Posted: Monday, August 15, 2011 9:56 pm

Much-lauded preview in Thursday’s edition The Messenger’s annual preseason football preview will appear in Thursday’s edition of the newspaper. The section, judged the best in the state of its kind in 12 of the past 14 years, will feature extensive previews, statistical data and photos of all three Obion County teams as well as Fulton City. More than 30 teams in all from rural West Tennessee and Western Kentucky are previewed. There are also a handful of features, including one on the gameday routines of local coaches, as well as two stories on how football is much more than a game for the players at Obion Central and Union City. The Messenger sports staff has also produced the preview section for its sister publication, the Weakley County Press this year. That insert will be included in Tuesday’s edition of The Press. UCMS softball team opens with triumph The Union City Middle School softball team opened its 2011 season with a 3-2 victory over Greenfield. Winning pitcher Ivey Westbrooks drove in the Lady Tornadoes’ first run of the year, then went on to fan six and walk just two to pick up the victory. Westbrooks ended the game with the last of her strikeouts with runners at second and third. Caroline Chism smacked a two-run triple for the victors. UC returns to action Tuesday with a home game vs. Martin at 4:30. Search firm contract extended for Vol AD KNOXVILLE (AP) — Parker Executive Search will continue to assist Tennessee in its search for a new athletics director until the position is filled. The contract between the firm and Tennessee was dated to end Satur-day, but university spokeswoman Margie Nichols says that date will not affect the search. Parker Executive Search is earning up to $105,000 to assist with the search. Nichols says that fee will not increase with the contract running beyond Saturday. Athletics director Mike Hamilton resigned in June in the wake of an NCAA investigation into Volunteers athletics. Nichols says UT-Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek is concerned with hiring the right vice chancellor for athletics rather than filling the position quickly. Joan Cronan, formerly the Lady Vols athletics director, is filling the position in the interim. Published in The Messenger 8.15.11