KNOXVILLE -- Willie Mack Garza has never played or coached in the Southeastern Conference.

Standing in the west end zone at Finley Stadium on Thursday, Will Healy looked down and smiled. Still painted on the green artificial turf, beneath a lighter shade of green paint, was a reminder of one of his most special moments.

Evan Swindall won't take his first college course for a few weeks, but the future Ole Miss Rebel is getting an early education in post-high-school football.

They'll continue wearing school colors and cover their drivers with mini-mascots, but Seth Brandon, Jonathan Hodge, Matt Hughes and Adam Mitchell will never play for their universities again.

As the new fiscal year begins, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletic department is having to cut new holes in its budget belt, which keeps getting tighter.

A hectic football recruiting month for the University of Georgia ended Tuesday with yet another pledge.

Fred Tate was one of two assistant coaches retained in early January by new University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman. The other was Jason McManus.

KNOXVILLE -- Offensive linemen Zach Fulton and Marques Pair committed to University of Tennessee football coaches Monday afternoon, becoming the Volunteers' 10th and 11th public pledges for 2010.

Like millions of other American familes, the Curran clan of Signal Mountain bought a satellite dish for the hundreds of channel choices it offers.

KNOXVILLE -- Defining moments near his high school and college graduations eventually led Aaron Ausmus to his dream job.

KNOXVILLE -- Lane Kiffin, like most college coaches, wanted to surround himself with familiar, friendly faces as soon as he took the Tennessee job in December.

Stephen Curry rewrote the Southern Conference basketball record book, took Davidson College on his shoulders and carried the conference on his coattails.

Jacques Smith already has a summer job, one that allows him to put a little money in his pocket before turning his attention to his senior season with the Ooltewah High School football program. But Smith also has taken on the added chore of an unofficial recruiter for the University of Tennessee, hoping to help the Vols pocket a few more prep All-Americans.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Georgia Tech have agreed on a two-year men's basketball contract that will have the Yellow Jackets playing in McKenzie Arena this season.

In another sign University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football may be bucking some forgettable seasons as well as the sluggish economy, all 32 of Finley Stadium's skyboxes could be filled for the upcoming year.