Bailey Fisher
-
- Height:
- 5-11
-
- Weight:
- 205
-
- Hometown:
- Clayton, Ga.
-
- Position:
- QB
-
- Year:
- So.
-
- Previous School:
- Rabun County HS
-
- gp
- 12
-
- tk
- 1.0
-
- sac
- -
-
- int
- -
-
- ffum
- -
Bio
2018 (Freshman): Fisher was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and was a finalist for the STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award, recognizing the top freshman player in the Football Championship Subdivision, and with the numbers he put up in his rookie campaign, it's hard not to see why. He played and started in 10 games, missing only the season finale against Eastern Kentucky with an injury. Through that span, he threw for 1,681 yards and 11 touchdowns as he completed 139 of his 268 passes. Those numbers stand as the best performance by a true freshman quarterback in Tech history as well as the 14th most passing yards in a single season for the Golden Eagles.
Fisher was also the team's second-leading rusher, collecting 346 yards on 106 carries, with two touchdowns. His 2,027 yards of total offense ranks as the ninth-best season in school history and the best by a true freshman.
Before he closed out his first year, Fisher already made notations to the Tech record book. Against Eastern Illinois, he threw for 383 yards -- the fifth-most by a Tech quarterback in a single game and the most by a true freshman. Against Southeast Missouri, he threw the third-longest pass completion in school history with an 85-yard touchdown strike to Darrius Stafford. He also threw four touchdown passes in the EIU contest, tying him for the No. 4-spot in most touchdown passes in a single game, one shy of the school record of five, held by Grant Swallows twice and Stephen Britton. He has three 200-plus passing yard games, 10 shy of tying Robert Craft, Lee Sweeney and Tre Lamb for the most in program history.
His best completion rate (65.9 percent) came against EIU as he completed 27-of-41 passes. He had 11 rushes for a career-high 78 yards against Chattanooga, then rushed a career-high 16 times against Murray State for 76 yards.
HIGH SCHOOL: Fisher passed for 3,341 yards as a senior with 43 touchdowns, averaging 222.7 yards per game. He completed 211 of his 297 attempts and also rushed for 1,283 yards on 221 carries (85.5 avg. per game) with 27 touchdowns and seven games with 100 or more rushing yards. With Rabun County High, Fisher earned four region championships in his tenure. In his career, he threw for 9,383 yards and 113 touchdowns, while also rushing for 3,075 yards and 57 touchdowns.
PERSONAL: The son of Donna Fisher ... born June 1, 1999, in Johnston County, N.C.
ACADEMICS: Plans to major in education.
AWARDS: 2018 -- 2018 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year; 2018 Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team; 2018 STATS FCS Jerry Rice Award finalist; Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week (11/4/2018);
2019 -- Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week (9/1/2019, co-9/22/19, co-9/29/19), College Sports Madness OVC Offensive Player of the Week (9/2/2019, 9/22/19), STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week (9/2/2019), Tennessee Sports Writers Association Offensive Player of the Week (9/4/2019, 9/25/19), College Sports Madness FCS National Player of the Week (9/22/19).
|   | Overall | Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Solo tackles | 1 | 1 |
| Assists | 0 | 0 |
| Tackles | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Tackles per game | .1 | .1 |
| Sacks | - | - |
| Sack yards | - | - |
| Interceptions | - | - |
| Returned for touchdown | - | - |
| Fumble recoveries | - | - |
| Fumble return TDs | - | - |
| Tackle for loss | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tackle for loss yards | - | - |
Game Log - Passing
| Date | Opponent | Score | comp | att | pct | yds | y/a | td | int | sac | yds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | 31 | 44 | 70.5% | 415 | 9.4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | 9 | 16 | 56.3% | 87 | 5.4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | 11 | 21 | 52.4% | 163 | 7.8 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 20 |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | 23 | 37 | 62.2% | 314 | 8.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | 22 | 34 | 64.7% | 269 | 7.9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | 26 | 54 | 48.1% | 290 | 5.4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | 14 | 26 | 53.8% | 165 | 6.3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 35 |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | 23 | 30 | 76.7% | 202 | 6.7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | 20 | 28 | 71.4% | 206 | 7.4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | 20 | 27 | 74.1% | 213 | 7.9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | 20 | 35 | 57.1% | 148 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 41 |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | 12 | 23 | 52.2% | 171 | 7.4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
Game Log - Rushing
| Date | Opponent | Score | rush | yds | y/a | lng | td | fum | lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | 13 | 48 | 3.7 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | 4 | -4 | -1.0 | 6 | 0 | - | - |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | 9 | -14 | -1.6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | 13 | 90 | 6.9 | 26 | 3 | - | - |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | 13 | 29 | 2.2 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | 19 | 68 | 3.6 | 16 | 1 | - | - |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | 18 | 6 | 0.3 | 14 | 0 | - | - |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | 10 | 16 | 1.6 | 13 | 0 | - | - |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | 15 | 49 | 3.3 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | 17 | 121 | 7.1 | 34 | 2 | - | - |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | 13 | -13 | -1.0 | 11 | 1 | - | - |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | 22 | 93 | 4.2 | 19 | 0 | - | - |
Game Log - Receiving
| Date | Opponent | Score | rec | yds | y/r | lng | td | fum | lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Game Log - Kicking
| Date | Opponent | Score | fgm | fga | lng | xpm | xpa | pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Game Log - Punting
| Date | Opponent | Score | punt | yds | avg | long | in20 | fc | tb | blk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | 2 | 76 | 38.0 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Game Log - Returns
| Date | Opponent | Score | kr | yds | avg | lng | td | pr | yds | avg | lng | td |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Game Log - All-Purpose
| Date | Opponent | Score | gp | rush | rcv | pr | kr | yds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | 1 | 48 | - | - | - | 48 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | 1 | -4 | - | - | - | -4 |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | 1 | -14 | - | - | - | -14 |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | 1 | 90 | - | - | - | 90 |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | 1 | 29 | - | - | - | 29 |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | 1 | 68 | - | - | - | 68 |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | 1 | 6 | - | - | - | 6 |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | 1 | 16 | - | - | - | 16 |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | 1 | 49 | - | - | - | 49 |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | 1 | 121 | - | - | - | 121 |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | 1 | -13 | - | - | - | -13 |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | 1 | 93 | - | - | - | 93 |
Game Log - Scoring
| Date | Opponent | Score | pts | rush | rec | kr | pr | int | fum | xpm | fgm | saf | misc | 2pt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | 20 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | - | 0 | 1 |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | 18 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | 12 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
Game Log - Defense
| Date | Opponent | Score | tack | ast | tot | sack | lost | tfl | yds | ff | fr | td | int | yds | td | brup | blk | saf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | Samford | W, 59-58 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 7 | at Miami (OH) | L, 48-17 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 14 | Virginia-Wise | W, 31-14 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 21 | at Western Illinois | W, 38-24 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sep 28 | at Eastern Illinois | W, 40-29 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 5 | at Southeast Missouri | L, 43-37 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 12 | UT Martin | L, 55-14 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Oct 26 | Austin Peay | L, 58-21 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 2 | at Murray State | W, 17-7 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 9 | Jacksonville State | W, 37-27 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 16 | at Eastern Kentucky | L, 22-10 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nov 23 | Tennessee State | L, 37-27 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Statistic | gp | comp | att | pct | yds | y/g | y/a | td | int | lg | effic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | |||||||||||
| Total | 12 | 231 | 375 | 61.6% | 2643 | 220.3 | 7.0 | 21 | 10 | 69 | 133.9 |
| Conference | 8 | 157 | 257 | 61.1% | 1664 | 208.0 | 6.5 | 17 | 5 | 66 | 133.4 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.0 |
| Location | |||||||||||
| Home | 6 | 111 | 171 | 64.9% | 1329 | 221.5 | 7.8 | 9 | 3 | 69 | 144.1 |
| Away | 6 | 120 | 204 | 58.8% | 1314 | 219.0 | 6.4 | 12 | 7 | 66 | 125.5 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.0 |
| Result | |||||||||||
| Wins | 6 | 127 | 191 | 66.5% | 1580 | 263.3 | 8.3 | 14 | 7 | 69 | 152.8 |
| Losses | 6 | 104 | 184 | 56.5% | 1063 | 177.2 | 5.8 | 7 | 3 | 66 | 114.3 |
| Month | |||||||||||
| August | 1 | 31 | 44 | 70.5% | 415 | 415.0 | 9.4 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 164.7 |
| September | 4 | 65 | 108 | 60.2% | 833 | 208.3 | 7.7 | 8 | 7 | 41 | 136.5 |
| October | 3 | 63 | 110 | 57.3% | 657 | 219.0 | 6.0 | 6 | 2 | 66 | 121.8 |
| November | 4 | 72 | 113 | 63.7% | 738 | 184.5 | 6.5 | 5 | 1 | 45 | 131.4 |
| Statistic | gp | rush | yds | y/g | avg | td | lg | fum | lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | |||||||||
| Total | 12 | 166 | 489 | 40.8 | 2.9 | 11 | 34 | 5 | 2 |
| Conference | 8 | 127 | 369 | 46.1 | 2.9 | 4 | 34 | 3 | 1 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | |||||||||
| Home | 6 | 89 | 270 | 45.0 | 3.0 | 6 | 34 | 2 | 1 |
| Away | 6 | 77 | 219 | 36.5 | 2.8 | 5 | 26 | 3 | 1 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | |||||||||
| Wins | 6 | 80 | 323 | 53.8 | 4.0 | 9 | 34 | 5 | 2 |
| Losses | 6 | 86 | 166 | 27.7 | 1.9 | 2 | 19 | - | - |
| Month | |||||||||
| August | 1 | 13 | 48 | 48.0 | 3.7 | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| September | 4 | 39 | 101 | 25.3 | 2.6 | 4 | 26 | 3 | 1 |
| October | 3 | 47 | 90 | 30.0 | 1.9 | 1 | 16 | - | - |
| November | 4 | 67 | 250 | 62.5 | 3.7 | 3 | 34 | 1 | 1 |
| Statistic | gp | rec | rec/g | yds | y/g | avg | td | lg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||
| Total | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Conference | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | ||||||||
| Home | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Away | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | ||||||||
| Wins | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Losses | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | ||||||||
| August | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| September | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| October | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| November | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Statistic | gp | fgm | fga | pct | lg | xpm | xpa | pct | pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | |||||||||
| Total | 12 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| Conference | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Location | |||||||||
| Home | 6 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| Away | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Result | |||||||||
| Wins | 6 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| Losses | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Month | |||||||||
| August | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| September | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| October | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| November | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Statistic | gp | punt | yds | avg | lg | in20 | fc | tb | blk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | |||||||||
| Total | 12 | 4 | 120 | 30.0 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Conference | 8 | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | |||||||||
| Home | 6 | 4 | 120 | 30.0 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Away | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | |||||||||
| Wins | 6 | 3 | 103 | 34.3 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Losses | 6 | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Month | |||||||||
| August | 1 | 2 | 76 | 38.0 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| September | 4 | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| October | 3 | 1 | 17 | 17.0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| November | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Statistic | kr | yds | avg | td | lg | pr | yds | avg | td | lg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||||
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Conference | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | ||||||||||
| Home | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Away | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | ||||||||||
| Wins | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Losses | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | ||||||||||
| August | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| September | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| October | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| November | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Statistic | gp | rush | rcv | pr | kr | yds | ypg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | |||||||
| Total | 12 | 489 | - | - | - | 489 | 40.8 |
| Conference | 8 | 369 | - | - | - | 369 | 46.1 |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Location | |||||||
| Home | 6 | 270 | - | - | - | 270 | 45.0 |
| Away | 6 | 219 | - | - | - | 219 | 36.5 |
| Neutral | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - |
| Result | |||||||
| Wins | 6 | 323 | - | - | - | 323 | 53.8 |
| Losses | 6 | 166 | - | - | - | 166 | 27.7 |
| Month | |||||||
| August | 1 | 48 | - | - | - | 48 | 48.0 |
| September | 4 | 101 | - | - | - | 101 | 25.3 |
| October | 3 | 90 | - | - | - | 90 | 30.0 |
| November | 4 | 250 | - | - | - | 250 | 62.5 |
| Statistic | pts | pts/g | rush | rec | kr | pr | int | fum | xpm | fgm | 2pt | misc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||||||
| Total | 68 | 5.7 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 1 | 0 |
| Conference | 24 | 3.0 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Exhibition | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Location | ||||||||||||
| Home | 38 | 6.3 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 1 | 0 |
| Away | 30 | 5.0 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Neutral | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Result | ||||||||||||
| Wins | 56 | 9.3 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 1 | 0 |
| Losses | 12 | 2.0 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Month | ||||||||||||
| August | 20 | 20.0 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | - | 1 | 0 |
| September | 24 | 6.0 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| October | 6 | 2.0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| November | 18 | 4.5 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Statistic | gp | tkl | ast | tot | tkl/g | sck | yds | tfl | yds | ff | fr | yds | int | yds | brup | blk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .1 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Conference | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .1 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Exhibition | - | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Location | ||||||||||||||||
| Home | 6 | - | - | 0.0 | .0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Away | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .2 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Neutral | - | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Result | ||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .2 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Losses | 6 | - | - | 0.0 | .0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Month | ||||||||||||||||
| August | 1 | - | - | 0.0 | .0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| September | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .3 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| October | 3 | - | - | 0.0 | .0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| November | 4 | - | - | 0.0 | .0 | - | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
News mentions
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Robert Hill Johnson Award stands as Tennessee Tech football’s highest honor. Each season, it is awarded to the Golden Eagle player who makes the largest contribution to the team and is voted on by the student-athletes. With so many deserving candidates on the 2019 team, the players certainly had a wealth of players to choose from. As all the votes were tallied, sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher was the overwhelming pick and deservedly so. Before the ball was snapped for the last time in 2019, the Clayton, Ga., native broke six single-season records and made quite a move up the career charts.
COOKEVILLE. Tenn. – As the 2019 football season is coming to a close, another set of accolades were announced on Tuesday as the Tennessee Tech football team claimed seven spots on the Phil Steele all-Ohio Valley Conference teams. Freshman receiver/return specialist Metrius Fleming was the lone first-team pick, while junior defensive lineman Chris Tucker and senior linebacker Aderick Moore were selected to the second team. Sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher, junior offensive lineman Mike Rhoades, junior defensive lineman Henry Karimu and senior kicker Haidar Zaidan were selected to the publication’s squads.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech can add one more player to its all-time all-American roster. Sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher was selected as a first-team athlete on HERO Sports’ Sophomore All-American team, placing the Clayton, Ga., native squarely among the top second-year players in the Football Championship Subdivision. Fisher is the first Tech selection to HERO Sports’ Freshman or Sophomore All-American teams, while Dontez Byrd was on the site’s third-team All-American roster in 2016. The pick is the Golden Eagles’ 59th all-American nod in program history, the 32nd Tech player to receive such an honor.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Anyone following the Tennessee Tech football team in 2019 saw how these Golden Eagles were indeed a special group. Rising from the ashes of back-to-back 1-10 seasons, Tech showed plenty of promise for this season and beyond. The Ohio Valley Conference’s coaches and sports information contacts certainly took notice, granting Tech six spots on the All-OVC teams as the awards were announced Tuesday morning. The six recognitions are the most for the Golden Eagles since receiving nine following the 2011 OVC championship campaign.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the 2019 season in the books, the future certainly looks bright for Tennessee Tech football. With a 6-6 finish after two consecutive years of 1-10 finishes, the Golden Eagles tied for second in the Football Championship Subdivision in increased wins. Sacramento State saw the biggest turnaround in 2019, going from 2-8 a year ago to going 9-3, including a 7-1 record in the Big Sky Conference. Tech, UT Martin and Southern Illinois all saw win increases of five to improve on their 2018 campaigns.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech had 14 points on the board before Tennessee State even ran an offensive play. But as the game wore on the visiting Tigers surged back and a late punt sealed the game for TSU 37-27. But as the 2019 season comes to a close, a 6-6 record for the Golden Eagles and 3-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference, there are so many positives to take away. Tech had its most wins since the 2011 campaign. The Golden Eagles tied for the second-best turnaround in the Football Championship Subdivision as Tech, UT Martin and Southern Illinois all improved on last year’s tally with five more wins.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Twenty-one Tennessee Tech football players will put on their uniforms for the last time on Saturday as the Golden Eagles close out the 2019 campaign against Tennessee State. But the tears aren’t being shed just yet nor the memories being recollected as there’s still plenty of business at hand for Tech in this 12th and final game of the season. Kickoff from Tucker Stadium is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will handle play-by-play coverage on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Buddy Pearson will tackle radio duties on 98.5 KISS FM.
As Shannon Fayne puts on his Tennessee Tech uniform for the last time Saturday, it will be a bittersweet moment. He’s seen the tough times, the good times, failure and progress. Along with the 20 other guys who have stuck with the program through thick and thin who will be recognized on Saturday's Senior Day, the Tennessee State game is the culmination of everything they have worked for and tried to build. They’ve traveled around the country with each other, enduring long bus rides and hotel stays, as well as sweating through countless hours of practice on the Tucker Stadium turf. As their careers come to a close Saturday – the result against the visiting Tigers still to be determined – the class ends its four-year career with a 13-31 record. But the one that means the most to them is the 2019 one. A winning season on the line and a step in the right direction.
RICHMOND, Ky. – Defense was the name of the game on Saturday as Tennessee Tech saw first-hand why Eastern Kentucky has one of the top defensive units in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Colonels yielded an early touchdown on short field for the Golden Eagles, then a 54-yard field goal, but that was it on offense for Tech as EKU topped the Golden Eagles 22-10 on Saturday from Roy Kidd Stadium.
RICHMOND, Ky. – The regular season is winding down to the final two games of the campaign and Tennessee Tech is on a mission. The Golden Eagles have won six games this season – only 15 teams in Tech’s 98 seasons have won more – and there’s a chance Tech could get even higher should they win these final two games. There’s also an outside chance of reaching the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, but with the Golden Eagles currently standing in a tie for fourth, they will need help. The three teams ahead of Tech comprise their three conference losses – Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri and UT Martin.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn -- With just a couple games left in the 2019 regular season, Tennessee Tech sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher is continuing his assault on the Golden Eagle single-season and career record books. He was recognized for his performance in Saturday's 37-27 win over Jacksonville State as Fisher was selected as an honorable mention FCS Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards as well as the OVC Offensive Player of the Week by College Sports Madness.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The last time Tennessee Tech saw victory over Jacksonville State in Cookeville was a come-from-behind victory that spoiled the Gamecocks’ Ohio Valley Conference championship bid in 2010. The following year, the Golden Eagles won the OVC’s automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Granted, that’s talking about a year from now. Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander isn’t finished talking about this year yet. With the 37-27 victory over Jacksonville State in Saturday’s Homecoming game, which snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Gamecocks, the Golden Eagles improve to 6-4 on the season – the most wins since going 7-4 in 2011 and tied for the 16th most wins in a single-season in Tech’s 98 seasons of play.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech hosts Jacksonville State on Saturday for the 89th annual Homecoming game, it’s also College Football’s 150th birthday and the Golden Eagles are celebrating in multiple ways. On the field, Tech will wear a throwback helmet design for the second year in a row. Last season, it was the 1980s Jim Ragland era that saw the cursive Tech design adorned on the helmet. This season, it is a throwback to the classic late 1960s and early 1970s helmet design. While the helmet then was gold with a black wing, the decal on this design is similar to the 2012 homage with the Purple and Gold color scheme on the white, while detailed and hewing closer to the classic retro design.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The last seven meetings between Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech have not been kind to the Golden Eagles. Tech’s last win against the Gamecocks came on the road in 2011 – the year the Golden Eagles defeated JSU and Eastern Kentucky to earn the Ohio Valley Conference’s automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Since then, Tech has been outscored 284-106, outgained 3,744-1,796 and allowed an average of 534.8 yards per game. That was then and this is now.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Freshman wide receiver/return specialist Metrius Fleming has certainly made a name for himself on the football field this season. Now he’s standing up with some of the top freshman players in the country as STATS FCS announced its initial watch list for the 2019 Jerry Rice Award, honoring the top freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision. It’s the second year in a row that Tennessee Tech has had a player in the running as sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher was a semifinalist for the award last season. Three of the first four recipients of the award – Towson running back Terrance West, Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp and Fordham running back Chase Edmonds – have gone on to NFL careers.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- With College Football celebrating its 150th birthday this weekend, it gives football programs all across the country a chance to reflect on their own storied histories. Tennessee Tech, currently in its 98th season of intercollegiate varsity football, has had its own share of heroes and legends on the gridiron. This list is compiled through several historical sources at the university from newspaper clippings, game programs, media guides, as well as the books "The Story of Tennessee Tech" by Austin Wheeler Smith (1957) and "The Search for Identity: A History of Tennessee Technological University, 1915-1985" by Harvey G. Neufeldt and W. Calvin Dickinson (1991). While it is impossible to list every single event that has happened over the course of nearly a century of Tennessee Tech football, this is presented as an overview of some of the major events and is an ever-growing document of both the past, present and future of Tennessee Tech football. Note: Records for games earlier than 1922 do not exist in Tech’s archives, as all past media guides started the season-by-season results that year. Before 1922, much of Tech’s teams, as well as scheduled opponents, came from the high school level.
MURRAY, Ky. – Racer One ran around the track at Roy Stewart Stadium fairly quickly as Murray State turned a Tennessee Tech turnover into a touchdown drive. However, that was the only time Murray’s equine mascot made the trip around the field as the Golden Eagles scored 17 unanswered points to take a 17-7 victory and snap a three-game losing streak. “It was a response,” said Tech head coach Dwayne Alexander. “We have had a rough last few weeks and a couple of tough home losses. It shows you just how far this program has come. These guys are showing that they can respond. It started off with us down 7-0 and from there these guys just played their tail off."
MURRAY, Ky. – As the Tennessee Tech football team enters the final third of the 2019 regular season, there’s still a lot to play for. The Golden Eagles will start the last leg of the season Saturday as it travels to Murray State. Kickoff is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will provide the call on 98.5 KISS FM, while Neal Bradley and Josh McKeel will handle broadcast duties on ESPN+ (subscription required). One task at hand for the Golden Eagles is breaking their current three-game slide, falling in consecutive Ohio Valley Conference contests against Southeast Missouri, UT Martin and Austin Peay – the latter two at home in Tucker Stadium.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Bailey Fisher can score touchdowns, and before the 2019 season is complete, the sophomore quarterback has his name in the Tennessee Tech record books for doing just that. With his third passing touchdown of the contest during the Golden Eagles’ 58-21 loss to Austin Peay on Saturday, the Clayton, Ga., product scored his 24th combined touchdown of the season – 16 passing and eight rushing. The record was previously held by Tre Lamb -- currently the team's offensive coordinator -- with 23 in 2011.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football team made a statement on its first drive. But Austin Peay took the wind out of the Golden Eagles, scoring on nine straight drives as the Governors took a 58-21 decision on Saturday at Tucker Stadium. Following APSU’s first drive, freshman receiver/return specialist Metrius Fleming showed the arm he flashed in high school, throwing a 58-yard pass to David Gist. On the next play, sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher found Fleming, who worked his way into the end zone to put the Golden Eagles up 7-0 after Haidar Zaidan’s PAT.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – By the time kickoff rolls around on Saturday, it will have been two weeks since the Tennessee Tech football team last took the field. The open date allowed the Golden Eagles to put a tough loss to UT Martin in the rearview mirror and look forward to the final five games of the 2019 regular season. After all, Tech has so much still to play for. The Golden Eagles host Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon with kickoff scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will provide the call on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Buddy Pearson will handle the radio duties on 98.5 KISS FM.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – To build success, sometimes there must be some growing pains. Saturday night was one of those times. UT Martin came into Tucker Stadium and scored 48 straight points before the Tennessee Tech football team dented the scoreboard. As the final quarter wound down, the Golden Eagles added two touchdowns to keep from going empty-handed. The Skyhawks ended the game 55-14 victors, improving to 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference, 4-2 overall. Tech enters its open date with a 4-3 record, 1-2 in the league.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following last week’s 43-37 double-overtime loss to Football Championship Subdivision No. 23 Southeast Missouri, the loss was tough for the Tennessee Tech football team, but one couldn’t help but feel optimistic for the rest of the season. After all, the Golden Eagles had literally stood toe-to-toe with one of the favorites to win the Ohio Valley Conference championship and had a play here or there gone another way, could have seen the result come out the other way. Needless to say, the loss helped build confidence within the Golden Eagles. Through their work last season and this year to this point, Tech has shown itself to be a contender in the Ohio Valley, but its work is far, far from finished. The Golden Eagles will have to prove that this week as they host UT Martin Saturday night at Tucker Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For Tennessee Tech, 5-1 didn’t happen. The Golden Eagles come home 4-2, but there’s no reason to hang their heads. Tech played one of its grittiest games of the year, coming up with play after play when it needed to and fell in double overtime, 43-37, to Football Championship Subdivision No. 23 Southeast Missouri, a team that made an appearance in the FCS playoffs a season ago. “I’m proud of this team,” said Tech coach Dewayne Alexander. “I couldn’t be any prouder of this team, even if we did win the game tonight. Three weeks on the road and to do what our guys have done, then to play a double-overtime game, I couldn’t be any prouder.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – It’s been eight years since the Tennessee Tech football team has been in this position – four wins, one loss. That year, Tech opened the season with a 34-7 loss at Iowa, then fired off four consecutive wins, topping Maryville College and Southeast Missouri at home, then Eastern Illinois and UT Martin on the road. However, Tennessee State snapped the string with a 42-40 decision. The 2011 Golden Eagles, however, didn’t stay down long – they knocked off Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky on the road to help secure an Ohio Valley Conference championship and automatic berth to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the fourth week out of the five this season, the Tennessee Tech football team has earned another national honor from the Football Championship Subdivision media sources. This time it was senior linebacker Aderick Moore, earning the FCS National Defensive Player of the Week from College Sports Madness. After missing a week after an injury against Virginia-Wise, the Selma, Ala., native created three takeaways as he forced two fumbles, intercepted a pass for 20 yards, had a quarterback hurry and a tackle-for-loss to go along with his seven stops.
CHARLESTON, Ill. – There must be something about O’Brien Field when it comes to quarterbacks. The field saw Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo put up huge numbers. Even Grant Swallows, back in 2001, saw some magic there as he set the Tech single-season touchdown record there. The record, tied again by Swallows and by Stephen Britton in 2005, stood for 18 years, until Bailey Fisher also found some magic at O’Brien. The Golden Eagle sophomore threw for a school-record six touchdown passes as Tech improved to 4-1 for the first time since 2011, as well as broke a seven-game losing streak to Eastern Illinois with the last win coming in that same year with a 40-29 victory over the Panthers.
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The moment the ball is kicked off on Saturday, it’s a brand new start. Sure, the 3-1 start the Tennessee Tech football team has right now is fantastic, but as the Ohio Valley Conference schedule starts in earnest this weekend, that is what will determine the team’s postseason fate. The last time the Golden Eagles started 3-1 was 2011 – the year the Golden Eagles clinched a share of the OVC title with Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky (beating them both on their home fields) and earning the league’s automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. But, make no mistake, every week is going to be a fight.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the next game day approaches for the Tennessee Tech football team, another organization has recognized a Golden Eagle for their efforts. The Tennessee Sports Writers Association selected Tech sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher as its Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday, his second selection this season. The sophomore out of Rabun County (Ga.) High had 404 yards of total offense and five touchdowns – three rushing and two passing -- in the Golden Eagles’ 38-24 win Saturday at Western Illinois, Tech’s first non-conference road win since 2013 and giving the Golden Eagles their first 3-1 start since 2011.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football is starting to gain a little traction nationally as the Golden Eagles received votes in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Poll for the Football Championship Subdivision. That marks the first time the Golden Eagles have been in or received votes in one of the two major FCS polls since receiving votes in the AFCA Poll in 2016 following a 33-30 win over Eastern Kentucky. Tech last appeared in the STATS FCS poll in 2014.
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team heads into Ohio Valley Conference play with its first 3-1 start since 2011, the Golden Eagles added some accolades on Sunday after coming home in the wee hours of the morning from their 38-24 win over Western Illinois. Bailey Fisher was named the Ohio Valley Conference’s co-Offensive Player of the Week, splitting the honor with Jacksonville State wide receiver Josh Pearson (149 yds. on seven catches, three touchdowns), while Fisher also earned FCS National Player of the Week honors from the College Sports Madness website for his second national honor this season. Sophomore linebacker Seth Carlisle was named the OVC’s Defensive Player of the Week, while true freshman wide receiver/return specialist Metrius Fleming has named the conference’s Newcomer of the Week for the third time in four weeks.
MACOMB, Ill. – The song may say that the waiting is the hardest part. For the Tennessee Tech football team, the Golden Eagles started its first drive then had to wait as a lightning delay forced the teams back into the locker rooms. So they waited. And waited. And waited some more.
MACOMB, Ill. – As the Tennessee Tech football team loads up the buses on Friday to hit the road for its longest road trip of the year – a visit to Western Illinois – the Golden Eagles know they’ll be in for a challenge as they close out the non-conference portion of the schedule. Tech will take on the Fighting Leathernecks at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 98.5 KISS FM with Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano providing the call, while the game will also be streamed online on ESPN3, with Brendan Reidy and Michael Harms handling those duties.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – True freshman wide receiver and kick returner Metrius Fleming added another accolade on Monday as he was named an honorable mention selection for this week’s STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week. The true freshman from Elberton, Ga., was named the Ohio Valley Conference’s Newcomer of the Week on Sunday, following an outstanding effort against visiting UVa-Wise, resulting in a 31-14 win for the Golden Eagles. Fleming ended the contest with 161 all-purpose yards, including a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, one of 11 thus far this season on the Football Championship Subdivision level.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech collected its 149th win in Tucker Stadium on Saturday night as the Golden Eagles used defensive and special teams plays to top visiting UVa-Wise and improve to 2-1 on the season. With the victory, Tech equals its wins from 2017 and 2018 combined and equals its best start since going 2-1 in the 2013 season.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Just because a team is a lower-division program, that doesn’t make the contest any less of a challenge. The Tennessee Tech football team has fallen into the trap before, last falling to a Division II team in 1988. That said, that Division II team was Liberty and they’re now in the Football Bowl Subdivision, as is Troy, who beat the Golden Eagles in 1978 and 1980. Then there’s also Jacksonville State (victors in 1979 and 1980) and Abilene Christian (the winner in 1987) who are now among the Football Championship Subdivision ranks.
OXFORD, Ohio – Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander took his players into the locker room Saturday afternoon following the Golden Eagles’ 48-17 loss to FBS school Miami (Ohio) and told them to keep their heads up. “On Monday, everything on this game is going in the trash,” he said. “This is a very good football team. We have so much left to play for.” And there is truth in his words.
A thrilling win like the one Tennessee Tech had against Samford doesn’t come too often. But in the last 10 years, the Golden Eagles have certainly had their share. Tech defeated the Bulldogs 59-58 in double overtime as sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two more, then converted three two-point plays to put Tech on top. Fisher was named the national offensive player of the week by STATS FCS, as well as earning offensive player of the week honors from the Ohio Valley Conference, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and College Sports Madness. The 415-yard game for Fisher was the third-best passing effort in school history, trailing offensive coordinator Tre Lamb’s 481-yard game against Southeast Missouri in 2012 and Lee Sweeney’s 437 against the Redhawks in 2006.
OXFORD, Ohio – As the Tennessee Tech football team puts Week 1 in the rear view and focuses on their next opponent, the schedule doesn’t get easier. Tech makes its annual foray into the Football Bowl Subdivision this weekend with a visit to Miami (Ohio) out of the Mid-American Conference. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Central. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will provide broadcast coverage on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required) with Robert Lee and Dustin Fox handling play-by-play and color duties.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There’s one more award for Bailey Fisher this week as the Tennessee Tech sophomore quarterback was named the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Offensive Player of the Week. It’s the fourth honor this week for the sophomore after being named the National Offensive Player of the Week by STATS FCS, the Ohio Valley Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week and College Sports Madness’ OVC Offensive Player of the Week.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The accolades continue to pour in for Tennessee Tech sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher as he was named Monday afternoon as the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week. That is the first national offensive player of the week nod for the Golden Eagles since quarterback Darian Stone won the award after his third career start in 2012 in a 45-44 win over UT Martin. Defensive lineman Jordan Johnson earned national specialist honors in the 2013 campaign, then safety Marty Jones won national defensive accolades with his four-interception, 12-tackle game against Eastern Kentucky in 2014.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The buzz from Tennessee Tech’s thrilling double-overtime comeback win over Samford on Saturday night had barely faded on Sunday as the accolades started to roll in with sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher named as the Ohio Valley Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week and true freshman wide receiver Metrius Fleming named the league’s Newcomer of the Week. The weekly awards are voted on by the conference’s sports information contacts.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After watching an early 12-point lead disappear, the Tennessee Tech football team kept falling further and further behind. Late in the third quarter, the Golden Eagles trailed by 23 points. With 2:20 left in the contest, Tech was down by 16. Most prognosticators would probably have put the game squarely in Samford’s pockets. The Golden Eagles, however, weren’t listening. The total touchdowns ties the Tech record for touchdowns responsible for in a game. Tech’s 671 yards is also a new school record, breaking 644 yards against Valparaiso in 2002. After Samford scored on the first half of the second extra session, Andrew Goldsmith scored the final touchdown on a 14-yard run, then Fisher found David Gist in the end zone for the game-winning score.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 years since Tennessee Tech last faced Samford on the gridiron. It was a completely different scenario then – the Golden Eagles were 32 years removed since their previous Ohio Valley Conference championship (Tech later broke its drought four years later) and both teams were under the direction of new coaches (Watson Brown for the Golden Eagles facing long-time assistant Pat Sullivan across the way – who went on to become Samford’s all-time winningest head coach. Now, Dewayne Alexander enters his second year at the helm of the Tennessee Tech program, while a familiar foe comes into Tucker Stadium leading Samford as former Murray State skipper Chris Hatcher enters his fifth campaign as the Bulldogs’ top dog. Tech will open its 98th football campaign Saturday night at 6 p.m. from Tucker Stadium.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech football wrapped up the annual Gathering of Eagles event, the last official scrimmage of fall camp, the countdown to August 31 is now officially on. Saturday wasn't the greatest showcase of the Golden Eagles' ability as the fatigue of camp, the sweltering summer heat and a busy day of events played their roles, but it wasn't the worst effort either as there were plenty of highlights. That said, there were several procedural penalties that cropped up and stalled drives as the Tech offense was handcuffed a few times from putting more points on the board. The Golden Eagle defense also played its part, creating a goal-line stop and forcing a couple of big turnovers to keep the offense at bay.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander’s call to get better every day continues to be heeded, come August 31 as the Golden Eagles host Samford, the memories of the 2018 campaign could be a distant memory. While it wasn’t a perfect scrimmage Saturday night at Tucker Stadium – and no first scrimmage is -- there were still plenty of highlights and reasons to be excited about the Golden Eagles’ progress. It did take a full offensive rotation for the Golden Eagle attackers to put points on the unofficial scoreboard, but when quarterback Bailey Fisher and the first-team offense got going, the unit looked solid. The first score came as David Gist III was able to evade the top-line defense and break loose for a 72-yard touchdown run, the longest offensive play of the night.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – This time last year, Bailey Fisher was a true freshman. Sure, he had the opportunity as an early enrollee to go through spring practice with the Tennessee Tech football team and got a bit of a jump start, but it was a transition nonetheless. Now, with a season as the Golden Eagles’ starting quarterback under his belt, Fisher is now focused on year two. “I’m feeling pretty good about it,” Fisher said. “We put in a lot of work during the offseason. We’ve gotten better up front. I really feel like we’ve addressed our needs at running back and at receiver. We’ve added a lot of depth. The tight ends have been putting in a lot of work. With all the effort around the field, I feel pretty confident about this season. “We all know that it isn’t going to happen overnight. It’s a process, but we’re working day-in, day-out to get better, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ninth place. It certainly wasn’t the place the Tennessee Tech football team wanted to be in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason polls as they were announced on Monday as part of the league’s Football Media Day. That said, head coach Dewayne Alexander and his players present – sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher and senior defensive back Shannon Fayne – understood why, but stood determined to prove the naysayers wrong. It’s a new season and the process is still in the early phases, but Alexander was firm in that there are so many who have invested into the Tennessee Tech program and they were all set to produce dividends.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – If one listened to Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander talk to his Golden Eagle players following Friday’s Spring Game at Tucker Stadium, they heard the veteran coach explain why the windshield was larger than the rear view mirror. To keep focused on what’s ahead more than what’s behind. After back-to-back 1-10 seasons and the transition from a coaching change, the focus is on the future of the Tech football program, and that’s what the 2019 spring practices were about. With the 15 sessions in the books, the inherent focus was to get the team ready to improve on what they started in the 2018 campaign and try to bring the Tech football program back to good graces.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With just under a week remaining in Tennessee Tech football’s 2019 spring practices, the Golden Eagles may be hitting the home stretch, but the course work got a lot more complicated. During Saturday’s scrimmage at Tucker Stadium, Tech went more down-and-distance in its work than in last week’s slate, but while there were some tempers flared and fatigue rearing its head, the Golden Eagles still found plenty to be happy about. “Last week we had a set number of plays we were trying to do with each personnel group,” said Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander. “This week, we played it truly more like a game. We went 1st-and-10 and if you got three downs, we’re going to be off the field – and that’s where more procedural things and officials show up.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s the midway point of Tennessee Tech football’s 2019 spring practice and as the team hosted its first scrimmage of the spring, there were definitely signs of improvement. Through the two-hour session on Saturday from Tucker Stadium, it looked like a midsummer scrimmage as if the team was getting set for the new season rather than being months away.
