Football

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech head football coach Bobby Wilder addressed the gathered media on Wednesday’s Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association Media Day, the veteran coach entering his first season with the Golden Eagles was excited for the new opportunity ahead of him. “I’ve been living here for eight months now and I’m absolutely living the dream in Cookeville,” he said. “We’re working toward building a successful football team. The goal right now is getting everyone in the organization focused on the process of winning. That’s in every day – our planning, our preparation and our execution.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The offense had its day to shine on Monday, so as the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association announced its second wave of Preseason Players to Watch, it was the defense and special teams’ day in the spotlight. The second day of honors saw six Tennessee Tech student-athletes selected for seven positions with defensive lineman Daniel Rickert, linebacker Aaron Swafford, defensive back Tim Coutras, punter Spencer Ashby, Tremel Jones as both kick and punt return specialist for his third nod of the week and long snapper Turner McLaughlin on the roll.

COOKEVILLE – To kick off the first of three days in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Media Days, the combined conference announced its first set of Preseason Players to Watch. In the first set of players announced among the offensive skill positions and kickers, the Tennessee Tech Football team claimed seven selections on the preseason list. Included among the list are quarterback Dylan Laible, running back Obie Sanni, wide receiver Tremel Jones, tight end Hunter Barnhart, offensive lineman Logan Weedman, all-purpose pick Kyron Cumby and kicker Hayden Olsen. Four of the seven selections on Monday will make their first appearances in the Purple and Gold this season with the season kicking off August 31 at Middle Tennessee.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Tennessee Tech football alum, Sports Hall of Famer and University Trustee Barry Wilmore is back in space once again as the third time was the charm for the Boeing Starliner test flight mission as it successfully made it into orbit on Wednesday. The launch was scrubbed on May 6 and June 1 before Wednesday’s successful try. Wilmore and Suni Williams will dock with the International Space Station around 11:15 a.m. Thursday with a pump to fix equipment on the ISS, while also testing several of the Starliner’s capabilities including thruster performance, spacesuit functionality, manual piloting and safe haven capability as a shelter in case of a problem.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the summer months have arrived, the Tennessee Tech football team will host one of its favorite traditions with the 34th annual TTU Football Alumni Reunion Weekend and Golf Classic. This year’s event is scheduled for July 11-13. The TTU Football Alumni Reunion Weekend and Golf Classic has been instrumental in supporting the football student-athlete experience, raising over $200,000 in recent years for scholarships, summer school, recruiting and equipment upgrades among many other needs.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech fans can now set their schedules for the 2024 home football campaign as start times for all five games from Tucker Stadium have been announced. The first four games of the Golden Eagles’ five-game home slate will all start at 1:30 p.m., which includes the Sept. 21 home opener against Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association opponent Tennessee State, as well as the Oct. 5 non-conference visit from South Carolina State, a conference visit from Charleston Southern on Oct. 26 and the annual Homecoming game on Nov. 2 against Big South-OVC foe Lindenwood.

The Gaw family name is synonymous with development and real estate in the Upper Cumberland. Now, the longtime Cookeville business and philanthropic leaders are embarking on a new passion project: a generous gift supporting Tennessee Tech’s student-athletes given in memory of their close friend, Ottis Phillips. Jerry C. and Brenda Gaw recently provided a donation toward the construction of Tech’s state-of-the-art, 40,000-square foot Football Operations Center on the northwest end of campus. Once complete, the venue will include a new locker room and meeting rooms, players’ lounge, theater-style auditorium, sports medicine center and turf practice field.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fans looking to follow the Tennessee Tech football in the 2024 campaign can order their seats now for both the home campaign at Tucker Stadium, as well as the Golden Eagles’ two Football Bowl Subdivision games this season against Georgia and Middle Tennessee. Tech plays Middle Tennessee on August 31 to open the 2024 season in Murfreesboro. Tickets for that game are available for $20 each with an additional $5 service fee. All attendees ages 3 and up are required to have a ticket for admission. Tickets for that game will be available until August 1.

VANCOUVER, B.C.  -- Tennessee Tech’s Kail Dava will get the opportunity to play on the next level as he was selected by the Canadian Football League’s B.C. Lions in their annual draft on Tuesday night. Dava was a highly-rated prospect before the start of the 2023 campaign with the Golden Eagles. He was selected with the 44th overall pick in the league draft.

Tennessee Tech alumnus Jim Bodak says he was inspired to give to the university’s Football Operations Center because of a shared vision among President Phil Oldham, Athletic Director Mark Wilson and Head Football Coach Bobby Wilder to take Tech’s football program to the next level. “I have a passion for football and the university,” Bodak said. “I’m excited that Coach Wilder is there, and I appreciate his enthusiasm and what all he is doing for the program. I want student-athletes to have the very best facilities to help them achieve success both on and off the field.”

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech defense won the day during Saturday’s spring game, but it certainly wasn’t a one-sided affair in the situational scrimmage as the Golden Eagles did see some offensive highlights as well. “I felt overall our football team got better today,” said Tech head coach Bobby Wilder. “I liked the attention to detail – it’s something that we’ve been working hard on. I feel like we played much faster today. The defense had some moments where they really shined. We had some big plays from the offense today. I felt like both quarterbacks (Dylan Laible and Jordyn Potts) performed very well and I was really pleased to see that good mix of returning offensive skill guys and the guys we brought in in January. They really showed the progress we’re making this spring.”

IRVING, Texas – As the National Football Foundation announced its annual Hampshire Honor Society, the roster included a record 1,989 student-athletes from all levels of college football – NCAA, NAIA and sprint football. Among those honorees, four Tennessee Tech football players – Brad Clark, Kail Dava, Cole Putnam and Trevor Stephens – were inducted as members of the exclusive group.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech continued its spring football work on Saturday at Tucker Stadium, class was in session as the Golden Eagles went through situational football with officials overseeing the action. “It was really important for us to get the officials here and put the uniforms on so it felt more like game situations,” head coach Bobby Wilder said. “I’m really pleased with their effort and attitude today. We did not have a good practice on Thursday and it was really good to see them bounce back and perform at a much higher level.”

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football team has been able to get a lot more physical on the field as they continue their spring workouts. The Golden Eagles have already been trying to get stronger with their efforts in the Athletic Performance Center. Now, with the intensity cranked up and the players getting to be more active, the opportunity presents itself to get tougher.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team took to the Tucker Stadium turf on Thursday, the energy was electric. While it was just the second session of the spring, the team looked seasoned and excited. The offense made big plays, while the defense shined. As the coaches instructed, the student-athletes leaned in on every instruction. They cheered each other on and even jokingly tried to distract their teammates on the opposite side of the ball. It was all in good fun, but the biggest takeaway is that the Golden Eagles are progressing nicely as the spring is really just beginning.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When college football rolls around in the fall, there’s always a sense of pageantry in the air as the campus community comes together to celebrate. There will be several occasions this fall on Tennessee Tech’s upcoming schedule as the University announced its dates for Family Weekend and Homecoming.

Tennessee Tech University is further strengthening its longtime partnership with supply-chain industry leader Averitt – this time through a major gift from the transportation powerhouse supporting Tech’s rebuilt football stadium. Tech previously announced plans to completely rebuild the west side of Tucker Stadium, home of Tech’s Golden Eagle football team since 1966, to offer new amenities, suites, upgraded seating and expanded concessions, among other improvements. Demolition is slated to begin later this spring. The university will also construct a state-of-the-art, 40,000-square foot football operations center complete with a new locker room and meeting rooms, players’ lounge, theater-style auditorium, sports medicine center and turf practice field. The venue marks a powerful demonstration of Tech’s investment in its student-athletes.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With playing and coaching experience in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Chase Mummau joins Tennessee Tech head football coach Bobby Wilder’s staff and adds additional years of experience on the Football Bowl Subdivision level to the Golden Eagles. Mummau will join the coaching staff, overseeing the safeties on defense.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Last season, Greg Jones coached on the other sideline against the Tennessee Tech Football team as he served as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Gardner-Webb. Helping guide the Runnin’ Bulldogs to the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association’s automatic berth into the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs and a share of the league’s championship with a 5-1 mark, Jones will now try to lead the combined conferences’ top defense to a championship as he joins the Golden Eagles’ staff as its new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Adam Raymond spends countless hours poring over video to help Tennessee Tech Football prepare for its next opponent, learn how to improve and grow and showcase some of its best moments. As a video coordinator, his efforts aren’t the ones highlighted on the field, but behind the scenes, what he is able to accomplish is invaluable as he oversees a staff of film students and breaks down footage from practice and games. It’s a day-to-day operation handling the coaches’ video to help them figure out what’s working and what isn’t.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football staff, under the first-year direction of Bobby Wilder, are working away, filing the paperwork and crossing the T's and dotting the I's as they bring in a new class of Golden Eagles as part of Wednesday's National Signing Day. More paperwork is expected to come across as the day continues. The signees Wednesday so far include: Max Leven (Murrysville, Pa.), Turner McLaughlin (Pensacola, Fla.), Mason Taylor (Cookeville, Tenn.) and Steve Brown (Birmingham, Ala.).

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A 2020 inductee into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame, Thomas Squires was a leader, a friend and a tremendous player for the Golden Eagles. As he passed away on Friday, Squires leaves a tremendous legacy, serving as an inspiration for Golden Eagle football players to follow as to how to succeed on the field and become leaders in life. Squires was 59. Details on his memorial will be shared once they are available.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech added two huge offensive weapons on Saturday as the Golden Eagles brought in a National Champion running back in Michigan transfer Leon Franklin and a school-record holder from New Hampshire in wide receiver D.J. Linkins.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech has bolstered its lineup with two new additions as the Golden Eagles picked up quarterback Dylan Laible, defensive backs James Edwards and Ty Moss, in addition to wide receivers Tramel Jones and Jordan Yates.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It will be an exciting slate for the Tennessee Tech football team in its first season under new head coach Bobby Wilder as the Golden Eagles will face two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents – including perennial powerhouse Georgia – as well as four out of the five games in Tucker Stadium against Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association competition. The combined conferences announced the slate Tuesday afternoon. Game times and special events will be announced at a later time. Tech opens the season on August 31 at historical rival Middle Tennessee. Even though the series against the Blue Raiders has been stagnant since 1998 with just one meeting in 2006 since they joined the FBS level, the series is still one of the longest in the Golden Eagles’ soon-to-be 103rd season of varsity play. MTSU has a 35-32-7 edge in the all-time series with the Blue Raiders winning 14 of the last 16 meetings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – As the Football Championship Subdivision Athletic Directors Association announced its 26th annual Academic All-Star Team on Sunday, Tennessee Tech came away with a selection on the roster as kicker Hayden Olsen was named to the 52-player squad. Olsen, who was also selected to the inaugural Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association’s All-Academic Team, has posted a 3.85 grade point average in exercise science and physical wellness. He completed the 2023 campaign going 7-for-11 on field goals, including a career-long 54-yard kick against UT Martin. That kick tied Nick Madonia and Haidar Zaidan for the second-longest field goal in program history, earning a STATS FCS FedEx Ground National Special Teams Player of the Week honorable mention nod for the effort.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech bolstered its receiving corps on Friday as the Golden Eagles added transfer wide receiver J.D. Dixon from Bethel University. Dixon’s numbers with the Wildcats were incredible, finishing the 2023 season with 75 catches for 1,256 yards and 19 touchdowns. In his Bethel career over two seasons, he has 136 catches for 2,258 yards and 29 receiving scores. He averaged 16.6 yards per catch and 90.3 yards per game.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the December portion of the football recruiting schedule in the books, Tennessee Tech added two transfers on the early period signing day on Wednesday, bringing in an offensive lineman from a top-tier Football Championship Subdivision program and a wide receiver from the Football Bowl Subdivision. In both cases, the additions to the Golden Eagle roster put the Tech football team’s plans under new head coach Bobby Wilder into motion.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech head football coach Bobby Wilder continues to complete his coaching staff, he has added a young emerging talent to oversee the Golden Eagles’ running backs with the addition of Drew Rodriguez. “We are pleased to announce that Drew Rodriguez will be joining our staff as the running backs coach,” Wilder said. “He was experience recently with Florida International and Towson, and is currently helping Boston College prepare for their bowl game. He will bring knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to our running back room.”

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech head football coach continues to build his staff, he will bring in an exciting young talent who has already worked with offensive coordinator Brian Scott as Ben Blessing joins the Golden Eagle coaching staff as a tight ends coach. “I’m thankful and super excited for the opportunity to join Coach Wilder and his staff as we take Tennessee Tech to new heights,” Blessing said. “Time to get to work in the trenches and build something special. Wings up!”