COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee Tech football broadcasts will be heard by a much larger audience beginning this season as 50,000-watt Magic 98.5 will become the flagship station of Golden Eagle football and the Golden Eagle Sports Network.

“We’re excited about our team and the improvements we’ve made,” said third-year Tech head coach Watson Brown. “We have lofty goals and we are out to achieve them, and Magic 98.5 will help us to achieve those goals by increasing our audience and adding to the enthusiasm surrounding Golden Eagle football.”

The announcement was made Tuesday morning during the Freaky Dave Show on Magic 98.5. Brown and TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson were guests on the program.

“This is a huge announcement for Magic 98.5 to be the flagship of Tennessee Tech football and the Golden Eagle Sports Network this football season,” said Freaky Dave, program director for Magic 98.5. “We think it’s a perfect combination -- exciting football and a large, enthusiastic audience.

“We excited about broadcasting the games, and also about all the other things surrounding the games such as the tailgates, the halftime contests, ticket giveaways and some other things we have planned."

Among those “other things” will be the Purple Pride Caravan stops around the region, co-sponsored by Magic 98.5. The first Purple Pride Caravan is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sav-A-Lot store in Lebanon.

“We’re thrilled about this, and excited for coach Brown and his staff,” said Wilson. “We are thrilled that Magic 98.5 is now the flagship station for Tennessee Tech football, and we appreciate everyone at Cookeville Communications for embracing TTU football.

“We’re excited to have our football game broadcasts on a 50,000-watt station and about reaching out to its listeners, and we’re looking forward to that first broadcast,” Wilson said.

The season opener is Thursday evening, Sept. 10, when the Golden Eagles host Pikeville College in Tucker Stadium. Kickoff at 7 p.m.

“Magic 98.5 listeners are an audience we want to capture,” Wilson said. “They are the ones who provide the excitement and enthusiasm when they are in Tucker Stadium, and they are the listeners we want to get our message to about Tennessee Tech football.”

All 11 regular season games will can be heard on the Golden Eagle Sports Network and Magic 98.5, which can be heard throughout much of the mid-state region. The broadcasts will also continue to be available through Teamline via the telephone and the Internet.

Additional details on the upcoming Purple Pride Caravan stops will be announced soon.