August 13, 2012

Golden Eagles getting attention in preseason FCS poll

Tennessee Tech is receiving votes in the preseason polls. Tech received 77 points and is listed 35th in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 Coaches Poll, announced Monday.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech football team is on the national radar again. The Golden Eagles are included among "others receiving votes" in the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Preseason Top 25 poll announced Monday. Tech received 77 points in the voting, one of seven Ohio Valley Conference teams who got nods from the nationwide panel of voters.

The 77 points placed Tech 35th overall in the poll. Eastern Kentucky, picked to win the OVC, is ranked 18th in the poll while Jacksonville State is listed 22nd. Five others including Tech received votes, led by Murray State with 292 points, placing the Racers as the top team among others receiving votes. Tech was next with 77, followed by Southeast Missouri with four and both Eastern Illinois and UT Martin with one point each.

On Monday, the voters installed Sam Houston State as the preseason No. 1. The Bearkats gained 79 of the 151 first-place votes and 3,708 points in the national poll. Defending national champion North Dakota State was the second choice, totaling 59 first-place votes and 3,625 points.

The Golden Eagles begin the season on Thursday, Aug. 30, when they host Hampton University in a 7 p.m. game in Tucker Stadium.

Season tickets for the 2012 Golden Eagle six-game home slate are on sale by visiting or calling (931-372-3940) the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center. Tickets may also be ordered online at TTUsports.com.

The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 Coaches Poll

1. Sam Houston State (79)
2. North Dakota State (59)
3. Georgia Southern (6)
4. Montana State (3)
5. James Madison (3)
6. Appalachian State (1)
7. Towson
8. Old Dominion
9. Northern Iowa
10. Wofford
11. Montana
12. Eastern Washington
13. Youngstown State
14. New Hampshire
15. Delaware
16. Lehigh
17. Stony Brook
18. Eastern Kentucky
19. Illinois State
20. Stephen F. Austin
21. Maine
22. Jacksonville State
23. Indiana State
24. Central Arkansas
25. Harvard

Others receiving votes: Murray State 292, Northern Arizona 259, Norfolk State 222, Chattanooga 191, Liberty 150, South Carolina State 137, Bethune-Cookman 134, McNeese State 127, Grambling State 87, Tennessee Tech 77, Portland State 73, North Dakota 68, Alabama State 66, Jackson State 63, Southern Illinois 63, William & Mary 59, Southern Utah 54, Georgia State 49, Furman 43, Albany 39, Richmond 31, Villanova 30, Penn 16, Duquesne 14, South Dakota State 10, San Diego 9, Elon 9, Drake 8, Holy Cross 7, Prairie View A&M 6, South Dakota 6, Alabama A&M 4, Southeast Missouri 4, Georgetown 3, Idaho State 3, Sacramento State 3, Cornell 2, Bryant 1, Eastern Illinois 1, Jacksonville 1, Missouri State 1, Samford 1, UT Martin 1, The Citadel 1, Western Illinois 1.