How Tennessee could still end up in the Music City Bowl
Tennessee could still end up in a bowl game this season? And Vols fans wouldn’t have far to travel to see them play.
That’s 2020 for you.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the many issues and uncertainty it has caused with college football games being played, TransPerfect Music City Bowl President and CEO Scott Ramsey said the Vols could end up playing in the Dec. 30 game at Nissan Stadium.
Ramsey said all bowls this year will likely focus on teams which would not have far to travel and that’s why Tennessee, even with a losing record, remains a possibility to represent the SEC.
“You’re going to see forecasting of teams that are going to stay in their region as much as possible,” Ramsey said. “And for us that obviously would lead you to look at Tennessee or Kentucky. You could also have Missouri or Ole Miss or Auburn. It would be teams that are kind of a half-day drive or a short flight to get their teams in and out in a short period of time for less cost.”
Wins and losses won’t matter. Because of the pandemic the NCAA waived all win requirements for bowl eligibility, meaning all 127 FBS teams are eligible for the postseason.
Several national media representatives like Tennessee’s chances for ending up in the Music City Bowl.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura’s latest bowl projection has the Vols playing Iowa in the Music City Bowl. College Football News predicts Tennessee will play Northwestern and Athlon Sports has Tennessee playing Iowa in the Music City Bowl.
“For anybody we would have, Tennessee included, it would be a chance to finish your season against a Power Five non-conference team; the only non-conference game of the year against the Big Ten,” Ramsey said. “I certainly think Tennessee would bring some excitement to our city with a big alumni base here. Tennessee would certainly be somebody that would be in the mix, but we’ll have to see how it plays out and who’s on the other side.”
Ramsey said the Big Ten teams Music City Bowl officials are keeping an eye on include Iowa, Purdue, Indiana, Michigan and possibly Wisconsin.
Other Music City Bowl projections: Ole Miss-Iowa (Jerry Palm, CBS Sports); Kentucky-Wisconsin (Mark Schlabach, ESPN); Kentucky-Maryland (247Sports and Saturday Down South); Kentucky-Iowa (Sporting News).
Tickets on sale
Tickets for the Music City bowl went on sale Tuesday at MusicCityBowl.com.
Due to the pandemic a limited number of tickets are available for the 2:30 p.m. game, which will be broadcast on ESPN..
“We continue to work with officials from Nissan Stadium, the Metro Nashville government and public health department, SEC and Big Ten to ensure a safe and memorable experience,” Ramsey said.
Full refunds will be available if the game is canceled and cannot be replayed, or if it is played under conditions that prevent fans from attending.
Titans earn highest TV ratings since 2011
The Titans-Colts game last Sunday earned the highest television ratings in nine years.
The CBS broadcast game, which the Titans won 45-26 at Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis, earned a 29.9 local rating, according to WTVF-5 senior programming director Mark Binda.
It means 329,588 Nashville households watched the Titans improve to 8-3 and move ahead of the Colts and into first place in the AFC South.
It was was highest television rating for a Titans game since Tennessee played Baltimore on Sept. 18, 2011 in a game that earned a 30.6 rating.
The previous best rating this season for the Titans came on Oct. 26 when they played the Steelers in a game at Nissan Stadium, which earned a 28.8 rating.
TV ratings for Vandy-Missouri were low
Even with the first female — Vanderbilt kicker Sarah Fuller — playing for a Power Five football team the Commodores’ game against Missouri on Nov. 28 did not earn particularly high television ratings.
The SEC Network televised game, which Missouri won 41-0, earned a 2.8 local rating.
It means 30,864 households in the Nashville market tuned in.
The game was not among the top 10 locally broadcast sports events for the week in the local market.
Ex-FRA and Lipscomb star Kenny Cooper helps WKU beat Memphis
Former Franklin Road Academy star Kenny Cooper, who transferred to Western Kentucky from Lipscomb for his redshirt senior season, made two free throws in the final four seconds to help lift the Hilltoppers to a 75-69 win over Memphis on Nov. 26.
Cooper is the son of former East Nashville star Jubal Cooper.
After sitting out last season according to NCAA transfer rules, Kenny Cooper has cracked the Hilltoppers starting lineup and is averaging 4.7 points and 3.0 rebounds.
Former Independence star Patrick Murphy, who transferred from Martin Methodist to Western Kentucky in 2018-19, has not played this season.
Austin Peay’s Taylor earns 13th player of the week award
Austin Peay forward Terry Taylor earned the first Ohio Valley Conference player of the week honor for the season.
It wasn’t, however, Taylor’s first time to win the award. It was his 13th and he’s only a junior. He needs two more to tie the all-time record set by Morehead’s Kenneth Faried.
Taylor averaged 22.7 points and 12.7 rebounds while shooting 61.2% from the field in three games in the Gulf Coast Showcase, which included wins over Omaha and ETSU and a loss to Abilene Christian.
Taylor posted double-doubles in all three games.
Belmont’s Luke Smith, a junior transfer from Sewanee, was the newcomer of the week. He helped the Bruins win the DC Paradise Jam with wins over Howard, George Mason and Queens (N.C.).
Smith, a guard, averaged 18.0 points, 3.3 steals and 3.0 assists.
Lipscomb’s first wrestling coach Bob Goff dies
Bob Goff, who created the wrestling program at Lipscomb Academy in the 1970s and also served as the school’s football coach, died on Nov. 25. He was 89.
Because Lipscomb had limited facilities when Goff started the wrestling program, the team had to practice in the school’s cafeteria. A wrestling area was later built in the basement of the basketball gym.
Goff, known for his witty personality, spent 30 years at Lipscomb where he also coached softball before retiring in 1998.
TSU-Belmont game postponed
The Belmont at Tennessee State men’s basketball game scheduled for Wednesday was postponed.
While a makeup date has not been announced for that game, the two teams are scheduled to play at Belmont on Dec. 8. Tipoff is 6:30 p.m.
It will be the OVC opener for both teams.
Another big local game next week is scheduled for Dec. 12 when Belmont visits Lipscomb (7 p.m.) in the Battle of the Boulevard.
Belmont’s Egekeze joins Nigerian national team
Former Belmont All-OVC forward Amanze Egekeze has been added to the Nigerian national basketball team roster.
Egekeze was born in the Chicago area to Nigerian parents.
In his first action with the Nigerian team — wins over South Sudan and Rwanda in the FIBA Afrobasket 2021 Qualifiers — Egekeze averaged 7.7 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game.
Nigeria is No. 23 in the FIBA world rankings and features a talented roster including Josh Okogie (Minnesota Timberwolves), Al-Farouq Aminu (Orlando Magic), Chimezie Metu (Sacramento Kings), Jordan Nwora (Milwaukee Bucks) and Gabe Vincent (Miami Heat).
Predators Youth League signups underway
The signup period for the Nashville Predators Youth Hockey League is now open.
The league is for male and female players ages 5-18 of all skill levels.
Its structure is based on the USA Hockey American Development Model.
The coaching and training staff is USA Hockey certified and equipment rental is available.
Leagues are played at the Ford Ice Centers in Antioch through Feb. 21 and Bellevue through Feb. 27. Most practices and games are on Saturday or Sunday.
To sign up, visit Predators Youth Hockey League. For more information call 615-742-4390.
If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contract Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
