Mike Rhoades

• Article
• June 01, 2021

“You might not change the world, but you might spark the brain of the one who does.” The thought may be commonly cited to legendary musician Tupac Shakur, but Tennessee Tech football and men’s basketball player Jamaal Thompson repeated the mantra as he reflected on the events of the past year and pledged to carry on his efforts as his time in Cookeville at Tech continues for the near future, it echoed. Thompson, in just the last 15 months or so, made a tremendous impact on the Tennessee Tech campus, not just within athletics, trying to spread a message of equality and love for one another through as many avenues as he could.

• Article
• April 21, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – In the history of the Robert Hill Johnson Award, Tennessee Tech football’s highest honor, only a third have been defensive players. Fourteen of those have been linebackers – which isn’t a surprise considering the Golden Eagles have had some great ones over the years. From John Tanner in 1970 to Jim Youngblood in the historic 1972 campaign, Dana Winningham in 1973, Mark Shrum in 1977, Jeff Daughtry in 1984 and future astronaut and NCAA Theodore Roosevelt Award winner Barry Wilmore the next year, Mike Thornton in 1988, Fred Edgington in 1989, Marrio Thomas and Maurice Draine in 1992 and 1993, Sammy Sanders in 1997, Chad Evitts in 2000, Daniel Wentzel in 2002 and Tommy Harrison in 2004, there have been incredible ones to win the award. Among these players are Tech Sports Hall of Famers, Golden Eagles who have shaped the program over the years and setting the stage for the team now.

• Article
• April 15, 2021

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the 2020-21 Ohio Valley Conference football season drawing to a close, the league announced its postseason award winners on Thursday. Tennessee Tech came away with four awards as senior defensive end Chris Tucker made his second consecutive appearance on the All-OVC first-team roster, senior offensive guard Mike Rhoades made a back-to-back appearance on the second-team squad, redshirt junior safety Josh Reliford made his first all-OVC appearance on the second team, and freshman cornerback Jyron Gilmore was selected to the conference’s All-Newcomer team. The awards were voted on by the conference’s head football coaches and sports information contacts.

• Article
• April 14, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Academic success is a major part of any student-athlete’s career at a college and university, and it is a challenge to balance both the student side and the athlete side. Every year, the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame honors a select group of football student-athletes that have been able to do that over the course of their career and inducts them into the Hampshire Honor Society. This season, the Tennessee Tech football team earned two selections with Mike Rhoades and Tavin Kilpatrick picked to join the roster.

• Article
• April 03, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech head coach Dewayne Alexander's had quite a few big wins in his career. His 50th however may mean a lot more to him. As the Golden Eagles recognized their seven 2020-21 seniors before Saturday's game against Tennessee State, Tech built on that momentum, surging to a 14-0 lead and never looking back as the Golden Eagles topped the visiting Tigers 24-10. "Our guys have fought hard this season, they've been resilient," Alexander said. "We knew if we could pull together four quarters and play Golden Eagle football, we can certainly play with anybody. We've shown that. We had some tough games this season and I'm really proud of the way our team has responded."

• Article
• April 01, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When Senior Day usually rolls around in football season, the skies are gray, the leaves are falling and the weather has turned cooler. Saturday, as the Tennessee Tech football team honors its 2020-21 senior class, it’s be the exact opposite – sunny, everything is blooming and spring weather in the air. The page on the calendar may be different, but make no mistake – it’s still football, and there’s still plenty to play for. With Tennessee State coming to town on Saturday, the Sergeant York Trophy is once again in play and the matchup stacks up as an intriguing one. The Easter weekend special kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Roger Ealey and Buddy Pearson will broadcast the game on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will provide the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• February 18, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s been a long wait for football season to arrive. Heck, the last game was in the previous decade. But on Sunday, football is back at Tucker Stadium, ending a nearly 15-month drought of gridiron action, as Tennessee Tech plays host to Austin Peay. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Roger Ealey will provide the radio call for 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks handle broadcast duties for ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• January 19, 2021

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- There's no question that the 2020-21 year has been different from most years. The usual routine has been thrown out the window as athletic programs around the world adjust to the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tennessee Tech and the Ohio Valley Conference are no different. Instead of the typical fall football slate, the Golden Eagles and its OVC and NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdvision brethren deferred the start of the campaign until the spring. With the season approaching -- the Golden Eagles open the slate on Feb. 21 as they host Austin Peay -- the OVC held its annual Football Media Day virtually, similar to how the basketball teams did back in the fall, as media members, the league's coaches and student-athletes came together to celebrate what is sure to be a unique season.

• Article
• July 24, 2020

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the prep work continues towards the 2020 football season, more outlets are releasing their preseason teams. On Friday, it was Phil Steele’s preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference list and Tennessee Tech came away with 12 selections on the three-team roster. Senior defensive lineman Chris Tucker and sophomore kick return specialist Metrius Fleming were first-team selections, while junior quarterback Bailey Fisher, senior offensive lineman Mike Rhoades, senior defensive lineman Henry Karimu and junior outside linebacker Tai Carter were on the second team. Fleming made a repeat performance on the third-team roster at wide receiver, joined by senior tight end Tavin Kilpatrick, senior defensive line Jale’n Gladney, junior linebacker Seth Carlisle, sophomore defensive back Cameron Hudson and senior punter Luke Maynard.

• Article
• July 20, 2020

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After one of the best seasons in recent program history and putting together the second-best turnaround in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, it isn’t surprising to see a few Tennessee Tech players on the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team as the league released its 2020 preseason squad on Monday morning. The Golden Eagles garnered five preseason picks: junior quarterback Bailey Fisher and senior offensive lineman Mike Rhoades on offense, senior defensive end Chris Tucker and junior outside linebacker Tai Carter on defense and sophomore receiver/kick return specialist Metrius Fleming on special teams. The OVC preseason polls – both the media and coach/SID projections – will be announced at a later date.