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THE OFFICIAL ONLINE

MAGAZINE OF TENNESSEE TECH

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DOUBLE DOUBLE DUDE Ignoring roadblocks and numerous obstacles, Charles Jackson has found a home in Cookeville.

January / February 2015

Volume 3, Issue 2

ATHLETICS

photo by Rich Schmitt

IN FOCUS

Building a foundation...

In just his second game donning the purple and gold, big man Charles Jackson quickly established himself as one of the premier centers in the Ohio Valley conference, collecting his second double-double of the season at USC. He eventually started the year with six straight doubledoubles, a Tech record and currently has 11 this season.

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY Volume 3, Issue 2

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IN THIS ISSUE

14 Cover Story

Charles Jackson is having a huge impact on the Golden Eagle basketball team in his first season of action at Tech. Mike Lehman takes a close look at the obstacles he has overcome to be wearing the Purple & Gold.

22 Preacher of the Paint

THE ONLINE MAGAZINE OF TENNESSEE TECH ATHLETICS

Senior Dwan Caldwell arrived in Cookeville one season ago with his own inspirational story. The ‘Preacher of the Paint’ has taken his fellow frontcourt friend under his wing to develop arguably the top duo down low in the OVC.

24 Golden State Eagles

The daunting distance from Cookeville to the coast has not stopped Golden Eagle coaches from finding talent in California and bringing those student-athletes to the mid-South.

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36 By The Numbers

Tionne Herron had 10 assists in a game this year. We look into some numbers of interest.

38 My Cookeville

Former TTU President Angelo Volpe and First Lady Jennette Volpe are the first in a new series about the things that make this region such a special place.

46 On this day

It was a special day 10 years ago that the 2004-05 Golden Eagle basketball team clinched the OVC championship outright with a big victory at Morehead State.

Departments From the Editor / 6 Caregivers Fresh Faces / 7-9 Meet 10 Tech newcomers In Your Ear / 33 Freshman Yaktavia Hickson Playlist / 41 Administrators Christmas songs This Day in Tech History / 46 The day the Golden Eaglemen’s basketball team clinched the 2004-05 OVC title outright with a win at Morehead State Ask The A.D. / 48 Questions for Golden Eagle Director of Athletics Mark WIlson The Rog Sez / 50 Voice of the Golden Eagles Roger Ealey looks ahead to the 2015 football season

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Twitter - @TTUGoldenEagles Facebook - TTU Sports Internet - www.TTUSports.com

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caregivers From the editor

My mother is dying. Everyone is dying, of course, some sooner, some later. The thing with my mom is that she has lived about 10 years longer than expected. Diagnosed with bone cancer in 2005 (that started from a recurrence of breast cancer), the doctors thought she had two, maybe three years. An experimental drug, however, halted the cancer and she has been here an extra decade. Every year, the family prepared for it to be her final Christmas.

We pointed out this past Christmas that it was her tenth “last Christmas.”

This time, it’s likely to be. In June, just before we all gathered in Minnesota to celebrate her 90th birthday, the doctors told her that the cancer, after all these years, was now progressing and there wasn’t anything more they could do. Go home and enjoy the time you have left, they said. It could be weeks, but likely months, they said. Hospice was called, nurses began checking on her once per week.

She has remained one of the most stubborn, independent women on the planet. She has lived alone for more than seven years, since my dad passed away in April of 2007. She continued to get around on her own inside her house.

I went north in September and spent some really quality time with her, and she was doing pretty well. I took her to an Oktoberfest and we stepped out on the dance floor to polka. Amazing.

A week after I got back to Cookeville, she suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a form of stroke. Things had turned pretty swiftly. Home for only a week, I headed back to Minnesota and this time found her in a gravely different state. I joined my sister, Nancy, as her primary caregiver.

It meant lifting her weakened body out of her bed, wheeling her to the bathroom, fixing her meager meals and feeding her.

After two weeks of constantly tending to her, I was physically and mentally exhausted. It was, without a doubt, the most demanding, tiring job I have ever done. I never realized how hard the task of being a caregiver could be.

I went back for another week in December, and once again it simply drained me.

On the long drive back to Cookeville, I spent time thinking about caregivers and my thoughts drifted to our coaches, and my mind made a connection – the coaches at Tennessee Tech are, in a sense, caregivers, too. For our student-athletes.

The coaches look after the physical and mental well-being of anywhere from 10 to 100 young men or women.

Sure, there are support systems in place such as our academic staff, assistant coaches and athletic trainers, but these student-athletes are under the direct supervision and care of their head coaches.

Now that I know, first-hand, how crucial caregivers are in the life of another, I see the responsibilities of our head coaches in a slightly different light.

My wife had noticed when reading obituaries, howa family many times will express an individual ‘thank you’ to the person’s special caregiver. Until now, it never connected on exactly why. Those caregivers, just like coaches, really do become a significant, extraordinary part of the family.

I’ll be heading back to Minnesota again fairly soon, getting every day I can with her before her time is finished. I’m already tired just thinking about it. And extremely grateful for the time to be her caregiver. l.

Rob Schabert

Assistant Athletic Director / Editor Please send your feedback to: sportsinfo@tntech.edu

TENNESSEE

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ATHLETICS

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THE OFFICIA

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DOUBLE DOUBLE DUDE

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ks and Ignoring roadbloc , acles numerous obst has Charles Jackson in e hom a d foun Cookeville.

On the cover

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br uary 2015 Januar y / Fe

* Playlist * Chatter at photos gre e som nd

e2 Volume 3, Issu

Junior Charles Jackson blocks a shot against USC early in his first year in a Golden Eagle uniform. The California native had several roadblocks to pass through in his journey to Cookeville and the Tech roster. Mike Lehman profiles the post player who has made double-doubles his trademark. Mike also takes a brief look another Californian on the basketball roster, Dwan Caldwell, and we give a quick rundown on the contributions of the Golden State to Tech’s recent athletic fortunes.

{ } Stuff You Oughta Know

v SAVE THE DATE: The 2015 Pepsi Bobby Nichols Golden Eagle Scramble presented by Budweiser will be held June 5-6-7 on three Cookeville-area courses. Registration will begin on Tuesday, March 10. v Senior Night is on the way for Tech’s basketball teams. Senior Night will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 21, when the Golden Eagles host a doubleheader against Belmont. The women’s team will bid farewell to seniors Candace Parson and T’Keyah WIlliams, while the men’s departing seniors to be recognized are Dwan Caldwell, Jordan Johnson and Javn McKay. v Join Golden Eagle head basketball coaches Steve Payne and Jim Davis every Tuesday during the season for the weekly Sidelines Lunch in the Eagles Nest of Eblen Center. Fans hear from both coaches about the recent and upcoming games, meet players, and watch video segments of the teams in action.

The lunch is available beginning at 11:30 a.m., and the speakers begin at 12:10 p.m. The cost is $10 per person. v It’s Putnam County Night on Thurday, Jan. 15, when the Golden Eagles host UT Martin in an OVC doubleheader. Residents of the county can purchase tickets for one dollar each. v The Golden Eagle football team will host its annual Awards Dinner on Sunday, March 1, and the public is ivnvited to attend.

The cost of the dinner will be $18 per person. Fans wishing to attend the dinner can call the football office at (931) 372-3930 or the Athletics Ticket Office at (931) 372-3940. v It’s still a bargain to sign up for the Hoop Troop in 2014-15. The cost is only $25 per person, and benefits are practically priceless!

Free admission to every home

continued on page 9

fresh faces

Some of the newcomers who are making their debut in 2014-15

Marina Ruiz / Women’s Basketball

Madrid, Spain FMarina played high school basketball with Baloncesto Club Estudiantes and in 2011 and 2013, she helped her team win the Championship of Madrid. She was then named the MVP of the tournament following the 2011 Championship. She averaged 17 points and five rebounds per game throughout her high school career.

Torrance Rowe / Men’s Basketball

Atlanta, Ga..

F Torrance comes to TTU following stints at Holmes Community College and Eastern Florida State College. At EFSC, Rowe started all 30 games he played in, averaging 14.3 points per game. Torrance led the team in scoring as well as assists, dishing out 3.6 dimes per contest. He collected NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA Player of the Week honors as well as several honorable mentions and helped lead the Titans to their second straight conference championship.

Yaktavia Hickson / Women’s Basketball

Stone Mountian, Ga. F Hickson, who goes by Shug, went to Columbia High School where she was part of back-to-back Georgia state championship teams in 2012 and 2013 in Class AAAA. She averaged 15.6 points, 3.9 steals, and 2.7 assists. She was one of just two Georgia players to be named to the Prospect Nation’s Elite 150 player. In high school, Shug was a participant in the Magnet Program and the Youth Entrepreneurship of Georgia Program.

Aleksa Jugovic / Men’s Basketball

Leskovac, Serbia

F Although he is from Serbia, Aleksa spent his senior year at Hamilton Heights Christian Acadamy in Chattanooga, Tenn.

In 38 games, averaged 14.5 points, 5.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.6 rebounds per game. Between his junior and senior year, started on Serbia’s U-18 national team that competed in the FIBA Europe U-18 Championships. led the team to a 6-4 record, dishing out a team-best 3.2 assists and making a team-high 1.5 steals per game.

Asia Harper / Women’s Basketball

Fayetteville, Ga.

F Asia helped her team earn three consecutive region championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She was a four-year basketball letterwinner. Asia won the Class AAAA Georgia’s state championship in her junior season. During her junior year she was named Most Improved Player, averaging 10 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. She was ranked in the Top 90 of over 400 students in her senior class with a 3.3 GPA.

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Feeling Social?

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{ } Stuff You Oughta Know

basketball game, special gifts and activities, a Hoop Troop member presents the game ball at every home game, and much more. Call the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center for details. v Tech will celebrate it’s annual Academic Excellence Night on Thursday, Jan. 22, during a men’s basketball game against Morehead State. Elementary school Honor students will be admitted free. Tech’s studentathletes named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll will be introduced. v At the doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 24, Tech will host a couple of events aimed toward fighting cancer and raising awareness for diagnosing and treating the disease. The women’s game will be the annual Think Pink game for coach Jim Davis’ team, while men’s coach Steve Payne and his staff will don tennis shoes for the annual Suits and Sneakers Awareness Weekend. Fans wearing pink can purchase tickets for one dollar per person. v The doubleheader against Jacksonville State on Saturday, Feb. 7, features a couple of special events. It will be Communiversity Night, when members of the CookevillePutnam County Chamber of Commerce receive eight tickets to the games. It is also Military and Public Safety Appreciation Night, with discount tickets available for all active and retired members of the U.S. military and their families, as well as persons who work in public safety fields. v The second annual Gold Rush is set for Thursday, Feb. 12, when Tech hosts Tennessee State. The women’s game is set for an eariler start than usual, tipping off at 4:15 p.m., with the men’s contest at 7 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to paint the arena gold by wearing that color, and gold t-shirts will be given out to fans.

fresh faces

Some of the newcomers who are making their debut in 2014-15

Ryan Martin / Men’s Basketball London, England.

F Ryan joined the Golden Eagle family from London, England.

He played his high school ball as a forward at Bridgton Academy in Maine, where he averaged 21 points per game as a senior and nine rebounds per contest. He then went to South Plains College for two years where he made 55 starts over two seasons. In his second season, led South Plains to a 29-6 overall record, including a 13-3 mark in conference play on its way to a league title, as well as the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Men’s National Basketball Championship

Kandace Newry / Women’s Basketball

Miami, Fla.

F Kandace transferred from Binghamton University this year.

She appeared in 30 games last season, including 17 starts. She ranked third on the team in rebounding (4.4 rpg) and second in assists (2.1 apg). She played at four different high schools.

During her sophomore season at Cardinal Gibbons High School, she was part of a team that won a district and regional title. She won a state title at Parkway Academy her freshman year. Kandace played her AAU basketball with teammates Candace Parson and T’Keyah Williams.

Josh Bougher / Men’s Basketball

Memphis, Tenn.

FJosh was a three-year starter at Christian Brothers High School under head coach Bubba Luckett. As a senior, was named a Mr. Basketball finalist after averaging 18 points per game. He was also named West Region MVP, First-Team AllRegion and First-Team All-State while leading CBHS to the 2014 West Region Championship. As a junior, he averaged 16 points on his way to First-Team All-Region honors and a spot on the TSWA All-State Division II First Team. Josh was named MVP of the Penny Hardaway Classic in 2012-13.

Samaria Howard / Women’s Basketball Jacksonville, Fla.

FSam comes to Tech from Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

Sam was named the team MVP at FSCJ and received first-team all-conference, first-team All-State, and NJCAA All-American honorable mention. She played her prep career at Englewood High School where she surpassed 1,000 points in three seasons on varsity. During her senior year, she was named the Marine Corps Player of the Year

Savonte Frazier / Men’s Basketball

Lake Wales, Fla. F Frazier lettered four years at Lake Wales High School for head coach Randy Lee and lettered one year in football as well. He helped led LWHS to a Florida 5A State title in 2012 one year after leading the team to the championship game. He helped his team win three straight regional championships and four consecutive district championships. Savonte was named the District 6A Player of the Year as a senior and throughout his career also took home All-County Third-Team honors and two MVP awards in tournaments.

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IN FOCUS

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Swinging toward spring...

Senior outfielder David Allen and the Golden Eagle baseball team will look to put together a similar start to the 2014-15 season as it did last year, defeating South Alabama in two of the team’s first three games. Tech went on to record its second-consecutive and school-record 40-win season.

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photo by Jim Dillon

IN FOCUS

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In the line of fire...

Golden Eagles (form left) Zoie Hensley (obscured), Taylor Blazei, Karigan Owens, Cassidy Ortman, and Taylor Sutton form a line of defense in front of goalkeeper Rebecca Toler as the Golden Eagles hosted Jacksonville State.

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cover story

By Mike Lehman Sports Information Coordinator

Despite a wide variety of roadblocks and obstacles that might have denied someone less determined, Charles Jackson has persevered and powered his way through, eventually finding a home at Tennessee Tech where he has made double-double almost routine.

For

Golden Eagle fans who have witnessed the brilliant play of a certain 6-foot-10, fully dreadlocked post player, the term double-double has essentially lost its meaning. Highlight-reel dunks and blocks that fly high into the stands are just part of the game. Everything on the court looks so easy, almost God-given or provided by birthright.

He knows better than that. There’s been no shortage of hurdles along his journey from Sacramento to Cookeville, roadblocks and dead ends that would turn back the average man and force them to find a new path in life. But behind a support group stronger than any concrete barrier and a mission to prove all the doubters and naysayers wrong, Charles Jackson has emerged from it all to become the “Double-Double Man.”

DOUBLE DUDE continued on page 16

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cover story continued from page 14

Raised practically from birth in the capital of California (he was actually born in Portland, Ore. while his father, Charles, tried to earn a rap contract), Charles wasn’t always the dominant figure fans see on the court. At an early age, he was already fighting an uphill battle.

“I didn’t really start playing organized basketball until about the eighth or ninth grade,” Jackson explained. “I didn’t even get a chance to play in seventh grade. Teams wouldn’t let me play or even give me a chance when I was in middle school.”

The first of many challenges he would face had already threatened to end his basketball career before it started. It had no chance.

“Everyday I used to walk over to the park across the street and play. I knew that even if they thought I was weak, I was going to improve and get better every day no matter what. I knew just playing; whether it was against older people or by myself; I knew just getting out there would help me get better. So that’s what I did.”

Between that and constant support and help from his parents, Jackson embarked on the one path he saw fit for him, a career in basketball and college degree.

“My mom [Mary] won a state championship her sophomore year. She taught me how to roll the ball off my fingers. She used to push me around on the court to help toughen me up and I used to say ‘Mom! What the heck! You’re not supposed to be doing that’. Haha. But it was fun.”

“My dad helped me a lot too. He’s the one who taught me how to do my hook shot. But they’re my biggest motivators. They keep me happy and help me to get better. They’ve always encouraged me and are always behind me in every decision I make.

Even if they don’t always agree with me, they always support me and are behind me regardless.”

Jackson fended off a second major challenge that tends to plague other athletes during their prep careers, a growth spurt that never seemed ready to stop.

A three-sport athlete at Grant Union High School in Sacramento, he began his freshman year on the football field standing at a modest 5-foot-6.

Over the next five years, Jackson sprouted at an average of nearly four inches a summer, finally settling in at 6-foot-10 as a sophomore in college.

“I didn’t really notice that I was growing. I was just out there playing the same way I always had.

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I kept the same approach in every sport I played, whether it was basketball, baseball or football. Really the only difference I noticed was my shot ended up changing a lot because I used to be a shooting guard.”

It was during his high school career that he really learned how to use everything he did in athletics to develop his skills on the basketball court.

“I’ve always loved basketball. It’s always been my favorite sport. I played football for my dad because he was a football player and he loved it. I liked football and baseball, but I used them to help myself get better for basketball. I approached every sport like that, using the skills I learned in those to get better at basketball.”

But it was also during his high school career that one of the biggest obstacles of his career nearly brought an end to it all.

“I got cut my junior year in high school from the varsity team. I thought my life was over. But everyone came together for me and had my back. My little brother would say ‘Hey let’s go the park and practice.’

And my dad told me to keep my head up and keep working hard every day. They picked me up every day and really are what drove me to make the team again as a senior. I needed that and they were there for me. I don’t know what I would have done without their support, but they kept me going.”

As a senior, Jackson didn’t see the floor as a regular starter, averaging just 10 points and six rebounds per game while still adjusting to his growing frame. Without a star-studded background as a prep player, he knew that the next step in his journey was the junior college route. And that started at Chabot College.

Jackson wound up redshirting his first year of college ball, sitting out as a freshman at Chabot College. He developed a relationship with then Chabot assistant Devin Aye, so when Aye took the head coaching gig at Lassen College in the spring of 2012, Jackson found himself transferring to get the chance he had worked so hard for.

“When I first saw Charles, he was all arms and legs,” Aye said. “He wasn’t coordinated enough to dunk, and he wasn’t ready to play college basketball.

That’s why he redshirted when we were at Chabot his first year. My father (Denny Aye, head coach at Chabot) and I both agreed it was in Charles’ best interest for him to get away from the city and come with me to Lassen. And we were right.” continued on page 18

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cover story continued from page 16

Still just 6-foot-5 and 170 pounds while at Chabot, Jackson endured his final growth spurt as a redshirt, joining the Lassen College squad at 6-foot-10 and 220 pounds with a dunk-theball-every-chance-he-had approach.

He enjoyed the very definition of a breakout season, recording an incredible 21 double-doubles in 32 games while leading Lassen to a 23-9 record, 20 victories more than the previous season. Jackson averaged 12.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, earning MVP honors from the Golden Valley Conference and All-State accolades.

In one season he had transformed from an under-developed project to top Division I prospect, gaining interest from several programs from the Pac-12, WAC, Mountain West, Big Sky and other conferences. Among those teams, UCLA and Missouri showed strong interest.

But just when his road to seemed open and unimpeded, another hairpin turn appeared out of nowhere, testing his resilience and work ethic again. And this would prove to be his toughest test of all.

“I didn’t even think I broke my leg at first,” Jackson said. “I just heard a pop and my body went into shock. So I got up and tried to take a step, but it was all wobbly and I just knew that something wasn’t right. It didn’t look bad and they didn’t think it was broken, but I knew it was bad.”

Jackson was in just his first week at the College of Southern Idaho, having transferred to take the next step in his development and receive a course load in the classroom that would translate easier to the Division I level.

“It was like a bad dream. I couldn’t believe it. I was scared.

I had thoughts going through my head like, ‘Man, I’m never going to be the same player.’ But I just knew that God had a plan and had me go through that to make myself a better player and keep humble. I look at it as you always have to put a positive spin on things and that’s what I did.”

It would take a very positive spin to recover in time to make any kind of impact for his team that season. And once again, Jackson was up to the challenge.

“It was hard. The thing about a serious injury like that is you’re scared. You’re not sure what’s going to happen when you put all of that pressure back on your leg. A lot of people don’t think about that, but the mental part is hard. You just need to trust your physical therapist and do what they say because they are there to help you. So that’s what I did.”

“I had a lot of help from Cliff Wright from Wright Physical Therapy. He just pushed me so hard every day. Sometimes it hurt, but I knew I had to do everything he said. I wanted to make sure that my leg was strong and fully healed before I got back on the floor. I went through every challenge he gave me.

And it was all good.” continued on page 20

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cover story

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cover story continued from page 18

Jackson managed to return for the College of Southern Idaho’s final 16 games during the 2013-14 season, seeing limited action as he eased back into the pace of the game. He averaged 5.8 points and 5.6 rebounds while playing just under 18 minutes per game, playing a reserve role while his team finished the year at 27-5 and 12-3 in conference play.

The team enjoyed success, finishing the year ranked No. 10 in the NJCAA poll, but for Jackson, the recruiting trail had grown soft.

“Everyone basically left after I broke my leg.

I would get calls from some schools that stopped contacting me after I broke my leg and started up again after I started playing again. That was hard.

Morehead State and Portland State were on me from the very beginning, but even they took a break after the injury. I was just struggling to deal with people reaching out to me again.”

A road to Cookeville opened when head men’s basketball coach Steve Payne made contact.

“Coach Payne kind of contacted me out of nowhere. But just listening to him talk about his team and the family environment here, plus his relationship with Coach Cox (former head coach of CSI, current assistant at Southern Miss.), I knew this was where I wanted to go.”

“I liked how he was with the players and how nice of a person he is. And I was glad to hear someone finally tell me how much they really wanted me.

That was important. I hadn’t heard that a lot, especially when the chips were down and I was still coming back from the injury. I knew that as soon as I took my visit, I was going to sign with Tennessee Tech.”

It didn’t take long for the big man to make his presence felt.

Golden Eagle fans got a small taste of what was to come in the team’s exhibition victory over Bluefield College, a 10-point, 15-rebound performance over 18 minutes.

Over the team’s first six games, Jackson put up double-digit figures all over the scoreboard, becoming the first Tech player in over 30 years to not only start a season, but also a career with six straight double-doubles.

Now halfway through the season, he leads the Golden Eagles in scoring and the Ohio Valley Conference in rebounding, continued on page 22

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cover story

FORMIDABLE FRONTCOURT The combination of Charles Jackson and Dwan Caldwell has been nearly unstoppable this season for the Golden Eagles, with the duo dominating the paint game-in and game-out. The two have combined for 13 double-doubles in 15 games this season.

The two have been such a good team, they rank as the OVC’s top frontcourt duo in scoring and second in rebounding. Here’s a look at the top five frontcourts in the OVC in both categories:

Team Players

Pts. Total Team Players

Reb. Total

TTU TTU

14.0 12.7

26.7

TTU TTU

10.1 5.2

15.3

APSU Chris Freeman APSU Chris Horton

11.9 11.6

23.5

APSU Chris Freeman APSU Chris Horton

5.0 9.9

14.9

EKU EKU

Eric Stutz Ja’Mill Powell

13.0 9.3

22.3

MUR MUR

Jarvis Williams Jonathan Fairell

7.7 5.1

12.8

MUR MUR

Jarvis Williams Jonathan Fairell

15.4 4.5

19.9

JSU JSU

Jeremy Watson D.J. Felder

7.3 5.3

12.6

BEL BEL

Evan Bradds Amanze Egekeze

13.0 6.3

19.3

TSU TSU

Christian Mekowulu 6.7 Demontez Loman 5.5 12.2

Charles Jackson Dwan Caldwell

Charles Jackson Dwan Caldwell

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cover story continued from page 20

averaging 13.9 points and 10.1 boards per game. He also ranks second nationally with 11 double-doubles, becoming the first Golden Eagle to record that many since Daniel Northern in the 2008-09 season.

His success on the court has also led to three adidas® OVC Newcomer of the Week honors.

But for him, the numbers and awards fall by the wayside.

“It’s cool to get double-doubles and everything, but it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win. It’s not about me. I’m not a stats guy. I’m a caring guy. I’ll do whatever it takes for my team to win.”

“That’s all I care about. I know I’ve had some success, but all I care about is winning and my team. I want to win for them and help them succeed. We play hard as a team and a unit and we get better every day and I know that.

And that’s the next challenge on the road for Jackson. It’s been 10 years since the last OVC crown for a Golden Eagle squad. And it’s been even longer since a Tech team found itself in the NCAA tournament.

But with Jackson’s presence in the paint and the Golden Eagle squad looking more and more like an OVC contender every day, history looks ready to change.

“I came here to win. Period. I still think that way. It’s my goal to help this team raise a banner here, not just for the school, but for the entire community. The fans are great, but they want to get their money’s worth. So if we can bring them a championship, it would be really special for us and for them.”

GOLD RUSH:

Tech strikes it rich with Caldwell, too TTU’s original resident of California, Dwan Caldwell arrived in Cookeville one season ago with his own inspirational story. Now a senior, the ‘Preacher of the Paint’ has taken his fellow frontcourt friend under his wing to develop arguably the top duo down low in the OVC.

A father of three and transplant from Los Angeles, Caldwell’s tale is one of pure determination and hard work.

A football player in high school, the senior big man did not lace up in organized basketball until his freshman season at Antelope Valley College at the ‘ripe, young’ age of 23.

Caldwell was far from a model student in high school, scraping by for his high school diploma before entering the work force to support his family. Several years of third-shift jobs and a lack of direction eventually led to his enrollment in junior college.

It didn’t take long for him to make an impact, leading his team in blocks while play-

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ing in all but one contest as a freshman while showing just as much determination in the classroom.

As a sophomore at AVC, he finished the 2012-13 season ranked third in the California Community College Athletic Association in total rebounds, pulling down 224 on the year and racking up five double-doubles.

His first season with the Golden Eagles was quite the success. Caldwell led the squad in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game while recording the Ohio Valley Conference’s 10thbest field goal percentage of 53.9 percent.

He finished with the second-most minutes on the team as a junior, averaging over 24 per game while averaging 5.5 rebounds per game.

Caldwell entered the 2014-15 season as Tech’s returning leader in both scoring and rebounding, as well as a dark horse candidate for an All-OVC bid.

This season, the senior ranks second on the team with 12.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, joining Charles Jackson to make up the top scoring and second best rebounding frontcourt in the league.

Perhaps even more impressive is his development in the classroom. The student-athlete, who at one time struggled just to graduate high school, finished the fall semester with a 3.2 GPA.

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Golden State Golden Eagles It may be a distance from Tennessee to the west coast, but that has never stopped Golden Eagle coaches from seeking student-athletesfrom the Golden State to become Golden Eagles.

In addition to Charles Jackson (pages 14-22) and Dwan Caldwell (page 22), current Tech rosters also include the Californians shown here.

CHARLES JACKSON MEN’S BASKETBALL Sacramento (See pages 14-22)

MARIAH DEAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Out of Bakersfield, Dean proved to be a versatile athlete in high school, suiting up in volleyball, track, and basketball at Benjamin E. Mays High School. In the classroom the versatility was put on full display as well, with the 6-foot-2 forward earning a spot in the top 10% of her class all four years, while receiving the Superior Performance Award in both her AP Biology and Spanish classes.

DWAN CALDWELL MEN’S BASKETBALL Los Angeles (See page 22)

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BRITTANY COTTO • TRACK & FIELD The senior from Sacramento stamped her name in the Tech record books with a trio of top five rankings in school history. As a freshman, Cotto posted the fifth-best time ever recorded in the 400m hurdles at the OVC Outdoor Championships and was part of the 4x400 relay squad that ran the fourth-best time in school history at Tennessee State. She followed those performances up ANDREW CONTRERAS with the fifth-best BASEBALL time in the 200m On the diamond and dash in Tech history on the gridiron, the as a sophomore.

Grand Terrace native compiled a high school career to remember, playing multiple positions in both baseball and football.

Among the highlights, the sophomore infielder helped lead Colton High School to three consecutive conference championships as a freshman, sophomore, and junior.

CHARLES MOUTON • FOOTBALL The Victorville native came to Tennessee Tech as a decorated offensive linemen, earning firstteam all-conference and first-team all-state recognition at Victor Valley College. In high school, the 6-foot-3 junior was voted Mojave River League first-team offensive lineman twice at Victor Valley High School.

LENIER LEE • FOOTBALL The Moreno Valley native’s cousin Quentin Mikell played eight years with the Philadelphia Eagles, two with St. Louis and spent last year at Carolina. Lee enjoyed a standout career in high school at Rancho Verde High School, recording a team high 130 tackles en route to league MVP honors, first-team allarea and first-team all-state recognition.

OLIVIA BENNETT • SOFTBALL The junior from Mentone has shown an uncanny ability to flash the leather in her two year Tech career, making just one error in nearly 80 games for the Golden Eagles. At the dish, Bennett has flexed some muscle as well with 14 extra base hits in two years in TTU purple and gold.

And a few more from the recent past...

Dalis Connell - Ventura Track & Field / 2011-14

Chelsea Ladd - Fairfield Soccer / 2011-13

Cory McDonald - Redwood City Football / 2009-13 HANNAH WEAVER • SOFTBALL The Corona native put together a lengthy list of stellar outings from inside the circle, none more impressive than a May 3 outing against Morehead State in which the junior came within two outs of a no-hitter, eventually hurling a complete game shutout to lead the Golden Eagles to a 4-0 victory.

BLAKE LUEVANO • FOOTBALL Out of Arcadia, Luevano came to the Golden Eagles after enjoying a successful two-year run at Citrus College in Glendora, Calif. The 6-foot-5 offensive linemen started in 17 games for the Fighting Owls and was named second-team all-conference for the National Division of the Southern California Football Association.

Brittney Spalding - Lguna Niguel Softball / 2010-13

Chanelle Spalding - Laguna Niguel Softball / 2010-13

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photo by Jim Dillon

IN FOCUS

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Just like it was drawn up...

The definition of consistency on the Tech football team, Marty Jones looked awfully impressive when forced to improvise against Eastern Kentucky. The senior safety, who handled all holding duties on special teams, passed the test after muffing his first career snap. Jones ripped around the edge and lept in for the game-winning 2-point conversion against the Colonels.

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IN FOCUS

Hands up...

Sophomore Catherine Taylor (10) plays defense in the season opener at Florida Intatnational while trying to take in the sage advice of head coach Jim Davis.

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photo by Tony Marable

IN FOCUS

Fighting for an edge...

Junior guard Torrance Rowe fights to get around a Tennessee defender in Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The JUCO transfer found success against the Vols, scoring a team-high 14 points thanks to a season-best mark of four made 3-pointers.

UT eaked out a win over the Golden Eagles, 61-58.

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DATE SAVE THE

June 5-6-7, 2015

Registration will begin March 10 32

chatter

Hailing from Stone Mountian, Ga., Yaktaiva Hickson is know by her teammates and coaches as “Shug”. She recently earned her first start for the Golden Eagles women’s basketball team.

We asked the freshman guard to answer a few simple questions.

GUILTY PLEASURE

JERSEY SWAP

P My guilty pleasure is cheesecake.

P I wouldn’t switch with anyone because I love my life including the struggles as well as the success.

CELEBRITY CRUSH P My celebrity crush is Brad Pitt.

CIRCUS ACT

P My talent would be to walk across the tight rope.

SWEET SOUNDS

P My favorite musical artist is Whitney Houston.

FAVORITE MEAL

P My favorite meal is fish and cheese grits, because the fish is really crispy on the outside and smooth on the inside.

SUPER POWERED

P My super power would be to read people’s mind so that I can know what they are thinking.

ANIMALISTIC P I would be a lion because they are fierce and unstoppable.

TECH SUPPORT

P I enjoy cheering for the football team.

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photo by Rob Schabert

IN FOCUS

I wanna be like Mike...

Sophomore golfer Lydia Triplett channels her inner Michael Jordan while yielding a wedge at the Jan WeaverMurray State Invitational, Tech’s opening tournament of the 2014-15 season. The Golden Eagles closed the fall stretch with three consecutive top-four finishes.

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by the numbers

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The amount of doubledoubles that men’s basketball player Charles Jackson has this season, a mark that puts him second in the nation, just two off the pace of Stony Brook’s Jameel Warney.

The 12 double-doubles in the first 17 games is already eight more than the entire Tech team had all of last season and surpasses Daniel Northern’s 11 during the 2008-09 campaign for the most double-doubles by one player in the last five years.

The amount of games on the upcoming Tennessee Tech softball schedule. The Golden Eagles open up the season on Feb. 7 in the Kennesaw State Kickoff Classic, taking on Northern Kentucky and Ohio in a doubleheader. Tech’s first action at home is on Mar. 21 when the Golden Eagles clash with Southeast Missouri in an OVC doubleheader.

10 82.9

The amount of assists that women’s basketball player Shunice Tionne Herron had (above) in a Jan. 3 matchup against SIU Edwardsville. The 10 dimes were not only a career-high for the sophomore out of Last season’s batting Bolivar, Tenn., but they average for baseball player Dylan Bosheers. were also the most The Tech shortstop was by a Golden Eagle in just named a Louisville a game since Tacarra Represents the cumuHayes dropped 12 lative GPA of Tennessee Slugger preseason assists in a matchup Tech’s student-athletes All-American, making against Morehead it the third year in a duirng the 2014 Fall row in which a Golden State back in 2010. semester, one of the Eagle has been named highest marks in the a preseason All-Amerdepartment’s history. ican.

3.202

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.368

Men’s basketball player Torrance Rowe’s free throw percentage. The junior has hit 34-of-41 this season to rank him third in the conference from the charity stripe.

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my cookeville

What sets Cookeville and the spectacular Upper Cumberland Region apart?

We will ask folks familair with the region for their opinions. For this first insallment, we get the thoughts of former TTU President Angelo Volpe and First Lady Jennette Volpe.

IT BROUGHT US HERE, IT KEPT US HERE...

We came to Cookeville in 1987 to assume the presidency of Tennessee Tech University. After 13 years, we retired in 2000.

What kept us here was the quality of life and the quality people. Cookeville is an eclectic and vibrant mixture of folks who have settled here from all over our country and the world along with those who have lived here all their lives.

It doesn’t get any better than this.

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THE VIBE...

TIPS FOR VISITORS...

WHAT LOCALS KNOW...

Cookeville is home to many fine restaurants.

If your taste buds crave the best Italian food, then Mamma Rosa’s is for you. For the best pub food and craft beers, you need to visit Father Tom’s, and for a true taste of local histoty, you’ll want to go to John’s Place where the famous John Dogs have been afavorite of Tech students and locals for nearly 75 years. John’s Place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its role in increasing racial diversity in this region.

Locals know that Cookeville is the smallest town in the nation, population-wise, with its own symphony orchestra, the Bryan Symphony Orchestra at Tennessee Tech, which, incideentally operates in the black. Locals know that Cookeville has one of the most varied theatre venues anywhere for a city of this size. These include the Cookeville Performing Arts Center, the TTU Backdoor Playhouse, and the Arena Stage at the Wesley Theatre. Locals also know that we have a hidden gem in the Appalachian Center for Crafts. Music, art, theatre, crafts and intercollegiate sports — Cookeville has it all.

Cookeville is first and foremost a college town.

The beautiful campus located in a beautiful region of our state, coupled with the vibrancy of the students, faculty and staff lend an energy to our town that is hard to match. Adding to that energy is the West Side with its boutiques, restaurants, the Cookeville History Museum, the Depot Museum, and beautiful Dogwood Park with its musical performances and Shakespeare in the Park.

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in your ear

TECH ADMINISTRATION

PLAYLIST

CHRISTMAS EDITION MARK WILSON •Rudolph, The Red Nose Reindeer •Jingle Bells •Silent Night

TAMMIE McMILLAN

•Santa Claus is Coming to Town •Holly Jolly Christmas

•Jingle Bell Rock •Rocking Around the Christmas Tree •Up on the House Top •Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer •Winter Wonderland

FRANK HARRELL •Mama Got Run Over by a Reindeer •Silent Night •Original Rudolph by Gene Autry •Christmas in Dixie by Alabama •Blue Christmas by Elvis

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photo by Rob Schabert

IN FOCUS

Into The Woods...

It’s the name of a movie. It’s also a place where Tennessee Tech golfers DO NOT wish to go. It looks freshman Alexander Riddle has done just that on his tee shot on No. 7 at The Grove during the Intercollegiate at the Grove in the fall, but the angle is deceiving. Riddle’s drive was actually down the center of the fairway, which is through an opening to the right of the trees in thephoto.

Looks CAN be deceiving!

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photo by Rob Schabert

IN FOCUS

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Ready to roll...

The Golden Eagle tennis team, led by junior Alex Arovin, is ready to get the 2015 sason underway, with a Jan. 31 match against Lipscomb at the Richland Country Club indoor courts. Last year, Tech opened the season with a tough, 4-3 victory over the Bison.

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photo by Guy Huffman, Morehead State

26 February

THIS DAY IN GOLDEN EAGLE HISTORY

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05 2005

Golden Eagle Basketball

Heading into Ellis T. Johnson Arena for the regular season finale against Morehead State, the Golden Eagles had one thing and one thing only on their mind. A win and the 2004-05 Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship was theirs. Forty minutes, a hungry Morehead State squad, and a raucous crowd stood between Tennessee Tech and an opportunity to stamp their place in OVC lore. It was an opportunity that Willie Jenkins (left)would not let pass by.

Behind 25 points, a trio of clutch second-half 3-pointers, and an unmatched will to win, Jenkins guided the Golden Eagles to their eighth conference championship with a 74-67 victory. With just under eight minutes remaining and the title in reach, the 6-foot-6 forward out of Memphis, Tenn. went to work, knocking down a 3-pointer that gave the Golden Eagles a 56-55 advantage. Not only did the triple cap off a stretch that saw Jenkins score eight-straight points for Tech, but the long-range bomb essentially sealed the deal as TTU would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the tilt.

In fact, after a Morehead three sliced the deficit down to one with 6:12 to go, the Golden Eagles rattled off a back-breaking 9-0 run, highlighted by a third Jenkins 3-pointer, to push the contest out of reach with Tech leading 68-58 inside of four minutes to play. And with the way the Golden Eagles were hitting free throws in the second stanza, a comeback for Morehead State simply was not in the cards with TTU draining 17-of-18 second-half chances.

Jenkins was one of three Tech players to reach double figures in the win, joining junior Milone Clark’s 15, and freshman Anthony Fisher’s 13, while both Jenkins and Clark finished with a Golden Eagle high seven rebounds.

vs. Morehead State 47

Ask the A.D.

Do you have a question for Tennessee Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson?

Please send your questions to: sportsinfo@tntech.edu and watch for his reply in future editions of unlimited magazine Question: I am impressed when I see Scholar-Athlete of the game presentations. It’s pretty amazing how many there are! I am wondering how these young men and women are selected?

-- Phillip Answer: The Wendy’s Scholar-Athlete of the Game is a recognition we have been making since the 2004-05 season, with one student-athlete recognized at each home football and basketball game, as well as certain volleyball and soccer matches. The primary criteria for selection is a GPA of 3.0 or higher. If you have seen the large number honored each semester in the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, you will realize how many of our student-athletes are eligible for this honor. In addition to our student-athletes, we also recognize young men and women from our cheer and dance squads. The selections are made by our Office of Academic Support, coordinating with the student-athlete’s schedules (we wouldn’t ask anyone to miss a class, of course). I have the easy part -- and the most rewarding -- by simply walking onto the court or field and presenting the winner with a certificate.

For a list of this year’s wendy’s scholar-athlete of the game winners, plus links to the previous five years, go to: http://www.ttusports.Com/images/2014-15_wendys_ schola_athletes/scholar_athletes_2014-15 Question: The new video board in Eblen Center is so much fun! Any thoughts to running happy birthday or happy anniversary messages?

-- Elaine Answer: Thank you for the note about the video board.

It has been a huge addition to the atmosphere in Eblen Center, and it will continue to get better and better as we look into adding new features. I have heard from many fans who enjoy all of the videos, graphics and special features. We have talked about adding birthday and anniversary messages, and we are working on details on how we can offer those beginning next season.

--- Mark Question: I noticed tech athletics has added a new award called the Unsung Leader Award. I have read about the first few winners, and am very impressed with their contributions to their teams through their leadership. How are they selected, and can fans nominate someone for the award?

-- Richard

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Answer: The Unsung Leader Award began in September, and so far we have recognized Ellen Conti (volleyball), Austin Tallant (football), and Geoffrey Sambu (cross country). All three have been extremely worthy recipients. The award was established to recognize leadership that our student-athletes exhibit, often times behind the scenes. Each month, each of our coaches has an opportunity to nominate a student-athlete who has exhibited outstanding leadership. Many times, the coach will see this leadership that we sometimes don’t see, including our coaches in the Athletic Performance Center, our athletic trainers, our academic support personnel, and other staff members who are involved with our studentathletes. A committee looks through the nominations and selects a monthly winner. The winner can come from any of our sports at any time, regardless of whether their sport is in-season or not. Leadership is a quality that can be shown all year round, and we are so fortunate at Tennessee Tech to have so many talented, considerate and first-class individuals. It makes for a difficult decision sometimes.

-- Mark Question: Who was the men's basketball coach in 195152? Thanks.

-- Rick Answer: Raymond "Bull" Brown was the Tennessee Tech head coach during the 1951-52 season.

--- Mark Question: I play football and basketball in high school, and would like to play for Tennessee Tech. How do I get recruited?

--Kyle Answer: Kyle, best of luck for the remainder of your high school career. All recruiting is done by the coaching staff of the respective sport. I recommend you get in contact with the football and/or basketball office and let them know of your interest. They will begin the process of evaluating and would be in contact with you directly once it is allowed. There are many, many NCAA rules that must be followed, so it is a tremendously lengthy process. You may contact the football office with an email to dlparker@tntech.edu. To contact the basketball office, send an email to dturnbow@tntech.edu.

Kids Club for TECH Fans ages 3-18

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ONLY $25!!

Official Hoop Troop T-Shirt

Opportunity to be a Tip-Off Kid before a Basketball Game

Official Hoop Troop Membership

Special Birthday Card

FREE Admission* to all Men’s and Women’s Basketball Games

Hoop Troop Club Giveaways

Access to Special Events for Hoop Troop Members

A Chance to Meet Coaches and Players

Autographed Picture of Awesome Eagle

continued on next page

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Call 372-3940 for more info

49

The Rog Sez

Long-time Golden Eagle radio play-by-play announcer Roger Ealey gives his views on a variety of topics in college athletics.

In this issue, he looks ahead to Golden Eagle football in 2015.

Though basketball season is just getting into full gear, fans still have football on their minds with playoffs underway in the NFL and college championship games on the schedule in the coming days. I’m often asked my thoughts on next year’s outlook for our TTU Golden Eagle football team. Initially, it’s easy to reply that, following a disappointing 5-7 season, there’s no where to go but improvement for the squad, but I’ll go into a little more detail.

First, we need to look at the seniors on the team that are graduating and will leave a void on the field. Quarterback Darian Stone, along with receiver Cody Matthews, were senior starters that will be missed. On the defensive side of the ball, we won’t have the leadership of six-year player Marty Jones and four-year starter at safety Austin Tallant. Along with other seniors, there are some big voids, but that’s the goal of college athletics -- young men and women having an opportunity to gain an excellent education to build their future upon, while they entertain us with a few years of athletic competition.

In addition, the 5-7 record doesn’t really tell the entire story. We saw a lot of growth and positive adjustments as the season came to an end. Some young linebackers stepped up and improved their performance during an injury-filled season, helping the team win two out of their last three. The future also looks bright as the Golden Eagles landed two players on the OVC AllNewcomer team.

Receiver Brock McCoin, from Livingston, was second on the roster in both receptions and yardage; while Jonathan King, a redshirt from Knoxville, was one of the top punters in the conference averaging over 41 yards per punt through the season.

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This time of year is critical for another mark in improving on this year’s record, as National Signing Day is quickly approaching. In my opinion, it’s important for Coach Brown and his staff to focus on three primary areas -- offensive line needs, secondary, and defensive front.

And of course, how the TTU Golden Eagles perform in 2015 will also depend on the strength of the conference.

Over the last 10 years, the OVC has turned into one of the top leagues in FCS football. It was just two years ago that we had three teams in the final eight in the country.

Teams such as Eastern Illinois, Jacksonville State, and Eastern Kentucky will continue to be the benchmark of the conference.

So there’s a lot of factors when trying to project how the 2015 Golden Eagle Football team will perform. As we saw this year, injuries can create challenges for a team. On paper, this team looks to improve greatly with players such as runningback Ladarius Vanlier, another year of grooming for upcoming junior quarterback Jared Davis, and the impending return of some injured players such as Tra’Darius Goff, an all-OVC linebacker in 2013 who missed most of the season due to injury. Another is receiver Krys Cates, who was injured in preseason and never took the field last year.

Look for the Golden Eagles to provide some great action next fall and return to a winning record for the faithful Golden Eagle fans!

Darian Stone (left) is gone, leaving the job open and Jared Davis (right) has another year under his belt as he bids for the role in 2015.

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IN FOCUS

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Feeling surrounded...

Golden Eagle Madison Taylor stands on second base while a Jacksonville State pitcher takes her warm-up tosses after entering the game in relief during last yea’s OVC Tournament. Taylor and tehe Golden Eagles get the 2015 season underway in February.

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kets

First thing tomorrow, call to order tic