"My goal was to create a fast-paced show that covered more topics in an hour than any other show," said producer and host, John Pennington. "I wanted to have a bigger panel of guests than any of the radio shows so we could have a very wide variety of opinions."

"I also think it's the media's job to be objective," Pennington said. "So I wanted a group that would call things as they see them. And we do that. We've got some guys who are viewed as more positive and some guys that are viewed as more negative, although I don't think that tag is fair. Either way, it's a cross-section of opinion and I think it blends into a really fair, really intelligent discussion."

Media members like Jimmy Hyams, Mike Strange, Bob Hodge and Chuck Cavalaris are joined by ex-Vol players Bobby Scott, Fred White and Pat Ryan and former UT basketball coach Don DeVoe.

It has proven to be a unique combination.

"I enjoy the guys that we have," said Scott, who played quarterback in college and the NFL. "It's a fun group of guys that are knowledgeable. It's a good mix of players and media and we can give different comments. They have the ability to write feature stories and we have a little more expertise in the X's and O's and it's a good mix. I like going back and forth when we're truthful with each other. Just because we disagree, we can still be nice to each other. Plus, we are still friends and still go out and have lunch together afterwards."

DeVoe has more than 500 wins as a Division I coach and enjoys being a basketball analyst.

"I think, more than anything else, for me it's the opportunity to be with professional people to express my views about college basketball," DeVoe said. "I do not profess to know a great deal about other sports, but it's a new chapter in my life. I enjoy the relationship with the other guys on the show. We all have our opinions and we respect different opinions. Whether we agree or disagree, it's a nice forum to express your views and a nice way to communicate with all the sports fans in East Tennessee."

The show was created by Pennington, who decided in early 2003 there was room in the Knoxville market for a year-round TV sports talk show. It had never been tried before, but with hour upon hour of daily sports talk radio, it made sense that television would be the next logical step.

That fall, The Hall's Salvage Sports Source hit the air and began a run that is now in its fifth year of Vol sports coverage. The main goals are to provide information and candid comments, especially after a controversial play or game.

"I want every week to be informative for the viewers," Pennington said. "Sometimes we push the envelope in terms of topics we cover and questions we ask and I don't want the questions to be easy for our panel. That's why we talk about things on our show that I believe other people are talking about the next day. Things you won't necessarily hear on other shows."

Airing every Sunday morning at 11 am on WATE-TV 6, The Hall's Salvage Sports Source is one of the few remaining, truly local programs in Knoxville television.

"This is a locally produced show," Pennington said. "Locally produced, locally sold, locally hosted. For the most part, TV used to be local. Now it's mainly network and syndication driven, with the exception of local newscasts.

"There aren't many places to get local views and opinions on television. Whether that's sports or news or community interest, there just aren't a lot of options. Personally, I think that gives us a very important responsibility."

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"This show is built on our panel," he said. "I'm just the point guard, distributing the ball to the guys on our set. We've got a team with varied backgrounds and different areas of expertise. If I can get out of their way, they can score every time."

"And my goal is to make this show fun to watch. We talk on the set just as we do off the set. That's why I don't allow ties on our set. I want folks to feel like they've stumbled across a group of their buddies just sitting around and talking sports. I don't put on a tux and act prim and proper when I'm discussing football off the air. Neither do our viewers. So why should we act any differently on the air?"

The Hall's Salvage Sports Source is a year-round program, focusing on University of Tennessee football and basketball, both in season and out.

"The fall is football time in Tennessee and the spring is devoted to basketball," Pennington said. "After basketball, a lot of people start thinking about football preparations. I think we do a good job of throwing out thought-provoking topics whatever the month."

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.