I just wanted to introduce myself, although it won't be until next Monday (week of the Akron) game that I'm officially aboard. But I am excited to be here and so grateful to @Tyler Mansfield for this dream opportunity. He's heard that from me probably a dozen times now! This really is a dream job for me. I feel like I've worked really hard to get here and I've maybe taken a little bit of different path than most in these positions.
A little about me, I am a UT journalism school graduate. I graduated in November 2020. During my time as a student, I was the sports editor at The Daily Beacon where I covered everything from cross country and tennis to football and men's hoops. Before I graduated, I was offered my first full-time sports editor gig at The LaFollette Press in nearby Campbell County and I jumped on it. The pay was better than being a student sportswriter (but not much). Covered preps there but also brought pretty consistent UT coverage to that paper for the first time in probably its entire history and I was proud of that. I was fortunate, despite being associated with a weekly paper, to be credentialed to cover every home game (and two road games. Covered Jellico in a high school football playoff game then drove to Fayetteville for the Arkansas game. I love covering road games!) of the Vols' 2020 season. I left there after a year and four months for The Daily Times in Maryville (where I actually live!) and became the Times' UT football beat writer in 2021. So, this will actually be my fourth season covering Tennessee football and I'm thrilled to be doing it for you guys. I will be at Pitt this weekend, but I'm unfortunately credentialed for The Daily Times. Tyler graciously allowed me to finish out my two weeks with the paper before I get started here. I wish it could be sooner.
That all being said, and I hope you're still reading this, Tyler is doing a heck of a job balancing a heavy workload right now. This came sudden for all of us, but I know we're all excited to try and build something new here. It's going to be a real challenge, definitely the biggest in my short career. I'm also aware of who we're replacing. In a way, it's kind of like we're Bob Kesling having to follow up John Ward. But you guys deserve the best coverage every single day. Not only do I have Tyler to thank for this job, but I have to thank you, too. I won't let you down! It's a special thing to cover SEC football. I've dreamed of doing it in a full-time capacity since I was a kid. It's even more special to cover your alma mater.
A little about me, I am a UT journalism school graduate. I graduated in November 2020. During my time as a student, I was the sports editor at The Daily Beacon where I covered everything from cross country and tennis to football and men's hoops. Before I graduated, I was offered my first full-time sports editor gig at The LaFollette Press in nearby Campbell County and I jumped on it. The pay was better than being a student sportswriter (but not much). Covered preps there but also brought pretty consistent UT coverage to that paper for the first time in probably its entire history and I was proud of that. I was fortunate, despite being associated with a weekly paper, to be credentialed to cover every home game (and two road games. Covered Jellico in a high school football playoff game then drove to Fayetteville for the Arkansas game. I love covering road games!) of the Vols' 2020 season. I left there after a year and four months for The Daily Times in Maryville (where I actually live!) and became the Times' UT football beat writer in 2021. So, this will actually be my fourth season covering Tennessee football and I'm thrilled to be doing it for you guys. I will be at Pitt this weekend, but I'm unfortunately credentialed for The Daily Times. Tyler graciously allowed me to finish out my two weeks with the paper before I get started here. I wish it could be sooner.
That all being said, and I hope you're still reading this, Tyler is doing a heck of a job balancing a heavy workload right now. This came sudden for all of us, but I know we're all excited to try and build something new here. It's going to be a real challenge, definitely the biggest in my short career. I'm also aware of who we're replacing. In a way, it's kind of like we're Bob Kesling having to follow up John Ward. But you guys deserve the best coverage every single day. Not only do I have Tyler to thank for this job, but I have to thank you, too. I won't let you down! It's a special thing to cover SEC football. I've dreamed of doing it in a full-time capacity since I was a kid. It's even more special to cover your alma mater.
