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TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE NOTES | TENNESSEE TECH NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE – In a night where the Tennessee Tech football team will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first varsity game, it almost seemed like the stars aligned in so many ways.
First – Saturday's game is the 1,000th game in program history.
Second – The opponent is Texas A&M-Commerce, who the Golden Eagles played once before previously in the 1953 Tangerine Bowl after claiming their first Ohio Valley Conference championship in the 1952 season.
Third – that 1952 team is being honored on Saturday for their title's 70th anniversary.
All-in-all, it's a milestone night to celebrate as the Golden Eagles host the Lions for their home opener.
Kickoff for the game is 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will have the call on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Buddy Pearson will paint the picture on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Saturday's game is jam-packed with presentations and promotions. The contest is Public Safety, Military and Healthcare Appreciation Night with those who serve in those capacities receiving free admission to the game with valid ID or in uniform. It is also Tennessee Tech Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night with those staffers and their families able to receive free admission to the game with their Eagle Card.
It is also First Horizon Poster Night with schedule posters available to fans while supplies last.
In addition to the new tradition – the Running of the Freshmen – to lead the Golden Eagles onto the field, it is Legends Weekend as all 10 OVC champion Golden Eagle squads – including the 50th anniversary of the 1972 title winners and the 70th anniversary of the 1952 champs – will be recognized. The festivities also include the 70th anniversary of the team's Robert Hill Johnson Award – the team's highest honor and one of the longest continuously-running named awards in collegiate athletics – and the All-100th Anniversary Team as well as the Tech Athletics Distinguished Alumni Award.
While Tech and Texas A&M-Commerce have tangled before – back in the day before the NCAA football landscape was split into divisions – this is the Lions' first season in the Division I level and playing in the Football Championship Subdivision. This game came to be as part of the scheduling alliance between the Ohio Valley Conference and the Southland Conference.
While they are not eligible for the FCS Playoffs during their four-year transition to Division I, the Lions are eligible for the Southland Conference crown. They have a resume to back it up too as TAMUC won the Division II National Championship in 2017.
The Lions trounced NAIA foe Lincoln (Calif.) last week, winning 52-7. Quarterback Eric Rodriguez threw five touchdown passes – the second-most in program history – as he completed 12 of his 16 passes for 269 yards. Three of those scoring chunks went to freshman wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, tying the TAMUC single-game record as all three of his catches for 134 yards finished in the end zone.
Lions coach David Bailiff has seen success in his career, collecting three bowl game wins with Rice in the 2008 Texas Bowl, the 2012 Armed Forces Bowl and the 2014 Hawai'i Bowl. He stands in the company of Terry Bowden, Willie Fritz and Joe Glenn to reach the Division II playoffs, the FCS playoffs and win a FBS bowl game as he also led Texas State to the 2005 FCS field.
Under Bailiff's watchful eye, the Lions have eight straight winning seasons, the longest stretch in program history and they have a 76-25 record since 2013. TAMUC also brought in 26 transfers this season, including 10 Division I refugees and five from the Power 5 conferences.
While the Lions were feasting on Lincoln, the Golden Eagles were feeling things out at Kansas. Despite the final score against the Jayhawks, Tech accomplished goals in keeping the team healthy, giving some new faces a chance to test themselves and do what they can against a Power 5 program.
Negatives aside, the Golden Eagles did make huge strides. Tech won the turnover battle, forcing three giveaways, while only losing the ball once. The Golden Eagles were able to hold Kansas in a goal-line stand and kept them out of the end zone again in a drive ending in a missed field goal. Tech also won the penalty battle, only drawing four flags for 19 yards to Kansas' 40.
Against a Power 5 defense, Tech was held to 190 yards of offense with quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall leading the team in rushing and passing and Willie Miller leading the receiving effort.
Now against competition on its level, fans on Saturday should have a better idea of just what to expect from Tech this season in two more warm-up games before the Golden Eagles enter OVC play on Oct. 1.
Season tickets for Tech football are still on sale. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com to order.
Photo | Ryan Weaver
