Why can’t we just say and write “knifes”? Why the V? Never understood it. Never cared to understand it. It’s unnecessary and stupid and sucks.

Today's 10 at 3 with special guest Ben McKee has been sent to the WBIR+ and 10News apps, and it's on the site at the link below. It'll be on all podcast feeds very soon. www.wbir.com/video/sports...

10 at 3 with me and Ben McKee going live in 30 seconds.

Today’s 10 at 3 is uploaded on all the apps, and the site link is attached below. It’ll be on all the podcast feeds very soon. www.wbir.com/video/sports...

10 at 3 going live in about four minutes.

Basics on new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' Tennessee contract 3 years, $6.6 million 2026 season - $2.0 million 2027 season - $2.2 million 2028 season - $2.4 million Still working on Penn State buyout situation

Tennessee has officially hired Jim Knowles as its new defensive coordinator www.wbir.com/article/spor...

Tonight's 10 at 3 at Night with Wes Rucker, with me and Emilie Rae Cochrane discussing Tennessee's pursuit of Penn State's DC, Jermod McCoy's NFL decision, the weird situation at Michigan and more 👇 (It's also on all the apps and podcast feeds.) www.wbir.com/video/sports...

Going live with Emilie on WBIR+ here in just a few minutes to talk Tennessee's defensive coordinator situation ... which was set to be a big talking point in college football media until the wild situation emerged up in Ann Arbor. We'll be on the WBIR+, 10News apps, site here in a bit.

About to upload today's 10 at 3 to all the apps and podcast feeds, but as a heads up, we're adding a special episode tonight with the Jim Knowles stuff.

10 at 3 going live in three minutes.

With Cade Phillips out for the season, it seems likely that freshman DeWayne Brown III will have a larger role. Fortunately for the Vols, Brown is a productive player who could become really good and is already pretty good.

Blinked once and he was walking and talking. Just blinked again, and today he’s 4. Terrified of blinking again. Happy Birthday, Henry George Rucker. The world is yours, Hank. But you have to share it.

Today's 10 at 3 has been uploaded to the WBIR+ SmartTV app, the 10News mobile app, on the podcast feeds and right here on WBIR's website It's me, Elijah and Tom today, talking Cade Phillips' injury, Tennessee's defensive coordinator search and more www.wbir.com/video/sports...

10 at 3 going live in about one minute

Today's "Spotify, Take The Wheel" playlist opener en route to the studio was "Cross The Track" by Maceo Parker. Oh, hell to the yes, this is gonna be a good day. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULBD...

Whoever runs the Tennessee defense under Josh Heupel must take the job understanding that traditional numbers like points and yards allowed per game are different in this system. There are more plays in Heupel games. Efficiency numbers tell the story, good or bad.

The stakes are what they are at places like Tennessee, and Tim Banks will be well compensated no matter what he does the next few years. But, still, it's not fun for families. It never is.

Life changes quickly in the coaching business. Tim Banks was a finalist for the Broyles Award last season, and now he's out as Tennessee's defensive coordinator. Security doesn't exist in that profession. For anyone.

Me cutting and editing and posting vertical videos to promote 10 at 3 on all the socials

Some tech issues that popped up just before today's show made the thing a team lift, but the people here at WBIR are awesome, awesome, awesome, and they got the thing in the air. Thank you to them, as always.

The story on Tennessee junior forward Cade Phillips being out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury that will require surgery www.wbir.com/article/spor...

10 at 3 going live in one minute

Trusting my math is something only an idiot would do, but I think Tennessee is on the hook for $4.2-4.3 million for Tim Banks minus whatever he makes at a new job. He's getting his base + supp pay from UT in monthly payments, but it will be mitigated if he takes another job.

An updated story confirming the departure of Tim Banks as Tennessee's defensive coordinator and the Vols naming William Inge the interim DC for the Music City Bowl 👇 www.wbir.com/article/spor...

Things could have been different without losing those two star corners for an entire year, and Tim Banks didn't turn from Broyles finalist to dumb-dumb overnight. But the way Tennessee played defense this year, and the way things went against Vandy, a head was going on a spike.

Me tonight while thinking about the CFP committee having an impossible job thanks to the insatiable greed that berthed this mega-conference era …

Imagine trying to explain Indiana football to someone who just got back from two years on Mars or in a coma.

This Heisman ballot is gonna be one of the toughest I've had to fill out. Not necessarily a bad thing. No one has run away with it, which is exciting. But who really deserves it? None of these guys are just screaming "Heisman Trophy winner."

I don't remember the last time I saw a team bet absolutely annihilated on the glass and win by double digits. That's wild. Vols out-rebound Illinois 46-31, and they lose, 75-62.

Illinois got absolutely manhandled by Tennessee and then got off the ropes and flipped the script. Good team led by a good coach. Doesn't excuse Tennessee's performance, though.

Add offensive rebound backbreaking three into the mix. Another deserved loss this evening. Not the end of the world if they learn from it. But they absolutely need to learn from it.

Vols finally started making shots But Illinois made big shots in return If you don't get yourself in a hole, this doesn't happen

Big three from Bishop Boswell Tennessee needed that But then a three on the other end Vibes ... not great

Another mindless turnover This is not gonna be a fun 10-day, game-free stretch for these Vols Final exams in the classroom and Junction Boys every other moment of the day

Ament huge slam, crowd gets loud ... and Illinois hits a three on the other end ... and then Tennessee misses a three Seven minutes away from a frustrating week for the Vols

Missed shot, foul on the rebound, head the other way for a one-and-one Lot of whistles recently, and Vols wobbling hard

When officials call it tight early to keep a game calm and then eventually loosen the reigns, I get it. Don't always love it. But I get it. Calling nothing and then calling everything, on the other hand, makes no sense to me. I don't know how coaches and players deal with that.

If they'd given Illinois three free throws for that, Rick Barnes would be getting sent to jail right now.

What a play there by Tennessee's Amaree Abram Wow

Tennessee 44, Illinois 42, 14:43/2ndH Huge effort play there from Jaylen Carey, getting the offensive board and kicking it to Ja'Kobi Gillespie for a three Illinois ball after this media timeout on the floor Sloppy game at times, but VERY fun

Just good ball there from Illinois. Spread the floor, get it to the 7-foot-1 shade tree against Nate Ament in space, force Tennessee to send help, splash the open three in the open space.

Even for this Tennessee team, that's an amazingly silly way to turn it over.

Nate Ament will be fine. Illinois has gotten him isolated against guys much, much thicker than him, and they're going at it, because Brad Underwood is a very good basketball coach. All of this is good for Ament. Learn now. Not in February and March. JMO.

Take a breath while you can. What an awesome start it's been for college basketball this season.

HALFTIME IN NASHVILLE: No. 13 Tennessee 34, No. 14 Illinois 32 Tennessee's two biggest scorers struggled from the floor, and Vols kept turning it over, but they also kept working like maniacs, and they wrestled their way back in front

Cade Phillips for two, and Tennessee has fought back in front Crowd in Nashville loving it

Bishop Boswell for three, and it's tied at 32-32

The bad news for Tennessee: Gillespie and Ament are a combined 4-of-16 from the field right now The good news for Tennessee: Gillespie and Ament are a combined 4-of-16 from the field right now, and it's not halftime, and Vols are down one point

Illinois 28, Tennessee 27, 3:23/1stH Vols shooting poorly but absolutely dominating things on the glass, 21-10, and this is a really, really physical game between two really, really physical teams Illini ball after this media timeout on the floor