TSU kicker Antonio Zita has entered the transfer portal By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee State Tigers will be losing one of their most reliable offensive weapons for the 2020 season. Kicker Antonio Zita, whose accuracy enabled him to set a school record last year for most field goals in a single season, announced he was entering the transfer portal last Thursday. Zita made 20 of 24 attempts, including three of four between 40 and 49 yards and one from 50. He also made 30 0f 33 extra points and even served as the backup punter. The sophomore…
Author: Ron Wynn
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans made a move to bolster their secondary and add veteran leadership late last week when they signed Jonathan Joseph to a one-year deal. It was reported worth $2 million total ($1.5 guaranteed), with the possibility of it reaching $3.25 million if. he achieves all the incentives. While he won’t be a starter unless something unexpected happens, Joseph’s salary will be considerably less than the person he’s being slotted in to replace in Logan Ryan, who made a reported $10 million last season. According to statistics from Pro Football Focus, Joseph had…
More than 40 states are in the process of gradually re-opening businesses and facilities following nearly two months of almost total societal shutdown. But even as those processes begin, America’s sports leagues must face a reality forced upon them by the impact of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic: they must move forward with any plans for restarting their operations without the presence of fans in the stands. Already those leagues around the world such as baseball in Korea and soccer in Germany are only holding games in empty stadiums. It will be at least 2021, if not longer, before it will be…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Tennessee Titans have gone from NFL afterthought to getting three games n primetime for the 2020-21 season, if it begins on time. They will even be part of the opening night lineup for Monday Night Football on ESPN. The Titans will face off against the Denver Broncos on the road, with the game set for an approximate 9:20 (CDT) start. The contest has some added interest in the wake of the Titans unloading longtime defensive tackle Jurrell Casey to the Broncos for a low draft choice in the off-season. They will also be…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Predators won’t get to open the 2020-21 NHL season in Europe. The NHL announced last Friday that proposed exhibition and regular season games in Europe were being cancelled due to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. The Predators were going to be part of the league’s Global Series. They had exhibition games set in Switzerland. Then they were scheduled to begin regular season play against the Boston Bruins in Prague, Czech Republic. The league made a joint statement with the players association announcing the decision Friday.. “The NHLPA and the NHL remain committed to maintaining…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The honors keep rolling in for Tennessee State wide receiver Chris Rowland. Last week he added TSU Athlete of the Year to the lengthy list of honors he’s received following one of the greatest seasons in college football history. Rowland set an HBCU record for receptions with 104, shattering the 103 mark of Jerry Rice, the Hall of Famer many feel is the finest player at his position in NFL history. Rowland was consensus choice for the OVC Offensive and Black College Hall of Fame Player of the Year awards. He was picked on…
By Ron Wynn Even though there’s no MLB currently happening, the big leagues are moving ahead with plans to trim 40 minor league teams. At first it was thought there was no way this could happen, but now reports of meetings in the last couple of weeks between officials of MLB and those in MLiB (Minor League Baseball) indicate that the plan will move forward.There will be a new working agreement and the 120 remaining teams will be affiliated in a new version of joint minor leagues. According to a report in Baseball America, the current Player Development Contract is…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Titans made news two ways last week, one in terms of their 2020 opponents (assuming there is an NFL season this year), and the other regarding a significant personnel move. Their official 2020 schedule won’t be released until this week, but the breakdown of home and road games was made available on multiple websites. Then the team announced they were not picking up the option on wide receiver Corey Davis. The former first round draft choice and fifth overall player taken in the 2017 draft will become an unrestricted free agent in 2021.…
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred continues to publicly declare there will be a 2020 baseball season in some form and shape. He repeated that assertion last week, while news of a possible new plan to get some sort of year done was unveiled. If the proposed plan is implemented it would result in an even more radical change for the sport than going to divisional play and implementing a wild card system. This proposal, which would only be for the 2020 season, would eliminate the traditional National and American Leagues. According to a USA Today report, this plan would instead group…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Nashville Predators aren’t currently playing any games due to the NHL season being suspended because of the Coronavirus/COVIC-19 pandemic, but area hockey fans will get a chance over the next few weeks to recall their greatest triumphs. Fox Sports Tennessee is airing over a seven-week period the 14 games that the team won during the spring of 2017 on the way to the Stanley Cup Final. It’s part of the networks’Golden Classic series, and they will air on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The broadcasts began Tuesday with the opening victory in the Predators’ sweep…