Fox 16 Touts JT/Lucas Bout

D1 co-owner Jermain Taylor has accepted the challenge to square off with former Arkansas Razorback receiver Anthony Lucas on Friday, January 16 with donations going towards the D1 Foundation. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the event will begin at 7 pm at D1 Sports Training and Therapy off of Cantrell Road. The event is free to the public, with donations raised in each competitors name for the D1 Foundation, which gives underprivileged children the opportunity at top-flight training. Read the whole story here.

D1's Dickey Signs with Twins

Knuckleball pitcher RA Dickey, who works out at D1 regularly during the offseason, signed with the Minnesota Twins. The MLB veteran pitched for the Seattle Mariners last year and picked the Twins over going back to Seattle. He said, "They seemed to be the team that had the most interest in me," Dickey said on Wednesday. "Not only that, they also seemed to have a real plan for how they want to use me. More than the other teams." Read more here.

Manning In Line for NFL's MVP Award

D1 co-owner Peyton Manning only played for one possession on Sunday, but that was all he needed to impact the Colt's regular season finale as they shut out the Titans 23-0. Manning was 7 for 7 during the nine play possession for 95 yards giving him a perfect passer rating of 158.3 for the fifth time in his career. Manning is quickly establishing himself as a viable candidate for the NFL Most Valuable Player Award this year, finishing the regular season with 4,002 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 95.0 quarterback rating. Congratulations Peyton!

McClain Emerges as a Dual Purpose Player

"I'm just a back. I just get my opportunities to start. Tailback? Fullback? It doesn't matter," says Le'ron McClain, current Baltimore Raven and a member of the 2007 D1 Combine class. In his time with the Ravens, McClain has more proven his ability to adapt to whatever position necessary to benefit his team. In his entire college career, McClain had only 37 rushing attempts, but after the first two games of the 2008 season he already had 36 carries. In the past several games he has become Baltimore's go-to back, averaging 21 carries and 80 yards rushing a game. During last the recent game against the Cowboys he rushed 22 times for 139 yards and scored a touchdown to help the Ravens top the Cowboys 33-25. He also caught one pass for four yards. Way to go Le'Ron! Keep up the good work!

Vote for Jason Jones for GMC Sierra Def. Player of the Week

D1 Combine Athlete Jason Jones posted 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and five tackles in the Titans 31-14 victory over Pittsburgh. Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com/gmc now through Thursday at 3 p.m. CT to determine the GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week. The winner will be announced Thursday evening on NFL.com.

Rivers Keeps Hope Alive for the Chargers

A tough season has left the San Diego Chargers with a disappointing 7-8 record, but quarterback Philip Rivers' stellar performance against the Bucs on Sunday will give the Chargers on last shot at the AFC West title. The D1 Huntsville co-owner was 21 of 31 for 287 yards and had a career high 4 touchdowns. Rivers averaged 9.3 yards per pass, completed passes to 7 different receivers, and had 3 different receivers score. The momentum that he contributed to the team allowed them to score the most points of any team on the Bucs in 15 years, and gave the Chargers a 41-24 victory over Tampa Bay. Rivers will take on the Denver Broncos on Dec. 28 in a winner-take-all showdown for the AFC West title.

Jones Has Career Day Against Steelers

Former D1 combine athlete and Tennesse Titans defensive tackle, Jason Jones, had the best game of his rookie season on Sunday as the Titans locked up the top seed in the AFC. Jones came in for veteran Albert Haynesworth who sprained his MCL last week. Jones did not disappoint as he had the franchise's second-best sack outing since 1982 when the NFL made sacks an official statistic. Jones recorded four tackles, three and a half sacks, and forced two fumbles which resulted in two turnovers by the Steelers. "I knew I could help out, but I didn't think it would come like this," Jones said. "Everything just happened so fast out there and it opened up. I am just blessed." Congratulations on the game, Jason! All of us at D1 are eagerly awaiting the match up next week between the Titans and D1 co-owner Peyton Manning and his Colts.

KNOCK OUT vs. GO ROUTE

Come out Friday, January 16th to the D1 Little Rock facility to see Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor battle Anthony Lucas for a showdown of the ages. The Grand Opening event starts at 6:30pm and the Battle will follow at 7:00pm. Who will you root for...Knock Out or Go Route??

D1 Athletes and Co-Owners Selected to Pro Bowl

Congratulations goes out to four D1 athletes and two co-owners who have made the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl! Chris Hope (Titans -Strong Safety), Albert Haynesworth (Titans- Defensive Tackle), and Le'Ron McClain (Ravens- Fullback) have all trained at D1 and were selected to play for the AFC team. They will be playing against D1 athlete, Jason Witten (Cowboys- Tight End)

who made the NFC team.

D1 co-owner, Peyton Manning (Colts - QB), was selected as the starting quarterback for the AFC team and will play along side future co-owner, Alan Faneca (Jets - Offensive Guard) who also earned a starting position.

D1 will be watching these guys play in Hawaii...Congrats!

Congrats Phillip and Amy Parham!

D1 Congratulates Phillip and Amy Parham on their transformation during The Biggest Loser: Families season finale! Both contestants looked great and came so close to the $100,000 prize. Click here to see Phillip and Amy's transformation on NBC.com.

"The Biggest Loser: Families" Season Finale

Tonight is the season finale of The Biggest Loser: Families, and D1 is excited to see the final weight loss for Phillip and Amy Parham who have been training at the Greenville facility. Phillip was voted off the show in week seven after losing 62 pounds, while Amy was eliminated a week earlier. The finale airs on NBC tonight at 7pm CST. Let's cheer on Phillip and Amy as they weigh in for the final time!

Combine Athletes Arrive at D1

The 2009 Combine Class has begun to arrive at D1 Nashville for training with Kurt Hester. Three athletes; Troy Kropog an offensive tackle from Tulane, TJ Lang an offensive tackle from Eastern Michigan, and Ellix Wilson a linebacker from Tennessee have been working on their speed and strength techniques for the 40 yard dash, which is one of the key drills at the 2009 NFL Combine. Their training involves three sessions a day with Kurt doing a variety of drills, stretches, and weight lifting. D1 is looking forward to seeing the improvement in these guys and watching them during the NFL Combine! Good Luck!

Baseball Athletes Training During Offseason

Two minor league baseball players are training at D1 Greenville in the offseason. Zach Brown, a first baseman in the Padres system, and Taylor Harbin, a middle infielder in the Diamondbacks system, will be getting ready for next season at the Greenville facility. Zach was drafted in the 27th round after playing for the Citadel, and Taylor was drafted in the 8th round out of Clemson. D1 is looking forward to seeing these guys working out...Iron Sharpens Iron!

Chris Brown Signs with Dolphins

Chris Brown, member of the D1 2008 Combine class, was recently picked up by the Miami Dolphins as a fullback on the practice squad. Chris caught 92 passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns as a tight end during his career at the Univeristy of Tennessee. After college, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars before making the switch to the Dolphins. D1 wishes Chris the best of luck in Miami!

D1 Athlete Making an Impact for Florida State

David Spurlock, who trained at D1 Nashville with Wil Santi this past summer, earned a starting position at right guard for the Florida State Seminoles this season. David, a true freshman out of Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro,TN, started the second half of the season in addition to starting the first game of the year. After an 8-4 season, the Seminoles will be playing in the Champs Sports Bowl December 27th against Wisconsin. D1 wishes David the best of luck and will be cheering on #79! Check out the video below of David training at D1.

D1 Little Rock Featured in Arkansas Sports 360

Sports magazine, Arkansas Sports 360, featured the new D1 Little Rock facility in their December 1st edition. The article highlights the facility's combination of therapy and training all under one roof. Also emphasized in the article was the type of training that athletes receive at D1. They are not just lifting weights, D1 athletes work out on the turf, work on their core, and are really training like a Division I athlete would train. Click here to check out the Arkansas Sports 360 aticle!

Memphis Athletes Make Big Strides

D1 Combine athlete and Memphis native, DeAngelo Williams, ran all over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense on Monday night as the Panthers won 38-23. DeAngelo rushed for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers clinched the NFC South division with the win, and D1 wishes DeAngelo the best of luck in the rest of the season!

D1 is also proud to see Memphis co-owner, Shane Battier, back on the court after recovering from ankle surgery. The former Olympian and All-American at Duke joined the Houston Rockets after starting his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies. Shane has played in the last 5 out of 6 games since coming back and already averages 9.4 points per game. Keep up the good work Shane!

D1 Knoxville Announces Inaugural Character Athlete Winner

EFFORT was the word of the month for November at D1 Knoxville and one athlete stood out above all others. His name is Chase Cunningham and he is the first ever recipient of the Character Athlete of the Month Award. Chase began quarterback training in 2005 as a 7 year old and is trainer Dunstan Kendrick's only athlete who has continued his training without taking any time off.

Here is what Dunstan had to say about Chase...
"What separates Chase from the other athletes at D1 is the continuous Effort he brings with him every time he steps onto the turf at D1. Always at least 10 minutes early to his session, Chase's family also deserves a great amount of credit for the amount of Effort they put into helping Chase achieve his dreams. As a result of his continuous Effort, Chase led his youth football team to a perfect 10-0 championship this season."

D1 Congratulates Chase on his EFFORT! Way to go!

Listen to William Henry in Greenville

Check out D1 Facility Coordinator William Henry on The Drive 104.9 from 12-2 pm EST on Friday's and some Monday's. William played at Clemson from 1999-2003 and then had stints with the Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe.

PrepChamps Features D1 Tip

Check out Director of Training Kurt Hester on PrepChamps.com as he breaks down the body mechanics for an athlete trying to improve speed.

D1 Athletes Shine and Make History

If D1 had an MVP of the week award, it would go to these two players hands down!

Tyler Smith, who has trained at D1 Huntsville, made history for the University of Tennessee men's basketball program in a win over UNC-Asheville Wednesday night. Tyler had the program's first ever triple-double with 12 points,10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Click here to read more.

NFL Rookie and D1 2008 Combine athlete, Peyton Hillis, had a career best rushing game for the Broncos against the New York Jets this past Sunday. Peyton rushed 22 times for 129 yards and a touchdown as the Broncos ended the Jets five game winning streak. He is featured in Week 13's Rookie Spotlight and received honors from nflplayers.com. Click here to read more about Peyton.

Bartholomew Upbeat About Kiffin

The Tennessean caught up with Will Bartholomew again about Lane Kiffin. Check out what the Tennessean said about Fulmer and Kiffin below or click here.

Fulmer’s lengthy tenure was a key reason he was able to recruit so well. It helped land former Montgomery Bell Academy standout Will Bartholomew, who played for UT’s national championship team in 1998. Bartholomew is currently the CEO of D1 Sports Training in Franklin and his younger brother, Ben, is a freshman fullback for UT.

“I think (Kiffin) can serve the university well from a recruiting standpoint,” Will Bartholomew said. “It can help the team (to) hopefully have a long-term guy. Mike Hamilton and the rest of the university would like a guy being there for a long time. If Lane comes in there and does well, he will be able to do that.”

D1 Coach Signs with Arena Football Team

D1 Nashville coach, Fred Amano, just signed a contract to play linebacker with the Chicago Rush Arena Football team. Fred played football at San Diego State and moved to Nashville to join his brother, Eugene Amano, who plays for the Tennessee Titans. He has been working out and coaching at the D1 facility since graduation. D1 wishes Fred the best of luck in Chicago!!

PrepChamps Announces Football Combines

PrepChamps has announced the 2009 Elite Combine Camp schedule and D1 has made the list for several locations! The Combine will be open to any high school Varsity football player. Athletes will receive skill demonstrations, testing, and good competition to help showcase their talents and improve exposure to college coaches and recruiters. Here is the list of PrepChamps Combine Camps coming to your local D1 facility!

Feb. 21 - Chattanooga
Feb. 28 - Nashville

April 4 - Huntsville

May 2 - Little Rock

Click here to get more information. D1 looks forward to seeing all football athletes at the Combines!

Bartholomew Comments on UT Hire

D1 CEO Will Bartholomew, who played under Phillip Fulmer, is sad to see his former head coach leave his alma mater. The Tennessean caught up with Will regarding Lane Kiffin taking UT's reigns. Click here to read the whole story. Below are Will's quotes.

"No matter who they got, everyone will be comparing him to Phillip Fulmer right out of the gate," said Will Bartholomew, a Nashville native, former UT fullback (1998-2001) and CEO of D1 Sports Training in Franklin. "You hope he comes in and does well from the start. I do know that the staff he hires will be a top-notch staff. He is going to bring some veterans in here that have been in the big games. …

"Hopefully he can get in and get us back to championship form, fast. I know that's what the university wants and what all the fans want."

Bratton Becoming Star

Former D1 Combine athlete and part-time D1 coach Brian Bratton is becoming a star in the CFL for the Montreal Alouettes. Although they lost in the Grey Cup, Bratton had a big year. Prior to the Cup, Bratton caught 54 passes for 636 yards and scored seven touchdowns. His best game came at Hamilton in early October, when he made nine receptions for 113 yards.

Advent Advances D1 Brand

Advent, a national experiential marketing firm, recently designed and fabricated branding elements in D1's new Little Rock location. The goal was to clearly define the D1 brand and communicate it through elements such as Stand-off graphics, vinyl application, and ImageWalls custom wallpaper. Click here to see how they did. Thanks Advent.

"The Contender" Contestant to Train at D1

Joell Godfrey, who is a contestant on "The Contender" which premiers on December 5th on the VERSUS network and will be hosted Tony Danza, has begun training at D1 Knoxville and will continue to train until the final results of the show are announced. The show will air on Wednesdays at 10ET. Click here to see Joell's bio on "The Contender" website. D1 wishes Joell the best of luck on the show...knock 'em out!

D1 Helps Build Character

WBIR-Channel 10 in Knoxville, TN recently stopped in to the D1 Knoxville facility to ask head strength and speed coach, Robb Wilson, some questions about young athletes today and pressures they have when playing sports. D1 prides itself on making athletes faster, stronger, and more agile but it also spends time developing character and talking to athletes about effort, responsibility, and courage. D1 coaches try to warn teenagers about trouble and how to stay on the right paths to success. Click here to see the WBIR interview at D1 Knoxville!

D1 Greenville Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Two D1 Greenville athletes recently signed National Letters of Intent to play collegiate sports. William Joseph, a senior at St. Joseph in the Greenville, SC area, signed to play baseball for a Division II institution, Mars Hill College. William is a 6-5, 220 pound pitcher and third baseman who was the 2008 St. Joseph Coach's Award recipient and had a .538 batting average. Jessica Harner, a senior at Eastside in Greenville, SC, signed to play lacrosse for Converse College. D1 wishes these two the best of luck! Train hard!

Philip Rivers Sports D1 at Chargers Press Conference

Often at the D1 offices, we hear about different athletes sporting the D1 gear. But not that often do we see D1 gear at an NFL press conference. D1 Huntsville co-owner, Philip Rivers, was seen wearing his D1 t-shirt to a recent Chargers press conference. We're proud to see Philip sporting our gear! Next stop...worldwide!

Baylor Basketball Signee to Train at D1 Little Rock

A.J. Walton, a senior at Hall High School in Little Rock, AR, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Baylor University. The 6 foot 1 guard had several other offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, but said Baylor made him feel like home. As a junior, A.J. averaged 12.6 points and seven rebounds per game. He won Arkansas' Mr. Basketball award along with a 6A state title championship, and is ranked 18th best point guard in the nation by scout.com. A.J. will be a new D1 client at the Little Rock facility as he prepares for the next step in his basketball career...college! Good luck this season A.J.!

D1 Little Rock Co-Owner Wins Big in Fight

D1 Little Rock co-owner Jermain Taylor got back to his winning ways versus former Olympic teammate Jeff Lacy. Making his debut at 168 pounds, Taylor harassed and bullied his former Olympic team roommate throughout the unanimous decision victory. Joseph Pasquale had it 118-110, while Oren Schellenberger and Gale Van Hoy scored it 119-109, as did SI.com. After a cautious opening, Taylor broke Lacy down in the middle rounds with steady jabbing and a series of measured combinations. By the ninth round, having opened a comfortable advantage in points, the 30-year-old from Little Rock, Ark., assumed total command. At one point, Taylor landed five quick jabs in a three-second span. To read more, click here.

Brandon Jones Makes Big Catches for Titans

Titans wide receiver and D1 athlete, Brandon Jones, has been making big catches this season. At the halfway point, Brandon already has 27 catches for 298 yards and is only one reception away from a career high. This is all coming off a career-best eight catches in the game last Sunday against the Bears. What has motivated Brandon this season? He has still not forgotten last season's game against the Colts in which they lost by two points, and Brandon dropped a pass late in the fourth quarter that would have put the Titans in field goal position. He says he humbles himself because of that play and it makes him hungry to make every catch. Keep up the good play Brandon and congrats on the Titans' 9-0 record! Watch Brandon Jones training at D1 below.

Fourteen Year Old Takes the Racing World By Storm

Brentwood teenager and D1 athlete Logan Ruffin is quickly becoming a well known name in the racing community. He recently qualified for the Championship Racing Association by finishing 20th at the Adam Petty Memorial All American 400 at the Music City Motorplex where two D1 coaches served as honorary pit crew members. Ruffin made history in February when he became the youngest champion in the World Series of Asphalt’s 42-year history when he won three Crate Late Model races in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Logan recently signed with Motorsports Management International which manages legendary drivers such as Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. You can find out more about Logan and his races by visiting http://www.loganruffin.com/. Congratulations and good luck, Logan! We'll be cheering you on.

D1 Knoxville Therapy Patient Shares Inspirational Story

D1 Knoxville therapy patient, Ryan Parker, has caught several people's attention with his inspirational story. Ryan, 11 years old, is a rising star athlete in east Tennessee who has conquered foes medically and physically. He is a three-time AAU National Champion tournament wrestler with a season record of 49-0, a running back/defensive end for his youth football team, and earned the title of one of the Top 40 fastest kids in the nation for the 100-yard dash. Ryan has conquered all of this, eventhough he nearly lost his life with a MRSA staph infection in his finger. His finger swelled to double its size during a wrestling practice and he was rushed to the hospital where they diagnosed the infection and began immediate treatment which resulted in surgery on his finger to alleviate the swelling. Ryan has since recovered and has set high goals for himself...he wants to win the Triple Crown in wrestling along with becoming a four-time State Champion in high school. D1 wishes Ryan the best of luck! Click here to read more about Ryan.

D1 Hosts Open House for Special Olympic Athletes

D1 Little Rock will host an exclusive Open House for Special Olympic athletes on Sunday, November 16 from 2-4pm at the facility located at 10 Viewpoint Cove. D1 coaches will be providing all Special Olympic athletes free sports training that will help them become faster, stronger, and more agile for the next Special Olympic Games. For more information contact Andre Tucker at 501.258.7653 or click to email him. Come out and support our Special Olympic athletes!

Marcus Monk Contemplates Playing Basketball at Arkansas

Marcus Monk, former Arkansas Razorback wide reciever and D1 2008 NFL Combine Athlete, is contemplating returning to Arkansas to play basketball. Marcus holds the record for most career touchdowns by a wide receiver at Arkansas, but few know about his basketball abilities. In high school, Marcus was the state basketball player of the year and played in ten games as a freshman for the Razorbacks before quiting to focus on football. Because Marcus graduated in three-and-a-half years, he still has one year of eligibility remaining for basketball. D1 looks forward to seeing Marcus on the basketball court!

Antonio Johnson Signs with Colts

Antonio Johnson, who trained at D1 for the 2005 NFL Combine, has signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts after spending the past three years with the Titans. Johnson, a 6-3, 310 pounder, will try to work his way into playing time at the Colts' defensive end position. D1 wishes Antonio the best of luck with the Colts!

D1 Huntsville Helps Amobi Okoye Foundation

Former D1 athlete and Houston Texans defensive end, Amobi Okoye, is asking D1 and local Huntsville high schools to help his efforts in fighting hunger during Thanksgiving. The Amobi Okoye Foundation is hosting a Tackle Hunger fundraiser that will give a "Big Sack Award" to the high school that collects the most food. The goal for the Thanksgiving Holiday is to raise sufficient food to feed 500 families. Lets help Amobi Okoye and his efforts to stop hunger in the Huntsville area! Bring your canned food by D1 Huntsville's facility or call 866-998-4203 if you would like to make a monetary contribution.

D1 Athlete Making Knoxville Proud

WBIR in Knoxville captured the dedication of Carlene Steenekamp as she works out at D1. Carlene works to keep her body in competition shape for figure competitions. She just started competing this year and didn't start until after having her 3rd child. Carlene has competed 3 times so far. She most recently won the overall figure title at the Tennessee state bodybuilding and figure championships in Murfreesboro. Click here to learn more about Carlene and her workouts at D1.

D1 Partners with Physiotherapy Associates

D1 and Physiotherapy Associates have announced a partnership that will bring two leaders in sports training and therapy together to help better service athletes and those trying to get stronger, faster and more agile.

In the partnership, Physiotherapy Associates, formerly VBS Physical Therapy, will occupy space at D1 Sports, located on Miller Road, right off Woodruff Road, and two blocks from The Shoppes at Greenridge. Physiotherapy Associates is one of the nation’s leading providers in the musculoskeletal outpatient rehabilitation industry.

WATE Knoxville Interviews Monica Abbott

Knoxville news station, WATE-Channel 6, came to D1 Knoxville to interview former University of Tennessee softball star and Olympic silver medalist, Monica Abbott. Monica is training for her next return to the Olympics, which she hopes will be in 2016. WATE Knoxville is helping Monica get the word out that the 2012 Olympics will not have softball, but a petition and a worldwide interest in softball could get them back for the 2016 Olympics. D1 supports these efforts and hopes to see Monica pitching in the Olympics again! Click here to see the WATE Knoxville news interview with Monica.

Habitrot 5k to Take Place at D1 Nashville

Do you want to give back on Thanksgiving and get a little exercise while doing it?? D1 Nashville will be hosting the 8th Annual Habitat for Humanity Habitrot 5k Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run on Thursday, November 27th. Funds raised during the Habitrot event will go towards affordable housing opportunities in Williamson County. To register for this event click here. D1 wishes the best of luck to all who participate!

DeAngelo Williams Rushes His Way Into Team History

Fans of D1 athlete DeAngelo Williams knew he had potential when the former Memphis star complied an NCAA record of 7,572 yards, but it looked like Williams would take a backseat when he spent his first two years with the Panthers playing backup to DeShaun Foster. After Foster's release though, he was presented with more of an opportunity to showcase those skills that made him a star in college. At the season's midpoint, Williams is on his way to becoming only the third player in team history to rush more than 1,000 yards as he already has 522 yards on 120 carries and three touchdowns.

"He's being more of a leader," fullback Brad Hoover said. "Finishing runs, doing the little things in the film room, on the field, that's made him a better player so far. The good thing is, Jonathan has seen him do these things so he's following in his footsteps. So he's making him better at the same time."

This year the Panthers are 6-0 when they rush for more than 100 yards, 0-2 when they don't. The Panthers have even occasionally snapped the ball directly to Williams. He gained 23 yards on four direct snaps against the Cardinals.

Peyton Hillis Makes Big Plays for Broncos

Peyton Hillis, 2008 D1 Combine athlete, had an impressive game Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Hillis earned his starting spot back for the first time in four weeks as fullback for the Broncos. He was deemed the Broncos "most effective offensive weapon" in the game with his seven catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. Hillis had the two longest offensive plays of the day with a 39-yard and a 47-yard catch, and was just 21 yards shy of matching all four of the Broncos receivers' total yards. Congrats Peyton on a great game! Check out the video clip below of Peyton at D1.

Biggest Loser Workout Ramps Up at D1

Check out this video from WYFF in Greenville of Phillip working out at D1. Phillip and his wife Amy were recently knocked off of NBC's The Biggest Loser: Families. But they aren't done yet. Not only are they getting healthy, they are now working towards being THE BIGGEST LOSER at the season finale. Click here to check the video.

Softball Star Teaches the Next Generation

D1 athlete Monica Abbott has possibly the most impressive stats of any softball player to date. Her accolades include the NCAA's all time leader in strike outs, innings pictched, wins, and appearances in addition to an Olympic silver medal in the 2008 Beijing games where she pitched a perfect game. But Monica has not let all of this success go to her head. On the contrary, she uses her incredible talent to help the next generation of softball players develop their game with the help of the Monica Abbott All-Star Clinic in locations across the country. Monica recently sat down for an interview at D1 Knoxville, stay tuned into the D1 blog for more information on that. Congratulations Monica on all of your success!

Biggest Loser Contestant Joins Wife at D1 Greenville

Phillip Parham might have gotten voted off this week's episode of The Biggest Loser: Families, but his journey to lose more weight is not over. Phillip will be joining his wife, Amy, at D1 Greenville where they will both be working toward weight loss goals for the season finale. Phillip lost a total of 62 pounds during his seven weeks on the show and says, "He wants to be a role model for his children and hopes that they look at him in a new light. The whole family has benefited from the show and getting healthy has brought them closer together." D1 is excited to be working with Phillip and Amy and can't wait to see them on the season finale! If you are in the Greenville area, look for Phillip and Amy on their School Tour.

D1 Grand Opening on Sunday

D1 is proud to announce the opening of its 7th location...D1 Little Rock. The facility, co-owned by Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor, is scheduled to host an open house on Sunday, November 2nd, from 2-6pm. D1 invites everyone to come out and be the first to see Little Rock's premier sports training facility. This will not be an afternoon to miss, as D1 will hold drawings for special prizes such as free training sessions, D1/Under Armour gear, and even a signed Peyton Manning jersey. Also, check out a preview of our training by testing your speed at the 40 yard dash and much, much more. To RSVP and reserve your spot at this once in a lifetime event email Anne Antoine today at anne.antoine@d1sportstraining.com!

Cottam Becoming Factor in Chiefs' Offense

Rookie Brad Cottam, who trained for the NFL Combine at D1, is becoming a factor in the Kansas City Chiefs' offense. Cottam, a tight end, had four catches for 34 yards in the game Sunday against the Jets, and is gaining recognition for his size and ability to move after catching the ball. You could say he's learning from the best...his teammate, Tony Gonzalez, who is one of the best tight ends in league history. Keep up the good work Brad!!

Jason Jones plays in first Monday Night Football game

2008 D1 Combine athlete, Jason Jones, will make his first appearance on Monday Night Football for the Titans next week. Jason will receive more playing time due to Kyle Vanden Bosch's groin injury that has yet to heal. Putting the pressure on D1 co-owner, Peyton Manning, will be Jason's number one priority. So far this season, Jason has nine solo tackles and one and half sacks. Keep up the good play Jason and good luck in the Titans "Code Blue" game Monday night!

Grand Opening of aloft Hotel

The grand opening of aloft Hotel, located on D1 Nashville's sport campus, is scheduled for Thursday. After watching the construction of the hotel for several months now, D1 Nashville got a "behind the scenes" look into the hotel, and we were impressed! The modern decor of the lobby and guest rooms along with the several amenities offered makes this hotel a great place to stay on vacation or business. Come stay at aloft on D1's campus and bring your pet too! Click here to view aloft Hotel.