The Cowboys reported the move on their website Saturday night. Dooley will replace Jimmy Robinson, who could stay with Dallas in another capacity.

The Dallas Cowboys announced the move Saturday night on their website.

Dooley was fired at Tennessee in November after posting the longest run of consecutive losing seasons at the school in over a century. He was 15-21 in three seasons (3-7 this past season), but just 4-19 in the Southeastern Conference and 0-15 against Top 25 teams.

Dooley, who received a $5 million buyout as part of his firing at Tennessee in November, was in Mobile, Ala., this week for the Senior Bowl, leading to speculation that he might be seeking a job in the NFL.

Dallas coach Jason Garrett and Dooley were on the same staff with the Miami Dolphins in 2005-06. Garrett was the quarterbacks coach, and Dooley coached tight ends. Those are Dooley’s only two years of pro experience.

Information from: Knoxville News Sentinel

Ricky Ross

SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. — It’s a question that’s been on the minds of many Pirate faithful over the past month, “Who will be the new head football coach at South Pittsburg?”

Well, that answer was finally given today bringing an end to much debate over the matter in the Sequatchie Valley. Former Calhoun Yellow Jackets  defensive coordinator, Ricky Ross, has been named the new head football coach for the local powerhouse team.

Ross, 38, will take over the position vacated by Vic Grider who stepped-down from the head coaching position on December 16th, 2012, after spending 16 seasons in the coach’s position at his alma mater. Grider led the Pirates to an average of 11 wins per season during his time as the Pirate’s head coach, as well as three Class 1A state championship wins in addition to two more trips to state where the team didn’t win.

Grider is currently serving as the school’s athletic director as well as interim principal.  He along with a committee of five others selected Ross out of 140 other applicants who wanted the job.  The committee trimmed that list to three finalists before selecting Ross.

In an interview with the Stephen Hargis of  the Chattanooga Times Free Press (bit.ly/SPFB12213), Grider said they were all highly impressed by his first interview.

“Everything he said was exactly what we wanted to hear in terms of his plans for the future of the program. Once we finished all the interviews, it just became obvious that Ricky was our guy. If there’s a coaching lottery, we feel like we hit the jackpot with him.

“His football knowledge is off the charts, but most importantly he’s a top-notch person. His energy level will make the kids attach themselves to him and he’ll fit in right away in the community.”

Ross helped the Calhoun win eight straight region titles since being promoted to defensive coordinator.  The Yellow Jackets reached Georgia’s Class AA state title game each of the past five seasons, including taking that title in 2011 with an upset of nationally-ranked Buford.  During a 29-game winning streak over the 2011-2012 season, Calhoun’s defense allowed just five opponents to score more than 14 points.

With the announcement of Ross coming to South Pittsburg, he now makes only the fourth head coach for the Pirates football program over the past 50 years.  Vic Grider’s father, the late Don Grider, won 192 games and a state title from 1969 to 1992. Danny Wilson took over the program from 1993 to 1996, winning a state title with Vic Grider as his defensive coordinator.

In addition to 68 playoff wins, the Pirates have won 5 state championships and appeared in 11 title games, making them have the highest number of title wins and appearances than any other program in the area.  After winning the state title in 1969, South Pittsburg is also the only school in the state to have played for a championship in all six decades since the TSSAA began its’ playoff format.

Prior to his time at Calhoun, Ross played linebacker at Cumberland University, and after graduation was the defensive coordinator at Landmark Christian and Adairsville.  His wife, Sandy, is a 1990 graduate of Marion County High School in Jasper, who lettered in three sports there.  The two plan on putting roots down in the community and being very local-oriented.

Ross told the Times Free Press,  “There are very few places I would’ve left Calhoun for, but this was just one of those places that has everything you want as a coach. They’re rich in tradition, football matters to the kids and the community and I like that. I’m honored to be in this position and I want to continue the tradition they already have and build on it.

“We will play hard, with a lot of effort and energy and be fundamentally sound and I want to inspire the kids to be great citizens and daddies after they’re done playing.”

Information from: Chattanooga Times Free Press

Friday night kicks off the 2012 TSSAA football season for all of the high schools in the state, however this year one team moves further into the new tech era of game broadcasts than ever before!

Dave Daffron has been the voice behind Marion County High School’s football program since the 80s, and is ready more than ever before for the 2012 season.  In years past, Warrior faithful could listen to his play-by-play from the night before the next day on area radio and television, however this year you can hear his call around the world both online and on a free app available for iPhone and Android phone users.

Local radio station, WTNW 820 AM, which bills themselves as “Tennessee 820 WTNW” will be the flagship broadcast outlet for the Jasper team’s broadcasts this season.  WTNW is located in Jasper and broadcasts at 1,000 watts of daytime power at 820 on the AM dial.

The radio station, while off the air at game time due to their “daytime only” license requirements with the FCC, will offer the game broadcast LIVE, as it happens, via their website (www.wtnw820.com) and on the TuneIn Radio app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Mobile, and Blackberry mobile devices.  More information on the TuneIn app is available in your phone’s app store or on the radio station’s website.

Steven Hasting, General Manager and co-owner of WTNW-AM said, “WTNW is a local, hometown community radio station that’s owned by people from right here in the area that live and work around you each day.”

“Our employees have kids and grandkids in our local schools, and we feel that supporting local high school football with our broadcasts is a great way to show just how much this radio station wants to be involved in the local community,” he said.

“Radio is ever-evolving, and we don’t let our ‘daytime only’ status limit our abilities at WTNW,” said Station Chief Engineer and afternoon drive personality, Logan Carmichael.

“We strive to bring the latest technology to the table for our listeners whenever possible.  With the live web stream of the broadcast, family members who live miles away can listen to the game as it happens, and with the addition of the TuneIn Radio app for mobile phones, anyone anywhere in the world can listen to the game as long as they have an adequate cellular data connection and equipped phone.  Even those in attendance to the game can listen to Dave Daffron’s call as it happens…essentially, you’ll have the game here first,” he said.

The broadcast for this week’s game against Grundy County will begin with pre-game coverage at 6:45pm CDT online at www.wtnw820.com and on the TuneIn App, with live play-by-play coverage from Dave Daffron and the Marion County Broadcast Team following kick-off at 7pm CDT.

For those who aren’t as “tech savvy” and would rather hear the game on the radio, the station will be bringing it to you the following Saturday morning at 9am local time on the radio — your first and earliest chance to hear the game on the radio in the valley.

WTNW, which has studios in the Acuff office building  in Jasper, plays a variety of classic and contemporary country music, with all-day Gospel music and religious programming on Sundays.  The station features disc jockey Jerry Nelson weekdays mornings from 6-9am, a local buy-sell-trade call-in show (Trade & Sell), hosted by Sheila Kennedy, weekdays at 9am, afternoons with Logan Carmichael, and local news from reporter Andrea Nealon.  The station also features news and reports from the Tennessee Radio Network, and is an NBC Radio News affiliate.

Incoming Tennessee freshman Derek Reese led the Puerto Rico U19 in scoring for the second consecutive game on Saturday. (Photo: Tennessee Media Relations)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tennessee basketball player Derek Reese totaled 20 points and 16 rebounds Sunday to power his Puerto Rican U19 team past China by a score of 84-71 on the final day of the 2012 Nike Global Challenge at the Washington D.C. Armory.

Puerto Rico finished the three-day event with a 1-2 record to claim seventh place. Reese started all three games for Puerto Rico, averaging 21.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 32.0 minutes per game. All three were team-highs. The Orlando, Fla., native shot .458 from the field, .400 from 3-point range and .917 from the free-throw line.

Looking to avoid an 0-3 finish at the event, the Puerto Rican squad got off to a rough start Sunday, as it trailed 19-13 after the first quarter. Reese and his teammates then regrouped to hold China to just nine points in the second quarter and eight points in the third. Puerto Rico shot an impressive .429 (12-28) from beyond the arc, with Reese making 4-of-8 attempts from long range.

“Right from the beginning, our team came out with a lot of energy because we did not want to come out of this tournament without a ‘W,’” said Reese, who will be a freshman forward with the Vols this season. “China is a really smart and fundamental team that can really shoot the ball. But our quickness and athleticism was too much for them.”

Sunday’s game did mark the first contest for Puerto Rico at the challenge in which Reese did not claim high-scorer honors. Chinese forward Gao Shang made 12-of-25 shots, including six 3-pointers, en route to a game-high 35 points. Reese’s teammate, guard David Rosado, scored 23 points to pace Puerto Rico’s winning effort.

Reese was eligible to compete on the Puerto Rican team for the Nike Global Challenge because his grandmother, Irma Montanez, was born in Puerto Rico.

Since the elk hunt was implemented in 2009, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has donated a permit to a nongovernmental organization to join four others who were selected from a computer drawing. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation is the recipient of this year’s donated permit.

The TWRF will award its permit to the successful high bidder through the eBay auction. The successful bidder will be a participant in the hunt, along with Tony William Fink of Crossville, Brian M. Rochelle of Franklin, William D. Marbury of Stanton and Corbin M. Moore of Rockwood.

The four winners, all Tennessee residents, were selected in a computer drawing for the elk hunt scheduled for Oct. 15-19 at the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. The North Cumberland WMA will be divided into five elk hunting zones. Each hunter will be designated an EHZ in a drawing to be conducted at a later date at a TWRA Region IV location.

All proceeds from the sale of the remaining special bull elk tag will go exclusively to the elk restoration program. The TWRF is partnering with Bill Swan, an active member of the Chattanooga chapter of Safari Club International on the promotion and sale of the last elk tag.

The first year of Tennessee elk hunting, the NGO permit sold for $17,000. The bids have dropped each year since.

The auction will begin at 9:30 p.m. CDT on July 19 and will end at 9:30 p.m. CDT on July 29. The item number for the auction on eBay is 140793559156.

TWRF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting habitat conservation, responsible land stewardship, and Tennessee’s hunting and fishing heritage for the benefit of TWRA and Tennessee’s outdoor enthusiasts.

In addition to this year’s elk hunt, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission voted to establish a young sportsman elk hunt following the conclusion of the regular elk hunt. One young sportsman will be selected for the Oct. 20-21 hunt. The winner from the drawing will be announced on Saturday, Aug. 11 in conjunction with the second annual Land and Wildlife Expo at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville.

In a brief video statement, Governor Bill Haslam explains what makes Coach Summitt an all around Tennessee hero.

Quarterback Austin Rice ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, lifting Wayne County to a 27-14 victory Friday over the 5-time state champion Pirates for the class 1A title.

Wayne County, playing in the championship game for the first time, finished 14-0 on the season.

Rice ran for 214 yards and passed for 66 more on a 4 for 7 effort, and was named the game’s offensive MVP.

South Pittsburg (12-3) did break one record as quarterback Jake Stone threw a 98-yard TD pass to Antonio Chubb, the longest TD pass in TSSAA BlueCross Bowl history.

Wayne County’s defense was able to preserve the win late as it forced South Pittsburg to turn the ball over on downs after getting to 1st and goal at the 3.

The Wildcats followed the turnover with a 10-play, 84-yard scoring drive, ending with Rice’s second rushing touchdown. Wayne County also recovered the onside kick, putting the game out of reach.

Wayne County’s Clint Butler was named the game’s defensive MVP, after collecting nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and recording a pass breakup. Butler also rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Stone threw for 166 yards and a touchdown on a 9 for 16 performance, while Demetre Johnson led South Pittsburg in rushing with 107 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

Our hats off to Coach Grider and the Pirates for a GREAT season!

Information source:  CoachT.com

Courtesy WRCB-TV

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - After waiting 12 months to get a second state title shot at Ensworth, it took less than 12 minutes for Baylor’s thoughts of revenge to fade away.

The Red Raiders found themselves in an early hole from which they could never escape en route to a 48-10 drubbing in the Division II-AA state championship game.

It’s the second straight state title for Ensworth (12-1), both at the expense of Baylor (11-2). Though last year’s was far more competitive.

After the Red Raiders failed on a fake punt and threw an interception in their own zone on their first two possessions, the Tigers needed just three plays to score two touchdowns for a 14-0 lead.

“All year this team has found ways to win,” Baylor head coach Phil Massey said. “I still thought we’d still be able to get stops and the offense would get moving and we’d be able to build some momentum. But it seemed like the harder we scratched, the deeper we got in the hole.

“They’re explosive. We knew we’d have to play well on defense, get them into some second-and-long and third-and-long situations, but that just didn’t happen.”

Division II-AA Mr. Football Back of the Year Corn Elder collected Ensworth’s second score on a 38-yard touchdown run, but left the game later in the first quarter with an ankle injury and never returned.

It didn’t matter.

Running back Rico Watson filled the void, rushing for 221 yards and three touchdowns to claim Offensive MVP honors.The senior had just 84 yards rushing total for the season coming into the night.

“It doesn’t matter who they put behind that offensive line,” Massey said. “They’ve got athletes. When Corn went down, they didn’t miss a beat. All that does is give someone else a chance to shine.

“Did (Rico Watson) surprise me? No.”

Quarterback Andrew Bowers completed a 4-for-6 night passing for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He also scrambled for a 26-yard score late in the second quarter that extended Ensworth’s lead to 27-10 at the half.

Baylor recovered a fumble on the Tigers’ first possession of the second half, but couldn’t turn it into points. After the Red Raiders punted, Watson broke loose for a 63-yard touchdown run that effectively put the game away.

Baylor quarterback Matthew Oellerich had a rough night, connecting on just 10 of 30 pass attempts for 98 yards with two interceptions.

“This one’s tough to swallow,” said senior offensive lineman Barrett Gouger, who played his final high school game before likely signing with Vanderbilt in February. “We did our best and left it all on the field, and I guess that’s all you can ask for.”

Ensworth needed a touchdown in the final seconds to beat Baylor 28-21 in last year’s BlueCross Bowl. However, Baylor had extracted a bit of revenge in a 42-14 regular season win that proved to be the Tigers’ lone loss of the year.

The Red Raiders, who were making their second straight state title game appearance after a 33-year drought, remain in search of the program’s second state title, and first since 1973.

Information from: WRCB-TV

Coltin Blevins, a senior linebacker for South Pittsburg, earned the Lineman of the Year nod in Class 1A. South Pittsburg sophomore running back Jajuan Lankford was also a finalist for the 1A Back of the Year, but was beaten out by Perry County’s Jacob Tucker.

“It was a big surprise. I wanted to win, but I didn’t think I would win,” said Blevins, whose Pirates will play Wayne County for the Class 1A state title later this week. ”It means a lot. I’m speechless, really.”

“Of course, it would mean a lot more if we could top it off with a state championship on Friday.”

Blevins, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound senior captain, was a three-year starter for the Pirates at both linebacker and offensive guard. An all-state selection the defensive MVP of the state title game in 2010, Blevins didn’t miss a beat in his final season in 2011.

“Sometimes it’s not easy to live up to expectations and hype, especially after the season he had last year,” said South Pittsburg head coach Vic Grider. “A lot was on him this year, but a credit to him, he lived up to everything that was asked and needed of him this year.”

He finished the 2011 regular season with 124 total tackles (71 solo) and five tackles for a loss. He added one sack, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

“He was our bell cow,” Grider said. ”He was the guy we could count on to be out there each and every week. I don’t know that we’ve had a winner more deserving than Coltin.”

Blevins is just the second lineman of the year winner for South Pittsburg, joining Aaron Chambers, who won the honor in 1999. He’s the fourth Pirate to earn a Mr. Football award, and first since quarterback Terrell Robinson in 2009.

2011 TENNESSEE TITANS MR. FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

Division I, Class A Lineman
Coltin Blevins, South Pittsburg

Division I, Class A Back
Jacob Tucker, Perry County

Division I, Class AA Lineman
Terrell Rollins, Greeneville

Division I, Class AA Back
Charlie High, CAK

Division I, Class AAA Lineman
Jay Guillermo, Maryville

Division I, Class AAA Back
I’Tavius Mathers, Blackman

Division II-A Lineman
Brewer Congleton, Knoxville Webb

Division II-A Back
Caleb Blance, Knoxville Webb

Division II-AA Lineman
Barrett Gouger, Baylor

Division II-AA Back
Cornelius Elder, Ensworth

Kicker of the Year
Henrique Ribeiro, Baylor

Information from: WRCB-TV

ATHENS, Ga.- Larry Munson, the voice of the Georgia Bulldogs for nearly 43 years, has died. He was 89. The university says Munson died at his Athens home of complications from pneumonia. The death was reported by Munson’s son, Michael.

Munson’s broadcasting career covered more than 60 years and included a stint with the Atlanta Braves when they moved from Milwaukee in 1966. That year, he took over as Georgia’s football play-by-play announcer, endearing himself to generations of fans with his growling, unique calls and unabashed partisanship for the Bulldogs.

With his health failing, he skipped most road games in 2007, then retired after calling the first two contests of the 2008 season.

Funeral arrangements have not been determined.