Tennessee

Tennessee House GOP Blocks Proclamation Honoring Grammy Winner Allison Russell, While Letting Similar Measure for Paramore Pass

Published

10 months ago

February 14, 2024

Tennessee House GOP Blocks Proclamation Honoring Grammy Winner Allison Russell, While Letting Similar Measure for Paramore Pass

When it comes to Tennessee’s recently Grammy-winning musical heroes, the state’s House Republicans are making it clear — they’re good with Paramore, but not so much Allison Russell, for reasons yet to be explained.

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) brought resolutions before the body to honor the Grammy achievements of Paramore, who won for best rock album and best alternative music performance, and Russell, who picked up her first Grammy for best American roots performance for the song “Eve Was Black.”

Although both Russell and Paramore singer Hayley Williams have made their displeasure with the GOP-controlled legislature known in the past, only one of these two proclamations was blocked. The resolution honoring Paramore sailed through, but the complementary one celebrating Russell was effectively killed.

It was House Republican Caucus Chair Jeremy Faison who balked at the Russell resolution, in what the Tennessean described as “a procedural move that kicked Jones’ resolution off the night’s consent calendar and back to committee, where objected consent items often die.”

Russell thanked Jones for trying. “That you and (Rep. Gloria Johnson) presented this resolution is a high honour. That the TN GOP blocked it, I take as a compliment,” Russell wrote on her social media accounts. “Their bigotry, sadly, is on relentless display. We have a chance this year to make a real change in TN.”

The progressive website the Tennessee Holler posted video in which Jones stood up during an announcements portion of the session and attempted to speak up about the proclamation being blocked. He began by saying, “The announcement is to announce there are people in our midst who are making Black history, and I want to honor them during this Black History Month… I would like to announce that it’s concerning that this body chooses to denigrate —” At that point, the Republican chair of the House cut off Jones’ mic, according to the Tennessean, explaining that Jones’ comment did not count as an announcement.

Both Williams and Russell appeared at a “Love Rising” benefit at the Bridgestone Arena last year protesting the state’s then-newly enacted anti-drag laws, a show that also included stars like Hozier, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires and Maren Morris.

Jones and Johnson are two of the three “Tennessee three” legislators whom Republicans attempted to banish from the House last year. Both of the representatives appeared at last fall’s Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville to give a special free-speech award to Russell. The Paramore singer, for her part, has also supported the outnumbered Democrats, including posing with Jones in a photo under which, in a caption, the legislator characterized Williams as a fellow fighter of fascism.

“Tonight my Republican colleagues blocked a resolution honoring Black American Roots artist Allison Russell for her first Grammy win,” Jones wrote on social media after his interrupted defense of the singer. “(Russell) has worked tirelessly to foster an inclusive Nashville through her music and continues to make Black History here in Tennessee.”

The wording of the proclamation that got nixed by the GOP did not mention anything about her politics or activism, nor the fact that she identifies as a queer woman. The resolution generally lauded Russell’s musicianship, mentioning her eight Grammy nominations to date as well as her fresh win, calling her “one of her generation’s finest folk artists… her sonic and cultural contributions will undoubtedly go on to inspire generations to come.”

The Tennessee Holler further posted video of an attempt to confront Rep. Faison after the session, asking the GOP chair, “Hey, Jeremy… what’s your problem with Allison Russell?” Faison did not turn to answer, and has thus far not explained why he blocked Russell’s proclamation while not objecting to Paramore’s.

It’s not Faison’s first time blocking a proclamation for a nationally renowned Tennessee musician who identifies as LGBTQ. In 2021, he made national headlines when he blocked a proclamation honoring Brothers Osborne singer TJ Osborne, who had recently come out as gay, even though the resolution had unanimously passed the state Senate.

The Tennessee legislature has come to be a focus of national attention — and considerable mockery — in recent years, with its Republican supermajority increasingly focused on a far-right emphasis on divisive social issues and protecting itself through gerrymandering, even before the attempted ousting of the “Tennessee three.” In a recent Politico piece, journalist Natalie Allison, who covered the Tennessee Capitol for three years as a Tennessean reporter, described the legislature as having been “defined by partisan vitriol, pique, scandal, racism and Olympic-level pettiness for years.”

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Tennessee

Vanderbilt Given Major Compliment by Tennessee’s Head Coach Ahead of Finale

Published

1 hour ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Vanderbilt Given Major Compliment by Tennessee’s Head Coach Ahead of Finale

Vanderbilt wasn’t able to accomplish their goal of beating the flailing LSU Tigers this past weekend, but they do have another opportunity to cause chaos in the last game of the regular season.

The Commodores now sit with a 6-5 record, having already secured their spot in a bowl game, but they can play a huge part in how the College Football Playoff might look like if they can knock off their in-state rivals this weekend.

Tennessee has had an interesting year so far, looking like juggernauts early in the season before their offense stumbled and turned them into a beatable team.

That’s what Vanderbilt is hoping to do.

After years of being outclassed by their SEC competition, they have given just about everyone they’ve faced a challenge this season by beating Alabama, losing in overtime to Missouri and losing in one-score games against Texas and LSU.

Tennessee knows they can’t take Vanderbilt lightly, understanding the Commodores would love nothing more than to potentially eliminate the Volunteers from national championship contention.

Josh Heupel was quick to praise Vanderbilt during the early part of the week, making sure to not give the upset-minded Commodores bulletin board material.

“Big road game. Playing a really good football team in Vanderbilt. You look at what they’ve done throughout the season, but statistically they do a great job of tying all three phases together. They play complementary football. They’re smart. They’re tough. They’re physical. They’re disciplined. They make you earn it,” he said per Grant Ramey of Volquest.

In the past, that might have been viewed as lip service, but this year, it’s a warning to his team.

Vanderbilt can play with anyone in the SEC, and with the rule changes that don’t stop the clock whenever a team gets a first down, they have used their modified offense that has triple option running principles to control the game.

With Tennessee having a tough time scoring at different parts of the season, that could be a real issue for them.

The Commodores are hoping their star quarterback, Diego Pavia, can muster up one final elite performance in the finale despite him dealing with multiple injuries.

He’s been a major part of Vanderbilt’s success this year, giving them a real duel-threat option who has challenged their opponents in multiple ways.

Pavia likely already leaves Nashville as a program legend despite being on campus for just one season, but if he can pull off this upset, he would certainly lock down that status.

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Tennessee

Josh Heupel flips RB Daune Morris to Tennessee football from Southern Cal

Published

10 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Josh Heupel flips RB Daune Morris to Tennessee football from Southern Cal

Oakland senior running back Daune Morris was heavily recruited by then-Louisville running backs coach De’Rail Sims when Morris was a freshman at Chattanooga Red Bank.

Sims continued recruiting Morris after he came to Tennessee as running backs coach even after Morris committed to Southern Cal in April.

That persistence and Tennessee’s push for a playoff berth in 2024 were big reasons why Morris flipped from the Trojans to the Vols, a move he announced Monday after an official visit to Knoxville over the weekend.

“(Sims) was one of my first ACC offers as a freshman,” Morris said. “He continued to recruit me, hit me up every day, and he just showed me consistency throughout the recruitment process.

“UT has always been in the back of my mind. I didn’t see me going there until I got on campus. Once I saw it for myself and the coaches continued to show me, it proved to me this is the place.”

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Morris committed to USC on April 9, just four days after he announced a top 10 that included Tennessee.

“On my visits, it’s been the same-in, same-out,” Morris said. “Coach (Josh) Heupel and everybody showed me the same love. It’s been nothing different. To get that kind of love from an SEC school in my home state, it means a lot.”

He said the Vols’ success this season, especially that of junior running back Dylan Sampson, weighed heavily in his decision.

“Just understanding the people behind me in my home state and the trajectory that Tennessee has right now,” Morris said. “How the trajectory is going with the quarterback (Nico Iamaleava), with the athletes and with the running backs. Dylan Sampson doing his job, scoring 20 touchdowns. It just shows what they can do with the running back and how they use their running backs in the right situations.”

Morris is listed by 247Sports Composite as the No. 29 athlete nationally and No. 16 recruit in Tennessee for the 2025 class. He was No. 3 on The Tennessean’s 2024 Dandy Dozen, a ranking of the top players from the Nashville area for the Class of 2025. He is a three-star running back.

He had many power conference offers. That included SEC schools Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss and Texas A&M, along with Deion Sanders’ Colorado squad, Louisville and USC in his top 10.

Morris is healthy after having missed the better part of six games this season, most of that due to an ankle injury he suffered on the first snap of the Patriots’ Week 1 win over Independence.

He has been especially explosive in the TSSAA football playoffs, gaining 481 yards and scoring nine touchdowns over Oakland’s past two games. For the season he has 856 yards rushing and 16 TDs.

He had a breakout junior season at Oakland after transferring from Chattanooga. The Tennessee Titans Class 6A Mr. Football finalist and first-team all-area performer rushed for 2,012 yards, added 568 receiving yards and scored 36 total touchdowns in leading the Patriots to the Class 6A BlueCross Bowl for the fourth consecutive season.

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Tennessee

Could Tennessee football return to play Georgia in Athens in the playoffs?

Published

18 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Could Tennessee football return to play Georgia in Athens in the playoffs?

A month removed from playing Georgia in Athens, could Tennessee football be returning to its former SEC East rivals’ home stadium for a play off game.

In ESPN’s Heather Dinich’s projected College Football Playoff rankings heading into the final week of the regular season, she has exactly this happening.

With the playoff game being played on either Dec. 20 or 21, it would be just days more than a month removed from the Vols falling to the Bulldogs 31-17 on the road.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

Dinich has this as the 8-seed and 9-seed game. With Georgia as the 8-seed, it opens the door for it to host a playoff game.

Unlike the NCAA Tournament in men’s and women’s basketball, there are no restrictions on teams in the same conference playing each other in the first game of the playoffs.

The last time the teams met, Tennessee took a 10-0 lead after one quarter of play. From there, Georgia outscored the Vols 31-7 without giving up a single second half point.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for 167 yards on 20-for-33 passing with no touchdowns or interceptions. His favorite target proved to be Squirrel White who caught six passes for 45 yards. Miles Kitselman also caught four passes for 46 yards.

On the ground, Dylan Sampson ran for 101 yards and a touchdown. Kitselman also ran for a score.

Georgia was led by Carson Beck who completed 25-of-40 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Here is her full slate for the projected playoffs in this scenario:

First-Round Byes

1-seed Oregon (Big Ten champion)

2-seed Texas (SEC champion)

3-seed Miami (ACC champion)

4-seed Boise State (Mountain West champion)

First-Round Games

12-seed Arizona State (Big 12 champion) at 5-seed Ohio State

11-seed Indiana at 6-seed Penn State

10-seed SMU at 7-seed Notre Dame