September 1, 2022
By:
Vol Radio Network coverage of University of Tennessee Football expands to two hours prior to kickoff this season.
The pre-game show “Big Orange Countdown” which debuted as a new show last season beginning statewide network coverage at 5 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Central on Thursday (September 1) prior to Tennessee’s season opener versus Ball State. The show is hosted by John Wilkerson, Brent Hubbs, former Vol wide receiver and team captain Jayson Swain (2003-06) and a rotating VFL special guest each week featuring former captain Will Overstreet (DE, 1998-2001) or Chris Brown (TE, 2004-07). For home games, Wilkerson, Hubbs, Swain and Overstreet or Brown will broadcast to a live audience at the amphitheater at Gate 21 outside Neyland Stadium. Fans can ask questions on-site or submit a question via Twitter @VolNetwork or e-mail via AskVolNetwork@gmail.com.
Following “Big Orange Countdown”, Bobby Rader hosts “Spotlight on the SEC” before handing things over to the game broadcast crew 25-minutes prior to kickoff. Bob Kesling begins his 24th year of calling University of Tennessee football games. He will be joined again by former Vol and NFL quarterback Pat Ryan who is entering his second year as color analyst. Network host John Wilkerson, spotter and contributor Brent Hubbs and sideline reporter Kasey Funderburg round out the in-game broadcast crew. Jeff Muir serves as the network’s ace statistician.
The “Big Orange Scoreboard and the Josh Heupel Show” provide complete postgame coverage. Vol Network programming is then capped each game with “The Final Scoreboard” hosted by Wilkerson, Rader and VFLs Troy Fleming (RB, 2000-03) and Erik Ainge (QB, 2004-07).
WJLE AM 1480 will broadcast the season opener and all the pre-game and post-game shows on the VOL Network tonight (September 1) starting at 4 p.m. (Smithville time). All remaining games this season will be broadcast locally on both WJLE AM 1480 and WJLE FM 101.7.