Nico Out, Coach Josh Heupel Remarks and Orange and White Game

Nico Out, Coach Josh Heupel Remarks and Orange and White Game

April 13, 2025

Tennessee Football’s now former quarterback Nico Iamaleava didn’t take part in Saturday’s Orange and White and has departed from the program,  opening up the game to showcase redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre in the role of quarterback.  Saturday’s game ended in a tie, 14 – 14 with the two quarterbacks completing passes and the team happy to have people there who want to be a Tennessee Vol.

UT and Iamaleava parted ways after a dispute over NIL pay.  The transfer portal opens on April 16 and Nico is expected to enter it following what appeared to be a holdout.  Coach Josh Heupel says he knew when Nico missed practice Friday and was a no show for Orange and White Game that Nico was leaving.

Heupel telling reporters that he wants to thank him for everything he’s done since he’s gotten here, as a recruit and who he was as a player and how he competed inside the building but obviously, we’re moving forward as a program without him. He told players ahead of Saturday’s game that there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T. That includes me.

Tennessee opens the 2025 season in the Aflac Kickoff Game against Syracuse on Aug. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

Knoxville Police Say Driver of Car that Hit an 8 Year-Old Boy in North Knoxville Probably Won’t Face Charges

Knoxville Police Say Driver of Car that Hit an 8 Year-Old Boy in North Knoxville Probably Won’t Face Charges

April 13, 2025

UPDATE: Knoxville Police say the driver of the car who hit an eight-year-old on North Broadway will most likely not face charges.

The crash happened Saturday night near Atlantic Avenue. KPD’s Scott Erland says the child and two others were trying to cross the road outside of a crosswalk when the car hit the child.

The child was seriously hurt in the crash and that driver remained on scene.

Original Story: Knoxville police are investigating a crash on North Broadway involving an 8-year-old boy.

It happened Saturday night after officials say he was hit by a car near Atlantic Avenue and taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the car remained on scene.

East Tennessee Pastor Being Held for Ransom in
WVLT

East Tennessee Pastor Being Held for Ransom in

April 13, 2025

Josh Sullivan, a missionary from Fellowship Baptist, is being held for ransom by kidnappers in South Africa.

Multiple armed and masked kidnappers took him from the church while he was preaching Thursday. They escaped by stealing Sullivan’s own truck.

His home church, Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, has been waiting anxiously for their brother Josh to be returned safely.

This has not been easy on the church, who says Josh has dedicated his life to his faith who are now leaning on faith for his safety.

Proof that Sullivan is still alive was proved last week and negotiators are speaking to the gunmen, the FBI and U.S. Embassy are involved in negotiations.

Young Vols Shine As Spring Football Wraps Up
Courtesy / UT athletics

Young Vols Shine As Spring Football Wraps Up

April 13, 2025

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee football put the finishing touches on its 2025 spring with the Orange & White Game in front of 38,192 fans Saturday in Neyland Stadium. 

The Volunteers began with some individual and special teams work before going into scrimmage periods featuring both live tackling and thud. Capacity was reduced due to ongoing construction.

With the departure of Nico Iamaleava, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre take the reins of the quarterback room. The two combined for four touchdown passes, including three to true freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer. 

“I thought they did a really good job today,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “There were a couple of checks that we can clean up, just on the operations side of it, and the ultimate check, but they moved the football, made plays. (I) thought they used their feet. Obviously, they weren’t live. They’re going to have to learn how to protect themselves out in space, but it was a great day for both of them as young players, being out in front of that crowd, having to be the guy and go operate.”

Saturday’s spring game saw multiple VFLs in attendance, including current NFL quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Joshua Dobbs, Dallas Cowboys tight end Princeton Fant and College Football Hall of Famers Eric Berry and Al Wilson. 

“This program has been around for a long time, with a lot of great coaches and a lot of great players that came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee Football,” said Heupel. “It’s going to be around a long time after I’m done and after they’re gone. That’s what’s special about being here is that there is a legacy and a tradition that is so rich and a logo that’s recognized not just across the nation but across the world.” 

Tennessee opens the 2025 season in the Aflac Kickoff Game against Syracuse on Aug. 30 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

#7 Lady Vols Take Down #1 Texas, 3-1
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#7 Lady Vols Take Down #1 Texas, 3-1

April 13, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas – No. 7 Tennessee knocked off top-ranked Texas, 3-1, on Saturday night at Red and Charline McCombs Field, securing the program’s first-ever true road win over a No. 1 team and its first victory over a top-ranked opponent since 2017.
 
Tennessee (33-9, 8-6 SEC) struck early with a two-out, two-run homer in the first inning off the bat of McKenna Gibson — her 10th of the season and fourth in the last five games.
 
The Lady Vols carried a 2-0 lead into the fourth before Texas (39-4, 11-3 SEC) responded with a run on two hits and two walks. The Longhorns loaded the bases with two outs, but Tennessee escaped the jam with a groundout to preserve the lead.
 
In the seventh, Tennessee added insurance. Laura Mealer led off with a single to left and was replaced by pinch-runner Katie Taylor, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Gabby Leach then delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle to push the lead to 3-1.
 
The Longhorns went down in order in the bottom half as Tennessee closed out a statement win.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
 Karlyn Pickens was dominant in the circle, going the distance for her 16th win of the season. The junior right-hander allowed just one run on four hits, walking three and striking out eight. Pickens, a native of Weaverville, North Carolina, held her season ERA at 0.93 and lowered her SEC ERA to 1.15.
 
CHECK THE STATS
Gibson’s first-inning home run was the 43rd of her career, moving her within one of tying Madison Shipman for fifth on Tennessee’s all-time list.
 
The Lady Vols’ win marked their first in Austin and improved their record to 1-2 all-time against the Longhorns in the Texas capital. It was Tennessee’s first win over a No. 1 team since a 5-1 victory over Florida in Knoxville on April 30, 2017.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee and Texas conclude their three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET and will be available to stream on SEC Network+.

#4/5 Vols Homer Three Times But Drop Game Two in Oxford, 8-5
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#4/5 Vols Homer Three Times But Drop Game Two in Oxford, 8-5

April 13, 2025

OXFORD, Miss. – No. 4/5 Tennessee fell behind 3-1 after one inning and was never fully able to claw its way back to level footing in an 8-5 loss to No. 6/6 Ole Miss on Saturday afternoon at Swayze Field.

The Vols opened the scoring with a Gavin Kilen solo home run in the top of the first and answered the Rebels’ three-spot with another solo homer by Levi Clark in the second inning before being held scoreless over the next three frames while Ole Miss scored three unanswered runs to take a 6-2 lead into the sixth inning.

UT starter Marcus Phillips had a tough day, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits over 3.1 innings. The junior righthander did finish with six strikeouts but also walked three batters in the loss to fall to 2-2 on the year.

Rebels’ starter Riley Maddox earned the win after striking out five and allowing just two runs on three hits over five innings.

Tennessee looked like it would claw its way back after plating two runs in the top of the sixth, cutting its deficit in half with its third long ball of the day, a two-run shot by Dalton Bargo. However, Ole Miss (27-8, 9-5 SEC) responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning to regain its four-run advantage.

The Vols (30-5, 10-4 SEC) had another chance to get themselves back into the game but were only able to manage one run after loading the bases with no outs in the seventh inning.

Reliever Connor Spencer pitched 1.1 scoreless frames to finish the game and earn his third save of the year.

Franklin Impressive in Relief

Junior righty Tanner Franklin posted another solid outing on Saturday, tossing three shutout innings while striking out four to keep the Big Orange in the game.

Kilen Keeps Hitting

Kilen’s return to the lineup has provided a big boost for the Vols as he has racked up five hits in the first two games of this weekend’s series. The Wisconsin native finished with a game-high three hits on Saturday and also drew a walk to reach base in four of his five plate appearances.

Up Next

Tennessee will look to make it a winning weekend in Oxford with a victory in Sunday’s rubber game. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.

Dominant Start by Doyle Leads #4/5 Vols to Friday Night Win at #6/6 Ole Miss
Courtesy / UT Athletics

Dominant Start by Doyle Leads #4/5 Vols to Friday Night Win at #6/6 Ole Miss

April 12, 2025

OXFORD, Miss. – Liam Doyle stole the show in his return to Oxford with a dazzling performance on the mound to lead No. 4/5 Tennessee to a 3-2 win over No. 6/6 Ole Miss on Friday night at Swayze Field.

The Vols notched win No. 30 on the year after pulling ahead 3-0 before hanging on for the series-opening victory in Oxford.

Doyle nearly went the distance, tossing a career-high 8.1 innings before the duo of Nate Snead and Dylan Loy recorded the game’s final two outs in the bottom of the ninth to slam the door.

The junior southpaw tied a career high with 14 strikeouts and allowed just two runs on thee hits and two walks to earn the win and improve to 6-1 on the year.

Neither team was able to string together much offense, but UT did enough in the early going to build a lead and stave off a ninth inning rally from the Rebels (26-8, 8-5 SEC), who had the tying run in scoring position and the potential winning run on base with two outs.

The Vols struck first after executing some good situational baseball in the second inning. Manny Marin drove in a pair of runs with a double down the left-field line after back-to-back walks to lead off the inning by Andrew Fischer and Dalton Bargo before a sacrifice bunt by Reese Chapman put both runners in scoring position for the freshman second baseman.

The Big Orange increased their lead to three on a Hunter Ensley RBI groundout in the fifth inning following another leadoff walk by Rebels’ starter Hunter Elliott and a double off the bat of Gavin Kilen. Tennesee made Elliott pay for his four free passes as all three runs he surrendered reached base via walks. The redshirt junior lefthander was stuck with his first loss of the season despite allowing just three runs on two hits over four innings.

Ole Miss tallied its only two runs of the night on a two-run homer by catcher Austin Fawley in the bottom of the fifth inning. Doyle rebounded well from giving up the home run, retiring the next eight batters he faced and 11 of the next 12 before issuing a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth.

Kilen Makes Return to Starting Lineup

For the first time since March 18 against ETSU, Kilen was back in the starting lineup and was the only Vol to finish with multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-4 with a single and a double as the designated hitter.

Up Next

Tennessee will attempt to secure the series with a win on Saturday evening as the Vols and Rebels square off in game two of the weekend set at 5 p.m. ET on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app.

#7 Lady Vols Drop Series Opener at #1 Texas, 3-0
Courtesy / UT Athletics

#7 Lady Vols Drop Series Opener at #1 Texas, 3-0

April 12, 2025

AUSTIN, Texas – Seventh-ranked Tennessee fell to No. 1 Texas, 3-0, in the series opener Friday night at Red and Charline McCombs Field.
 
The Lady Vols (32-9, 7-6 SEC) generated opportunities throughout the night, forcing Texas starter Teagan Kavan to throw 131 pitches with a career-high-tying five walks. However, Tennessee was unable to find the timely hits needed, managing just two base knocks and leaving several runners stranded.
 
Texas (39-3, 11-2 SEC) broke through in the third inning, plating all three of its runs on four hits. After a hit-by-pitch and a double put runners in scoring position, Mia Scott delivered a two-run single before scoring on a Reese Atwood base hit.
 
The Longhorns threatened again in the fifth, putting a runner on third with one out, but the Lady Vols escaped with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.
 
IN THE CIRCLE
Junior Karlyn Pickens got the start for Tennessee, tossing a scoreless first inning with two strikeouts and a walk before being relieved by freshman Erin Nuwer in the second.
 
Nuwer worked around a leadoff bunt single in a clean second but allowed three runs on five hits in the third. She finished with one strikeout over two innings and took the loss, falling to 5-3 on the season.
 
Freshman Peyton Tanner entered in the fourth and quickly retired the side. The Lake Jackson, Texas, native threw 1.1 innings, allowing one hit before giving way to Sage Mardjetko in the fifth.
 
With a runner on third and one out, Mardjetko shut the door with a strikeout and a groundout. The sophomore right-hander was sharp in relief, throwing 1.2 hitless innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
 
DUE UP
Tennessee and Texas continue their top-10 matchup Saturday at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

One of Two Missing Teens in Loudon County Found Dead, Sheriff Says

One of Two Missing Teens in Loudon County Found Dead, Sheriff Says

April 11, 2025

Loudon County, TN (WOKI) Officials with the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office share grim news Friday afternoon in their search for two of three teens who they say jumped from the Tennessee River bridge following an early morning police chase Wednesday.

LCSO says one teen has been in custody since Wednesday and is receiving treatment for a punctured lung.

Around 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, the body of one of the two missing teens was recovered around 75 yards from where the three jumped into the river.

Officials confirming all three teens are from Chattanooga and are accused of stealing a car from that area Wednesday leading to the chase down I-75 into Loudon County.

One teen who was detained told police he jumped into the Tennessee River from the bridge on I-75 in Loudon County. (Courtesy: LCSO)
The Michelob Ultra “Better Than a Birdie” Golf Getaway!

The Michelob Ultra “Better Than a Birdie” Golf Getaway!

April 11, 2025

99.1 The Sports Animal Presents- The Michelob Ultra “Better Than a Birdie” Golf Getaway!

You could win 4 tickets to the TPC Southwind Fed Ex St. Jude Championship August 9-10th in Memphis, 2 Michelob Ultra Golf Bags, and $1,000 prepaid Visa card!

Listen to qualify from April 14th – May 15th on 99.1 The Sports Animal!

***If you are qualified, you will need to be present at Top Golf 11400 Outlet Drive on Thursday, May 15th. Check in is from 5p-6p and will cut off promptly at 6pm.***

Official Rules Here

Podcasts

What's happening