Latest news with #UniversityofTennesseeAthletics
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Photographer suffers a few minor bruises after bald eagle lands on him at Knoxville Smokies game
Photographer suffers a few minor bruises after bald eagle lands on him at Knoxville Smokies game Ryan Beatty, a University of Tennessee Athletics photography intern, likes to keep a low profile when he's on the job. But last night, he was the center of attention. Beatty was shooting photos at the Knoxville Smokies home opener on April 15 when something unexpected happened: He was attacked by a trained bald eagle flying through the stadium. Advertisement As the national anthem boomed through the brand-new Covenant Health Park, Lincoln, a 27-year-old bald eagle, performed one of his famous stadium flyovers. After a few laps around the ballpark, Lincoln swooped down on top of Beatty, who was standing alone in the outfield photographing the patriotic moment. He saw the bird fly closer before Lincoln landed briefly on Beatty's hip. Beatty quickly moved toward the Boy Scouts holding the massive American flag to reduce the likelihood that the bird would come at him again. Lincoln the bald eagle tries to land on photographer Ryan Beatty in the outfield during opening day of the Knoxville Smokies at Covenant Health Park in Downtown Knoxville on April 15, 2025. "It was scary, but it was cool," Beatty said. "I went through a whirlwind of emotions." Advertisement Beatty walked away with only a few bruises and a good story to tell. After the miscue, Lincoln's handlers blew a whistle to get the bird's attention. They safely collected him and brought him to home plate as the crowd cheered. "Lincoln is a total pro. He's never missed his mark before so we believe it may have been the fireworks. Practice was smooth as could be and that was the only variable," Jessica Hall, American Eagle Foundation executive director, told Knox News. Lincoln is a highly trained bird from the American Eagle Foundation in East Tennessee, the operator of the nation's largest bald eagle sanctuary. Last season, he regularly performed flyovers before Philadelphia Eagles games. Advertisement The UT Sophomore is OK, and said representatives from the American Eagle Foundation checked up on him. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Bald eagle lands on photographer at Knoxville Smokies game
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Knoxville native Jordan James becomes first male athlete to join Tennessee dance team
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — When football, basketball and track just didn't seem like the right fit, Jordan James found himself in a dance class. 'I had a little jazz funk class. I didn't care a care in the world. I probably looked like a hot mess throwing my body around,' said James. That was the start of James feeling like he found his place. About seven years later, that place became Tennessee. Chaz Lanier wins prestigious Jerry West Award 'At first I was a little iffy about dancing in college. And then I went on a tour with two of my current teammates, Mercedes and Alana, and they like really made me feel comfortable here and like this could be my future home for the next four years,' James said. 'Then I went to a clinic, I think that's when I realized this is where I wanna be. I'm gonna keep working at it until I can dance for the Vols.' While a guy had never made the Tennessee dance team, around the country, they had. 'I think once one person did it or you see like another person its kind of like a trend that starts, I saw a couple guys on a college dance team and I was like 'oh, I want to do that.' And I didn't know not necessarily that it was possible but that was an option for me. You never know if it's an option for you until you try,' said James. Now proudly wearing the orange and white, James is among those who once inspired him. CONTINUING COVERAGE: University of Tennessee Athletics 'I think it's so important to me because there's nothing worse than feeling defeated or why bother trying, so like seeing someone else that is representing the boys in the dance community I think its really important to have that representation of if I can do it you can do it,' James said. The freshman in a position to show younger dancers that there's a space to find their place, just like he did. 'When people come up to me with that, it just makes means the world to me because just like knowing that I've inspired other people,' said James, 'I'm had people contact, DM me, in various other ways but in person at a basketball game or football game like OMG, you've inspired me so much I just get overwhelmed with joy.' ▶ See more top stories on While it's it's cool to be the first guy dancer at Tennessee, James talked about how he doesn't necessarily look at it that way, saying he's just another person on the team and there to represent the Vols in every way possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
