DENVER, Colo. - University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball graduate Glory Johnson was named to the 10-player Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 2012 All-America team on Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., site of the NCAA Women's Final Four.

Johnson, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., and a graduate of The Webb School, becomes the 21st Lady Vol all-time to earn a spot on the prestigious WBCA(formerly State Farm/Kodak) Coaches All-America Team. She joins senior teammate Shekinna Stricklen who was selected to the WBCA All-America Team in 2011.

Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt and members of her staff were on hand in Denver for the All-America team announcement. "I am so excited for Glory," Summitt said. "I can't tell you the amount of hard work she has invested in her game throughout her career and particularly this season.

"Glory was an unbelievable player and a tireless worker for us this year. She showed me many of the attributes of the dedication of a Tamika Catchings. Whatever Glory had to do to improve or help this team, she did each and every day," Summitt said.

"It was special for us to be in Denver with her and share in this moment today."

In her final campaign at UT, Johnson turned in a career high stat line including 14.2 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg and 1.4 spg while starting all 36 games and logging 29.9 minutes per contest. She reached double-figure scoring in 29 games in 2011-12 and 87 for her career. The powerful post had 13 double-double efforts in points and rebounds in her final season and totaled 37 for her career - third all-time in Lady Vol history behind Olympians and All-Americans Chamique Holdsclaw and Candace Parker.

"I am humbled by this selection," Johnson said. "It was just an honor from the beginning to be selected to be a Lady Vol, and now to be named an All-America, it's just even better. Being able to represent Tennessee and the program means so much to me.

"I played with some amazing teammates under a great coaching staff and I am so thankful for what the University of Tennessee afforded me."

Her 2012 honors include NCAA Des Moines Regional All-Tournament, the Capital One Academic All-America First Team, the Southeastern Conference Tournament MVP and All-Tournament team, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and All-SEC Defensive Team, Coaches and AP All-SEC, and the WBCA All-America District Team.

During her time at Tennessee, she played in 141 games and earned 118 career starts scoring 1,643 points and grabbing 1,204 rebounds. Johnson became just the fourth Lady Vol ever in the thousand-thousand point and rebound club and finished second to four-time WBCA All-American Chamique Holdsclaw in career rebounds with 1,218. She was also a nominee for countless other awards in addition to becoming Tennessee's 21st WBCA State Farm All-America honoree.

A rare first team double All-American honoree, Johnson earned both WBCA(athletic) and Capital One (academic) in 2012. She graduated cum laude in just three years in Interdisciplinary Global Studies in May 21011 and is currently pursuing a master's in Communication and Information Studies.

Also joining Johnson on the team are: Elana DellaDonne (Delaware), Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame), Brittney Griner (Baylor), Bria Hartley (UConn), Shenise Johnson (Miami), Chiney and Nnemka Ogwumike (Stanford) Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Alyssa Thomas (Maryland).

Antone Davis

BY JOHN PAINTER
UTsports.com

Antone Davis wants to leave no doubt. His appearance this fall on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" hasn't followed any sort of Hollywood script.

"I can tell you the work has been difficult, far more difficult than anything I've ever done," Davis said. "It's been hard, hard work, and that's including two-a-days, whether in the NFL or college."

This from someone who worked his way to become a two-time All-SEC honoree and 1990 All-American as an offensive lineman at Tennessee. This from someone who trained and willed his way to a first-round NFL Draft selection and a seven-year pro career in Philadelphia and Atlanta.

"Going to the (King Gillette) Ranch and losing the weight is fantastic," Davis said of the Malibu, Calif., location. "But so many people are disillusioned into thinking that somehow it's a secret, a trick or a catch. It's no catch. It's extremely hard work and I never want to go through it again."

Davis, who stands 6-foot-5 and is 44 years old, began the show at 447 pounds. Through Week 12, when Davis advanced as one of three final contestants, he had dropped to 293 pounds for a total loss of 154 pounds. Davis said he weighed more than that all throughout high school in Fort Valley, Ga.

Davis finished second, losing 202 pounds, in Tuesday night's finale on NBC.

Davis said that even before the last month of the program, he already was hearing from so many family and friends who were blown away by his progress.

"There are so many people who not only have supported me, but in a round-about way they are inspired," he said. "People have written me saying they are losing weight because of me. Truly, that is the real gem in all this.

"I have been given a gift and had the opportunity to share that gift with so many people, and really all I have to do is be me. They are watching me and they are inspired."

Davis said he learned last spring that the 12th season of the hit NBC show might be looking for retired football players. He jumped at the chance and immediately sent the required photos and bio information.

Once he made the initial cut of 16 contestants, Davis said hard work and the experiences of his days at UT helped him maintain focus while being in the national spotlight.

"My skills I have developed over time, actually starting with a media class I took at the University of Tennessee, helped me deal with the publicity and learn how to speak well, how to answer questions," Davis said. "Definitely, I called up all those lessons and it helped me tremendously to know what to say, how to say it and how to carry myself."

Davis counts his experience on "The Biggest Loser" as a life-changing win for himself and his family. But while the program fits the "reality" moniker, Davis has no interest in returning to that world ever again.

"Once you achieve the result, it truly has been fun," Davis said. "But one of the things we were asked to do was come up with a loved one who you could bring to the ranch, someone you would most want to help.

"I couldn't come up with a single name because the work was so difficult. I wouldn't want to put anyone else through it."