It's Now Tradition: Running of the Freshmen at season opener Saturday night
It's just a couple years old, but it is now considered a tradition to open the Tennessee Tech football team's first game -- TTU President Phil Oldham will lead the charge onto the field for the annual Running of the Freshmen on Saturday.
Freshman Class of 2019 to lead team onto field Saturday
night at Tennessee Tech's Running of the Freshmen
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It's only a couple of years old, but it is now considered a tradition to open the Tennessee Tech football team's first home game: TTU President Phil Oldham will lead the charge onto the field for the annual Running of the Freshmen on Saturday night.
The tradition began in Tennessee Tech's Tucker Stadium just prior to the first football game of the 2013 season with the first-ever Running of the Freshmen. This year will be the third year for the event, and the Class of 2019 has a strong tradition to uphold.
"The first 'Running of the Freshmen' was fantastic," said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. "We were impressed by the number of freshmen who participated. They just kept coming onto the field in waves. Then last year, they topped it, so it will be interesting to see how the Class of 2019 faces the challenge set before them. Will they be able to top the previous two classes? We'll see, and I hope so. Our students add so much to the atmosphere of our home football games."
The University's incoming freshmen are invited to join in the event Saturday evening, joining President Oldham in ushering the 2015 Golden Eagle football team onto the field prior to kickoff for the home opener against Mercer University. The freshmen – Tennessee Tech's class of 2019 – will assemble inside the stadium for the run.The first 800 freshmen will receive a free t-shirt and one lucky freshman will win a TTU Athletics "goodie basket" which includes a $100 Walmart gift card.
Oldham and mascot Awesome Eagle, along with the mob of freshmen, will join the Golden Eagles as they take the field for the 6 p.m. contest. Freshmen will assemble in the northeast corner of the stadium by 5:20 p.m.
"This event has been hugely popular," said Leveda Dexter, Coordinator of Athletic Corporate Sales and Marketing. "We look for ways to help get our students more involved, and this has been a natural. President Oldham is always excited about the opportunity to lead the freshman class onto the field.
"It should be a lot of fun again this year, and it has turned into a highly popular tradition in the first two years," Dexter said.
Several other athletics events are also on the schedule this weekend, and all feature free admission.
The Tech volleyball team hosts the Golden Eagle Invitational presented by Hampton Inn in Eblen Center, with four matches on Friday and two more Saturday morning. It will be the first action at home for coach Dave Zelenock's team, and the first opportunity for fans to see the team in action. Tech faces Towson Friday at 10 a.m. and Western Carolina at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Golden Eagles play Idaho at 8:30 a.m.
The Golden Eagle soccer team, which has been drawing record crowds, plays at home Friday at 4 p.m. against Troy and Sunday at 1 p.m. against Chattanooga.
For more information on the Running of the Freshmen tradition, please call the Athletics Ticket Office at (931) 372-3940.
