By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In the crowded clubhouse at Golden Eagle Golf Club, nearly every era of Tennessee Tech football was represented.
Over the course of two days, it was old war stories were shared and the spirit and fellowship that comes with being a part of a program was reunited. There was also a little golf played too.
As another Tennessee Tech Football Alumni Golf Classic came to a close, it brings about some admiration for the past traditions of the program, as well as the future of Golden Eagle football to come.
Among the dignitaries present at the event were players from eras ranging from the 1950s to the 2010s, approximately 60 years out of the near-century mark that Tennessee Tech football stands at now. There were several winners of the Robert Hill Johnson Award, the top honor for a Tech football player. There were also several TTU Sports Hall of Famers in attendance, including Larry Schreiber, who was a nominee for the College Football Hall of Fame. There were also a few former NFL players including Schreiber, Jim Bishop, Howard Stidham and Wayne Anderson.
Also in attendance was Rear Admiral Vinson Smith, a 1974 Tech graduate; and Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers (South Carolina, 1980).
On hand for the event, head coach Dewayne Alexander and his Golden Eagle players and coaches introduced themselves to the attending players as they start gearing up for the 2018 campaign, which starts on Aug. 30 at Chattanooga.
Friday night's Tony Stone BBQ dinner was provided and prepared by Stone's daughters and sons-in-law – Randy and Melinda Keifer and Danny and Julie Lee. Saturday afternoon's lunch was provided by IGA and Mary Alice McClellan as everyone was treated to John Dogs from historic John's Place. Saturday's dinner was supported by Tim Weaver and O'Charley's.
The tournament field included 188 golfers, the largest in the event's history, raising nearly $25,000 for the Golden Eagle football program. Over the years along with the Robert Hill Johnson Endowment, this event has raised over half a million dollars for Tennessee Tech football.
Winning the championship flight was the team of Paul Ballard, Calvin Clark, Blake Garrison and Tim Richardson with a 20-under 50, while Sam Brooks, Will Brooks, Danny Brooks and Tre Lamb was two strokes back. Barrett Steakley, Mike Steakley, Ryan Johnson and Ken Mayes was four back with a 16-under 54.
The team of Rick Marsh, Mike Smith, Scott Woods and Tim Grapes won the first flight with a 12-under 58, while the teams of DeWayne Tinch, Josh Harris, Jamie McBryar and Andy Bates, as well as Nick Campbell, Ryan Weeks, Ryan Kelly and Chip Nanney took the next two spots with the same score.
The Campbell, Weeks, Kelly and Nanney team won the Ragland Cup as the highest declared team in contention that was made up entirely of former Tennessee Tech football players, coaches or trainers. The Ragland Cup is named in honor of former Golden Eagle player and coach Jim Ragland, and the award – current Tech football helmets – were awarded to the winning team.
The team of Greg Bauer, Lance Amuso, Keith Dodson and Billy Stover won the second flight with a seven-under 63, while Steven Davis, Sam Smith, Mitch Holcomb and Clint Wade, as well as the team of Andre Caballero and Brad Taylor each had six-under 64s.
The 2018 Tennessee Tech Football Alumni Golf Classic was made possible by support from Averitt Express, Cravens Investment, Phillips Properties Partnership, Bank of Putnam County, Cumby Construction, Swallows Insurance, IGA, Tim Weaver and O'Charley's, Rogers Group, Pepsi, Cherokee Distributing, American Wine and Spirits, Farm Bureau, BSC, Phoenix USA, Cracker Barrel, Stone Steel and CSA PrepStar.
