Golden Eagles add Kansas State to 2009 football schedule

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s football schedule has just gotten a bit tougher in 2009 – the Golden Eagles have added a road game at Kansas State University of the Big 12 Conference.

The Golden Eagles are already scheduled to play at Southeastern Conference foe Georgia in 2009.

The game against K-State is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan. Kickoff time has not been announced.
For the Wildcats, the contest against Tennessee Tech falls between a road game at UCLA on Saturday, Sept. 19, and a neutral site Big 12 conference opener against Iowa State in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Tech, a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), will meet the KSU Wildcats for the second time in the program’s history. Kansas State, a member of the Bowl Championship Subdivision (BCS), claimed a 28-12 win over coach Gary Darnell’s Golden Eagles during the 1984 season.

“These games are exciting for our players,” said Golden Eagle head coach Watson Brown. “They really enjoy them. The philosophy we want to use is to play these types of games every year. The times have made it to where we need to do this to help out the total athletic program. These kinds of games can keep football on solid ground and also benefit all of athletics, financially.”

Going to Kansas State might be a new experience for Tech’s current players, but not for Brown, who coached in Manhattan while he was an assistant at Oklahoma.

“I’ve been to Manhattan, and it’s a great atmosphere, a Big 12 atmosphere, and it will be a memorable trip,” he said. “Our players really have fun when we play games at places this. They get a chance to play against great players and see how they measure up.”

TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson says playing games at places such as Georgia and Kansas State help the athletics program overall, and also give Tech’s players and fans something special to look forward to.

“It’s great for Golden Eagle football to be able to play BCS opponents from conferences such as the SEC and Big 12,” Wilson said. “Our players love playing these types of games against high-profile opponents in large venues, and it will also be a great experience for our fans.”

Kansas State will be under the leadership of legendary head coach Bill Snyder, who had 17 ultra successful seasons with the Wildcats before retiring in 2005. After two years at 5-7, KSU announced Snyder’s return as head coach in November. Just five years ago, Snyder led Kansas State to an 11-4 record, with a win over Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.