Chantelle Anderson
Ashley Gilliam
Tennessee State coach Rod Reed said he always makes sure to tell prospects the number of former Tigers players who are currently in the NFL during the recruiting process.
Chad Clifton
West End Middle’s new concession stand.
Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry is one of 30 former Vols on NFL rosters.
A total of 58 players from area colleges were on NFL rosters when training camps opened this past week.
College coaches like to keep up with the number of former players they have on NFL rosters and use it when recruiting new players.
A total of 30 former University of Tennessee players are currently on NFL rosters.
There are 15 former Vanderbilt players in NFL camps, eight from MTSU and five from Tennessee State.
TSU has more players in NFL camps than any other Ohio Valley Conference team.
Tigers coach Rod Reed also pointed out that former TSU offensive tackle Anthony Morris, who was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2015 and remained on the roster until he was injured and then waived, also could sign as a free agent.
“So many kids coming into your program have aspirations of playing at the next level,” Reed said. “They at least want the chance to get there, and with us having the success we’ve had with guys making it to the NFL, it’s a benefit. It’s a good recruiting tool when kids see that they don’t have to necessarily go to UT, or Vandy for that matter, to get an opportunity to play at the next level.”
Football camps for college teams open soon
Most college football teams report for fall camp this week.
Tennessee will be one of the first to get started when the Vols hit the practice field Monday.
Tennessee Tech starts practice on Wednesday followed by Vanderbilt, MTSU, TSU and Cumberland on Thursday.
Austin Peay’s first practice is Saturday.
Former Pearl-Cohn football star promoted in NASCAR
Brandon Thompson, who played football at Pearl-Cohn, was named NASCAR senior director, touring series this past week.
Thompson was a part of NASCAR’s Diversity Internship Program and has spent 10 years with the series. He previously served as racing operations manager.
Thompson played wide receiver and outside linebacker at Pearl-Cohn. His cousin is Ralph Thompson, who was an outstanding safety at Hillwood and went on to play at Georgia in the 1990s.
Rodgers brothers’ relationship called ‘complicated’
Jordan Rodgers
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was asked about his relationship with his younger brother and former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers on the opening day of preseason camp Tuesday.
Jordan is a contestant on the ABC dating show “The Bachelorette,” who called his relationship with Aaron “complicated.”
When asked whether Aaron was watching him on the show, Jordan said, “I think so, yeah.”
He was wrong. Aaron told reporters Tuesday he hasn’t seen the show.
When Aaron was asked about his relationship with Jordan and the rest of his family, the two-time NFL MVP said he found it inappropriate to discuss family matters publicly.
Aaron did, however, wish Jordan well in the competition.
Former Vandy women’s hoops star to be on morning show
Watch for former Vanderbilt All-America basketball player Chantelle Anderson on the Hallmark morning show “Home & Family” at 9 a.m. Monday.
Anderson, who played in the WNBA (2003-07), was visiting sister Kristin Smith, a regular on the show, last week in Los Angeles during a filming session and was asked to come on for a segment on basketball.
Local golfer makes eagle, qualifies for State Amateur
Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson, operations manager at WNSR 560-AM/95.9-FM, on Monday earned the last qualifying spot for the Tennessee Amateur Golf Championship in dramatic fashion.
Johnson struggled with his putter and ended up in a six-person playoff for the last two spots at Cleveland Country Club.
On the par-4 second playoff hole, Johnson sank his approach shot from 105 yards out for an eagle.
Johnson grew up playing on the Vince Gill Tennessee PGA Tour and has spent time playing on several amateur tours since graduating from Hillwood.
It was his first attempt to qualify for the Tennessee Amateur Championship, which is scheduled for Aug. 9-12 at Blackthorn Club in Jonesborough.
Former pro, college players now coaching high schools
Former Titans linebacker Gerald McRath and former Ezell-Harding and Vanderbilt wide receiver Erik Davis have joined the coaching staff at Hillsboro.
McRath was drafted by the Titans in 2009 and played through the 2012 season. He spent last season on the staff at Berry College in Rome, Ga.
Davis was a three-year starter at Vanderbilt and ended his career with 64 catches, 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Former TSU defensive back Justin Bather from La Vergne has joined the staff at Overton.
Gallatin High School creating athletics hall of fame
Gallatin High School, which has a rich athletic history, is establishing a sports hall of fame.
Nominations will be accepted Monday-Oct. 1, and the inaugural class will be selected by a committee of alumni, current faculty and former coaches.
Nomination forms are available at greenwaveathletics.com.
The 2017 class will be announced Oct. 28 during the final regular-season football game at home against Cane Ridge. The induction ceremony will be at a home basketball game in early January.
Alumni pay for West End Middle concession stand
The West End High Alumni Association raised $7,500 to pay for a new, fully equipped concession stand at the school’s football stadium.
West End is now a middle school.
The concession stand has a freezer, popcorn machine, nacho stand, warming bins, microwave and beverage cooler.
The alumni association also grills hamburgers and hot dogs for every home game.
Titans broadcaster Keith to speak at Martin Methodist
luncheon
Voice of the Titans Mike Keith will be the guest speaker Wednesday at the Martin Methodist Athletic Department monthly luncheon.
The luncheon ($5) is open to the public. It begins at noon at Hickory House Restaurant in Pulaski.
Keith is entering his 19th season as the Titans’ director of broadcasting.
Fox set to stream NHL games
Fox Sports Regional Networks will begin streaming local NHL telecasts including Predators games this season. Games will be available on Fox Sports GO to customers of participating pay-TV providers.
“We see in-market streaming as a valuable extension of the customers’ pay-TV subscription,” said Jeff Krolik, president of Fox Sports Regional Networks.
Fox Sports GO, the live streaming platform, is available for iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire tablets and Fire phones, select Windows devices, and online at FOXSportsGO.com.
Local racing champion Sisco dies
David Sisco
Retired Winston Cup driver David Sisco, who won the 1969 Late Model Premier Division championship at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, died Monday. He was 79.
Sisco, a resident of Bon Aqua, had 31 top-10 finishes and six top-fives during his seven-year NASCAR career (1971-77).
Sisco’s mother, Irene Sisco, was killed on Aug. 8, 1977, after being hit by a pickup truck in the infield of the Talladega 500 while David was racing.
Irene, who was 69, was wearing a radio headset and did not hear the truck before it hit her.
Schooldays winner claims AJGA tourney win in Ohio
Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays champion Ashley Gilliam won her first American Junior Golf Association tournament last week by claiming the Memorial Junior in Ashville, Ohio.
Gilliam, a sophomore at Coffee County, shot a 1-over-par 217 at Cooks Creek Golf Club.
The field featured golfers from nine states and four countries.
Gilliam is now exempt for all AJGA tournaments for the next two seasons.
Gilliam already is committed to play for Mississippi State.
Former Vol inducted into Packers Hall of Fame
Chad Clifton, a member of Tennessee’s 1999 national championship team who went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL, was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame last week.
Clifton, a left tackle, spent his career protecting Brett Favre after earning a starting spot in his rookie season.
He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and 2010.
Ex-Belmont golfer wins first tournament as a pro
Former Belmont golfer Ashton Van Horne, a Kentucky native, won his first tournament as a pro by winning the Kentucky State Open on Thursday at the University of Louisville Golf Club.
Van Horne was the 2015-16 Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Year.
It was just Van Horne’s second tournament as a pro. After shooting a 2-over-par 74 in the first round on Tuesday, Van Horne recovered by shooting a 6-under 66 in the second and third rounds to finish tied with Daniel Iceman at 10-under.
Van Horn won on the second playoff hole with a par.
Motlow will be first junior college in state to offer soccer
Motlow State Community College will add women’s soccer to its athletic programs in fall 2017.
It will be the first new scholarship sport the school has added in more than 20 years. Motlow added women’s softball in the 1990s.
Motlow will become the first junior college in Tennessee to offer either men’s or women’s soccer.
Lipscomb volleyball star back after playing for national team
Kayla Ostrom
Lipscomb’s Kayla Ostrom played for the U.S. Collegiate Volleyball National Team earlier this summer.
Ostrom, a setter, was fortunate the tournament was played in Indianapolis, which is only about an hour-and-a-half from her hometown of Lafayette, Ind.
She helped the red team finish second.
After the tournament, Ostrom gave one of her jerseys to Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal and the other to her parents.
Ostrom has led Lipscomb to back-to-back Atlantic-Sun regular-season championships and NCAA Tournament berths.
If you have an item for Midstate Chatter, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
SPORTS ON NASHVILLE TV
Top-five local ratings for sporting events on television for July 18-24.
1. NASCAR: Brickyard 400, 5.0 rating
2. UFC: Fight Night (July 23), 2.7 rating
3. PGA: Canadian Open (final round), 2.6 rating
4. PGA: Canadian Open (third round),2.3 rating
5. NASCAR: Xfinity Indianapolis 250, 1.9 rating
Each rating point is equal to 9,902 Nashville homes.
Source: WTVF-5 programming & research director Mark Binda