April 5, 2011
Two friendly rivals in the Music City sports television market for many years, Hope Hines and Rudy Kalis, will serve as honorary head coaches for the Black and Gold Spring Game on Sunday, April 17.
Hines of News Channel 5 WTVF and Kalis of WSMV-4 will be assisted by popular Music City radio disc jockeys Mike “MAC” McIntyre of Classic Hits 97.1 and Kenny Smoov of 92Q, Creative Artists Agency singer-songwriter Whitney Duncan and Warner Brothers Nashville artist and actress Jana Kramer.
The game is the featured attraction and final event for James Franklin’s first spring practice as Vanderbilt’s head coach. It will kickoff at 6 p.m., in Vanderbilt Stadium.
The event, which is free of admission, will conclude with a fireworks display over the stadium.
Franklin, who wants to turn the Black and Gold Game into an annual spring highlight for Commodore fans and college football followers throughout Middle Tennessee, is pleased to have the honorary coaches.
“Hope and Rudy have probably watched more football than I have, so I’m sure they’ll make great head coaches,” Franklin said. “They are sure to get plenty of help from Whitney, Jana, Kenny and Mac.
“I’m very appreciative that each of our honorary coaches is joining us to help make this a very special day for our players and fans. I want all of them to have a blast, and leave the game thinking it was a fun thing to do,” the Commodore head coach added.
Hines, who recently announced his pending retirement this summer, joined WTVF as sports director in 1971. After leaving Nashville for television positions in San Diego, New Orleans and Charlotte, Hines returned to Nashville in 1983 and has remained with the CBS affiliate ever since.
During his career, Hines has been named Best Sportscaster in the Southeast. Recently, he was named a recipient of the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for 25 years of distinguished service to the industry.
Kalis, sports director at WSMV, joined the Nashville station in 1974. At Channel 4, he’s won four Local Emmy’s for outstanding Sportscast and Commentary. He won a National Iris Award for outstanding locally produced documentary and he has been voted the Outstanding TV Sportscaster in Nashville 12 times by the Nashville Scene. He has also won the Associated Press Award for the Outstanding Sportscast in Tennessee 12 times.
A native of Michigan, Kramer is rising country music artist who has currently more known to America as Alex Dupre of The CW’s popular television show One Tree Hill. She has been part of the One Tree Hill cast for three years, after appearing previously in Friday Night Lights, 90210 and Entourage. Signed by Warner Brothers in February, Kramer’s single “I Won’t Give Up” was recently featured on an episode of One Tree Hill.
Last Sunday, Kramer co-hosted CBS’ red carpet coverage of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards Show from Las Vegas.
Duncan is a singer-songwriter who grew up in the Scotts Hill community of west Tennessee. She lists her musical influences from Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain and Martina McBride to Elvis Presley and Brooks & Dunn. A former finalist in the Nashville Star competition, Duncan opened the 2010 CMA Music Festival.
McIntyre is the afternoon drive host for 97.1 Classic Hits, the flagship station for Vanderbilt football and men’s basketball. He is a 22-year radio veteran who also serves as arena announcer for the Nashville Predators.
Smoov, host of 92Q’s popular midday show, is a 13-year radio veteran with programming stints throughout the Southeast. Among the industry awards to Smoov’s credit are Billboard Radio Personality of the Year for small markets, America’s top-rated urban station during 1999 at KBCE in Alexandria, and NAACP Image Award in South Carolina.
