Golden Eagles focusing toward performance on the field to prove itself as league's best at OVC/Big South media day
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Ohio Valley Conference and Big South Conference football coaches and student-athletes huddled around computer monitors for the annual Football Media Day, optimism rang out across the field with a new season ahead and a whole lot of new names and faces across the league. Tennessee Tech is no exception, but with the defensive leadership of defensive back Tim Coutras and linebacker Aaron Swafford representing the team on the call, the returning talent is just as important as any talk of the transfer portal. Especially with a defense as strong as the Golden Eagles were last season.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Ohio Valley Conference and Big South Conference football coaches and student-athletes huddled around computer monitors for the annual Football Media Day, optimism rang out across the field with a new season ahead and a whole lot of new names and faces across the league.
Tennessee Tech is no exception, but with the defensive leadership of defensive back Tim Coutras and linebacker Aaron Swafford representing the team on the call, the returning talent is just as important as any talk of the transfer portal. Especially with a defense as strong as the Golden Eagles were last season.
Coutras talked with the conference media members present on the call, stretching from local and in-state media to national coverage. Swafford joined the conference's content session with host Bob Belvin as he broke down the season ahead and gave future viewers a glimpse into Swafford's personality from his first days playing football to the nickname from his teammates – General Swaff.
As the OVC and Big South released its preseason teams on Monday and Tuesday, as well as the preseason poll and superlatives on Wednesday, a lot of the suspense was already out of the way. Tech was picked as the preseason favorite for the first time since 1978 – the first year after the Division I-A/I-AA split.
The message was clear though – it's nice to be picked first, but it's all about what happens on the field. Tech brings in 60 new faces for this upcoming season, but return a lot of important faces. The experience tying for last season's Big South-OVC title left a sour taste in their mouths as the other three teams in the championship quartet reached the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs, while the Golden Eagles were on the outside looking in.
Now Tech is determined to prove it all on the field. It's been an incredible change in the program as the University has made an investment into Golden Eagle Football in all phases and it's definitely paying dividends.
Among the week's honors:
- Graduate defensive back Tim Coutras was named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America second-team on Tuesday.
- Tech earned 13 different spots among 11 student-athletes on the OVC-Big South Preseason Players to Watch. Those players included senior defensive lineman Hudson Tucker, senior linebacker Aaron Swafford, Coutras, sophomore punter Spencer Ashby, senior all-purpose and kick/punt return specialist Tremel Jones, senior quarterback Kekoa Visperas, sophomore running back Aidan Littles, senior wide receiver Noah Robinson, senior tight end Brian Courtney, senior offensive lineman Drew Wilder and sophomore kicker Dom LeBlanc.
- Tech collected five of the nine first-place votes to earn 57 points, edging UT Martin with 56 points and two first-place votes. Southeast Missouri had 53 points with two first-place votes, while the other team in last season's four-way tie for the championship – Tennessee State – was picked eighth with 23 points.
The Golden Eagles open the season on August 30 against Cumberland for the first of seven home games this season at Tucker Stadium as Tech looks to win the OVC-Big South title outright.
Season tickets for Golden Eagle Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
