Knoxville’s Rusty Ensor still hasn’t gotten baseball out of his system.

The 1978 Bearden High School graduate was one of the best power hitters in University of Tennessee history in just two seasons after two years of baseball at Motlow State Community College.

2. Little-Known Coleman Wowing Fans in Europe - Friday, May 4, 2018

Christian Coleman is just another guy when he’s on campus at the University of Tennessee.

3. Pruitt Pumped Up for ‘Exciting’ Spring Game - Friday, April 20, 2018

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt loosened up a bit as the Vols went through spring practices last week, talking at length about individual players for the first time.

Big deal? Yeah, probably for media and fans starved for information about Pruitt’s first team of Vols.

4. Pruitt Brings Fresh, Quieter Approach To Football Practice - Friday, April 13, 2018

I find the culture shift of Tennessee football under new head coach Jeremy Pruitt this spring to be refreshing.

5. Who Starts on Defense? You’ll Have to Wait - Friday, April 6, 2018

Jeremy Pruitt hasn’t been afraid to change things around during his first spring practice as Tennessee’s head football coach.

6. Football Can’t Arrive Soon Enough for Vols Fans - Friday, March 30, 2018

Thank goodness Tennessee spring football is here. Vol Nation needs a diversion with all that’s happened the past couple of weeks, like the men’s basketball team losing to Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament’s second round, and Loyola advancing to the Final Four.

7. Last Word: Pre-K's Longer Reach, Penny's Contract and Thad Cochran's Farewell - Friday, March 23, 2018

The Arkansas gate of Big River Crossing will reopen Friday morning at 6 a.m. The gate to the West Memphis side of the crossing leading to the Big River Trail on the flood plain below has been closed since the Mississippi River at Memphis reached flood stage several weeks ago. The river level has been falling for about a week. The Big River Trail floodway portions remain closed for now as some of the debris from the river is removed in those areas. While the trails are closed this is a good time to get a look from the crossing at the flood plain’s transition when the river rises and then starts to go down.

8. Mixed Emotions as Vols, Lady Vols Exit Postseason - Friday, March 23, 2018

Wait till next year. Again. Hope for better. It’s going to be a long offseason for Tennessee basketball.

The Vols were seeded No. 3 in the NCAA Tournament’s South Region and were upset by No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago, 63-62, in the second round in Dallas.

9. Last Word: Waiting on Hardaway, Campaign Habits and Hasheem Thabeet's Shadow - Friday, March 16, 2018

Penny Hardaway’s formal hiring as the new Tigers basketball coach is expected next week and you can almost hear all of the resume’s hitting Hardaway’s email as he puts together a staff. Hardaway’s name first surfaced as a possible coach in the last days of Josh Pastner, pre-Tubby Smith. It's only become stronger and better developed since then.

10. A Look Back At UT’s History In NCAA Tourney - Friday, March 16, 2018

Basketball coach Rick Barnes was fired by Texas in late March of 2015 when he refused to fire members of his coaching staff.

11. Russell Happy She Came Back, Even If . . . - Friday, March 9, 2018

Mercedes Russell had a tough decision to make last March when the Tennessee Lady Vols ended a disappointing season in the second round of the NCAA women’s tournament.

Should the 6-foot-6 center enter the 2017 WNBA Draft or return as a fifth-year senior at Tennessee?

12. ‘Gym Rat’ Building Another Winning Program - Friday, March 2, 2018

Tennessee’s basketball team is rolling into March Madness.

Amazing.

The 16th-ranked Vols (22-7, 12-5 SEC) entered this week second in the SEC standings and having clinched a double-bye in the March 7-11 SEC tournament with one regular-season games remaining, Saturday against Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena (6 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

13. Woodruff Settles into Dream Job With Vols - Friday, February 23, 2018

Knoxville native Chris Woodruff was at a crossroads in life when he retired from professional tennis in 2002.

14. Last Word: Post Parkland, May County Primary Ballot and Friedman on the Mid East - Friday, February 16, 2018

In the wake of the Parkland, Florida school massacre, local school systems here are talking about their preparations for such instances. And for those who don’t have a child in schools currently, it is something of a commentary about the times many of our children live in. The Shelby County Schools statement Thursday includes the following safety measures already in place:

15. Signing Class Disappointing, But Groundwork Laid - Friday, February 16, 2018

Tennessee football fans are hoping for a better National Signing Day in 2019. This year’s was a relative dud.

New coach Jeremy Pruitt, hired on Dec. 7, signed six players on Feb. 7 but whiffed on several high-profile recruits he and his staff were pursuing. He had signed 14 players during the first-ever early signing period Dec. 20-22.

16. Vitello Era Begins as Vols Launch 2018 Season - Friday, February 9, 2018

Tennessee baseball is off to a fresh start under first-year coach Tony Vitello, and senior catcher Benito Santiago is savoring every minute of it.

Santiago was along for the ride as the Dave Serrano coaching era ended last spring after six seasons. He says Vitello has brought a new vibe to the program.

17. Last Word: Closing the Loophole, Skeleton Hotel Update and Jubilee Conversion - Friday, February 2, 2018

The state legislator who sponsored the most recent version of the law making it much more difficult to remove Confederate monuments acknowledges that the city of Memphis found a legitimate loophole in the 2016 law he crafted. Republican Steve McDaniel, of Parkers Crossroads, tells our Nashville correspondent Sam Stockard that he has a bill in the House to close the loophole. But it won't undo what happened here. Although there is still a court fight over that taking shape.

18. UT Defies Expectations, Projected as No. 4, 5 Seed - Friday, February 2, 2018

You won’t find a lot of star power on Tennessee’s basketball team. You will find a roster of players buying into the system of third-year coach Rick Barnes.

19. Last Word: Eureka Education, Confederate Monuments in Court and Dillon Brooks - Friday, January 26, 2018

Supermarkets are hard. That is the tag line in every discussion about getting a supermarket or grocery store for a given part of town that doesn’t have one. And once a new supermarket goes up somewhere else, there is inevitably word that a competitor or two is going to build nearby. The discussion always includes the mandatory recitation of the 3 to 4 percent profit margin stores operate on, which even knowledgeable critics of the decisions about where to locate and not to locate stores acknowledge is accurate.

20. Warlick Finally Finds The Right Team Chemistry - Friday, January 26, 2018

If the Tennessee Lady Vols make a run in the NCAA basketball tournament this year, Webb School girls basketball coach Shelley Collier will be cheering them on the whole way.

21. Last Word: The Snow Split, Amazon Post-Mortem and Intermodal Comeback - Friday, January 19, 2018

A split verdict on Snow Day 4. Some school systems and colleges and universities are out again Friday, others are not and still others are opening later in the day. Shelby County Schools, which is out, says it has 13 extra days built into its schedule for just such an event or events – that is 13 days extra beyond the 180 days the state requires as the bare minimum for a school year.

22. Pruitt’s SEC-Heavy Staff a Recruiting Coup - Friday, January 19, 2018

It was early December, 2012, and Butch Jones stood in front of a podium after being named Tennessee’s 24th football coach.

“I can assure you,” Jones said at his introductory press conference. “We will put together the best football staff in the country. Not just in the Southeastern Conference, but the entire country.”

23. After Disaster of 2017, New Year Looking Good for Vols - Friday, January 12, 2018

Vol Nation should celebrate. It’s a new year. It’s got to be better than 2017. Tennessee athletics had a bad year, one of the worst ever. It was rough for fans, alumni and boosters.

24. Last Word: Saturday In The Parks, The Citizen and Kroger Backlash - Friday, January 5, 2018

No protest or march permits applied for at City Hall as of Thursday morning in anticipation of a Saturday Confederate monuments protest, according to city chief legal officer Bruce McMullen at Thursday’s taping of “Behind The Headlines.” Our discussion included lots about the city’s move toward taking down the monuments Dec. 20 and what could happen next. Also, McMullen tells us there were some other nonprofits that talked with the city about Health Sciences and Memphis Parks before Memphis Greenspace. The show airs Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on WKNO TV.

25. Pruitt Makes Most of Early Signing Date - Friday, January 5, 2018

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt could have done a lot worse during the Dec. 20-22 early signing period, the first-ever for high school recruits in college football.

It was a recruiting whirlwind for Pruitt, named UT’s coach Dec. 7 while still serving as Alabama’s defensive coordinator.

26. Last Word: The Day After, Frayser Bauhaus and Gasol & Fizdale - Friday, December 22, 2017

Less than 24 hours after the Forrest statue in Health Sciences Park was taken down and away, Memphians were taking selfies with what’s left of the very considerable base in the background. And this is only going to become more prevalent when the weather improves and you will probably see folks out there who have some very different views on the removal of the statues.

27. Amid the Tumult, a Vol Legacy Finally Gets His Call - Friday, December 22, 2017

Jacob Warren got one of the best phone calls of his life a couple of weeks ago. The senior tight end at Farragut High School was relieved to hear what new Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt told him.

28. Former AD Dickey has Confidence in Fulmer, Pruitt - Friday, December 15, 2017

Doug Dickey lived and breathed some of Tennessee’s football glory days, and he would like nothing better than to see those days return.

Dickey, 85, retired and living in Jacksonville, Florida, still loves Tennessee football. He coached the Vols to the Litkenhous national championship in 1967 when the Vols finished 9-2. USC, 9-1, was declared the national champs in the AP, Coaches, FWAA and NFF polls.

29. Last Word: Bredesen's Return, Ford's Exit and Otis Redding 50 Years On - Friday, December 8, 2017

Former Tennessee Gov. and Nashville mayor Phil Bredesen formally entered the 2018 race for the U.S. Senate Thursday via a YouTube video. AP on Bredesen’s entry and his background. Republican partisans are already assuming Bredesen is the Democratic nominee and Democratic partisans are already assuming U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is the Republican nominee. And the expectation of such a match up automatically went on the list of midterm races that those on both sides and pundits inbetween will be watching to get a read on national trends.

30. Pay for No Play: Paying Millions to Former Coaches - Friday, December 8, 2017

Tennessee’s bungled search for a football coach will come at a cost for the university. A big cost.

There are buyouts everywhere. A potential lawsuit looms. And a rift between boosters caused by the botched search may be the costliest item of all for the university long term.

31. Last Word: Lake District Recycling, The New First and The AAC 'Glass Ceiling' - Friday, December 1, 2017

The U.S. Senate vote on a tax reform plan is now set for 10 a.m. our time Friday morning following more debate in D.C. that began Thursday as the trigger provision to raise tax rates if economic growth from the proposed tax cuts doesn't materialize was ruled out of order by the Senate parliamentarian. This was the provision on which the support of U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee hinged. And Corker is leading a group of deficit hawks whose block of votes is considered crucial in what happens to a proposal that was being reshaped as midnight approached. Here's Politico with comments from Corker as of late Thursday

32. Tennessee’s Hot Seat Finds a New Office - Friday, December 1, 2017

Tennessee football isn’t what it used to be. Nor is the attraction of being UT’s football coach.

It became more and more apparent this week as first-year UT athletics director John Currie tried to hire his first football coach as an AD.

33. Hillsboro’s Phillips Playing for Bragging Rights - Thursday, November 23, 2017

Tennessee’s football team and interim head coach Brady Hoke will try to avoid a historically bad season Saturday.

If the Vols (4-7, 0-7 SEC) lose to Vanderbilt (4-7, 0-7), it would be the first team in program history to lose eight games and go winless in the conference. Kickoff is 3 p.m. CST at Neyland Stadium (TV: SEC Network).

34. Last Word: 2018 Head Start, Tax Reform Bill Votes and Tigers Basketball in Decline - Friday, November 17, 2017

Can you smell the paper? Friday is the first day that candidates in the 2018 elections can start picking up qualifying petitions for their place on the ballot – in this case the May county primary elections in Shelby County. Here is the scene setter.

35. Interim Coach Can Get Vols Into Bowl Game - Friday, November 17, 2017

Brady Hoke makes his debut as Tennessee’s interim football coach Saturday at 7 p.m. EST (ESPN) against LSU in Neyland Stadium.

Perhaps it’s an audition for the head coaching vacancy left when Butch Jones was fired on Sunday morning, hours after the Vols (4-6, 0-6 SEC) returned to Knoxville from a 50-17 loss at Missouri.

36. Last Word: Mega-Site, New Chandler Real Estate Numbers and Grizz Second Unit - Friday, November 10, 2017

When the state’s new commissioner of Economic and Community Development met several months ago with local leaders in Arlington, Bob Rolfe said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam had made it clear that Rolfe’s primary task between then and when Haslam leaves office at the end of 2018 is to find a tenant for the west Tennessee megasite in Haywood County. Toyota-Mazda executives told the state this week that their $1.6 billion electric car plant to be built in the U.S. and create 4,000 jobs will not be considering the megasite and another un-named prospect has also walked away, according to the state.

37. Upset at Missouri Vital to Bowl Hopes for Tennessee Vols - Friday, November 10, 2017

Tennessee’s football program remains in limbo as the Vols pursue bowl eligibility under fifth-year coach Butch Jones.

Jones is hanging onto his job as the Vols (4-5, 0-5 SEC) play their final three games of the season, starting with Saturday night’s 7:30 ET game (SEC Network) against Missouri (4-5, 1-4 SEC) in Columbia.

38. Last Word: Changes Behind Highland Row, Lee Harris Opens and Ron Olson Moves - Friday, November 3, 2017

Shelby County Commission chairwoman Heidi Shafer says the commission, through its attorneys, is in ‘the final stages of launching litigation” against big pharma over the opioid problem locally. And in a written statement Thursday she said she believes the litigation “will result in significant recovery for hundreds of millions of dollars that Shelby County has spent trying to heal, save, nurse and otherwise deal with the opioid crisis.” Shafer specifically announced the hiring on a contingency basis of a national law firm.

39. Jones’ Teams Have Never Regressed, Until Now - Friday, November 3, 2017

Looks like Butch Jones has survived another week to coach Tennessee’s football team.

What happens if UT loses to Southern Miss at homecoming Saturday night (7:30 ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium? Good question.

40. Last Word: Weekend Plans, Leaving Home and the Clown Show Turns a Corner - Friday, October 27, 2017

Grizz win at the Forum 96 – 91 against the Mavericks Thursday, a night after losing to the Mavericks in Dallas. And off we go into a busy weekend starting with Friday’s University of Memphis football game at the Liberty Bowl against Tulane and into Saturday’s Race for the Cure through Downtown followed closely by day two of the River Arts Fest in South Main, which begins its three-day run Friday evening.

41. UT Motivation? Bowl Game, Saving Jones’ Job - Friday, October 27, 2017

Butch Jones will be Tennessee’s football coach Saturday night against Kentucky in Lexington.

It could be his last as the Vols’ coach.

Jones is on a sizzling hot seat after the Vols (3-4, 0-4 SEC) were dominated by No. 1-ranked Alabama 45-7 last Saturday. Speculation is rampant Jones will be fired or already is on his way out.

42. Last Word: Alexander on Trump, Gibson Sells and Chandler Home Sales Numbers - Friday, October 20, 2017

If you tuned out at half-time in Houston Thursday evening, you may need to examine your committment and give me five sets of wind sprints from East Parkway to the fountain at the other end of Tiger Lane. And no drinking the blue water.

43. Not Worried About Bama? Just Wait Until Kickoff - Friday, October 20, 2017

Tennessee’s football team will make history Saturday against No. 1-ranked Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC), no matter what happens with the game.

The Vols (3-3, 0-3 SEC) were 34-point underdogs early in the week for the 3:30 EDT game (TV: CBS) in Tuscaloosa. The 34-point spread is the largest ever in the UT-Alabama series.

44. Last Word: Athens Bound, The Amazon Campaign and All Things Grizz - Friday, October 13, 2017

This may be the most covered meeting of the Tennessee Historical Commission ever – the meeting Friday in Athens, Tennessee where Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will attempt to make the case for the commission granting him permission to remove the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest in Health Sciences Park. The chairman of the commission has already told Strickland in writing that the commission will not take up the matter – not even discuss it. Strickland hopes he will at least be heard. And he says the city should have a decision by mid-November and is adamant that this cannot be put off into the new year.

45. Reeling Vols Are 0-5 Against Carolina’s Muschamp - Friday, October 13, 2017

Fans are fuming. Players are fighting. Butch Jones is coaching for his job.

The Tennessee football coach is in dire need of a good showing when the Vols (3-2, 0-2 SEC) play host to South Carolina (4-2, 2-2) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium (noon, ESPN).

46. Last Word: The Chamber on Forrest, Different Amazon News & More 2018 Dominoes - Friday, October 6, 2017

The Greater Memphis Chamber rolls out its part of the push by the city administration to get a state waiver for the removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest statue. Next week is the meeting of the Tennessee Historical Commission with Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland showing up to make his pitch. That is even though the chairman of the body has told him the commission will not take up a waiver at the meeting.

47. UT QBs, Receivers, Coaches Struggling So Far - Friday, October 6, 2017

Tennessee’s football players are on fall break this weekend during the open date. You’ve got to wonder how many players fifth-year UT coach Butch Jones will get back after the break.

Fallout from last Saturday’s 41-0 loss to No. 5 Georgia is massive. Fans were leaving Neyland Stadium by halftime with the Vols trailing 24-0. Jones took a beating from fans on social media and sports talk radio all week.

48. Last Word: Haslam Talks, Harding Consolidates and Lenoir Launches - Friday, September 29, 2017

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam had a bit more to say Thursday about a possible run for the U.S. Senate seat Bob Corker is leaving than the “I love my job” quote we chronicled earlier in the week that Corker quickened the pace of with his decision on re-election. Haslam says he is giving a run for the Senate serious consideration. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning is not.

49. Shaky Start Exposes Raw Nerves as Dawgs Roll In - Friday, September 29, 2017

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones had more than Georgia on his mind this week. Rumors on message boards and reports on sports talk radio flamed the fires around Jones and the Vols after last Saturday’s 17-13 victory over Massachusetts at Neyland Stadium.

50. Last Word: GPAC's Grove, Fairgrounds Tea Leaves and Grizz Money Matters - Friday, September 22, 2017

The Germantown Performing Arts Center has plans for an open-air performance center to be called “The Grove at GPAC” – the latest consideration in what is becoming a vibrant discussion about the capacity for concerts within Shelby County. And it is also a discussion about concert venues that can do other things like festival and movies.

51. Win vs. Georgia Now Needed to Save Season - Friday, September 22, 2017

It’s been a long week for Tennessee football. UT’s Sept. 30 game against Georgia at Neyland Stadium can’t get here soon enough. Not after the Vols’ 26-20 loss to Florida last Saturday in Gainesville.

52. Last Word: Juvenile Court Return, Berlin Boyd's Week and Tony Allen Thoughts - Friday, September 15, 2017

Two weeks ago Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael was on Behind The Headlines in a half-hour conversation about the court and federal oversight that drew quite a bit of reaction to Michael’s strong opinions about the need to end that oversight. Even before that reaction we had planned to do a second part of the conversation with those who favor continued federal oversight of the court.

53. All Eyes on Shoop’s Defense Against Gators - Friday, September 15, 2017

Butch Jones will coach one of the biggest games of his Tennessee career against Florida on Saturday.

It’s an even bigger game for UT defensive coordinator Bob Shoop.

Shoop was hired Jan. 9, 2016, from Penn State to fortify Tennessee’s defense, arriving with much hoopla and great expectations. So far, he has not delivered like he did at Penn State (2014-15) and Vanderbilt (2011-13).

54. Last Word: The Amazon Competition, Millington Shelters and Grizz Ownership Drama - Friday, September 8, 2017

With a social media post Thursday morning, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the city is ready to compete in a very public competition for the $5-billion second North American headquarters Amazon.com announced earlier Thursday. Some context here. The $5 billion investment by Amazon in what it calls HQ2 compares to the $9 billion St. Jude is investing in its expansion including about $1 billion in capital costs and the rest research, technology and other development costs included in what is more than a physical expansion.

55. Breather for Vols Before Traveling to Florida - Friday, September 8, 2017

Get ready for another thrill ride, Tennessee fans. Your football team is at it again, just like last year.

Tennessee needed a comeback and overtime to beat Appalachian State in its 2016 season opener. The Vols needed comebacks to beat Virginia Tech and Florida and got a Hail Mary touchdown pass as time ran out to beat Georgia.

56. Last Word: Football In The Rain, Shakespeare in Cordova and The Grizz Roster - Friday, September 1, 2017

There are moments in the history of sports amateur and professional that involve turn outs like the one Thursday at the Liberty Bowl for the Tigers football season opener. There were the people who ran the St. Jude marathon in the ice several years back even after the race was cancelled. Going back to the 1980s, there were those who came out in below freezing temps for Alabama Coach Bear Bryant’s last game that came at the annual Liberty Bowl.

57. Vols, Jackets Each Eager to Make Statement - Friday, September 1, 2017

Enough of the talk. Enough of the speculation. Let’s play some football.

Tennessee starts its fifth season of the Butch Jones coaching era on Monday night against Georgia Tech at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is 8 p.m. (TV: ESPN).

58. Looks Like Another 8-4 Season for Tennessee - Friday, August 25, 2017

Oops. I goofed last year. So did lots of other people who thought Tennessee’s football team would win the SEC East Division and go to the league championship game for the first time since 2007.

59. Wolf, Offense Look To Prove Predictions Wrong - Friday, August 18, 2017

It’s championship or bust for Tennessee senior tight end Ethan Wolf.

Bowl victories are nice. So are nine-win seasons. But Wolf wants a lot more in his final season with the Vols.

“Our goal here at Tennessee every single year is to win a championship, and that’s going to remain the goal,” Wolf says. “Yeah, there may have been a little bit of excitement the first year, maybe the second year winning the bowl game. It’s always exciting, but that’s the bare minimum right now.”

60. Last Word: Collierville's New School, New Cops and Z-Bo's Bust - Friday, August 11, 2017

Collierville Schools superintendent John Aitken knew the crowd at the Collierville Chamber of Commerce Wednesday wanted to see how the city’s new $90 million high school was coming along a year before its scheduled opening. And he brought plenty of aerials to show the progress. But Aitken also came to talk about what is to happen in the new Collierville High School once the construction is done.

61. Kelly, Legacy Teammates Ready for Final Season With Vols - Friday, August 11, 2017

Todd Kelly Jr. can’t believe it’s his last hoorah. The senior safety from Webb School of Knoxville enters his final season at Tennessee with thoughts of how it all started in fall of 2014.

62. Last Word: More Intermodals, 20 Years After the Oilers In Memphis and New Path - Friday, July 28, 2017

The "skinny" repeal of Obamacare comes up short in the U.S. Senate in an after midnight Friday vote in D.C. And it appears U.S. Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee voted for the repeal measure that came up short. Here are the basics early Friday morning from The New York Times.

63. A ‘Life-Changing’ Trip To Vietnam for Midstate Vols - Friday, July 28, 2017

Nashville’s Kyle Phillips never knew how good he had it as a University of Tennessee football player. Not until he went to Vietnam with The VOLeaders Academy for a 13-day study with numerous other student-athletes from UT. They left June 29 and returned two weeks later.

64. Brain Disease Seen in Most Football Players in Large Report - Wednesday, July 26, 2017

CHICAGO (AP) – Research on 202 former football players found evidence of a brain disease linked to repeated head blows in nearly all of them, from athletes in the National Football League, college and even high school.

65. Last Word: Freeze Warning, Corker on Obamacare Repeal and The Disney Example - Friday, July 21, 2017

What do you call it when you expect a lot of trouble coming from a specific direction – with a detailed roadmap -- and a completely different controversy comes in from a different direction, hits and leaves a crater. Whatever you call it, that is what happened to Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze Thursday evening. Or did it?

66. Vols Roster Gets Little Respect from SEC Media - Friday, July 21, 2017

It was no surprise last week when Tennessee’s football team was picked to finish third by the media in the East Division at 2017 SEC Media Days.

Almost every national publication is picking the Vols third in the East behind Georgia and Florida, although not necessarily in that order.

67. Last Word: Fifth Wave, Hidden Gem in OB and the Freeze Filibuster - Friday, July 14, 2017

There is one less contender in the crowded field of potential and declared candidates for the Republican nomination for Governor in 2018. State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris of Collierville was nominated for federal court judge Thursday by President Donald Trump who also nominated Memphis attorney and former federal prosecutor Tommy Parker to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee as well. Both are part of what The White House described as a “fifth wave” of judicial nominees.

68. ‘Cheeseburger Buddies’ Make Nice for TV - Friday, July 14, 2017

Tennessee coach Butch Jones passed his first test of the 2017 football season Monday. He made it through SEC Media Days.

There were no new catch phrases, although Jones did allude to the team’s “D.A.T.” (Details, Accountability, Toughness) motto. But nothing close to “champions of life” or “five-star hearts.”

69. Last Word: No Deal, Ivan Rabb and Intermodals in Overton Park - Friday, June 30, 2017

And the winner is … not Fred’s. After months of speculation about the Memphis-based discount retail store’s transformation into a pharmacy-based enterprise with the purchase of hundreds of Rite Aid stores in a third-party divestment move, Fred’s was nowhere to be found when Walgreens announced a deal Thursday to buy the Rite Aid stores. The corporation told investors it will still pursue its strategy but acknowledged its trajectory is “stunted” – that as Fred’s got hammered on Wall Street.

70. Redshirt Season Helps Johnson Improve Game - Friday, June 30, 2017

Jalen Johnson’s first season on Tennessee’s basketball team didn’t go as planned. Now, he’s better for it.

The 6-foot-5 wing from Durham, North Carolina, arrived on campus last fall barely 170 pounds and competing for minutes with the likes of Robert Hubbs III, who led the Vols in scoring (13.7) and minutes (31.6) as a senior last season.

71. Last Word: Health Care Plan React, Treasury Footprint and Tom Bowen - Take Two - Friday, June 23, 2017

It’s like they aren’t even looking at the same legislation. That’s one explanation of the very different reviews the Senate health care bill got Thursday as it was unveiled in Washington. Illustrating the contrast, the reactions of Republican U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis.

72. ‘Desire to be the Best’ Prompts Coleman’s Jump to Pros - Friday, June 23, 2017

Three years after starting his Tennessee career, Christian Coleman has reached the pinnacle of collegiate sprinting and is ready for his next challenge.

73. Power Pitching, Hitting Goal Of New UT Baseball Coach - Saturday, June 17, 2017

Tony Vitello wants to put a Power T in Tennessee baseball, and with it a yearly contender for SEC championships and NCAA tournament bids.

The new UT baseball coach was introduced last Friday at Tennessee’s Lindsey Nelson Stadium. He emphasized power pitching and power hitting as part of his rebuilding plan.

74. Last Word: The Mackin Letter, A County Property Tax Cut and UrbanArts Responds - Friday, June 9, 2017

The Overton Gateway multi-family development on the eastern side of Overton Park looks to be the next development controversy heading for City Hall. The Land Use Control Board voted down the amended MRG plans Thursday that have drawn neighborhood opposition in both versions. The LUCB rejection doesn’t stop the project. It goes to the Memphis City Council at a date to be determined with a negative recommendation that certainly doesn’t do the project any favors.

75. Not a Very Good Year for UT Athletics - Friday, June 9, 2017

It hasn’t been the greatest of years for Tennessee sports. From football to basketball to baseball, and several sports in between, the Vols – for the most part – fell short in 2016-17.

76. Last Word: Sessions Notes, Lakeland Elects and Golf Classic Turns 60 - Friday, May 26, 2017

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions doesn’t stick with the script he has when he makes a speech, like the one he gave Thursday at the federal building to a room full of federal prosecutors and local and state law enforcement. Some of that comes from his background as a former U.S. Attorney and Alabama’s Attorney General, not to mention his tenure as a U.S. senator.

77. Big Names With UT Ties Eyed for Vol Baseball Job - Friday, May 26, 2017

Tennessee baseball is starting a new era. Dave Serrano coached his final games for the Vols (27-25, 7-21 SEC) last weekend when the Vols were swept by Missouri (35-21, 14-16) in a three-game series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

78. Last Word: Carousel Preview, New Crime Stats and EDGE Does Multi-Family - Friday, May 19, 2017

The group Friends of the Fairgrounds got together Thursday evening at the Children’s Museum of Memphis and got the first group tour of the Grand Carousel center under construction at CMOM. This is as the museum focuses more on fundraising for the $6 million project that has already raised the money for the restoration of the carousel itself and now sets about the task of paying for the building around it including a banquet hall. Here’s a look from our Facebook page with more to come on CMOM and the Fairgrounds for the Monday edition that will probably go up on line Friday.

79. Road to WCWS Once Again Goes Through UT - Friday, May 19, 2017

Several of Tennessee’s athletic teams would just be glad to get an NCAA Tournament bid. UT’s softball team expects a lot more. Like getting to the Women’s College World Series.

80. Last Word: Weekend Sonic Boom, CLERB's Response and Irvin Salky - Friday, May 12, 2017

Yes, those were the United States Navy Blue Angels buzzing Downtown Thursday afternoon in advance of their appearance at the Memphis Airshow Saturday and Sunday in Millington. That sound you heard after the flyover wasn’t a sonic boom. I don’t think they have those anymore. It was the sound of a really busy weekend following close behind.

81. New AD Fires Shot Easily Heard at Nelson Stadium - Friday, May 12, 2017

Tennessee coaches of all sports were alerted last Thursday when Sam Winterbotham was fired after 11 seasons as the Vols’ men’s tennis coach.

No doubt UT baseball coach Dave Serrano got the alert. He could be next in line.

82. How Did Vols Not Win More With This Talent? - Friday, May 5, 2017

One check of the 2017 NFL Draft shows why Tennessee was the favorite to win the SEC East Division last fall.

UT had six players drafted in the first four rounds, the most for the program since 2002, breaking a two-year drought with no players. The six Vols drafted tied for the most since 2010 and 2007. Eight Vols were drafted in 2003 and 10 drafted in 2002.

83. Last Word: End of The Season, Honoring Forrest and MATA's Coming Campaign - Friday, April 28, 2017

It’s over. No Game 7 for the Grizz and the off-season begins. Spurs advance after beating the Grizz at the Forum Thursday 103 – 96. But in the process, the Grizz created a chapter in Memphis basketball lore where it is about more than winning on the court.

84. Spring Lessons: Here’s Who Vols Will Start - Friday, April 28, 2017

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones isn’t big on naming starters and divulging depth charts. Not until he has to. So it comes as no surprise the Vols enter summer workouts and fall camp with junior Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano still competing for the starting quarterback’s job.

85. Last Word: The Day After, $21.9M More for SCS and First Tennessee Overdrafts - Friday, April 21, 2017

Take That For Data, Indeed. The Grizz crack the century mark over the Spurs 105-94 in a motivated Game 3 of the playoff series before a loud and proud Forum. Game 4 is Saturday on Beale. Meanwhile, Markel Crawford chooses. He will be leaving the Tigers basketball program for Ole Miss.

86. Who Will Grab the Spotlight in Vols' Spring Game? - Friday, April 21, 2017

Tennessee completes its fifth spring practice under head coach Butch Jones on Saturday, April 22, at 4 p.m. with the DISH Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium.

It’s merely the beginning as the Vols prepare for the 2017 season.

87. Tennessee's 6-6 Freshman Has a Message: ‘I Will Not Eat You’ - Friday, April 21, 2017

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones knew he got a special player when he signed five-star offensive lineman Trey Smith of University School of Jackson.

Jones says he got a special person in Smith, too.

88. Last Word: Spring Votes, Those Tax Bills and Tim McCarver on Baseball Changes - Friday, April 7, 2017

Look for more details on the specifics of the “Gateway” project to start to emerge now that a crucial if overlooked piece of the geographic puzzle in the north Downtown area has come into public view. The city’s largest hotel, also the city’s original convention center hotel, is about to change hands and go back to flying the Marriott flag.

89. Vols Work to Impress NFL Scouts in Advance of Draft - Friday, April 7, 2017

Derek Barnett knows he will hear his name called in the April 27-29 NFL Draft. He’s just not sure when.

“Earliest as possible,” says the Nashville native and former Tennessee defensive end. “But it’s out of my control.”

90. Last Word: Veep Visit, Women and Baseball and Civil Rights Cold Cases - Friday, March 24, 2017

Game time at FedExForum for the NCAA South semifinals and Vice President Mike Pence is expected to be here to cheer on the Butler Bulldogs. The Butler mascot – a live bulldog – was already in town Thursday making the rounds. I think March Madness requires that all involved up their mascot game if they get this far. So UCLA, we expect to see a live bear roaming Beale Street. You might be able to work a deal with the zoo on this. But if there’s a cost split make sure you nail down those percentages.

91. Reflecting on 2017 Class, Looking Ahead to 2018 - Friday, March 24, 2017

Recruiting is the lifeblood of a college football program, and the cycle never ends.

As UT’s recruiting grind continues and spring practices opened this week, I caught up with Ryan Callahan of 247Sports to talk about the 2017 class. Callahan covers UT recruiting, and here’s what he has to say about the 2017 class, which consists of 22 three-star recruits, four four-stars and one five-star (offensive lineman Trey Smith of University School of Jackson), according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

92. Last Word: James Cotton, A Quiet Jackson Day in Memphis and 'A Football School' - Friday, March 17, 2017

When you think of the blues and harmonica – James Cotton probably comes to mind – Sonny Boy Williamson too, who taught Cotton how to play.

93. Vols Need a Good Spring With So Many No. 1 Players Gone - Friday, March 17, 2017

Butch Jones is about to embark on his most crucial of five seasons as Tennessee’s football coach, and it begins with spring practices starting Tuesday, March 21.

Jones is coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons capped by bowl wins, but has fallen short of the SEC East Division title both years. He was the preseason favorite to win the East in 2016, and the previous year had a team with potential to win the division.

94. Last Word: Voucher Movement, The Battle of Pontotoc and Ch-Chandler Numbers - Friday, March 10, 2017

Republican state Senator Brian Kelsey of Germantown had a very good week in the state capitol this week. His school voucher bill got unanimous votes in House and Senate committee this week despite a tide of opposition from local elected officials and leaders including fellow legislators in the Shelby County delegation and all seven public school districts in Shelby County including the six suburban school systems.

95. What a Strange Twist of Events in Hiring of Currie - Friday, March 10, 2017

John Currie is the new athletics director at the University of Tennessee. Has it sunk in yet? Currie, previously the athletic director at Kansas State, was introduced last week by new UT chancellor Beverly Davenport during a ceremony featuring fans, boosters, coaches and, of course, former Tennessee and NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.

96. Last Word: Changes on EP Boulevard, March Madness at Rhodes and Cheffies - Friday, March 3, 2017

I don’t think it worked out this way on purpose – but the $45 million, 200,000 square foot entertainment complex “Elvis Presley’s Memphis” opens the same day that episode two of “Sun Records” airs on CMT.

97. Busiest Season for Sports Hits Big Orange Country - Friday, March 3, 2017

It’s the busiest time of the year for Tennessee athletics. There’s even some football to whet your gridiron appetite.

The Vols begin spring football practices March 21, and the DISH Orange & White Game is April 22 at Neyland Stadium. By then, much will have happened in Big Orange Nation.

98. Last Word: 'Sun Records,' Ole Miss's Lack of Control and Haslam in 2018 - Friday, February 24, 2017

I am not going to be one of those people who at this late date in the history of television dramas based on real people points out every departure from reality. The first episode of the CMT television series “Sun Records” Thursday was a scene-setter and introduction of sorts to an ensemble cast with plenty of opportunities to name that place in Memphis. That usually means a pretty complex story line to come and there are more than enough memorable characters in the story of Sun.

99. UT Freshman Arnold Scorching Batters With 0.00 ERA This Season - Friday, February 24, 2017

Caylan Arnold never met a challenge she didn’t like, and she’s taking on a new one almost every day this spring. The 2016 Maryville High School graduate has emerged as one of the top pitchers for Tennessee’s softball team, ranked No. 15 in both major preseason polls.

100. Last Word: Wessman Trouble, Selling 495 Union and An Underground Film Icon - Friday, February 17, 2017

When Wessman Development came to town last year with the idea of a boutique hotel, the Palm Springs, California company was part of the flood of smaller hotel projects Memphis was seeing and is still seeing. Then the company added another hotel and just this month the redevelopment of a building on Madison west of Second Street as apartments with retail on the ground floor. In a very short period of time, Wessman has had a lot of plans for Memphis.