NFL draft, Nashville marathon planners coordinate two gigantic events happening at same time

Officials from the NFL and the St. Jude Rock 'N' Roll Nashville Marathon & Half-Marathon got together Wednesday to talk about something big.

In fact, they talked about two big things — the 2019 NFL Draft and the Nashville marathon — which will both happen over the same weekend in April.

The draft is April 25-27 and the marathon, including its registration and expo, will be April 25-28. The marathon and half-marathon will be on April 27 and will be winding down as the last rounds of the draft start.

The marathon annually brings about 60,000 people to town.

More than 100,000 showed up for the first day of the 2018 NFL Draft Experience in Dallas and the entire event attracted more than 200,000.

"The collective goal, what we've been talking about up to this point, is how do we make this a great experience for the city?" said Josh Furlow, managing director, North America, Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series. "Now it's turning into, all of our plans have been solidified, (the NFL's) plans are getting solidified. There's still a lot of moving pieces, but we're at the point where we are ready to create a unified experience, but at the same time have separate experiences because it's the NFL's brand and it's our brand."

Furlow met with members of the NFL marketing and events team along with Titans executive Bob Flynn; Butch Spyridon, CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.; and representatives from Metro Public Works, the mayor's office and the Metro Police Department at the J.W. Marriott.

“The magnitude of these two events on the same weekend requires an incredible amount of coordination — not only between the NFL and the marathon, but with city services, businesses and residents," Spyridon said. "While the cooperation and support has been truly incredible, there are still a few more logistical pieces that need to fall into place before we can move forward with final details. While patience is critical, the wait will be well worth it.”

Perhaps the busiest day will be Thursday, April 25. That night is the first round of the draft, at a location downtown that has not yet been announced, and the first day for the marathon expo at Music City Center where runners will pick up their race numbers and registration packages.

"With our expo being at the Music City Center indoors and a lot of (the NFL's) stuff being outdoors, there's really not that much of a conflict, which is great," Furlow said. "Now we're just dealing with some overall coordination so we're not impacting each other."

This is the 20th year for the marathon, and Furlow said officials never considered moving to a different date just because the draft was scheduled at the same time.

"This is a historic date that is just too important to the running calendar and at the same time the (Rock 'N' Roll) series calendar," Furlow said. "When we all came together and started looking at this, we said, 'Yes, these are two massive events coming together in the same city, and yes we can successfully do it because the ultimate benefit will increase the visibility that Nashville is a town that maintains and handles world class events that benefits all of us."'

ABC and ESPN announced earlier this week plans to cover two days of the draft separately in prime time. The "College GameDay" crew will head up ABC’s coverage.

Registration is open for the marathon at runrocknroll.com/en/events/nashville.

► More:ABC, ESPN are going big with their coverage of the 2019 NFL draft in Nashville

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Perry Wallace nominated for Naismith Hall of Fame

Vanderbilt great Perry Wallace has been nominated for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Athletics director David Williams submitted the nomination for Wallace, a former Pearl High standout who was the first African-American to receive an SEC basketball scholarship.

Wallace, who died in 2017, averaged 13 points and 11 rebounds in his Vanderbilt career. He was part of Vanderbilt's inaugural Sports Hall of Fame class in 2011 and also is in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

Vanderbilt retired his jersey No. 25 in 2004.

Vanderbilt provided a copy of Andrew Maraniss' book "Strong Inside: Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race" to the hall of fame.

The only individual with ties to Vanderbilt currently in the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame is C.M. Newton, who coached the Commodores from 1981-89.

Finalists for the 2019 class will be revealed in February and the class will be announced in April.

Two going into coaches hall of fame

Two longtime high school football coaches — Buddy Brown and Steve Peden — will be inducted into the Metro Nashville Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Dec. 6. Brown will be honored as a head coach and Peden as an assistant.

Brown is the associate head coach at Cumberland. He was a head coach at Hillsboro (1990-1993) and Antioch (1994-2000).

His career highlights include leading Antioch to the first round of the TSSAA state playoffs in 1997 and the second round in 1999 and 2000.

Brown also was an assistant at Antioch (1973-75), Goodlettsville (1976-80), DuPont (1981-85), Overton (1986-87), Hillsboro (1988-89), Hunters Lane (2001-06) and Centennial (2007).

Peden began his career on the staff at Litton in 1970. He then spent a total of 16 years at Stratford in two different stints,13 at Father Ryan, nine at Overton, three at Hillwood, two at McGavock, two at Maplewood and two at Antioch.

The induction will be at the Millennium Maxwell House.

The 2018 All-Metro team will be named at the induction along with the Steve Andrus/Marcus Fentress award (best offensive or defensive lineman), Coca Cola Most Valuable Player of the Year award and Warren Dunn Coach of the Year award.

Sonny Gray to speak at Old Timers banquet

Former Smyrna and Vanderbilt pitcher Sonny Gray, now with the New York Yankees, will be the featured speaker for the 81st annual Nashville Old Timers Baseball Association banquet on Jan. 16 at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

Gray helped lead Vandy to its first College World Series in 2011 when he posted a 12-4 record.

Oakland selected Gray with the 18th pick in the 2011 draft. He was called up to the A’s in 2013. In 2015 he was selected to the All-Star team and finished third in voting for the American League Cy Young Award. He was traded to the Yankees in 2017.

For tickets ($75) call Nick Hiter 615-504-1197, Farrell Owens 615-587-1384 or Rip Ryman 615-319-8459. 

Ex-Vandy, UT assistant up for Broyles Award

Former Vanderbilt and Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is among five finalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Shoop is now the defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. He was at Vanderbilt from 2011-13 and Tennessee from 2016-17.

The other finalists: Alabama offensive coordinator Michael Locksley, Army defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott and Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long. The winner will be announced Sunday.

Local coaches are finalists for Titans award

BGA’s Roc Batten, Oakland’s Kevin Creasy, Christ Presbyterian’s Ingle Martin, Cornersville’s Gerard Randolph and Davidson Academy’s Jonathan Quinn were among nine finalists the Titans named Wednesday for their annual High School Coach of the Year award.

Other finalists include former Riverdale, Warren County and Smith County coach Gary Rankin, now at Alcoa, and former Tennessee State quarterback Bryson Rosser, at Knoxville Central, along with Bobby Alston of Memphis University School and Caine Ballard of Greeneville.

The winner will receive a $2,000 grant for his program along with an all-expense trip to the 2019 Pro Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Brentwood's Doyle is PBA's top rookie 

Brentwood native Kamron Doyle was named the 2018 Professional Bowling Association Rookie of the Year.

Doyle, 20, who grew up with a bowling alley in the basement of his parent's home, was the 2013 TSSAA Division I state champion.

Doyle won money in seven of the 15 events he entered in 2018 and earned a total of $13,385. His best finish was third in the Xtra Frame Gene Carter's Pro Shop Classic in Middletown, Del. 

Vandy's Buschmann joins Blue Jays staff

Former Vanderbilt pitcher Matt Buschmann was hired Tuesday as bullpen coach for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Buschmann, 34, lives in Nashville and is married to former WKRN-2 and ESPN sportscaster Sara Walsh.

After his pro playing career Buschmann was hired in 2017 by the San Francisco Giants organization as assistant director of player development.

Liddle speaking at Lipscomb luncheon

Former McGavock and Lipscomb baseball star Steve Liddle, now bench coach for the Detroit Tigers, will be the speaker for Lipscomb’s next Jim Wood Golden Bisons Luncheon, Wednesday (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) at the McCadams Athletic Center.

Liddle was a two-time NAIA All-American who helped the Bisons win the 1979 national championship. For reservations contact Paul Nance at 615-966-5967 or paul.nance@lipscomb.edu.

Madonia wins Tech's highest honor

Former Centennial kicker/punter Nick Madonia, now a senior at Tennessee Tech, earned the program’s top award when he was named the Robert Hill Johnson Award winner. The award is voted on by the players.

Madonia converted on 15 of 22 field goals, including a long of 54 yards, which was the third longest in all of FCS or FBS this season. He also averaged 40.7 yards on 11 punts.

West High basketball standout dies

John “Butch” Stephens, a center on West High’s 1954 state champion basketball team, died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a car accident Monday. He was 81.

West's 1953-54 team was known for dedicating its championship to outgoing principal W.H. Yarbrough. Stephens made the all-district team.

He was the student body president and also a starting lineman on the football team.

Sports on Nashville TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events from Nov. 19-25:
1. NFL: Steelers-Broncos, 17.1
2. NFL: Bears-Lions, 15.3
3. NFL: Vikings-Packers, 13.6 
4. NFL: Cowboys-Redskins, 12.6
5. College football: Alabama-Auburn, 12.2 
Each rating point is equal to 10,218 Nashville homes.
Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 senior programming director

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.