Byrd was a legendary figure on the sports scene in Knoxville. His event coverage as well as his “Byrd’s Eye View” and “Free Thought Association” columns were anxiously awaited as each edition rolled .

He chose UNC Wilmington, and in 1999, recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons told the newspaper ... in his first season there to earn Knoxville News-Sentinel Coach of the Year. He took the team ...