Venom Jolly, Kelly Named PIFL Players of the Week
NASHVILLE- The Professional Indoor Football League announced that two Nashville Venom players were named Player of the Week for games played in Week Eight. Wide receiver Jordan Jolly won the offensive award and linebacker Anthony Kelly won on defense. Jolly, who was a healthy scratch two weeks ago, caught 13 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly had three total tackles; an interception and a fumble recovery for a touchdown that helped the Venom get a 53-38 road victory against Lehigh-Valley. The duo are the fourth and fifth Venom players to receive the honor and the second time two Venom players were named in the same week.
“I named the whole team the players of the game because that was a team effort,” said Head Coach Billy Back. “Jordan worked hard this week with new quarterback Charles McCullum. He worked after practice running routes and it showed. We sat him a couple of weeks ago and he got the message. AK has been working his tail off all season. This is a well-deserved honor for both. Winning helps in getting these awards. I hope we keep winning and guys keep being honored.”
Nashville Venom wide receiver Jordon Jolly
Jolly’s 13 receptions and 173 yards are the most this season in the PiFL. The speedy wide out is now second on the team behind Phillip Barnett with eight touchdowns. He joins former quarterback Alex Carder (Week Four. Kicker Garrett Morgan won special teams in the same week) as the only two Venom players to be named player of the week this season.
“We finally got our chemistry where we need it I feel,” said Jolly. “Charles first got in synch with the offensive line then with the receivers. I honestly feel that we have the best receiving group in the league. If one player is down, someone else steps up. This was my week, next week it may be someone else. When coach sat me I decided to take it upon myself to get it going. It felt good to get back on track.”
New Nashville Venom quarterback Charles Mccullum
Kelly joined linebacker Will Johnson as the only two defensive players to score for the Venom this year. Defensive back Corry Stewart was named defensive player of the week in Week Two. Kelly gives credit to the whole team for the honor.
Nashville Venom linebacker Anthony Kelly
“Our defensive line played lights out,” said the four year pro from Florida State. “We they play like that it makes it easy for Will and me to make plays. The secondary was back to their old self. They got their hands on some balls. I am excited to win this award but I know it just wasn’t me that won it.”
Tennessee Tribune High School Sports Information Intern Opportunity
The Tennessee Tribune is offering an opportunity for high school students that are interested in writing to showcase their skills weekly in the Tennessee Tribune Metro Sports Page. The student, which will be chosen by the school, will be responsible for a weekly report on the latest in sports at their school. They will also be asked to submit pictures, schedules and statistics.
Scott Wallace and Jason Sales doing a live broadcast for WTNTribune Radio station
The Metro Sports Page was started in September of 2014. It has made room for three college students to contribute to it as interns. The Tennessee Tribune is at the cutting edge of multi-media concepts. This will allow your student to write stories, be able to work on WTNTribune Radio and also contribute on the weekly video forum Take Ten on Tuesdays.
Scott Wallace and JaQuan Johnson broadcasting for WTNTribune Radio.
This opportunity would expose students into the inner workings of sports writing, broadcasting and get the word out about student athletes from their own perspective. The page is updated throughout the week on the Tennessee Tribune’s website. For more information contact Tennessee Tribune Metro Page Writer Scott Wallace at (615)668-8694 or you can email him at scott.wallace@wtntrib.com.
By Tennessee Tribune Staff Writer
High School All Star Game to Celebrate Fatherhood
On June 14, 2014, The Wallace Family Foundation will host the first annual Scott C. Wallace All Star Weekend. The basketball games will feature unsigned high school girls and boys seniors in the Davidson County area. The event will take place at Maplewood High School and the doors will open at 1:00 p.m. College recruiters and coaches from across the nation will be in attendance as this event is a sort of last ditch effort for graduating seniors to showcase their talents.
“Helping students get to college has been a dream of my husband’s for years,” said Wallace Foundation CEO Harriet Vaughan-Wallace. “The family started the foundation as a Father’s Day gift to him a few years ago. Since then we have been planning to do this as sort of a kick off for it. Scott does a lot of hard work for students that may not get the recognition or exposure from the mainstream media. What is exciting is that no one has said no to us when asked for help with this. We have some extremely distinguished and respected community members on the committee. For us, this is exciting.”
The NFL Alumni Association Chapter of Tennessee led by president and former Tennessee Titan Al Smith is on board. Also, The FANS Inc. and it’s executive director Mark North. Program Manager Robert Taylor of the New Life Fatherhood Program has agreed to sponsor. Former Fisk University basketball coaches Jay Smith and Tony Thompson have agreed to help. A strong contingent from Metropolitan Nashville Public School are helping all including coaches; Ty Wilson, Arcentae Broome and Eric Townsend from Maplewood, Coach Raymond Pratcher of Pearl-Cohn, Coach Avery Patton of East Nashville and MNPS employee Kina Cleveland. Tennessee State University students Michael Curtis and Alicia Bailey and East Nashville basketball mothers Vanessa Scott and Princess Washington have also agreed to be on the committee. Scott’s son Christian was the first to announce he would participate.
“Having my family in this has been extremely special to me,” said Scott Wallace. We also have key people in place to make this a success. When I look at the names of the committee I am humbled. They all have said that they are excited about it. My wife and I believe in leaving a legacy. To have my nephew (Walter Wallace III) design the logos and my son JaQuan to manage and construct the website makes this even better for me. Then to have Mike and Alicia willing to lend their support as students is rewarding to me. Chris Scott agreeing to play is a key. He is the type of player that gets overlooked. He excels in three sports. He will be able to show off his athletic ability. A recruiter may go back to their school and talk to their football or track coach about players like that.”
For more information go to www.wallaceallstarweekend.com or call (615)668-8694.
Antioch Ravens Youth Football Sign-up
The Antioch Ravens have started signing up youth ages 5-12 years old for their youth football and cheerleader teams. The organization is in its inaugural year and hopes that this will be a successful venture. For more information you can go to www.antiochravensyouthfootbal.org or call (615)574-0091.
Bench Press
Tune in every week at 3 p.m. Central Time to the Bench Press hosted by Scott Wallace and Jason Sales on the Tennessee Tribune’s radio station WTNTribune Radio.
Venom Injection
Tune in to WTNTribune Radio every Tuesday and Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Central Time for the only weekly show on the Nashville Venom the Venom Injection Show. Hear from Head Coach Billy Back, Defensive Backs Coach Cromwell Stewart and Venom players about the inside scoop of the only arena football team in Nashville.
