Tennessee
Governor Lee visits Tennessee National Guard ahead of their deployment to the Texas southern border – WBBJ TV
MILLINGTON, Tenn.– Saturday, Governor Lee and other lawmakers visited the first wave of National Guard soldiers in Millington ahead of their deployment.
“These men and women are here leaving their families to be apart of a coordinated effort to really secure the border,” said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
After Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested the help of securing its southern border with Mexico from other governors, Governor Lee made the decision to send the Tennessee National Guard. Saturday, Lee along with U.S. Representative David Kustoff, State Representative Chris Todd, and State Senator Ed Jackson, visited the National Guard Armory in Millington in Shelby County.
“Very proud to be here with them, to encourage them, and tell them how grateful we are for their service,” said Lee.
Major General Warner Ross says that the Tennessee National Guard has been assisting Texas since 2006, so they have experience. Their mission this time is a general purpose mission.
“It could be surveillance, it could be engineering type missions. So, they’ll be assigned to a task force under the Texas National Guard and once they get out there they’ll get specifics on what exactly the mission is,” said Major General Ross.
Ross says that every deployment comes with a risk but in this case, it depends on what sector they’re assigned to. Right now the deployment will come in two waves, but Ross says his troops are ready if elected leaders call for more.
“Our job is to be ready when they call us. Our motto in the Tennessee National Guard is we’re the volunteers and we’re ready now,” said Ross.
Congressman Kustoff, who represents a large portion of West Tennessee, says he believes border safety is quote, “The most important issue in people’s minds across the nation.”
“But my assessment is, the economy and inflation is what was primarily on people’s mind, and it still is, but the border has taken priority,” said Kustoff.
Governor Lee says as of now the two waves included in this deployment are all they are committed to send at this time.
We reached out to State Senator Ed Jackson and State Representative Chris Todd , however they were not immediately available for comment.
Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.
Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.
“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.
“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”
Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.
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Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.
UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.
Game times and television designations will be announced later.
Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.
Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.
Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.
Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.
Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.
Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.
Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.
Tennessee football 2026 schedule
- Sept. 5: Furman
- Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
- Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
- Sept. 26: Texas*
- Oct. 3: Auburn*
- Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
- Oct. 17: Alabama*
- Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
- Oct. 31: Open
- Nov. 7: Kentucky*
- Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
- Nov. 21: LSU*
- Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*
*SEC game
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 announced the signing of graduate student Dragos Cazacu on Wednesday. He is from Constanta, Romania.
“Dragos is someone we believe can translate all of his professional experience and success seamlessly to high level college tennis,” Tennessee associate head coach Matt Lucas said. “He’s a very mature young man who has finished university in Romania, so we know the type of student athlete we are getting. Winning ITF Pro Circuit titles, all while doing his degree back home shows he will transition nicely to Tennessee in January.”
Cazacu competed on the ATP Tour prior to Tennessee. His highest ranking was No. 763 in singles and No. 495 in doubles.
Tennessee will begin its spring men’s tennis season versus ETSU on Jan. 9, 2026 at Goodfriend Tennis Center. SEC competition will begin Feb. 21, 2026 at Kentucky.
The Vols’ home opener in SEC play is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026 versus Auburn at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
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