Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, GM Jon Robinson speaking at Nashville Sports Council lunch
Tennessee Titans general manger Jon Robinson and coach Mike Vrabel will discuss the 2022 NFL season with voice of the Titans Mike Keith Sept. 2 at a Nashville Sports Council luncheon.
The season kicks off Sept. 11 against the New York Giants at Nissan Stadium.
The luncheon will be from 11 a.m.-noon at Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
The Titans are coming off a 12-5 season that ended in the AFC divisional playoffs with a 19-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Robinson is in his seventh season as GM.
Vrabel is in his fifth season with Tennessee. In his first four seasons he led the Titans to a 43-27 overall record and three postseason appearances.
Vrabel was presented with the 2021 Professional Football Writers Association coach of the year award after last Saturday's preseason win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The luncheon is free to Nashville Sports Council members. The fee is $50 for non-members.
Tickets are available at bit.ly/3dHBgfr. For more information contact Joseph Donaldson at JDonaldson@NashvilleSports.com.
Malik Willis named Music City Bowl ambassador
Titans rookie quarterback Malik Willis was named the TransPerfect Music City Bowl Youth Football Ambassador. Willis is a 2018 bowl alum. He was on the Auburn team that defeated Purdue 63-14.
Willis later transferred to Liberty.
As the bowl's ambassador Willis will visit local teams and promote youth football at leagues across Tennessee. The bowl has assisted more than 20 leagues since its inception in 2003.
“As a kid growing up, sports taught me about teamwork, discipline and a strong work ethic, which are important traits to being successful on and off the field," Willis said. "I’m passionate about what youth football can teach and I’m excited to share that with our community.”
Willis started in the Titans' first two preseason games. He has completed 13 of 28 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries and another touchdown.
“Malik has shown to not only be an exceptional football talent, but a great role model off the football field,” Music City bowl president/CEO Scott Ramsey said. "We’re grateful to have him serve as role model for youth football players in our region, especially as a bowl alum.”
Jeff Murphy is MTSU's new football color analyst
Former Middle Tennessee State quarterback Jeff Murphy is the Blue Raiders' new radio color commentator for football.
The California native, who played from 2010-12, replaced former MTSU quarterback Wes Counts, who stepped down after the 2022 season. Counts had been in the booth since 2015.
Voice of the Blue Raiders Chip Walters will continue to handle the play-by-play.
"There's been a line of quarterbacks in that spot, from Kelly (Holcomb) to Wes, so I'm excited to continue that tradition," Murphy said. "I can get really nerdy at times, my job is kind of to explain what I saw, the Xs and Os. Chip's been doing it for so long, so it's going to make my life really easy."
Murphy remained in town after his playing career and is the owner of Domenico's Italian Deli in downtown Murfreesboro.
After transferring from Laney Junior College, Murphy made his first start as a sophomore in 2010.
Murphy remained a part-time starter until his playing time was severely limited by a knee injury in his senior season.
He completed 120 of 201 passes for 1,211 yards with three touchdowns in his career.
Murphy was a team captain as a senior.
Ex-TSU star Christion Abercrombie interns with Atlanta Falcons
Christion Abercrombie, a former Tennessee State linebacker who suffered a life-threatening brain injury in a game against Vanderbilt in 2018, is serving as a coaching intern with the Atlanta Falcons.
After his recovery Abercrombie graduated from TSU in 2019. The Atlanta native was a student coach at TSU that same year.
In the 2021 preseason Abercrombie did an internship with the Titans.
Falcons coach Arthur Smith knew about Abercrombie from Smith’s time as the Titans' offensive coordinator. Vrabel recommended Abercrombie for the position in Atlanta.
NFL theme song recorded in Nashville
The new theme song for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football was recorded earlier this summer on Music Row.
Emmy-nominated composer Pinar Toprak recorded the theme with an 80-piece orchestra at the historic Ocean Way Nashville Studios.
The theme debuted in Thursday’s preseason game between the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans.
Joe Dubin returns to high school football show on The Game
Longtime Nashville sports personality Joe Dubin has returned to The Game 102.5/106.3-FM to serve as host of Game Blitz, a six-hour high school football show on Friday nights.
Dubin, who is joined by co-host Elijah Campbell, provides game highlights, interviews and results during the show which begins at 6 p.m.
“The NFL and college football may have every other day of the week, but Friday nights will always be about high school football for many of us,” Dubin said.
Cromwell Media, which owns The Game, is also airing TN Prep Weekly hosted by Chris Eakes on 94.9-FM The Fan. It airs Mondays at 5 p.m.
Eddie George addressing Rotary Club
TSU football coach Eddie George, the Titans all-time leading rusher, will speak to the Rotary Club of Nashville Monday.
The meeting will be at the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd Ave. North begning at noon.
George, who rushed for 10,441 yards in his NFL career, is headed into his second season as TSU's coach. The season begins Sept. 3 at Eastern Washington.
He led the Tigers to a 5-6 record in 2021.
Anyone interested may attend in person or virtually via Zoom.
Email Olivia Leow at olivia@nashvillerotary.org to receive the meeting log in credentials to attend virtually.
Tampa Bay Bucs kept Nashville restaurateur busy
Derek Walker, owner of Flour and Forge, a Middle Tennessee food truck that specializes in gourmet wood-fired pizza, was thrilled when the Tampa Bay Bucs called to ask if he’d like to feed the team when they were in Nashville for joint practices with the Titans.
“It was someone with their nutrition staff,” Walker said. “She said someone at Vanderbilt had recommended us. We’ve done a couple of different things at Vandy but never a sporting event.”
Walker said the Bucs said to be ready to feed 180. He said the Bucs kept them busy but not overly so.
“They didn’t eat like a herd of elephants or anything like that,” Walker said. “It was maybe a little more than what we’d normally do for a group that size.”
Walker said the players couldn’t have been nicer. Wide receiver Mike Evans came on the Flour and Forge truck and autographed the wall. He signed his name, number and added “Super Bowl LV champion.”
Walker said former Titans receiver Julio Jones, now with the Bucs, also signed.
“He said, ‘I don’t know what to write. I don’t even have a number (Jones’ familiar No. 11 is worn by Bucs backup QB Blaine Gabbert),’” Walker said. “So he signed, ‘Best Pizza, Julio Jones.’”
Three TSU players on Black College Football Player of Year list
TSU had three players — quarterback Draylen Ellis, running back Devon Starling and linebacker James Green — on the watch list for the 2022 Black College Football Player of the Year.
Ellis, a transfer from Austin Peay, threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns the past two seasons.
Starling, a junior from Cane Ridge, has rushed for 1,448 yards and six touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Green led TSU in tackles (77) and tackles for loss (7) last season.
Also, offensive lineman Robert Lacey has been named to the 2023 Senior Bowl watch list.
Loren Personett wins Senior Professional golf championship
McCabe Golf Course pro Loren Personett won the Tennessee PGA Senior Professional Championship at the Memphis Country Club.
Personett, a Mt. Juliet resident, beat Nashville’s Bill Breen from Harpeth Valley Golf Center on the first playoff hole. Personett parred the extra hole which Breen bogeyed.
Personett (70-69) and Breen (71-68) finished the second round tied at 1-under 139.
Former PGA Tour player Bob Wolcott from GreyStone Golf Club in Dickson tied for sixth at two over, Jared Melson from Bear Trace at Tims Ford was eighth (3 over), Audie Johnson from Ted Rhodes was ninth (5 over) and Mark Houser from Gallatin was 10th (7 over).
Nolensville's Jordan Harre from Troubadour Golf and Field Club in College Grove tied for second in the Assistant PGA Championship at 2 over. Chase Harris from Chickasaw Country Club was the winner at 1 under.
Grayson Murphy signs pro basketball deal
Independence and Belmont basketball star Grayson Murphy signed a pro basketball contract with Phoenix Hagen in Germany.
Murphy, who graduated in May, is the Ohio Valley Conference’s all-time career leader in assists (775) and steals (281). He was a three-time All-OVC first-team performer and two-time defensive player of the year.
He led Belmont to a 104-25 record as a four-year starter.
Murphy, who had a pre-NBA draft workout with the Indiana Pacers, will be a teammate of former Belmont All-American J.J. Mann in Germany.
Also, former Hume-Fogg and Belmont star Alex Renfroe signed a pro contract with Coviran Granada in Spain. Renfroe, 36, is headed into his 14th pro season, which has taken him to eight countries on three continents.
MTSU's Ken Trickey inducted into Oklahoma hall of fame
Former MTSU basketball player and coach Ken Trickey was inducted into the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame posthumously.
Trickey, who died in 2012, scored 1,465 points at MTSU (1953-56) and made the All-OVC team during his junior and senior seasons.
He became the Blue Raiders coach in 1965 and posted a 199-76 record before leaving in 1969 for Oral Roberts. He coached at Oklahoma City from 1979-81 before returning to Oral Roberts from 1987-93.
Lipscomb baseball standout Ben Farrell dies at 76
Former Lipscomb baseball standout Ben Farrell, who went on to play in the minor leagues, died on Aug. 10. He was 76.
Farrell, a native of Jackson, Tennessee, and the son of former Cleveland Indians manager Kerby Farrell, played at Lipscomb from 1963-66.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and went on to play in the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox organizations.
After serving in the Army, Farrell enjoyed a long and successful career in the country music industry.
Ex-Trevecca, Ensworth assistant joins Tennessee Tech staff
Mikey White, who spent last season at Trevecca and the two before that at Ensworth, has joined the baseball coaching staff at Tennessee Tech.
White was the hitting coach at Trevecca. He was an assistant at Ensworth from 2020-21.
The former Alabama shortstop is one of three newcomers Tech coach Matt Bragga added to his staff.
Jim Miksis, who spent the spring as an assistant at Montgomery (Alabama) Academy, was also hired as an assistant along with former Pope John Paull II star Ben Brooks, who will serve as a volunteer assistant.
Brooks was the 2017 Tennessee Mr. Baseball for Division II-Class AA. He spent the last five seasons playing at Memphis.
Matt Bragga’s father Larry, who previously served as an assistant, returns in a new role as director of player development.
Tennessee Trojans looking for coaches
The Tennessee Trojans women's semi-pro football team has coaching positions available.
The team is preparing for is first season in the Women's National Football Conference in 2023. The team started practicing earlier this month.
Constance Luttrell was named the team's coach and Lisa Limper the general manager in July.
Anyone interested in a coaching position should call 615-640-1382 or visit tennesseetrojans.com.
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway HOF tickets on sale
Tickets are available for the 2022 Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The ceremony will be on Oct. 26 at the Fairgrounds Nashville Expo Center
The 2022 class includes Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Red Farmer, Howard Johnson, Darryl Sage and Steve Spencer.
For tickets or table sponsorships visit nfshalloffame.org.
Rudy Kalis speaking at local FCA banquet
Longtime Channel 4 sports anchor Rudy Kalis will be the guest speaker at the Robertson County Fellowship of Christian Athletes fundraising banquet on Nov. 1.
Kalis spent 43 years at Channel 4 before retiring in 2017. He now has a prison ministry in Middle Tennessee.
The banquet will be at Lifehouse Fellowship Church in Springfield.
There will be a meet and greet at 5:30 p.m. and the main event begins at 6:30 p.m.
For tickets, table sponsorship or more information contact Andrew Fortner at my.fca.org/donation?name=andrewfortner.
Steve Peterson, Sarah Freels going into Roane State hall of fame
Former MTSU baseball coach Steve Peterson and Tennessee Tech softball player Sarah Freels are in the Roane State Community College 2022 Hall of Fame class.
Peterson coached at Roane State from 1979-84 and posted a 153-96 record. He was twice named the Tennessee Junior and Community College Athletic Association coach of the year.
After leaving Roane State, Peterson went to MTSU where he became the all-time winningest coach with nearly 800 career wins. Peterson died 2020.
Freels played shortstop at Roane State in 2014 and 2015 and became the program’s first player to earn an NCAA Division I scholarship when she moved on to Tech.
Volpe hired as assistant AD at Austin Peay
Connor Volpe is the new assistant director of athletics for compliance at Austin Peay.
Volpe, a native of Georgetown, Kentucky, spent last year as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss.
He was an intern at Boise State in 2020 before being elevated to assistant.
Lipscomb's Barry Brewer golf scramble is Monday
The Lipscomb 2022 Barry Brewer Bison Golf Scramble is Monday at Brentwood Country Club.
Registration for the 36th annual tournament is at 11 a.m..
Lunch will be served and there will be a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start.
There will be a silent auction after the tournament ends.
If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans Mike Vrabel, Jon Robinson at Nashville Sports Council
