Golden Eagles compete in OVC canned food drive

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Even as the Tennessee Tech soccer team heads to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, the Golden Eagle cross country team heads to the OVC championship meet, and the football team enters its final battle in the quest for the Sgt. York Trophy, there is a different competition that all 16 of Tech's athletic teams have their sights set on. The OVC canned food drive.

The OVC is currently holding its annual canned food drive competition in conjunction with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee from each school. Golden Eagle fans and Cookeville citizens are encouraged to take advantage of an opportunity to donate prior to Saturday's homecoming football game.

SAAC representatives will set up a booth at Saturday's tailgate before the game against Tennessee State where they will have games for fans, and be accepting donations of canned food, or money, which will be used to purchase cans. The booth will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tennessee Tech student-athletes collected over 3,000 cans in last year's competition, which went to the Genesis House in Cookeville.

"3,000 cans was really good last year, and we want to try to add to that this year," said Jarrad Read, SAAC president and member of Tech's cross country team. "This is a great opportunity to help the community."

SAAC teamed up with Tech's Greek system this year, and the Fraternities and Sororities have donated over 17,000 cans that will count towards Tech's total.

The food drive began Oct. 24 and will run through Nov. 5. The winning school will be recognized by the OVC, and featured on OVCsports.com. So far in this year's competition Tech has collected nearly 20,000 cans and almost one hundred dollars in donations, which will benefit local charities and organizations.

"We get so much given to us that we want to help give back to the community we live in," Read said. "I think it's important for us to be visible in the community outside of athletic events."

But that's not all that Tech's teams are fighting for. There is a competition within the athletic department in which the winning team receives its own trophy, the Stanley Can. The winner of this trophy will be the team with the most donations per player.

Last year Tech's soccer team won the competition, and was presented with the Stanley Can last week.