuals and organizations that he says will help with connections for his future endeavors. He felt pride adding the job to his resume and has high hopes to run with the new Smokey when he becomes a senior.
Tennessee football received its bowl destina tion following the final College Football Rank ings Sunday afternoon.
The Vols will take on Clemson in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Dec. 30.
“We are so excited and happy about the in vitation to the Capital One Orange Bowl,” head coach Josh Heupel said in a press conference Sunday. “I’m really proud of our program, the steps that we’ve taken in the last two years. Ex tremely proud of our staff and our players. This season was a really unique one.”
Tennessee (10-2, 6-2) has not played Clem son (10-2) since the 2003-04 season when the Tigers defeated the Vols in the Peach Bowl. Ten nessee leads the all-time series 11-6-2.
Clemson came into the season a playoff hope ful, but had their hopes crushed after falling to Notre Dame. The Tigers also lost to South Caro lina in the final game of the season before de feating North Carolina in the ACC Championship.
“They’ve had a ton of success, not just in past seasons but in this season, too,” Heupel said. “Obviously finishing it out with an ACC champi
onship. We have great respect for the quality of opponent.”
The Orange Bowl will be nothing new for Heu pel. He has appeared in the Orange Bowl both as a player and as a coach in the past.
“There will be things that will spark memories from my two stints as a coach being back in Mi ami,” Heupel said. “But certainly as a player, too, absolutely will bring back a lot of great memo ries. Really excited about having an opportunity to lead a program in this football game.”
The Vols have played in the Orange Bowl four times, with their last appearance coming in 1998. Tennessee is 1-3 in the Orange Bowl.
Tennessee’s first Orange Bowl appearance came in 1939 when the Vols finished out an un defeated season with a 17-0 win over Oklahoma behind legendary coach Robert Neyland.
The Vols made it back to the Orange Bowl less than 10 years later in 1947 where they lost to Rice 8-0 to cap off a 9-2 season.
Head coach Doug Dickey led Tennessee back to the Orange Bowl in 1968, but the Vols fell short to Oklahoma 26-24.
Tennessee’s most recent appearance in the Orange Bowl came in the 1997-98 season. Ten nessee followed up its SEC Championship with an Orange Bowl appearance against Nebraska, but the Vols fell short 42-17.
No. 13 Tennessee was dominant across the board in a 94-40 win over Alcorn State. It was the largest margin of victory of the season and the most complete performance of the season.
Olivier Nkamhoua and Julian Phillips led the way with a combined 38 points as the Vols had the gas on from start to finish.
“The other night against McNeese, we won the game,” Barnes said. “But we weren’t the hard est playing team on the court the other night. We wanted to see if we could do that tonight.”
Here are some takeaways from the blowout win.
The Vols were firing on all cylinders all game. Tyreke Key got things started with a three on the opening possession, and it was all Tennessee from there. The Vols closed the first half with 49 points compared to Alcorn State’s 22.
Ball movement on offense was at its best of the season while committing just three total turn overs in the first half. The lack of a pure point guard seems to be affecting the Vols less and less with the passing of each game. Zakai Zeigler has been able to play that role the best he can, but it has largely been by committee.
The team finished with 27 assists and each ro tational player finished with at least one assist.
“The fact that we assisted on 27 of 33 baskets — that’s how we were at our best,” Barnes said. “We were able to turn some turnovers into some bas kets, that obviously makes it easier in some ways,
but that was a good defensive effort. Overall, I will tell you it was probably our most complete game and on both ends in terms of concentration.”
By the end of the night, six Vols had reached double-digit scoring, including Zeigler, along with the entire starting lineup.
The frontcourt all around was impressive with the starters combining for 50 points. However, the playmaking out of the group was the most im pressive in the offensive clinic that the Vols put on. Nkamhoua finished with a team-high six assists, Phillips finished with three and Plavsic finished with two.
“I was just looking to do the things that we practice and the things that we’ve been working on last couple of games,” Nkamhoua said. “So, they just came in within our offense and what we do — me getting to my spots and my guys getting to theirs.”
Nkamhoua was excellent in the high-low game with Plavsic and the three were able to find cut ters with ease as a result of their height advantage. Plavsic found a cutting Jahmai Mashack for an emphatic dunk.
The frontcourt scoring was great. However, if they can continue to distribute the ball at that lev el, the offense becomes so much more dangerous and dynamic.
With each passing game, Julian Phillips gets better as he grows more comfortable in Rick Barnes’ system. On Sunday, he had 18 and he has now scored double-digits in every game since Colorado with the exception of Kansas.
“Yeah, I mean, he’s doing what and what we see him do every day,” Josiah-Jordan James said. “You know, he competes at a high level. I think he’s a great competitor. And he’s a really good basketball player. I mean, the guy was a McDon ald’s All American for a reason.”
On top of his scoring, he filled up the rest of the stat sheet with four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
Barnes says that Phillips is getting much better
on the defensive end but feels there is still much room for improvement. At the rate he has pro gressed in the short time since he’s stepped foot on campus, the sky’s the limit for what he could be by season’s end.
“He’s got a terrific feel for the game. He’s had a lot thrown at him. He’s competitive. He’s just has some instincts that you wish you could teach a lot of guys but he’s got it. But the fact is he’s extreme ly coachable. He wants to be good.”
No. 6 Tennessee is on its way to the Orange Bowl and has the chance to secure its first 11-win season since 2001. The season has been filled with some of the most exciting games in recent memory, as well as one of the most devastating losses. Here is how all 10 of the Vols’ wins rank based on performance as well as emotional and excitement value.
Oct. 22 vs. UT Martin, 65-24 There is not much bad that can be said about Tennessee’s performance in its homecoming game against UT Martin, but the defense looked shaky in what should have been an easy game. The Skyhawks tied Tennessee in the first quarter, but the Vols led 52-7 at halftime and cruised to a win.
Sept. 17 vs. Akron, 63-6 Tennessee handled business against MAC opponent Akron to continue its momentum and improve to 3-0. The Vols also had 676 yards of total offense and Jalin Hyatt had his first big game of the season with 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Sept. 10 vs. Pittsburgh, 34-27
This was a big win in the moment, but in hindsight, Tennessee going to overtime with a team that finished 8-4 looks worse now.
Hendon Hooker had a signature performance, throwing for 325 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cedric Tillman had 162 yards and a touchdown that sealed the game in overtime.
Nov. 12 vs. Missouri, 66-24
Tennessee led by just one score in the third quarter against Missouri. It then scored 38 straight to route the Tigers 66-24 in the Vols’ best offensive display in program history.
The Vols had 724 yards of total offense, besting the previous program record of 718 set in 2012. Hooker was dominant with 355 yards and three touchdowns, and Joe Milton stepped in in the second half and recorded 105 yards and a touchdown on just three passes.
Nov. 26 vs. Vanderbilt, 56-0
Beating Vanderbilt is a standard for Tennessee, but its win over the Commodores this season was different.
Not only did Tennessee cruise past Vanderbilt, it did it without Hooker, who tore his ACL the game before. It felt like a step in the right direction following a major setback against South Carolina and gave the Vols confidence heading into the post season.
Oct. 29 vs. Kentucky, 44-6
Coming into the game, many people picked Kentucky to upset the Vols.
Tennessee made those people look foolish, dismantling what was, at the time, one of the best defenses in the SEC. The Volmade quarterback Will Levis a nonfactor as it cruised to an 8-0 start.
Sept. 24 vs. Florida, 38-33
Similar to the Pitt game, the close win over Florida looks less impressive now, but it was the first time since 2016 and always has high emotional value for Tennessee fans.
Oct. 8 vs. LSU, 40-13
Tennessee marched into Death Valley and was flat out dominant against the Tigers. Jabari Small led the way with 127 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns and Hyatt added two of his own. This game gave Tennessee the momentum it needed heading into the Alabama game.
Oct. 15 vs. Alabama, 52-49
Chase McGrath’s kick was barely good and Tennessee fans piled on to the field as “Dixieland Delight” echoed through Neyland Stadium.
It was a memory that will stick with Vol fans forever and it was the best win for Tennessee this season and arguably the best win ever inside Neyland Stadium.
Hyatt had a legendary five-touchdown performance and Hooker had one of his best games in orange, capping it off with a veteran drive down the field to set up the field goal.
Sept. 1 vs. Ball State, 59-10 Tennessee’s performance against Ball State wasn’t necessarily more impressive than it was against UT Martin or Akron, but the Vols started out the season on a Thursday night in front of a huge crowd at Neyland Stadium.
