100 episodes
The Volunteer State USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
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- Sports
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4.3 • 64 Ratings
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The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.
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6 burning Tennessee football questions after spring game, as transfer portal opens
Tennessee football can rest easy about its starting quarterback situation. Not only is Nico Iamaleava the starter, he's a star in the making. Iamaleava's tidy performance in Saturday's spring game reiterated that all is well with Tennessee's QB1.
Elsewhere on the roster, it's more of a mixed situation. The Vols face areas they could solidify entering this spring transfer portal window.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks review the spring game and address some lingering burning questions.
Which areas of the roster look like strengths? Where does Tennessee require reinforcements? Who's the backup quarterback, and should Tennessee trust him?
Let's dive in.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.
Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe -
Grading Lady Vols' hire of Kim Caldwell: Not an 'A,' but passing grade
The Lady Vols are all in on Kim Caldwell's upside.
Tennessee athletic director Danny White didn't want to miss the boat on Caldwell or delay hiring a coach whose career is on an upward trajectory. Two years ago, Caldwell led Division II Glenville State to its first national championship. This season, her first as a Division I coach, she took Marshall to the NCAA Tournament.
Now, she coaches a blueblood. Caldwell's fast track matches her teams' high-octane style of play.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams review Caldwell's introductory presser, outline what success looks like in Year 1 and grade the hire.
The verdict: Not an 'A' hire, but a passing grade.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.
Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe -
Who should Lady Vols hire? Here are 6 swing-big options, plus a fallback plan
Danny White faces a big decision – his biggest decision, in fact, since he hired Josh Heupel in 2021.
White is conducting a Lady Vols coaching search that will reshape the direction of the program. Kellie Harper maintained the program as an NCAA Tournament regular, but she repeatedly peaked in the Sweet 16, and the Lady Vols were eliminated in the second round this year. Recruiting momentum had stalled.
White acted boldly by firing a coach who played for Summitt and who won 20 games this season.
Now, he must be bold in his quest to hire just the fourth coach in program history. The last two Lady Vols coaches came from the Pat Summitt tree. Will White look outside the Lady Vols family for this hire? That seems likely.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the Lady Vols search.
First, they address the candidacy of Duke's Kara Lawson. Verdict: Lawson should not be viewed as the frontrunner.
Then, each offers two swing-for-the-fences candidates, plus a fallback option.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.
Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe -
Tennessee basketball to Final Four? Maybe, but here's a case for Purdue or Creighton
Rick Barnes and the Sweet 16 go hand and hand.
The Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.
But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.
Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.
One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.
Tap the link in bio for more details.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.
Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe -
How far will Tennessee basketball go in March Madness? Our experts picks are in
Tennessee’s early SEC Tournament exit cost the Vols a likely No. 1 NCAA seed.
The silver lining: Tennessee won’t have to meet No. 1 overall seed UConn in the NCAA Tournament until the national championship. Also good news: Rick Barnes possesses his best team in a handful of years.
But, Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament history remains an elephant in the room. The Vols never have reached a Final Four, and the program’s lone Elite Eight came in 2010, with Bruce Pearl as coach.
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams assess Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament draw and handicap the Vols’ chances of making a deep run.
Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, where Purdue is the No. 1.
But, it's not Purdue that comes to mind first when predicting stumbling blocks for the Vols. Beware of Creighton.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.
Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe -
Why winning SEC Tournament does (and doesn't) matter to Tennessee basketball
More than a trophy is at stake when the Tennessee basketball team takes the floor at the SEC Tournament in Nashville this week. A No. 1 seed could be on the line for the Vols (24-7).
Some bracket experts are projecting Tennessee as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, but such outlooks are subject to fluctuation. If the Vols bow out early in the conference tournament, they could surrender the inside track to a top seed. If they cut down the nets Sunday in Nashville, that likely would cement a No. 1 seed for Tennessee.
But, to what extent does that even matter?
On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson discuss the importance (or lack thereof) of the SEC Tournament for Tennessee.
Win the SEC Tournament, and the Vols almost certainly are on the 1-line come Selection Sunday. But, is an SEC Tournament title a kiss of doom for March Madness? History warns of that.
Stay connected on X with Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) and Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson), and stay up to date on the Vols by following @GoVolsXtra.
Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe
Customer Reviews
Great podcast
I enjoy the discussion and banter between Blake and John. Helps keep me connected to my beloved Vols when time is limited. Thanks guys! Keep up the great work in all that you do!
These hosts sit down to pee
If you want to listen to two effeminate guys give horrible uninformed opinions on your favorite team, this is the POD for you!
In Regular Rotation
I listen to a handful of podcasts and this one is always in my regular rotation. Not just reporting on Tennessee Football but they add creative spins such as guessing odds, mock drafts, and rankings. Where else can you get your Tennessee fix from a multi-published author and text group entrepreneur.
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