Category: Sports

It was a busy weekend on the water for several teams of the Coffee County Youth Bass Club.  The Junior Division team of Kylan Mantooth and Jonathan Lewis competed in the Central Tennessee Bass Nation Region Championship on Nickajack Lake.  Three high school boats competed on Normandy on Saturday and Sunday in the Tennessee Bass Federation High School Fish-Off.  And 3 members competed in the National Bass Trail(NBT) individual tournament on Nickajack on Saturday. 

On Nickajack Lake, the Junior Division Region Championship for the Central Tennessee Bass Nation was contested.  Coming off a region championship last year, Kylan Mantooth teamed up with a new partner in Jonathan Lewis this season.  Not to be deterred, Mantooth guaranteed a repeat of his championship and he and Lewis delivered on that promise on Saturday at Nickajack.  Entering Saturday’s tournament in 2^nd place in the season standings, the duo landed 3 fish which was enough to vault them to the region championship and lock down their berth in the Tennessee Bass Nation State Championship later this month. 

During the high school season, Brent Sain captains a boat for his daughter Briley and nephew Kaden Freeze.  Fishing on Nickajack on Saturday too, Brent actually got to compete in the adult division of the NBT tournament and captured 1^st place in the adult division.  Briley matched dad’s performance in the youth division with a 1^st place finish and Kaden came home in 3^rd place in juniors. 

On Normandy, the high school teams of Jacob Garms/Jase Rice, Colby Thurmond/Isaiah Owens and Logan Floyd/Brent Boehman fished the TBF “fish off.”  Thurmond and Owens landed a 5 fish limit each day to grab 1^st place.  The team caught 10 fish weighing in at 20.77 pounds.  Garms and Rice added 3 fish on Sunday to go with their 4 fish from Saturday to total 14.40 pounds.  That result was good enough for 3^rd place overall.  Boehman and Floyd were shut out on Sunday as they failed to land any keepers.  Their 2 day total was 2.03 pounds which was not enough to get them onto the leader board. 

The junior division state tournament will be held on June 20^th on Douglas Lake.  The boaters will launch out of Dandridge.  The high school anglers will compete in the Central Tennessee Bass Nation Region Championship on Nickajack Lake on Saturday.  The TBF Youth State Championship will take place on Lake Chickamauga on Sunday, June 7^th. 

On Friday, Major League Baseball announced that this year’s Draft will be held on June 10-11. Here’s everything you need to know:

Broadcast and logistics details

The five-round Draft will begin on Wednesday, June 10 at 7 p.m. ET, with both MLB Network and ESPN producing live coverage — the first time more than one network will provide live primetime coverage of the event. The first night of coverage will span the first 37 picks, covering the first round and Competitive Balance Round A.

Coverage continues on Thursday, June 11 on MLB Network and ESPN2 at 5 p.m. ET and will pick up with the start of the second round (pick No. 38) and run through the end of the fifth and final round of this year’s Draft. There will be a total of 160 picks in the 2020 Draft.The Draft usually runs 40 rounds but was shortened this year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Draft order

The Detroit Tigers have the No. 1 pick in this year’s Draft by virtue of having the worst record in baseball in 2019. The top 10 is as follows:

1) Tigers
2) Orioles
3) Marlins
4) Royals
5) Blue Jays
6) Mariners
7) Pirates
8) Padres
9) Rockies
10) Angels

The Giants and the Cardinals have the most selections of any team in this year’s Draft, with seven. San Francisco’s extra picks come courtesy of compensation for losing Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith to free agency, while the Cardinals have a Competitive Balance Round B pick and a compensation pick for free agent Marcell Ozuna. A total of 14 teams have six selections in the five-round event.

On the other side of the ledger, the Yankees have the fewest picks, with three, having given up their second- and fifth-round selections for signing free agent Gerrit Cole. Six teams have four selections, including the Astros, who forfeited their first- and second-round selections as part of the penalties for illegally stealing signs (They added a pick as compensation for losing Cole.). The Red Sox also are among the clubs with four picks, having forfeited their second-round pick as part of their sign-stealing penalties.

Bonus pools & slot values

Had this been a normal year, the slot value assigned to each pick in the top 10 rounds would have gone up 3.5 percent compared to 2019, the same amount MLB’s annual revenues increased. But as part of the reaction to the pandemic, an agreement was struck that slot values would remain the same as 2019, both for this year’s Draft and the 2021 edition.

The Tigers’ top pick comes with an assigned value of $8,415,300, compared to $7,789,900 for the Orioles’ No. 2 overall pick. Because Baltimore’s Competitive Balance Round pick is much higher than Detroit’s (No. 30 versus No. 62), its overall bonus pool is slightly higher ($13,894,300 vs. $13,325,700)

The Royals ($12,521,300), Marlins ($12,016,900), Pirates ($11,154,500), Padres ($10,674,000), Rockies ($10,339,700) and Mariners ($10,265,500) also have eight-figure bonus pools. The Astros, having lost their first- and second-round choices, have the smallest pool at $2,202,600.

Top prospects

The top of MLB Pipeline’s Draft Top 200 list is very college-heavy, with the top six all hailing from big four-year programs. It starts with Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson, the player most project as the frontrunner to be the Tigers’ selection at No. 1. Vanderbilt’s Austin Martin is at No. 2, and the two college bats are followed by arms: Texas A&M lefty Asa Lacy and Georgia right-hander Emerson Hancock. There’s only one high school player in the top 10:

1) Spencer Torkelson, 1B, Arizona St.
2) Austin Martin, OF/3B, Vanderbilt
3) Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M
4) Emerson Hancock, RHP, Georgia
5) Nick Gonzales, SS/2B, New Mexico St.
6) Garett Mitchell, OF, UCLA
7) Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek HS (Fla.)
8) Reid Detmers, LHP, Louisville
9) Max Meyer, RHP, Minnesota
10) Heston Kjerstad, OF, Arkansas

Impact of five-round Draft

The first, and most obvious, ramification of the Draft being reduced to five rounds is that teams are simply going to be signing a lot fewer players than in most years. But with no Minor League baseball being played, there is nowhere for those players to go out and play. The flip side of that coin could be that the 2021 Draft might be incredibly deep. Typically, the best college players sign after their junior year, but many could choose to head back to college if they aren’t drafted and re-enter the Draft next year, rather than signing for the $20,000 maximum.

In addition to more college players staying for their senior years, we could also see more high school players head to college for the same reasons. Players who go to junior college can re-enter the Draft next year, and players who head to four-year schools will be draft-eligible again in 2023.

And because of a lack of a full spring season, teams will, more than ever, be relying on evaluations from the past summer, when scouts got good looks at top players in college leagues and the high school showcase circuit. It provided less chance for a player to “pop up” with a strong spring performance.

But even with all the uncertainty, it’s still about lining up players and taking the best player on the board at the time.

“We have prepared with the same principles that we always have,” a National League scouting director said. “We’ve had more meetings, we’re using more data. There’s more influence put on the past for obvious reasons.

“Zoom and Microsoft Team are our new normal. We will line up the board the same way, though. The $20,000 rule after the fifth will be interesting. We have no idea how that will play out.”

Teams will now have until August 1, pushed back from July 10, to sign drafted players.

The Titans have agreed to terms with two of their picks from the 2020 NFL Draft — defensive lineman Larrell Murchison and defensive back Chris Jackson.

Murchison, the team’s fifth-round pick (174th overall), earned second-team All-ACC honors as a senior at North Carolina State, where he was in on 48 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, and seven quarterback sacks. He was named the ACC defensive lineman of the week for the second time in his career when he had 3.5 sacks at Florida State.

In two seasons at N.C. State, Murchison recorded 11 sacks while starting all 25 games he played in.

During his junior season, Murchison earned the team’s Cary Brewbaker Award for Defensive Lineman of the Year, as well as the Alpha Wolf Rising Award, which is given to the Most Improved Player.

“I feel like rushing the passer, I can cause penetration,” Murchison said after being drafted. “And I feel like stopping the run, I can be an anchor down there if you need me to take on double-teams. Anywhere on the defensive front they need me to play, I feel I can play it.”

Jackson, selected in the seventh round (243rd overall) of the draft, played mainly at cornerback at Marshall, but he could compete in a number of positions with the Titans, including nickel and safety.

Jackson (6-0, 186) ended his four-year career at Marshall as one of the school’s most decorated defensive backs. He finished his career with 48 career starts, No. 14 all-time at Marshall.

He also ranks No. 1 in Marshall history in passes broken up with 45, and he ranks No.2 in program history in most passes defended (interceptions and passes broken up combined) with 52.

“Today, I was overfilled with joy,” Jackson said after being picked. “I am just happy to be a Titan. I am just truly happy to be a Titan.”

Murchison and Jackson became the first two members of the team’s six-man draft class to agree on contracts.

Dan Lambert was still in elementary school in Manitoba when his television showed him teenage hockey players parading the Memorial Cup around the ice.

A decade later, he was the one celebrating with the trophy in his hands.

Today, he’s in his first season as an assistant coach with the Nashville Predators. Lambert has experienced plenty during his time as a hockey lifer, on the ice first, before stepping behind the bench.

Just like seemingly every kid growing up in Canada, hockey played an important role in Lambert’s upbringing, and he’s been lucky enough to make a career in the sport. A couple of stops to the Memorial Cup tournament – first as a player, and later as a head coach – are two of the pinnacles of that journey, experiences that have helped shape who he is today.

Behind the Stanley Cup Final and the World Junior Championship, the Memorial Cup is just about as big as it gets when it comes to hockey in Canada. The annual tournament pits the champion of each of the top three junior leagues in the country – the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League – against one another. The fourth club in the tournament represents the host city within the Canadian Hockey League, the entity that oversees the OHL, WHL and QMJHL.

Essentially, the Memorial Cup decides the best junior hockey team in all of Canada, and it’s a grueling task. Imagine an NHL team winning the Stanley Cup, only to then face three of the other top teams from across the globe.

So, when a 19-year-old Lambert and his Broncos beat the Saskatoon Blades in overtime of the final game back in 1989, it was quite an accomplishment. A defenseman, Lambert was named MVP of the tournament, a bonus to cap off a magical run.

“It was an incredible season,” Lambert recalled. “We had a great team, and ironically, the team we ended up beating in the final [the hosting Blades] was a team that we dismantled in the WHL playoffs. We beat them four [times]…but when it came to the tournament…they beat us in the round robin which made us have to play in the semifinal of the tournament. But, for us it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, like this isn’t the same team that we had success against a few weeks ago.’ That was a different challenge, a new challenge.”

Swift Current eventually prevailed, and while the win brought jubilation to a small Saskatchewan town, there was also a sense of community pride heightened by tragedy just three years earlier.

In December of 1986, the Broncos’ bus crashed on a road trip, taking the lives of four players. Lambert wasn’t on the bus, but he was a member of the team, and the event was always on the minds of all who called Swift Current home.

In that way, the victory meant so much more.

“Somehow, someway, we found a way to overcome all of those challenges, and we put Swift Current back on the map,” Lambert said. “Everybody remembered Swift Current from the accident and everything else, but I think we were able to put them on the map in a positive light. I know a lot of us took a lot of pride in that.”

As every teenager with NHL aspirations does, Lambert moved on from Swift Current following his junior days. He was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989 NHL Draft, and he played 29 games with the team over two seasons to begin the 90s decade.

From there, the blueliner had stops in the American Hockey League and the International Hockey League before playing his final 10 seasons in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany. Following his last campaign with the Hanover Scorpions, it was back to Canada, this time behind the bench as an assistant coach with the Kelowna Rockets.

When the 2014-15 season arrived, Lambert took over as head coach of the club, and already a WHL champion as a player, he did it as a bench boss too. Lambert guided his rockets to the 2015 Memorial Cup tournament, a mere 26 years after he did so as a wide-eyed teenager.

In fact, that year’s tournament was being held at the Colisee in Quebec City, the same rink Lambert skated in as an NHLer with the Nordiques all those years ago.

“It was a very special moment for me, personally,” Lambert said of his return as a coach. “I was able to enjoy it with my wife, and my three daughters were there as well as in Quebec City, and ironically… the final game of the Memorial Cup was going to be the final game in the Colisee, which was really special as well. There were a lot of moments that I was like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m this fortunate – that I get to coach these young men in the biggest stage in junior hockey.'”

The Rockets ultimately fell in the final of that year’s tournament, and while the loss stung, Lambert was still able to appreciate the experience in a different manner – one that allowed him to look back on his life to that point and how he got back to that revered stage.

“As a player, when we were in the moment of playing and even right before overtime [of the Memorial Cup in 1989], there wasn’t a second that I thought we were going to lose that game,” Lambert said. “Now, fast forward to when I was the coach, and all of the pressures that we had gone through, by the time we got to the Memorial Cup, I felt zero pressure. I was like, ‘OK, we know how to win now. We’ve got this figured out.’ Now, I don’t want to say I was satisfied, because I certainly was not satisfied. Our goal was to win that last game as well.

“But I felt going into the tournament… ‘I’m going to enjoy this moment.’ I truly tried to do that, and I believe I did. I was probably more relaxed in the tournament, way more relaxed than I was throughout the playoffs. Which is weird. But that’s just the way it was… I just feel like every time you’re put in those types of situations, the high-pressure situations, whether you’re a player or a coach, it doesn’t matter. You learn from them, you grow from them and it prepares you for your next challenge in life or in sports, whatever it may be.”

Those Memorial Cup experiences helped Lambert get to where he is today – with an NHL franchise in a city he and his wife were already particularly fond of thanks to their love for country music.

Lambert thinks back to those days often recalling not only what it was like to make it to the Memorial Cup, but to compete for – and on one occasion, win – a championship of that magnitude. The memories help drive him to this day, making him a better coach – and person – who wants the Predators to experience the same.

“When you end up winning at the end of the season, there’s so many lessons and so many challenges along the way,” Lambert said. “We faced a lot of adversity, and every team that wins does. I think in the end, it really does make you aware and understand that winning doesn’t happen easily, and no team that wins ever goes through zero adversity… There were a lot of times throughout my career that you think back to those moments, and you learn a lot from those types of situations.

“But it’s a tournament that I feel is a huge part of Canada and a huge part of my past, as a coach and a player. There are great memories, and it’s something that I’ll never forget being a part of.”

Coffee County Central High School senior basketball player Jaylon Wooten made it official on Wednesday; he will continue his basketball career at the college level at Cleveland State.  Wooten, surrounded by family and coaches, signed a national letter of intent to continue his basketball career at the Cleveland, Tennessee junior college.   Wooten announced his verbal commitment in early April but held off on the signing ceremony due to the Governor’s Stay at Home orders in effect.  

When asked about choosing Cleveland State, Wooten had this to say: “They gave me a good offer and I think they are really gonna help me” said Wooten.  Jaylon wanted to thank his family, teammates and coaches for giving him the opportunity to play college ball.  When asked about where he expects to help the team, Jaylon had this to say:

Raider head coach Micah Williams was effusive for his praise of Wooten.  “He brought a lot of leadership to the team.  Coming in as a senior is not always the easiest thing to do, but him being originally from here and knowing some of the players helped.”   When asked about what would make him successful at the college level, Williams had this to say:

Wooten led the Red Raiders to a regular season District 8AAA title and a region tournament berth in the 2019-20 season. For the season, Jaylon averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game on the year.  Wooten was named the regular season District 8AAA Most Valuable Player.  

If the environment surrounding the current COVID-19 pandemic allows it, the Nashville Predators and the rest of the world know exactly what the NHL’s return to play format entails.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced a Return To Play Plan on Tuesday afternoon, as the League looks to return to the ice in the months to come.

It should be noted these plans are not a confirmation there will be NHL hockey games this summer, as the League attempts to award the Stanley Cup at some point in 2020. However, this announcement is a positive sign the NHL is on the right track, and should conditions allow for the plan to be executed, the Predators, as well as 23 other teams, will have a chance at the sport’s ultimate prize.

“At the pause, we committed to resuming play only when appropriate and prudent,” Bettman said via release. “We are hopeful the Return To Play Plan will allow us to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup in a manner in which the health and safety of our players, on-ice officials, team staff and associated individuals involved are paramount. Accordingly, an essential component of the Plan is a rigorous, regular schedule of testing.

“On the hockey side, the return-to-play format reflects the League’s extraordinary competitive balance, while honoring the tradition and integrity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“The Return To Play Plan is the result of weeks of constructive dialogue with the National Hockey League Players’ Association and we are grateful for their cooperation. We also thank our consulting health experts and the local, regional and national authorities who are helping steer us through a complex set of issues.”

The Return To Play Plan comes one day after the NHL released details for Phase 2 of the journey, which would allow players to begin voluntary, on-ice workouts in small groups in team facilities in the coming weeks. The League is hopeful to begin Phase 2 of the Return To Play Plan in early June.

Phase 3 would begin no sooner than the first half of July and would consist of training camps that would begin after guidance from medical and civil authorities.

Finally, Phase 4 would come later in the summer, with 24 teams in two hub cities competing in Seeding Round Robins, a Qualifying Round and Conference-based Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The 24-team format would see the Predators receive the sixth seed in the Western Conference – a ranking determined on the basis of point percentage at the pause of the NHL season on March 12 – and face the Arizona Coyotes in a best-of-5 series in the Qualifying Round of the plan.

The winner of that series would then move on to face one of the top four seeds in the Western Conference – St. Louis, Colorado, Vegas or Dallas – in Round 1 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in either a best-of-5 or best-of-7 series (series length still to be determined).

Timing of the Return To Play format has not been announced and will be determined by a number of different factors in the weeks and months to come with the safety of all participants taking precedence, although the League is hopeful games could begin taking place by late July or early August.

The Return To Play Plan would take place in two hub cities, which would be determined at a later date, but the hope is to make a decision within the next three to four weeks. The League listed 10 NHL cities that are being considered as a hub. Nashville is not one of those sites.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said players, coaches and other team personnel will continue to be tested for COVID-19 throughout the progression of phases, and those tests would be conducted every night during Phase 4 (resumption of games). Daly also stated if a single player were to test positive once games resume, he doesn’t envision the playoffs coming to a halt. However, the League does not want to start an outbreak, and if there were multiple positive tests at any point, plans would be re-evaluated.

The NHL does not anticipate having fans attend games in the Return To Play Plan, with Bettman adding things would have to change dramatically for those views to be reconsidered.

As for the 2020-21 NHL season, the commissioner said he believes the season will be played in its entirety, no matter when it starts. The focus is on completing games this summer, while realizing the next season could begin as late as December or January, if necessary. The commissioner is also hopeful fans would be able to attend games in 2020-21, but those factors will be determined by the virus and advice from medical authorities, as well as government entities.

Also worth noting from Tuesday’s announcement, the 2019-20 NHL regular season has been deemed complete, and the 189 games that remained on the schedule will not be played. Therefore, the regular season statistics are final, meaning Preds Captain Roman Josi owns the final team lead in scoring with 65 points.

Josi, who is also in contention for the Norris Trophy as the League’s top defenseman, has finished second among all NHL blueliners in points, tied for second in goals (16), second in assists (49) and third in time-on-ice per game (25:47)

Filip Forsberg led the Preds with 21 goals, and netminders Pekka Rinne and Juuse Saros finished with 18 and 17 wins, respectively. And, of course, Rinne also recorded his first-career goal.

Again, there are many more details that need to be worked out in the coming weeks and months, but the NHL is optimistic they will be able to follow through and enact the Return To Play Plan, which would culminate with the awarding of the Stanley Cup in 2020 – and the Predators would get a chance to win it all.

The presidents of the Manchester recreational league baseball and softball leagues met with Manchester Recreation Department director Bonnie Gamble and Manchester Recreation Department athletic director Jeff Houck on Tuesday.  The leagues received the green light to begin preparations to begin their season in the very near future.

The Recreation Department will begin reserving practice times on the fields as soon as the leagues provide a practice schedule.  At press time on Tuesday night, no starting date for any of the 3 leagues was determined.  The Coffee County Fastpitch League will have a board meeting to decide if they want to have a fall league.  The Manchester Slo-Pitch Softball League will hold a board meeting on Thursday night to finalize plans for the upcoming season’s opening day.  The Manchester Youth Baseball League met on Tuesday night and are tentatively hoping to get underway on June 5^th. 

Thunder Radio will follow this story and keep you updated as schedules are finalized.  If your child is a member of a team in one of these leagues, you can expect to be contacted by your team’s coaches.   

by Jim Wyatt – TitansOnline.com

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. And I hope everyone is staying safe. Thanks for always keeping the inbox hopping with questions. Let’s jump into another Titans mailbag right now…

Steve Mixer from Ontario, Canada
Question: Hi Jim. I love the mailbag. I’ve been a Titans fan since the Music City Miracle, but we don’t get a lot of coverage this far north so I spend a lot of time reading and watching highlights. It was really nice seeing the boys finally get some coverage and appreciation later in the season. Watching them beat the Patriots and the Ravens was glorious!
I had two quick questions that I was hoping you could help me out on.
1) The Titans didn’t seem to have much of a pass-rush and it was sometimes painful watching how much time opposing quarterbacks had. It was never more obvious than against KC, but we saw it throughout the season. Is this a priority roster need that they’re working to fill, or are they going to address it and just deal with it in their coverage schemes? I worry about what things will look like if we don’t address the pass rush AND we let (Logan) Ryan go without a reasonable replacement.
2) If Wilson doesn’t make an immediate impact, is the team comfortable with how they can replace Jack Conklin and keep King Henry rolling?
Thanks, and keep up the good work! Go Titans!

Jim: Hi Steve. Appreciate you reading.
Now, some answers:
1) Well, the team is counting on Vic Beasley to make a big difference here. It’s also counting on guys like Harold Landry and Kamalei Correa building on their momentum from a year ago. Same can be said for guys like Derick Roberson and D’Andre Walker. I think this is a group that can be effective, but everything does go hand in hand – guys in the secondary are going to have to play better. Let’s face it, there were some coverage breakdowns in that game at Arrowhead Stadium, and tackling was pretty shoddy as well.
2) I think Wilson will end up being a solid replacement. If I had to bet on it right now, though, I’d put my money on Dennis Kelly being the starter when the season kicks off, though. And Dennis has given folks reason to believe in him.

Richard Jones from Jacksonville, Florida
Question: Hey Jim, thanks for all that you do. What do you think our greatest strength and our Achilles heel is both on offense and defense?

Jim: Hey Richard. Greatest strength? Let’s go running game, led by Derrick Henry. Achilles heel? Well, it’s hard to say without seeing a practice. Let’s go with biggest question mark. I’ll say cornerback, simply because the team will be counting on a draft pick (Kristian Fulton) and a newcomer (albeit 14-year veteran Johnathan Joseph) to fill a pretty big void left by Logan Ryan’s departure. In time, we may learn the Titans are good here. But guys are going to need to play well, and that includes Malcolm Butler and Adoree’ Jackson.

Rey Rodriguez from Erie, Pennsylvania
Question: Hey what’s up Jim? I been a Titans fan for a while. I was just wondering when do you think the team will spend on a big free agent? Because the Jurrell Casey trade is looking more and more unjust.

Jim: Hey Rey. I’ve said this many time before: Jurrell wasn’t traded to free up space to sign a “big free agent.” It was a decision that took into account his big salary and cap hit, and projecting what the team thinks he’ll do in the years to come. The Titans have spent money this offseason, from signing Tannehill to a new long-term deal to placing the pricey franchise tag on Derrick Henry to keep him to adding Vic Beasley, Jack Crawford and Johnathan Joseph, among others, to re-signing Dennis Kelly, Kamalei Correa, MyCole Pruitt. Everyone knows Jurrell Casey is worth more than a 7th round pick in return. But again, the deal wasn’t about compensation.

Thomas Hibpshman from Soldotna, Alaska
Question: Hi Jim, I’m a huge fan of the Titans from Alaska. Never been to a game yet, but I’m hoping to in the next year or so. First I would like to say that Tannehill isn’t the greatest quarterback, but he gave the Titans the spark that was so desperately needed. He and the rest of the offense seemed to sync quickly and had really good chemistry. He also showed his strength and toughness last season making or extending plays to ensure us the win. I personally believe that as a team if the players can keep it up we don’t need a high profile quarterback. A team full of players that are in tune with each other across the board is better than one or two high profile players. He carried the team from a rough patch through the playoffs, he deserves the chance to do that again. My last thought is probably never gonna happen, but since the NFL now has out of country games, someone should try to get a game in Anchorage, Alaska once a year. The sports stadium up here is much smaller than the stadiums — in the lower 48 — but I would bet that the stadium would be busting at the seams up here and give us fans something who can’t make it to games.

Jim: Hey Thomas. Good to hear from you. If you’re talking about Tannehill as a Titan, well, I think he deserves more props than shade, and I think you got there. He was accurate, tough, and he proved to be a great leader last year. Now he has to keep it going. A road trip for a game in Alaska? It will be a cold day in … Alaska … Never say never, right?

Troy Rogers from Hendersonville, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim. Just wanted to commend you on the write up on Rusty Griffin you had. I have sat in Sec 146 Row K with “Santa” since day one of the Titans and there was never a nicer guy or bigger fan. We were there through thick and thin and thinner. Every game, every season. He was quite a character and I will miss him greatly. My kids always knew how to find our seat, just turn left at Santa (although it was difficult to explain to my 4 year old why Santa was drinking Bud Light). Great article for a great Titans fan. TITAN UP

Jim: Hey Troy. I really appreciate the feedback. The response to that story has been incredible, which speaks to just how much Rusty was loved. Here’s a link for those who missed it: CLICK HERE.
Thanks again.

Randall Malone from Smyrna, Tennessee
Question: Wassup Jim? Thanks for all the hard work keeping us informed and giving us info that seems we would have no outlet to as Titans fans. I have a quick question do you see the Titans having any interest in veteran Clay Matthews joining the squad? After losing Casey, Ryan, Woodyard…etc I feel we need more of a vet presence to push J Brown, Evans ,Fulton ..etc the young guys on defense in the right direction . I know we picked up Joseph from the Texans but I can’t see his vet presence really having an impact on the Box, defensive interior. Do you agree ?

Jim: Hey Randall. Good to hear from you. I haven’t heard Clay’s name mentioned, but I’m sure the GM is exploring all options. Once we get close to camp, I’d expect some more additions to be made. Not saying it will be Matthews, just saying the roster is far from set.

Adam Hanner from Coalmont, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim first time writing in I love reading your ask Jim. My question for you is with all the change on defense and without a true defensive coordinator do you think our defense will take a dip this year? I mean with so many new pieces it’s kinda hard not to am I right? I think our offense will be as good if not better than last year even with the loss of Conklin given another year for Tannehil to get better in the offense and for Arthur Smith as well thanks and stay safe.

Jim: Hey Adam. Good to hear from you. Know Micah Layne from Coalmont? He’s been a regular in here. Make no mistake: Dean Pees will be missed. He has a great football mind, players loved him, and he always produced solid game plans. Based on his departure, and losing guys like Jurrell Casey and Logan Ryan so far, it’s fair to question how things might go on that side of the ball in 2020. But keep in mind the head coach has a great defensive mind himself, and he’s been very involved in the game plans over the past two years. He’s a good guy to put some trust in, but yeah, some guys are going to have to step up across the board.

Hasan Sturgis from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Question: Hello, Jim. Hope you, your family, and my Titans and staying safe during these hard times. Jim, I’ve been a fan for over 20 years now, first game football game I ever watched was Steve Air McNair coming up a yard short to Derrick Mason. My question to you, from a die-hard Titans fan. Are we/do you think we are going to resign The King? I haven’t bought a Titans jersey since Da Freak. And I don’t want to buy a Kong’s jersey to see him walk away. Thanks for reading and stay safe. #titanup

Jim: Hello Hasan. I know the team wants to sign Derrick to a long-term deal. Do I think it will happen? Well, at this point I just don’t know how it will play out. But I wouldn’t panic just because it hasn’t happened yet. The GM said a few months ago he’d like to get something done closer to training camp, and that’s still two months away. And keep in mind the franchise will still be available to use in 2021 as well, so I’d expect at least two more seasons of Henry in a Titans uniform.

Marco Antonio from Nezahualcoyotl, Estado de Mexico
Question: Hi Jim, my always grateful for your attention. My questions are: Do you already have the new defensive coordinator in mind? Will we see Jadeveon Clowney in our defense?

Jim: Hola Marco. Si and Tal vez.

Southeastern Conference leadership on Friday voted to allow voluntary, in-person athletics activities on league campuses starting Monday, June 8. Each SEC institution will make localized decisions regarding when and how student-athletes shall return.
 
“We are prepared and excited for the return of student-athletes to campus,” Tennessee Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer said. “Health and safety have been our top priority as we’ve gone about this planning process, and we’ll continue to follow guidance from medical experts and health officials as we navigate the coming weeks.

“Our staff and student-athletes should be prepared for a ‘new normal,’ as we’ll be implementing changes to how everyone accesses and uses our facilities. We plan to be extremely diligent in maintaining a healthy environment for our student-athletes, coaches and support staffs. In the coming days, we’ll execute procedures enabling student-athletes to return, with members of our football program being the first to arrive. We will conduct screening leading up to the resumption of activities on June 8.
 
“I continue to appreciate the guidance of the SEC’s medical taskforce as well as the outstanding leadership of Commissioner Sankey and our chancellors and presidents throughout the SEC.”
 
Friday’s full press release from the SEC follows.
SEC TO PERMIT VOLUNTARY IN-PERSON ATHLETICS ACTIVITIES BEGINNING JUNE 8
 
Student-Athletes Given Opportunity to Engage in Strength & Conditioning Activities That Can Be Effectively Monitored and Performed While Social Distancing
 
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (May 22, 2020) – Voluntary in-person athletics activities may resume on Southeastern Conference campuses, at the discretion of each university, beginning June 8 under strict supervision of designated university personnel and safety guidelines developed by each institution, the SEC announced Friday.
 
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the SEC had suspended all athletics activities through May 31.  Monday, June 8, will begin a transition period that will allow student-athletes to gradually adapt to full training and sports activity after this recent period of inactivity. Under plans developed by each university and consistent with state and local health directives, certain activities will be permitted based on the ability to participate in controlled and regularly sanitized environments, while also maintaining recommended social distancing measures. 
 
The decision to resume athletics activities, which at this time is limited by the NCAA to voluntary activities supervised by strength and conditioning personnel, was made with the guidance of the Conference’s Return to Activity and Medical Guidance Task Force. Created by the SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors in April and comprised of a cross-section of leading public health and sports medicine professionals from across the SEC’s 14 member institutions, the Task Force will remain active to provide continued advice and guidance to the SEC and its members as they prepare for a return to competition.
 
“The safe and healthy return of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators and our greater university communities have been and will continue to serve as our guiding principle as we navigate this complex and constantly-evolving situation,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “At this time, we are preparing to begin the fall sports season as currently scheduled, and this limited resumption of voluntary athletic activities on June 8 is an important initial step in that process.  Thanks to the blueprint established by our Task Force and the dedicated efforts of our universities and their athletics programs, we will be able to provide our student-athletes with far better health and wellness education, medical and psychological care and supervision than they would otherwise receive on their own while off campus or training at public facilities as states continue to reopen.”
 
As part of its recommendations, the Task Force prepared a series of best practices for screening, testing, monitoring, tracing, social distancing and maintaining sanitized environments.  These recommendations will serve as a roadmap for each school prior to and upon the return of student-athletes to their campuses.
 
“While each institution will make its own decisions in creating defined plans to safely return student-athletes to activity, it is essential to employ a collaborative approach that involves input from public health officials, coaches, sports medicine staff, sports performance personnel and student-athletes,” Sankey said.  “Elements of the Task Force recommendations provided key guidance for determining the date of the return to activity.”
 
In addition to standard infection prevention measures as approved by public health authorities such as facility sanitization and social distancing, recommended enhanced health and safety measures include:
 Enhanced education of all team members on health and wellness best practices, including but not limited to preventing and the spread of COVID-19

A 3-stage screening process that involves screening before student-athletes arrive on campus, within 72 hours of entering athletics facilities and on a daily basis upon resumption of athletics activities

Testing of symptomatic team members (including all student-athletes, coaches, team support and other appropriate individuals)

Immediate isolation of team members who are under investigation or diagnosed with COVID-19 followed by contact tracing, following CDC and local public health guidelines

A transition period that allows student-athletes to gradually adapt to full training and sport activity following a period of inactivity

During the month of June, NCAA regulations permit only strength and conditioning personnel to supervise voluntary on-campus athletics activities in the sports of football, as well as men’s and women’s basketball.  A current waiver that permits eight (8) hours of virtual film review has been extended through June 30 for football and basketball. 

Consistent with NCAA regulations, organized practices and other required physical activities remain prohibited in all sports.  A previously announced suspension of in-person camps and coaches clinics conducted by SEC institutions remains in effect until July 31.

Story by: GoBlueRaiders.com

Middle Tennessee softball Head Coach Jeff Breeden brought his winning pedigree to Murfreesboro and rebuilt a still young Blue Raider program back into a conference champion.

After 22 seasons of coaching high school softball with a career winning percentage of .803, Breeden was hired by Athletic Director Chris Massaro in July 2012. A seven-win season in 2013 turned into a 2018 Conference USA championship and MT’s second NCAA Tournament appearance. Since Breeden and his Blue Raiders hoisted the C-USA trophy two years ago, they’ve seen continued success both on and off the field.

In addition to the improved product on the field, the park itself has improved. Breeden, who supervised reconstruction to Coffee County Central High School and Riverdale High School softball fields, has recently helped with the ongoing updates to Blue Raider Softball Field.

Breeden recently sat down with GoBlueRaiders.com to talk about his career and program developments.

How did you become a softball coach?

My mom played softball, so I was around softball all of my young life. Growing up, I thought I’d be a football coach, and I have been a football coach. I had an opportunity at one of my first teaching jobs to start working as the assistant girl’s basketball coach. I liked working with that group because those girls give it everything they’ve got. There was a job available, and I took it, and we had a lot of success. It was kind of like being in the right place at the right time. I had some other background in it, as well. I umpired a lot when I was in college, so the sport was just a good fit for me.

Going all the way back to your Coffee County days, what did you learn by building that program up from nearly nothing?

That program had been in existence for one year when I took it over, so it really was like building from the ground up. Coffee County is a little different because they’ve got two high schools in the county, so everybody gets fired up and into it. We had great support there from the time we started, and we had some great athletes. We went to the state tournament a few times and built a facility there that still gets packed all the time. That was a really good stop for me there that springboarded me into coming to Riverdale, where we had a great run there. We had great athletes and community support there as well. I’ve been fortunate enough to work for good principals everywhere I’ve been in teaching and now working for Chris [Massaro] here at MT.

What was the transition like from coaching high school softball to coaching college softball?

The speed of the game is faster. Every little detail, if you make a mistake, is magnified. In the high school game, your infielders have to be good, but your outfielders can make a mistake every now and then. In college, everyone is a good hitter. Your pitchers have to be on every pitch, and you can’t take a break. The big difference is in the outfield play. Your outfielders and their transition with the ball from the outfield to the infield has to be better than it was at an earlier age, or your weaknesses will get exposed.

Slowly but surely, you built the Blue Raider program from seven wins in your first year to a Conference USA Championship in 2018. What made that rebuild happen?

At the end of every year, we asked ‘How can we make recruiting better? How can we get better players? What kind of team do we want to be built around? What do we have to do to make these pieces work?’ At the end of every year, we evaluated every aspect of our program, from coaching to recruiting to strength and conditioning to academics to what we were doing in the community. Finally after several years of working at it, we got the right people. Those seniors that won the championship for us were the right people. We all got to believing in one another, and they turned this thing around, and we haven’t looked back since then. The key to it is getting the right personnel and everybody believing in what you’re doing.

You supervised the reconstruction of the softball fields at Coffee County and Riverdale, and you’ve been a major part of the recent changes at Blue Raider Softball Field. How important is it to have top notch facilities in order to run a successful program?

Our school sells itself to recruits. It’s a beautiful campus, and Murfreesboro is a great place to live. Our proximity to Nashville does that. The fact that we are a Nike school and buy directly from Nike is huge. Everybody wants to know, ‘Am I going to wear the swoosh?’ The next piece is facilities. What we did last year with the video board and padded walls has gone a long way. We’ve got the best grass and dirt in the league without question. Our guys do a great job of managing our turf, and we’re proud of that. When we start in August this year with a new entryway and the other upgrades, it should just make our fan experience much better than it has been. It’s going to be something that everyone will be proud of.

Since your staff signed C-USA’s best 2020 recruiting class, what do you see in the program’s future?

We’re headed on the up-and-up. Time will tell. Once you get those kids here, you’ve got to make them better each year. You can’t let them stay stagnant. We’ve got to develop them and make them better players when they leave than when they came in. If we can do that, we’ll be fine. We’re going to have another great recruiting class right behind the ’20 class. I feel really great about where we are.