The Volunteer State USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

University of Tennessee plans to build a hotel, restaurants, retail stores and more in what it calls the Neyland Entertainment District.

Entertainment districts have become popular for pro sports teams like the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers. But, UT will be among the first to build one on a college campus.

The development will connect Neyland Stadium and Thompson-Boling Arena in an innovative way that UT hopes will enhance fans' experience on game days. But there's more to it than that.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams assess Tennessee's plans for the entertainment district and what the timeline might look like. They dub the project a savvy, forward-thinking idea that embraces modern sports as more than a game – more than ever, it's about the fan experience.

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. 

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Where is the Tennessee baseball starting pitching staff that was promised?

The Vols opened 2023 with hopes of reaching the College World Series. That was tied to the prospect of a starting rotation mowing down opponents. Three months into the season, that's not materializing.

Still, the Vols are a dangerous team with the talent to reach Omaha.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams address Tennessee baseball's positioning with less than a month remaining until the start of the NCAA Tournament.

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. 

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The Tennessee Titans had a chance to keep Hendon Hooker within a state that fell in love with him but passed in favor of Will Levis. Still, the Titans' biggest mistake was their aversion to selecting wide receivers.

Meanwhile, Hooker went to the Detroit Lions in Round 3, highlighting a strong NFL Draft class for the Tennessee Vols.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams react to five Vols getting selected within the draft's first three rounds. Only Alabama had more players go within the first 100 picks.

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. 

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The NCAA has nearly arrived at a decision point after its yearslong probe into the Tennessee football program, and the Vols eagerly await the outcome.

Tennessee officials and former Vols coach Jeremy Pruitt each faced the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions last week in Cincinnati, and each party awaits possible sanctions from an NCAA investigation into rule-breaking conduct that occurred during Pruitt’s tenure.

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack the Cincinnati hearings and discuss what’s next in a case that appears headed for a ruling before the start of the 2023 season.

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. 

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Tennessee football is coming off its best season in more than two decades, but ESPN's analytics don't predict a repeat of that in 2023. Instead, ESPN's Football Power Index has Tennessee listed at No. 12 in the preseason, with a projected 8-4 record.

Vols fans may say this is just the latest example of ESPN bias, although the FPI is built on a formulaic approach, rather than subjective debate. 

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Mike Wilson react to Tennessee's spot in the FPI and size up which SEC teams might be overrated in ESPN's analysis.

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. 

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Tennessee and Jeremy Pruitt each will make their case in front of the NCAA Committee on Infractions next week throughout a high-stakes, three-day hearing that will determine the sanctions for each party after a years-long NCAA investigation into rules violations by Pruitt and his coaching staff.

The case involves allegations of 18 NCAA Level I violations. Pruitt, the former Vols coach fired for cause in January 2021, faces the possibility of a show-cause penalty. The NCAA has not publicly tipped its hand as to what penalties Tennessee might face.

The Vols are accused of a failure to monitor. They cooperated with the NCAA investigation – the association has credited Tennessee for this – and UT believes it took proper actions in firing Pruitt and several of his staff members once the university administration became aware of the malfeasance, pertaining to recruiting violations and improper benefits.

On today's episode, Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel's Adam Sparks and John Adams set the stage for the April 19-21 infractions committee hearing.

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/

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