Latest news with #OrangeandWhite
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Country singer Conner Smith, 24, kills 77-year-old woman in alleged crosswalk car accident
Country singer Conner Smith has been identified as the driver of a pickup truck that fatally struck a 77-year-old woman in Nashville over the weekend. The 'I Hate Alabama' crooner, 24, was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck Sunday when he allegedly struck and killed a woman walking in a crosswalk. Dorothy Dobbins has since been confirmed as the victim, according to a release shared by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. 4 Country singer Conner Smith has been identified as the driver of a pickup truck that fatally struck a 77-year-old woman in Nashville over the weekend. Getty Images for Stagecoach Dobbins had been transported to the nearby Vanderbilt University Medical Center where the ultimately succumbed to her injuries. 'The preliminary contributing factor for this crash appears to be Smith failing to yield the right of way to the pedestrian,' police said. 'He showed no signs of impairment.' Smith showed no signs of impairment and an investigation is ongoing. There are no charges 'at present' against the 'Orange and White' singer, police added. 4 Smith was behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck Sunday when he allegedly struck and killed a woman walking in a crosswalk. WSMV While Smith has yet to speak out on the ordeal, his attorney has since confirmed that the singer was 'involved in a car accident that tragically claimed a life.' 'His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time,' Smith's lawyer told People. 'Mr. Smith continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.' The day of the fatal incident coincided with the final day of the annual CMA Fest, a four-day country music event held in Nashville. The Post has reached out to Smith's reps for comment. 4 The 'I Hate Alabama' crooner, 24, showed no signs of impairment and an investigation is ongoing. AFP via Getty Images Smith, a Nashville native, has been signed to Big Machine Records' Valory label since 2019. The crooner released his debut album, 'Didn't Go Too Far,' last year. He's also opened for Luke Bryan on tour, and was nominated for New Male Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards. Smith's music went viral on TikTok in April, especially his single 'Country in the Clouds,' a collaboration with Dylan Marlowe. Additionally, one of his other tracks is featured on the soundtrack of the film 'Twisters.' As for his personal life, Smith has been married to surfer Leah Thompson since April 2024. The singer is currently on tour and is scheduled for several live performances across the country this summer. 4 There are no charges 'at present' against the 'Orange and White' singer, police added. WireImage Smith had shared an Instagram post on the same day of the fatal incident, which featured photos of him singing onstage. 'Hometown hits different ❤️,' he captioned the photos.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lawyer explains current state of NIL after Iamaleava's departure from Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — With Tennessee moving on from quarterback Nico Iamaleava, some may be wondering how name image and likeness deals are impacting college sports. In this week's Ask Isaacs, 6 News' Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs discuss how NIL has developed in Tennessee. On Wednesday, Iamaleava entered the NCAA transfer portal just days after Tennessee coach Josh Heupel shared that the team was moving on from the redshirt freshmen. Reports said Iamaleava missing meetings and practice the day before the Vols' Orange and White game drove the decision. At the time, Iamaleava had been in the middle of negotiating a new NIL deal. Report: Quarterback Nico Iamaleava enters NCAA transfer portal Iamaleava was recruited by Tennessee in 2022 as one of the team's most highly-touted recruits in years. At the time, he was rated as the second best prospect in the country by Rivals, and the fifth highest prospected to commit to Tennessee is school history, according to 247 Sports. The Isaacs Law Firm explains that while still in High School, Iamaleava signed an NIL contract with Spyre Sports worth approximately $8 million over four years. In January 2024, news broke that Tennessee and other universities were under a potential NCAA investigation for NIL violations in multiple sports. Athletics Director Danny White accused the NCAA of leaking information on the investigation to the media, adding that the when NCAA investigators did not find a NIL violation after reviewing 'thousands of Tennessee coach and personnel phone records,' the organization 'moved the goalpost to fit a predetermined outcome.' The investigation also led a lawsuit against the NCAA from Tennessee and Virginia's Attorneys General over NIL recruiting rules. Ultimately, that lawsuit was settled in January 2025, with Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti saying the settlement would lay the groundwork for a 'permanent solution. According to the Isaacs Law Firm, there are currently no blanket restrictions on NIL agreements in college athletics, and the NCAA is enjoined from enforcing any rules regarding NIL because of the State of Tennessee's lawsuit. Some other states, however, do have laws regarding NIL. Vol fans invited to swap Iamaleava gear for a free One Knoxville SC jersey Until May 2024, Tennessee institutions were not allowed to pay players to attend their institutions, but a rule change made it to where now, institutions are only prohibited from unduly restricting an athlete's ability to earn compensation. If you have a legal question, send it to AskIsaacs@ To watch full episodes of Ask Isaacs, click here. WATE's Lori Tucker and Attorney Greg Isaacs answer your legal questions from the WATE Alert Desk on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. and on WATE Channel 6 at 5:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
12-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vols end spring practices with Orange & White Game
Vols end spring practices with Orange & White Game Tennessee concluded spring practices Saturday with its 2025 Orange and White game presented by Cherokee Resorts & Entertainment at Neyland Stadium. The Orange and White teams tied, 14-14. The Vols entered the game with multiple student-athletes not playing, forcing head coach Josh Heupel to run the event as a 15th and final spring practice. Overshadowing happenings on the field was the departure of redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was not at practice Friday. He announced his intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it re-opens April 16. Iamaleava's departure leaves the Vols with two returning quarterbacks in redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman midterm enrollee George MacIntyre, an in-state player who recently graduated from Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. Early enrollees posted some stellar performances in the game Saturday. MacIntyre totaled three touchdown passes, while Merklinger finished with one touchdown. Freshman tight end Jack Van Dorselaer, another early enrollee, recorded three touchdown receptions and Radarious Jackson had one. MacIntyre completed two scoring passes to Van Dorselaer and one to Jackson. Merklinger's touchdown pass was completed by Van Dorselaer.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Tennessee moving on from quarterback Nico Iamaleava
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The University of Tennessee is moving on from its starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, according to a report from ESPN. Pete Thamel, a senior college sports insider with ESPN, cited sources Saturday morning, saying Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision that morning, driven by Iamaleava missing meetings and practice on Friday amid negotiations of a new NIL deal. Three storylines to watch out for in the Orange & White Game On Saturday, Tennessee is set to host it's annual Orange and White spring game. ESPN reported that Iamaleava will not be there and he is expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens next week. Report: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava negotiating new NIL deal ahead of spring game Starting off this fall, Tennessee's next scheduled game will be against Syracuse in Atlanta, Georgia on August 30, before taking on ETSU at Neyland Stadium on September 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nico Iamaleava's saga is a sign of what's to come in college football
So it turns out that when you put a specific dollar value on a rare commodity — say, the ability to play quarterback at a high level — and you allow people who possess that skill the freedom to shop their talent to the highest bidder … well, you're setting the stage for chaos. As profitable as this new era might be for players, coaches and universities loathe the chaotic state of college football right now, and they're going to do everything possible to restore order as they see it. Thus, the seismic shock wave out of Knoxville this weekend: Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava holding out for more money on the eve of the Vols' annual Orange and White spring game ... and then getting kicked to the curb by the Vol program Saturday morning. Advertisement A marquee SEC program upends its entire 2025 season ... because it deems that option preferable to giving in to a player's demands. Iamaleava joined the Vols in 2022 on an NIL deal that pays him a reported $2 million per year. At the time, it seemed like a stunning payment — or overpayment — but just two years later, it looked like a bargain. Carson Beck, for instance, reportedly got $4 million to jump from Georgia to Miami, and Duke's Darian Mensah is reportedly pocketing a similar figure. (NIL figures can be tricky to nail down.) The difference between those two players and Iamaleava, though, is that they had entered the transfer portal to maximize their earning potential … and you'll never guess what opens up on April 16. Hence, Iamaleava was apparently looking to secure a bigger bag from Tennessee with an obvious, if unspoken threat: If you don't want me suiting up elsewhere next year, pay up now. Advertisement The challenge for Tennessee — and Iamaleava knew this — is that the Vols ascended to a higher plane in 2024, reaching the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Iamaleava deserves a large share of the credit for that; he threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns against five interceptions last season (including the playoff game). With Iamaleava under center, Tennessee averaged over 35 points per game last season in a 10-3 campaign. A holdout put all that at risk, and soured all the goodwill coming out of the past two seasons of the Josh Heupel era. But while Iamaleava and his reps incited this incident, they were only playing by the rules as they exist — or don't — right now. They likely would have been the first of many to do so, had Tennessee not taken swift and decisive action. Tennessee's obvious and very-much-spoken threat: Skip practice looking for more money one day, and you'll be looking for a new job the next. Nico Iamaleava led the Tennessee Volunteers to the College Football Playoff last season. Now, he's looking for a raise. (Robin Alam/) (Robin Alam/ISI Photos via Getty Images) It's easy to point the finger at players (and, of course, their reps) for valuing money over tradition, loyalty and (don't laugh) an education. But they're only following the example of their coaches, their schools and their conferences, all of which have chased taller dollars at the expense of longstanding alliances and histories. College football is an unregulated free-for-all where everyone is throwing elbows to make room at the trough. Advertisement Although the Tennessee athletic department took a strong — and some would say overly harsh — stand, the flag is planted, the precedent established. Pay me or I'm gone isn't going to go over well with the loyalists in Columbus or Athens. Booting your star quarterback out of the building hours before the spring game isn't the ideal state of affairs for an athletic department, but to Tennessee, it's preferable to giving in to the player's demands. As long as players can transfer without penalty, and as long as NIL collectives can set the market, players who want to maximize their in-school revenue will look elsewhere … and their university's only recourse, aside from paying up, is to give them the opportunity to do exactly that. This chaotic state of affairs would seem to cry out for some sort of contract between college and talent, but that's edging perilously close to certifying athletes as employees, and the Powers That Be remain deeply opposed to that classification. So the duct-taped patchwork of guidelines and recommendations remains in place, fragile and vulnerable to anyone who wants to see just how far they can push in this new world. And as we've just seen in the very first test of this new dynamic, the battle is on. Chaos just rose to a new level in college athletics, and no player — or program — is safe.
