99.1 The Sports Animal is proud to announce the return of Sports Animal SportsFest on Saturday, June 28th, 2025 at Knoxville Expo Center!
Sports Animal SportsFest
Saturday, June 28th, 2025
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Knoxville Expo Center
Tickets are $5.00 at door.
*Free Admission for Children 12 and Under
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SportsFest 2025 Vendor and Sponsor Interest Form
Fill out this form for more information about becoming a vendor at SportsFest 2025 taking place Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the Knoxville Expo Center. We are searching for sports related items, activities and businesses.
Join us on Saturday, June 28th at the Knoxville Expo Center for Sports Animal SportsFest! This indoor festival celebrates all things sports! There will be multiple sports personalities doing Q&A’s, autograph signings, an awesome buy, sell, trade card show and more. Exhibitors will be on-site offering a fun-filled day for the entire family.
SportsFest has all your bases covered! Learn, play, watch or just get your picture with a VFL or other notable sports figure. From the novice sports fan to the diehards, SportsFest has something for everyone.
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More details coming soon…
Scheduled to appear…
Erik Ainge– VFL QB from 2004-2007 and spent two seasons with the New York Jets for 2008-2010 after being drafted in the sixth round of the NFL Draft in 2008. Sports Animal host of the Erik Ainge Show Weekdays from 9a-12pm on 99.1 FM.
Jayson Swain– VFL WR from 2003-2006 and NFL WR with the Chicago Bears in 2007. He is currently 6th all-time in UT history with 126 receptions. Swain is also 13th in career receiving yards with 1,721. Jayson also hosts the Josh & Swain show on 99.1 The Sports Animal from 12p-3p as well as his podcast The Swain Event.
At 11:59 PM, the Knox County Emergency Communications District received a 911 call reporting smoke from the top of the Somi Liquor Store at 2409 Central Street.
On arrival of the first KFD units, smoke was observed coming from the top and rear of the structure. KFD crews rapidly gained entry and found a fire in the rear of the business. KFD crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.
The Building has sustained moderate smoke, fire, and water damage, and the adjacent business, Loch and Key, has suffered mild smoke damage.
KFD investigators are on the scene working to determine a cause.
Tennessee (WOKI) East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers are aiding in the search for a wanted suspect.
Jerry Stevens is wanted in multiple counties. He is wanted for aggravated assault and theft over $10,000 out of Jefferson County and he also has outstanding warrants out of Cocke and Scott Counties.
Officials say he should be considered armed and you should not approach him.
If you have any information, please contact East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible to receive a cash reward if the tip leads to an arrest.
Original Facebook post: We need your help locating #WANTED person Jerry L. Stevens. Stevens is wanted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office,Tennessee for Aggravated Assault and Theft Over $10,000. In addition, he has outstanding warrants out of Cocke County.
Stevens should be considered armed. Do not approach him.
If you know his whereabouts stay ANONYMOUS and submit a tip to East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers. If your tip to #CrimeStoppers leads to his arrest you may receive a CASH REWARD.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 5/12 Tennessee is back at home as it continues its difficult finishing stretch to the regular season with No. 5/10 Auburn coming to town this weekend for another important SEC series at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Tigers are the second of four straight ranked conference foes that the Vols face over the final four weeks of the regular season. UT will look to right the ship after dropping three of its last four SEC weekends, including back-to-back series at home for the first time since 2017.
IMPORTANT GAMEDAY INFO & REMINDERS
Lindsey Nelson Stadium is undergoing extensive renovations that will make it one of the best college baseball stadiums in the nation upon completion. Renovations will be ongoing throughout the season, so be sure to be on the lookout for updated information throughout the course of the year when it comes to seating, stadium entry, parking, etc.
Fans are encouraged to check the Tennessee Baseball Gameday Central page prior to each game for the most updated info in regards to parking, stadium policies, stadium entry points and more.
Any pertinent updates regarding this weekend’s series can be seen HERE.
TICKET INFORMATION
Season and single-game tickets for all SEC home contests are SOLD OUT. Limited standing room only tickets will go on sale for all games 90 minutes prior to first pitch at the Lindsey Nelson Stadium ticket office. Single-game tickets for all games can also be purchased through Ticketmaster, the exclusive resale marketplace for Tennessee Athletics, by clicking HERE.
In order to keep Lindsey Nelson Stadium as full as possible, we are encouraging season ticket holders who are unable to use their tickets for a game(s) to transfer your tickets to another Vols fan (Instructions HERE).
If you’re a season ticket holder and can’t make it to a baseball game this season, you also now have the option to donate your tickets. Your tickets will be donated back to Tennessee Athletics and will be distributed to the military and/or local charities in the Knoxville area.
All ticket donations will be accepted until 5 PM the business day before a game. After donating your tickets a gift receipt equal to the ticket value will be emailed to you. You may save that receipt for your tax records.
BROADCAST INFO
Andy Brock (PxP) and VFL Cody Hawn (analyst) will call the action all series long on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.
Fans can also listen to the official radio broadcast, featuring the Voice of Tennessee Baseball John Wilkerson and VFL Redmond Walsh, on the Vol Network (FM 99.1 / AM 990) as well as on UTSports.com, the Tennessee Athletics Mobile App and the Varsity App.
Game 3 – Sunday (1 pm): UT: RHP AJ Russell (4 GS, 0-0, 2.45 ERA) AU: TBA
SERIES HISTORY
Vols vs. Tigers Overall: Tigers lead, 98-43 in Knoxville: Tigers lead, 41-22 in Auburn: Tigers lead, 56-21 at Neutral Sites: Tigers lead, 1-0 Last 10 Meetings: Tigers lead, 6-4 Last Meeting: W, 19-5 (7 Inn.) on April 7, 2024 (Auburn, Ala.)
While Auburn has controlled the all-time series between the two programs, Tennessee has won each of the last two series. The Vols won their first road series at Auburn since 2005 when the two teams met On the Plains last season.
After dropping the opening game, the Big Orange posted a pair of run-rule victories over the Tigers to take the series. UT hit 14 home runs in its three games against Auburn last year, which was the most ever by the Vols in an SEC weekend series.
NOTABLE
Doyle Making His Case for National Pitcher of the Year Tennessee ace Liam Doyle is having an All-American caliber junior season for the Vols and has arguably been the most dominant starting pitcher in the country through 11 weeks.
For the season, Doyle boasts a 7-1 record and a 2.23 ERA in his 11 starts while leading the country in strikeouts (110) and ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings (15.31). The Derry, New Hampshire, native, has reached double-digit strikeouts five times this season, including twice in SEC play. His 2.23 ERA leads the league while his seven victories are tied for third in the SEC and 20th nationally.
Doyle was nearly unhittable in the month of April, posting a 3-0 record with a 1.29 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched over four starts while holding opposing hitters to a .087 average. In last weekend’s start at No. 3/7 LSU, the lefthander allowed just one hit in 6.2 shutout innings.
The Century Mark in Homers With a pair of home runs from Stone Lawless in Tuesday’s midweek win over Northern Kentucky, the Vols reached the 100-homer mark for the fourth consecutive season. UT’s 100 long balls rank third in the nation while their 2.22 homers per game are fourth nationally.
Tennessee is just the second SEC program to ever hit 100 or more home runs in four straight seasons, joining LSU, who did so from 1996-99. The Big Orange have homered in all but five games this year and has hit multiple home runs 28 times, posting a 27-1 record when doing so.
Vols Against Ranked SEC Opponents During the Tony Vitello era, the Vols have played 43 SEC series against ranked teams and has won 27 of those series with a 74-55 overall record. Since 2021, the Vols are 22-7 in such series with a 58-29 overall record, including nine series wins.
Against top 10 foes during SEC conference weekends, Tennessee has claimed 11 series victories under Vitello while posting 35 total wins against top-10 SEC opponents in the regular season. The Vols have won three of their four series against ranked opponents this season after sweeping No. 6 Florida (March 14-16) and taking two of three games from No. 10 Alabama (March 20-22) and No. 6 Ole Miss (April 11-13).
OPPONENT SCOUT
Auburn Tigers (31-14, 11-10 SEC)
2024 Record: 27-26 (8-22 SEC)
2024 Postseason: N/A
2025 SEC Preseason Poll: 12th
Highest Ranking: No. 5 (Baseball America)
D1Baseball.com Ranking: No. 10
Head Coach: Butch Thompson
Overall Record: 353-248-1 (11th year)
Record at AU: 314-227-1 (10th year)
Preseason All-Conference Selections (2):
C Ike Irish (1st Team)
1B Cooper McMurray (2nd Team)
ON DECK
The Vols welcome Indiana State to Knoxville for a midweek matchup against the Sycamores on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In a tightly contested showdown between top-five teams, No. 5 Tennessee fell 1-0 to No. 2 Texas A&M on Thursday night at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
The game lived up to its billing as a pitcher’s duel, with Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens and Texas A&M’s Emiley Kennedy each recording 10 strikeouts.
Offense was hard to come by on both sides until a two-out error in the top of the seventh extended the inning for the Aggies (42-8, 15-6 SEC). The miscue proved costly as a two-out double in the next at-bat drove in the game’s only run.
Tennessee (39-12, 14-8) had opportunities throughout, putting the leadoff runner on in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but couldn’t capitalize. The Lady Vols drew eight walks on the night but managed just one hit—a fourth-inning single by freshman Saviya Morgan.
IN THE CIRCLE Pickens (20-7) turned in another stellar performance, tossing a complete game while allowing six hits, three walks and one unearned run. The junior right-hander lowered her season ERA to 0.97 and notched her 18th complete game of the year—a career high. With 220 strikeouts, she is now just six away from setting a new single-season personal best.
CHECK THE STATS With Morgan’s fourth-inning single, she extended her hit streak to seven games.
DUE UP Tennessee and Texas A&M resume the series Friday at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will be performing resurfacing work on Interstate 40 in Sevierville and Sevier County beginning Sunday evening, May 4, 2025.
The work will be conducted Sunday-Thursday from 7:00 p.m.-6:00a.m. The project is expected to take several weeks to complete.
The work will require lane closures and changing traffic patterns. Motorists should exercise caution in the work zone, watch for workers, vehicles and equipment, and expect possible short term delays, especially in the area of exit 407.
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management (OREM) is set to begin the next major demolition project at the Y-12 National Security Complex.
On Wednesday, OREM said it and UCOR, a contractor, are preparing to begin demolishing the Beta-1 building, which was built in 1944 as part of the Manhattan Project to enrich uranium during World War II. After the war, it was converted into laboratory space for fusion energy technology.
Officials said crews have completed deactivation of the above-ground floors and are working on the basement, but water intrusion has been an ongoing challenge in the 300,000 square-foot building.
Officials said crews have completed deactivation of the above-ground floors and are working on the basement, but water intrusion has been an ongoing challenge in the 300,000 square-foot building.(UCOR)
“Battling water intrusion to keep the levels in the 111,000-square-foot basement drained affects access to perform work,” said Larry Brede, UCOR’s Y-12 cleanup area project manager. “Deactivation activities cannot be performed in areas with standing water.”
To fix this problem, officials said a second water treatment system will be installed to reduce downtime and allow crews to pour in a material similar to concrete to fill the basement and make the ground more stable to support the heavy equipment used in the demolition.
Beta-1 is, according to UCOR, a “high-risk excess contaminated facility,” meaning removing the building will clear up hazards that could affect the site and open land for further missions.
It will be the second building to be demolished at Y-12 after crews began demolishing the Alpha-2 facility in December.
Demolition will begin once crews finish tearing down the Alpha-2 facility.
Gatlinburg police reminding people that as spring is here so are the bears.
Officials say whether you live here or are visiting the area, it is important to take proper precautions to remain BearWise.
In April, three bears were killed because they had been conditioned to eat human food.
If you see a bear, be sure to give the animal plenty of space and never approach it. If you see increased bear activity in your area, or notice a nuisance bear which is posing a threat to property or individuals, please contact the Gatlinburg Police Department.
The following tips help keep you and the bears safe:
Securing your trash properly and never leave food, or food sources, outside.
Lock your car doors and remove all food sources from vehicles. Bears know how to open car doors and will be able to smell food or garbage from outside your vehicle.
It is illegal to feed bears—intentionally or unintentionally in Gatlinburg. This law is enforced by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
If you are cooking outside, please clean your grills. Also, be sure to remove alternate food sources from outside your home, including pet food and bird feeders.
If you see a bear, be sure to give the animal plenty of space and never approach it.
If you see increased bear activity in your area, or notice a nuisance bear which is posing a threat to property or individuals, please contact the Gatlinburg Police Department at 865-436-5181.
On Wednesday night, members of the Knoxville Police Department’s Community Engagement Response Team took 18-year-old Robert Brabson into custody at an apartment on West Parkway Avenue.
Brabson was wanted for attempted first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, charges that were the result of a shooting that happened on Sunday, April 27 on E. Hill Avenue.
On April 27 at around 11:30 a.m., KPD officers responded to 1246 Austin Homes Boulevard, where they found a 16-year-old male who had been shot in the leg. The victim was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Further investigation revealed that the victim had been shot at an apartment complex at 1117 E. Hill Avenue before he fled to the Austin Homes apartment complex. It is believed that the shooting stemmed from a dispute regarding a stolen firearm.
Continued investigation led by the KPD Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit detectives identified Brabson as the suspect in the shooting.
Southern Skies Music & Whiskey Festival returns to Downtown Knoxville on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Produced by Dogwood Arts and curated by the Dirty Guv’nahs. 2025Lineup: Charley Crockett, The Dirty Guv’nahs, Willow Avalon, Devon Gilfillian, Southern Avenue, and Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies.
Produced by Dogwood Arts
Dogwood Arts has a 68-year history of arts advocacy, environmental stewardship, and economic impact in East Tennessee. With the financial support of corporate sponsors, grant funding, local government investment, and private donors, we produce 20 year-round events and programs that help make Knoxville a great place to live, work and play.
