Tennessee

Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin could ‘feel Pat Summitt’s spirit’ in win vs. Tennessee

Published

2 years ago

January 29, 2024

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.

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Tennessee

What Danny White is looking for in next Tennessee baseball coach after Tony Vitello exit

Published

2 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

What Danny White is looking for in next Tennessee baseball coach after Tony Vitello exit

Danny White is searching for the next Tennessee baseball coach at an uncommon time of year and in an unusual situation.

The totality of the situation following Tony Vitello vacating the post to become the manager of the San Francisco Giants has White taking a comprehensive look at the search.

“I’m going into this with open eyes,” White said.

White has made six hires at Tennessee, including for two of the most prominent programs. He’s now looking to fill one of the other most prominent positions on campus and replacing arguably the most popular Vols coach.

He has appointed pitching coach Frank Anderson as the interim coach and asked associate head coach Josh Elander to be a candidate for the position.

As he enters the search, White said he has “nothing specific” he is looking for in a candidate. He wants his first “data point” to come from talking to the leaders of the baseball team.

“I still want to hear their perspective, learn from that and then go into the process, but I don’t have anything particular in mind,” White said.

White’s search differs from his previous ones at Tennessee and is unique in its circumstances. Vitello’s departure is the first time an MLB franchise has hired a college baseball coach with no prior MLB experience. It also comes less than 18 months after the Vols won the national title, whereas his other coaching hires all followed necessary change.

Heupel’s six hires are football coach Josh Heupel, Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell, women’s soccer coach Joe Kirt, rowing coach Kim Cupini, cross country coach Justin Duncan and track and field coach Duane Ross.

The most consistent pattern in White’s hires stems from the choices of Heupel, Caldwell, Cupini and Ross. All four were winners lower levels and proved they could build high-level programs as head coaches.

Heupel was White’s first hire. He previously hired Heupel to coach at UCF then brought him to Tennessee shortly after he was named the athletics director. Heupel brought a big offense and questions about recruiting, but put the latter to rest at Tennessee.

Caldwell is White’s most notable choice since Heupel. White moved on from former coach Kellie Harper in April 2024 then quickly hired Caldwell. Caldwell had only one year of head coaching experience at the Division I level, but had won a national title at the Division II level and has been a high-level winner in her whole career. She brought an elite offensive system with her.

Kirt’s hiring perhaps most similar mirrors the baseball situation. He was an internal candidate after Brian Pensky dashed to Florida State. White went through the process but ultimately chose to appoint Kirt the coach instead of an outside hire.

Cupini was a proven program-builder. She built a successful program at San Diego then was a winner at SMU, where she was before she was hired at Tennessee. She won three AAC titles at SMU and the Mustangs to three consecutive NCAA Championship appearances.

Ross has a similar background, having led North Carolina A&T from 2012-22 and creating the program into a winner. He brought head coaching experience.

Duncan was a pivotal assistant at Oklahoma State, which fielded one of the nations best distance programs.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

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Will Calvin Ridley play vs Colts? Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans injury report Week 8

Published

20 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Will Calvin Ridley play vs Colts? Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans injury report Week 8

The Indianapolis Colts (6-1) host the Tennessee Titans (1-6) in NFL Week 8 action on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.

The Colts hope receivers Josh Downs (concussion) and Ashton Dulin (chest) — who is also a special teams ace — can return, as well as pass rusher Tyquan Lewis (groin), who exited Week 7 action mid-game.

Tennessee interim coach Mike McCoy says key defensive players Jeffery Simmons (hamstring) and L’Jarius Sneed (quadriceps) will likely miss some time. Receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring), who didn’t play last weekend, was one of eight Titans who did not practice because of injury on Wednesday.

Indianapolis Colts injury report vs. Tennessee Titans for NFL Week 8, Oct. 26

Colts who did not practice on Wednesday, Oct. 22: DE Samson Ebukam (knee), T Braden Smith (rest), DE Tyquan Lewis (groin), CB Kenny Moore II (Achilles); limited participation: CB Jaylon Jones (hamstring), WR Josh Downs (concussion); full participation WR Ashton Dulin (chest), RB Tyler Goodson (groin).

Tennessee Titans injury report vs. Indianapolis Colts for NFL Week 8, Oct. 26

Titans who did not practice on Wednesday, Oct. 22: DL Jeffery Simmons (hamstring), CB L’Jarius Sneed (quadriceps), WR Calvin Ridley (hamstring), RB Tony Pollard (rest), OL Kevin Zeitler (rest), P Johnny Hekker (illness), LB Arden Key (quadricep), DE James Lynch (shoulder), LB Jihad Ward (rest), OL Blake Hance (shoulder/back), WR Bryce Oliver (knee); limited participation: DE Sebastian Joseph-Day (calf), S Xavier Woods (ankle).

Colts 2025 regular season schedule

Week 1: Indianapolis Colts 33, Miami Dolphins 8, box score, stats
Week 2: Colts 29, Denver Broncos 28, box score, stats
Week 3: Colts 41, Tennessee Titans 20, box score, stats
Week 4: Los Angeles Rams 27, Colts 20, box score, stats
Week 5: Colts 40, Las Vegas Raiders 6, box score, stats
Week 6: Colts 31, Arizona Cardinals 27, box score, stats
Week 7: Colts 38, Los Angeles Chargers 24, box score, stats
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 9, vs. Atlanta Falcons in Berlin, Germany, 9:30 a.m., NFL Network
Week 11: Bye
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 23, at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., CBS
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 22, vs. San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m., ESPN’s “Monday Night Football”
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 28, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m., Fox
Week 18: Date TBD, at Houston Texans, time TBD, TBD