Wiedmer: Vols impressing more than fans

By Mark Wiedmer September 7, 2014 5 min read

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Knitting Mill gets new owner and plansAntique mall on North Shore to close by end of August

The Knitting Mill, at 205 Manufacturer's Rd., is soon to be sold and repurposed. The 20,000-square-foot first floor of the old building presently offers anitques.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 7/27/16. David Woodbery, developer and owner of the future Signal Mill office and retail development, speaks about his recent acquisition of the building where Knitting Mill Antiques currently resides and what he plans to do to it on Wednesday, July 27, 2016.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 7/27/16. A vendor enters Knitting Mill Antiques which was recently purchased and will become the Signal Mill office and retail development complex.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 7/27/16. Vendors inside of Knitting Mill Antiques are discounting merchandise after the building was recently purchased and will become the Signal Mill office and retail development complex.

Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 7/27/16. Knitting Mill Antiques was recently purchased and will become the Signal Mill office and retail development complex.

Jalen Hurd carries in the game against Arkansas State.

KNOXVILLE – Years ago, when Phillip Fulmer was still the Tennessee football coach, Trooper Taylor coached the Volunteers’ receivers and recruited many of their top players. He later worked for Oklahoma State and Auburn. Saturday found him back in Neyland Stadium, but as an assistant on Arkansas State’s staff.

To make matters more interesting, his son, Blaise Taylor, is a freshman kick returner for the Red Wolves.

But when ASU’s 34-19 loss to the Vols ended his return to Big Orange Country, Taylor wasn’t revisiting his past as much as hyping the Vols’ future under second-year coach Butch Jones and his staff.

“Their attention to detail is unbelievable,” he said. “We did everything we could to find tips [to what plays the Vols would run]. There were none. Those coaches do a phenomenal job.”

Backing up Taylor’s sweet words, Vols sophomore wideout Marquez North said after two touchdown grabs against ASU: “[Assistant coach Zach Azzanni] teaches us technique. It doesn’t matter if you are first-string or fourth-string. He is a perfectionist, so if someone goes down he expects us to go in and not miss a beat.”