Tech Athletics Prepare To Start, Prepared For Pandemic Unknowns

Tennessee Tech Athletic Director Mark Wilson said his athletic department is ready for a new fall sports season.

Wilson said the department is prepared to start with normal operations, despite the continuing unknown of the pandemic. He said the university can do what it takes to ensure students get onto courts and fields.

“We feel like we have the knowledge and expertise now to be able to adjust in any way,” Wilson said. “It is really, kind of sad to say that we do have experience with COVID and experience with operating in a pandemic environment. So we will continue to do that if necessary.”

Wilson said the university continues to get COVID guidance from local health officials, the OVC and the NCAA Sports Science Institute.

“A lot of our meetings are still distanced,” Wilson said. “We have a number of student athletes and coaches and staff that have been vaccinated. So all of that helps us. We’re still awaiting direction from the NCAA.”

Wilson did say he has concerns about his own athletic staff. He said the team worked hard throughout last school year to make athletics possible and now they have a quick turnaround.

“We did not have as much time as normal for our staff to get some rest,” Wilson said. “We’ve been at a lower staffing level due to the pandemic. So I am worried about that going into the fall because there are still going to be a lot of events going on and I don’t think people had as much time to rest as I would have liked.

Wilson said that this will be a new look for the OVC, with Eastern Kentucky University and Jacksonville State no longer members. He said those gaps have been filled with non-conference football games against North Carolina Central University and Virginia University of Lynchburg.

Wilson said there is good news for the athletic department, with the revenue boost of FBS football pay date games returning this fall.

“This year the Golden Eagles are scheduled to play at the University of Tennessee, that is our game against an FBS opponent,” Wilson said. “That game will take place on Saturday, September 18. For Tennessee Tech fans there are tickets available through the Tennessee Tech Athletics Ticket Office.”

Wilson said the Women’s Soccer team opens the TTU fall sports schedule Sunday against North Alabama will be at 1:00 PM. Admission is free.