Bulls Win Game 7, to Face Jazz in Finals  (31 May 98)
        Even though Michael Jordan was not unstoppable and their front line was saddled with foul trouble for most of the game, the Chicago Bulls stayed on track for an unprecedented 6th NBA Title in the last 8 years with a win over Indiana tonight in the United Center.  The Bulls won this one with offensive rebounds.  Late in the 4th quarter in NBC's television broadcast, a graphic was displayed showing a shocking statistic.  The Bulls had 22 offensive rebounds, leading to 26 second-chance points.  The Pacers had 3 offensive rebounds, which had led to only 3 second-chance points.  Offensive rebounding isn't about blocking out properly, or getting appropriate position under the basket.  Offensive rebounding is about which team is hungriest, which team wants to win the most.  Without question, the Bulls had that heart of a champion today, and found the extra effort to come up with the loose balls, to fight for that offensive rebound.  Although I have been pulling for the Pacers and rookie head coach Larry Bird, it can't be denied that the best and most deserving team is heading for the finals yet again.

OSU Recruit from SC Arrested  (29 May 98)
        Derek Ross, an athlete from Rock Hill, South Carolina, who signed a football scholarship with Ohio State in February, faces criminal charges in his hometown after allegedly running from police.  Ross, 18, could receive up to 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted of the charges, which include driving with a suspended license--for the second time.  According to Rock Hill police, an officer tried to stop a 1991 Chevrolet listed as a missing vehicle.  During the attempted traffic stop, however, Ross and two other individuals leaped from the car and ran from the scene; the vehicle, left without a driver, crashed into a nearby house.  In addition to driving under suspension, Ross was charged with failure to stop for blue lights and sirens; leaving the scene of an accident; and damage to property.  He was released on his own recognizance.
        Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper, when informed of the charges, said he would speak with Ross and his parents when he returned to Columbus from travelling.  Ross and another Rock Hill athlete, Chris Hope, were two of the most highly-rated prospects in the Southeast last year.  Tennessee was interested in both, but neither made UT one of their official visits.  Hope signed with Florida State.  Go here to read the article about Ross's arrest.

FSU QB's Rapid Rehab (28 May 98)
        When Florida State junior QB Dan Kendra suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the Garnet and Gold Game on April 4, it came as a shock to Kendra and his coaches.  "That kid can't get hurt.  He's too strong,"  thought head coach Bobby Bowden.  But Kendra had, indeed, suffered the most severe injury sustained by an FSU starting QB during Bowden's tenure.  The 6-1, 234-lb Kendra, nicknamed "The Moose," is an awesome physical specimen.  His 1,330 pound leg-lift is the FSU record, for any player, regardless of size or position.  His religiously strict workout diet includes ostrich meat and carrot juice.  "I love food," The Moose remarked recently.
        While it is doubtful that Kendra can return for FSU's season opener on August 31 against Texas A&M, the FSU faithful believe he could return as early as Sept 12 when the Noles face NC State.  That would be an amazing five months after the injury occurred.  Kendra expects to begin throwing again in just a couple of weeks.  As long as Kendra remains unable to play, his backup, 26-year-old sophomore Chris Weinke, gets the starting nod.  The Noles' 3rd-string QB, Marcus Outzen, sustained a shoulder injury in spring practice and is also out of action.
 

Click here for Tentative 98-99 College Football Bowl Schedule
 

WAC to Shrink by Half? (26 May 98)
        Eight schools from the Western Athletic Conference--one half of its sixteen member institutions--made a bold move today to separate themselves from the WAC and become their own separate conference, as yet unnamed.  The 8 schools are: Air Force, San Diego State, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, UNLV, Brigham Young, and Colorado State.  The problem?  Loss of traditional rivalries, slow revenue growth, and excessive travel expenses.  Karl Benson, the league commissioner, says he was not surprised that the move occurred, but he was surprised by the timing.  Go here for ESPN Sportszone's article about the breakup.

Always Room for One More Cupcake  (26 May 98)
        Pending a vote by the University's Board of Regents, the Nebraska Cornhuskers have agreed in principle to play Louisiana Tech in an early season college football game.  The matchup will occur on the Huskers' home field in Lincoln, naturally.  What a sweet tooth that program has...Oh well, guess you can never schedule too many cupcakes.  Right Gators?  Go here for an article about the proposed Robinson Classic game, set to be played on August 29.

The Future's So Bright...  (26 May 98)
        Unless you've been under a rock or something, you know that McDonald's High School All-American basketball player Vincent Yarbrough from Cleveland, Tennessee will join the '98-'99 Vol hoops squad.  The 6-foot-8 Yarbrough, favorably compared to Detroit Piston NBA All-Star Grant Hill, chose the Vols and Coach Jerry Green over Kentucky last fall.  Vol fans can't wait to see "VY" hit the court along with fellow Tennessee McDonald's All-Americans Charles Hathaway and Tony Harris.  Here's the link to a great article that appeared online recently at CNN/SI about Yarbrough.  Enjoy!

Tennessee Signee to Play in GA-FL All-Star Game (22 May 98)
        Vol football signee Tad Golden, a 6-2 180-lb safety from Decatur, Georgia, will play in the Georgia-Florida high school all-star game.  The game will be played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on June 20.  Golden is one of only two blue-chip Georgia players who signed with UT in February (the other is TE Ed Kendrick of Macon).  Other Georgia signees who will participate:  Reagan Torbert, Chad Young, Ian Knight, David Jacobs, George Foster, Terin Smith, Jessie Miller, Charles Grant, Cap Burnett, Tim Wansley, Ken Veal, Terrence Edwards, Tony Gilbert, Ben Lowe, and Florida products William Witherspoon and David Jenkins.  Florida Gator signees who will play include:  Aaron Walker, Mike Pearson, John Capel, Earnest Graham, Marcus Johnson, Chris Reynolds, Derrick Corker, Todd Johnson, and Georgians Chuck Marks, Marquis Westbrook, Lester Norwood and Robert Cromartie.  The game is played every summer to benefit charity.  The big star of last year's game was Tennessee signee Jamal Lewis, who went on to lead the SEC in rushing yardage as a true freshman.

"Snake" Will Do Color Commentary (22 May 98)
        Former Alabama quarterback Kenny "Snake" Stabler will join the radio broadcast team of the Crimson Tide football team.  Stabler will team with 10-year veteran Eli Gold to do color commentary beginning with this fall's games.  Stabler started for the Tide in 1966 and '67, then became an NFL star with the Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Houston Oilers.  Go here to read the ESPN Sportszone story.

Fulmer Shares Good Medical News (20 May 98)
        According to a report on Alliance Sports Vol Net, Coach Phillip Fulmer shared some encouraging news when interviewed in Atlanta yesterday with the Big Orange Caravan.  The Vol defensive line, decimated by 5 surgeries since the Orange Bowl, can expect the healthy return of DE Shaun Ellis and DT Billy Ratliff.  Ellis, a 6-4 260 junior from Anderson, SC, suffered a dislocated hip and severe facial lacerations in a traffic accident in March.  Coach Fulmer stated that despite the injuries, Ellis will return 100% healthy for fall drills.  Ratliff, 6-3 275 junior from Magnolia, Mississippi, was having his best season as a Vol in '97 before being sidelined first by a neck injury, then a torn ACL in a knee--the second in his brief UT career.  Ratliff's rehabilitation has gone very well and he too is expected to return healthy for the fall.  If both Ellis and Ratliff can return to form and stay healthy, it would provide a tremendous boost to the '98 Vol football team.

Ole Miss Player Drowns (19 May 98)
        Joey Embry, a junior offensive lineman for the Ole Miss Rebels, drowned shortly after midnight last night while wading in a small pond at the Mississippi State University golf course.  Embry, a 6-6, 300-lb tackle, was attempting to retrieve golf balls from the pond with two companions when the incident occurred.  The investigating coroner said drugs or alcohol were not involved.  It is thought Embry, who suffered from diabetes, may have suffered a diabetic seizure while in the pond, leading to his death.      Go here for the ESPN Sportszone story.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Embry's family and all Rebel fans during this time of sorrow.

Penn St, Michigan to Surpass Neyland Stadium  (19 May 98)
        Planned expansions at Penn State and Michigan would make both on-campus stadiums larger than
Neyland Stadium, currently the nation's biggest college stadium, seating 102, 854.  The proposed addition
to Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley, Pa. would make its new capacity 103, 576.  Michigan has already
approved an expansion to 107, 701.  The expansion projects at PSU and UM would be completed in time for the 2001 season.  Neyland became the nation's largest campus arena in 1996 when encirclement of
the upper deck was concluded.  Any additional expansion to UT's home stadium would be extremely
difficult and expensive, and probably impractical.

Vol Football Prospects to Transfer (17 May 98)
        Two high school football players that are being recruited by Tennessee will be transferring to other
schools for their all-important senior seasons.  Linebacker Kamua Jackson of Frederick Douglass High
in Atlanta, Georgia will move over to another Atlanta school, Therrell High.  Reasons for the 6-2, 220-lb
star player's transfer are unclear at this point.  Closer to home, Todd Howard, one of Tennessee's top
running back prospects, will apparently not play for Murfreesboro Riverdale this fall.  It is rumored that
Howard had a disagreement with the Riverdale coaching staff and will probably play his senior season in
Cookeville, his hometown.  This development could be a good omen for Tennessee, as the Vols have lost
two prominent Murfreesboro Riverdale players--Fernando Bryant and Eric Locke--to Alabama in recent
years.

Auburn Wins Wild SEC Baseball Tourney (17 May 98)
        The youthful Auburn Tigers baseball team came away with a surprise championship this afternoon
in the SEC Baseball Tournament in Birmingham.  The Tigers defeated Arkansas 7-5 in the championship
game to win the double-elimination affair.  Junior catcher Casey Dunn had three RBIs and outfielder
Josh Etheredge drove in two runs as the Tigers grabbed the lead in the seventh inning and held on to
knock off the Razorbacks.  It was a topsy-turvy tournament as top-seeded Florida managed only one win
in three games; #2 seed LSU also lost 2 out of 3; and third-seeded South Carolina failed to win a single
tournament game.  Go to SEC Sports to see all the results from the tourney.

UT Guard Harris Arrested (12 May 98)
        Tennessee point guard Tony Harris was arrested Tuesday afternoon following an apparent fight
with his long-time girlfriend.  Harris was apprehended after an altercation outside the UT athletic
dormitory.  Sources say Harris was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence after the girlfriend filed
a complaint against the sophomore from Memphis.  Basketball coach Jerry Green says he will wait until
civilian authorities make a determination before he disciplines Harris.  Those close to the situation are
hopeful that cooler heads will prevail and the charges might be dropped.

Vol 2nd Baseman Named SEC Player of the Year  (12 May 98)
        Tennessee senior 2B Jeff Pickler was named the SEC's Player of the Year for the 1998 Baseball
season.  It was some consolation for the Vols, who stumbled to a substandard SEC record, missed the
SEC Tournament and were not invited to an NCAA Regional for the first time in six years.  UT Sports'
Official Site has the story about Pickler.  The story includes this year's All-SEC Baseball Team, which
tabbed Pickler, Sonny Cortez, and Travis Copley.

Kentucky Beats USC; Vols to Stay Home for SEC Tourney (10 May 98)
        Despite winning an 11-10 slugfest against Vanderbilt on Saturday evening, Tennessee was
eliminated from SEC Tournament competition.  The Kentucky Wildcats scratched out yet another
one-run win over South Carolina, 15-14 in 11 innings.  The victory clinched third place in the SEC East
for the Cats, along with the automatic SEC Tourney berth that the Vols were hoping to snatch from
Kentucky's grasp.  The 98 Vol baseballers are assured of their worst SEC record in 38 years.  It's a
disappointing end to a season that looked very promising only two months ago, when the Vols were
ranked #9 in the nation by Collegiate Baseball.   Go here for the story online at govols.com.

Coach Fulmer Selects 1998 Captains (10 May 98)
         Head coach Philip Fulmer announced on Saturday that he had chosen four Tennessee seniors as
football captains for the '98 season.  They are:
            -Al Wilson, Linebacker from Jackson, Tennessee
            -Shawn Bryson, Fullback from Franklin, North Carolina
            -Mercedes Hamilton, Offensive Guard from Waynesboro, Georgia
            -Jeff Hall, Placekicker from Winchester, Tennessee
        Wilson and Hall were also selected as first-teamers on the Jumpmaster 1998 Preseason All-SEC
Team.  Fulmer delayed his decision longer than in past seasons, carefully gauging which of his seniors
would step forward and become leaders.  These four are well-deserving, and this year's Vols will be
served well by their experience and competitive fire.  Go here for the Knoxville News-Sentinel's article on
this subject.  Congratulations Football Captains!!

Auburn Receiver Pleads Guilty (8 May 98)
        Former Auburn wide receiver Robert Baker plead guilty to cocaine trafficking in an Alabama court
Thursday.  Baker, the Tigers' leader in all-purpose yardage in 1996, received a sentence of 15 years in prison.  Drug trafficking is considered a class A felony and carries a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years without the possibility of parole.  Two lesser charges of cocaine sales were dropped in exchange for Baker's guilty plea.  Baker reportedly sold cocaine to undercover agents on three separate occasions.  He was arrested after the last drug deal, in which he sold over 100 grams of cocaine with a street value in excess of $5,000 to the agents.

Gator QB Has Surgery (8 May 98)
        Florida junior quarterback Doug Johnson had surgery Thursday on his ailing right shoulder.
Johnson, also a minor league baseball player in the Tampa Bay farm system, was spectacular in the
Gators' win over Tennessee last year in Gainesville.  Johnson was battling sophomore Jesse Palmer for
the starting QB job for this season's Gator team; the job now falls to Palmer.  One of the motivating
factors that caused Johnson to opt for surgery, rather than a lengthy rehabilitation program, is his hope to
return in time to play for the Gators this season.

    Baseball Update  (8 May 98)
        The Vols did their part tonight, downing Vanderbilt 12-6.  Jeff Pickler, the SEC's leading hitter, went 3-for-4 with a home run.  JoMo (Josh Morris), Sonny Cortez, and Eduardo Figueroa also homered.  Figueroa's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning gave UT a 10-5 lead, after Vandy had crept to within one run at 6-5 in the top of the inning.
        The joy was diminished when the PA announcer at the game announced the Kentucky-South Carolina final score.  The Wildcats scratched out a come-from-behind 8-7 win in 11 innings.  That means one more win by Kentucky this weekend over the Gamecocks eliminates Tennessee from SEC Tournament play, and most likely dashes the Vols' hopes of making an NCAA regional this year.

    BaseVols Face Critical Weekend (7 May 98)
        The Volunteer Baseball team faces a last-ditch effort to keep their string of appearing in six straight NCAA Regionals alive this weekend.  The Vols, 33-20 overall, have posted a disappointing 8-17 record in league play and face an uphill task to qualify for the upcoming SEC Tournament to be played May 13-17 in Birmingham.  The SEC Tourney features a new format this year, similar to the College World Series.  It will be an eight-team double elimination affair.  The top three teams in each division will automatically qualify, and two more at-large teams will be invited as well, based on best records in league play.  Because of the fine SEC records of West Division teams, the Vols would not qualify for an at-large invitation and thus must win the 3rd place East Division spot.  Tennessee currently trails Kentucky for third place in the East, and thus for a spot in the Tourney.  The Wildcats are 10-17 in SEC competition and can clinch a trip to Birmingham by winning two out of three games at home this weekend against division-leading South Carolina.  Tennessee will finish third and qualify for league tournament play if the Vols sweep Vandy this weekend and Kentucky loses at least twice to USC.  An appearance in the SEC Tournament, and a decent showing in Birmingham, would greatly enhance the Vols' chances to be selected for an NCAA Regional.  Here are the pitching matchups for the UT-Vandy series this weekend in Knoxville:
    Friday:  Vanderbilt (Jr. RHP Bert Snow 5-6, 4.48 ERA) at Tennessee (Jr. RHP Kurt Scott 5-6, 5.21), 7 p.m. ET
    Saturday:  Vanderbilt (Fr. LHP Andy Beal 2-6, 7.46) at Tennessee (Jr. RHP Luke Hudson 4-3, 6.50), 7 p.m. ET
    Sunday:  Vanderbilt (Sr. RHP Paul Seybt 2-2, 5.98) at Tennessee (Fr. LHP Justin Parker 0-0, 3.82), 2 p.m. ET

To listen to these games on the Internet, Go Here and click on the icon under Mike Keith's picture.  You'll need to download the free RealPlayer program if you haven't done so already.  Get it here.
 
    DE Shaun Ellis Will Not Require Surgery (5 May 98)
    By The Associated Press
      Tennessee defensive end Shaun Ellis apparently will not need surgery on an injured hip.  Ellis, a projected starter, had a CAT scan Friday on his hip, which was hurt in a traffic accident in March.  "This is not the end of the line as far as evaluations go, but things are looking pretty promising," head trainer Mike Rollo said Monday.  Ellis, of Anderson, S.C., had been using crutches but is now walking with a cane.

    Grindstaff, Walker, Slay to be Vols  (5 May 98)
        The number one high school junior basketball prospect in Tennessee has given an early commitment to play for the Vol hoopsters.  Ron Slay, 6-6 power forward who averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for Nashville Pearl-Cohn, continues an outstanding recruiting season for Tennessee.  Slay has decided not to play his senior year at Pearl-Cohn, seeking instead to raise the level of his game by playing at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.  Many star ACC and SEC players have gone this route, such as Ron Mercer, who went on to superstardom at Kentucky and now plays for the Boston Celtics.  Last month the Vols landed transfer Jenis Grindstaff, former Virginia Tech guard.  As a freshman, Grindstaff led Tech in assists and minutes played, and was second on the team in scoring with 10.5 points per game.  Grindstaff will have to sit out the '98-99 season because of his transfer, but he will have three years of eligibility remaining at UT.  A third star player, Harris Walker of Chattanooga Brainerd, was also offered a scholarship by Coach Jerry Green's staff last week.  Walker, the Class 2A Mr. Basketball, has been sought after by the Vols for several months, but his academics were in question.  His latest SAT score was improved enough for the Vols to believe he can become academically eligible; so the scholarship was offered.  Walker has been called "the best player I have ever coached" by his basketball coach at Brainerd.  That's high praise, measured against players such as current UT star C.J. Black and former Georgia Tech star Malcolm Mackey.

    Defensive Lineman Moore to Enroll in January (1 May 98)
        Football signee Rashad Moore, a 6-3 280-lb defensive tackle out of J.O.Johnson High School in Huntsville, Alabama, has failed the English portion of the Alabama high school exit exam.  As a result, Moore cannot graduate and will not be academically eligible to play football at UT this fall.  The exam will not be offered again until September, forcing Moore to wait until January 1999, at the earliest, to enroll at the University of Tennessee.  Moore's academics have been in question all spring, but recently he achieved the required ACT score and was likely to make the minimum core GPA as well; however, a student in Alabama must also pass the exit exam to graduate and be eligible for college.  This is a setback for the Vols, who are beset with injuries along the defensive line and could have used Moore, perhaps even as a true freshman this fall.  Hopefully Moore can pass the exam and join the team in January, making him available for next year's spring drills.
        On a related note, signee John Henderson, the state's #1 prospect as a senior at Nashville Pearl-Cohn, recently failed to achieve the minimum ACT score needed to make him a full qualifier.  Henderson has the required core GPA, but not the test score.  At worst, he would be a partial qualifier who could practice with the team, but not play in games.  Henderson has one more chance to improve his ACT score this summer; he is only a couple of sub-points short.

    Manning OK After Traffic Accident (30 Apr 98)
        Number one NFL draft pick Peyton Manning was not injured when the car in which he was riding was rear-ended by a drunk driver.  No one was injured in the wreck which occurred at 3:10 am at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and Volunteer Boulevard.  Manning was a passenger in a 1991 Honda Accord, driven by 20-year-old Tracy Hamachek.  Their vehicle was struck in the rear by a 1985 Volkswagen driven by Sarah M. Brett, 21, of Kingston.  Brett, who had a 12-pack of beer in her car, was unable to perform field sobriety tests and blew 0.19 when police administered a breathalyzer test.  Brett gave police a canceled Louisiana driver's license.  She was jailed in lieu of $1,000 bond.
 

                                        [ Jumpmaster's Vols Page ]     [ Recruiting ]    [ Recruiting Gossip ] 
 

This page hosted byGet your ownFree Homepage