Jalal Dean

• Article
• November 20, 2021

CLARKSVILLE – As the final whistle blew on Saturday, it was the end of one of the longest stretches of competition for the Tennessee Tech football team. In the span of nine months, two seasons were completed, 18 games played. It was a gauntlet, a grueling one at that as the Golden Eagles had to battle injuries, illnesses but between February and Saturday’s November afternoon, they got 18 games in. It was certainly a feat to do it that took a lot of monumental efforts to get there. As the Golden Eagles took to the field on Saturday, those injuries and illnesses had taken their toll. With a few pieces missing from the lineup, the depleted Tech squad squared up with an Austin Peay squad that had been right in the mix for the Ohio Valley Conference race, including a narrow one-point loss to league champion UT Martin. Tech came out on Saturday determined to finish 2021 on a high note. The first two quarters, the Golden Eagles rallied from an early deficit to make it a one-possession game just before halftime, but Drae McCray’s monster night pushed Austin Peay out of reach, the Governors winning 48-20.

• Article
• November 06, 2021

MURRAY, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech football team was able climb back to within five points of the Murray State Racers on Saturday, but the Golden Eagles weren’t able to close out the rally in the waning moments of the contest, the Racers taking a 32-27 victory over Tech. The Golden Eagles (3-6, 1-3 Ohio Valley Conference) will return home next Saturday for their home finale, Homecoming and Senior Day, hosting UT Martin. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

• Article
• October 21, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sometimes a matchup is just a matter of perspective. When the Tennessee Tech football team traveled earlier this season to the University of Tennessee, it was the little brother taking on the bigger one, looking to make their names against some of the best of the best. Flash forward a few weeks and Virginia-Lynchburg preparing to come to Tucker Stadium for Saturday’s game. The visiting Dragons have played two Football Championship Subdivision teams this season with trips to Duquesne and Norfolk State, the Golden Eagles making the third. Everything the Dragons feel coming into the game on Saturday is what the Golden Eagles felt on Sept. 18 in Neyland Stadium. They’ll come into Cookeville, hungry for a win and ready to write a story they’ll remember for years to come.

• Article
• October 16, 2021

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As tough as the interstate rivalry has been between Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State in recent years, it’s only fitting that Saturday’s contest at Nissan Stadium went down to the last play. After all, the two teams swapped scores throughout the contest, and as the Golden Eagles tried to hold on in regulation, the host Tigers scored with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie the game and send it to overtime. The Tigers scored a touchdown – Geremy Hickbottom completing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dayron Johnson – to put the pressure on Tech. The Golden Eagles had their chance, but it came down to one last play on 4th and goal at the Tiger 9. Under pressure, quarterback Willie Miller fired into traffic with a target there, but Cory Rahman intercepted the pass to end the contest. Tennessee State emerged victorious 20-13 in overtime.

• Article
• August 21, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team concluded its final scrimmage of the fall at Saturday's Gathering of Eagles event, it certainly wasn’t perfect or pretty. But the important p-word was progress. In just a week’s time since the previous outing on the Tucker Stadium turf, things had improved on both sides of the ball.