Tennessee

Titans Players React to Blowout Loss

Published

1 year ago

October 28, 2024

The Tennessee Titans are frustrated and disappointed after a 52-14 loss to the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in their Week 8 matchup.

With the loss, the Titans fall to 1-6, which is now the worst record in the AFC. Only the 1-7 Carolina Panthers have a worse record than the Titans at the moment.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph showed some resolve with the offense in the first half, leading two touchdown drives, but it was nowhere near enough to pull out a win.

“Unfortunately, it’s the same story – giving them some easy ones once again, putting our defense on a short field,” Rudolph said via team reporter Jim Wyatt. “There were some good things in the first half, but none of it matters when you get your butt kicked.”

There was a bright spot with Rudolph and wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who had his best game with the Titans with 10 catches for 143 yards. However, the loss burned any happiness or excitement Ridley could have.

“We came here, and tried to turn the season around, and get better,” Ridley said via Wyatt. “This, this is not good.”

The Titans were tied 14-14 early in the second quarter, but poor special teams play and turnovers led to 38 unanswered points. Even though the Titans defense held the Lions to just 85 passing yards, the lack of complementary football between the offense, defense and special teams cost Tennessee dearly.

“It’s the same thing every week,” Titans pass rusher Key said via Wyatt. “We don’t play complementary football. One week it might be the offense, one week it might be the defense, one week it might be special teams. We haven’t yet played complementary football in all three phases of the game.”

The Titans usually have one or two units out of three play well, and that leads to some form of hope during the game. However, the miscues ultimately lead to another loss. If the Titans want to get back in the win column, there needs to be far more consistency across the board.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Stars of the game from Kentucky’s thrilling win vs. Tennessee

Published

7 hours ago

January 19, 2026

Press Room

Stars of the game from Kentucky’s thrilling win vs. Tennessee

Coming into the season, this Kentucky Wildcats team had talent. This is a roster that came into the season with expectations of being more athletic and versatile than last year’s team. The one concern was this team’s ability to shoot the ball.

Saturday in Knoxville, this team showed that it can shoot. Kentucky made 11/24 3-pointers and shot 47.5% from the floor in a come-from-behind 80-78 win over the Tennessee Volunteers.

Trailing by as many as 17 points late in the first half, the Wildcats clawed back into the game by making shots and playing tough defense. Kentucky made 6/11 3-pointers in the second half, outscoring Tennessee 49-36 in the second half and holding the Volunteers without a basket in the final 5:38 of the game.

Saturday’s win can build confidence. Coming back from down 18 at LSU is one thing, but coming back from down 17 at Tennessee, a team led by its bigs, without Jayden Quaintance and Malachi Moreno scoring just three points on four shot attempts, is the kind of win that builds confidence, character, and resilience.

Kentucky vs. Tennessee Stars of the Game

1. Collin Chandler: 12 pts, 4-6 3-PT FG, 3 rebs, 2 ast., 1 blk, 3 stl, 24 mins

Chandler looked like the player on Saturday that many Kentucky fans had hoped he would be this season. Every time he took a 3-point shot Saturday, it felt like there was a good chance it was going to go in.

All six of Chandler’s shots on Saturday were from 3-point range, and he made four of them. Every one of those four 3-pointers was crucial.

For the second straight game, though, it was an assist by Chandler that won Kentucky the game in Knoxville. With 40 seconds to play, Chandler stole a pass from the Volunteers’ leading scorer, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, and then threw it ahead to Otega Oweh, who converted what proved to be the game-winning and-one six seconds later.

“It was great coming to Knoxville again. Our team loves playing in Knoxville,” Chandler said.

It’s great to see Chandler shooting the ball well again. Even more so, he’s making winning plays without scoring. That’s a testament to his growth in his sophomore season.

2. Denzel Aberdeen: 22 pts. 7-11 FG (3-6 3-PT FG), 5-6 FT, 2 ast., 2 stl, 29 mins

Kentucky doesn’t get back into this game without Denzel Aberdeen. He made an impact in the paint and from beyond the arc Saturday in leading the Wildcats with 22 points. Aberdeen went 7-11 from the field overall and 3-6 from 3-point range.

The most impressive part of Aberdeen’s performance was playing all 20 minutes in the second half. He didn’t pick up a foul in the second half, after picking up two in the first half.

Aberdeen scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and hit all three of his 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes.

3. Jasper Johnson: 12 pts, 5-6 FG (2-3 3-PT FG), 4 ast., 2 rebs, 19 mins

Johnson did all of his scoring in the first half Saturday, but he had a team-leading three assists in the second half.

All three of his assists were crucial. First, he found Denzel Aberdeen for a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 58-54 with 11:12 to play. Then, he hit Otega Oweh for a 3-pointer to make it 65-62 with 7:52 to play. Less than 30 seconds later, he found Malachi Moreno for an and-one to cut the deficit to 67-65. That’s when I told many people around me on press row that Kentucky was going to win this game.

Mark Pope talked after the game about Johnson’s progression throughout his freshman season.

“He’s coming. He’s coming, he’s on his way. He gave us a massive lift when we were stuck. I’m proud of him, his future in this game is so bright.”

Not only is Johnson finding his own rhythm, but he’s playing within Kentucky’s offense and distributing the ball to his shooters.

4. Mouhamed Dioubate: 10 pts, 4-11 FG, 2-2 FT, 6 rebs (4 off.), 1 stl, 27 mins, +16

Dioubate delivered in a big way yesterday. For starters, he was 2-2 on his only trip to the free-throw line. In a two-point win, that is crucial.

Kentucky was +16 when he was on the floor. That’s incredible.

In the second half, Dioubate had eight points and four rebounds. All of them were on the offensive glass. Kentucky had 17 second-chance points in the second half on 13 offensive rebounds.

Even with picking up four fouls in the second half, he played 17 minutes. That shows the trust Pope had in him.

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Tennessee Proclaims ‘Dolly Parton Day’ to Mark Singer’s 80th Birthday

Published

19 hours ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

Tennessee Proclaims ‘Dolly Parton Day’ to Mark Singer’s 80th Birthday

The state of Tennessee has proclaimed that tomorrow, January 19, is Dolly Parton Day to celebrate the country legend’s 80th birthday.

Governor Bill Lee signed the proclamation Sunday declaring that January 19, 2026 would be Dolly Parton Day in the Volunteer State to “to honor the life, legacy, and extraordinary contributions of Tennessee’s favorite daughter.”

“Dolly Parton’s life and career is woven into Tennessee’s music, culture, and rich history,” Gov. Lee said in a statement. “Her talent and generosity have made a lasting impact on the world, and it is fitting that we honor her 80th birthday by celebrating her remarkable legacy and dedication to the Volunteer State.”

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“In addition to her artistic achievements, Parton is known for her lifelong commitment to service and philanthropy. Through the Dollywood Foundation and the Imagination Library, she has helped provide hundreds of millions of free books to children around the world, promoting literacy and empowering children to reach their full potential,” the state of Tennessee said in a release Sunday

“The proclamation recognizes Parton’s lifetime of achievement, service, and positive influence, and encourages all Tennesseans to join in celebrating her enduring contributions.”

Parton gave fans an early birthday present this week with a new rendition of her 1977 ballad “Light of a Clear Blue Morning,” with Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, Lainey Wilson, and Reba McEntire joining her on the recording.

“As I celebrate my 80th birthday, this new version is my way of using what I’ve been blessed with to shine a little light forward, especially by sharing it with some truly incredible women,” Parton said in a statement when the song came out. Net proceeds from the recording will benefit pediatric cancer research at Nashville’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

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Police make third arrest for murder of Tennessee man connected to Inland Empire religious group

Published

1 day ago

January 18, 2026

Press Room

Police make third arrest for murder of Tennessee man connected to Inland Empire religious group

Police have arrested a third person in connection with the murder of a Tennessee man who was affiliated with the Inland Empire religious group “His Way Spirit Led Assemblies.”

Ramon Ruiz Duran Jr., 44, was arrested in Nashville on Monday, Jan. 12, when detectives traveled to Tennessee, according to a statement from the Redlands Police Department. He was taken into custody at his place of work with help from the Metro Nashville Police Department, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Duran was transported back to San Bernardino County and booked at the West Valley Detention Center for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He remains behind bars in lieu of $1 million bail.

Booking photos for Shelley Bailey “Kat” Martin, Ramon Duran, Rudy Moreno, Andre Thomas and Darryl Muzic Martin.

Redlands and Colton Police Departments

CBS LA spoke with Duran’s nephew, a former member of the religious group, who provided an in-depth look at the group’s inner workings in December after their leaders were charged in two separate murder investigations. He said that he wasn’t surprised by his uncle’s involvement in the incident.

Police have been investigating the disappearance of 40-year-old Emilio Salem Ghanem for years, after he was last seen at a Starbucks on May 25, 2023.

He was reported missing by family members shortly after he left the religious group. Investigators say that he returned to Southern California to garner business for his pest control business. He had previously worked for a similar company named Fullshield, Inc., now known as Maxguard, which is owned by the group’s leaders.

In the time since he was reported missing, Redlands detectives have located the truck Ghanem was renting, burned in the Mojave Desert, with “additional evidence,” leading to their classification of the case as a murder.

Emilio Ghanem (letft) and the white Nissan Frontier he was last seen driving in 2023 (right).

Redlands Police Department

In early August 2025, several leaders of the religious organization were arrested as the investigation into Ghanem’s disappearance continued. A week after those first search warrants were served, detectives then served separate warrants in Laguna Hills, which led to the arrest of group leaders Darryl Muzic Martin, 57, and Shelly Bailey “Kat” Martin, also known to members as “The Prophetess,” 62.

Months later, police arrested Shelley Bailey “Kat” Martin and Rudy Moreno for Ghanem’s murder. Charges were filed against the three on Dec. 16, 2025. Duran is now the third person arrested in connection with his death, but he has not yet been charged. Police said the case will be presented for filing in the coming days.

At the time that murder charges were filed for Ghanem’s murder, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office also filed charges against Darryl Muzic Martin, “Kat” Martin and Andre Thomas for the murder of 4-year-old Timothy Thomas, who died in January 2010 after he was placed in the temporary custody of the Martins. At that time, investigators determined that he died due to child neglect, but no one was ever charged, and his death was eventually ruled a natural cause from a ruptured appendix.

Thomas’ case was reopened in 2025 after detectives discovered new leads and evidence, police said. The new information included Ghanem’s disappearance and his connection to His Way Spirit Led Assemblies.

Ruben Moreno.

Claremont Police Department

The religious group has also been connected to the disappearance of 41-year-old Ruben Moreno, who was reported missing in 2019 but has not been seen since 2017. His brother, Rudy Moreno, was charged with Ghanem’s murder. Claremont police have been investigating his disappearance and say they’re working in correspondence with other local agencies investigating Ghanem’s murder.

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