August 3, 2012

Golden Eagle football team reports Friday, opens camp Saturday

Tennessee Tech football coach Watson Brown and his staff are set to welcome 95 players to campus Friday, with fall camp getting underway Saturday in preparation for the 2012 season.

Photo Day Saturday is free and open to the public

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The next edition of the "Fastest 60 Minutes in Football" begins Friday for the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles as head coach Watson Brown and his staff welcome 95 players to campus. Fall camp begins Saturday in preparation for the 2012 season.

One of the first events of camp is the annual team Photo Day, open to the public, which is scheduled for Saturday morning in Tucker Stadium.

The sixth edition of Brown's Golden Eagles will be busy Friday evening with team meetings, equipment distribution and physicals. Saturday morning begins with an early run and a team compliance meeting, followed by Photo Day.

The biggest difference between the approaching fall camp and past camps is simple -- the Golden Eagles come to town as the defending Ohio Valley Conference co-champions.

"We're excited about the upcoming season. We're a different team from a year ago. Last year we were more mature and experienced. This year we're a little younger and less experienced, but overall we might be more talented," Brown said.

"As coaches, we have a different job this year from last and we're excited about that challenge," he added.

Practices begin Saturday in shorts without pads. The team will also wear shorts with no pads for Sunday's practice, then add pads for Monday and Tuesday. The team's first practice in full pads is on Wednesday (Aug. 8) and the team's first scrimmage is Sunday (Aug. 12) at 4 p.m. Tech will host a second scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 18, as part of the annual Gathering of Eagles.

Tech will go through three weeks of camp workouts, then turn its attention toward the season opener during the final week of August. Tech opens the year in Tucker Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 30, with a 7 p.m. kickoff against the Hampton University Pirates. Tech is also at home the following Thursday evening, Sept. 6, against North Greenville College.

Following the on-field Photo Day session Saturday, Brown will meet with members of the media at a Media Luncheon in Eblen Center at noon.

Season tickets to watch the Golden Eagles are on sale. Ticket may be ordered online at TTUsports.com, or through the Athletic Ticket Office in Eblen Center by calling (931) 372-3940.