Celebrating 100 Years of the Golden Eagles
The Birth of a Legacy
In 1925, Tennessee Tech made a decision that would shape its identity for the next
century: the naming of its student body. At a meeting of the Athletic Association,
options like Tech Warriors, Mountaineers, Mountain Eagles and Lions went through three
rounds of voting before Golden Eagles was ultimately chosen with a resounding vote
of 139 to 18.
The name was suggested due to four eagles who were said to have soared over campus on clear afternoons for many years.
In his 1957 history book of Tennessee Tech, Austin Wheeler Smith wrote, “From some cranny in the cliffs of the Cumberlands they sailed forth each day to gather food and flaunt defiance at the wiles of man in the azure above his busy streets.”
In 1988, The university newspaper, The Oracle, while recounting the naming process from 1925, said that, “…it was rumored one of those Cumberland Mountain Eagles ventured close enough to land on the library tower, leaving no doubt about the choice of a name.”
This pivotal moment not only gave our students a new identity but also inspired the renaming of the yearbook from “Tech Dynamo” to “The Eagle.”
The Evolution of Our Mascot
While the Golden Eagles name has remained constant for a century, our mascot has undergone
quite a transformation.
The Early Years (1925-1960)
Our first “mascots” weren't costumed characters, but spirited individuals who embodied
the Golden Eagle spirit. Frank Hudgens, our first recorded mascot, was described as
“keeping up the 'pep' and spirit of the team.” As a freshman, he set the standard
for enthusiasm. The torch would later be carried by students Guy Boyd and Maxie L.
Alderson.
The Golden Eagle/Tech Eagle (1960s-1974)
The 1960s saw the introduction of our first costumed mascot. It featured an all-gold
outfit with a gold football shirt sporting a black TT logo. The costume included feathered
pants, a beak and raptor feet, bringing our team name to life. In 1972, a major update
gave the Golden Eagle a head with short feathers and a feather-laden oversized shirt.
During this time, the mascot was often referred to as the “Tech Eagle.”
Evil Eagle (1975-1984)
In 1975, our mascot took on a daring new persona. Known for motorcycle stunts and
basketball court antics like the American stunt performer Evel Knievel, the “Evil
Eagle” (sometimes “Evel Eagle”) became a campus sensation. During the 1975 Homecoming
game, he jumped over 14 mini school busses with a motorbike in a scaled-down recreation
of a stunt by his professional namesake. In 1982, Elayne Hayes became the first woman
to wear the mascot costume, earning the title “Evil Eaglette.”
Awesome Eagle (1984-Present)
In 1984, we welcomed Awesome Eagle, designed by student Olan Kemp, a chemistry major who entered a contest by the Associated Student Body (now the Student Government Association). The new costume featured hands, allowing for more interactive performances.
The modern version of Awesome was unveiled in fall of 1990 when a truck delivered a box onto the football field during a game and the newly designed Awesome Eagle stepped out to meet the adoring crowd. In the following years, Awesome won multiple Cheerleaders Association Mascot National Championships, cementing his status as one of the nation's top collegiate mascots.
This beloved character continues to rally our crowds today.
A Legacy of Spirit
As we celebrate 100 years of the Golden Eagles, we honor the legacy of the Tech students who have come and gone, the community that has supported them, and the spirit of pride and enthusiasm that continues to thrive at Tennessee Tech University.
Here’s to another century of Golden Eagle pride.
Wings up!
