Tag Archives: Tennessee

Star Series: Two baseball sophomores honored

Posted on March 19, 2013 by | Comments Off

Alabama catcher Brett Booth rounding third base to score one of Alabama's 15 runs in the Sunday 15-1 victory over Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Alabama catcher Brett Booth rounding third base to score one of Alabama’s 15 runs in the Sunday 15-1 victory over Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Each week for the duration of the Alabama baseball and softball seasons, Daily Bama Blog contributor Brett Hudson will track outstanding individual performances with the Star Series. Three players from each team will get 1-star, 2-stars and 3-stars with a running season tally.

Baseball

After splitting the midweek series with Memphis, Alabama won the first SEC series of the season against Tennessee, two games to one. The Tuesday loss is recapped here, while the Wednesday win is recapped here and here.

Click here to get a special report from Morgan Upton from the Friday game and click here to recap the rest of the series, mostly Alabama’s 15-1 win on Sunday.

3-Star Player: Right fielder Ben Moore. Moore was 8-19 from the plate, sporing a .421 batting average in the five games. Moore put up a superb .500 on-base percentage in the five games and .579 slugging percentage, with three of his eight hits being for extra-bases. Moore also stole four bases and had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

2-Star Player: Starting pitcher Charley Sullivan. Sullivan started the Tennessee series off by pitching a complete game three-hitter to push Alabama to a 12-1 win Friday night. Sullivan struck out seven batters and walked just one.

1-Star Player: Catcher Brett Booth. Booth led the team with a .455 batting average for the five games of the week (10-22 from the plate), with three RBI and five runs scored. Center fielder Georgie Salem almost had this spot with seven RBI in five games, but the batting average almost 100 points less than Booth’s was too much to overlook.

Season Tally:

Ben Moore: 6 stars

Brett Booth: 4 stars

Georgie Salem: 3 stars

Cary Baxter: 3 stars

Austen Smith: 3 stars

Kenny Roberts: 3 stars

Mikey White: 2 stars

Jon Keller: 2 stars

Charley Sullivan: 2 stars

Jake Hubbard: 1 star

Ray Castillo: 1 star

Softball

The Crimson Tide swept the week 3-0, taking to the road to beat South Carolina 6-4 on Friday, 5-3 on Saturday and 7-6 on Sunday.

3-Star Player: Second baseman Kaila Hunt. Hunt led the tema with both a .600 batting average and a 1.000 slugging percentage against the Lady Gamecocks. In her six hits in 10 at-bats, she had one double and one home run, totalling with two RBI.

2-Star Player: Left fielder Kayla Braud. Braud led the team with five runs scored in just three games while batting .33 (4-12). Braud had three RBI and was 3-3 in stolen base attempts.

1-Star Player: Center fielder Haylie McCleney. McCleney batted an even .300 (3-10) in her three games against the Lady Gamecocks, including a double, a triple and three RBI. McCleney stole on base and sported a slugging percentage of .600.

Season Tally:

Haylie McCleney: 9 stars

Kaila Hunt: 7 stars

Jackie Traina: 6 stars

Kayla Braud: 5 stars

Danielle Richard: 4 stars

Andrea Hawkins: 3 stars

Keima Davis: 1 star

Danae Hays: 1 star

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Baseball wins first SEC series with Sunday blowout

Posted on March 17, 2013 by | Comments Off

Alabama third baseman Kenny Roberts had two RBI and two runs scored in Alabama's 15-4 win over Tennessee. Alabama won the series 2-1. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Alabama third baseman Kenny Roberts had two RBI and two runs scored in Alabama’s 15-4 win over Tennessee. Alabama won the series 2-1. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

After Saturday’s 7-6 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers that tied the series one game to one, Alabama head coach Mitch Gaspard said his tea, played well, but simply was not sharp on its way to four errors, six runners left-on-base and being caught stealing two out of four times.

The Crimson Tide went from dull to dangerous in just 16 hours, tallying 20 hits and 15 runs in a 15-1 victory over Tennessee to win its initial Southeastern Conference series two games to one.

Alabama’s 20-hit outburst was its first since April 7, 2009, a full 1,440 days ago, and it was the first time the Tide had scored 15 runs in a game since March 12, 2010.

“Obviously, today was one of those rare commodities,” Gaspard said. “Really, what I was most proud of today was after the eight runs, they kept playing. Guys had constant pressure.”

The eight runs Gaspard mentioned were the eight runs Alabama scored in the bottom of the first inning alone.

“We decided it was time to turn it on,” said freshman center fielder Georgie Salem, who was 3-5 with a career-high 4 RBI on Sunday. “We had so much talent that was being wasted. We just had to be confident at the plate.”

Senior catcher Brett Booth added, “It’s almost contagious. We get eight runs the first inning and then everyone is finding barrels.”

The showing for the record books came as no surprise to the Tide, as it started with a 12-1 win over the Volunteers on Friday.

“We’re a good-hitting team,” Booth said. “When we put it together and when everybody stays with the process, stays with the plan, we have a good offense.”

Alabama also rebounded nicely from its defensive flop on Saturday, committing only one error and turning three double plays on Sunday after four errors on Saturday.

“We’ve been playing good defensively for the most part all season,” Gaspard said. “We’ve got two middle infielders that can really pick it up and a catcher that is playing outstanding right now. Everyone else just has to be consistent, make plays.”

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Full Story: Releford, Randolph push Alabama to SEC Tournament semifinals

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Comments Off
Trevor Releford had 14 points in Alabama's win in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals over Tennessee. (AP photo)

Trevor Releford had 14 points in Alabama’s win in the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament quarterfinals over Tennessee. (AP photo)

Here’s the AP report from Alabama’s 58-48 win over Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday. The win gave the Crimson Tide the right to face Florida at noon CST on Saturday with a berth in the SEC Championship Game on the line. There are also a couple of quotes from postgame at the bottom of the post.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Levi Randolph scored 15 points Friday as No. 4 seed Alabama defeated No. 5 seed Tennessee 58-48 in a Southeastern Conference tournament quarterfinal between two teams seeking to improve their postseason credentials.

Alabama (21-11) advanced to a Saturday semifinal against No. 13 Florida, the tournament’s top seed. Florida (25-6) trounced LSU 80-58 in its quarterfinal.

This game was considered one of the most intriguing of the day because both teams are considered to be on the NCAA tournament bubble.

Tennessee and Alabama had split two close regular-season meetings, with Alabama winning 68-65 at Tuscaloosa on Jan. 12 and the Vols surviving 54-53 in the Jan. 26 rematch at Knoxville. This game followed a similar pattern, as neither team pulled ahead by more than five points in a first half that featured three ties and four lead changes.

Alabama pulled away in the second half by wearing Tennessee down with its pressure defense.

Tennessee (20-12) shot 32.1 percent (18 of 56) overall, 50 percent (7 of 14) on free throws and 21.7 percent (5 of 23) on 3-pointers. After making six of its first seven shots Friday, Tennessee went 12 of 49 the rest of the way.

Trevor Releford scored 14 points for Alabama, which shot 41.3 percent (19 of 46), 78.9 percent (15 of 19) on free throws and 50 percent (5 of 10) from 3-point range. Nick Jacobs had six points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

Josh Richardson scored 16 points for Tennessee, which lost for just the second time in its last 11 games. Jarnell Stokes added 12 points and 13 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season, the most by a
Tennessee player since Bernard King had 19 in 1976-77.

Tennessee star Jordan McRae had been averaging 24.6 points over his last seven games, but he scored just nine points and shot 3 of 13 Friday while struggling with foul trouble.

The Vols made six of their first seven shots and went on an early 9-0 run to grab a 13-8 lead, but they cooled off from there as Alabama quickly caught up.

Alabama had plenty of success driving to the basket early on with Releford and redshirt freshman Retin Obasohan, a reserve guard who hadn’t even played in the Tide’s two regular-season games with Tennessee.

Tennessee lost the lead by getting too dependent on its perimeter attack. The Vols attempted nearly as many 3-point shots (13) as two-pointers (14) in the first half.

The Vols trailed 44-41 midway through the second half when Trae Golden and Armani Moore missed potential game-tying 3-pointers. Alabama followed with a 6-0 run to seize the momentum and grab a 50-41 advantage. Jacobs made consecutive baskets and McRae picked up his fourth foul during that critical spurt.

Tennessee responded with five straight points to cut Alabama’s lead to 50-46, but that’s as close as the Vols would get.

Also, a couple of quotes from postgame.

Alabama coach Anthony Grant: “You have to take your hat off to Tennessee. I thought they came in to this game playing great basketball right now as a team, and we knew we would have to come out and compete at a high level today. I’m really proud of our guys for answering that bell. It was a highly contested game, physical game, a game of inches, and it’s a good win.”

Junior point guard Trevor Releford: “I think we are really successful when we get out in transition, just play up-tempo, push the ball and try to get easy layups. We tried to do that today. For the most part it worked.”

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Softball shakes off three-game losing streak with Sunday win

Posted on March 11, 2013 by | Comments Off

The Alabama softball team took to the road for its first Southeastern Conference series of the season and just avoided the program’s first four-game losing streak since 2004. After losing a midweek tilt to No. 4 Florida (which you can read more about by clicking here, including press conference video), the Crimson Tide lost the first two games of SEC play before bouncing back for a 7-1 win on Sunday.

Alabama lost 2-1 to the Lady Volunteers after a 4-3 loss on Friday (you can read more about Friday’s loss by clicking here). On Saturday, Alabama’s Leslie Jury pitched six innings and gave up eight hits and

Alabama pitcher Jackie Traina got her second loss and her 11th win of the season in her two starts against Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Alabama pitcher Jackie Traina got her second loss and her 11th win of the season in her two starts against Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

two earned runs. Tennessee starter Ivy Renfroe blanked Traina, third baseman Danielle Richard, center fielder Haylie McCleney and first baseman Leona Lafaele, as the foursome went a combined 0-for-11 from the plate on Saturday.

Alabama’s 7-1 win on Sunday saw the Tide bats explode after a disappointing Saturday, including a 3-for-4 performance from McCleney and two RBI from Richard on a 2-3 day at the plate. Traina returned ti usual form, pitching seven innings and giving up two hits and a run.

Alabama will skip playing midweek games this week as it prepares for a three-game series on the road with the South Carolina Gamecocks over the weekend.

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Alabama comes in as No. 4 seed in SEC Tournament, has three possible opponents

Posted on March 10, 2013 by | Comments Off

imageAlabama is one of four programs that lays claim to the first double-bye in SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament history, locking up one of the top four seeds in the tournament with its thrilling win over Georgia and a little help from Tennessee in their home win on Missouri on Saturday.

But with the extra day off comes a little more uncertainty, as Alabama’s list of potential opponents increases from two to three. The winner of Mississippi State’s opening round game with Auburn will move on to play No. 5 seed Tennessee. The winner of that game will advance to take on the Crimson Tide.

Alabama is 1-1 against Tennessee this season, winning at home 68-65 on Jan. 12 but lost to the Volunteers in Knoxville just 14 days later, 54-53.

The Tide also split the season series with Auburn, winning at home 61-43 on Feb. 26 to avenge a 49-37 loss at Auburn Arena on Feb. 6. Alabama swept the season series with the Bulldogs, winning 75-43 in Starkville in its third conference game of the year before winning in Coleman Coliseum 64-56 on Feb. 20.

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Recap of Alabama’s Friday night action

Posted on March 9, 2013 by | Comments Off

The No. 4 Alabama gymnastics team swept the home-and-home with the LSU Tigers this season, completing the sweep with a 197.725-197.750 win over the No. 4 Tigers in Baton Rouge. The 197.725 is not only Alabama’s best score this season, but also the best score by any road team in the nation in 2013.

The Crimson Tide got the win despite a perfect 10 from LSU’s final performer on the final event, Lloimincia Hall on the floor exercise.

“It was just an extraordinary night of college gymnastics,” Alabama coach Sarah Patterson said. “It was loud, it was rocking and both teams put up great performances.”

Alabama set a new season-high on the vault with a 49.525m led by sophomore Kayla Williams with a career-best 9.975. Alabama had two freshmen, Carley Sims and Lauren Beers, set new career-highs on the vault with a 9.875 and a 9.925, respectively.

Alabama will face No. 1 Oklahoma in its final regular season meet of the season at home on March 15th.

(The above tweet is from Alabama Director of Baseball Operations Ken Brown)

Alabama baseball lost a hard-fought extra-innings contest on the road with No. 5 Louisville 4-3 in 14 innings. Alabama reliever Jay Shaw walked in Louisville’s game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the 14th.

Alabama’s offensive effort were highlighted by senior third baseman Kenny Roberts, who was 3-for-6 from the plate.

Alabama got strong performances from releivers Ray Castillo, Mitch Greer and Justin Kamplain. The trio came in to pitch six innings and give up just two hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

The Tide (8-5) meets the Cardinals (10-2) again Saturday and Sunday to complete the three-game series.

Like the baseball squad, Alabama softball lost in heartbreaking fashion, as the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers got a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to win 4-3.

Alabama starting pitcher Jackie Traina fell to 10-2 on the season,

Freshman outfielder Andrea Hawkins was one of two key offensive performers for the Crimson Tide in the series-opening loss to Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Freshman outfielder Andrea Hawkins was one of two key offensive performers for the Crimson Tide in the series-opening loss to Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

pitching 6.1 innings and allowing seven hits and four runs, all earned, while walking five batters and striking out four.

Offensively, Alabama was highlighted by the No. 1 and 9 hitters. Kayla Braud led off for the Tide and was 2-4 with a run scored, while Andrea Hawkins was 2-3 with two RBI in the No. 9 hole.

Alabama (22-2, 0-1 SEC) will face Tennessee (20-3, 1-0 SEC) again Saturday and Sunday to complete its first weekend series of SEC play.

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SEC schedule hitting Alabama softball early with tough road series with Lacy Vols

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Comments Off

After Alabama’s 8-4 home loss to then-No. 4 Florida, coach Patrick Murphy said the experience will benefit the Crimson Tide’s youth as it feels, “that pressure,” in every game in the Southeastern Conference slate ahead of the Tide.

That pressure came early as the Tide (22-1) is now in Knoxville for a three-game series with the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers (19-3).

“That’s the team that’s picked to win the SEC East, that’s for sure,” Murphy said. “They have a lot of kids back, they have their pitching back. Three-fourths of their infield was voted preseason All-SEC: second, short and third. a heck of a good lineup, a lot of fast lefties. Not as much pop as we’ve seen in the past.”

Ivy Renfroe

Ivy Renfroe

Alabama has to deal with a set of siblings that pushes the Lady Vols, and has done so for a while now. Ivy Renfroe, the senior and oldest of the three Renfroes on the team, will enter the series with an

Ellen Renfroe

Ellen Renfroe

incredible 0.88 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per innings pitched) and a
0.91 ERA (1.07 and 2.02 on her career).

The junior, Ellen, however, is even better than that, tallying nine starts compared to Ivy’s five thus far in 2013 and has amassed with 67 strikeouts in 52.1 innings pitched and an 0.80 ERA. The youngest, freshman infielder Anna, has played in three games and sports an on-base percentage of .333.

“The Renfroe sisters are a good combination. They always have good speed,” Hunt said. “They’re just like us.”

With all three games having been sold out as early as Wednesday, Hunt is tasked with leading the nine freshmen and sophomores, all of whom have started more than onve this season, through a heavy in magnitude series.

“Just learn from here, learn from now,” Hunt said. “Just try to keep consistent mentally and try to play the game you’ve been playing for 15 years. It’s softball. In tough situations, it’s more mental than it is the physical part of it, because you know how to play.”

You can watch Murphy and Hunt talk about Tennessee for yourself from the press conference video after the loss to Florida by clicking here. Video is at the bottom of the page, and Tennessee talk starts at about the 3:15 mark.

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SEC announces Tide-Vols kickoff time

Posted on October 14, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama and Tennessee will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday in Knoxville, and ESPN will carry the game nationally.

The Southeastern Conference made the announcement today.

Auburn will play at Vanderbilt at 11:21 a.m. on the SEC Network. CBS will have South Carolina at Florida at 2:30 p.m., while LSU is at Texas A&M on ESPN at 11 a.m.

Mississippi State will host Middle Tennessee at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, and Georgia at Kentucky at 6 p.m. on FSN.

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Vinnie, Sal Sunseri ‘joke around’ about Alabama-Tennessee rivalry

Posted on April 13, 2012 by | Comments Off

Vinnie Sunseri doesn’t wear the same colors as his dad anymore, but that doesn’t change their relationship. Well, not too much.

Vinnie Sunseri

Sal Sunseri is now the defensive coordinator at Tennessee after coaching Tide linebackers for three seasons. They still talk all the time, but the younger Sunseri misses seeing his father on the practice field in Tuscaloosa.

When they talk, football comes up.

“He asks how practice goes,” said Vinnie Sunseri, a safety and rising sophomore with the Tide. “I ask how practice goes. I’m still his son and he’ still my dad. I just try to talk to him like that.”

So there’s no trash talking?

“No, we joke around,” Vinnie Sunseri said. “I’ll say he doesn’t look good in that orange and he’ll say I don’t look good in that crimson, just little jokes like that.”

Though Sal Sunseri took the Tennessee job back in January, his wife Roxann and youngest daughter still live in Tuscaloosa. So the comfort of family remains nearby for the young Alabama safety.

“I still have to go home and let her do my laundry and cook for me,” Vinnie Sunseri said with a smile.

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Dooley: Sunseri hire not intended to stir Alabama rivalry

Posted on January 13, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Anytime a coach goes from Alabama to Tennessee or vica versa, people are going to talk. Though one sided recently, there’s still a rivalry there.

So Vol coach Derek Dooley was asked about the hire of Tide linebackers coach Sal Sunseri as defensive coordinator at a news conference this afternoon. Citing his friendship and previous work under Tide coach Nick Saban, Dooley said nobody should read too much into the hire.

“I didn’t view it as that, just because of the nature of the jump in title,” Dooley told reporters in Knoxville this afternoon. “I told Nick when I called him that it was a hard call because it isn’t a Tennessee-Alabama deal. It was such a good opportunity professionally for Sal, and I know Nick has always been proud of the coaches that go on to bigger and brighter things because of the time they spent with him.

“I’m appreciative of what he gave me as a coach and I know Sal is appreciate of what he has given him as a coach. I was really pleased at how professionally he handled it. We have a friendship too, and that will never be compromised. It wasn’t about Tennessee taking anything from Alabama. It was a guy that has had a track record of great coaching over the last two decades and an opportunity that I think he has been wanting for a couple of years.”

So, that’s that. Do you think there’s any gamesmanship here? Feel free to comment below.

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Tennessee hires Tide LB coach Sal Sunseri for defensive coordinator job

Posted on January 13, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama’s emotional linebackers coach is headed to one of its top rivals, the school confirmed Friday morning.

Sal Sunseri, father of freshman safety Vinnie Sunseri, will become the new defensive coordinator at Tennessee, GoVols247.com first reported Friday morning.

The elder Sunseri is the second coach to depart Alabama after winning its second national title in three seasons. Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain took over the Colorado State head job immediately following the 21-0 beating of LSU in Monday’s BCS title game.

Sunseri came to Alabama before the 2009 national title season from the Carolina Panthers. He coached the outside linebackers in his time in Tuscaloosa including potential first-round draft pick Courtney Upshaw.

At Tennessee, Sunseri will reunite with former Alabama reserve Darrington Sentimore. The defensive lineman signed with the Vols in December after leaving Alabama for a junior college over the summer.

Take a look at Sunseri’s style in practice with this video I put together after last season.

 

Stay tuned for any further details on this story as it develops.

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Which road trip sounds best from 2012 schedule?

Posted on December 28, 2011 by | Comments Off

The SEC scheduling patterns went out the window (mostly) when the 2012 season was planned. Alabama has a new destination on the list next fall. Does that change your travel plans?

 

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Predicting a winner: Tennessee at Alabama version

Posted on October 22, 2011 by | Comments Off

It’s that time of the week again. No, not t-shirt time. But it’s still a joyous occasion. Let’s pick a winner for this evening’s little game in Bryant-Denny Stadium between two friendly neighbors, Alabama and Tennessee. Here’s what I wrote in today’s GameDay section:

This version of a great rivalry lacks a bit of the luster from years past simply because of the apparent talent gap between Alabama and Tennessee. Major injuries to a starting quarterback and his top receiver didn’t help the Vols much, but don’t expect Alabama feels any sympathy for their predicament. Expect quite the opposite – attacking the replacements.

Yes, this one should get ugly like pretty much every Alabama game has been all season. The Tide averages 33-point wins every time it hits the field this season and has allowed just three touchdowns in Bryant-Denny Stadium all year. Don’t expect a still rebuilding Vol offense to do much better, rivalry or not.

Alabama 38, Tennessee 3

Here’s my track record through seven games.

Opp: prediction……actual … difference
Kent State: 45-7 ……….. 48-7 … 3 points
Penn State: 24-10……..27-11 … 4 points
North Texas: 52-3……..41-0 … 14 points
Arkansas: 27-17 ………..38-14 … 14 points
Florida: 27-20 …………..38-10 .. 21 points
Vanderbilt: 41-3 ……….34-0 ….10 points
Ole Miss: 38-3 …………..52-7 … 18 points
Tennessee: 38-3 ………??????

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Dooley: College football traditions in danger with realignment

Posted on September 21, 2011 by | Comments Off

Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley is about as SEC as they come given his bloodlines.

All the talk of reshuffling the deck with conference affiliation is starting to trouble the former Nick Saban assistant and son of Georgia coaching great Vince Dooley.

“It’s a little disappointing to see what’s happening with college football and I think we’re tampering with something that’s made college football so special,” Derek Dooley said. “That’s the fans, the traditions, the rivalries, the ability to go to road games, playing the same teams every year and you just develop a deep history that makes this game special.

“Nobody is worried about what I think and there’s not much we can do about it. I hope we don’t end some of these great traditions and rivalries, but I’m afraid if we keep going down this path, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Any thoughts on the topic? Leave a comment below.

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UPDATED: Tide athletics No. 2 man Dave Hart takes Tennessee AD job

Posted on September 5, 2011 by | Comments Off

The news out of Knoxville says Alabama athletics second-in-command is climbing ole rocky top.

Dave Hart, the executive director of athletics at Alabama, reportedly accepted the vacant athletics director job at Tennessee today. The rumors have swirled for the past few days, but now it’s apparently official.

Click here for the story from the Knoxville News-Sentinel on the hiring of Hart.

He came to Alabama in 2008 after serving as athletics director at Florida State from 1995-2007. He was widely considered the No. 2 man in the athletics department behind AD Mal Moore.

Update 5:04 p.m.: Mal Moore just released a statement confirming Hart’s departure for Tennessee.

“When we hired Dave three years ago, we anticipated the possibility that he would eventually have opportunities such as this one. When this opportunity came along I had mixed feelings, just as I do now. While I am very proud and pleased for Dave and his wife, Pam, for the opportunity they have been given, I also hate to lose him. He’s a gifted administrator who has done an excellent job for our athletic department and our university. I know I speak for all of us in Alabama Athletics in wishing Dave all the best at Tennessee.”

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