Back to work for Golden Eagle football as spring practice opens
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team opened its spring workouts on Monday, the traditionally green turf of Tucker Stadium was speckled with small pieces of insulation and other minor debris – a subtle reminder of what happened to the Cookeville and Putnam County communities just a little under a week ago. It hadn’t been long since the Golden Eagles last took to the field, just barely over three months since they finished the 2019 campaign against Tennessee State, but this first practice wasn’t just any first practice. The Golden Eagles were coming in to work.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team opened its spring workouts on Monday, the traditionally green turf of Tucker Stadium was speckled with small pieces of insulation and other minor debris – a subtle reminder of what happened to the Cookeville and Putnam County communities just a little under a week ago.
It hadn't been long since the Golden Eagles last took to the field, just barely over three months since they finished the 2019 campaign against Tennessee State, but this first practice wasn't just any first practice.
The Golden Eagles were coming in to work.
While it doesn't feel like it's been that long since the last season ended, Tech football certainly hasn't been slumbering into the spring practice period, busy off the field in conditioning.
"It seems that way each year as they pass by," said head coach Dewayne Alexander. "The longer I've done this, the more the seasons seem to run together. It was good to get back out on the field. We needed to get out here. We've been in the weight room since January and we've really had a productive January, February and first week of March with Coach (Matt) Hewitt in the weight room, agilities on Tuesdays and Thursdays and now it's time for some football stuff.
"We're going to get three practices in before we go on spring break. The good thing is, with some new staff members, it gives us a chance to really evaluate some things and set a really good schedule from when we return from spring break."
As the team ran drills, the Golden Eagles still appeared to be in midseason form.
"We had a lot of energy today," Alexander said. "We had a lot of good teaching, a lot of good fundamentals. We worked on a lot of detail things that we're trying to teach on the first day and I was really pleased with what I saw out here."
The goals for this first week are simple.
"Fundamentals," Alexander said. "Alignment, assignment, technique, being in a good stance, tucking in the football. Then there's a progression of learning. We're installing things day by day. The other thing is establishing a good tempo with which we want to practice. I saw all of that today – everything was very smooth out here. This is our third spring practice, so our guys understand how we practice.
"Where we're at as a starting point today is further ahead of where I've seen us in fall camp before. It did not look like a first day. There weren't a lot of mistakes, a lot of busts. The goal of every spring is to evaluate your personnel, get a lot of reps and evaluate your system."
Before the team took the field though, the Golden Eagles came together for a greater cause, helping those affected by last week's tornado. The Tech Athletics community bonded together to help out any way it could.
"It always brings the team, the community together," Alexander said. "That's why we serve. I want our guys to serve and be involved in community service. Last week, we had everybody from neighboring states involved, but our team has been involved all along. We've gotten out into the elementary schools, into the community and do different things. We did 'The Wall That Heals.'
"It's good for these guys. I want to see them do this long after they've graduated and moved on. This whole program is set to establish not only life while they're here, but we want to turn out young men that are going to represent Tennessee Tech. Hopefully, they'll go back into their communities and serve for the next 20, 30, 40 years. If something like this were to happen – hopefully not – but any kind of adversity in their communities or home, they're going to serve."
Working in the community last week at Double Springs Church of Christ and in the Prosperity Point area was a touching moment for so many with the program and also touched the people they were supporting.
"It was amazing to see the smile on people's faces when they saw 80 guys in Tennessee Tech Football shirts walking down the street, asking 'How can we help?,'" Alexander said. "Their response was 'Man, we are so glad to see you guys.' It made them feel good to see how we take the responsibility of being a football player and student-athlete so seriously. You really have the opportunity to give back.
"It was a bonding experience, but it was also an emotional experience. Our guys saw a lot and it gave them a moment to reflect on just how fortunate they've got it. All they have to do is get up and go to class and practice football. It was emotional, but a good experience."
Alexander continued, "We've got a lot more of this to do. Our community is going to need help. Everybody was all excited that first day or two, but we're going to have to stay excited for these next few months and even years to continue the effort. Our entire staff and team went and we will continue to do so to serve our community."
