Tennessee
Everything Tony Vitello Said After Tennessee Baseball Lost to Oklahoma | Rocky Top Insider
Tennessee baseball suffered their first loss of the 2024 season on Saturday night in Arlington to the Oklahoma Sooners.
The game went into extra innings, where the Sooners were able to score four runs into the tenth and ultimately pick up a 5-1 victory.
Following the game, Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello met with the media to discuss his thoughts on the loss, from Tennessee’s elite defense to poor offense and everything in between.
Everything he said is below.
On what his team saw tonight from Oklahoma pitching…
“They saw some good pitching. I know that. To me, you always got to get guys on base to have runners left on base. Would have liked to have seen a little bit better execution or drive in a guy there and we have a chance to win the game. But again, you’re doing that against good competition and it’s easier said than done. I think we look back at it and see there’s some pitches we chased and maybe a little bit better approach to high-level arms. It just didn’t seem to be the kind of same vibe out of that offense from last night. It’s easy to say because the scoreboard says that, but again, their guys did a good job of pitching out of some trouble.”
On if he learned anything about his team tonight…
“Yeah, some guys getting their first go-around. It’s huge and it’s coming for a couple of other guys here soon. It’s not like you can’t do it well your first time, but I think these guys will reflect and realize this will help them and help them navigate the waters a little bit when they are in a jam or something like that. We were one pitch away several different times. If Beam gets out of that inning, I think it makes it easier on Marcus [Phillips] for his first appearance. Although you guys saw, he was throwing the ball with some electricity. I think he will be better next time out. And if we were able to get to Combsy [Aaron Combs] a little later in the game, maybe the result is different. But ifs and buts, candy and nuts.”
On the defense tonight and if he’s been a part of a triple play…
“I know I have a couple of times. I know that was probably one way I know I haven’t – don’t remember it being like that. I mean CMO [Christian Moore] I think put about seven tags out there. However it was needing to get done. And of course, you had the glove deal before it. However you can get the outs, you’ll take them.”
On Cal Stark behind the plate….
“Same as always. I mean, he is really good defensively and his energy is phenomenal back there. There is an art to working with umpires and pitchers and the pitching coach. It’s a lot of different stuff coming at you at once. He’s – I don’t want to say he’s mastered it – but he does it at a very high level and he makes you feel good when he is back there.”
More From RTI: Three Takeaways: Tennessee Baseball Suffers First Loss of Season to Oklahoma in Extra Innings
On where Christian Moore is at at shortstop right now:
“Good! He’s worked hard to be in that position. It’s also where he started out. I mean, when we first started recruiting him, he was a pitcher and playing that position, but I think some hard work has paid off. And really more attention to detail. He’s at his best in the box when you can’t really pay attention to detail, you have a 90 mph ball coming at you. But when you’re just trying to win and emotions aren’t involved and things like that, and then on defense, I think it’s paying attention to the best way to approach the whole thing. Rather than just get by on athleticism and a good arm, so he’s definitely had improvement.”
On Mathew Dallas and Derek Schaefer in their debuts:
“Dallas was great, and I think Schaefer’s last pitch, if he throws that same pitch, we’re out of the inning without any trouble. And I think if he goes back and watches the video, he’ll see that. And I’m out of eligibility, that’s easy for me to say. But again, I think when it’s your first time, you have got a lot of different things going on. Again, I think there’s some positives to take away from him being out there, and I think his last pitch was his best pitch. If he can throw that in the right situation, I can’t guarantee the result is different, but it’s probably a better result from that one particular at-bat.”
On if a game like this can teach the team something:
“I think it taught you what a regional game is going to look like if you haven’t played college baseball before. That’s a regional game. Or a super regional game or a game in Hoover. If you’re fortunate enough to move on from there, that’s what those games look like. The ones that when you go back to the hotel, it either really, really hurts, which I hope it does for our guys tonight, and also if you get it done, it feels good. But I think for them to… you know, could’ve managed the game a lot better. We’re trying to get to know our guys a little bit, and they’re trying to get to know what this is all about. They learned a lot from being in this deal.”
On what he’s looking forward to learning about his team tomorrow:
“You got opportunities to do two different things. Play a 1-1 series, it’s obviously going to be three different teams, but going into Sunday when it’s been kind of what it’s supposed to be in our league, which happens often, or any other big league, it’s a war on Sunday to get out of here with a win, or to get the series win. And then also it’s our first chance to respond to adversity.
“I don’t know. Maybe I felt it a little bit, maybe the other guys did. You want to be confident, but when you’re wearing this jersey or any other jersey, you’re not invincible. So, I don’t think we took anybody lightly, you’re not going to take Oklahoma lightly, but I think that our guys need to be confident but realize that it’s going to be a battle every time you get out on the field. And again, two opportunities tomorrow. One-to-one, and also the bounceback.”
On who will start on Sunday:
“Zander [Sechrist] will start for us tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tennessee
Answering Tennessee Football’s Burning Questions Less Than 100 Days Until Kickoff | Rocky Top Insider
We’re less than 100 days until Tennessee football meets Furman to open the 2026 season inside Neyland Stadium. As the team meets for summer workouts in Knoxville, there are some serious questions with strong implications still unanswered, though.
Here’s the latest on the answer to each burning question revolving around the Vols.
Who leads Tennessee’s quarterback battle?
Josh Heupel won’t name a starting quarterback until much closer to the start of the season, if not into the season itself, with an FCS game to open the year. The reason is he wants to see how each player develops over the summer and into training camp after receiving hands-on instruction from the coaching staff during the spring.
However, all the buzz is currently around five-star true freshman Faizon Brandon. Multiple college football insiders have given him the leg up entering the summer after he showed up to campus with a college-ready frame and strong understanding of Heupel’s offense.
The battle is far from over, though. Redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre will have a say as he pushes to take the reins of the offense after sitting behind Joey Aguilar and Jake Merklinger last season. Colorado transfer Ryan Staub will also get reps as he looks to emerge.
I think if you asked Heupel who the quarterback will be next season, he’d truthfully say he doesn’t know, though. It’s still a completely open competition as we gear up for fall camp at the beginning of August.
More From RTI: Tennessee Football’s First Three Games Officially Have Set Kickoff Times. Here’s What They are.
Will Chaz Coleman play for the Vols?
As spring camp progressed, Tennessee was without one of its key transfer portal pickups. Chaz Coleman, a highly-touted edge rusher from Penn State, began to miss practices and ultimately did not play in the annual Orange and White Game.
Now, it’s being reported that Coleman is not on campus for the start of voluntary workouts. We’ve seen missing practices and workouts be the end of tenures at UT in the past, as well. It was the final straw for Nico Iamaleava before he entered the portal in the spring of 2024, and Boo Carter missing workouts led to punishment before he transferred during the 2025 season.
It’s not a cut-and-clear case with Coleman, though. There’s still a chance he can work his way back into the fold for Tennessee this upcoming season, but there is plenty of work to be done. We’ll ultimately have to wait and see, but confidence is beginning to dwindle.
Either way, this now means Tulane transfer Jordan Norman is going to have to play a significant role this upcoming season and is a name to watch during fall camp.
How has the team adapted to the new big-name coaches?
This offseason, Tennessee added two significant coaches to its staff. To replace Tim Banks at defensive coordinator, Josh Heupel went out and got Jim Knowles. To revamp his strength program, he hired Indiana’s Derek Owings.
So far, it seems like both additions have gone very well. Knowles has a tough job in front of him, but he retooled the defense at multiple positions through the transfer portal. The linebacker room seems very strong, and he added talent to the secondary, but the defensive line will be interesting to watch.
Overall, it seems like the team has responded well to what Knowles and his staff are trying to implement on that side of the ball, though.
In the weight room, Owings has seemingly turned things around. Players don’t only look bigger, but plenty have talked to the media about how they feel faster and stronger already during spring camp. That impact could be one that goes under the radar but is felt in a big way this year.
Fingerprints of enslaved person found in brick at Blount Mansion
Fingerprints of enslaved person found in brick at Blount Mansion
Knoxville News Sentinel
Much to-do is being made of America’s 250th birthday, as well it should.
But did you know June 1 is Tennessee’s 230th birthday?
It was on June 1, 1796, that President George Washington signed a bill granting Tennessee immediate admission as the 16th state. Gov. John Sevier was chosen to lead the new state, and Knoxville was picked as its first capital.
A decade before, settlers west of the Appalachian mountains had sought admission to the union for the state of Franklin. But despite four years of existence, Franklin never gained federal approval.
Tennessee’s first official state constitution – drafted by 55 delegates in Knoxville in 1796 – is on display at the Tennessee State Library and Archives.
It was drafted in the home of William Blount, which still stands on West Hill Avenue in downtown Knoxville.
Tennessee actually has three state constitutions: the first, adopted in 1796, a revision adopted in 1834 to update the taxation and court systems, and the 1870 constitution, adopted after the Civil War.
The 1870 constitution permanently abolished slavery in Tennessee and remains the state’s fundamental charter.
Celebrate Tennessee’s birthday in Knoxville
Marble Springs State Historic Site, home of Gov. John Sevier, will have a two-day free party for Tennessee’s Statehood Day.
Tennessee Field Day for kids (or kids at heart) is noon-5 p.m. May 29 and Statehood Day is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 30. Field Day explores history through many aspects and activities, and Statehood Day focuses more on lectures, demonstrations, music, line dancing and food.
The historic buildings and learning center are at 1200 W. Gov. John Sevier Highway in Knoxville.
Look back at how Tennessee was founded
1785-1789: Settlers establish independent systems of government and petition to become a state, but they fail to gain recognition for the state of Franklin. The territory is again under the control of North Carolina.
1789: North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and cedes its Tennessee lands to the federal government. It is designated as the “Territory of the United States, South of the River Ohio,” more commonly known as the “Southwest Territory.” William Blount is appointed by George Washington to be governor. Early governance of the territory is focused on making treaties with Native Americans, securing settlers from attacks and encouraging settlement. Warfare with Native American tribes increases through the 1790s.
1792: Knoxville is selected as the capital of the Southwest Territory.
January 1796: Gov. William Blount calls for a constitutional convention in Knoxville to begin the process of joining the Union. The delegates form an organized government and constitution before applying to Congress for admission to the Union. The delegates select John Sevier as governor, William Blount and William Cocke as senators and Andrew Jackson as representative.
June 1, 1796: Tennessee becomes the 16th state in America. Knoxville remains the capital until 1812.
1812: Tennessee earns its nickname “The Volunteer State” during the War of 1812 because it sends 1,500 volunteer soldiers.
1812-1816: Nashville is Tennessee’s capital.
1817-1818: Knoxville is Tennessee’s capital again.
1818-1826: Murfreesboro is the capital of Tennessee.
1826-present day: Nashville becomes – and remains – the capital of Tennessee.
The Tennessee Volunteers are constantly getting players in the MLB and the MILB farm system, which is the developmental program that all rookies and young players (a.k.a. prospects) start off in. One of the players who has been in the farm system since being drafted is Nate Snead, who was with the Tennessee Vols just last season as a pitcher, and one of the better pitchers on the Tennessee roster.
Nate Snead is one of the better players to come through the Tennessee program as a reliever, and he is one of the better pitchers when it comes to his fastball, as he throws what many would confirm to be “gas.”
Nate Snead Gets Called Up
Snead was in Single-A to start his career, but he is now on his way up, as he is moving up to Double-A after a great start to his career. He is heading to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, which is an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. This would mean he is in the same farm system that both Christian Moore and Ben Joyce recently had to come through, and is one of the better players in the farm system for the Angels, anyway.
He currently holds an ERA of 2.80, which is great considering he has pitched 35.1 innings. He holds a win-loss record of 3-3, and also has a total of 39 strikeouts, which would mean he is averaging more than a strikeout every inning he pitches. He is also giving up less than a hit an inning, which is where he should be in order to get called up.
This decision doesn’t seem rushed, and it doesn’t seem that this is going to backfire. He will likely finish his season in Double-A, although a great stretch could lead to him being fast-tracked to Triple-A, the final team before the majors.
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