Caleb Calhoun and Dave Hooker continue to preview Week 1 on Off the Hook Sports’ Wednesday, Aug. 30 podcast. Key Virginia players against Tennessee Football is a topic, as are rankings of the Vols and Nico Iamaleava. They also look back on UT’s last opener vs. an ACC team while analyzing a new ESPN gimmick and Nick Saban bullying.
Nico Iamaleava named a top 10 backup
An article by Clint Brewster of 247Sports ranking backup quarterbacks in college football put Tennessee Football Nico Iamaleava at No. 7. Among true freshmen, he was No. 3, behind Aidan Chiles of the Oregon State Beavers and Jackson Arnold of the Oklahoma Sooners. Was he too low despite being in the top 10?
ESPN labels Tennessee Football a tier 2 contender
Ranking teams and breaking them down into tiers of contenders, David Hale of ESPN ranked Tennessee Football Tier 2C: Contenders with no playoff experience. The Vols were in there with the Penn State Nittany Lions, Texas Longhorns, USC Trojans and Utah Utes. They were among 14 Tier 2 teams. Only the Georgia Bulldogs were Tier 1.
Five UVA Cavs to watch for vs. Tennessee Football
In a major blow to the Virginia Cavaliers, highly touted edge rusher Chico Bennett Jr. will be out for their opener against Tennessee Football. Without him and with a transfer quarterback in Tony Muskett, who will be the five most important players for UVA that the Vols need to keep an eye on Saturday?
Looking back on last Tennessee Football opener vs. ACC
Saturday against Virginia will be the second straight game for Tennessee Football against an ACC team, as they beat the Clemson Tigers in the Orange Bowl. This is the first opener for UT against an ACC team since 2017, when they faced the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta and won 42-41 in double overtime.
Nick Saban berates media about depth charts
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban berated the media Monday about the release of depth charts. He refused to reveal one and told reporters that their interest in it only creates a distraction for his team. Is he just whining and bullying again, or does he have a point? Should it even matter?
ESPN to show ACC games in theaters
Although it seems to be dying as a conference, the ACC and ESPN have reached an agreement to show some games in select movie theaters across the country this year. Is such a move one of desperation, or is this a forward-thinking idea to save cable, the ACC and movie theaters all in one?
