In the news
Tigers upset No. 8 Ole Miss: The University of Memphis upset eighth-ranked Ole Miss, 9-6 , Tuesday night at Swayze Field in Oxford, Mississippi, behind a solid hitting attack and stellar pitching from sophomore lefthander Hunter Smith.
The Tigers (5-2) handed the Rebels (7-1) their first loss of the season. Ole Miss was plagued by four errors.
Five different Tiger pitchers took the mound, but Smith stood out. He pitched three hitless innings and retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, including the first seven.
James Muse started for Tigers and allowed three runs on four hits in two innings. Lefthander Drew Crosby followed and pitched two scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season.
Colton Hathcock recorded his third straight save, pitching a perfect bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts.
Freshman shortstop Alec Trela smashed the first home run of his career - in the ninth inning to provide some insurance. Trela finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Designated hitter Andy Bowman also had two hits, a pair of doubles, and Colton Neel was 2-for-5 with a solo homer.
Tennessee hires K-State’s Currie as AD: Tennessee has hired John Currie from Kansas State to replace Dave Hart as the Vols’ athletic director.
The school announced the hiring Tuesday. A press conference to introduce Currie is scheduled for Thursday, and he will begin his new job April 1.
Currie, 45, was hired as Kansas State’s AD in May 2009. Before taking the job at Kansas State, he worked at Tennessee for about a decade in various capacities, most recently as a chief deputy and adviser to former athletic director Mike Hamilton. He also has a master’s degree from Tennessee. “As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, I know how much UT athletics means to the people in the state, and I look forward to serving all of the Big Orange Nation, its wonderful coaches, staff and student-athletes for many years to come,” Currie said in a university release. “We are excited to return to Rocky Top.”
Hart, who has been Tennessee’s athletic director since September 2011, announced in August he would retire effective June 30. His contract terms allow Tennessee to hire a new AD before June 30 and accelerate Hart’s retirement as long as he receives 15 days written notice.
Under that scenario, Hart goes on paid administrative leave until beginning other full-time employment or through June 30.
Manziel tries to reassure judge after missing court deadline: After missing a court-ordered deadline, Johnny Manziel appeared before a judge Tuesday and promised to meet the stipulations required to get the troubled quarterback’s domestic violence case dismissed while saying his distrust of the NFL played a part in the delay.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner said he doesn’t want to disappoint Judge Roberto Canas, who warned that he or a jury could decide Manziel’s fate if the deal reached in November is revoked.
The 24-year-old Manziel faced a misdemeanor charge that carried a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine after he was accused of hitting and threatening former girlfriend Colleen Crowley during a night out in January 2016. The judge said he called the hearing because Manziel missed a deadline for an update on the progress of meeting his conditions, including one that requires the former Cleveland Browns player to work through the NFL or another agency on a substance-abuse program.
Asked by the judge to explain how things would be going forward, Manziel said he responded quickly when attorney Jim Darnell told him the judge wasn’t happy.
“Since that day everything’s been going extremely smoothly and my life is trending upward,” Manziel said in a 70-second statement. “I don’t even want to let this get anywhere near the rabbit hole that you were describing. I’m taking this responsibility. This is helping me get my life back together.”
Manziel said he was slow to get the process started in part because he was hesitant to work with the NFL. He said the involvement of the NFL Players Association, which administers the league’s drug program, also slowed the process.
Colts’ Parry arrested in Arizona: Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman David Parry has been arrested in Scottsdale, Arizona, on suspicion of assaulting the driver of a motorized cart and then stealing and crashing the vehicle.
Police say the 24-year-old showed signs of impairment when arrested early Saturday morning near where the cart was found crashed.
According to police, the driver had picked up Parry and two other people and that the alleged assault and theft occurred after the driver dropped off the other two people and got out to receive payment.
Parry was a 2015 fifth round draft pick. He started all of the Colts’ games in 2015 and 2016.
Police said they don’t know if Parry has an attorney who could comment on the allegations of robbery, auto theft, criminal damage, resisting arrest and DUI.