Golden Eagle football team to play at Arkansas in 2010 season
For the second year in a row and the third time in four years, the Tennessee Tech football team will venture into the Southeastern Conference for a game against an FBS opponent.
Will be third SEC opponent in four years for Watson
Brown’s teams
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the second year in a row and the
third time in four years, the Tennessee Tech football team will
venture into the Southeastern Conference for a game against an FBS
opponent.
Coach Watson Brown’s Golden Eagles will play at the
University of Arkansas to open the 2010 season, with the game
slated for Saturday, Sept. 4, in Fayetteville. The game will be
played in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
“We’re excited about this game and another opportunity
for our young men to play against an FBS opponent,” said
Golden Eagle head coach Watson Brown. “Each game we’ve
played against that level of competition has been a learning
experience, it has given our players a chance to face the very best
competition we can face, and it gives each player memories they
will take with them for the rest of their lives."
“These games are also very important financially for our
football program and the Tennessee Tech Athletic Department,”
Brown said.
Tech played at the University of Georgia this season, a game that
drew more than 92,000 fans to rank as the second-largest crowd to
ever watch an OVC team play. In 2007, the Golden Eagles played
before more than 85,000 at Auburn, which was the largest OVC
attendance at the time.
Following a $110 million renovation in 2001, the Arkansas stadium
increased its seating capacity from 51,000 to 72,000.
“We are delighted to announce this game and add it to our
2010 schedule,” said TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.
“It has become a tradition for Tennessee Tech football to
play these games against FBS opponents, and the game against
Arkansas will continue that tradition."
“It’s an experience that our players and our fans
always enjoy,” Wilson added. “Whether it’s Auburn
or Georgia or Arkansas, playing this caliber of opponent provides
the team with a tremendous challenge and gives them some lasting
memories, and it is also an important aspect of our financial
picture.”
The Arkansas Razorbacks improved to 7-4 on the 2009 season Saturday
with a 42-21 win over Mississippi State, behind another sterling
passing performance by record-setting sophomore quarterback Ryan
Mallett. With the regular season finale at Baton Rouge against LSU
and a bowl game invitation left, Mallett is expected to continue
his assault on the Razorback passing records.
Starting time for the game at Arkansas has not been announced,
pending next year’s TV schedules.
The Golden Eagles closed the 2009 season with a 45-14 win over
Murray State Saturday, allowing Tech to post a 6-5 record and claim
second place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-3 league
record.
