KNOXVILLE (AP) — Maybe $20 million would make the University of Tennessee change its mind about turning down a chance to play Virginia Tech at Bristol Motor Speedway. Bruton Smith, chairman and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, which owns the half-mile track with steep, stadium-style seating, says he will offer $20 million to both schools to…

By ROB NUNLEY / Columnist The Pioneers find themselves in an unfamiliar position tonight, when DeKalb County comes calling for the second high school game of the WCHS season.Not only is Warren County undefeated, it is also — are you ready for this? — the favorite.The numbers don’t lie, Pioneer fans.Checking the Sonny Moore Power…

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard A packed Nunley Stadium crowd cheers the Pioneers on to victory. WCHS fans are hoping for plenty more to cheer about tonight, when the Pioneers play host to DeKalb County. (Dale Stubblefield photos) Warren County will look to accomplish something it hasn’t done in six…

James Clark photos Warren County High School varsity cheerleaders hold up the banner the football team will run through before tonight’s home game against DeKalb County. The Pioneers are trying for a 2-0 start. Pictured, from left, are cheerleaders Shelby Parsley, Jac Smartt, Kirsten King, Candace Moore, Kayla Freeman, Sara Wilcher, Chelsey Beaty, Amy Jones,…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard Ten people were sentenced Wednesday in Circuit Court by Judge Bart Stanley.Included in sentencing action: James Turner was given a three-year penitentiary sentence and must pay $2,000 plus court costs for manufacture of meth. Joshua Dayton was handed an 11-29 probationary sentence and must pay…

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard A 49-person docket was heard Tuesday by Judge Larry Ross in General Sessions Court.Included in court action: Russell Ashbury II was bound over to the grand jury on charges of burglary, vandalism, theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Randolph L. Brown was…

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Police talked to relatives and acquaintances of Dwight Gooden for a third day Wednesday in their effort to find and arrest the former baseball star, who fled after being pulled over on suspicion of drunken driving. Authorities say the 41-year-old Gooden was visibly intoxicated when he was pulled over for driving…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The NCAA added an extra year to South Carolina’s self-imposed two years’ probation, but did not impose sanctions on TV or postseason appearances for 10 violations that occurred during the tenure of retired football coach Lou Holtz. The NCAA Committee on Infractions reviewed South Carolina’s case earlier this month. Committee vice…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Every training camp, Tennessee receiver Drew Bennett prepares for the upcoming season with the same approach that helped a one-time undrafted free agent land a job on an NFL roster. Enter new receivers coach Ray Sherman, who has helped Bennett find a new area for improvement. “Basically, it’s release off the line…

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans came into training camp with plenty of questions and lots of holes to fill. They broke camp Wednesday with a few answers and much higher expectations than a month ago. Center Justin Hartwig said he feels much better about the Titans after an offseason in which eight veterans were…