David Gist

• Article
• November 23, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech had 14 points on the board before Tennessee State even ran an offensive play. But as the game wore on the visiting Tigers surged back and a late punt sealed the game for TSU 37-27. But as the 2019 season comes to a close, a 6-6 record for the Golden Eagles and 3-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference, there are so many positives to take away. Tech had its most wins since the 2011 campaign. The Golden Eagles tied for the second-best turnaround in the Football Championship Subdivision as Tech, UT Martin and Southern Illinois all improved on last year’s tally with five more wins.

• Article
• November 21, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Twenty-one Tennessee Tech football players will put on their uniforms for the last time on Saturday as the Golden Eagles close out the 2019 campaign against Tennessee State. But the tears aren’t being shed just yet nor the memories being recollected as there’s still plenty of business at hand for Tech in this 12th and final game of the season. Kickoff from Tucker Stadium is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will handle play-by-play coverage on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Buddy Pearson will tackle radio duties on 98.5 KISS FM.

• Article
• November 14, 2019

RICHMOND, Ky. – The regular season is winding down to the final two games of the campaign and Tennessee Tech is on a mission. The Golden Eagles have won six games this season – only 15 teams in Tech’s 98 seasons have won more – and there’s a chance Tech could get even higher should they win these final two games. There’s also an outside chance of reaching the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, but with the Golden Eagles currently standing in a tie for fourth, they will need help. The three teams ahead of Tech comprise their three conference losses – Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin.

• Article
• November 07, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The last seven meetings between Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech have not been kind to the Golden Eagles. Tech’s last win against the Gamecocks came on the road in 2011 – the year the Golden Eagles defeated JSU and Eastern Kentucky to earn the Ohio Valley Conference’s automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Since then, Tech has been outscored 284-106, outgained 3,744-1,796 and allowed an average of 534.8 yards per game. That was then and this is now.

• Article
• November 02, 2019

MURRAY, Ky. – Racer One ran around the track at Roy Stewart Stadium fairly quickly as Murray State turned a Tennessee Tech turnover into a touchdown drive. However, that was the only time Murray’s equine mascot made the trip around the field as the Golden Eagles scored 17 unanswered points to take a 17-7 victory and snap a three-game losing streak. “It was a response,” said Tech head coach Dwayne Alexander. “We have had a rough last few weeks and a couple of tough home losses. It shows you just how far this program has come. These guys are showing that they can respond. It started off with us down 7-0 and from there these guys just played their tail off."

• Article
• November 01, 2019

MURRAY, Ky. – As the Tennessee Tech football team enters the final third of the 2019 regular season, there’s still a lot to play for. The Golden Eagles will start the last leg of the season Saturday as it travels to Murray State. Kickoff is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will provide the call on 98.5 KISS FM, while Neal Bradley and Josh McKeel will handle broadcast duties on ESPN+ (subscription required). One task at hand for the Golden Eagles is breaking their current three-game slide, falling in consecutive Ohio Valley Conference contests against Southeast Missouri, UT Martin and Austin Peay – the latter two at home in Tucker Stadium.

• Article
• October 26, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football team made a statement on its first drive. But Austin Peay took the wind out of the Golden Eagles, scoring on nine straight drives as the Governors took a 58-21 decision on Saturday at Tucker Stadium. Following APSU’s first drive, freshman receiver/return specialist Metrius Fleming showed the arm he flashed in high school, throwing a 58-yard pass to David Gist. On the next play, sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher found Fleming, who worked his way into the end zone to put the Golden Eagles up 7-0 after Haidar Zaidan’s PAT.

• Article
• October 24, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – By the time kickoff rolls around on Saturday, it will have been two weeks since the Tennessee Tech football team last took the field. The open date allowed the Golden Eagles to put a tough loss to UT Martin in the rearview mirror and look forward to the final five games of the 2019 regular season. After all, Tech has so much still to play for. The Golden Eagles host Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon with kickoff scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will provide the call on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Buddy Pearson will handle the radio duties on 98.5 KISS FM.

• Article
• October 12, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – To build success, sometimes there must be some growing pains. Saturday night was one of those times. UT Martin came into Tucker Stadium and scored 48 straight points before the Tennessee Tech football team dented the scoreboard. As the final quarter wound down, the Golden Eagles added two touchdowns to keep from going empty-handed. The Skyhawks ended the game 55-14 victors, improving to 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, 4-2 overall. Tech enters its open date with a 4-3 record, 1-2 in the league.

• Article
• October 10, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following last week’s 43-37 double-overtime loss to Football Championship Subdivision No. 23 Southeast Missouri, the loss was tough for the Tennessee Tech football team, but one couldn’t help but feel optimistic for the rest of the season. After all, the Golden Eagles had literally stood toe-to-toe with one of the favorites to win the Ohio Valley Conference championship and had a play here or there gone another way, could have seen the result come out the other way. Needless to say, the loss helped build confidence within the Golden Eagles. Through their work last season and this year to this point, Tech has shown itself to be a contender in the Ohio Valley, but its work is far, far from finished. The Golden Eagles will have to prove that this week as they host UT Martin Saturday night at Tucker Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

• Article
• October 06, 2019

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For Tennessee Tech, 5-1 didn’t happen. The Golden Eagles come home 4-2, but there’s no reason to hang their heads. Tech played one of its grittiest games of the year, coming up with play after play when it needed to and fell in double overtime, 43-37, to Football Championship Subdivision No. 23 Southeast Missouri, a team that made an appearance in the FCS playoffs a season ago. “I’m proud of this team,” said Tech coach Dewayne Alexander. “I couldn’t be any prouder of this team, even if we did win the game tonight. Three weeks on the road and to do what our guys have done, then to play a double-overtime game, I couldn’t be any prouder.

• Article
• October 03, 2019

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – It’s been eight years since the Tennessee Tech football team has been in this position – four wins, one loss. That year, Tech opened the season with a 34-7 loss at Iowa, then fired off four consecutive wins, topping Maryville College and Southeast Missouri at home, then Eastern Illinois and UT Martin on the road. However, Tennessee State snapped the string with a 42-40 decision. The 2011 Golden Eagles, however, didn’t stay down long – they knocked off Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky on the road to help secure an Ohio Valley Conference championship and automatic berth to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

• Article
• September 19, 2019

MACOMB, Ill. – As the Tennessee Tech football team loads up the buses on Friday to hit the road for its longest road trip of the year – a visit to Western Illinois – the Golden Eagles know they’ll be in for a challenge as they close out the non-conference portion of the schedule. Tech will take on the Fighting Leathernecks at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 98.5 KISS FM with Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano providing the call, while the game will also be streamed online on ESPN3, with Brendan Reidy and Michael Harms handling those duties.

• Article
• September 14, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech collected its 149th win in Tucker Stadium on Saturday night as the Golden Eagles used defensive and special teams plays to top visiting UVa-Wise and improve to 2-1 on the season. With the victory, Tech equals its wins from 2017 and 2018 combined and equals its best start since going 2-1 in the 2013 season.

• Article
• September 07, 2019

OXFORD, Ohio – Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander took his players into the locker room Saturday afternoon following the Golden Eagles’ 48-17 loss to FBS school Miami (Ohio) and told them to keep their heads up. “On Monday, everything on this game is going in the trash,” he said. “This is a very good football team. We have so much left to play for.” And there is truth in his words.

• Article
• September 05, 2019

OXFORD, Ohio – As the Tennessee Tech football team puts Week 1 in the rear view and focuses on their next opponent, the schedule doesn’t get easier. Tech makes its annual foray into the Football Bowl Subdivision this weekend with a visit to Miami (Ohio) out of the Mid-American Conference. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Central. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will provide broadcast coverage on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Robert Lee and Dustin Fox handling play-by-play and color duties.

• Article
• September 02, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The accolades continue to pour in for Tennessee Tech sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher as he was named Monday afternoon as the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week. That is the first national offensive player of the week nod for the Golden Eagles since quarterback Darian Stone won the award after his third career start in 2012 in a 45-44 win over UT Martin. Defensive lineman Jordan Johnson earned national specialist honors in the 2013 campaign, then safety Marty Jones won national defensive accolades with his four-interception, 12-tackle game against Eastern Kentucky in 2014.

• Article
• September 01, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The buzz from Tennessee Tech’s thrilling double-overtime comeback win over Samford on Saturday night had barely faded on Sunday as the accolades started to roll in with sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher named as the Ohio Valley Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week and true freshman wide receiver Metrius Fleming named the league’s Newcomer of the Week. The weekly awards are voted on by the conference’s sports information contacts.

• Article
• August 31, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After watching an early 12-point lead disappear, the Tennessee Tech football team kept falling further and further behind. Late in the third quarter, the Golden Eagles trailed by 23 points. With 2:20 left in the contest, Tech was down by 16. Most prognosticators would probably have put the game squarely in Samford’s pockets. The Golden Eagles, however, weren’t listening. The total touchdowns ties the Tech record for touchdowns responsible for in a game. Tech’s 671 yards is also a new school record, breaking 644 yards against Valparaiso in 2002. After Samford scored on the first half of the second extra session, Andrew Goldsmith scored the final touchdown on a 14-yard run, then Fisher found David Gist in the end zone for the game-winning score.

• Article
• August 29, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 years since Tennessee Tech last faced Samford on the gridiron. It was a completely different scenario then – the Golden Eagles were 32 years removed since their previous Ohio Valley Conference championship (Tech later broke its drought four years later) and both teams were under the direction of new coaches (Watson Brown for the Golden Eagles facing long-time assistant Pat Sullivan across the way – who went on to become Samford’s all-time winningest head coach. Now, Dewayne Alexander enters his second year at the helm of the Tennessee Tech program, while a familiar foe comes into Tucker Stadium leading Samford as former Murray State skipper Chris Hatcher enters his fifth campaign as the Bulldogs’ top dog. Tech will open its 98th football campaign Saturday night at 6 p.m. from Tucker Stadium.

• Article
• August 17, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech football wrapped up the annual Gathering of Eagles event, the last official scrimmage of fall camp, the countdown to August 31 is now officially on. Saturday wasn't the greatest showcase of the Golden Eagles' ability as the fatigue of camp, the sweltering summer heat and a busy day of events played their roles, but it wasn't the worst effort either as there were plenty of highlights. That said, there were several procedural penalties that cropped up and stalled drives as the Tech offense was handcuffed a few times from putting more points on the board. The Golden Eagle defense also played its part, creating a goal-line stop and forcing a couple of big turnovers to keep the offense at bay.

• Article
• August 10, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander’s call to get better every day continues to be heeded, come August 31 as the Golden Eagles host Samford, the memories of the 2018 campaign could be a distant memory. While it wasn’t a perfect scrimmage Saturday night at Tucker Stadium – and no first scrimmage is -- there were still plenty of highlights and reasons to be excited about the Golden Eagles’ progress. It did take a full offensive rotation for the Golden Eagle attackers to put points on the unofficial scoreboard, but when quarterback Bailey Fisher and the first-team offense got going, the unit looked solid. The first score came as David Gist III was able to evade the top-line defense and break loose for a 72-yard touchdown run, the longest offensive play of the night.

• Article
• April 05, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If one listened to Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander talk to his Golden Eagle players following Friday’s Spring Game at Tucker Stadium, they heard the veteran coach explain why the windshield was larger than the rear view mirror. To keep focused on what’s ahead more than what’s behind. After back-to-back 1-10 seasons and the transition from a coaching change, the focus is on the future of the Tech football program, and that’s what the 2019 spring practices were about. With the 15 sessions in the books, the inherent focus was to get the team ready to improve on what they started in the 2018 campaign and try to bring the Tech football program back to good graces.

• Article
• March 30, 2019

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With just under a week remaining in Tennessee Tech football’s 2019 spring practices, the Golden Eagles may be hitting the home stretch, but the course work got a lot more complicated. During Saturday’s scrimmage at Tucker Stadium, Tech went more down-and-distance in its work than in last week’s slate, but while there were some tempers flared and fatigue rearing its head, the Golden Eagles still found plenty to be happy about. “Last week we had a set number of plays we were trying to do with each personnel group,” said Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander. “This week, we played it truly more like a game. We went 1st-and-10 and if you got three downs, we’re going to be off the field – and that’s where more procedural things and officials show up.