2023 predictions include a big year for Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello | Adams
The year is almost done so it’s time to look ahead to 2023.
January
UT’s Nic Moore and Taylor Cathey repeat as National College Cornhole doubles champions.
Alabama orders national championship rings for football team since it was favored in every game.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic denied entrance into Australia because he can’t provide proof of vaccination for Bubonic Plague.
LSU football coach Brian Kelly loads up on sequins and goes disco dancing with 5-star running back recruit.
After Tennessee extends its winning streak to 11 games against Vanderbilt, basketball coach Rick Barnes raves about the offensive sets of Commodores coach Jerry Stackhouse.
February
Peyton Manning appears in every Super Bowl commercial.
Quarterback Tom Brady retires.
ESPN airs a six-hour documentary on Tom Brady’s retirement.
National College Cornhole doubles champions Nic Moore and Taylor Cathey each receives $5,000 to endorse John Adams’ column.
Vanderbilt bans students from attending basketball games until a cold virus subsides.
Brian Kelly’s former disco partner signs with LSU.
Five-star cornerback and No. 1 defensive lineman in 2024 recruiting class commit to Mississippi Valley State.
Alabama coach Nick Saban singles out Mississippi Valley State in citing NIL as a threat to very existence of college football.
Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa returns to Alabama as a graduate transfer.
Mercedes-Benz announces a $2 million NIL deal for Alabama quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa.
Tennessee sells out baseball season opener at Lindsey Nelson Stadium despite 35-degree weather.
After Tennessee wins its 12th consecutive game against Vanderbilt, Vols coach Rick Barnes praises Commodores coach Jerry Stackhouse, who "deserves a lifetime contract."
ADAMS:Could Tennessee football be headed where Clemson has been?
March
Gannett denies John Adams request for $10,000 reimbursement in expenses.
Tennessee basketball team wins second consecutive SEC Tournament and secures No. 2 seed for NCAA Tournament.
Vols narrowly avoid upset by Texas Southern before winning in overtime in first round of NCAA Tournament.
Mike Tyson and Charles Barkley named co-hosts for Academy Awards.
Injured Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers dresses out at halftime and makes game-winning 3-pointer on crutches as Huskies make their 15th consecutive Final Four.
April
Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman transfers to Tennessee.
Vanderbilt baseball coach Tim Corbin complains to umpires that Tennessee pitchers are throwing the ball too hard.
Mike Tyson wears Will Smith mask, and Charles Barkley dons Chris Rock mask in Academy Awards opening skit.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hits 12 home runs in first 17 games before going on 60-day Injury List for shoulder injury.
May
Novak Djokovic misses out on French Open after he is denied entrance into France for failing to provide proof of Black Plague vaccination.
Cleveland Browns announce hiring of 66 female masseuses.
Alabama hires former Arkansas State coach Butch Jones as a Nick Saban gofer and a tuba player in its Million Dollar Band.
Tennessee State Podcast Association honors “SEC Unfiltered” as the top podcast in the state.
June
Doctors discover a beetle colony in the hair of Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh.
Brittney Griner stands for the National Anthem.
Tennessee starting pitchers don’t allow a run in four NCAA Tournament games as the Vols qualify for their second College World Series in three years.
NCAA grants Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett a seventh season.
Tennessee fans celebrate CWS championship by breaking into Neyland Stadium, stealing the goal posts, and tossing them into the Tennessee River.
July
Hell freezes over.
Jeremy Pruitt qualifies for Mensa International.
Seth Curry says he will focus more on his two-point game.
Talk-show host Tony Basilio says he will become more conventional.
Lane Kiffin vows not to tweet during football season.
Tennessee athletics director Danny White has lunch with Jimmy Sexton.
Stetson Bennett graduates from Georgia.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley says members of LIV tour always will be welcome at Augusta National.
Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello gets married.
ESPN announces its sports analysts will no longer root for their school on air.
August
San Diego Padres give up their top 10 minor league prospects in trade for Washington Nationals top three hitters and best pitcher.
Outfielder Joey Gallo hits his 30th home run, but his batting average drops to .090.
Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas announces she is transferring to UConn to play basketball.
Angels outfielder Mike Trout hits 30 home runs and bats .310 before knee injury ends his season.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge goes on 60-day Injury List after injuring ankle.
September
Tennessee athletics director Danny White announces purchase of disposable goal posts for celebration purposes.
Tennessee quarterback Sam Hartman throws five touchdown passes, and backup quarterback Joe Milton throws a 100-yard pass in season opener against Virginia.
Tom Brady returns to Bucs for season opener.
ESPN does 12-hour documentary on Tom Brady's return to pro football.
National Podcast Association honors “SEC Unfiltered” as the nation’s top podcast.
New York Mets pitchers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer ruled out of the playoffs with "arm fatigue" after pitching 100 innings apiece during regular season.
October
Following victory over Alabama, UT fans steal goal posts at Bryant-Denny Stadium, transport them to Knoxville and dunk them in the Tennessee River.
Pride of the Southland band forms a giant dollar sign in a pregame salute to Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher.
Following a 34-point loss to Tennessee, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops files a lawsuit against the SEC, and conference officials who allowed coach Josh Heupel to take two steps onto the field without being penalized.
November
Tennessee fans express concern on “Vol Calls” after UT scores only 67 points against Connecticut.
Tennessee fans “checkerboard” Missouri’s Memorial Stadium in orange and white as the Vols score 48 first-half points.
Smokey greets Georgia celebrity Bulldog mascot Uga by urinating on his doghouse.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel says he “did everything he could” to hold down the score as Vols tie a school record in 101-0 victory over Vanderbilt.
Texas A&M buys out football coach Jimbo Fisher’s contract for $76 million and hires Urban Meyer to 10-year, $200 million deal.
Missouri gives coach Eliah Drinkwitz a raise to $7 million annually and a contract extension after Tigers win Battle Line rivalry against Arkansas to cap a 5-7 season.
Kentucky gives coach Mark Stoops a raise to $10 million a year and contract extension after Wildcats qualify for a bowl with 6-6 record.
December
Paul Finebaum joins Luke Combs on stage to sing “Doin’ This” before kickoff of SEC championship game.
Tom Brady announces he will decide on retirement in the next eight months.
President Joe Biden recalls winning the Heisman Trophy as a senior at Delaware University.
Ole Miss fails to sign a high school recruit but adds 25 transfers.
Despite 9-3 season, Alabama coach Nick Saban says team should have made playoff because it led in first half of all 12 games.
International Podcast Association honors "SEC Unfiltered" as the best podcast in the history of the world.
ESPN reports that Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin is leading candidate to replace Oklahoma coach Brent Venables.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 2023 predictions: Big year for Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello
