The warmest days of the year often signify a quiet void in the realm of college sports.
Once the final pitch of the Men’s College World Series is thrown and the celebratory dogpile of the winning team has subsided, a dormant period settles the college landscape, at least in terms of action on the various playing surfaces. The longing for fall arrives.
Although the Vols didn’t find themselves on top of the college baseball world this past season, Tennessee athletics as a whole enjoyed numerous storylines throughout the summer.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the highlights.
Baseball dominates MLB Draft
As the baseball world gathered in Atlanta for MLB All-Star Week, the Vols stole the show on opening night of draft festivities.
Tennessee set a new program record with four first-round selections, headlined by the ace of the pitching staff, Liam Doyle. The St. Louis Cardinals pulled the trigger on the 2024 SEC Pitcher of the Year with their fifth overall selection, making the southpaw the highest pick of head coach Tony Vitello’s eight-year tenure with the Vols.
The San Francisco Giants came calling for middle infielder Gavin Kilen with the 13th pick, while a fellow National League club, the Milwaukee Brewers, selected Andrew Fischer at 20. The duo drove the Vols’ offensive attack all season long, with Fischer pacing the SEC at 25 home runs. Kilen led the team with a .357 batting average.
Big right-hander Marcus Phillips rounded out the opening round, joining the Boston Red Sox at pick 33. Stolen bases plagued Phillips in the early portions of conference play, but a mid-season adjustment allowed him to greatly improve his control of the running game. His draft stock promptly reflected the big change.
Five more Vols heard their names called as the draft progressed, bringing the Tennessee total to nine selections from big league teams, just one shy of the program record.
Lance Simpson participates in U.S. Open
After leading Tennessee golf to an NCAA Championship appearance for the second-straight season, star redshirt senior Lance Simpson earned a spot in one of the sport’s most prestigious events.
The Knoxville native qualified for the 125th U.S. Open after shooting an impressive 8-under-par on golf’s longest day, a 36-hole gauntlet that awards just seven players an opportunity to take part in the most difficult major on the calendar.
Playing alongside top talents, Simpson took to the famous grounds of Oakmont Country Club, a course that quickly drew attention for some of the toughest conditions ever seen in Open history. The Farragut High School graduate produced a first-round score of 74, followed by a second-round mark of 78. His efforts weren’t enough to keep him alive into the weekend as he fell below the cut line.
Even still, Simpson ended his outing placed higher than former tournament champion Justin Rose. Five other former winners also missed the cut on a weekend that required each player’s absolute best.
Football announces new alternate uniform
Continuing a yearly theme begun in 2022, Tennessee and Nike announced the latest installment in the Smokey Grey uniform series.
This year’s rendition focuses on encapsulating the “Volunteer Spirit” of the U.S. Armed Forces, a nod to those who have served their country. A tribute to former military man and Tennessee native Davy Crockett also served as inspiration for the uniform.
“The Davy Stripe,” a grey accent found on the helmet and jersey sleeves, is meant to replicate Crockett’s uniform during the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. The contrasting shades of grey between the jersey and pants act as a reference to the steel that makes up military weaponry.
The orange numbers on the front and back of the jersey emulate the common stencil font found in military operations. Finally, a small patch found on the pants brings back the popular “Star Vols” vintage logo.
Tennessee will break out the new threads when it hosts New Mexico State in the Salute to Service game on Nov. 15.
