The University of Tennessee unveiled the official 2009 Tennessee football shirt today.
The university announced plans for the 2009 DISH Network Tennessee Football Shirt Campaign at halftime of the Orange and White game, unveiling three shirt designs and asking fans to vote online between April 18 and May 18. The winning design will be available at retail outlets across the state of Tennessee beginning next week for only $14.99, with a portion of all sales going towards the general scholarship fund for student-athletes.
Fans are encouraged to the buy shirts over the …

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee will self-report another minor recruiting violation after a comment about a recruit was posted to Coach Lane Kiffin’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.
 
Kiffin’s profiles on the two social media Web sites on Tuesday briefly read: “I was so excited to hear that J.C. Copeland committed to play for the Vols today!”
 
Copeland is a junior at Troup County High School in LaGrange, Ga.
 
Athletics Director Mike Hamilton told The News Sentinel of Knoxville that an assistant posted the comments on the Web sites without consulting the athletic department’s compliance officials. …

 
Frustration overshadowed what had been a solid spring on the field, leading B.J. Coleman to leave the University of Tennessee football team Thursday.
Coleman told the Times Free Press he did not believe he had a legitimate opportunity to win the starting quarterback job, adding it was a painful decision to give up his dream.
“It’s the best move for me,” the former McCallie School star said. “What changed my mind is, after this spring, I don’t see myself getting a fair shake. Based on conversations with coaches and things that happened …

Are you looking for the inside scoop on the Vols and Lady Vols for the upcoming seasons? You’ll find it when the 20th Annual Coca-Cola Big Orange Caravan kicks off on April 20 and runs through May 18.
This year’s caravan includes several stops across Tennessee as well as Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio. The events are coordinated through the University of Tennessee Alumni Association chapter program and the Volunteer Athletics and Scholarship Fund (VASF).
The Coca-Cola Big Orange Caravan is an opportunity for donors, alumni, and fans to gain insight …

Tennessee junior quarterback Nick Stephens is out of action for three to four weeks with a wrist fracture.
Stephens is expected to miss approximately half of spring practice, which begins Tuesday.
It is unclear how the injury occurred. It is thought that Stephens injured his right, throwing wrist.
Stephens is competing with senior Jonathan Crompton and sophomore B.J. Coleman for playing time this fall.
Stephens was UT’s highest-rated passer last season, completing 63 of 130 passes for 840 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw four interceptions.
The Vols will have non-contact practices Tuesday and …

Monte Kiffin has a pair of goals for spring practice.
A deep understanding of his system would be great. Practicing hard is a must.
“To get our players to quickly learn the system,” Tennessee’s defensive coordinator said of his expectations of spring practice, which begins Tuesday. “I’m taking for granted that they’re going to play hard, but we have to make sure of that. I’ve seen them work hard in conditioning.
“How fast they can pick up the system? That allows us to do more things in the system.”
Kiffin seems understandably frustrated with …

A look at the work being done at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee is in the third phase of a more than $200 million renovation of the 87-year-old stadium.
From certain vantage points in Knoxville, Neyland Stadium looms large.
Since December, it’s been even more noticeable thanks to a stories-tall crane towering over the stadium’s west side.
It’s a sign of the times, another chapter in the history that has known few breaks in additions or expansions since the first spade broke ground on Shields-Watkins field in 1919.
That huge crane is also a sign of …