Tag: Vol Network

Vol Network expands pregame coverage

Vol Network expands pregame coverage.

Vol Network has extended its pregame coverage for the 2002 season. Its pregame programming will begin two hours prior to kickoff.

The pregame show, “Big Orange Countdown,” which premiered last season, is statewide coverage and begins at 5 p.m. EDT, prior to Tennessee’s season-opener against Ball State Thursday.

The show is hosted by John Wilkerson, Brent Hubbs and former Vol Jayson Swain. The show will also feature a rotating former Vol each week.

“Big Orange Countdown” will broadcast live outside Gate 21 at Neyland Stadium and fans are welcome to attend and ask questions.

Following “Big Orange Countdown,” Bobby Rader will host “Spotlight on the SEC.”

The UT game crew, featuring Bob Kesling, Pat Ryan and Kasey Funderburg, will begin 25 minutes before kickoff.

The “Big Orange Scoreboard and Josh Heupel Show” will provide postgame coverage. It is hosted by Wilkerson, Erik Ainge and Troy Fleming.

The Vol Network can be listened to over 64 radio stations in Tennessee and throughout the southeast.

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Pat Ryan named Vol Network radio analyst

VFL Pat Ryan replaces longtime Vol Network radio analyst Tim Priest.

When Vol Network football color analyst Tim Priest announced his retirement, the network named Pat Ryan as his replacement.

Ryan is no stranger to the radio booth or Tennessee football fans.

After an NFL playing career that lasted 14 seasons, Ryan remained around the game.

He served as a TV analyst on UT’s pay-per-view games where he worked alongside Mike Keith.

Keith and Ryan worked together for the Titans Radio Network.

Ryan, 65, played for the Volunteers between 1974-77. He was a backup to Condredge Holloway after missing the 1975 season due to injury.

Ryan was drafted by the New York Jets in 1978 in the 11th round.

He played for the Jets for 13 seasons. His final NFL season came in 1991 with Philadelphia.

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Vol Network analyst Tim Priest retires

Longtime radio color analyst Tim Priest retires.

After more than two decades as a football color analyst for Vol Network, Tim Priest is retiring.

He ends a 22-year career as a regular on Vol Network.

Priest, a defensive back for the Volunteers during his playing days, joined UT’s broadcast team on a full-time basis in 1999 when Bob Kesling replaced the legendary John Ward as Tennessee’s play-by-play voice.

Priest began his career with Vol Network in 1993, working alongside Ward and filling in for then-color commentator Bill Anderson.

Prior to joining the network, Priest worked on “Football Finals” for Knoxville’s WIVK, when the station was not carrying UT games.

“Football Finals” remains in rotation on football game days in Knoxville.

During his career, Priest called 274 games, 14 bowl contests and three Southeastern Conference Conference championship games.

Priest is leaving Vol Network to spend more time with his family. He will be replaced by VFL and former NFL quarterback Pat Ryan.

Ryan is a former color analyst for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.

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Vol Network to air classic basketball games

Vol Network to air classic basketball games.

KNOXVILLE — The Vol Network Classics series returns Saturday.

The series, which has already re-aired the 1999 Fiesta Bowl game, in which the Volunteers defeated Florida State to win the inaugural BCS national championship game for the 1998 season, the 1986 Sugar Bowl and Tennessee’s 2001 victory over Florida, will turn its attention to the hardwood this week for a double feature.

This week’s games include the Vols’ 71-67 victory over Kentucky at Rupp Arena and UT’s 103-84 victory over the Auburn Tigers in 1987. In that game, Tony White scored 51 points and broke Ron Widby’s single-game scoring record that stood for two decades.

Widby scored 50 points in a game in 1967.

Rupp Arena opened in 1976-77 and the Vols upset Kentucky in Lexington. The Big Orange, coached by Ray Mears, had four future NBA players on the floor including Bernard King, Ernie Grufeld, Reggie Johnson and Terry Crosby.

The Wildcats were coached by Joe B. Hall and also had four future NBA players. They were Jack Givens, Rick Robey, Larry Johnson and Kyle Macy.

The games will feature John Ward on the call and air at noon (ET) in Knoxville on WNML-FM 99.1 and WNML-AM 990.