By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football team will get a bit of national television exposure as the Golden Eagles host their home opener against Kennesaw State on Sept. 6 from Tucker Stadium.
The game has been picked up by ESPNU with the start time scheduled at 6 p.m.
It is the first nationally televised game from Tucker Stadium since Sept. 21, 2006, when the Golden Eagles hosted Eastern Kentucky in a 27-14 victory.
The Golden Eagles open their season on Thursday as they travel to Chattanooga for a 6 p.m. Central start, opening the Dewayne Alexander era of Tech football.
"It is huge," Alexander said of hosting the first nationally televised game from Cookeville in 12 years. "It's not something that happens to Tennessee Tech or many FCS programs too often. To get the opportunity to play a great opponent like Kennesaw State is awesome, and for it to be our home opener as well is a great opportunity to showcase not only Tennessee Tech football, but also Tennessee Tech University.
"I know in years past when Tech has been on television it helps highlight the setting we have – the stadium is right on campus. We're not an off-campus facility, the library is right behind us, there's academic buildings all around us. It really makes for an awesome display for everyone to see Tennessee Tech."
Alexander continued, "Having our new video board up and going will be an awesome touch. There's already a lot of excitement for that game because it's our home opener for the season, but the fact that it's on national television will add a special energy to it for our players."
Kennesaw State is ranked No. 5 in the preseason STATS FCS and AFCA Coaches polls. The Owls finished 12-2 last season, including a 5-0 record in the Big South Conference. KSU opened its home slate last season with a 27-14 victory over the Golden Eagles.
Tech is rebounding from a 1-10 season last year, handing the program off to a new staff with Alexander at the helm. In his seven previous seasons as a head coach, he helped lead Cumberland to prominence in the NAIA ranks before returning to his alma mater in December to lead a similar effort.
The home opener will be Communiversity Night at Tucker Stadium and will also start with the annual Running of the Freshmen as the new freshmen students lead the Golden Eagles through the Tech Marching Band on the field.
Tech will also officially christen its new video board in that game as well. Added during the summer, the Daktronics board measures approximately 100 feet wide by 50 feet tall with a main video panel at 81 feet wide and 30 feet high, making it the third largest on-campus board in the FCS, trailing Stephen F. Austin (81'x37') and Sam Houston State (80'x33').
"We welcome this amazing opportunity to show the country what kind of excitement we have about our programs here at Tennessee Tech," said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. "There are amazing things in the works here and we want everybody to be a part of it. This is a great chance to get people to jump on board."
Tickets for the game are on sale now. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com to order.
