Story Published:
Aug 31, 2010 at 3:05 PM CST
Story Updated:
Aug 31, 2010 at 3:09 PM CST
One of just four teams in the nation to open the 2010 season facing back-to-back Top 25 opponents in the first two weeks -- and the only team from the Football Championship Subdivision to do so -- the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles kick off coach Watson Brown’s fourth season at the helm with a visit to Arkansas to meet the No. 17 Razorbacks Saturday evening.
Next week, Tech plays at No. 6 TCU.
It’s Tech’s 87th season of intercollegiate football, the 14th consecutive year that the Golden Eagles have squared off against an FBS/I-A opponent, and third straight year that Tech has faced two opponents from the higher division.
Both teams come into the game having won their last encounters, Tech wrapping up the 2009 season with a 6-5 overall record by downing Murray State, 45-14. The Razorback wound up 8-5 overall following a 20-17 win over East Carolina in the Autozone Liberty Bowl.
Tech brings back 55 lettermen from last season including 16 starters. The biggest challenge facing Brown’s staff is replacing record-setting passer Lee Sweeney. Sophomore Tre Lamb is scheduled to make his first career start at quarterback. Last season, as a redshirt freshman, Lamb was 8-for-18 for 113 yards passing.
Lamb has a host of talented ball carriers and receivers to work with, while the offensive line includes returning starters Malcolm Jones, Scott Schweitzer and Slade Adams.
The defense includes four of Tech’s five team captains in DE Charlie Seivers, DT Dedrick Miley, LB Kelechi Ordu and DB Dustin Dillehay. The fifth captain is RB Henry Sailes.
