Tennessee
Could Jeff Lebby become another Dan Mullen? Tennessee football should hope not | Adams
You surely are aware of Tennessee’s coaching turnover in football. But as prevalent as it has been, it can’t match Mississippi State’s.
You will be reminded of that when the Bulldogs visit Neyland Stadium on Nov. 9.
Since Dan Mullen left the Bulldogs for Florida after the 2017 season, they have had four coaches. That doesn’t include Greg Knox, who twice has had to finish out recent seasons as an interim coach.
Perhaps, the Bulldogs are still trying to hire a Mullen-type coach. That’s what all their hires aside from Zach Arnett suggest.
Arnett, a successful defensive coordinator, was hired after the death of coach Mike Leach in December of 2022.
Like Mullen, Leach was an offensive-minded coach. And like Mullen, he was successful.
Its other two recent hires didn’t fare as well. Joe Moorhead, another coach renowned for offense, lasted only two years. Arnett lasted just one. He was fired after going 5-7 and winning only one SEC game last season.
You know what that meant? Mississippi State has earned the reputation for the quickest firing trigger of any program in the SEC.
It’s up to Jeff Lebby to change that. Not surprisingly, his chances for success likely will be tied to his offense.
He got high marks for offense in his coordinator days at UCF and Oklahoma. But running those offenses isn’t comparable to running Mississippi State’s program, especially this season.
I can understand why Lebby couldn’t resist the temptation of an SEC head-coaching opportunity. However, his timing wasn’t great.
Mississippi State’s recruiting was disrupted by all the coaching changes. Sure, there is a greater opportunity for quick fixes now that transfers move so often and with such ease. But those changes can’t completely make up for a program’s instability.
That accounts for just one of Lebby’s disadvantages in his first head-coaching job.
The Bulldogs became accustomed to difficult SEC schedules from their time in the SEC West. But they didn’t get a break when the conference expanded to 16 teams and did away with the divisional setup.
Tennessee is just one of many Bulldogs opponents that was nationally ranked in preseason. They already have played Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M. After Tennessee comes Missouri and Ole Miss.
Ole Miss’ successful surge under Lane Kiffin, Lebby’s former boss, also could work against him. He’s joining the in-state rivalry when the Rebels are at the top of their game.
But maybe, he can do what Mullen did: develop a potent offense and sign enough three-star recruits who turn into four-star players.
Nonetheless, Tennessee should be pleased that someone other than Mullen will be coaching against it.
The Vols were 0-1 against him in his nine seasons at Mississippi State and 0-4 against him when he was at Florida from 2018 through 2021.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
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 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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