Noah Taylor
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Noah Taylor
@bynoahtaylor.bsky.social
Journalist, writer, storyteller at VolReport.com. Chronicler of Tennessee football. UT J-school alum. Romans 8:18.
Pinned
“It’s just an incredible story.”

Bob Kesling stood in the end zone at Neyland Stadium a few weeks ago. Where ears have been fixated on him for 25 years, now it was eyes.

On taking a chance, making some breaks and becoming the Voice of the Vols.
How 'Voice of the Vols' Bob Kesling created 'magic' on radio for 25 years
The story of how the "Voice of the Vols" got his start at Tennessee and the career that followed.
tennessee.rivals.com
A lot of eyes were on Tennessee during its run to the College Football Playoff.

The Vols drew 5.4 million TV viewers in the regular season according to Nielsen Ratings—the fifth most in college football.

READ tennessee.rivals.com/news/tennessee-football-among-most-watched-teams-in-2024
December 13, 2024 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Noah Taylor
Tennessee’s “everything school” claim isn’t a new one.

Here is a clip from a 1960s recruiting film, voiced, written and edited by John Ward, touting the school’s athletics and facilities.

🎥 Vol Network Archive
December 13, 2024 at 6:06 PM
Dylan Sampson continues to show up in the post-regular season award circuit.

The Tennessee running back has been tabbed to the Walter Camp All-America Team.

READ tennessee.rivals.com/news/vols-dylan-sampson-tabbed-walter-camp-all-american
December 13, 2024 at 2:08 PM
Tennessee is back in Madison Square Garden tonight.

I wrote about the Vols’ first trip to the Garden in 1969, one week in New York City and a memorable run in the NIT.

“It was a big deal.”

tennessee.rivals.com/news/revisiting-vols-first-trip-to-madison-square-garden-1969-nit-run
December 10, 2024 at 2:17 PM
Tennessee is in the College Football Playoff for the first time.

I take a look back at a handful of past Vols teams that could have made the playoff under the current format—and possibly won it all.

READ tennessee.rivals.com/news/past-tennessee-football-teams-that-could-have-made-playoff-and-won
December 8, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Former Tennessee head coach Bill Battle passed away at the age of 82 last week.

I wrote about his tenure and the games and players that helped define it.

READ tennessee.rivals.com/news/bill-battle-era-at-tennessee-was-highlighted-by-memorable-moments
December 2, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Tennessee is the No. 1 team in college basketball, at least according to one metric.

The Vols sit atop the latest NET rankings through the first month of the season.

READ tennessee.rivals.com/news/tennessee-basketball-sits-atop-sec-heavy-net-rankings
December 2, 2024 at 3:22 PM
Tennessee was backed up to its own end zone late on Saturday and inching closer.

Then Nico Iamaleava orchestrated a game-changing drive that has the Vols in the College Football Playoff.

READ tennessee.rivals.com/news/inside-tennessee-s-game-changing-first-half-drive-at-vanderbilt
December 1, 2024 at 10:07 PM
Missed any stories this week?

Catch up on some pregame reading before Tennessee’s regular season finale at Vanderbilt in the Gameday Newsstand.

📰 Tennessee.rivals.com/news/the-gameday-newsstand-headlines-stories-ahead-of-tennessee-vanderbilt
November 30, 2024 at 12:58 PM
Tennessee’s national title hopes were hanging by a thread in 1951. Billy Wade nearly severed it.

But Herky Payne and Andy Kozar won the day.

On that game and other Tennessee-Vanderbilt clashes

READ Tennessee.rivals.com/news/series-snapshot-a-look-at-past-high-stakes-tennessee-vanderbilt-games
November 28, 2024 at 9:31 PM
No. 7 Tennessee returns to Food City Center for the first time in nearly two weeks on Wednesday.

The Vols (6-0) host UT Martin (2-4), looking to cap a dominant month of November.

tennessee.rivals.com/news/tenness...
November 27, 2024 at 3:32 PM
BREAKING: The College Football Playoff rankings are out.

Tennessee is back in the playoff picture, jumping to No. 8 ahead of its regular season finale at Vanderbilt.

tennessee.rivals.com/news/where-t...
Where Tennessee stands in latest College Football Playoff Top 25
The latest College Football Playoff rankings are out. Here is where the Vols stand.
tennessee.rivals.com
November 27, 2024 at 1:37 AM
Dylan Sampson’s historic contributions to Tennessee’s offense this season have evidently been ignored by the national pollsters.

They aren’t lost on De’Rail Sims.

“He’s the best back in the country.”

tennessee.rivals.com/news/why-de-rail-sims-thinks-dylan-sampson-is-best-back-in-the-country-
November 26, 2024 at 10:10 PM
Josh Heupel addressed it on Monday. Dylan Sampson is aware of it.

Tennessee’s regular season finale against rival Vanderbilt on Saturday has sudden national significance.

“It’s going to be a fight."

tennessee.rivals.com/news/vols-understand-relish-playoff-game-against-rival-vanderbilt
November 25, 2024 at 8:41 PM
Reposted by Noah Taylor
Tennessee-Vanderbilt week.
November 24, 2024 at 10:32 PM
Tennessee’s convincing win over UTEP and a Saturday of shake-ups in college football moved the Vols up in the polls Sunday.

Here is where they stand in the latest AP Top 25.

Tennessee.rivals.com/news/where-tennessee-football-stands-in-ap-top-25-this-week
November 24, 2024 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Noah Taylor
Tennessee’s convincing win over UTEP and a Saturday of shake-ups in college football moved the Vols up in the polls Sunday.

Here is where they stand in the latest AP Top 25.

➡️ Tennessee.rivals.com/news/where-tennessee-football-stands-in-ap-top-25-this-week
November 24, 2024 at 7:12 PM
Tennessee rolled to a 56-0 victory over UTEP on Senior Day at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols are 9-2 heading into their regular season finale against Vanderbilt next week.

How it happened:

tennessee.rivals.com/news/vols-offense-comes-to-life-in-second-quarter-blows-out-utep-on-senior-day
November 23, 2024 at 9:46 PM
BREAKING: Another record for Dylan Sampson.

He breaks Gene McEver's single-season touchdown record previously set in 1929 with his 22nd score of the year.

tennessee.rivals.com/news/dylan-sampson-breaks-another-tennessee-football-record
November 23, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Missed any stories this week?

Catch up on some pregame reading in the Gameday Newsstand before Tennessee plays UTEP this afternoon.

tennessee.rivals.com/news/the-gameday-newsstand-no-11-tennessee-vs-utep
November 23, 2024 at 3:09 PM

Chaz Lanier set an early tone and No. 11 Tennessee rolled to a convincing 77-62 over No. 13 Baylor in the Baha Mar Championship late Friday.

How it happened:
Chaz Lanier sets early tone, Vols rout Baylor in Baha Mar finale
Tennessee played Baylor in the Baha Mar Championship. Here's what happened.
tennessee.rivals.com
November 23, 2024 at 4:30 AM
Tennessee will play UTEP for probably/maybe/possibly the final time at Neyland Stadium in 2024 on Saturday.

Everything you need to know about the match up.

tennessee.rivals.com/news/tennessee-vs-utep-game-information-notes-storylines
November 22, 2024 at 10:43 PM
A day after beating Virginia, No. 11 Tennessee will face No. 13 Baylor in the Baha Mar Championship Game on Friday.

Here is everything you need to know about the match up.
Tennessee vs. Baylor: Game information, lineups, notes
Everything you need to know about Tennessee’s top 15 matchup with Baylor on Friday.
tennessee.rivals.com
November 22, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Tennessee blew past Virginia in the second half, pulling away behind stellar outings from Chaz Lanier and Igor Milicic Jr. and a suffocating defense to win, 64-42.

How it happened:
No. 11 Tennessee runs away from Virginia in Baha Mar Championship
Tennessee played Virginia in the Baha Mar Championship on Thursday. Here's what happened.
tennessee.rivals.com
November 22, 2024 at 5:21 AM
Reposted by Noah Taylor
“It’s just an incredible story.”

Bob Kesling stood in the end zone at Neyland Stadium a few weeks ago. Where ears have been fixated on him for 25 years, now it was eyes.

On taking a chance, making some breaks and becoming the Voice of the Vols.
How 'Voice of the Vols' Bob Kesling created 'magic' on radio for 25 years
The story of how the "Voice of the Vols" got his start at Tennessee and the career that followed.
tennessee.rivals.com
November 20, 2024 at 2:11 PM