COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When the sun sets Sunday on Cookeville, a new season in Tennessee Tech football will be underway.

By the time the sun rises Monday morning on the Cumberland Plateau, the fourth edition of coach Watson Brown’s Golden Eagles will be in their first meeting, followed by the team’s annual Photo Day at 10 a.m. in Tucker Stadium.

Tech opens Fall Camp Monday, and begins practices Tuesday. The first full padded practice is on Friday (Aug. 13) and the team’s first scrimmage is Sunday (Aug. 15) at 5 p.m. Tech will host a second scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 21, as part of the annual Gathering of Eagles.

Brown will greet 90 players Sunday night and get them checked into camp, and depth appears to be one of the team’s strengths as the Golden Eagles look to build on a second-place finish last year in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-3 league mark. Winners of the Sgt. York Trophy, Tech was 6-5 overall and has been picked for a fourth place finish in the league’s preseason poll.

“I think depth will be one of our strengths this year,” Brown said. “We’ve played a lot of freshmen the past two years, and now they are veterans. We have a lot of kids with experience.”

Tech will go through three weeks of camp workouts, then turn its attention toward the season opener during the final week of August. Tech opens the year Saturday, Sept. 4, at the University of Arkansas with a 6 p.m. kickoff against the Razorbacks.

Following their compliance meeting in the morning, the team will be on the field for Photo Day at 10 a.m., beginning with the official team photo. Individual and group photos will follow, and specialty pictures will wrap up the session, which is open to the public.

Fans attending Photo Day are encouraged to mingle with the players and coaches, visit  and take photos.

Following the on-field Photo Day session, Brown and four players will meet with nearly 50 members of the media at a Media Luncheon in Eblen Center at noon.

"I'm impressed with the attitude of our players," Brown said. "They have done a really nice job working out this summer and they’re excited about getting camp underway.”

Season tickets to watch the Golden Eagles are on sale. Ticket may be ordered online at TTUsports.com, or through the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center by calling (931) 372-3940.

TENNESSEE TECH FOOTBALL
FALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

Aug. 9: Photo Day, 10 a.m.
Aug. 10: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 11: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 12: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 13: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 14: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 15: SCRIMMAGE, 5:00 p.m.
Aug. 17: Practice, 7:30 a.m.; Practice 4:15 p.m.
Aug. 18: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 19: Practice, 7:30 a.m.; Practice, 4:15 p.m.
Aug. 20: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 21: Gathering of Eagles, 12:30 p.m.; SCRIMMAGE, 1:15 p.m.
Aug. 23: Practice 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 24: Practice, 7:30 a.m.; Practice, 4:15 p.m.
Aug. 25: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 26: Practice, 7:30 a.m.; Great Move-In Day
Aug. 27: Practice, 7:30 a.m.
Aug. 28: DAY OFF
Aug. 29: Game preparations begins for Arkansas