By Kelly Chambers
It’s not often that you get to relive one of the best experiences of your life, but one Williamson Countian and Tennessee Tech University alumnus got to do just that at this year’s homecoming.
Brad Dozier, a Tech graduate with a degree in business management, served as the Awesome Eagle mascot at Tech from 1991 to 1995. At Tech’s 2024 homecoming on Nov. 2, the Brentwood resident was “awesome” once again.
“You really can’t describe what it’s like to be a mascot,” said Dozier. “It takes a special human being to get in a costume and sweat your guts out just to entertain people. But once you experience that feeling, it’s better than anything out there. It’s so cool when a kid – especially one who was previously scared of you – gives you a hug or a high five.”
When Sara Ramey, director of development for Tech’s College of Business, spoke with Dozier a few months ago, he shared how much he loved inhabiting the role of Awesome Eagle. Ramey knew the homecoming theme was “100 Years of Golden Eagles” to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Tech’s mascot, and wanted to find a way to include Dozier in the festivities. After speaking with Tech’s Crawford Alumni Center, Ramey learned that Spirit Squad Coordinator Sydney Hickerson had a costume for “Grandpappy Eagle” – the senior version of Awesome Eagle – but no one to wear it.
“I thought, what if we could invite Brad back to Tech to be Grandpappy at homecoming?” Ramey said. “I felt that, based on my previous conversations with Brad, he might be willing to jump back into the role. He had indicated that he wanted to be more involved and was willing to help in any way that he could. I’m not sure that suiting up as the mascot again was what he had in mind, but I have to admit, this off-the-wall idea could not have been more perfect for Brad.”
Dozier remembers Ramey’s phone call well. “After Sara called me and asked me to be Grandpappy at homecoming, I hung up the phone and started crying,” he said. “Being Awesome Eagle was such a huge part of my life and my college career. It was literally awesome to have the opportunity to do that again.”
Dozier admits that being Awesome Eagle three decades later was challenging. After interacting with the crowd at the Crawford Alumni Center’s parade watch party, running around the field at the football game and supporting alumni award winners at the Evening of Excellence, he was exhausted.
“You thought you were 20 years old again,” he said to himself, laughing.
But Dozier says he loved every minute of it, just as he loved his time at Tech. Dozier was a third-generation Tech student. His grandfather earned a degree from Tech – then known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute – and both of his parents graduated from Tech as well. Dozier’s daughter graduated from Tech in 2023, becoming a fourth-generation Golden Eagle.
Dozier was a member of Tech’s Student Government Association, ROTC and Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity but says he never set out to become Tech’s mascot.
“My parents did not send me to school to be a seven-foot yellow bird,” he laughed. “But that’s what I became known for. Tech really made me who I am today. I would not have the personality I have now had I not had those experiences.”
Alumni who attended Tech in the early `90s may not have known Dozier was the mascot – the identity of Awesome Eagle is typically a secret – but they certainly remember his impact on school spirit. Dozier started the trend of the backward half-court shot at basketball games.
“It became my trademark,” he said. “Normally, the fans leave to get popcorn at halftime, but everyone would stay in their seats to see if I could make it. I think I actually caused concession sales to drop a bit.”
Dozier was the first mascot to compete at the University Cheer Association Championship in 1992, where he won second place. Since then, Tech’s mascot has won the championship three times.
“I’m not sure people realize how physically exhausting it is,” Dozier said. “And one of the hardest parts is you can’t talk, and I like to talk.”
Dozier said he also enjoyed reprising some of Awesome’s antics. In the `90s, Dozier would make a comedic showing of pushing the marching band conductor aside and conducting the band erratically. The band would then start playing erratically, too.
“I did that again at homecoming this year, and it was amazing how fast the band knew what I was trying to do,” Dozier said. “I didn’t know the band members – we hadn’t planned this ahead of time – but they picked right up on it.”
Today, Dozier is an attorney focused on estate and financial planning. He jokes that people are surprised a school mascot would become an attorney but says his business degree from Tech has served him well.
“I encourage any student who doesn’t know what to major in to try business,” he said. “Even if you change your major, you will still have the business background everyone needs to function in the real world. I’ve always been self-employed, and my business degree helps a lot with that. No matter what discipline you choose, you will always need to know how to prepare a budget and buy a car or house.”
Dozier says he has often asked himself why people love a mascot so much.
“I think it’s because the mascot brings spirit to everyone,” he said. “Even alumni who never played a sport love the mascot. You always need a focal point – a reason why you’re there. The mascot gives people something to rally around, whether it’s football, basketball, volleyball or track. The mascot is the same for every sport. The mascot is there for everyone.”
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