Tennessee
Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin could ‘feel Pat Summitt’s spirit’ in win vs. Tennessee
When the buzzer at the SJB Pavilion sounded Sunday and Ole Miss women’s basketball’s 80-75 victory against Tennessee was sealed, Rebels coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin was admittedly emotional.
To that point, the Volunteers had been one of just three SEC teams she hadn’t defeated since being hired at Ole Miss in 2018. In reality, though, the win carried an extra significance for an entirely different reason.
“I have so much love for Pat Summitt’s legacy,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Pat Summitt was the first female coach that I was able to witness. I had never seen a woman coach until I saw Pat Summitt. I love Pat Summitt.”
REQUIRED READING: After contentious week, Coach Yo reaffirms Ole Miss is her home. How far can she take it?
Like many women’s basketball coaches, the legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach played a prominent role in shaping McPhee-McCuin’s exposure to and love of the sport.
Twelve years after her last game and eight years after her death at the age of 64, Summitt is still perhaps the most towering figure in the history of college basketball, men’s or women’s, at any level.
Summitt led the Volunteers to eight national championships, was a five-time Naismith Coach of the Year recipient and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. Her 1,098 wins are the third-most of any women’s college basketball coach ever. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease forced her to retire in 2012 at only 59 years old.
For McPhee-McCuin, Summitt’s accomplishments and legacy loom whenever Ole Miss faces off against Summitt’s former program.
“This means a lot,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Every time we play Tennessee, y’all, I swear I feel Pat’s spirit. It’s not like I played for her. I only met her a couple of times. But this is someone who mentored me from afar. So, for me, beating Tennessee means a lot. More importantly, it puts us in a good position as far as our standings are concerned.”
REQUIRED READING: Coach Yo doesn’t back down, uses social media to ask for support for Ole Miss women’s sports
Before Sunday’s win, McPhee-McCuin had been 0-7 against the Volunteers, one of the SEC’s historic powers.
At least some of those shortcomings could be attributed to Ole Miss’ standing as a program before McPhee-McCuin took over. At the time of her hiring, the Rebels had missed out on the NCAA Tournament in 11 consecutive seasons and had finished seven of those seasons with a losing record.
Now in her sixth season in Oxford, McPhee-McCuin has taken Ole Miss to the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years, including a Sweet 16 appearance last season. The Rebels are 63-23 since the start of the 2021-22 season, including a 15-5 mark this season.
Tennessee
Tennessee Senate passes ‘CVS bill,’ reshapes pharmacy business as CVS threatens closures
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A bill moving through the Tennessee Legislature could reshape how pharmacies do business in the state, with CVS warning it could lead to widespread store closures.
The Tennessee Senate has passed legislation that would change the way pharmacies can operate. The proposal has been dubbed “the CVS bill” because it directly impacts the drugstore chain.
Under the bill, drugstores would no longer be allowed to negotiate prices directly with insurance providers or government programs. Instead, a third party would be required to step in.
The bill is now under debate in the House. CVS says the change would force more than 100 of its pharmacies to close across Tennessee, but lawmakers disagree.
Tennessee
Three NFL Draft Fits for Tennessee Football Cornerback Jermod McCoy
Tennessee football star Jermod McCoy is the player who will likely hear his name called first from the Tennessee program in the upcoming NFL Draft. There are many teams he would fit well, but these three teams are the teams I believe he is the best fit with at this moment.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are in need of a cornerback in the draft class, and they are likely to spend one of their first two picks on one. They are selecting at No. 12 and No. 20 in the draft as of now, and McCoy could hear his name called. He would be joining a decent group of cornerbacks, but he would be an immediate starter, likely alongside a later selection that they make with a cornerback.
It would be shocking if the Cowboys pass on him if they select at 12 and he is still on the board. McCoy would be an immediate starter and would be someone who could shut down a whole side of the field for the Cowboys early in his career.
2. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins is one of the better fits for Jermod McCoy, and it would make the most sense, as the Dolphins could use almost every position after a major haul of their players. They are in a major rebuilding phase and drafting at No. 11 leaves many to believe that McCoy could be in play.
McCoy would likely be their No. 1 cornerbakc the day he got to the franchise, and would have the chance to dominate the way he did in his one season on the field with the Vols. This selection would depend on who drops out of the first ten selections. If he is one of the better players remaining (highly likely) he very well could hear his name called at pick 11.
3. New York Jets
The New York Jets have the chance to be very good when it comes to the draft, as they are drafting at both No. 2 and No. 16. I believe they will be looking to get a cornerback with their No. 16 pick, which would make a lot of sense considering they had to get rid of Sauce Gardner.
McCoy would be the perfect replacement, as they could find themselves in one of the better situations on the defensive side of the football. He can shutdown a side of the field, and I would bet that he would be a great fit with the Jets because of that exactly.
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Tennessee
Nashville Sounds and Autism Tennessee partner to host inclusive Beyond the Label Day for local children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — At a ballpark built for noise, there is space for something quieter.
During the Nashville Sounds’ “Beyond the Label Day,” kids are learning, playing and experiencing baseball in a way that works for them. Autism Tennessee volunteers stepped in to guide kids through sensory play designed to calm and focus.
From spinning toys to textured fidgets, these tools help turn overwhelming moments into manageable ones. Children engaged with the activities, pointing out shapes like a circle, noticing items like candies, and expressing how nice the experience was.
Adam English, general manager of the Nashville Sounds, said making space for everyone is the goal, even as the stadium announcer calls another Sounds strikeout.
“It’s important for us to raise awareness about autism, but also just make sure that First Horizon Park is an inclusive place for everybody” English said.
The Sounds stadium even has a sensory room for families at every game.
“There’s huge baseball fans that sometimes shy away because of loud crowds and we want to make sure every game out here available” English said.
For Autism Tennessee leaders like Jessica Moore, days like this are about more than awareness. They are about belonging.
“Typically events like this can be super overwhelming… so this is just a way for people to feel like they can come and still be successful” Moore said.
What are your thoughts on making sports venues more inclusive for all fans? Watch the video to see the sensory room in action, and share your experiences with me at kim.rafferty@NewsChannel5.com.
In this article, we used artificial intelligence to help us convert a video news report originally written by Kim Rafferty. When using this tool, both Kim Rafferty and the NewsChannel 5 editorial team verified all the facts in the article to make sure it is fair and accurate before we published it. We care about your trust in us and where you get your news, and using this tool allows us to convert our news coverage into different formats so we can quickly reach you where you like to consume information. It also lets our journalists spend more time looking into your story ideas, listening to you and digging into the stories that matter.
Checking in on Cole: Gallatin rallies around teen battling brain tumor with prayer vigil
Austin Pollack brings us an update on a remarkable young man facing great odds, and his family has one simple request: pray for Cole. I believe in the power of prayer and hope you’ll join me in lifting up Cole and his family.
– Carrie Sharp
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