Tennessee
Why new Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard made Memphis mental health summit a priority

Tony Pollard was on a tight schedule. The former Dallas Cowboys turned Tennessee Titans running back was making a quick stop in Memphis, and it was important for him to attend a mental health summit.
Pollard stopped by the Bend Dxnt Break Athletes Summit on Saturday afternoon at Hope Church. He was joined by keynote speaker C.L. Shepherd and notable Memphis celebrities, former Grizzlies player Tony Allen and rapper Project Pat.
The group spoke to Memphis-area high school students on Saturday. The two-day event started on Friday. Nearly 500 students across the Memphis area attended the events, coming from high schools such as Whitehaven, KIPP, Manassas, Germantown, ECS, Oakhaven, Houston and Briarcrest.
“Just being able to talk to the youth, I’m just trying to make sure they’re going down the right path and got their heads on right,” Pollard, a former Memphis football and Melrose standout, told The Commercial Appeal.
FACILITIES UPGRADE: Briarcrest Christian School showcases $12.8 million Petree Athletic Center
Shepherd, who goes around the country speaking at engagements similar to two-day summit, wanted to empathize with the students as someone who struggled with mental health as a teenager.
For Project Pat, Saturday was about continuing to show up and let his voice be heard around Memphis where he can leave an impact. Allen has increased his presence at these type of events in Memphis over the past few months.
“I love to target areas in need, because at one point, I was that person,” Allen told The Commercial Appeal. “Growing up, I had a lot of issues that I thought was normal. That’s what I want to do. Change the community norm.”
Tony Pollard talks joining Tennessee Titans
Multiple students at Hope Church attended in Dallas Cowboys No. 20 Pollard jerseys. After Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans, those jerseys are now throwbacks.
Pollard joined the Titans in March, putting him closer to his Memphis roots. While Pollard said he made a business decision in going from Dallas to Nashville, he called being closer to home “the icing on the cake.” Playing less than three hours from Memphis impacted his decision.
“I’ve been enjoying it. I’ve been able to come home a lot more, see my family, kids get to play with their cousins and things like that,” Pollard said.
Being close to home also means Pollard can keep a closer eye on the Tigers football team.
“Ever since I’ve been there, it’s been a good program,” Pollard said. “Every year, they’re getting guys in the league, so they’re definitely in the right direction.”

Tennessee
Titans’ Will Levis Must Fix One Issue

The Tennessee Titans are getting close to officially closing the chapter on the Will Levis era.
Levis may still be with the Titans next year, but he will likely become a backup for whoever the team takes with the No. 1 overall pick.
Though Levis may be due for a demotion, that doesn’t mean he won’t get another opportunity to play again for the Titans or another team.
If and when he gets the opportunity to start, he will have to fix parts of his game, according to CBS Sports writer Chris Trapasso.
“The brilliant flashes from Levis in Year 1 gave way to inopportune and at times ridiculous decisions on turnovers early in the season that were only made worse by more injuries for what we are realizing is a pretty reckless quarterback. He’s higher than Anthony Richardson because there’ve been longer stretches of quality play — like that amazing comeback in Miami in prime time as a rookie in 2023, and a 98-yard touchdown last season,” Trapasso writes.
“Levis needs to acknowledge taking the easy completion or throwing the football away is completely fine — and actually needed — to succeed in the NFL.”
A lot of Levis’ struggles may have been linked to the Titans’ offensive line woes. He was constantly under duress with pressure seeping through the trenches, and that forced him into some errant throws and turnovers.
Perhaps his next opportunity will have a stronger offensive line, and that could give Levis more time to make the smarter passes. It will be interesting to see how Levis responds to what’s about to happen to him, but if he can find a way to get better, he could wind up in the conversation towards being a starter again, similar to how Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield had their downs before their ups.
Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
Tennessee
Severe blood shortage in Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — An unrelenting need continues, and the doctor’s orders for this prescription can’t be filled at any pharmacy.
Passionate to share Blood Assurance’s message, Brooke Katz, who is the media relations coordinator, says fewer people have donated while the number of people in need of blood goes up here in Middle Tennessee.
“The thing that people don’t realize is how important this is,” said Katz. “Blood is a medicine, and it is being used every single day.”
Hospitals rely on people willing to give a piece of what keeps them alive. Katz explained how the 30 to 45-minute process works, so someone who hasn’t yet donated blood might consider it.
“Nobody loves needles, but I promise it does not hurt at all, and that is probably the shortest part,” said Katz. “When you donate here, it is helping local patients in this community.”
Blood Assurance supplies blood to the majority of hospitals in Middle Tennessee. The donation supply is currently upheld by a few donors.
“Out of all of the eligible people in the population who could donate, only about 3 percent do,” said Katz.
Blood Assurance makes incentives for the unyielding demand.
“If you donate through the 31st, so tomorrow, you will be entered to win a $500 e-gift card,” said Katz. “And then beginning in early April, on April 1st, we are giving away $100 gift cards to five people.”
Organizations can also host a blood drive through Blood Assurance.
Katz shared a message from a life-giving donor she met.
“She knows the good that it does,” said Katz. “And so I like her message: she said, ‘Do it scared; just do it.’”
For more information on how to donate, find locations, or organize a blood drive, visit Blood Assurance’s website.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at (Kim.Rafferty@newschannel5.com).
Tennessee
OU's offense struggles in Game 3 as Tennessee clinches series
NORMAN — Both Oklahoma and Tennessee knew the drill coming into Sunday’s rubber game. With the series on the line, it would be an old-fashioned pitching duel between Sam Landry and Karlyn Pickens.
For a brief moment, it looked like the Landry and the Sooners would emerge victorious.
After the Sooners’ offense was non-existent through the first two innings, they started quickly in the third inning. Hannah Coor hit a leadoff single then stole second. Abby Dayton then followed with a single and then stole second. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas forced a walk to load the bases.
Kasidi Pickering stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI double that cleared the bases, giving the Sooners a 3-0 lead. In a series where both offenses struggled, it felt like all the momentum OU would need.
Instead, the Volunteers responded. Landry got two quick outs to open the frame, but Tennessee kept battling. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, then an RBI double from Laura Mealer cut OU’s lead to 3-2.
On the next at-bat, Ella Dodge smoked a three-run home run to right field to complete the two-out rally.
In a dramatic turn of events, OU’s three-run lead turned into a two-run deficit. The Sooners (31-3, 9-3 SEC) never recovered from that momentum change, as they fell 5-3 to Tennessee.
The loss marks the Sooners’ first series defeat in conference play. They lost on Friday 5-2 and won 4-1 on Saturday.
Landry eventually bounced back from that rough fourth inning, retiring nine of the final 10 batters she faced.
But the Sooners’ offense looked shellshocked as Pickens kept them from finding any rhythm. The Sooners had 12 of their final 14 batters retired over the final four innings, as the only hit came on a single from Abby Dayton with two outs on the board in the seventh inninmg.
But Nelly McEnroe-Marinas followed that with a strikeout, ending the game.
Landry finished with four hits and five runs allowed while striking out six and walking two. Pickens struck out six and allowed three hits, three runs and three walks.
— If it wasn’t Pickering, offense was really tough to come by this weekend, particularly on Saturday and Sunday. In Games 2 and 3, Pickering went 4-for-5 at the plate. The rest of the team combined for five hits.
For the weekend, Pickering was sensational. She finished 7-for-8 at the plate with two walks.
— Three of the Sooners’ four hits came in the third inning. The Sooners 2-for-12 with runners on base and 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
— It was a rough weekend for Gabbie Garcia, who went 1-for-8 across the three games. She finished 0-for-3 on Sunday.
— The struggles continue for Parker, who went 0-for-3 at the plate with zero walks. She’s now 2-for-30 (.067) at the plate in conference play.
— Up next: The Sooners will look to bounce back at UT-Arlington on Tuesday (6 p.m.)
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