Tennessee

Ranking Sports Illustrated’s Tennessee Vols covers with SI’s future in flux

Published

2 years ago

January 19, 2024

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Ranking Sports Illustrated’s Tennessee Vols covers with SI’s future in flux

Sports Illustrated may be on the road to extinction after 70 years, and so could those iconic Tennessee Vols SI covers.

The Associated Press reported SI is planning to lay off most or all its staff. Time will tell if that holds true.

UT athletes, coaches and even fans have been featured on dozens of SI covers over the decades, and it’s hard to pick a favorite.

But here are our top five SI covers of the Vols.

1. ‘Peerless’ national championship performance

Peerless means unequaled or unrivaled. So Peerless Price, the star of UT’s national championship game, was perfectly cast for the SI cover on Jan. 11, 1999.

It was released one week after the Vols beat Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl for a perfect 13-0 record and a national title.

The complete headline said, “No doubt about it: The Vols are Peerless.” But most UT fans only remember it as the “Peerless” cover, which featured the wide receiver scoring a 79-yard touchdown pass from Tee Martin in the fourth quarter.

More: Relive Tennessee football’s epic 1998 national championship with this commemorative book

Granted, many UT fans recall a different SI cover from that national title. It featured Martin and the headline, “PerfecT.” That cover is framed on walls throughout Tennessee to this day.

So why isn’t it on this list? It was a commemorative issue and not the weekly magazine. It’s a technicality, but both were memorable covers for the Vols.

2. ‘The Tennessee Waltz’

On Oct. 7, 1985, UT quarterback Tony Robinson donned the cover with the headline, “The Tennessee Waltz.”

Any UT fan of that era (or many years afterward) knows that image. They also recall the game that produced it – the Vols’ 38-20 upset of No. 1 Auburn.

Veteran SI writer Rick Reilly penned the cover story. It was evident that he went to Knoxville to write about eventual Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson.

Instead, SI called an audible when Robinson tossed four TD passes to shock the top-ranked team in college football. The Vols seized the opportunity and stole the cover fair and square.

3. ‘Ernie and Bernie’ were double trouble

On Feb. 9, 1976, the cover said, “Double Trouble from Tennessee.”

It could’ve easily said, “Ernie and Bernie,” referring to UT basketball stars Ernie Grunfeld and Bernard King. That was the title of ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary on the hoops duo 40 years later.

From 1974-77, Grunfeld and King put UT basketball on the map with a 61-20 record, two NCAA tournament appearances and an SEC regular-season title in 1977.

The pair of New Yorkers brought a unique style and competitiveness to the Vols. And the SI cover caught them at their zenith, just before they were voted SEC Co-Players of the Year.

4. ‘The Wizard of Knoxville’

On March 2, 1998, the cover asked, “Is Tennessee’s Pat Summitt the best college basketball coach since John Wooden?”

The answer: Probably so.

It was an NCAA tournament preview edition, and the Lady Vols were vying for a three-peat as national champions.

They won that third straight national title – the sixth of eight during Summitt’s reign – and finished with a perfect 39-0 record.

A month later, the Lady Vols were back on the SI cover: “Perfect” with a Chamique Holdsclaw photo. And there were several other covers that featured Summitt and UT women’s basketball.

But the “Wizard of Knoxville” cover gets the nod in this ranking because it featured a close-up of Summitt and her iconic stare. No other coach ever held such intensity in her face, and that cover captured that.

5. ‘In His Father’s Image’: Peyton and Archie

There could be a separate ranking just of Peyton Manning SI covers. He was a glossy fixture there for almost a quarter-century, but that run started when he was a Vols quarterback.

The first time Peyton Manning appeared on the SI cover was Aug. 26, 1996.

It was a dual image. On the top, Peyton posed as the cover boy of the 1996 college football preview edition. On the bottom was an archived version of Archie’s 1970 cover.

The headline: “In His Father’s Image: Peyton Manning, Idol of No. 1 Tennessee.”

UT fans already knew Peyton Manning was a star. This cover introduced him to the rest of the country as Archie’s son. After that, Peyton stood alone.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee

Furman beats East Tennessee State for SoCon title, NCAA berth

Published

4 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Furman beats East Tennessee State for SoCon title, NCAA berth

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Cooper Bowser had 21 points and 11 rebounds as No. 6 seed Furman beat top-seeded East Tennessee State 76-61 on Monday night to secure the Southern Conference tournament title and an NCAA tournament bid.

Furman (22-12) won its eighth SoCon title in program history and first since defeating Chattanooga in 2023.

Tom House added 13 points off the bench for Furman and Alex Wilkins, who scored a career-high 34 to help rally from an 11-point halftime deficit in the semifinals, scored 12. Bowser was 9-of-12 from the field to help the Paladins shoot 51%.

Brian Taylor II scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half for ETSU (23-11), which was in the title game for the second time in three seasons. Blake Barkley added 14 points and Jaylen Smith had 10.

House made Furman’s sixth 3-pointer of the first half to extend the lead to 37-27 with four minutes left. The Paladins led 42-35 at the break.

Wilkins’ steal and fast-break dunk extended Furman’s lead to 72-61 with 2:11 left and Bowser added a hook shot in the lane on their next possession for a 13-point lead.

ETSU went 2-of-7 from the field over the final five minutes to halt a comeback attempt. The Buccaneers finished 3-of-16 from 3-point range and 10 of 18 at the free throw line.

The Buccaneers were trying for their first NCAA bid since 2020.

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Titans free agency: Tennessee signing offensive weapons to help QB Cam Ward, bolstering coach Robert Saleh’s defense, reports say

Published

16 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Titans free agency: Tennessee signing offensive weapons to help QB Cam Ward, bolstering coach Robert Saleh’s defense, reports say

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Let the spending spree begin. The NFL offseason is now in full swing as free agents are beginning to sign with new homes throughout the league ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in April.

The Tennessee Titans are among the top franchises with the most cap space in the league.

Latest: Tennessee Titans reportedly trade young defensive tackle for Pro Bowl defensive end from New York Jets

Previous: Tennessee Titans release center Lloyd Cushenberry

Below is a look at the free agents and moves the Titans have reportedly made:

Cornerback Alontae Taylor – three-year $60 million deal
Cornerback Cor’Dale Flott – three-year $45 million deal
Defensive tackle John Franklin-Meyers – three-year $63 million deal
Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky – two-year deal
Tight end Daniel Bellinger – three-year $24 million deal
Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson – four-year $70 million deal
Long snapper Morgan Cox – re-signed one-year deal

Before the free-agency frenzy, the Titans released center Lloyd Cushenberry and also reportedly traded away defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat for Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson.

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TN Lottery Cash 3 Evening, Cash 4 Evening winning numbers for March 8, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

The Tennessee Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 8, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Cash 3 numbers from March 8 drawing

Evening: 1-8-7, Wild: 8

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from March 8 drawing

Evening: 1-0-9-7, Wild: 7

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Tennessee Jackpot numbers from March 8 drawing

10-19-30-33-35

Check Daily Tennessee Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 8 drawing

01-31-32-45-52, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Tennessee Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Tennessee Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket, a copy of a government-issued ID and proof of social security number to P.O. Box 290636, Nashville, TN 37229. Prize claims less than $600 do not require a claim form. Please include contact information on prizes claimed by mail in the event we need to contact you.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID and proof of social security number to any of these locations:

Nashville Headquarters & Claim Center: 26 Century Blvd., Nashville, TN 37214, 615-254-4946 in the (615) and (629) area, 901-466-4946 in the (901) area, 865-512-4946 in the (865) area, 423-939-7529 in the (423) area or 1-877-786-7529 (all other areas in Tennessee). Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Knoxville District Office: Cedar Springs Shopping Center, 9298 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922, (865) 251-1900. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Chattanooga District Office: 2020 Gunbarrel Rd., Suite 106, Chattanooga, TN 37421, (423) 308-3610. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Memphis District Office: Chiles Plaza, 7424 U.S. Highway 64, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133, (901) 322-8520. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $199,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://tnlottery.com/.

When are the Tennessee Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Cash4Life: 9:15 p.m. CT daily.
Cash 3, 4: Daily at 9:28 a.m. (Morning) and 12:28 p.m. CT (Midday), except for Sunday. Evening game daily, seven days a week, at 6:28 p.m. CT.
Daily Tennessee Jackpot: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Tennessee Cash: 10:34 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:30 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Tennessean editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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