A Knoxville man is arrested after authorities say he impersonated a security guard at the Tennessee Valley Fair.
31-year-old Luke Jones went to the Tennessee Valley Fair on September 9th and said he was working security for the event.
Jones then walked up to a sold out concert being held that night and went behind the barricades and through private doors and hallways to get backstage at the amphitheater.
Police say Jones told other staff that he was working security for the event which they determined he was lying about as well as being a security guard. He surrendered to police at his home a few days later.
Jones was charged with criminal trespass, impersonating a licensed professional and theft.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Four days out from their first SEC road trip of the 2024 campaign, the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers took the Anderson Training Center indoor turf on a rainy Tuesday morning in Knoxville to continue on-field prep for Saturday’s ranked matchup at No. 15 Oklahoma. The Vols are gearing up for a nationally televised showdown in primetime against the Sooners, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC as both squads open conference play.
Running backs coach De’Rail Sims anticipates a physical contest for the Big Orange in Norman. Through the first three weeks of the season, UT leads the SEC in scoring (63.7 points per game) and rushing offense (336.3 yards per game) and will face a Sooners defense that leads the FBS with 10 takeaways and ranks top-20 nationally in both sacks and tackles for loss.
“I think one thing that jumps out is the physicality they play with at all three levels,” Sims said during Tuesday’s post-practice press conference. “From the defensive line to the linebackers to the secondary, I think that portion of it stands out to you. They play aggressively. You see the personality of the head coach come out in terms of their defense. They want to be physical. They want to be aggressive. Schematically, they are very sound. They’re going to fit the run very well. They do a really good job of making sure that they are covering things in the backend as well. Fundamentally and holistically, they’re a really good defense.”
Tennessee’s defense has been stellar through the first three weeks of the season and carries a streak of 16 consecutive quarters without allowing an offensive touchdown into Saturday’s game at Oklahoma. Linebackers coach William Inge noted the importance of containing Sooner quarterback Jackson Arnold and how that will be key to the continued success of the unit.
“That’s something that you really have to keep your eyes on when it comes to (Arnold) being able to take off and run, but also them having some specific quarterback run games that they design,” Inge said. “They do a great job, and he’s obviously very efficient at what he does. He knows kind of when to take off when it’s there for him. He’s really smart at being able to get what he can get and then he gets down, so we have to be very disciplined when it comes to us applying our job, doing our task.”
Full comments from Inge and Sims can be viewed below, along with select quotes from senior center Cooper Mays, junior defensive tackle Jaxson Moi, senior defensive tackle Omari Thomas and redshirt junior safety Andre Turrentine.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Sept. 17, 2024
On how he grades the tackling through three games… “I think we’ve been fairly consistent at our tackling. And again, often you’re going to be in a battle before you really see how it is, but we’ve definitely been effective thus far. You only know how good you are off of your last performance, so we still have to keep our thumb on it going into the next game. Once we get done with one game, we turn the page and we move on to teaching again because the skill level is going to be better, obviously, this week and we still have to go out there and execute and do our job.”
On the position versatility in the linebacker room… “Yeah, I think from a vision standpoint in the room, we have to create a culture that’s going to foster and embody academic, athletic and personal excellence. When you do that, everyone is going to be encompassing because we’re always teaching everyone and our vision is to have dual linebackers, to where you can always get your best guys in. One of the goals that we wanted to encompass coming in was see who was going to be the best combination of guys and who could play where. I think the guys have really done a great job of embracing that and really putting that into play on gameday.”
On being cognizant of Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold’s scrambling ability… “Yeah, that’s something that you really have to keep your eyes on when it comes to him being able to take off and run, but also them having some specific quarterback run games that they design. They do a great job and he’s obviously very efficient at what he does. He knows kind of when to take off when it’s there for him. He’s really smart at being able to get what he can get and then he gets down, so we have to be very disciplined when it comes to us applying our job, doing our task. If they do happen to get something, we have to let it go. 1-0 mindset. Go on to the next play.”
On how linebacker Edwin Spillman played in his debut against Kent State… “Still very good. He’s definitely coming along and growing. Exactly what you want from a young player. The one thing that he does not lack, he does not lack the physicality, and that’s what you want in your linebackers. To where if you say run through a wall, I know if 13 is going there’s going to be a hole in the wall, and that’s exactly what you want. Just as young players, you’re always trying to teach them on the understanding of just the schematic things that you want. Seeing him grow and have a guy like Keenan Pili having him under his arm is awesome. He’s actually reaping some of the benefits of that.”
On how linebacker Jalen Smith has positioned himself to receive more playing time… “The biggest thing Jalen has done, he’s been consistent. When he has a task to do he can go apply the job that’s needed on that particular call within the defense. The other thing that he’s done is he’s really grinded during the spring, during the summer and during the fall camp of just making sure that he knows exactly everything that’s going on within the schematic structure of the defense. So, when he’s out there, he’s not going to be deficient. He works efficient in all of his movements. As a young player, he’s still developing, so it’s not perfect just yet. It’s still going to be what we would call kind of poetry in motion, as he’s still trying to paint his picture as a young player. We’ve definitely been pleased with how he’s been able to be consistent on the football field and at the point of attack, he’s been able to make his plays and make his tackles.”
On what leads to a linebacker having good vision… “One of the best things to deal with when it comes to your eyes, number one, is just knowing that they have to be disciplined in the correct spot prior to the ball being snapped and when the ball is snapped. I think that’s the one thing that we work on a lot of time is going to be us more in just the visionary portions of the game. Knowing what you can anticipate is going to happen, what’s going to happen, did it happen? You got your confirmation because your eyes were in the correct spot. Now you can be able to go play fast. I think that’s one of the things that our young men, to a whole group, they’ve been really able to encompass that when it comes to our eyes discipline. That’s probably been one of the reasons why we have been experiencing a lot more success on the field.”
On what he saw from Edwin Spillman in his debut… “I couldn’t settle the guys down on the sideline, number one, because when I put Edwin in the game, I didn’t tell them. It was like we were coming off the field and I’m like, ‘Hey, you’re going in the game.’ I did not give him one second to think about it. All the guys on the sideline started going crazy. Every person was looking directly at him, but to see him go out there and play and be effective more than anything. I think we knew physically he could go apply and do all of his jobs. We just wanted to make sure that he could settle down and that’s kind of what coaching is on our end, just making sure he can be calm and everything can be slowed down for him. That’s exactly what you want as a young player, getting the exposure that he got at that period of time. We thought it was kind of be a 15 to 20 snap scenario for him, so he’s on course to growing with respect to what we want from him.”
On what he likes about starting Arion Carter and Keenan Pili together… “The one thing that you see from those guys when it comes to leadership and preparation, that’s why that combination is really good. In my opinion, it’s definitely for sure one of the best combinations in the country. If you look at their production per play, it would definitely speak for itself. They do a great job in the preparation when you talk about being the gym rats, the guys in the building that are here early in the morning and late at night watching film, studying, preparing, getting the information on to the teammates, the next group of guys who are going in. They’re exactly what you want and then when you push play you talk about two guys that play fast together. That’s exactly what you want in your room. We’ve been very pleased to see them (play that way). From our standpoint, we’re getting into SEC play, we still have to continue to take steps and rise in our performances.”
On getting able to take part in the Vol Walk with his daughters… “It was really good because that’s a memory that they always remember. It’s one of those situations like being in that environment, them walking out and being excited. They had their shades on. It was really awesome.”
On if Dylan Sampson has done anything surprising throughout three games… “No. Just because of the way he prepares, his preparation, the way he goes and attacks practice. Everything is right on point in terms of what I thought he would be able to do for us.”
On what he saw from Peyton Lewis against Kent State… “We had a chance to see him get comfortable within the game. I think he started off feeling his way through early on. The more carries he got, the more comfortable he became. We had a chance to see him run with some violence and pad level at the end. We had a chance to see him hit it and hit his top-end speed as well.”
On if there is a quality in running backs like Dylan Sampson that allows them to score touchdowns when they get close to the goal line and in the zone… “I think that’s the hunger part of it, that you want to get in the end zone and be able to punch it in. Also, the feel of it. It’s like for a running back when they get in that zone when they’re running the football, whether it’s zone scheme or whatever scheme you run, and they start to feel it. It’s like they’re running blind. They can feel where the holes are going to open up. I think he just has an innate ability to find the end zone once he gets to that point in time in the game.”
On his confidence in DeSean Bishop… “I think the number one deal with him is nothing surprises me with him. He does a really good job in his preparation standpoint, the way he goes and attacks. He constantly has a notebook with him from the time he walks into the building until the time that he leaves. He constantly takes notes throughout whatever meetings he is in. In practice, he goes after it. He does a phenomenal job of being able to attack that. The confidence factor, we’ve always had confidence. Seeing the confidence in him in terms of growing every single day, you can tell that by the way he answers questions. The confidence factor of him has grown tremendously.”
On the use of multiple tight ends within the system thus far… “I think it gives you the opportunity to be multiple in what you are able to do. It opens up a lot of other things for people to have to prepare for. It’s been really good from that standpoint.”
On the performance of the short-yardage run game… “I think the number one deal is we’ve done a good job of executing from that standpoint in terms of being able to go convert when we get those opportunities. I think with everything for us as running backs, we have to do a better job of pad level. A couple of times, we’ve gotten caught running too high. Sometimes, we’re looking to hit the big one instead of going to convert or running behind our pads.”
On what has impressed him about Oklahoma’s defense… “I think one thing that jumps out is the physicality they play with at all three levels. From the defensive line to the linebackers and to the secondary, I think that portion of it stands out to you. They play aggressively. You see the personality of the head coach come out in terms of their defense. They want to be physical. They want to be aggressive. Schematically, they are very sound. They’re going to fit the run very well. They do a really good job of making sure that they are covering things in the backend as well. Fundamentally and holistically, they’re a really good defense.”
On the preparation of the running back room… “I think when you sit here and look at (Dylan) Sampson and the way he goes about attacking and how he is the leader of that room, you see everybody follow his lead. Even for a young guy like Peyton Lewis coming in here, they sit beside each other in the meeting room. When Peyton has a question, he turns and he asks Sampson the question. Vice versa, when Sampson sees something on tape, he is giving him (Peyton Lewis) pointers on that. The preparation key is we want to make sure we’re doing a really good job through the week that we are overprepared, so we can anticipate what is going to happen in the game.”
On if they were worried about Dylan Sampson readjusting to the game after not getting in the work he wanted to in the offseason… “I think the number one deal is even with his time when he had limited reps, he did a really good job of preparing on the sideline and taking those mental reps. I think with him, it’s muscle memory. Once he gets in there and he gets one carry or two carries, it all comes back to him, and he gets in his rhythm and flows. Nothing has surprised me from that standpoint. I think he’s done a really good job of maximizing every single opportunity that he’s had and made the most of it.”
On what Dylan Sampson has that other running backs around the country don’t… “For me being in the room with him every day and having the chance to coach him every day, I can just speak to what he brings to the table for us. You see the leadership characteristics about him. You see how smart he is. He is very football-smart and football-savvy. He can pick up on a play one time and you don’t have to repeat the same things to him. He’ll come off the field and be like, ‘Coach, this is what happened.’ And I’ll always be like, ‘Tell me the truth when you come off the field.’ Now, we can sit up here and make the right corrections. I think that is really good. Overall, his instincts, the ability to play fast on everything that he is able to do, and also the ability to go in there and be violent in pass protection with his hands. I think that makes him really complete.”
On the chemistry between the running backs, the offensive line and the tight end group… “I think it’s really good. When you sit there and look at a lot of the runs that we’ve had, especially the explosive runs, everybody is on the same page. I think it’s like poetry in motion a little bit when the running backs, the tight ends and the offensive line are all synched together which you’ve seen on multiple occasions this year. It’s been really good. I think they feed off one another too. The offensive line, when they’re sitting there having big blocks, the running backs get amped up about that. It’s vice versa with the tight ends when they’re leading for us in certain situations. We have plays where we get over to the sideline and a lot of time, I can’t find the (running) backs early on because they’re over there congratulating the tight ends and the offensive line and making sure they’re doing a good job of uplifting them. That portion has been really good.”
On if communication has plagued the offense when playing in hostile environments in the past… “I wouldn’t say it’s plagued us. I think it kind of plagues everybody in general. I mean every away game is going to be a challenge, especially in this league. The fans are always going to show up and be rowdy. We just hone in on the details and communicate well and just do our jobs at a high level, and that should be the answer.”
On how much the extra work is paying off after playing 19 offensive linemen against Kent State… “It’s super cool to see. A lot of the young guys got to play, which is a really good luxury here at the University of Tennessee in these last few games. I did not get to play much as a freshman; those reps are invaluable. Just being able to get inside the action and get to feel college football—it’s a whole different atmosphere than practice. Super happy that they got to experience it.”
On how excited he is to see Nico handle the away environment… “A lot of confidence in just how he’s played first and foremost. Second of all, he’s super consistent in who he is day in and day out. Like you said, he’s laid back and calm, cool, and collected. That’s him every day, no matter the environment. Super excited to protect him and help him do all of the things he wants to do on Saturday.”
On keeping opponents out of the endzone… “We are definitely very proud of our performances the last few weeks, but something Coach Heupel, Coach Banks, Coach Garner, the whole coaching staff preaches on is, ‘Great job on the win, but it’s time to flush it.’ Now it’s time to focus on Oklahoma, playing stout defense against them as well as we’ve done the past three weeks and keeping that momentum going into Norman.”
On coming to Tennessee… “Playing in the College Gameday atmosphere, big-time national stage games, this is what you come to Tennessee for. You come here to showcase your talent against the best. I’m excited for what our group is going to show, and I’m blessed for this opportunity.”
On playing in Neyland Stadium… “I’d say running out through the T has been one of my favorite parts yet. Being able to run and know that you have a whole state behind you supporting you. I don’t look at it as a pressure, but as a privilege being able to represent that T and my last name on my back. I have a lot of people counting on me, but it means a lot to me and I’m proud to carry on that tradition at UT. It means a lot.”
On how much he is looking forward to playing on the road and getting back on the road… “I’m very excited to get a chance. The first SEC game, you know, that brings a lot of energy to itself, but then able to start it out on the road, that’s something that we said at the beginning of the year or this offseason that we want to be able to be a team that wins on the road. Be able to go into those hostile environments and be the same as we are playing at home games and things like that. And I feel like, that really just starts with the defense being able to play with high energy, play with high tempo to create that momentum for us because we know when you go into a hostile environment, they’re going to be cheering loud against our offense and things like that. So, we just have to go in as a defense to create that energy so that way it feels like a home game for us, as well.”
On how well he feels the defensive is playing as a whole… “There’s definitely things we have to clean up as a team. There are games we would go out there it looks good, but then we come back and watch it like, ‘if we had just did this, there’s more production out there for us.’ We just want to continue to grow as a defense as a defensive line. I will say that we play hard. We come out every weekend locked in just ready to play and ready to win games, but we definitely have things that we have to get better at for sure.”
On the defensive line setting the tone for the game… “We take a lot of pride in it. I know, especially the defensive line guys take a lot of pride because we’re older guys. We want to be able to be leaders for the team, leaders for the defense, and we just want to go out there and we want to be the best that we can be, honestly. We want to go out there and show all the work we put in with each other, that we have grown as a defensive line, grown as a defense, grown as a team. I feel like that’s something that starts with the defensive line of just continuing to play hard, play on the other side of the line of scrimmage, celebrating with each other, having fun, making plays. It’s just beautiful to be out there. You see guys that you worked all year with, making plays in the backend, making plays on the front, so it’s a good feeling and we’re excited.”
On how he would grade the overall safety play through three games… “I think we’ve been playing very well, tackling well, helping the guys out in the front end, front seven when they need to be helped. I think we’ve had good range and good depth in the post and our deep drops. We’ve made plays as opportunities show.”
On what has gone into limiting explosive plays so far this season… “Just our preparation. Every week we come in with the same mindset of prep and how we prepare from the d-line to the linebackers to the backend. We’ve all come together as a group, I feel like more than ever. Just understanding that, staying close with each other and prepping the same way every week has allowed us to be successful in that regard.”
On what he has seen from young DBs John Slaughter and Edrees Farooq early in the season… “I’ve seen their will to compete. Understand that this game is long, and things change during the season and how long the season is now, more than it has been in the past, so just understanding and attacking every day. They’re coming along and when we need help, they’re going to help us.”
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The Flint Gap Fire is 46 acres as of the last estimate. Although the fire is presently 0% contained, only a few areas are actively burning within the perimeter. Once firefighter access and safety in this remote and steep terrain is addressed, a full suppression strategy will be executed.
The fire did not receive as much rain over the weekend as previously predicted; however, a local weather station did show that .34 inches fell on the fire this morning.
Yesterday, the fire responded to decreasing relative humidities, 10 mph winds and afternoon direct sunlight with some increased activity and additional smoke. The fire is currently backing through fingers of available fuels with flame lengths of 1-3 feet in some areas. Fire activity is primarily in areas with pockets of pine litter and near drainages.
Fire crews continue to develop options to mitigate safety concerns in order to transport firefighters and equipment safely to the backcountry. Crews are working to improve the existing Hannah Mountain Trail to allow for more efficient access to the fire, as well as the ability to rapidly extricate firefighters for medical or fire behavior purposes.
Visitors may see firefighters and firefighting equipment in the Abrams Creek area starting this week. While the campground remains open and there is no threat to the campground or any structures, the area is being used to stage some firefighting operations. There may be impacts in the form of noise, smoke, and short traffic delays for visitors. Resources on the fire include ground crews and a Type 3 helicopter. Park management and fire staff are ordering more resources and expect two additional crews to arrive this week.
The Flint Gap Fire started on Aug. 26 by lightning, park officials said, in a remote part of the park that doesn’t generally see many visitors. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The cost of UT football tickets is rising as the sport enters the era of revenue sharing with players.
Tennessee Athletics Director Danny White said future season tickets would come with a 10% talent fee, plus a four and a half percent per-seat increase for a nearly 15 percent price hike for season tickets.
The revenue from the fee is aimed at stemming the cost of increasing talent scholarships and sharing the revenue with athletes. Season ticket renewals begin Thursday, September 19; the university is offering a 10 month payment plan to help spread out the impact of the increased cost.
The University of Tennessee campus (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are searching for a teen suspect in connection to Friday’s shooting at the Kwik Pantry Food Mart off Asheville Highway.
KPD officials announcing Tuesday that officers and detectives are actively working to find 15-year-old Kendall Ridgeway who they say is facing multiple juvenile charges connected to the September 13 shooting, including attempted first-degree murder.
Officers responded around 7:45 p.m. Friday to the Kwik Pantry in the 4800 block of Asheville Highway and found a man who’d been shot in the leg.
Police say there was a conflict inside the store involving the victim and two male suspects when one of the suspects, later identified as Ridgeway, fired at the victim multiple times. The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Anyone with information is asked to contact East Tennessee Valley Crimestoppers at 865-215-7165.
MEDIC Regional Blood Center’s annual competition against LifeSouth Blood Center out of Florida is underway and Medic is beating them 411 units to 287 in the first day.
All eligible donors are encouraged to donate through Friday.
Blood donors will receive a special edition t-shirt while supplies last and several coupons to area organizations.
Also, there is still a critical need for O- and O+ blood types and Medic hopes this event will help get those levels stabilized.
Knoxville Police Department detectives are pursuing strong leads on an investigation into a shooting that happened late Monday night at an apartment complex off Papermill Drive.
At around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, September 16, 2024, KPD officers responded to a reported shooting in the area of 1000 Canyon Oak Pl. Around that same time, officers were notified that a gunshot victim had arrived at the UT Medical Center emergency room. The victim, an 18-year-old male, had been shot multiple times and is in critical condition.
The investigation revealed that the victim was walking towards his apartment when multiple rounds were fired at him in an apparent targeted shooting.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following three straight dominating non-conference wins to start the season, No. 6/7 Tennessee is preparing to face its biggest test to this point with a trip to Norman, Oklahoma to face off against the No. 15/13 Sooners in the SEC opener for both teams.
For the second time in three weeks, the Vols will be playing in primetime on ABC with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. CT).
“It’s great that we’re getting an opportunity to kick off conference play, it’s finally here,” head coach Josh Heupel said to open his Monday press conference. “We’ve got a big week in front of us, a big challenge. I have a ton of respect obviously for the (Oklahoma) program and everyone that is involved over there, I know a lot of them. It’s a football team that is playing really well.
“It’s a huge test for us. An opportunity for us to go on the road in a really good environment and at the same time have an opportunity to put our brand in front of the entire country.”
Heupel will be returning to his alma mater for the first time as a head coach after helping lead the Sooners to a national championship in 2000 and spending 11 seasons as an assistant coach for the program from 2003 to 2014.
Adding to the buildup will be ESPN’s College GameDay, as the pregame show will be on-site in Norman for Oklahoma’s first-ever SEC contest. It will mark Tennessee’s 25th appearance all-time on the show, including the fifth time in the Heupel era.
A major contributing factor to the Vols’ impressive start to the season has been the abundance of leadership on this year’s team. That leadership will be put to the test once again this week as UT prepares for its first true road game in what will be a hostile environment at a packed Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
“We have really strong leadership. It’s not just the veteran guys. Guys that are on our (leadership) councils do a great job, but we have a lot of strong individuals inside of our position rooms as well,” Heupel said. “I have said it, I think maybe during training camp, this team was really good in how consistent they worked through spring ball and training camp. They have been that way during the course of the season.
“As a player, man, you better enjoy the win Saturday night and enjoy it on Sunday too, but Monday is getting back to reality and understanding how you have to grow and understanding you are only as good as your next one as a competitor. This group has been really mature that way. Certainly, the opponent that we have this week will capture everybody’s attention.”
Videos and quotes from Monday’s availability with Heupel and select players can be seen below.
Opening statement… “Had a good morning with the guys, came in with great energy and focus. We were able to look at the film and find some ways that we have to continue to grow into being the best team that we can be. It’s great that we are getting an opportunity to kick off conference play, it’s finally here. We’ve got a big week in front of us, a big challenge. I have a ton of respect obviously for the (Oklahoma) program and everyone that is involved over there, I know a lot of them. It’s a football team that is playing really well. If you look at them defensively, they’re doing a great job in every category — applying pressure to the quarterback, sacks, turnovers and being extremely good against the run. Offensively, they have dynamic playmakers, a young quarterback that is playing really good football, and they do a really good job on special teams. It’s a huge test for us. An opportunity for us to go on the road in a really good environment and at the same time have an opportunity to put our brand in front of the entire country.”
On his emotions going back to Oklahoma… “It will be unique. I have teammates and friends back there. They’ve hit me up a little bit earlier, it started last week already. It will be unique going back into that stadium. It’s going to be a different viewpoint; I’m not sure I have ever spent a day on the opposing sideline inside that stadium, not even for a scrimmage. It’ll be different, but it’s one that I am really looking forward to. There are so many people that have been a huge part of my journey that I get a chance to go back and hopefully get a chance to say hi to a bunch of them. It starts with teammates, it’s coaches that I had, it’s a lot of coaches that I coached with and a lot of personnel that are still there. Guys that I coached, a guy that was in my wedding, there’s a lot of people back there that I’m familiar with and have a lot of respect for.”
On what impresses him about Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold… “In general, he takes great care of the football. I think he has great command and presence in what they are doing offensively. He has the ability to use his feet to make things right. That can be when the pocket breaks down, designed quarterback run or read game. He is a really talented young player.”
On how comfortable he is with Oklahoma-related questions… “I thought I handled the first one really well. I am good with any question about Oklahoma. The opportunity I got from Bob (Stoops) and Mike (Leach) to come there and play, what we were able to build there in a short amount of time as a player, but then also my coaching career. From the guys that I played for to all the coaches that were there during my career, all of them made a huge impact on me. I wouldn’t be here today at Tennessee if I didn’t have all those experiences. I am tremendously grateful for all those people. Brent (Venables) is somebody that I learned and grew from as a young coach so much, and I have a ton of respect for him.”
On the atmosphere to expect at Oklahoma… “It should be a great crowd; it’s a passionate fan base. I’m expecting them to be extremely quiet for us out of respect to me and our program, too.”
On talking to QB Nico Iamaleava about his first road start and how his personality will translate… “I think his personality will translate extremely well. It wasn’t a true road game, but being over in Charlotte and the crowd being divided in half is a part of preparing him and our entire football team for this too. The way we have prepared in spring ball and training camp, our guys will be ready for this. It doesn’t make the challenge any less difficult because of those things, but you have to do the ordinary things at a very high level, and you have got to do them consistently. That’s communication, that’s where it starts in particular on the offensive side of the ball with crowd noise. But it’s everybody, all three phases of the game, the alignment, assignment and technique after that.”
On the benefit of so many young players playing snaps in the first three weeks… “Yeah, certainly. We’ve been able to play a lot more guys than we have at any point. A big part of that is our roster. The opportunity that every young player gets, they are only going to grow that much more quickly with those experiences on game day. Practice is awesome and it matters, but those game day experiences matter too, to understand what it looks like, what it feels like and where you have to continue to grow. So, it has been really important to us here in the first three weeks. The depth of our roster and the experiences that they have is really important as you get into conference play.”
On anticipating the biggest obstacle going into Week 4… “Yeah, I don’t think there is just one. First of all, I talked about their defense, their offense. They are well coached. They play extremely hard. They have been on the right side of the turnover margin. They have really good personnel. So, this is a really good program.”
On the progression and trust of freshman RB Peyton Lewis… “We do trust Peyton. Peyton has gotten better every single week. Coming off of the injury, getting the opportunity to grow on the field during training camp. He has gotten better every day, and he has gotten better every week during the course of the season. I love what he is doing as a young player.”
On Nico Iamaleava preferring road games and shift of energy this week… “There’s nothing better than being in front of your home crowd, but there is something special about knowing that you are going on the road and the focus, the effort that it takes to go out there and be successful in those types of environments. That is something special that competitors relish.”
On depth showing up in more versatility and personnel groupings offensively… “Depth in your personnel gives you the freedom, the luxury to do more things. That can be within your scheme, but it certainly is within our personnel groupings too. The first couple years, we really primarily played two tight ends. Within the structure of what we do, that limits how much exposure you want those guys to have in 12 personnel. A year ago we had, I think, six scholarship wide receivers. Got guys banged up. With our roster now, you have the ability to go into a four wide set and go play really, really good football.”
On Oklahoma’s 10 takeaways and aggressive defense… “Yeah, 10 is the right number. Their front is really active. They play tight coverage on the back end. With all the structure that they show you on the back end, they play really assignment-sound. They understand where they are supposed to be in recognizing patterns and getting into windows. They tie all three levels of the defense in extremely well. And then when you have the ball in your hands, they are extremely active. Punching, ripping, putting their hat on the ball. They have changed the way the game is played with a lot of those turnovers.”
On grading veteran leadership and how it’s different preparing for SEC play… “We have really strong leadership. It’s not just the veteran guys. Guys that are on our (leadership) councils do a great job, but we have a lot of strong individuals inside of our position rooms as well. I have said it, I think maybe during training camp, this team was really good in how consistent they worked through spring ball and training camp. They have been that way during the course of the season. As a player, man, you better enjoy the win Saturday night and enjoy it on Sunday too, but Monday is getting back to reality and understanding how you have to grow and understanding you are only as good as your next one as a competitor. This group has been really mature that way. Certainly, the opponent that we have this week will capture everybody’s attention.”
On if pregame throws with his son mean more this week being somewhere that means so much… “No pregame throws on the road. Not sure if my kids will be able to make it yet, but we are working on that.”
On what Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson have done to set themselves apart at corner… “We like those two guys, but we like guys right behind them too. (Jalen McMurray) and (Jordan Matthews) have done a really nice job as well. Those guys are playing really good football. They’re playing with fundamentals and technique, but they’re understanding the contour of what they’re seeing on the offensive side of the football, being able to play with anticipation of what they might see and playing really good football.”
On what it’s like coaching against Brent Venables who he worked alongside at Oklahoma… “A guy I have so much respect for. He has a great family. Somebody that poured into me as a young coach, and I learned so much from him. He’s as good as they come when you look at what he’s done historically as a defensive coordinator. A lot of respect and a huge challenge for us this week.”
On any concern being three games into the season and the team’s conditioning… “I believe that what we are doing through the course of the week is preparing those guys to be ready to play for 60 minutes. This will be a 60-minute football game. You have to be physical at the line of scrimmage, you have to win your one-on-ones out on the perimeter, and you have to play with an aggressive, competitive composure for four quarters in this football game.”
On if he envisioned tight ends Holden Staes and Miles Kitselman being important in the passing game… “Yeah, we have great trust in those guys. Nico has a great trust with those guys. The route patterns, they’re going to see it the way he sees it. They’re going be able to settle in the zones and win versus man-to-man. Those guys have all done a really nice job through spring ball and have certainly gotten more comfortable in what we’re doing. Speaking specifically to the transfers, as we got into training camp, those guys took a big jump being able to operate within our system as we got to training camp.”
On DeSean Bishop capitalizing on his opportunities against Kent State… “Another young guy that just continues to get better. I thought he did a great job hitting the hole and making the third level miss when he got into space. Got under his pads when he needed to. He’s taken a step every single week as well, and our staff has a lot of trust in him. That’s a guy that we saw flashes in last year, then he hurts his ankle in training camp and misses the majority of the season. It’s been fun to see him just grow through that experience, become really mature in how he handles himself in and outside of the building.”
On troubleshooting the in-helmet communication system for the first road game of the season… “In your research, if you have any solutions for the problems, talk to Hawk (Allen Sitzler) and his crew this afternoon. I anticipate — it’s worked well up until this point, but we will find out on Saturday.”
On redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava heading into his first SEC road start… “I’m not worried about Nico at all, talking about loud distractions and all that kind of stuff. The way Nico prepares himself and how confident he is in his play will take care of all that.”
On the challenges presented by Oklahoma… “This is going to be a great test for us. They have a hell of a team over there, and I am just excited to see what the coaches give us as a game plan this week and ready to attack it. Oklahoma is definitely going to be a great test for us, they have a bunch of ball players over there.”
On what he has seen in QBs Gaston Moore and Jake Merklinger when they’ve had the opportunity to play… “Just coming in every day in practice and preparing like you’re going to be the starter is huge. Coach Heupel is always hinting on, ‘You never know when your number is going to be called,’ and I think those guys are great examples of whenever their number is called, stepping up and making the plays that they need to make.”
On what it’s like being part of a deep rotation… “With the rotation being so deep, you know you can go out there and go hard every play that you’re out there, because you have somebody that can come in behind you and give the same effort and the same production as you can give. So, it’s like no fall off from ones, twos and threes. It’s actually great for us.”
On how a road game is different for the defense due to crowds being quiet when the offense is on the field… “I mean, obviously it’s different being on the road, but it’s not really a big difference. We just have to rely on each other and keep the energy within the group on the defense and we will be fine.”
We now have a list of arrests, charges and more for this weekend’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.
The twice-yearly event is known to be a bit of a workout for Pigeon Forge law enforcement, with it not being uncommon for officers to respond to quadruple-digit incidents.
2024′s fall Rod Run was no exception. According to the Pigeon Forge Police Department, officers responded to more than 1,000 calls for service and took more than 80 people into custody. Below is a breakdown of how the fall Rod Run compared to this year’s spring event.
Spring 2024 Rod Run
Fall 2024 Rod Run
Calls for Service
1,151
1,006
Citations
623
862
Arrests
36
85
Crashes
43
29
On top of responding to all those calls for service, a Pigeon Forge officer was also injured during the event. According to Chief Richard Catlett, the officer was riding a motorcycle when he was hit. Catlett said the officer was banged up but should be okay in a few days. Story Courtesy of WVLT
We now have a list of arrests, charges and more for this weekend’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.
The twice-yearly event is known to be a bit of a workout for Pigeon Forge law enforcement, with it not being uncommon for officers to respond to quadruple-digit incidents.
2024′s fall Rod Run was no exception. According to the Pigeon Forge Police Department, officers responded to more than 1,000 calls for service and took more than 80 people into custody. Below is a breakdown of how the fall Rod Run compared to this year’s spring event.
Spring 2024 Rod Run
Fall 2024 Rod Run
Calls for Service
1,151
1,006
Citations
623
862
Arrests
36
85
Crashes
43
29
On top of responding to all those calls for service, a Pigeon Forge officer was also injured during the event. According to Chief Richard Catlett, the officer was riding a motorcycle when he was hit. Catlett said the officer was banged up but should be okay in a few days. Story Courtesy of WVLT
Posted on September 18, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
A Knoxville man is arrested after authorities say he impersonated a security guard at the Tennessee Valley Fair. 31-year-old Luke Jones went to the Tennessee Valley Fair on September 9th and said he was working security for the event. Jones then walked up to a sold out concert being held that night and went behind…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 18, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Four days out from their first SEC road trip of the 2024 campaign, the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers took the Anderson Training Center indoor turf on a rainy Tuesday morning in Knoxville to continue on-field prep for Saturday’s ranked matchup at No. 15 Oklahoma. The Vols are gearing up for a nationally televised…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 17, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
GATLINBURG, Tenn.—The Flint Gap Fire is 46 acres as of the last estimate. Although the fire is presently 0% contained, only a few areas are actively burning within the perimeter. Once firefighter access and safety in this remote and steep terrain is addressed, a full suppression strategy will be executed. The fire did not receive…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 17, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The cost of UT football tickets is rising as the sport enters the era of revenue sharing with players. Tennessee Athletics Director Danny White said future season tickets would come with a 10% talent fee, plus a four and a half percent per-seat increase for a nearly 15 percent price hike for…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 17, 2024 by rtravers • 0 Comments
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police are searching for a teen suspect in connection to Friday’s shooting at the Kwik Pantry Food Mart off Asheville Highway. KPD officials announcing Tuesday that officers and detectives are actively working to find 15-year-old Kendall Ridgeway who they say is facing multiple juvenile charges connected to the September 13 shooting,…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 17, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
MEDIC Regional Blood Center’s annual competition against LifeSouth Blood Center out of Florida is underway and Medic is beating them 411 units to 287 in the first day. All eligible donors are encouraged to donate through Friday. Blood donors will receive a special edition t-shirt while supplies last and several coupons to area organizations. Also,…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 17, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
Knoxville Police Department detectives are pursuing strong leads on an investigation into a shooting that happened late Monday night at an apartment complex off Papermill Drive. At around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, September 16, 2024, KPD officers responded to a reported shooting in the area of 1000 Canyon Oak Pl. Around that same time, officers…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 17, 2024 by Jim Kelly • 0 Comments
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Following three straight dominating non-conference wins to start the season, No. 6/7 Tennessee is preparing to face its biggest test to this point with a trip to Norman, Oklahoma to face off against the No. 15/13 Sooners in the SEC opener for both teams. For the second time in three weeks, the Vols…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 16, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
We now have a list of arrests, charges and more for this weekend’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge. The twice-yearly event is known to be a bit of a workout for Pigeon Forge law enforcement, with it not being uncommon for officers to respond to quadruple-digit incidents. 2024′s fall Rod Run was no exception. According…… Continue Reading
Posted on September 16, 2024 by rcadle • 0 Comments
We now have a list of arrests, charges and more for this weekend’s Rod Run in Pigeon Forge. The twice-yearly event is known to be a bit of a workout for Pigeon Forge law enforcement, with it not being uncommon for officers to respond to quadruple-digit incidents. 2024′s fall Rod Run was no exception. According…… Continue Reading
