Photo Day Monday is free and open to the public

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- It's almost Zero Hour at Tennessee Tech;  The "Fastest 60 Minutes in Football" begins for the Golden Eagles on Sunday when 90 players report to campus to begin Fall Camp in preparation for the 2011 season.

And, one of the first events of the camp is the annual team Photo Day, open to the public, which is scheduled for Monday morning in Tucker Stadium. 

Football fans, families and friends are invited onto Overall Field Monday, with the team assembling for the official group photo at 10 a.m. After that, individual and group photos will be taken, and fans are encouraged to meet with the players and coaching staff.

The fifth edition of coach Watson Brown's Golden Eagles will be be busy Sunday evening with  meetings, equipment distribution and physicals. Monday morning begins with an early run and a team compliance meeting, followed by Photo Day.

Practices begin Tuesday. The first practice in full pads is on Friday (Aug. 12) and the team's first scrimmage is Sunday (Aug. 14) at 5 p.m. Tech will host a second scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 20, 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.

"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. 3, at the University of Iowa with an 11 a.m. kickoff against the Hawkeyes. The first home game of the year is Thursday evening, Sept. 8, when Tech welcomes Maryville College to Tucker Stadium.

Following the on-field Photo Day session Monday, Brown 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 are excited about getting camp underway. I'm looking forward to this football season and I'm anxious to get started. We made outstanding progress in the spring, I'm seeing tremendous enthusiasm among our players and really good leadership from our seniors. I'm really excited about this team."

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.