Josh Reliford

• Article
• April 16, 2023

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With several generations of Golden Eagle football standouts converging on the Tennessee Tech’s Athletic Performance Center on Saturday as the program held its annual Spring Game, head coach Dewayne Alexander and his staff took time to honor the team’s 2022 award winners for the team’s Letterwinners’ Breakfast. After honoring the 2022 seniors in presence – Heath Price, David Gist, Tai Carter, Jake Huner, Ben Baugh, Christian Watson, Seth Carlisle, Jeremiah Oatsvall, Josh Reliford and Bryson Garrett – Alexander then recognized the academic achievers. Starting with the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll honorees – which included Huner, Gist, Hayden Olsen, Nate Hodnett, Kail Dava, Price, Watson, Isaac Cross and Hunter Barnhart – Alexander then pointed out the 2023 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society honorees with Carlisle, Oatsvall, Reliford, Watson and Spencer Stachyra. The veteran coach noted that of the nine student-athletes selected by current members of the OVC, five of them were Golden Eagles.

• Article
• April 12, 2023

IRVING, Texas – Each spring, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame celebrate college football student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom as their athletic careers have come to an end. This list, the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, recognizes senior or graduate football players who have completed their eligibility and maintained a minimum of a 3.2 grade point average, while being significant contributors through the 2022 season. Tennessee Tech had five selected to the list with linebacker Seth Carlisle, quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, defensive back Josh Reliford, offensive lineman Spencer Stachyra and defensive back Christian Watson on the roll.

• Article
• November 22, 2022

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference football regular-season slate drawn to a close, the league looked back at some of the incredible performances across its member institutions and honored its best and brightest stars from the year. After the numbers were tallied, Tennessee Tech came away with six selections across the OVC’s first-, second- and all-newcomer teams. The postseason teams were voted on by the head football coaches and the sports information contacts.

• Article
• November 19, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech came so close to ending the season on a high note. After taking the lead with 2:43 remaining after quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall pushed forward on 1st-and-goal among the scrum for a score, the Golden Eagles just had to get a stop to top No. 25 North Carolina Central and win its first game against a Top 25 team since 2014. And it appeared Tech had gotten that stop – facing 4th-and-9 on its own 29, Davius Richard completed a pass to Latrel Collier and it appeared that Collier might have fallen short of the first-down marker and the call on the field granted the first down. After the review, the visiting Eagles were granted the first down. Instead of getting to line up in victory formation and run out the clock, Tech had to stay on offense.

• Article
• November 17, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team prepares to wind down its 2022 campaign, it’s a time of reflection as the team looks to honor its graduate and senior players. It’s a remarkable group that will be stepping onto the Tucker Stadium turf for the final time on Saturday as the Golden Eagles host No. 25-ranked North Carolina Central for Senior Day. Among this group stands players who have added their names to the career statistical leaders, players who have earned their degrees and now stand to move on to the next stage of their lives, players who have given their all to wear the Purple and Gold and represent Tennessee Tech. Senior Day will precede kickoff of Saturday’s game against the visiting Eagles. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will have the game on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• November 12, 2022

FLORENCE, Ala. – Tennessee Tech scored five touchdowns in its eight drives. North Alabama scored five times, too – but it was three touchdowns and two field goals as the Golden Eagle defense came up with four big stops in their own territory to secure a 35-27 victory over the Lions on Saturday. The biggest stop may have been with 6:49 left in the contest. With the Golden Eagles leading 35-24, North Alabama (1-9) marched up the field on 18 plays and got to the Tech 10-yard-line before the Lions were held to 4th-and-goal. Sam Contorno hit the 27-yard field goal for what was eventually the final margin of the contest.

• Article
• November 11, 2022

FLORENCE, Ala. – It’s been a long time since Tennessee Tech has faced North Alabama in football with the last contest between the two schools dating back to 1959 when the school was still referred to as Florence State. Sixty-two years later – and five years into their Division I existence – the Lions have had a tough go of things in 2022, posting a 1-8 record and finishing winless in the burgeoning Atlantic Sun lineup. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles are showing promise, taking back-to-back contests against Eastern Illinois and Lindenwood to close out Ohio Valley Conference play.

• Article
• November 08, 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Josh Reliford had one of the biggest plays in Saturday’s 35-34 Homecoming victory over Lindenwood. Tuesday, he was recognized for his efforts as he was named the Defensive Player of the Week by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. The nominees were submitted by the institution’s sports information contacts and selected by the organization.

• Article
• November 06, 2022

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With a big Homecoming victory on Saturday, the Tennessee Tech football team also came away with an Ohio Valley Conference honor as freshman running back O.J. Ross was named the Newcomer of the Week. Ross came back from injury and had a strong game with 93 all-purpose yards. He caught three passes for 65 yards, including a 56-yard completion on a pass from Jeremiah Oatsvall to Willie Miller to Ross that got the Cocoa, Fla., native in position for his own touchdown run on the next play.

• Article
• November 05, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was fitting that Tennessee Tech's battle with Lindenwood came down to one final play. After all, the two teams had been swapping scores back and forth the entire day. With 14 seconds to go, the visiting Lions lined up for a two-point conversion trailing 35-34. It was a gutsy, but smart play for the visitors. If it was successful, Tech would have to find a way to score in the final seconds.

• Article
• November 03, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Homecoming is a deep-rooted college football tradition as alumni come back to campus at an idyllic time of year, celebrating their years past and the future ahead. As the Tennessee Tech football team celebrates its centennial this season, the 91st Homecoming game for the Golden Eagles is a fitting one as the program is doing just that, honoring its history and making strides toward the future.

• Article
• October 29, 2022

CHARLESTON, Ill. – When Eastern Illinois blocked Hayden Olsen’s field goal and returned it for a touchdown as time expired in the first half, a casual observer would probably think the Panthers would use that to build momentum. Instead, it was Tennessee Tech that built on that miscue, answering with 17 unanswered points to break their five-game losing streak with a 20-17 victory over the Panthers on Saturday at O’Brien Field. Tech (2-6, 1-3 Ohio Valley Conference) shut down the Panthers in the second half, ending its two-game turnover-forced drought with two big fumble recoveries – one leading to a score, the other giving the Golden Eagles the opportunity to go into victory formation as EIU was marching to give kicker Stone Galloway a chance to knot the game up. That never happened.

• Article
• October 28, 2022

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Tennessee Tech hits the road for its final away Ohio Valley Conference contest of the football season, heading north to take on Eastern Illinois in Charleston on Saturday. Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 2 p.m. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will handle the broadcast on 98.5 KISS FM, while Mike Bradd and Dave Kidwell will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• October 21, 2022

KENNESAW, Ga. – Tennessee Tech hits the road again, looking for a chance to get back on the right track on Saturday as it heads to Kennesaw State. With a triple-option team like the Owls have, it will be a challenge, but the Golden Eagles are up to the task. Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is set for a 2 p.m. Central start.

• Article
• October 13, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been one of Tennessee Tech’s biggest rivalry games in recent years, but as the Tennessee State Tigers come into town, both teams will be looking to gain not just a foothold in the Ohio Valley Conference race, but potentially a chance at the Sergeant York Trophy. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will carry the game live on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will handle to streaming broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• October 07, 2022

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The last time Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri faced, the Golden Eagles stunned the high-flying Redhawks in Tucker Stadium as David Gist ran for two touchdowns, then Willie Miller threw touchdown strikes to Quinton Cross and Ashton Maples as the Tech squad emerged with a 28-17 victory. That was last year and this is now. As the series continues this Saturday at the under-construction Houck Field, there’s a lot of returning faces for both sides with some exciting newcomers to make this hotly contested series an interesting one as it resumes Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will handle the radio call on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• October 01, 2022

MARTIN – Tennessee Tech scored early to put pressure on No. 15-ranked UT Martin, but the homestanding Skyhawks took to the air, collecting 335 passing yards and getting five total offensive touchdowns and one more on defense to take a 45-28 victory over the Golden Eagles on Saturday. Tech (1-3, 0-1 Ohio Valley Conference) returns to action next Saturday as the Golden Eagles travel to Cape Girardeau to take on Southeast Missouri.

• Article
• September 29, 2022

MARTIN, Tenn. – The road for the Ohio Valley Conference championship begins this week for the Tennessee Tech football team as the Golden Eagles get set to head to UT Martin for Saturday’s contest. With some tough competition under its belt, Tech (1-2) opens up the 2022 conference campaign with UT Martin this week and Southeast Missouri next week – both on the road --- before returning to the friendly confines to take on Tennessee State on Oct. 15.

• Article
• September 18, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a fight to the finish Saturday night as the Tennessee Tech football team traded leads all night with No. 24 Samford, but the Bulldogs scored with 25 seconds remaining to top the Golden Eagles 33-28. Tech (1-2) enters its open date and will return to action on Oct. 1, opening Ohio Valley Conference play at UT Martin.

• Article
• September 15, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Every time Tennessee Tech faces Samford at Tucker Stadium, it tends to be a shootout. Across 12 meetings in Cookeville, the Golden Eagles have scored 362 points to Samford’s 288, leading to an average score of Tech 30, Samford 24. Of course, those numbers are bolstered by the last two meetings in Tucker Stadium – a 59-52 victory by the Bulldogs in their final season in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2007, then the thrilling 59-58 double-overtime victory by the Golden Eagles in 2019. So when Tech and Samford square off on Saturday night, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the scoreboard lighting up like a Christmas tree.

• Article
• September 11, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a wild finish at Tucker Stadium on Saturday night as the Tennessee Tech football team scored 20 points in the fourth quarter and overcame a 19-6 deficit to take a 26-25 victory over Texas A&M-Commerce. Turnovers stalled the Golden Eagle offense in the first half as Tech saw passes picked off in two of its first three drives, then two lost fumbles deep in the Golden Eagles’ territory led to quick, short-field scores as Eric Rodriguez threw two touchdown passes, completing a 37-yard strike to Andrew Armstrong and a 20-yard scoring pass to B.J. Busbee. After missing the first PAT, Emmanuel Adagbon hit the second to put the Lions up 13-0  with 13:18 remaining in the first half.

• Article
• September 03, 2022

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The first game is in the books, and while the Tennessee Tech squad saw a tough contest against their annual Football Bowl Subdivision opponent, the Golden Eagles still saw some signs of optimism against the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday night. Kansas took the victory 56-10, scoring four touchdowns in its first five possessions. Still, Tech was able to stall the Jayhawks on the Golden Eagle 2-yard line and force a turnover on downs on the goal-line stand. Kansas (1-0) also missed a field goal on its first possession of the second half.

• Article
• August 31, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the day dawns on Tucker Stadium, the equipment truck is getting loaded and the Tennessee Tech football team is making its final preparations before loading up Thursday to fly to Lawrence, Kan., to take on their first opponent of the 2022 campaign – the Kansas Jayhawks. Ladies and gentlemen, football season is here. Kickoff for Tech’s season opener at Kansas on Friday night is 7 p.m. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will provide the broadcast locally on 98.5 KISS FM, while Noah Reed and Jay Sonnhalter will handle the call on Big 12 Now/ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• July 19, 2022

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – With the football season just around the corner, the Ohio Valley Conference football coaches and media converged on the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs to talk a little gridiron action on Tuesday as the league held its first in-person media day since 2019. Tennessee Tech picked up three players on the Preseason All-OVC team as running back David Gist, wide receiver Quinton Cross and defensive back Josh Reliford were on the preseason roster. Transfer quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall was named the Golden Eagles’ Newcomer to Watch.