Tennessee
Editor's notebook: Drugstore cowboys and the Alamo – Tennessee Lookout
I typically don’t answer phone calls from unrecognized numbers and thought twice one night last week when a local, but unidentified number, popped up — until I noted it was tagged, ‘robocall.’
In an election cycle, you can’t be sure which politicians are calling, so I picked up to hear Tennessee’s senior senator in a cheerful recording: “Hey there! This is Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Today, I’m hosting a live telephone town hall . . . we’re going to talk about the crisis at the southern border, rising inflation and threats we face from America’s adversaries.”
Did I want to click one to participate? Oh, you bet I did.
The majority of the callers wanted to ask questions about security at the U.S.-Mexico border; they weren’t what I would have asked, but there’s no shame in asking.
There is, however, shame in being a U.S. senator perpetuating stereotypes for fear and exploiting the status of immigrants for the sake of politics.
In one of three polls Blackburn ran during the call, she asked, “Do you believe our nation’s veterans should wait at the back of the line while the VA (Veterans’ Administration) prioritizes illegal immigrants?”
As in most falsehoods, there’s a grain of truth, which Blackburn managed to inflate and contort.
In July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided its annual analysis to Congress of the health care costs for migrants and asylum-seekers in detention. The report provides data on health issues identified and treated in ICE detention centers — tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia, COVID-19, pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and mental health conditions.
The VA, however, has nothing to do with treating any of those and according to the report, only processing medical reimbursements for ICE.
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think we need a better mechanism for managing immigration but the problems extend far beyond the border, as we need to improve and expedite how migrants are processed legally and how they’re treated. That’s long been the case, no matter which party is in the White House.
But practical immigration reform is not what Blackburn’s talking about. Instead, Blackburn and other Tennessee Republicans use immigration policies and immigrants to whip up fear and outrage without strategizing about humane solutions. It’s a blatant play for votes.
During the 2018 midterm elections, then-President Donald Trump talked of migrant caravans converging on the U.S. in what he labeled an “invasion.” The predicted “invasion” didn’t materialize, and as a 2023 report from the Baker Institute of Public Policy notes, most migrant caravans that started after 2020 haven’t made it to the U.S.
As Mark Twain said, never let facts get in the way of a good story — Blackburn isn’t the only Tennessee Republican guilty of hyperbole on the subject of immigration and the border.
Several Tennessee lawmakers were compelled to make statements of support for Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott after a Jan. 22 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the Border Patrol to cut razor wire placed in a small stretch of the Rio Grande by the Texas National Guard to deter migrant river crossings. Placement of the wire actually impeded border agents from patrolling the area.
Tennessee’s political drugstore cowboys whooping about the Alamo and states’ rights contribute nothing to the debate about immigration and peddle fear for the sake of votes.
Gov. Bill Lee joined other Republican governors in signing a statement accusing the U.S. of “attacking” Texas and asserting the state’s “constitutional right to self-defense.”
Not to be outdone, House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, made an impassioned speech on the House floor and followed with a tweet invoking the Tennessee statesman David “Davy” Crockett, who left the Volunteer State only to lose his life at the Alamo.
Citing a historical incident that ended in the death of every American participant might not be the best analogy. And talk of states’ rights superseding the federal government? We went down this road less than 200 years ago and that ended with the deaths of more than 600,000 Americans.
Even the most gracious and welcoming of us realize the need for policies to manage the flow of immigrants into the U.S. But razor wire and allowing migrants to drown is inhumane, and in reality, it’s impossible to imagine how to fund or build a physical wall across the nearly 3,000 acres that constitute our southern border — much less hire enough border agents to secure it.
Like many of the country’s serious issues, managing the border and creating better immigration systems require serious analysis and complex solutions. Adding nothing to the dialogue are Tennessee’s drugstore cowboys whooping about the Alamo and states’ rights — especially when so many Tennesseans lack services to which our lawmakers continually turn a blind eye.
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Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Vanderbilt basketball guard Frankie Collins is leaving the program, head coach Mark Byington announced on Tuesday night. The news comes just days before the Commodores are set to face off against Tennessee in the regular season finale, with the Volunteers looking to clinch a top-four seed and double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
Why it matters
Collins was Vanderbilt’s most highly touted transfer last offseason, but injuries limited him to just nine games this season. His departure leaves the Commodores shorthanded heading into a crucial matchup against their in-state rival Tennessee, who are seeking to complete a regular season sweep.
The details
The 6-foot-1 guard averaged 7.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game this season, but suffered a meniscus injury in December that sidelined him for the majority of the year. With the emergence of sophomore point guard Tyler Tanner and Oklahoma transfer Duke Miles, Collins never quite found his footing in the Vanderbilt lineup.
- Frankie Collins left the Vanderbilt program on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
- Vanderbilt is scheduled to face Tennessee on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
The players
Frankie Collins
A 6-foot-1 guard who was Vanderbilt’s most highly touted transfer last offseason, coming to Nashville after spending the 2024-25 season at TCU and the three prior years at Arizona State and Michigan.
Mark Byington
The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores basketball team.
Tyler Tanner
The sophomore point guard who emerged as a key player for Vanderbilt this season.
Duke Miles
An Oklahoma transfer shooting guard who joined the Vanderbilt roster this season.
Rick Barnes
The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.
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What they’re saying
“Frankie has left Nashville, and he’s not gonna be on the team. It’s gonna be good for both sides of it. We wish him well. So we’ll roll with the guys we got.”
— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores (rockytopinsider.com)
What’s next
With a victory over Vanderbilt, Tennessee will clinch a top four-seed and a double-bye in next week’s SEC Tournament. Vanderbilt could potentially earn a double-bye themselves with a win and a little extra help.
The takeaway
The loss of Frankie Collins leaves Vanderbilt shorthanded heading into a crucial matchup against in-state rival Tennessee, who are seeking to complete a regular season sweep. The Commodores will have to rely on the emergence of players like Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles to try and pull off the upset and keep their own postseason hopes alive.
Published on Mar. 3, 2026
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According to ESPN’s latest NFL mock draft, three former Tennessee Volunteers players are projected to be selected in the top 60 picks of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Cornerbacks Jermod McCoy and Colton Hood are both projected to be first-round picks, while wide receiver Chris Brazzell II is projected to be a second-round selection.
Why it matters
The strong NFL Draft projections for Tennessee players highlight the continued talent development and success of the Volunteers football program under head coach Josh Heupel. If these projections hold true, it would mark the first time Tennessee has had two first-round picks and three players selected in the top 60 overall during Heupel’s tenure.
The details
Cornerback Jermod McCoy is projected to be selected 29th overall by the Los Angeles Rams, despite not participating in on-field workouts at the NFL Combine due to a previous ACL injury. Teammate Colton Hood is projected to be the final pick of the first round, going 32nd overall to the Seattle Seahawks. Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II impressed at the Combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash and is projected to be a second-round pick, going 60th overall to the Buffalo Bills.
- The NFL Combine was held in late February 2026.
- Tennessee’s Pro Day workouts are scheduled for the end of March 2026.
- The 2026 NFL Draft will take place in April-May 2026.
The players
Jermod McCoy
A cornerback for the Tennessee Volunteers who is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, despite missing the 2025 season due to an ACL injury.
Colton Hood
A cornerback for the Tennessee Volunteers who is projected to be a first-round pick, going 32nd overall to the Seattle Seahawks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Chris Brazzell II
A wide receiver for the Tennessee Volunteers who impressed at the NFL Combine with a 4.37 40-yard dash and is projected to be a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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What they’re saying
“If we’re going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class. But he hasn’t played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We’re still not sure where he’s at in his recovery, as he did not participate in testing or drills at the combine. This gives the Rams — who haven’t drafted a corner in the first round since 2006 or before Day 3 since 2019 — the potential to get a steal here. McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
“The reigning champions have a clear need at corner, as Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are both scheduled to be free agents. Hood is a scheme-versatile player who can thrive in press man while also having the fluidity to excel in zone. A former all-state center fielder in high school, Hood’s ball skills frequently show up on tape (10 pass breakups and an interception last season). With his poised technique and wrap-up-and-finish tackling, he would fit well on the outside of Mike Macdonald’s secondary.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
“The Bills need someone who can separate on the outside, and Brazzell is an ‘X’ receiver who can be a deep vertical threat. He can also sink his weight and run a true route tree, making him a good fit with quarterback Josh Allen.”
— Jordan Reid, ESPN Analyst (ESPN)
What’s next
Tennessee’s Pro Day workouts are scheduled for the end of March 2026, where McCoy plans to participate in on-field drills to further showcase his recovery from the ACL injury. Strong performances at the Pro Day could potentially push McCoy back up draft boards into the top half of the first round.
The takeaway
The strong NFL Draft projections for Tennessee players demonstrate the continued talent development and success of the Volunteers football program under head coach Josh Heupel. If these projections hold true, it would mark a significant milestone for the program, with Tennessee potentially having two first-round picks and three players selected in the top 60 overall for the first time during Heupel’s tenure.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WCYB) — Tennessee Athletics’ “Big Orange Caravan” presented by Pilot will roll into the Tri-Cities on April 30, bringing some of the university’s most recognizable faces to Kingsport.
The statewide tour, a collaboration between Tennessee Athletics and the UT Knoxville Office of Alumni Affairs, features Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White, men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes, women’s basketball coach Kim Caldwell, head football coach Josh Heupel and “Voice of the Vols” Mike Keith.
The Tri-Cities stop is scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at Meadowview Convention Center, 1901 Meadowview Parkway, Kingsport, Tennessee. Doors open at 5 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet session with the headliners from 5:30-6:15 p.m. The program begins at 6:15 p.m.
Hosted by Keith, the evening will include stories, program insight and a question-and-answer session with Tennessee’s athletics leaders and coaches. The UT Spirit Squads also will be in attendance.
Tickets are $30, plus taxes and fees, and include light food options. A cash bar, along with additional light food and appetizers, will be available.
Of each ticket sold, $5 will benefit the local UT Alumni chapter’s scholarship endowment and $10 will go toward the My All Campaign.
The Tri-Cities event is the final stop of the three-city spring tour. The caravan opens in Chattanooga on April 28 before heading to Nashville on April 29. As announced last spring, Chattanooga and Memphis will alternate as tour stops each year.
The Big Orange Caravan is designed to connect Tennessee coaches and administrators with fans across the state, offering behind-the-scenes insight and celebrating the support of the Volunteer community.
Tickets for the Tri-Cities stop can be purchased at https://www.gofevo.com/event/BOCTriCities26
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