Mike Organ

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Phillip Fulmer likes everything he sees from Tennessee's athletic program these days.

The former Vols football coach remains confident in Butch Jones' ability to return the football team back to the top of the SEC. He is encouraged by the energy and enthusiasm with which Rick Barnes' men's basketball team plays and firmly believes Holly Warlick was the right person to replace Pat Summitt as coach of the Lady Vols.

The question is whether Fulmer would like to be in charge of the program.

Tennessee will need a new boss when current athletics director Dave Hartretires this summer, and Fulmer has made it clear he would like to be considered for the position.

"I have really enjoyed getting involved with Dr. (Joe) DiPietro on the President's Council and doing some things with him," Fulmer said of the university's president. "They've got a process (in hiring an athletics director) in place and I'm just anxious to see what that process brings."

When asked on the local radio show "Jared & The GM" earlier this week what he thought about listeners who called in saying he should be the Vols AD, Fulmer said, "I think they're pretty smart."

Fulmer has kept close tabs on the Vols athletic program since learning last summer that Hart, who was hired in 2011, was leaving.

"We're at a unique time at Tennessee in our history," Fulmer said. "We've been through some really tough issues. Butch has done a great job with the football team. I love Rick Barnes and watching his kids play basketball. Talent-wise he hasn't had time to get it to where he wants it to be, but they play so hard and they're fun to watch. And I've known Holly since she was a kid."

Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Mike Strange has written about Fulmer as a possible candidate for the athletics director's position along with several others, including Chattanooga AD David Blackburn, who served as director of football operations on Fulmer's staff at Tennessee, and former Vols defensive back Charles Davis.

"To me this is a very important time in our history to, not just creep back to the top, but jump back to the top," Fulmer said. "And I think we have a chance to do that."

Eddie George has lead in upcoming play

Eddie George is staying busy with his acting career.

The former Titans running back appeared in an episode of "NCIS Los Angeles" last Monday and is now preparing for rehearsals for the lead in the play "A Raisin in the Sun."

On "NCIS Los Angeles," George played Byron Brown, a security guard in the character Sam Hanna's undercover private security firm.

Hanna is played by L.L. Cool J, and George said working with him was a blast.

"I loved it; it was great working with L.L.," George said. "He really is cool. It was a great opportunity. I wish I had some more lines, but that's the nature of the business."

George will have plenty of lines in "Raisin in the Sun," a Lorraine Hansberry play that will be at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center March 23-24.

"It's about a family who lives in south Chicago in the 1950s and a young man (Walter Lee Young) in that family who is really trying to find himself, trying to become a man and trying to become more than his day-to-day job in terms of being a chauffeur. He sees more to life and wants more out of life, but the obstacles he faces being an African-American male are a lot to overcome. So, it's really a story of love, overcoming obstacles and understanding a dream deferred is a dream deferred and it's not over."

Belmont shares spotlight at Predators game

Belmont star forward Evan Bradds was named honorary mayor of Smashville, and Bruins athletics director Scott Corley got to ride on the Zamboni during the Predators game against Vancouver on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena.

The Predators also recognized the entire Belmont basketball team during a break.

Corley is a big Predators fan and is working with the organization on some cross promotional events.

Book released on Tim Shaw's battle with ALS

Former Titans linebacker Tim Shaw is the subject of a new book about his fight with ALS.

"Blitz Your Life," was released last week. Shaw, who lives in Nashville, attended the Titans' last home game where he signed advance copies of the book.

Shaw played for the Titans from 2010-2012. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2014.

Former Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, now an ESPN commentator, wrote the forward.

Ex-Vandy coach joins Cincinnati staff

Former Vanderbilt defensive backs coach Jon Tenuta was hired earlier this week by Luke Fickell on his new staff at Cincinnati.

Tenuta was at Vanderbilt in 1984-85 on George MacIntyre's staff.

Tenuta, who was the defensive coordinator at Virginia (2013-15), will coach the safeties at Cincinnati. He was hired the same day Fickell hired former Kentucky head coach Joker Phillips to coach the Bearcats wide receivers.

Golf show starts Friday at Music City Center

The inaugural Music City Nashville Golf Show is next Friday-Sunday at Music City Center.

Television analyst Ned Michaels will serve as emcee of the event where a total of 90 vendors will have booths in five different areas — equipment, apparel, golf destinations, golf couples and putting.

Nashville resident Lou Graham, the 1975 U.S. Open Champion, will be on a panel of experts along with his nephew Ron Graham,McCabe pro Loren Personett and Old Hickory Country Club golf course superintendent Dan Johnson.

World Golf Hall of Fame historian Tony Parker is a speaker along with former U.S. Senior Long Drive Champion David Brinker.

For tickets or more information call 615-310-6455 or visit www.nashvillegolfshow.com.

Vandy's Davis is an SEC Legend

Former Vanderbilt women's basketball star Dee Davis, now the coach at University School of Nashville, is part of the 2016-17 SEC Women's Legends Class.

Davis was a two-time All-SEC point guard at Vanderbilt who set the Commodores career assists record (718) 2003-07.

Patricia "Trish" Roberts, who played basketball at Tennessee (1976-77), is the Vols legend.

The class will be recognized at the SEC Women’s Tournament, March 1-5 in Greenville, S.C.

Aulds part of Nashville crew for championship game

Former Lebanon High and Vanderbilt nose tackle Ryan Aulds, now a high school and college referee, worked the NAIA national football championship game.

Saint Francis (Ind.) defeated Baker (Kan.) 38-17 in the game played at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Aulds was part of an NAIA Mid-South Conference crew that also included David White, Garrett Dickerson and Jay Earnhardt from Nashville.

Poythress scores 35 in D-League game

Former Northeast High and Kentucky player Alex Poythress had 35 points and 12 rebounds in an NBA Development League game Thursday night.

Poythress led the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants to 119-111 win over Westchester (N.Y.).

Poythress, who was not selected in the 2016 NBA Draft, also blocked three shots and had a steal. He is averaging 19.4 points and 7.2 rebounds.

Ex-Mt. Juliet standout led nation in assists

Former Mt. Juliet soccer star Cameron Woodfin, now at East Tennessee State, finished the season as the NCAA Division I assists per game leader.

The junior from Old Hickory recorded a total of 12 assists for an average of 0.63 per game. Woodfin has 17 assists in his career.

Nashville Old Timers announce scholarship winners

The Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association announced its scholarship award winners on Thursday.

A total of 17 local players were winners and will be recognized at the group's banquet on Thursday at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

The scholarship winners: Roderick Charles Adams, Cane Ridge; Ben Brooks, Pope John Paul II; Will Duffee, Stewarts Creek; Pearson Flynn, Lipscomb Academy; Andrew Stephen Franklin, Heritage Christian Academy; Gage Gregory, Goodpasture; Dalton Hall, Beech; Lucas Harrell, Riverdale; Eric Jordan II, Ezell-Harding; Davis Lovell, Martin Luther King; Dakota Makatche, Davidson Academy; Cole Matherley, Greenbrier; Travis Reaves, Donelson Christian; Christopher Slaughter, Stewarts Creek; Joshua Truehart, Stratford, Ryan Troup, East Nashville and Andrew Dorris, Hendersonville.

For banquet tickets ($75) visit www.otbaseball.com.

Hankins promoted to coordinator at UT Martin

Former Lewis County running back and linebacker Jordon Hankins is the new defensive coordinator at UT Martin.

He was the Skyhawks linebackers coach and special teams coordinator last season.

Before joining the staff at UT Martin in 2010 Hankins was an assistant on Ron Aydelott's staff at Riverdale.

Ex-NFL lineman speaking on substance abuse at Vandy

Former Georgia offensive lineman Steve Herndon, whose NFL career was cut short by a knee injury, will be the featured speaker next Saturday at the seminar "Athlete to Addict" at Vanderbilt's Kissam Center.

Several other former and current college athletes will also speak about the dangers of addiction and substance misuse at the free event, which will be from 9-11:30 a.m.

TSU's McCall wins national award

Tennessee State senior guard Tahjere McCall was tabbed the BOXTOROW National Player of the Week this past week.

The award goes to the top performer from a Historically Black College and University. McCall scored 25 points against Kennesaw, 27 against Southeast Missouri and 17 against UT Martin.

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

SPORTS ON NASHVILLE TV

The top 5 local sporting events television ratings for Jan. 2-8

1. NFL playoffs: Dolphins-Steelers 20.1 rating

2. NFL playoffs: Giants-Packers 19.9

3. NFL playoffs: Lions-Seahawks 13.7

4. NFL playoffs: Raiders-Texans 11.9

5. College football: USC-Penn St. (Rose Bowl) 10.1

Each rating point is equal to 10,116 Nashville homes.

Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 program & research director