By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A tradition sure to be unlike any other. No, not the Masters. The Tennessee Tech football Spring Game.
That's a slogan that could really take off following the resounding success that was this year's Spring Game, a moniker that doesn't even begin to describe the all-encompassing event that featured giveaways, Freaky Dave from 98.5 KISS FM as a live DJ, and a lively choir of a fan base directed by none other than head coach Marcus Satterfield.
Chalk full of things to do and see all night, the event kicked off at 5:30 p.m. CT with a kid's clinic, a chance for children from all across the Upper Cumberland to come and run football drills with current members of the Golden Eagle football team.
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Following a brief warm-up period, Coach Satterfield took to the microphone, using the opportunity to instruct and teach the fans, especially those students in attendance, some new traditions, chants and cheers that will be incorporated into next season's football game day atmosphere. Some of the new traditions? How about the Golden Eagle squad entering from the tunnel in a tunnel of purple smoke to Jimmy Hendricks' "Purple Haze." Also new were several chants encouraged to show off how much a team the student section can be as well as one incorporating the new "Wings Up" slogan adopted by the entire TTU Athletics Department. The clear favorite of the night, however, went to a song expected to make an appearance each and every home contest; a song that every person in attendance had no trouble or qualms about blaring Dixieland Delight. |
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One of the most popular features of the night was the break between the third and fourth quarters, a chance for two members of the Golden Eagle football roster to show off their golden pipes in a karaoke contest. Representing the purple team, Corey Malone wowed the crowd with an inspired rendition of Joe Nichols' "Yeah" while the gold team's Chris Moore provided a brilliant performance of "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson. Needless to say, it was a clear success as everyone in attendance was alive and energetic and became that much more as the night rolled along. As for the game itself, the defense showed off for much of the roughly 40-minute contest. Robert Hill Bronson and Isaiah McKinney each corralled interceptions, while Kevin Robinson-White, Tim Collins and a few others took down the quarterback for sacks. Offensively, the scores were highlighted by a 30-yard touchdown snag by Jordan Smith from Colby Brown, as well as several made field goals off the foot of Nick Madonia. |
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Madonia wasn't the only one who got to show his leg, however, as multiple students, Awesome Eagle, Golden Eagle volleyball setter Sharon Anderson, former Tech safety Jimmy Laughlin and even Coach Satterfield himself took turns with punts and kick off duties. The highlight of the evening was a kick, or rather two kicks, from Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. With the gold team trailing by three points and seven seconds to play, "backup kicker" Mark Wilson was forced to take to the field after Madonia was forced to leave with a "leg injury." The head of Golden Eagle athletics' first attempt clinked just off the crossbar, but a suspiciously convenient offsides penalty on the defense gave the A.D. one more chance. Wilson drilled the kick, and was soon mobbed and drenched with water bottles of each member of the gold team, including a miraculously healed Madonia. The roar of the crowd, which grew louder as the night grew on, climaxed with the made field goal, creating a buzz and source of excitement that will be sure to creep over into the fall and the beginning of the 2016 season. Story photo by Thomas Corhern, Herald-Citizen |
