Dylan Laible

• Article
• April 12, 2025

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – To figure out where the Tennessee Tech football team is in April as the team held its annual Purple vs. Gold Spring Game, one just has to go back to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoff selection show. As the team saw the rest of the field announced, including three Big South-Ohio Valley Conference football teams, it stuck in the craw. The Golden Eagles, who defeated playoff picks UT Martin and Tennessee State to win the Sergeant York Trophy, were left out. It became a mission. “Our theme this year coming out of missing the playoffs by one game is ‘Run It Back,’” Wilder said. “You’ll see it out here on shirts and that’s our theme because of the bitter taste we had. Keeping this team together will add more value to the roster in April and May through the portal. I’m really excited about our high school recruiting here in-state and put us in good position heading into camp.”

• Article
• November 23, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech certainly did its part. With UT Martin defeating Lindenwood in overtime and Tennessee State beating Southeast Missouri in Nashville, the Golden Eagles earn their 11th Ohio Valley Conference championship – the first in tandem with the Big South. Not too shabby for a team that was projected seventh in the preseason. Now, the waiting game begins as the Golden Eagles will find out whether they will make their second NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs appearance on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. The selection show will be aired live on ESPNU. 

• Article
• November 21, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Saturday could be a huge day for the Tennessee Tech football team. Depending on what happens Saturday at Tucker Stadium when the Golden Eagles host Eastern Illinois, as well as in Nashville and Martin, it could be championship worthy. It all starts in Cookeville though as the 6-5 Golden Eagles host the 3-8 Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:02 p.m. Roger Ealey and Marcelo Metzelar will have the call on 106.1 The Eagle, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will narrate the action on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• November 16, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Sergeant York is coming home. With a tremendous defensive effort, Tennessee Tech knocked off No. 18 UT Martin 10-9 to claim the Sergeant York Trophy for the first time since the Spring 2021 season as well as the Golden Eagles’ first win over a ranked opponent since 2014. It also gives Tech (6-5, 5-2 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference) a chance next week to potentially earn a share of the conference championship for the first time since 2011. Tech hosts Eastern Illinois next Saturday starting at Noon.

• Article
• November 15, 2024

MARTIN, Tenn. – While the Sergeant York Trophy is in play Saturday with the winner between UT Martin and Tennessee Tech taking home the bronze bust, there are bigger stakes as well. If Tennessee Tech wins out and Southeast Missouri falls in its final two games of the season, the Golden Eagles will be Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association champions. It’s a tall order, but not an out-of-question one as the Golden Eagles head to Martin for Saturday’s contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

• Article
• November 09, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On a rainy Saturday afternoon, it took a little while for Tennessee Tech to get going, but once the Golden Eagles did, they proved to be unstoppable by Samford as Tech took a 27-7 victory at Pete Hanna Stadium. The Golden Eagles improve to 5-5 on the season with two games remaining in the regular season. Tech returns to Big South-Ohio Valley Conference play next week as they head to UT Martin.

• Article
• November 07, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Tennessee Tech football team will get a one-week reprieve from the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference jaunt this weekend as the Golden Eagles head down to Birmingham to take on Samford in a Saturday battle. Kickoff against the Bulldogs is set for 2 p.m. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will have the call locally on 106.1 The Eagle, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

• Article
• November 02, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was almost a record day for the Tennessee Tech football team as the Golden Eagles rushed for 400 yards on Saturday to take a 52-10 victory over Lindenwood on Homecoming. Tech rushed 38 times for 400 yards, led by 128 yards on 13 carries from Jalen Mitchell. In all, the Golden Eagles ran for five touchdowns while averaging 10.5 yards per carry. Aidan Littles, Torin Baker, Jordan Yates and Tyler Wilson also ran for scores, while quarterback Dylan Laible also threw a touchdown strike to D.J. Linkins among his 13 pass completions of 119 yards.

• Article
• October 31, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the calendar page turns from October to November and the final month of the 2024 Tennessee Tech football season begins, the temperatures are getting cooler and the fall colors are starting to shine through. That must mean it's time for Homecoming in Cookeville. The Golden Eagles will entertain Lindenwood for the 93rd edition of Tech's Homecoming. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Marcelo Metzelar will narrate the action on 106.1 The Eagle.

• Article
• October 25, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – After a tough two-game trek to Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Macomb, Ill., the Tennessee Tech football team is back home for the first of two straight contests as the Golden Eagles entertain Charleston Southern in a Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association battle on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will have the broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Marcelo Metzelar will narrate the action on 106.1 The Eagle.

• Article
• October 19, 2024

MACOMB, Ill. – Early turnovers, costly penalties and short field positions gave Western Illinois the advantage on Saturday and every time the Tennessee Tech football team tried to climb back from the deficit, the Leathernecks extended their advantage right back. By the final buzzer, Western Illinois came away with a 37-21 victory Saturday afternoon. The Golden Eagles (2-5, 2-2 Big South-Ohio Valley Conference) return home next week for the first of two home contests as Tech hosts Charleston Southern (1-6, 0-4 BS-OVC) and Lindenwood (3-5, 2-2 BS-OVC) in back-to-back weeks.

• Article
• September 05, 2024

ATHENS, Ga. – Tennessee Tech came excruciatingly close to knocking off a Football Bowl Subdvision opponent last weekend as the Golden Eagles saw Middle Tennessee emerge victorious with just seconds remaining on the clock in a 32-25 victory. Saturday, the Golden Eagles will stay in FBS territory as they head down to Athens to take on the top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 1 p.m. Central, 2 p.m. Eastern. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ (streaming, SEC Network subscription required) with Jay Alter (play-by-play), Rocky Boiman (analyst) and Ashley Stroehlein (sideline reporter) on the call. Roger Ealey (play-by-play) and Dylan Vazzano (analyst) will have the Tech call on 106.1 The Eagle.

• Article
• September 01, 2024

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – On Saturday night just before midnight, Tennessee Tech took the lead against Middle Tennessee. But after the clock struck 12, Middle Tennessee ended the Golden Eagles’ Cinderella story. Tech (0-1) was so close. With just over a minute to go in the game, Jordan Yates hauled in a diving connection from Jordyn Potts to tie the game, then Hayden Olsen hit the PAT to give the Golden Eagles the 25-24 lead.

• Article
• August 29, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – On the very day, almost to the very minute, when Tennessee Tech introduced Bobby Wilder as the new head coach of the Golden Eagle football team, Middle Tennessee was introducing Derek Mason as the new head coach of the Blue Raiders. It was purely coincidence, but it almost seemed fitting that the two coaches open their first seasons at the helm on the opposite sidelines.

• Article
• August 26, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It’s probably a little cliché when a new coach comes into a program and it’s suddenly declared a ‘new era.’ With the direction Bobby Wilder looks to take the Tennessee Tech football team, however, it is the literal truth. With the ever-changing landscape of college football, as well as the transfer portal and Name-Image-Likeness deals, the game is not the same as it was even 10 years ago.

• Article
• August 18, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As a team works toward a new season, it’s not uncommon to see some bumps and bruises along the way. With the Tennessee Tech football team entering Saturday’s Gathering of Eagles scrimmage, the numbers are a little more than expected with nearly 30 players sidelined from Saturday’s session.  “It’s hard to conduct what you’re trying to get done in practice and scrimmage and it’s not anything the kids are doing,” head coach Bobby Wilder said. “A lot of what’s happening are soft tissue injuries. They’re working hard and they’re trying to get back. With the opener two weeks away, it’s a true concern. Tonight, we had 15 true freshmen out here playing a lot of snaps. They played hard, but they’re freshmen. They’re going to make mistakes. I love the effort. The number one priority right now is we’ve got to get healthy.

• Article
• August 10, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the first scrimmage for the Tennessee Tech football team went in the books, the defense set the pace early on and had some fantastic plays to antagonize their offensive teammates. Still, the offense wasn’t held empty-handed either as they put together some solid drives and converted in the red zone to put more than a few points on the board. While there were a couple of heated moments, the Golden Eagles shook them off and kept working. After all, finding ways to dig deep and overcome the adversity presented is one of the biggest lessons to learn.

• Article
• July 17, 2024

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As Tennessee Tech head football coach Bobby Wilder addressed the gathered media on Wednesday’s Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association Media Day, the veteran coach entering his first season with the Golden Eagles was excited for the new opportunity ahead of him. “I’ve been living here for eight months now and I’m absolutely living the dream in Cookeville,” he said. “We’re working toward building a successful football team. The goal right now is getting everyone in the organization focused on the process of winning. That’s in every day – our planning, our preparation and our execution.

• Article
• July 15, 2024

COOKEVILLE – To kick off the first of three days in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Media Days, the combined conference announced its first set of Preseason Players to Watch. In the first set of players announced among the offensive skill positions and kickers, the Tennessee Tech Football team claimed seven selections on the preseason list. Included among the list are quarterback Dylan Laible, running back Obie Sanni, wide receiver Tremel Jones, tight end Hunter Barnhart, offensive lineman Logan Weedman, all-purpose pick Kyron Cumby and kicker Hayden Olsen. Four of the seven selections on Monday will make their first appearances in the Purple and Gold this season with the season kicking off August 31 at Middle Tennessee.