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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Joey Aguilar won over Tennessee football teammates with dinners, pool parties
ATLANTA – Quarterback Joey Aguilar won over his new Tennessee football teammates by taking them out to dinner, playing video games and joining enormous swimming pool parties at an undisclosed location. "Joey is one of those guys that when you meet, you immediately hit it off. Same sense of humor, similar personalities," UT tight end Miles Kitselman said at SEC football media days on July 15. "It's kind of like you've known each other for a while. And it's something that doesn't really happen a whole lot." Aguilar is a former Appalachian State standout who transferred to UT from UCLA, following Nico Iamaleava's departure from the Vols in the spring over an NIL dispute. Aguilar is in a three-player race for UT's starting quarterback position with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre. When Aguilar arrived on UT's campus in May, he immediately started building relationships with his new teammates. First, Aguilar took the offensive linemen out for dinner. Then he sought out teammates to play Fortnite with in a nightly video game gathering. And then that camaraderie developed into swimming pool parties that swelled to about 50 players. It made quite an impression. "The first week he was here with all our guys, he took the offensive linemen out to dinner," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. "Those are little steps in developing relationships where you can eventually lead them. "When you're coming in, how you present yourself every single day inside and outside the building is going to be how players perceive you. He has an ability to connect with our guys as a veteran guy. He has developed relationships and earned the trust of those guys." NICO IAMALEAVA Why Tennessee players say they won't hate watch UCLA games What Josh Heupel said about Tennessee QB competition Granted, Aguilar has impressed teammates with his work ethic and easy-going nature. But a quarterback winning the summer is like a coach winning a press conference. Eventually, they're judged by what happens on the field during the season. Heupel said it's an open competition at quarterback. Aguilar must beat out Merklinger and MacIntyre to start in the Vols' season opener against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30 (noon ET, ABC). "All three of those guys know that they'll get their opportunity," Heupel said. "It's important for everybody on your roster to understand that the best player is going to play. You have to go earn it." Aguilar has playing experience. He started 24 games at Appalachian State and earned the 2023 Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year award. He transferred to UCLA in January. But when Iamaleava transferred to UCLA in April, Aguilar jumped back into the portal and landed with the Vols. Merklinger, a former four-star recruit, has knowledge of UT's system but little playing experience. He spent the past year practicing in Heupel's offense, but completed 6 of 9 passes for 48 yards as a No. 3 quarterback last season. MacIntyre has upside. The four-star recruit was one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 class. Tennessee football fans will meet Joey Aguilar soon Aguilar is still a relative stranger to UT fans. He's made a few Instagram posts about his faith, his girlfriend, his graduation from Appalachian State and his arrival at UT. But Aguilar hasn't done an interview this summer. Instead, he has kept a low profile, bonded with teammates, watched game film and worked to learn UT's offense. "Part of being the trigger guy is having the respect of the guys around you," Heupel said about Aguilar prioritizing those relationships. But Aguilar will soon step into the spotlight, beginning with his first media appearance at UT's on-campus media day on July 29. Merklinger and MacIntyre are also scheduled to speak, and preseason practice kicks off on July 30. Until then, Aguilar may squeeze in a few more game film sessions, on-field workouts with wide receivers, dinners with offensive linemen and those team-building pool parties. UT players say Aguilar never turns down an invitation from teammates. "He's down to do something every time," Kitselman said. "To put it in a simple way, when we're like, 'Hey, man, we're going to the pool,' (Aguilar) is always like, 'All right, I'll be there in five (minutes)." Considering those pool parties attract most of UT's roster, they may generate as much team chemistry as any offseason event. As for their location, the Vols aren't willing to give that up. When asked, Kitselman replied "football players only." Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: How Joey Aguilar won over new Vols teammates
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Probe custodial torture of J&K cop, arrest culprits, SC tells CBI
NEW DELHI: Taking strong exception to a J&K police constable being subjected to barbaric torture by his colleagues at Joint Interrogation Centre in Kupwara, and being named as an accused to shield the perpetrators of the crime, Monday directed CBI to take over the case and immediately arrest the culprits. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It also directed the Union territory govt to pay Rs 50 lakh as compensation to the victim. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the way in which the constable was tortured for six days in 2023 had shocked the conscience of the court and expressed lack of confidence in the UT police conducting an impartial probe, given that they tried to shield the perpetrators of the offence by naming the victim as an accused. "The injuries caused to the appellant during his illegal detention, particularly the complete mutilation of his genitalia, use of pepper/chilly powder and electric shocks on his genitalia, are grave reminders of the inhuman torture meted out to the appellant while detaining him illegally. The cumulative effect of all these facts is deeply shocking to the conscience of this court," the bench said. "The entire material collected in enquiry conducted so far, including all related documents, medical records, CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and case diary, shall be immediately handed over to the competent officer of CBI. The director, CBI, shall constitute a SIT headed by an officer not below the rank of superintendent of police to investigate this matter. The police officials found responsible for the custodial torture shall be arrested forthwith and not later than a period of one month from today. The investigation shall be completed within 90 days of the date of registration of the RC," SC ordered. The court said the case was a classic example of institutional abuse and perversion of the criminal justice machinery to shield the perpetrators while victimising the complainant. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It said the transformation of a torture victim into an accused through a concocted theory of attempted suicide, based on manifestly implausible medical opinion and glaring procedural violations, reflected institutional malice of the highest order. "This is not merely a case of investigative error or overreach; it is a calculated effort to fabricate charges, distort the narrative, and shield the real perpetrators of crime of custodial torture. The use of state machinery to invert the roles of victim and offender represents a grave subversion of the criminal process," it held. "... We hereby direct the UT of J&K to pay compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the appellant. The said amount shall be recoverable from the officer(s) concerned against whom a departmental proceeding shall be initiated upon conclusion of the investigation by CBI. CBI shall submit its status report to this court by Nov 10."
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
After huge Sunday night commitment, Texas rises to No. 4 in team recruiting rankings
The Texas Longhorns had a great weekend. Not only did former Longhorn Scottie Scheffler win the British Open, but UT got a massive five-star commitment. Derrek Cooper, the No. 2 running back in the 2026 class, committed to Texas on Sunday evening. The pledge has skyrocketed the Horns up the recruiting rankings to No. 4 overall. Cooper is now the fourth highest ranked commitment in Texas's 2026 class, behind quarterback Dia Bell, linebacker Tyler Atkinson, and EDGE Richard Wesley. Things looked kind of dark for Texas recruiting in early July. The high-profile commitment of five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo to Texas Tech stung. The Horns lost nine recruiting battles in a row after Wesley committed in late June. But things turned around 10 days ago with the commitment of four-star CB Samari Matthews. Texas beat out South Carolina, Miami and Florida State. Four days later, Atkinson committed to UT over Georgia, Clemson, and Oregon. A day later, Steve Sarkisian was able to flip five-star Georgia commit James Johnson. The flurry of commitments has lifted Texas to No. 6 in the team recruiting rankings. Cooper has given the overall class another boost to No. 4. UT also has the second most five-star commits of anyone in the nation. Sark has pledges from the No. 1 QB, No. 1 linebacker, No. 1 defensive lineman, No. 2 running back and No. 3 edge rusher. Any worries over the quality of this recruiting class has been put to rest. Many of the Texas 2026 class have also had a great summer. Bell, Arch Manning's probable heir apparent, was named the MVP of the exclusive Elite 11 QB event. His performance immediately was reflected in the rankings, as he was boosted to the No. 1 QB recruit in the country. Wesley was dominant at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. The Longhorns had the No. 1 recruiting class in 2025. And while Sark and the recruiting team at Texas isn't done yet, the past 10 days have set UT on the path to another top five class and it may end up win another recruiting title before the cycle is done. Follow us on X/Twitter at @LonghornsWire.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chandigarh Congress criticises UT administration for demolition of Furniture Market
1 2 Chandigarh: Chandigarh Congress on Sunday criticised the UT administration for bulldozing and demolishing the decades-old Furniture Market, leaving hundreds of shopkeepers devastated and rendering scores of workers jobless. Congress stated that the action was undertaken in disregard of the Honourable High Court's observation that a sympathetic view be taken and that efforts be made by the administration to see if alternate sites could be allotted to the affected parties to continue their livelihood. "Rather than pursuing a humane and consultative process, the administration opted for an abrupt and arbitrary demolition without reasonable time for evacuation and without any arrangement for the protection or relocation of inventory and assets. As a result, numerous shopkeepers suffered irreparable financial losses, losing not only their goods and furniture but also the very foundations of their businesses," Congress said. Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky strongly condemned the administration's insensitivity, saying, "What we are witnessing is not governance, but a systematic dismantling of the social fabric that binds our city. The administration has shown no regard for human suffering and no commitment to the principles of a welfare state. We demand that an immediate and comprehensive rehabilitation scheme be introduced and that alternate sites be allotted to the affected shopkeepers to enable them to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Anything less would be a betrayal of the very ethos of governance in a democratic and socialist republic." The Congress stated that it stands firmly with the affected families and pledges to raise this matter at every appropriate forum until justice is served. It is imperative that the administration is held accountable for this gross overreach and made to answer for its repeated failure to act with fairness, compassion, and responsibility. Lucky also criticised the Modi-led central govt, under whom the Chandigarh administration works directly, for failing to provide relief to these decades-old establishments. (Photos Pritam Thakur)
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Amarnath Yatra: 18th batch of pilgrims leaves from Jammu base camp to Kashmir
18th batch leaves from Jammu base camp to Kashmir JAMMU: The 18 batch of pilgrims on Shri Amarnath Yatra comprising 4,388 devotees left for the holy cave shrine situated in the Himalayas in south Kashmir on Sunday morning from two base camps in Jammu. 'A batch of 1,573 left for Baltal in a fleet of 64 vehicles escorted by security squad at 3.30am, while a second batch of 2,815 pilgrims left in a convoy of 115 vehicles at 4am,' officials said. The 38-day annual pilgrimage started from two routes after the first batch was flagged off from here by the lieutenant governor of the UT, Manoj Sinha, on July 2. The Shri Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to conclude on Aug 9 on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima coinciding with Rakshbandhan. This year, with an objective of bolstering security during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, the UT govt declared all the routes of the yatra as "No Flying Zones", including Pahalgam axis and Baltal axis, from July 1 to Aug 10.
