Big Orange Report - Feb. 27, 2025

 


Staff Complete, Spring Practice Set


Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel completed his staff last week with three additions and two contract extensions. The only member of the staff to depart was special teams coach Mike Ekeler who left to return to his home state of Nebraska to join the Cornhuskers. Heupel promoted analyst Levorn "Chop" Harbin to replace Ekler as the outside linebacker's coach. Another former analyst, Evan Crabtree, will serve as special teams coordinator and veteran NFL special teams coach John Bonamego is a full time staff member as assistant special teams coach.
Defensive backs coach Willie Martinez and Director of Competitive Development, Kurt Schmidt earned contract extensions. Martinez got two years added to his deal and Schmidt received a one-year extension. Schmidt's title is a fancy name for what has been known for years as the Strength and Conditioning coach. Some of the other holdover members of the staff got pay increases this year.
Coach Harbin has been recruiting on the road for two years and some consider him, perhaps, to be one of the best recruiters on the staff along with defensive line coach Rodney Garner. Crabtree is considered to be a star on the rise in the profession. "We are excited about the cohesiveness of our staff," Heupel said. "Chop and Evan understand the culture and standards of excellence that we have built here over the past four years. Both have very strong relationships with our players and it will make for a seamless transition as we get ready for spring practice."
Coach Bonamego is considered a special teams guru that has a knack for designing tactics to block opposing punts and field goals. He was special teams coordinator for five different NFL teams and was a member of the LA Rams staff that won the Super Bowl in 2021. He also served as a college head coach for four seasons at Central Michigan. Four times his special teams in the NFL led the league in blocked kicks.
The entire staff is gearing up for the beginning of spring drills on March 7. The intersquad game is slated to be played in Neyland Stadium on April 12.
Hunting the One Line
Tennessee men's basketball squad picked up a huge road win on Saturday over Texas A&M. The Aggies were ranked No. 7 in the nation coming into the game. It was a back and forth battle for four quarters and winning on the road against a ranked SEC opponent is crucial when the selection committee begins the process of seeding teams for the Big Dance.
The Volunteers have four regular season games remaining before the conference tournament. Two of those contests should be "give-mes" but the other two are going to be high pitched battles. UT will entertain Alabama on Saturday and then face a very good Ole Miss team on March 5th. Looking at the standings today, it appears that the Vols might need victories in both these game to earn a top four seeding and a double bye in the SEC tournament next month.
Lady Vols
Coach Kim Caldwell's women have two games remaining in the regular season. Tennessee has a tough one on Thursday evening when they visit Kentucky for a 6 p.m. tip that will be televised on the SEC network. Then they complete the schedule with a home contest vs. Georgia that will also be carried on the SEC network at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
It does not appear that UT will be able to grab a double bye in the conference tournament. However, Charlie Creme, who does the bracketology for the women's NCAA tournament still has Tennessee as a four seed which would be huge with the first two games scheduled to be played in Knoxville.  

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