By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – What has developed into a summer-long tradition attended by hundreds each week, Tennessee Tech's popular athletics caravans are back for more, only this time, they come with a new theme; the Tech Tuff Caravans. The popular traveling event will reaching out to towns across the region once again during July, August, and even the first day of September. Each stop promises to excite and ignite every Tennessee Tech fan for the upcoming season.
Tech Tuff Caravans will make 12 stops over the next three months, from Crossville to McMinnville to Gainesboro to Livingston to Sparta, to raise anticipation for the upcoming Golden Eagle year in sports. Every caravan is free and fans are encouraged to participate.
Several Tennessee Tech head coaches and their staffs, student-athletes, cheerleaders, and Awesome Eagle will all be available to meet and visit with, while fans can also enjoy hot dogs and soft drinks, completing the tailgate atmosphere.
Each event will last 98 minutes and will include registration for a grand prize drawing, where one lucky fan will win a TTU Pride Package and two tickets to this season's football game at the University of Tennessee on Nov. 5.
Sponsored by 98.5 KISS FM, Pepsi and TTUsports.com, each Tech Tuff Caravan all but two events will begin at 5 p.m. and run until 6:38 p.m. Two of Tech's other stops will feature 11:00 a.m. start times and end around roughly 1 p.m.
For the second straight year, Save-A-Lot in Gainesboro will be the first stop of the Tech Tuff Caravans on Thursday, July 7. Seven of the remaining 11 stops will be at local Walmart stores, with the remaining four stops planned at the Save-A-Lot stores in Monterey and Livingston, the Hometown IGA in Cookeville, and, for the first time ever, at Dogwood Park Amphitheater.
The grand prize registration will be done by 98.5 KISS FM (the home of Golden Eagle football broadcasts) at each stop and the winner will be announced at Tucker Stadium at the Golden Eagle football team's home opener against Wofford.
No winners will be selected below the age of 18. Winner may not be a high school student-athlete or immediate family member of an athlete without jeopardizing collegiate eligibility at an NCAA institution. Complete rules for the contest can be found at the Kissfm985.com website.
After beginning in Jackson County, the Tech Tuff Caravans will run across the region before concluding at the Dogwood Park Amphitheater on Thursday, September 1 at 11:00 a.m., just hours before kick off of the 2016 Golden Eagle football season.
For additional information on the caravans or to purchase season tickets for the upcoming football season, call (931) 372-3940.
The 2016 Purple Pride Caravan schedule and locations:
– Thursday, July 7 | Gainesboro (Jackson County) Save-A-Lot | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Tuesday, July 12 | Smithville Walmart | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, July 14 | Cookeville Hometown IGA | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, July 21 | Crossville Walmart | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Tuesday, July 26 | Monterey Save-A-Lot | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, July 28 | Sparta Walmart | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, Aug. 4 | Livingston Save-A-Lot | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Tuesday, Aug. 9 | McMinnville Walmart | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, Aug. 11 | Jamestown Walmart | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, Aug. 18 | Cookeville Walmart | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
– Thursday, Aug. 25 | Algood Walmart | 5:00-6:38 p.m.
– Thursday, Sept. 1 | Cookeville Dogwood Park Amphitheater | 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Photo by TTU Sports Information
