On this week's episode of the RTI: Press Pass, hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are breaking down all of the latest news around Vol Hoops' newest transfer additions in Felix Okpara and Igor Milicic Jr. The guys talk about the strengths of both players, how they mesh with the guys Tennessee has, what they did before committing to Tennessee, and what's next/left for the Vols in the transfer portal. Ric and Ryan then get into some NFL Draft talk and give their reactions to Tennessee's trio of se...
Apr 29, 2024•56 min•Ep 154•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of the RTI: Press Pass, Jack and Ryan are back to discuss Tennessee baseball’s series sweep over Missouri in Knoxville. Tennessee’s pitching staff arguably had its best weekend yet. Has Tennessee’s ceiling changed due to the growing depth of the pitching staff? Kirby Connell and AJ Causey were great, but don’t gloss over what Drew Beam and Aaron Combs did. Plus, CMo continues to rake, Blake Burke had a historic streak get broken, and the defense put on a show in game two. ...
Apr 29, 2024•37 min•Ep 155•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of the RTI: Press Pass podcast, hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are back to break down Tennessee baseball’s series win at Kentucky and talk about how the Vols’ performance changes their ceiling this season. Christian Moore was the MVP, and Aaron Combs provided another huge relief performance. Plus, what role could Marcus Phillips and Colby Backus have moving forward? Finally, Jack and Ryan end by discussing the upcoming Missouri series. Download and subscribe today! -...
Apr 25, 2024•42 min•Ep 153•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of RTI: Press Pass, Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are back to discuss all they’ve seen from Tennessee baseball’s series sweep over LSU and midweek win over Bellarmine. Are all pitching concerns subsided? What pitching rotation allows the team to reach its ceiling? What should the expectation be this weekend at No. 3 Kentucky? Aaron Combs’ past two appearances have been highly encouraging, and Andrew Behnke’s return could mean big things. Plus, Reese Chapman continues to i...
Apr 17, 2024•33 min•Ep 152•Transcript available on Metacast Check out the latest episode of the RTI: Press Pass as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are breaking down the madness of the transfer portal! The guys start the show by talking about Tennessee Basketball's addition of Darlinstone Dubar from the portal and hit some of the crazier stories from the college basketball world this past week. Ric and Ryan then close down the show by talking about Elijah Herring's departure into the portal, what Tennessee's linebacker room looks like, and what the Vo...
Apr 16, 2024•44 min•Ep 151•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of RTI: Press Pass, hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are back to discuss all they’ve seen from Tennessee baseball in the past four games. Who should Tony Vitello start on the mound Friday against LSU? Should Drew Beam be moved to Friday? Is this the best offense in the Tony Vitello era? What is the most optimal lineup offensively? All that and more in the most recent Rocky Top Insider Press Pass baseball podcast. Download and subscribe today! - - - Stay connected to Ro...
Apr 11, 2024•35 min•Ep 150•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back into the RTI: Press Pass Baseball Edition as hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are here again to break down Tennessee baseball’s series win over Georgia in Lindsey Nelson Stadium and discuss their thoughts on the team moving forward. How important will Kirby Connell be this season? Cause for concern after Causey and Beam’s outings? How about Zander Sechrist! Plus, Kavares Tears and Dylan Dreiling continue to rake, Dalton Bargo is BACK, and what to make of outfield + catcher rotat...
Apr 03, 2024•36 min•Ep 149•Transcript available on Metacast Basketball recap starts at 7:00 - - - Welcome back to another episode of the RTI: Press Pass as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are back in Knoxville to wrap up the Tennessee basketball season after trips to Nashville, Charlotte, and Detroit. The guys start the show with an NCAA tournament breakdown and talk about Tennessee's four games being representative of the season as a whole. The guys then move into some broad thoughts on the season before individually detailing the senior's legacy on...
Apr 02, 2024•58 min•Ep 148•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to the RTI: Press Pass podcast as it's a big double-episode edition of the show. Hosts Ric Butler and Jack Foster start off the podcast with a Sweet 16 basketball preview with Tennessee's matchup against Creighton just right around the corner. The guys talk about keys to the game, X-Factors from both sides, and much more. Stick around for the second half of the show as Ryan and Jack Foster are breaking down the latest news around Tennessee Baseball. Download and subscribe today! - -...
Mar 28, 2024•54 min•Ep 147•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to the RTI: Press Pass as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are reacting to the March Madness bracket from an empty Thompson-Boling Arena on Sunday night. Ryan and Ric start out by talking about their reactions to Tennessee's 2-seed draw against 15-seed Saint Peter's in the first round and the trio of options that Tennessee could face in the second round. The guys detail the tough competition in the Midwest Region and break down the most interesting results from the SEC teams arou...
Mar 18, 2024•31 min•Ep 146•Transcript available on Metacast On this week's episode of RTI: Press Pass, hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are back to discuss everything they’ve seen in Lindsey Nelson Stadium over the past week. Has AJ Causey locked down a weekend starting role? Will Nate Snead be the new Chase Burns? How great is this offense? Has Dylan Dreiling quietly been one of Tennessee’s best players? Plus, what to make of Blake Burke’s hot start, the DH spot, the catcher position, the pecking order in the bullpen and more as Tennessee heads into...
Mar 14, 2024•38 min•Ep 145•Transcript available on Metacast Check out the latest episode of the RTI: Press Pass podcast as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are previewing the upcoming SEC Tournament in Nashville. The guys break down tournament storylines, potential Tennessee matchups, keys for the Vols, which Tennessee players need to step up, and much more. Ryan and Ric close the show by talking about Santiago Vescovi, the 1-seed vs 2-seed conversation, a Tennessee-perspective rooting guide for the tournament, and much more. Download and subscribe to...
Mar 14, 2024•36 min•Ep 144•Transcript available on Metacast The RTI: Press Pass podcast is back again as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are breaking down Tennessee's win over South Carolina that officially gave the Vols the 2023-2024 outright SEC regular season championship. Ric and Ryan break down Tennessee's game against South Carolina itself and then move into a broad look at the Vols' season as a whole. The guys finish the show out by discussing Tennessee's solid chances at landing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and what things will look li...
Mar 07, 2024•28 min•Ep 143•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to another episode of the RTI: Press Pass podcast as hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are back again to discuss the Vols’ series sweep over Bowling Green in which they picked up three run-rule victories. What stood out the most from the pitching staff? Who had the best weekends at the plate? Did we learn anything about the outfield rotation? Jack and Ryan discuss all those things and more in the latest RTI Press Pass Baseball Podcast. You won't want to miss this one... Download ...
Mar 04, 2024•31 min•Ep 142•Transcript available on Metacast The RTI: Press Pass podcast is back again as hosts Ric Butler, Ryan Schumpert, and Jack Foster are breaking down Dalton Knecht's dominant game against Auburn on Wednesday night in Knoxville. The guys discuss why Tennessee is positioned for a good tournament run, the SEC standings, Tennessee's final three games, and the best NCAA tournament player runs. After some quick baseball nuggets in the transition, the guys then give some final thoughts on the injunction that was granted to Tennessee and V...
Feb 29, 2024•55 min•Ep 141•Transcript available on Metacast Host Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are back discussing Tennessee baseball’s sweep over UAlbany and what the biggest storylines are regarding the Vols’ first weekend in Lindsey Nelson Stadium in 2024. AJ Russell is dealing with some soreness. What could this mean for next weekend? Has Tennessee found its shortstop? Could the outfield look much differently than we all thought? Is the day three starter still just as much in the air as it was last week? Is Robin Villeneuve a MUST-HAVE in the lineup...
Feb 26, 2024•34 min•Ep 140•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome back to a brand-new episode of the RTI: Press Pass podcast as hosts Ric Butler, Ryan Schumpert, and Jack Foster are breaking down the latest week in Tennessee Athletics. The guys start the show by talking about Tennessee football's new coaching hires in William Inge and De'Rail Sims before moving on to some early talk on the upcoming EA College Football 25 video game. Who is Tennessee's highest-rated player? We take our guesses. The guys also talk about the new 12-team playoff format. Wi...
Feb 23, 2024•48 min•Ep 139•Transcript available on Metacast Hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert break down Tennessee baseball’s 4-1 start to the 2024 season, discussing a wide range of topics and bringing up any questions left unanswered about the team moving forward. The Sunday starter is still not solidified. Could/should AJ Causey be that guy? Which bullpen arms have impressed the most? Billy Amick and Christian Moore are the best hitters on the team, but Kavares Tears is up there with them. Plus, the guys discuss AJ Russell’s upside, Dean Curley’s e...
Feb 23, 2024•42 min•Ep 138•Transcript available on Metacast The RTI: Press Pass is back again with a HUGE baseball show as hosts Jack Foster and Ryan Schumpert are doing a comprehensive preview of the 2024 Tennessee baseball season, taking an in-depth look at each position and telling you all the names you need to know ahead of the season. Additionally, Jack and Ryan answer the big questions heading into the season along with giving X-factors and bold predictions. You won't want to miss this episode before the start of the season! Download and subscribe ...
Feb 09, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep 137•Transcript available on Metacast What is Tennessee's path to the SEC regular season title? Hosts Ric Butler, Ryan Schumpert, and Jack Foster are back for another episode of the RTI Press Pass and break down that question and much, much more. The guys start the show by recapping some of the NCAA lawsuit conversation while also mentioning the Super Bowl and Nick Saban's new role at ESPN. After some football conversation, the guys then move on to Tennessee basketball and break down exactly what the first half of the season looks l...
Feb 08, 2024•59 min•Ep 136•Transcript available on Metacast The RTI Press Pass podcast is back for a HUGE episode as hosts Ric Butler, Ryan Schumpert, and Jack Foster are breaking down the wild 36 hours in the Tennessee vs NCAA war that was brought to light on Tuesday. The guys break down the timeline of events and then discuss the reactions by Donde Plowman, Tennessee's Attorney General, and more university figures and state officials who have come together in support of the Vols. The trio discuss their reactions to the investigation and lawsuit and tal...
Jan 31, 2024•59 min•Ep 135•Transcript available on Metacast The RTI Press Pass podcast is back again as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are breaking down a massive week for Tennessee football recruiting and Vol Hoops on the court. The guys start the show by breaking down Tennessee's two transfer portal additions and quarterback commit George MacIntyre from Sunday and Monday. Ric and Ryan break down where the short-term and long-term benefits will be and how it helped Tennessee in the rankings. The guys then touch on a few more scattered football topi...
Jan 23, 2024•52 min•Ep 134•Transcript available on Metacast RTI hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert break down Tennessee's 20-point win over Alabama on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. - - - Stay connected to Rocky Top Insider for ALL of your Tennessee Sports news, content, and coverage: Online: www.RockyTopInsider.com Twitter: @RockyTopInsider Instagram: @RockyTopInsider TikTok & YouTube: @RockyTopInsider Facebook: Rocky Top Insider Apple Podcasts/Spotify/Amazon: RTI Press Pass RTI Writers: @Ric_Butler, @RSchump00, & @JackFosterMedia on Twitter ...
Jan 20, 2024•12 min•Ep 133•Transcript available on Metacast The Rocky Top Insider Press Pass podcast is back again as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are talking Tennessee Athletics in 2024. The guys start by discussing the big news of the week with Nick Saban's retirement and how that positively relates to one of the Vols' top targets on the recruiting trail in the class of 2025. Ric and Ryan also talk about some need-to-know transfer portal names for Tennessee football before moving into basketball talk. The guys then finish out the show by talking...
Jan 12, 2024•43 min•Ep 132•Transcript available on Metacast The Rocky Top Insider Press Pass podcast is back again as hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are in Knoxville talking about the transition period from 2023 to 2024. The guys start the show with some football conversation, breaking down their closing thoughts on the Citrus Bowl and the play of Nico Iamaleava and James Pearce Jr, as well as what the future looks like with both of them. They also get into some individual player movement including Gerald Mincey hitting the transfer portal and Bru M...
Jan 05, 2024•43 min•Ep 131•Transcript available on Metacast The Rocky Top Insider Press Pass podcast is back again as hosts Ric Butler and Jack Foster are live in Orlando breaking down the Vols' win over Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The guys start out the show by talking about their overall experience from the Citrus Bowl before diving into their broad thoughts on the game. The big topic of the day is quarterback Nico Iamaleava as he racked up four touchdowns in the Vols' 35-0 win with three on the ground and one through the air. The guys discuss Ia...
Jan 02, 2024•31 min•Ep 130•Transcript available on Metacast The RTI: Press Pass podcast is back for a big episode on Thursday after the announcement of Tennessee's full Early Signing Day class on Wednesday afternoon in Knoxville. RTI hosts Ric Butler and Ryan Schumpert are talking about the good and bad of the class overall while also breaking down some of their favorite prospects from the list. The guys then get into who the early enrollees are, what Tennessee's incoming transfer portal situation looks like, and what in the world is happening with the F...
Dec 21, 2023•55 min•Ep 129•Transcript available on Metacast Check out the latest episode of Rocky Top Insider Press Pass as hosts Ric Butler, Ryan Schumpert, and Jack Foster are talking about all of the December news around Tennessee Athletics. The guys talk about Rick Barnes' coaching milestone before diving into a big Tennessee football conversation, breaking down the Vols' 2024 football schedule week by week and figuring out the toughest stretches during the season. The guys then move into some quick transfer portal talk with Tennessee's incoming and ...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep 128•Transcript available on Metacast Check out the latest episode of RTI: Press Pass as hosts Ryan Schumpert, Ric Butler, and Jack Foster are breaking down the latest news around Tennessee Athletics. The guys discuss the Vols' Citrus Bowl bid, Iowa, transfer portal activity in and around the SEC, and much more. They then close out Thursday's podcast with a look at the Tennessee basketball team coming off of Jonas Aidoo's big game against George Mason on Tuesday night. Download and subscribe today! - - - Stay connected to Rocky Top ...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr•Ep 127•Transcript available on Metacast The Rocky Top Insider Press Pass podcast is back for the middle of the hybrid Bowl Season/Basketball Season podcast. Hosts Ric Butler, Ryan Schumpert, and Jack Foster are back in the studio and start the show by talking about the upcoming 1997 Heisman documentary and the elusive porch pirates. The guys then get into a long football season recap featuring final thoughts, a look back at the season, a look at the transfer portal and bowl possibilities, a glance at the 2024 schedule, and more. They ...
Dec 01, 2023•58 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast 
