By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A picture of legendary NFL coach Bill Walsh was projected on a screen behind of first-year Tennessee Tech head coach Marcus Satterfield.

With the same intensity that Satterfield has addressed his team this season, the new Tech football coach addressed gathered business leaders at the monthly Business Before Hours event, held by the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce  at the Leslie Town Centre on Tuesday.

Next to the picture was a quote, one Satterfield has tried to instill in his players: "Champions behave like champions before they are champions."

But the first factor towards that was gratitude.

"We've talked volumes with our kids about gratitude," Satterfield said, "what it means to be grateful for things. First and foremost, it allows you to open yourself up to life and better things coming in.

"I woke up this morning and I'm going through my routine, and I'm thankful for you all. I'm thankful for Cookeville. I'm grateful to wake up and the sun's out and I'm in one of the best cities in the United States of America. I truly believe that."

Satterfield used Walsh's quote and the team's own philosophies to help illustrate how important the sense of community was for his football team, the university and the city.

"The culture precedes positive results. It doesn't get tacked on," Satterfield said. "Let that sink in. They have a winning standard of performance before they are winners. That really sunk in because from day one from the very first team meeting, we talked about how you've got to own the community. 

"You've got to be grateful, you've got to be selfless and you've got to give yourself up for the community. That will help you and your body learn how to be a teammate and how to love your teammates."

Satterfield talked about the team's switch over to adidas-branded apparel and hit it was an investment into the team's future.

"I thank (director of athletics) Mark (Wilson) and (university president Philip) Oldham for making that commitment with us," Satterfield said. "It's not cheap, but it puts us on our way toward being one of the best football teams in the country. Nike, adidas and Under Armor are all great franchises and he allowed us to go do that. It wasn't cheap, but we're all committed to excellence and championships."

He also expressed how much the team has progressed.

"Understand you're a freshman," Satterfield said, "you just got to our program. There were 40-45 kids in the team meeting in January when I walked in and it was atrocious – their body language, earrings, hats on in the building, Tennessee shirts, Alabama shirts. It was just awful. People weren't showing up on time. There was no sense of pride about being at Tennessee Tech, or being a Golden Eagle.

"Since that time, with the culture that we have since created – I say we, as in our athletic director, our athletic staff, Leveda Dexter (who has overseen the team's recent academic rise) – to see these guys be so proud of what they went through."

Satterfield compared the experience to Paul "Bear" Bryant's 1954 summer camp for the Texas A&M team in Junction, Texas.

"We put these guys through the wringer," Satterfield said. "We set our standards high. We demanded our culture was lived by. For them to go through it and sit in that first team meeting and see the different body language, the way they sat up, the love they had for Tennessee Tech, the way they were ready to attack everything. Not only football, but everything from academics to community to leading these young kids who just came in. It was just unbelievable to see."

Football will get its first chance to make its championship push on Thursday as it hosts Wofford, but it could just be a continuation for what has already  been a strong start for Tech athletics.

"We've had two teams that have already been in action," Wilson said, "and they have truly been Tech Tuff this season. The soccer team is 3-1 with their best start since 2004 and the volleyball team is 3-0 with their best start since 2000. We know that's going to continue on Thursday night when our football team hosts Wofford."

To the gathered business leaders, Wilson stressed season ticket sales.

"That is the way you can get behind Tennessee Tech Athletics," Wilson said. "I personally purchased the Back the Golden Eagles plan where I get 10 season tickets for $200, plus the $5 processing fee. I can't use all the tickets – I'm working, but I give them to my friends, I give them to underprivileged youth in the community. Those are things you can do as well and I ask you to do that.

"If 10 season tickets are too much, we have a family plan that starts with two adults and three youth tickets for $75."

Wilson continued, "We have something for everybody and that's a great way to support Tennessee Tech, but come to the games and cheer them on, because if you have not been to a football practice, then you have no idea what's in store for you with the leadership of head coach Marcus Satterfield."

The first game of the season is traditionally Communiversity Day, a joint venture between the university, the city of Cookeville and the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.

Each Chamber member will receive eight free tickets to Thursday night's season opener against Wofford, which kicks off at 6 p.m.

To order tickets, call (931) 372-3940, visit the Eblen Center ticket office or visit www.ttusports.com.