By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports
Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Soldiers and Marine that Tennessee
Tech fans will meet Saturday night in Eblen Center have at least
three things in common; All are from the Upper Cumberland, all will
be attending their first Golden Eagle basketball games, and all
three were wounded in action.
It’s Military Appreciation Night Saturday when Tennessee
Tech hosts Morehead State in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader
beginning at 5:30 p.m.
An annual feature of the event is presenting the families of the
Service members who have been selected by the Wounded Warrior
Project as recipients of trips to the OVC Basketball Tournament as
guests of the league’s schools.
Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be in
the stands during each game to collect donations to fund the trips
for all three families to the tournament. Fans will have an
opportunity to say ‘thank you’ by giving.
U.S. Army Spc. Jason Smith, Army Staff Sgt. Scott Botts, and
Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Walters have each fought overseas for
America’s freedom, and received honors for their service
during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Desert Storm.
As part of the Ohio Valley Conference's "Hoops for Heroes"
initiative, all three warriors and their families will attend the
OVC Basketball Tournament in Nashville, March 5-8, with their
expenses provided from fund-raising efforts by Tech's
student-athletes.
The mission of the SAAC representatives will be to collect
donations from TTU fans to support the trips.
Originally from Byrdstown, Tenn., Smith was injured in Iraq in
2004. He and his wife, Brandy, now live in Monterey.
Walters was born in Nashville and currently lives in Sparta with
his wife Angela and sons Landon, Bryce and Brycen. He was injured
in Afghanistan in 2005.
After serving 18 years and three months with the Marines, Botts is
retired after being injured in Iraq in 2005. He lives in Oneida,
Tenn., with his wife Theresa.
Tech fans will have the chance to salute those three troops, who
will receive family trips to the OVC Tournament from Tech's SAAC
efforts through the OVC's association with the Wounded Warrior
Project. The program was started three years ago. Tech's
fund-raising has gone to Army Cpl. Eric Frazier in 2011 and Army
Sgt. Kelly Deming in 2012. Last year, SAAC’s efforts expanded
to two recipients in Army Spc. Thomas Kelley and Marine Cpl. Mark
Roop.
Fans will be asked to give generously to support this effort when
the student-athletes make their way through the arena Saturday
evening.
All current and retired members of the U.S. military can receive
free tickets to the game, as well as persons working in the public
safety sector, by showing ID.
For additional information on the game or the "Hoops for Heroes"
project, please call (931) 372-3940 or visit the Athletics Ticket
Office in Eblen Center. The doubleheader begins with the women's
game tipoff at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's contest at 7:30
p.m.
Fans wishing to make donations to the SAAC fund-raising efforts
for the "Hoops for Heroes" program but are not able to attend the
games Saturday may contact the Athletics Ticket Office for
information.
