Rick Russo
WVLT Sports Director
Knoxville, TN
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Rick Russo is the Sports Director for WVLT News.
He arrived in Knoxville in August of 1987 when the station call letters were WTVK. Rick remained with the station as it transitioned to VHF becoming WKXT. The final transformation came with the acquisition by Gray Television and the switch of our call letters to WVLT.
Rick's first UT football game was the Kickoff Classic in the Meadowlands in 1987 and he's enjoyed covering the Big Orange ever since, including the memorable championship season of 1998.
Rick has had the pleasure of reporting on everything from high school football to NASCAR and even Super Bowls.
He's been married for 32 years and has two lovely daughters. Rick's family is proud to call East Tennessee home.
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Tennessee has lost 15 of its last 16 games with the Gators (Won in 2016)
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Close to 50 percent of season ticket holders will experience a total cost reduction
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Home games against Florida and Alabama and rare road trips to Pittsburgh and LSU highlight the 2022 schedule
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Tennessee football will face its first road test of the 2021 campaign on Saturday, traveling to The Swamp
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Burnout on the front stretch at BMS flares tempers between Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott on pit road
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Hendon Hooker to make first at QB for the Vols
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Lady Vols open SEC play Friday night at Arkansas
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Coach makes comments at weekly Vol network Vol calls program
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Knoxville native set to perform inside Thompson-Boling Arena
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The waiver would allow programs dealing with mass transfers to sign up to 32 players in a class
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Tennessee Lady Vols have been picked at No. 19 in the Lindy’s Sports Preseason Top 25
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UT will face national champion Miss. State and national runner-up Vandy
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Tennessee focusing on Touchdowns and Turnovers
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Money for BMS chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities
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NFL team assisting in flood relief for those in Humphreys County
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Josh Heupel suffers his first defeat as Tennessee head coach
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Join WVLT’s Rick Russo and Jimmy Hyams of WNML as they breakdown Pitt at Tennessee
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Trio of Tennesee players questionable for Saturday’s game with Pitt
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The Tennessee women’s basketball program revealed nearly all of its 2021-22 schedule on Wednesday
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Vol players on hand as Smokies hand out Tony Vitello Bobbleheads
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Tennessee turns its attention to Saturday’s non-conference matchup with the Panthers
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Former Panthers coach to help celebrate Johnny Majors Classic
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Regional play began Friday across the Volunteer State.
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Tennessee rushes for 326 yards while defense shuts down Falcons in the 2nd half
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Bearden sophomore Lauren Peters wins title with U19 Team USA squad in Bulgaria
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Michigan transfer makes comments Tuesday night on new Tennessee Prime show
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Scott Loeffler says Heupel’s offense passing all the time is a misconception
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The Knoxville Ice Bears have signed goalie Brent Moran to a PTO for the team’s upcoming preseason camp in October
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Thursday celebrates the start of a new era of Tennessee football and also marks a new era on the Vol Radio Network
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5A power Powell travels to Maryville to face the 6A Rebels
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After a year away, the TBCC Golf Classic returns to Gettysvue and they need your help
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Peyton Manning serves as featured speaker on a big night for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley
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Coach Heupel pleased, but still has no update on a starting quarterback
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A coach and administrator Wyant served as executive associate AD and was the top aide to the director of athletics
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Tamika will join seven others being celebrated at the Tennessee Theatre on Saturday evening in the Class of 2021
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Varsity All Access crews visit Knox, Blount and Loudon County Jamborees