Tennessee Tech officially joins the Southern Conference
Large crowd at introductory event welcomes the Golden Eagles into its new conference home
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the black curtain fell from the newly mounted conference logo in the Hooper Eblen Center on Wednesday, Tennessee Tech was in a new home as the Department of Athletics welcomed in a large group of fans and supporters with the official transition from the Ohio Valley Conference into the Southern Conference.
"It's moving day," said Tech Vice President for Enrollment and Communication Karen Lykins. "Our Golden Eagles are moving into the Southern Conference – which is the original superconference. Our new conference fits our style and our standard: winning and academic excellence. With its 105-year history, the SoCon consistently produce participants for NCAA Division I championships. Plus, the conference is known for the high academic performance of its student-athletes.
"Today, we celebrate, but fair warning: Today, rivalries return."
University President Dr. Phil Oldham had the crowd thinking back to their elementary school days as he described the process: "Anybody have that experience where somebody passes a note that says, 'I like you, do you like me?'"
"That's sort of the way this has gone with coming into the Southern Conference, and I'm glad to know they liked us back. They believe in and have the same core values we have here at Tech, and that's not just athletic excellence, but in everything we do."
Geoff Cabe, the SoCon's Senior Associate Commissioner, noted that expansion wasn't something the league had been looking for in the past, but the conference jumped at the opportunity to welcome in the Golden Eagles because everything just fit.
"Today is truly a historic day, not only for Tennessee Tech, but also for the Southern Conference," Cabe said. "Tech is now our 11th member and our presidents for the past 15 years and they really had no desire to talk about expansion. When Tech came calling, that all changed.
"The Southern Conference has stood for excellence, not only in athletics, but in academics, leadership, integrity and developing young people who make a difference long after the final whistle. Our member institutions are among the finest in the country, united by the commitment to provide an outstanding educational experience while competing at the highest level. Tennessee Tech does nothing but enhance all these attributes. That's why your school is a perfect fit for the Southern Conference."
Cabe continued: "We're excited about what we're all going to accomplish together and the new chapter that begins today. To the students, alumni, faculty, fans of Tennessee Tech, welcome to the Southern Conference. We are honored to have you with us."
As the welcome event was in view of the construction over at Tucker Stadium, in addition to the other building projects on campus, Tech Director of Athletics Casey Fox noted the momentum growing around Tech, its athletic programs and the campus as well.
It is a time of transition, but there remains respect for the league the Golden Eagles leave behind.
"The Ohio Valley Conference was our home for 75 years and we are deeply grateful to everyone who's been a part of the conference throughout that remarkable history," Fox said. "The relationships, the memories and the successes we experienced in the OVC will always be an important part of Tennessee Tech Athletics."
Oldham added, "This was not something we took lightly, but it was critically important for us to jump in."
Rivalries were a key piece to the puzzle. After long-time rival Middle Tennessee left the OVC in the late 1990s, Tech didn't really have a team in the conference that built the excitement that rivalries create. Now that's in the past.
"I came to campus 14 years ago," Oldham said, "and one of the things that was clearly lacking was we didn't have those rivalries. It was something we needed to work on. I thought Chattanooga and ETSU would be great rivals. It took 14 years to get into the same conference, but that's OK – it's worth doing.
"It's going to push us to be better each and every day. I think that's also what we bring to the league, as we have an opportunity to challenge the league as a whole to be better. As we grow together and compete with each other and against each other, it will be a great experience for everybody."
Oldham continued: "There's a quote, 'You are who you play.' There's a lot of truth to that. Who you associate with, who you compete with – it says a lot about you and how go about that says a lot about your character. In joining the Southern Conference, it will elevate is in a lot of ways."
With the move now complete, the task on winning Southern Conference championships is now at hand and Tech Athletics welcomes it with open arms.
"We look forward to the opportunities in front of us, including the development of rivalries, especially with our in-state peers, ETSU and Chattanooga," Fox said. "We're proud to join one of the nation's most respected and historic conferences. We understand the challenges ahead, and we embrace them with confidence and enthusiasm.
"Our expectation is to compete for conference championships, and to earn NCAA berths while representing Tennessee Tech with pride, integrity and excellence. We're excited about our future and we're ready to get to work."
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Athletics Media Relations
