Wednesday, September 7, 2022

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SQUEEZE UT has its largest student body in history.

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The Daily Beacon

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Volume 142, Issue 2

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Wednesday, September 7, 2022

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NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 7, 2022

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2022 Chancellor’s Professors announced, recipients weigh in KAITLYN PILCHER Staff Writer Every year, a select number of the University of Tennessee’s faculty are nominated and appointed as Chancellor’s Professors. These individuals are nominated by the deans of their respective colleges and recommended by the provost.

To be considered eligible, candidates must be full-time faculty members with a minimum of five years of employment at UT. These faculty members typically have esteemed records of research and achievement, while also displaying high standards in their teaching and service to UT. After receiving the title, the Chancellor’s Professors will receive a one-time research stipend of $20,000. Then, they will begin to advise the provost, the vice chancellor for research and engagement and the chancellor on campus matters.

The incoming class of Chancellor’s Professors consists of four professors: Joshua Fu, Mark Littmann, Hanno Weitering and Deb Welsh.

Hanno H. Weitering, a professor of physics and astronomy, was one of the four professors

chosen this year. He has been a researcher, educator and academic leader at UT since 1993.

When asked about his emotions on receiving the title, Weitering spoke to the honor of both himself and his colleagues.

“I am honored and humbled. I view this title as a strong affirmation of our vision for building excellence in research and education. I say ‘ours’ because this has been a collective achievement of the physics and IAMM faculty. There are many faculty colleagues who are equally deserving of this extraordinary recognition. I guess I am the lucky one this year,” Weitering said.

Weitering has taught physics courses at almost all levels, excluding 600-level courses.

Additionally, he has been an advisor to 14 PhD students, four masters students and 13 postdoctoral scholars. These students have since become professors, found positions at national laboratories or ended up in the private sector.

Weitering has also served as both the Head of the Department of Physics and the deputy director of the UT-ORNL Joint Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for 10 years. His research discipline is condensed matter physics, which focuses on how to understand and control the priorities of condensed matter at the molecular and atomic level.

When asked about his new position as a Chancellor’s Professor, Weitering spoke on his hopes for the future of the university.

“I have had many conversations with the upper-level administration over the years, including several conversations with the Chancellor. Many of these concerned questions on how to expand our research enterprise. I look forward to meeting on a more regular basis to brainstorm on a much broader range of issues concerning the Knoxville campus. I think I will learn a lot from the other Chancellor’s professors and collectively we’ll continue to push the envelope and make UT better and more inclusive,” Weitering said.

Joining Weitering is Professor Mark Littmann, who was also recognized as a Chancellor’s Professor this year. He has been a part of UT’s faculty since 1991 and is known for his role in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media, where he leads science writing courses that help students to write stories that are enjoyable and understandable to their audiences.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

Student-led Plastic Free UT combats ‘daunting’ volume of waste

AURORA SILAVONG Staff Writer

A new student organization has a daunting mission: to completely eliminate the University of Tennessee’s dependency on single-use plastic products.

Plastic Free UT is a student-led movement aiming to make UT more eco-friendly by reducing and eventually doing away with the use of items such as plastic grocery bags and Styrofoam to-go containers.

The group organized out of the Compost Coalition, another student organization dedicated to sustainability at UT. Rachel Stewart, senior and co-founder of Plastic Free UT, explained how the movement first began.

“We were planning out our semester of events and advocacy for the Compost Coalition and realized what a mammoth problem single-use plastic usage was on campus,” Stewart said.

Stewart is also the founder and current president of the Compost Coalition.

The group plans to work closely with other environmental groups on campus as well as organizations such as the Student Government Association (SGA), the Office of Sustainability and other campus legislative bodies. Their hope is that their movement can have strength in numbers, which will help to amplify voices for meaningful change.

“In the past, (sustainability organizations have) had discussions with Aramark and Vol Dining about phasing away from single use plastics to compostables and reusables, but it is a very slow

process marred with red tape,” Stewart said.

“We have learned that the fastest way to make a difference on campus is to leverage our voices as students. The student voice, when there are enough of them, is the most powerful tool for change, and things can actually get done quickly.

We started Plastic Free UT to mobilize students and make a change.”

Plastic Free UT also aims to aid in filling gaps not covered by other sustainability groups and initiatives on campus, such as Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (SPEAK).

“The plastic issue is so daunting that just one student organization alone cannot tackle it,” Stewart said.

“SPEAK and the Compost Coalition are great organizations, but they have other mission statements and goals and can’t dedicate their entire time to ridding UT of plastic pollution. It’s a full time job. We fill that gap and have a large executive team and membership to delegate all of the tasks that go into our campaign.”

Julia Craven, junior and co-founder, described the sense of inclusivity that the organization aims to achieve.

“We’re really trying to create a single platform where students from all aspects of campus can contribute their knowledge and time,” Craven said.

“Students from all disciplines of campus have expressed concern about plastic waste and consumption, and we wanted to develop an organized and effective campaign that would enable people to make a difference.”

While the organization is still quite young, its members have already developed a comprehen-

sive and ambitious road map for the semester and academic year, as well as established other longterm goals. Their current focus is on spreading awareness and recruiting more students into their ranks.

Harper Pertchik, junior and policy chair, explained Plastic Free UT’s plan to pass legislation with SGA and collaborate with Chancellor Donde Plowman and President Randy Boyd.

“Our main goal for the semester is to sit down with Chancellor Plowman and President Boyd to inform them of our organization and its goals, as well as ask them to sign PLAN’s ‘Break Free From Plastic’ pledge,” Pertchik said.

STORY CONTINUED ONLINE Read more at utdailybeacon.com

Plastic Free UT members at the Student Engagement Fair on Friday, Aug. 26.

Courtesy of Plastic Free UT / Photo by Jack Pitts

NEWS

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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Parking squeezes into ‘Extreme Campus Makeover’ era as reliable lots fill up DANIEL DASSOW Editor-in-Chief

A parking garage counter at the Neyland Parking Garage shows available spots on Aug. 20, 2021. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon Word spread across campus like news of a bad omen: the screen that tracks available parking spaces in the G10 parking garage flashed the word “FULL” in the first week of class. The expansive parking structure, also called Neyland Parking Garage, is no longer a reliable last resort for commuter parking.

At peak hours this year, even a large garage tucked into a corner of campus fills up.

The struggle of many students to find parking close to class or their job is related to rapid growth in the student body, as UT welcomes its largest ever student body and a record-breaking freshman class of around 6,785 students.

The annual pressure on parking is compounded by a full return of students to campus in the ebbing of the COVID-19 pandemic, as most classes return to an in-person modality and campus welcomes nearly 40,000 students, staff and faculty each day.

Remember the old television show Extreme Home Makeover? This is like Extreme University Makeover, but in a good way.

MOIRA BINDNER

Communications and Customer Service Manager, Parking and Transit

Timari Ray, a senior studying public relations, said she has had to come to campus two hours before her classes start in order to find a space. She says the experience of students who have reportedly driven around for an hour or more and been late to class has overshadowed what should be a success on the university’s part.

“Parking has been a nightmare so far and

that has shifted students perspective negatively when thinking about this milestone that we should all honor,” Ray said. “I am hoping that the university will take the time to address this issue as it greatly affects current and new tuition-paying students.”

With its growth, UT has bucked a national plague-time trend towards declining enrollment to report a #1 spot in the SEC for enrollment growth. Rather than recovering from the peak days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the downward trend in college enrollment only steepened in 2022.

A report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center in May found that enrollment at public four-year colleges was down 3.4% in spring 2022 when compared to spring 2021.

At UT, on the other hand, this year’s freshman enrollment rose 14% compared to last fall. In an attempt to catch up with the growing student population, UT has already made several changes to its Campus Master Plan, which sets out short and long-term goals.

Among these goals is the construction of two new dorm buildings and the acquisition of leases for additional parking aread.

Some parking areas have gone underutilized as more convenient spaces grow scarce.

Several perimeter lots, including those for commuters at University Commons, Church Street United Methodist Church and the UT Culinary Institute on Neyland Drive, offer students parking within walking distance of campus with a reduced price parking permit.

The lots at University Commons and the Culinary Institute are also accessible by trolley and bus, respectively.

Lots that consistently have available commuter spaces are GF2, GF3 and GF4 on Todd Helton Drive behind Fraternity Park. These lots offer commuter spaces between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and convert to fraternity parking at night. More information on parking areas can be found on the updated UT Campus Parking Map and the official Tennessee app provides live updates on parking availability at select lots.

According to Moira Bindner, communications and customer service manager at Parking and Transit Services, there were 800 commuter spaces available every day last academic year between the G10 garage and the G17 garage on Terrace Avenue alone.

This year, record-high retention numbers as well as first-year enrollment, have pushed parking in many areas of campus to its limits.

“The kids we have now never knew a campus that was at capacity, and when they were freshmen in 2019, they were in the dorms, so they weren’t commuters. They didn’t really experience that,” Bindner said. “So this year, I think for many, it’s sticker shock or whiplash. They’re just like, ‘What’s going on? This is not the UT I know.’”

In many of his public addresses on the

state of the university system since taking office, UT System President Randy Boyd has claimed the 2020s as the “greatest decade” in the history of the university.

Parking has been a nightmare so far.

TIMARI RAY SENIOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS

With record enrollment, a new UT campus at UT Southern and an expansion of campus budgets and scholarship funding, Bindner believes UT Knoxville is getting a makeover in its Master Plan.

“Remember the old television show Extreme Home Makeover? This is like Extreme University Makeover, but in a good way. I mean, we are improving facilities, we are attracting amazing students and we are attracting research dollars,” Bindner said.

“I want to be at a place that is growing and learning and challenging its community.”

Bindner said the complex puzzle of providing enough parking for tens of thousands of people at walkable distance is an integral part of acclimating to the change and growth that UT is undergoing.

Though many students propose building

new garages or digging deeper to add more levels under existing garages, that kind of construction can be fraught. Bindner said the sticker price on a parking garage is around $10,000 a space, and since Parking and Transit Services is an auxiliary campus unit, they must foot the bill for construction of new garages.

There is also the chance of literally falling into a sinkhole should a construction crew dig below a garage. The first contractor on the construction of Thompson-Boling Arena, B. B. Andersen, had to give up the project after spending thousands of dollars filling a cavern below the stadium with concrete.

Jakob Mikres, a fourth year architecture student and chair of the SGA campus infrastructure committee, believes UT needs to focus on optimizing the pedestrian and biking experience on campus if it wants to ease headaches over parking.

“While I understand that the economics of new parking can be hard to justify, at a minimum UT should improve information availability, educate students on parking options, connect and optimize walking and bike transportation options and increase awareness of the T Link,” Mikres said. “But without improved parking availability in high demand areas, these are truly just temporary band aid solutions as demand increases.”

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NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Plowman speaks on campus growth: ‘It’s tight, I’ll grant you that’

Chancellor Donde Plowman answers questions during an interview with Daniel Dassow, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Beacon, on Sept. 1, 2022.

Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon

DANIEL DASSOW Editor-in-Chief

In a wide-ranging interview on Sept. 1 in the Daily Beacon office, Chancellor Donde Plowman discussed her memories of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the power of CliftonStrengths, her proposals for academic restructuring and the growth of the student body, which is now at a record size in her fourth year as leader of UT Knoxville.

This segment from the full interview has been edited for length and clarity. To watch clips from the interview or to listen to the full audio, visit the Daily Beacon’s YouTube page or podcast pages on Spotify, iTunes and the Podcast app.

Q: If you had dropped me here today, there would be more face masks, there would be maybe a little bit more social distancing – we’re still staying cautious – but it does really feel like fall of 2019. One thing I think that does feel different, and this is quickly becoming a hallmark of your tenure as chancellor, is the growth. So many people

on campus.

And that has gone against the national averages, the national numbers. So nationwide, we’ve hemorrhaged about 1.3 million college students since the beginning of the pandemic, and even for four-year public institutions, they’ve lost about 3.5% of their enrollment. But our freshman class this year is 14% bigger than it was last year, and I think people are looking at this wondering, how UT is managing to be No. 1 in the SEC for growth? What have you had to focus on during your tenure to make that happen?

A: I think there are two things that have fueled that growth, at least two things. I’m really proud of the programs we have. Every university has great programs. I think we have amazing programs that are just now getting national attention.

But more specifically, I think there are two things. I go out and I ask parents all the time, “Why did you choose the University of Tennessee?” And whether they’re from out of state or in state, I want to know what the answer is. I was at move-in day this year and I asked them all, “why did you choose us?”

And I heard things again and again like, “My daughter just wants to be a Volunteer.” So I

do think the way we are really focusing on the Volunteer experience, it means something different to come to school and be on this campus, to be on Rocky Top, to go to Torch Night. I don’t know other universities that do something like Torch Night. You promise to step forward and serve and lead and light the way. I think there’s something to that.

I think secondly, we have had a very intentional strategic enrollment strategy. Some of that started before I got here, investing in out-of-state recruiters, for example. But we also have recruiters all over the state of Tennessee. So right now, we have a total of 26 recruiters who don’t live in Knoxville, and they’re spreading the word about this place.

When I talk to the out-of-state parents, they will say, “You know, my daughter, she just had this thing about coming to Tennessee.

And then we came down here for a visit, it was done, we’re coming. It was beautiful and the people were so friendly.” They always talk about our campus tours, which are lead by students. So our students are attracting other students.

Q: So do you think it matters that it’s the Volunteers, and not an animal or some other mascot? You think that makes a difference?

A: Yeah, and we make a big deal out of that, that it means something to be a Volunteer.

I think we’re getting better about talking about what that does mean. But there’s one other thing I want to say … we’re also retaining more of the students who were here last year than we ever have, so we’re up about 2,000 students. I’m gonna give you rough estimates. About 1,000 of those are new students, first-year students. The rest of them are that many more students who decided to come back. So our retention has gone up, considerably. And that’s because we’ve put all these efforts into student success.

Students now have a career, they have success teams that chase after them. They take their strengths. You did it, I’m sure. You should know your top five strengths. If you don’t, that’s ok.

You know, I’ve never done Clifton Strengths.

A: You haven’t?

I’ve done Enneagram, Meyers-Briggs, I have not done Clifton Strengths.

A: I don’t know how we missed you, because now, every entering freshman takes their strengths. And that’s become kind of a hallmark.

Q: So why do you value Clifton Strengths so much?

A: So, let’s just, I’ll just tell you what my top five strengths are and how it helps me every day. I am strategic, achiever, positivity, futuristic, maximizer and my sixth one is woo, winning others over.

Q: Oh, that’s an acronym? I didn’t know “woo” was an acronym.

A: Yeah.

I thought it was just like, “woo!”

A: No. Like in the song? No, it means you’re good at persuading people, selling, communicating, that kind of thing. So that’s my top six strengths. My entire cabinet has to have their strengths taken. And I have a grid that shows what everybody is, we all have it.

We’re also retaining a lot more of the students who were here last year... that’s because we’ve put all these efforts into student success.

DONDE PLOWMAN CHANCELLOR, UT KNOXVILLE

NEWS

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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No, it’s the usual complaint about universities. I had it when I went to school. I had it when I got my PhD at the University of Texas. You had to walk 40 acres to get across. All the student parking at Texas was all around the perimeter.

And so one of the things we’re working on here is helping students, so we have an app. Have you used the app for parking?

I’ve used the app for T bus, I’ve not used it for parking.

So we’ve been monitoring during those peak periods, cause I’ll get a nasty text or tweet or something and I take a screenshot of the tweet and send it to somebody and say, “Is this really happening?” And we look at the app and we can see there are still parking spaces in this garage, this garage, this garage, this garage.

Not the one you wanted, but we know we have enough capacity at peak time.

We didn’t think we were going to grow that much. Our predictive models this year did not come in like they have every single year before.

DONDE PLOWMAN CHANCELLOR, UT KNOXVILLE

Students walk on Pedestrian Walkway between classes on Sept. 6, 2022. Fueled by a 14% increase in the freshman class and record retention numbers, UT welcomed its largest-ever student body in fall 2022. “We didn’t think we were going to grow that much. Our predictive models this year did not come in like they have every single year before,” Chancellor Plowman said. Ericksen Gomez-Villeda / The Daily Beacon

STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 And so, if I hire a new vice chancellor, I hire a new athletic director – Danny White, he’s taken it. I can tell you what his strengths are. And we look at that together and say as leaders, how does this help us, where are the gaps, where is it we’re not as strong, and what are we gonna do about that? So it’s helped me as a leader.

So it helps you understand each other as a team.

A: The idea is, you can be successful regardless of what category of strengths you have. The successful people leverage their strengths. So part of what we want entering freshmen to realize, cause a lot of entering freshmen, I don’t know if you felt this way, but you can get here, especially as a first generation student and feel like, I don’t know if I belong here. Like my confidence, I don’t really have the confidence. But soon as you begin to realize, ok, I am kind of good at these things, I’m gonna use that to be successful in college. So I think that’s a combination of factors that are fueling our growth.

And then Tennessee is a great place to live, it’s beautiful. There’s lots of good jobs in Tennessee after you graduate.

Q: The growth, from your team and the news and information team at UT, is tout-

ed, it’s celebrated, it’s an accomplishment against other universities, but it does cause a lot of logistical problems, and these are being felt by students on a day-to-day basis.

We now have transfer students who are having to live in a Holiday Inn off campus.

It’s functioning as a dorm. We have students living at Quarry Trail. There’s plans to build a bridge across the river to expand campus southward. So I think a lot of people look at these things … and think, is this sustainable? Are we growing too fast, and what’s the calculation there? Why accept more students than can be housed currently on campus?

So, we have housed everyone who wanted a room, including the use of the “Voliday Inn.” And here’s the thing: we have so many jobs that need to be filled in the state of Tennessee that I feel this great obligation. It’s the mission, to get capable people into this university and get them out in four years and into the beginning of a good life, which starts with a good job. So that’s part of it. It’s not just growth for the sake of growth, it’s growth because we can grow. We’re in very high demand. Now, we do not want to exceed our capacity.

Q: But you don’t think we’ve exceeded our current capacity?

I think we’re close.

Q: So next year won’t be 14% growth?

That was unexpected. We didn’t think we were going to grow that much. Our predictive models this year did not come in like they have every single year before. And it’s, we’ve just become really popular, in every state in the country and in every county in the state of Tennessee. We’re up in Tennesseans, and we’re up in out-of-state students. So let me tell you the reason I don’t think we’ve exceeded capacity.

Last year, at the beginning of the year, we had a lot of long lines around food, you remember that? People were complaining about food.

I did a few 180s and walked out of the dining halls.

So what you see this year is 50 robots delivering food. That was gradual over the last year.

What you see are five food trucks here all the time. What you see is the dining halls are still operating. So we anticipated that need early and I think we’re doing ok with that. Let’s talk about parking.

I was teaching class yesterday and somebody asked me a question and at the end of it, I said, “Is this a parking question?” and she goes “yes it is.”

Q: Have you been getting a lot of them?

At the beginning of every school year, we get a lot of questions about parking. Every university in the country does.

Yes, these problems are not unique to UT.

It’s tight, I’ll grant you that, but there’s some that are zero, there’s others that aren’t.

But the issue is, we are engaging in full-force planning in the next set of dorms, we have approval for two more dorms. We’re working with private investors who are building, we’re working with the city to try to attract private investors to build apartments for upperclassmen, so we’ve got a lot of things underway. But it’s tight this year, it is tight. And we had a lot of students who we could’ve admitted who we did not. They were on the waiting list and eventually, we had to say to them, you’ll need to find something else.

Q: Do you see the other campuses in UT, UT Chattanooga, UT Martin, as there in a way to release the pressure off the flagship campus?

A: I would love it if they could. What happens is, each of our campuses has a unique mission, so you know, this year, we notified a number of students on the waiting list, there is space for you at UT Martin, for example, there’s housing. I don’t know how many took them up on that. Just typically the people who apply to UT Knoxville don’t apply to UT Martin. UT Martin is a wonderful campus. It feels like a small private school.

It’s beautiful.

Yeah, it’s beautiful, it’s in West Tennessee.

But students apply to, we don’t really, I wish it did work more that way.

There’s less crossover between applicants?

Yeah, cause people, students are just looking for different things.

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NEWS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 7, 2022

New 988 lifeline provides support for individuals experiencing mental health crises KAITLYN PILCHER Staff Writer

On July 15, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was renamed and their toll-free nationwide telephone number was changed to 9-8-8. This change was a result of The National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which required all telephone services and text providers in the U.S to activate the number. The lifeline consists of over 200 state and local call centers.

The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots organization committed to improving and aiding in the lives of individuals with serious mental illnesses and their families. The alliance was founded in 1979, and its members strive to shed light on mental illnesses and their effects.

When asked about his emotions towards the new lifeline, Jesús Mora, a junior studying criminology, explained the importance of the emotional support it offers.

“Many people located in the area and all over the country experience mental health issues or crises on a daily basis. This hotline and all of the people behind it will save many

lives and offer better help to individuals who struggle with their mental health and their families who are very much affected by it,” Mora said.

NAMI has various organizations within every state, including Tennessee. NAMI Tennessee is working to raise awareness of the lifeline. There are currently 6 call centers within Tennessee that are available 24/7 to anyone who is experiencing any kind of emotional stress or who is concerned about a loved one.

The executive director of NAMI Tennessee, Jeff Fladen spoke on the changes and assistance that this will bring to Tennessee.

“If you or anyone you know is experiencing some kind of mental distress, you can call or text 988, and you will be greeted with compassionate and accessible mental health professionals on the other end of the line. For far too long, this burden has fallen on our 911 operators and first responders, and they are finally getting some much-needed help,” Fladen said.

NAMI provides and supports Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs that help to improve communication between mental health providers, law enforcement, hospital emergency services and families in need. The Tennessee organization is hoping to continue to work towards a better system of mental

health aid by working with policy makers and the larger community of Tennessee.

Allen Bartels, the Board President of NAMI Tennessee, described the organization’s thankfulness for the assistance from their partners.

“We know that 988 is going to save countless lives … we applaud all of the partners and agencies that are working together to provide this invaluable resource to people experiencing a mental health crisis,” Bartels said.

The 10-digit Lifeline number 1-800-273TALK (8255) will continue to be operational and will route calls to 988 indefinitely. Veterans, service members and their families can also still reach the Veterans Crisis Line with the current phone number 1-800-273-8255.

Olivia Martin, a sophomore elementary education major, explained the change that the new number will bring.

“Struggling with mental health isn’t uncommon these days, especially for college students or anybody struggling financially. So for them to offer this hotline and focus completely on mental health will definitely benefit many people and the ones close to them,” Martin said.

To learn more about the NAMI association and how to get involved, visit their official website.

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5 things to do in Knoxville to shake up your weekend

HANNAH COBB Contributor

If you are brand new to Knoxville, or even a long-time local, it can be hard to find something to do in the city. With so much to do, the choices can be overwhelming.

Knoxville is a vibrant town offering many exciting experiences, from exploring the beautiful, mountainous skyline to a bustling farmer’s market in the heart of its city. Whatever intrigues you — whether it be a unique take on sports like the brand-new Top Golf or the Gravity Ropes course at Main Event — Knoxville has something to offer you.

Here are five of the best things you can do in Knoxville right now.

Main Event This is the perfect place to go if you are looking for variety. Main Event has some of the most fun attractions in one place, just off of Kingston Pike. At the front is the game floor, with classics like Pacman and DonkeyKong, but also featuring some exciting newer games like Star Wars Battle Pod and Dance Dance Revolution.

Right on top of the game floor is the Gravity Ropes obstacle course if you’re into something a little more daring. Behind the game floor is

jazz concerts in the square and Friday Art Walk starting Sept. 2. Be sure to visit the square on a Saturday to support local farmers in the Square. When you need to take a break from the great food and shopping, feel free to take a brief walk through the garden.

Only a mile from campus, Market Square contains a collection of storefronts and eateries.

File / The Daily Beacon laser tag, right next to the bowling lanes. When you feel tired of all the gaming and bowling, you can grab something to eat — or drink, for those of you 21 and up — at the sports bar.

Top Golf Brand new to Knoxville is the exciting Top Golf. It is a modern new take on the golf game — and fun for everyone. You do not have to be a golf professional to have fun at Top Golf — just go, do your best and have fun. Do not worry about keeping score because the micro-

chipped golf balls keep score for you. Reservations or walk-ins are accepted.

Market Square In the middle of downtown Knoxville is Market Square, a collection of some of the best shops and restaurants Knoxville has to offer. With shops like Mast General and Fizz, and restaurants like Cafe 4 and Tupelo Honey, it is a great place to visit any day of the year.

However, the stage at the forefront makes it a fantastic venue for the events it hosts, like

Ijams Nature Center Ijams Nature Center is a nonprofit nature center. It is a beautiful park with 10 miles of trails. The park is just right off from the city in South Knoxville, but you would not know it from being there. Ijams also offers bikes and canoe rentals. This is a great place to go if you, or your dog, are needing a nature walk to clear your head, as well as a change of scenery — and what beautiful scenery it is.

Cinnebarre A twist on the classic movie theater experience, Cinnebarre combines going to a restaurant and seeing the latest movies. While sitting in a pleather, reclining seat, a waiter will take your order during the previews. Refills on candy, popcorn and drinks are served in the bar in the lobby. Make sure to get there on time because they stop taking orders 10 minutes after the official start time of the movie, that way you do not have to hear whispers or watch people walk in front of the screen during the show. The best part: free refills on movie theater popcorn.

ARTS & CULTURE

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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Exhibit displays Native American artifacts during repatriation project ADELE FERGUSON Contributor

Throughout the month of August, UT’s McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture has housed Native American artifacts in the “Repatriation of Archaeology & the Native Peoples of Tennessee” exhibit.

The collection includes items from a wide array of Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, Osage and Seminole. The earliest artifact in the exhibit dates back to approximately 12,000 years ago, and the end of the exhibit delves into the acculturation of Native Americans due to European colonization.

Interspersed between murals illustrating Native Americans’ past, the exhibit incorporates the present with enlarged quotes from Native American leaders today. Including these quotes in the exhibit gives voice to Native Americans themselves on the importance of repatriation, a topic which is the focal point of the exhibit.

At first glance, the exhibit seems to mainly

focus on Native American artifacts. Yet upon closer inspection, visitors can see that repatriation is heavily explored throughout each section of the exhibit.

Printed in large type on the walls, visitors learn what repatriation is and how it is implemented within the exhibition itself. Additionally, visitors also learn about the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).

After this act went into effect in 1990, many items once in UT’s artifact collection are now in the process of being returned to the tribes from which they originated. Visitors can see the effect of NAGPRA in the exhibit while walking past display cases filled with artifacts, some spots left empty with only a red label reading, “Object removed for repatriation.”

Upon entering the exhibit, visitors are first greeted by a bronze bust of Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee writing system.

Opening the exhibit with this noteworthy Native American figure sets the tone for the rest of the exhibition, which prominently features advancement in creation throughout Native American society.

These advancements are skillfully highlighted through the numerous interactive features the exhibit includes. In the stonework section arrowheads are displayed along with written descriptions and a video demonstrating how arrowheads were made using the stone tools on display.

Knoxville locals Tina and Dave Becker visited the stonework section of the museum, and they discussed what brought them to the exhibit.

“When we first moved out here, one of the locals told us about finding arrowheads and beads in freshly-plowed cornfields. We’ve actually gone out and found some, and that’s kind of exciting to us, picking up something no one else has probably touched in 10,000 years,” T. Becker said.

Artifacts possibly discovered by locals like the Beckers are displayed throughout the rest of the exhibit as well.

Deeper in the exhibition, illuminated boxes within the floor capture your attention, one displaying an earth oven another containing posthole patterns. Placing these boxes in the floor helps recreate the environment that Native Americans lived in more accurately, and

therefore helps visitors thoroughly immerse themselves within the exhibit.

After walking through the entirety of the exhibition, visitors are left with a greater understanding of how Native Americans had to adapt their culture and creations to the increasing changes around them. The greatest cultural shifts are displayed at the end of the exhibit, at the arrival of Europeans and the colonization of America.

The exhibit illustrates that colonization not only permanently changed the culture of Native Americans — it also set into motion the eventual robbery of artifacts from a society deemed uncivilized by its colonizers. NAGPRA and repatriation exist today because of culture captors’ resistance to return what rightfully belongs to the Native American people.

Bridgette Enevoldsen, a junior here at UT, shares why she was happy to see the exhibit shedding light on repatriation.

“It’s honestly really nice to see some of the changes that have been made. The things that have happened are being acknowledged and not glossed over anymore,” Enevoldsen said.

Bear Den Books to unite community, encourage literary diversity KAT BRICKLE Contributor

UT Alum Tex Fry is the co-founder and coowner of Bear Den Books. Fry is pictured in the shop on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. Edward Cruz / The Daily Beacon In a residential area off of Kingston Pike is a new hidden gem, Bear Den Books, which is an independent bookstore that opened on July 9. The shop is located at 1200 Kenesaw Avenue, which is in the heart of the Sequoyah Hills neighborhood. This specific neighbor-

hood was one of the first suburbs in Knoxville and is home to a sizable elementary school.

The quaint shop was started by friends and UT alumni Nick Wendell and Tex Fry. The idea for Bear Den Books came about while the two lived in different parts of Texas.

“Down in Austin, I went to an independent bookstore every day … I would just go and look at books and read. Nick would do the same in San Antonio,” Fry said.

This experience inspired the duo to give a little gift back to a place that means much to them. Fry explained that while there are a few bookstores downtown, there are little to none on the west side of Knoxville.

In terms of selection, the shop boasts an impressive selection of youth and middlegrade books, as well as popular fiction and nonfiction books — most focusing on highlighting local spots.

“You’re getting to interact with the owners and form community at our store,” Fry said. “We have shelves with our own personal favorites — and are planning on guest pick shelves. We are always happy to special order books for folks as well.”

Bear Den Books is currently in collaboration with the Knoxville History Project, which is an educational nonprofit whose mission is to research and promote the history of Knoxville.

“Nick and I are both history nerds … we love to take deep dives into what Knoxville was like in the 1800s … we love carrying books like that, books that go deep into the history

of Knoxville,” Fry said.

Not only does the store simply sell books, but the shop also offers events such as storytimes for children and author readings.

“We had our first event a couple of Saturdays ago — a children’s author, Katie Cate, read her book ‘Have You Seen A Black Bear,’ and the kids loved it,” Fry said. “We looked out the window and saw an army of strollers headed our way. We had a great turnout ... Sequoyah Hills has been super welcoming.”

The owners plan to hold events for other age ranges, including the college crowd. The goal is to give students a space to find a book or just relax. There is also a coffee shop and The Plaid Apron close by, making it a great area for college students to go and visit.

Bear Den Books is also an important place for local authors of color.

“We have a large selection of books written by people of color and are committed to supporting local authors of color as well. We’re constantly working to find new and old books written by people of color,” Fry said.

Bear Den Books functions differently from the big names and is an asset to authors of color — as an independent bookstore, Bear Den Books chooses the authors they sell instead of relying on a corporate office.

“We definitely want to listen to our community. We want to hear what people want to read, and what they would like us to carry.”

Fellow UT alumni Kaitlyn Sage Patterson and Bear Den Books customer is a local author and currently works as the develop-

mental director at_We Need Diverse Books, which specializes in supporting diversity in the literary world.

“We Need Diverse Books works with parents, educators and librarians to help bring diverse books into classrooms and into underserved populations,” Patterson said. “We work with authors to help them throughout their career, through our Black creatives fund, our Native fund and our mentorships.”

Patterson explained that currently, authors of color are having issues with getting their books onto shelves at big-name booksellers.

“Last week we got news from Barnes and Nobles that they are cutting back on buying middle-grade and children’s book titles.

Which means diverse voices will be sidelined,” Patterson said. “I see that with one of our Co-Founders, Dhonielle Clayton.

Her book ‘The Marvellers’ hit the New York Times Bestseller list, but they may have five copies in a Barnes and Noble. While another white author will have 25 or 30.”

Shopping local and getting books from independent bookstores such as Bear Den Books not only helps diversify the stories books are telling, but they also support the community.

“We want to give authors of all backgrounds a platform. We’re certainly hoping to support local underrepresented authors by carrying their work and having them in for events,” Fry said.

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ARTS & CULTURE

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Something for everyone: 7 concerts coming to Knoxville this semester AURORA SILAVONG Staff Writer

Concerts are finally coming back to Knoxville. There are several big names coming to this little corner of Tennessee in the coming months, and there will be something for everyone — rock, country, pop and more.

While the CDC has loosened its COVID-19 guidelines, it is important that concertgoers learn about each event and venue’s specific guidelines, as well as any clear bag and alcohol policies.

More concerts and other events can be found on the Visit Knoxville event calendar.

Tennessee Valley Fair (Sept. 9-18)

The Tennessee Valley Fair returns to Chilhowee Park on Sept. 9 and it will run until Sept. 18. The fair’s beloved concert series will feature big stars in the rock and country music scenes, including Brett Michaels and Joan Jett.

The concerts will be held in the evening at the park’s open-air Homer Hamilton Amphitheater.

Tickets for the concerts can be purchased through the fair’s website. Be aware fair admission is not included with a concert ticket purchase, and concert-goers must purchase

fair admission to gain entry to every concert.

2022 New Grounds Music Festival (Sept.

17-18)

New Grounds is a relatively new musical festival, having only put on its first festival in 2019. Its mission is to provide emerging artists the opportunity to perform before large audiences in a real festival setting. It will be held at Lakeshore Park, with a free shuttle service from the University Commons shopping center courtesy of Knoxville Tours.

Tickets can be purchased online via the festival website.

Greta Van Fleet (Sept. 28)

Grammy award-winning rock band Greta Van Fleet will be performing at ThompsonBoling Arena on Sept. 28 as part of their “Dreams in Gold” tour. They will be joined by alternative band Houndmouth and blues singer-songwriter Robert Finley.

Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster. At this time, there are no plans for ticket sales at the box office.

Carly Rae Jepsen (Oct. 4)

The Tennessee Theater will be hosting Canadian pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen on Oct. 4 as part of her “So Nice” tour. She will be joined by indie dream-pop singer Empress

Of. The tour coincides with the release of her newest album “The Loneliest Time,” which is scheduled to drop on Oct. 21.

Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster. Be aware there may be a slight delay for mobile ticket deliveries, although purchased tickets should be available at least 24 hours before the concert.

artists Brantley Gilbert and Cory Marks. 5FDP is touring to promote their new album, Afterlife, which recently came out on Aug. 19.

Keith Urban (Oct. 14)

Keith Urban is bringing his “Speed of Now” world tour to Thompson-Boling Arena on Oct. 14. He will be joined by Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, as well as breakout country singer Ingrid Andress. Fans will be treated to new music off his new album, “The Speed of Now Part 1,” as well as old favorites.

Phillip Phillips (Oct. 28)

Phillip Phillips, winner of the 11th season of “American Idol,” will perform at the Bijou Theater on Oct. 28 as part of his “Where We Came From” tour. The concert will be opened

by New York-based pop-rock band American Authors. A VIP package is available for purchase, which includes access to a Q-and-A session with the singer, as well as a pre-show soundcheck.

Five Finger Death Punch (Nov. 17)

Heavy metal outfit Five Finger Death Punch (5FDP) will stop at Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 17. They will be joined by country-rock

Evan Saucedo, lead singer for ‘Uptown Funk,’ portrays a convincing Bruno Mars while performing at the 2019 Tennessee Valley Fair. File / The Daily Beacon

Part-time job fair connects students with potential opportunities CHRISTIAN KYLE Contributor

Culture Champion and HR generalist Caitlyn Baker returns to UT as an alumna to speak to students at the part time job fair in the Student Union on Tuesday Aug. 30, 2022.

Christian Kyle / The Daily Beacon

On August 30, 2022 the Center for Career Development and Academic Exploration held a part-time job fair in the Student Union building from 1-4 p.m. which brought in different employers from across the Knoxville area, and with that, job opportunities came forth.

Every year, college campuses hold job fairs to enrich the experience of their students.

The whole purpose is to prepare students for what is to come after they get their diploma and enter the real-world job market. Job fairs bring together the employer and the employee in a professional environment where a conversation is had that could change the trajectory of a student’s career.

The local service manager at Dayton Freight, Stephen Berk, expressed her excitement for the incoming students.

“We choose UT students because it gives them an opportunity to gain real world experience, but more importantly, it gives us the chance to develop these students in our house management program which will hopefully lead to a long-term partnership,” Berk said.

Finding work experience and building a resume as an undergraduate can be challenging, especially when it comes to working around a class schedule and juggling other

jobs. The decision to have a specific parttime job fair was a strategic way to open avenues for students to get the experience they need for their futures and degrees, without the stress of working full-time.

This job fair not only came with the potential to benefit the students, but it also encouraged a desired partnership between the employers and the future of the job force.

It intertwined two entities that can both aid each other in their pursuits.

Culture Champion and HR generalist at the Graduate Hotel, Cailtyn Baker, shared her thoughts on the fair and her experience as an alumni of the university.

“We look for UT students because the hospitality field is something they can really grow into. I am a fellow alumni and so are my colleagues, so we really try to help UT students out and give them opportunities,” Baker said.

The job fair’s goal is to spark an initiative within students to pursue further education with the influence of employers. Like Baker, any student at the fair could be on their way to grad school because of that one day they went to a job fair.

With countless employer booths, there were many opportunities available to students with any major.

Students who attended also displayed enthusiasm about the experience. Andrea Difulvio, a senior at UT, was whimsically there but nevertheless, motivated.

“I was in between classes and heard about the fair and decided to come stop in. I just got a job at the TRECs on campus, but I am seeing if there are any potential jobs for me that could lead to something bigger,” Difulvio said.

However, the part-time job fair on Tuesday was not the only event planned this semester to jumpstart this conversation. Beginning Monday, Sept. 26, the Center for Career and Development’s Fall Job Fair Week will kick off, holding four different fairs throughout the week.

The week will begin with Engineering and STEM related fields, and then move to business-related majors and a virtual fair with employers of all industries.

The future of the students here at UT is promising with the events and opportunities planned, and it leaves it up to students whether or not they utilize these events to jumpstart their lives. College is temporary but the professional journey afterwards, most certainly, is not.

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

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Vols set for first road test of season at 2nd Johnny Majors Classic JOSH LANE Sports Editor

After handling Ball State with ease last Thursday, Tennessee (1-0) will go on the road to face No. 17 Pitt (1-0) for the second Johnny Majors Classic at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, in what will be a telling game for the 2022 Vols.

“This is a big game for us, obviously,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said. “First road test for us against a really good football team.”

Pitt was one of Tennessee’s five regularseason losses a year ago, and more than any other defeat, it was one the Vols could have won. An injury to Joe Milton allowed Hendon Hooker to take the reins at quarterback in the second quarter, and he nearly guided the Vols to a comeback. The Vols, however, hurt themselves as they came up short.

Special teams penalties and a fourth-quarter Hooker interception let Pitt escape Knoxville with a 41-34 win. Heupel knows that the loss — his first at Tennessee — will not impact their meeting a year later, but there are lessons the Vols can take into the 2022 matchup.

“Just understanding the type of game that is going to be played,” Heupel said. “They are smart, tough and competitive. The little things are going to add up to the big things that show up on the scoreboard.”

Tennessee is looking for its first win in the all-time series against a new-look Pitt team that — despite the conversations outside the program — looked for real as it took care of business in week one.

The Tennessee Volunteers took its first loss of the season against the Pittsburg Panthers (4134) in Neyland Stadium on Saturday Sept. 11, 2021.Kailee Harris / The Daily Beacon

Pitt faced much stiffer competition than the Vols did in its season-opener and stepped up to the test, as the Panthers defeated a promising West Virginia team 38-31 last Thursday in the first meeting of the Backyard Brawl in 11 years.

The Panthers’ offense did not feel the loss of Kenny Pickett and Jordan Addison, their two biggest playmakers from 2021, as they totaled 384 yards in the win. Starting quarterback Kedon Slovis did well in his season-debut, completing 66.7 percent of his passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, but Pitt made its mark on the ground.

Running back Rodney Hammond Jr. shined in the opener, rushing for three touchdowns and 74 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The Panthers struggled to amass rushing yards outside of Hammond, but they did score one more touchdown from Daniel Carter.

The Vols did not have much of a chance to prove their run defense against Ball State.

Tennessee limited Ball State to 74 total yards on the ground and 2.7 per carry, though one discouraging sign was the absence of pressure on Tennessee’s part. The Vols were unable to break through Ball State’s undistinguished offensive line, as they recorded two total tackles for loss and no sacks against the Cardinals.

Pitt’s potent offense, led by a ground attack carrying the momentum, is just the challenge the Vols want to face to prove themselves real competitors in 2022.

“The tempo of the ballgame we’re going to see from them will be a little bit different,” Heupel said. “Got to do a great job of being physical with the front seven in particular, but really the entire defensive unit.”

Lady Vols dismantle in-state foe Tennessee Tech in game of firsts ERIC WOODS Staff Writer

Tennessee women’s soccer (2-2-1) delivered its most complete performance of the season on Sunday night.

After a series of rough starts to begin the season, sophomores Jordan Fusco and Taylor Huff had the Lady Vols rolling out of the gates with two goals within the first four minutes of the game.

Fusco kicked things off with her first goal of the season, shortly followed by Huff just 38 seconds later in Tennessee’s 7-0 victory over Tennessee Tech (1-3-2).

Following a disappointing first half in last weeks contest against Bowling Green, head coach Joe Kirt has talked about a standard for his team that has yet to be met.

“We talked about it before the game asking, ‘Which team is going to show up (tonight) and what are you guys going to hold yourself to,’” Kirt said. “‘Are we going to be the first half team from Wednesday or the second half?’ And

today it was the second half. They were focused and ready to go from the first five minutes and they were dialed in.”

It was a game of many firsts for Tennessee beginning with Fusco’s goal. In the 26th minute, fifth-year senior Abbey Burdette found the back of the net for the first time this season off a Claudia Dipasupil corner kick, setting the score at 3-0 in the Lady Vols favor.

Just three minutes later, redshirt-junior Jaida Thomas scored Tennessee’s final goal of the half, putting them up 4-0. The goal solidified her place at third in the all-time goals list, breaking a tie between her and VFL Laura Lauter Smith. Thomas is off to a fiery start to the season, scoring at least one goal in each of her last four games.

In the second half, Fusco once again opened the half with her second goal of the game from 22 yards out in the 53rd minute to set the score at 5-0.

“It (the goals) felt so good,” Fusco said. “I think my shots the last two games have been a little off, so it was good to finally to calm and place them right.”

The final two goals for the Vols were also firsts. Three minutes after Fusco’s goal, Mackenzie George punched in a header off a cross from Maria Nelson for her first goal of the season. In the 74th minute, freshman Macaira Midgley scored her first collegiate goal to set the score at 7-0.

The Lady Vols are starting to hit their stride at the right time as SEC play looms. Each game has looked like a step forward as the program works out the kinks that come with a coaching change.

“Everything that we’ve been doing has been according to plan,” Kirt said. “We’ve talked about getting better every game in all areas on and off the field. The results from the first few games weren’t we wanted them to be, but overall the process has been really consistent.”

Tennessee has two games before SEC action begins. The Lady Vols will look to continue their win streak on Thursday at 7 p.m. EST versus Kennesaw State at Regal Soccer Stadium.

Jaida Thomas makes her way past a Tennes-

see Tech defender on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022 at Regal Soccer Stadium. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon

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SPORTS

The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Football grades: Hooker, receivers win first game ANDREW PETERS Assistant Sports Editor

To no one’s surprise, Tennessee plowed through its week one opponent, defeating Ball State 59-10.

The lopsided win will be a confidence booster heading into an early road test next week at Pittsburgh and it also gave the Vols a chance to get some nerves out after a long offseason.

Here’s how Tennessee graded out on Thursday night.

Quarterback: A+

Hendon Hooker picked up right where he started a season ago. He was an efficient 18-25 with 222 passing yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. He also rushed for two touchdowns on the night.

Hooker, who enters the season with big expectations both within the fanbase and nationally, looked great on Thursday. He only had one bad throw where he aired the ball out just a little too far, but besides that he was very accurate throwing the ball.

He was patient in the pocket all night.

When routes folded, he improvised and made plays out of nothing, a tell-tale sign of a mature quarterback.

The game was over at halftime with the Vols up 38-0, and Hooker’s backup Joe Milton came in in the third quarter.

Milton made the most of his time Thursday night, going 8-9 passing with 113 yards and a touchdown — a 53-yard passing

touchdown to Jimmy Holiday.

Overall, the Vols’ quarterbacks were great Thursday night.

Running Backs: B While the backfield was definitely overshadowed by the passing game Thursday night, there is still a lot of good to be said about Tennessee’s running backs.

Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright were great and showed that they can be a dangerous backfield duo. The two combined for 149 yards and each had a touchdown.

Freshman Dylan Sampson came in and showed that he can be a solid third option for the Vols, picking up 32 yards and a touchdown.

Receivers: A+ Tennessee’s receivers were the story Thursday night. 10 different receivers had catches against Ball State, a testament to both Hooker and Milton as well as the Vols’ depth in the receiver position.

Jalin Hyatt started what went on to be an outstanding game from the receivers. He cut a route short on the first play of the game to get open, then dodged a Ball State defender and dove into the end zone for Tennessee’s first touchdown on its first offensive play.

Cedric Tillman was the No. 1 option for the Vols as he racked up 69 yards on six catches. Holiday and Walker Merrill both scored their first career touchdowns. Tennessee’s highly-anticipated transfer Bru McCoy pulled in three catches for 42 yards.

The Vols will undoubtedly see better defenses than Ball State, but their performance

Trevon Flowers No. 1 makes a tackle against Ball State in Neyland Stadium on Sept. 1, 2022.

Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon

in game one was a great place to start.

Offensive Line: B+ Ball State’s defensive line is not comparable to the SEC defensive lines Tennessee will face later in the season, but give the Cardinals some credit. Their defensive line is experienced and solid overall.

That being said, Tennessee’s offensive line looked good on Thursday night. Hooker was sacked just once and it was well outside of the pocket. There were just two tackles for loss. The offensive line did its job.

The Vols will have their hands full next week with Pitt’s experienced defensive line, and that will be a good chance to get a true evaluation of the offensive line.

Front Seven: B+ Like the offensive line, it’s hard to evaluate the defensive line in games against lower caliber teams, but the Vols’ defensive line looked solid on Thursday.

Tennessee gave up just 74 rushing yards and held Ball State to an average of 2.7 yards per carry. The front seven also did a good job of putting pressure on Ball State quarterback John Paddock, which helped force two interceptions.

Secondary: BBall State took advantage of a Vols’ secondary that is still figuring things out. Paddock threw for 269 yards and a touchdown on Thursday night.

The Vols secondary did pull in two interceptions against Ball State — one on the first play of the game.

Tennessee’s secondary was its weakest link a season ago, but it seems to have improved some over the offseason. It still has much work to do however, especially if it wants to compete with the SEC’s best.

Special Teams :A Tennessee didn’t get much of a chance to show off its special teams Thursday night.

Paxton Brooks punted twice for an average of 46.5 yards. Chase McGrath nailed a 33-yard field goal. Holiday returned one kickoff for 16 yards.

The Vols’ special teams will get their chance to shine — there just wasn’t much of a place for them on Thursday.

Coaching :A Tennessee came into its season opener amped up and full of energy. Head coach Josh Heupel made sure the Vols kept their composure and didn’t let the excitement lead to sloppy play.

The coaches job in a season opener is to make sure the team gets in and gets out easily and injury free.

Heupel’s team was prepared, calm, cool and collected in the easy win over Ball State.

Overall :A You can’t ask much more of Tennessee than to get a huge win over a non-Power 5 opponent in week one while also making sure players stay healthy before a big game next week.

Tennessee was great on Thursday and gained some always-important confidence early on.

Wide reciever Cedric Tillman No. 4 during the Vols’ 2022 season-opener against Ball State on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Neyland Stadium. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 • The Daily Beacon

ANDREW PETERS Assistant Sports Editor

The first two plays set the tone for the game as Tennessee remained in control for the entirety of the game.

No Second-Quarter Woes

Tennessee handled its first game of the season with ease Thursday night, defeating Ball State 59-10 in a bright display of the Vols’ new and improved offense.

While still early, the Vols showed flashes of greatness on both sides of the ball and gave fans a lot to look forward to this season.

“I’m really happy with a lot of things. Offense, defense, special teams,” head coach Josh Heupel said. “I thought there was a lot to be really excited about.”

Here are three takeaways from Tennessee’s first game of the season.

Second quarters defined Tennessee last season, and not in a good way. The Vols were significantly worse in the second quarter than in any other quarter.

On Thursday the Vols showed some signs that they might be leaving poor second quarter performances in 2021.

The second quarter ended up being Tennessee’s best quarter against Ball State, as the Vols outscored the Cardinals 21-0 to make it a 38-0 lead at the half.

These kind of second quarter performances are what Tennessee needs when it gets into games against stronger, conference opponents.

Vols Hit the Ground Running After a long offseason, there was no doubt that Tennessee was fired up and ready to get things started this season. The Vols wasted no time, and their first play of the season was an interception.

Ball State tried to pull a reverse flea flicker and it backfired, as Tennessee’s Tamarion McDonald intercepted the ball and gave the Vols great field position to start the game.

McDonald’s early interception gave the impression that he can takeover where Theo Jackson left off.

“The way Theo (Jackson) played a year ago, McDonald didn’t get a lot of opportunities,” Heupel said. “It was great to see him start the ballgame the way that he did because of what he’s done leading up to it.”

Tennessee’s offense followed in the defense’s footsteps and was also quick to get going.

Hendon Hooker connected with Jalin Hyatt on the first offensive play of the game for a 23yard passing touchdown.

Hooker and Joe Milton made their receivers happy Thursday night. 10 different receivers out of 11 possible had catches against Ball State.

“That’s kind of my thing,” Hooker said. “I love to spread the ball around and get the ball in play-makers’ hands. Tonight I got a chance to do that and they all made plays.”

Cedric Tillman led the way with six receptions for 69 yards. Hyatt, Walker Merrill and Jimmy Holiday all had receiving touchdowns on the game. Merrill and Holiday’s touchdowns were both the first of their careers.

Hooker, who played until halfway through the third quarter, was 18-25 passing with two passing touchdowns. He also had a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Milton was 8-9 with 113 yards and a touchdown after coming in for Hooker in the third.

“We’ve felt like he has grown since the time he got back in January,” Heupel said. “Joe (Milton) tonight showed some of the things we had seen during the course of training camp, which was extremely positive to see.”

Sharing the Love

KNOXVILLE, TN - No. 2 Jabari Small tackled by a Ball State University safety during the Vols’ opener in Neyland Stadium on Thursday Sep. 1, 2022. Alexandra Ashmore / The Daily Beacon

FOOTBALL

2022

Notebook: Vols glide past Ball State

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PICK ‘EM

Josh Lane Sports Editor (4-3) Tennessee 31 vs. Pitt 38 Alabama vs. Texas South Carolina vs. Arkansas Kentucky vs. Florida Baylor vs. BYU Houston vs. Texas Tech Iowa State vs. Iowa

Andrew Peters Asst. Sports Editor (5-2) Tennessee 24 vs. Pitt 31 Alabama vs. Texas South Carolina vs. Arkansas Kentucky vs. Florida Baylor vs. BYU Houston vs. Texas Tech Iowa State vs. Iowa

Eric Woods Staff Writer (7-0) Tennessee 38 vs. Pitt 21 Alabama vs. Texas South Carolina vs. Arkansas Kentucky vs. Florida Baylor vs. BYU Houston vs. Texas Tech Iowa State vs. Iowa

Jack Church Contributor (7-0) Tennessee 34 vs. Pitt 31 Alabama vs. Texas South Carolina vs. Arkansas Kentucky vs. Florida Baylor vs. BYU Houston vs. Texas Tech Iowa State vs. Iowa

Kailee Harris Digital Producer (6-1) Tennessee 34 vs. Pitt 28 Alabama vs. Texas South Carolina vs. Arkansas Kentucky vs. Florida Baylor vs. BYU Houston vs. Texas Tech Iowa State vs. Iowa

Bella Hughes Design Editor (5-2) Tennessee 40 vs. Pitt 36 Alabama vs. Texas South Carolina vs. Arkansas Kentucky vs. Florida Baylor vs. BYU Houston vs. Texas Tech Iowa State vs. Iowa

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The Daily Beacon • Wednesday, September 7, 2022