Willie Miller

• Article
• April 15, 2023

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech football fans got their first look at the 2023 Golden Eagles squad as players competed in the program’s annual Purple and Gold Spring Game on Saturday afternoon at Tucker Stadium. The scrimmage was the finale of this year’s spring practice, during which Coach Dwayne Alexander’s sixth Tennessee Tech team sought to lay a solid foundation for the upcoming season. The sun was out and so was the ball as the Golden Eagles defense took advantage of a poor exchange in the offensive backfield on the first play from scrimmage, pouncing on the loose football for an early fumble recovery.

• 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 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 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 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 22, 2022

KENNESAW, Ga. – Tennessee Tech overcame an early 14-point deficit to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but the homestanding Owls scored twice in the final 81 seconds of regulation – sandwiching a quick Golden Eagle scoring drive to force overtime. Tech was held to a field goal in its overtime try, but Kennesaw State picked up the game-winning score on five plays with a quarterback keeper for Xavier Shepherd, giving the Owls a 33-30 victory on Saturday at Fifth Third Stadium.

• 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 16, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech rallied for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but the visiting Tennessee State Tigers were able to take the victory with 30 straight points in the second and third quarters, leaving Tucker Stadium with a 30-14 win on Saturday. The Golden Eagles (1-5, 0-3 Ohio Valley Conference) return to action next Saturday as they go out-of-conference to take on Kennesaw State.

• 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
• 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 08, 2022

COOKEVILLE – In a night where the Tennessee Tech football team will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first varsity game, it almost seemed like the stars aligned in so many ways. First – Saturday’s game is the 1,000th game in program history. Second – The opponent is Texas A&M-Commerce, who the Golden Eagles played once before previously in the 1953 Tangerine Bowl after claiming their first Ohio Valley Conference championship in the 1952 season. Third – that 1952 team is being honored on Saturday for their title’s 70th anniversary. All-in-all, it’s a milestone night to celebrate as the Golden Eagles host the Lions for their home opener.

• 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
• August 21, 2022

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fans had their opportunity to get a look at the Tennessee Tech football team on Saturday night as the Golden Eagles held their annual Gathering of Eagles fan event. Despite some mid-afternoon storms, the day started with the women’s clinic, then fans had an opportunity to grab autographs from their favorite Golden Eagle players before Tech took to the field for its final scrimmage before the season begins on September 2.