For those few students on campus that support Buccaneer sports and supported ETSU football, there is a void this year.
The tailgate parties beside the Mini Dome are a thing of the past Greek organizations marching into the Dome on homecoming all just memories. But even if the pomp and circumstance are gone, the players are still competing.
Former ETSU coach Paul Hamilton is now head coach at Elon University in North Carolina. Scott Brumett and Gerald Sensabaugh upgraded to Division I-A schools at North Carolina.
“It really didn’t hit home until the last game we played,” Sensabaugh told Ken Tysciac of the Raleigh Bureau about his last year at ETSU. “That last game actually brought tears to a lot of people’s eyes, mine included.”
Sensabaugh, the most prominent of ETSU transfers, misses the few fans ETSU football had.
“I wish (ETSU’s demise) didn’t happen,” Sensabaugh said. “but still I’m here at UNC, which is a great thing, too.”
Brandon Calton, defensive tackle, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in April only to quit the team due to what he believed was lack of opportunity in Pittsburgh. Calton’s football career is uncertain as this time.
Carl Meadows, former Bucs quarterback, is at Troy State, and Southern Conference tackles leader Mike Cullen followed Hamilton to Elon.
Jonathan Godfrey who kicked the game winning field goal in ETSU’s last game, is at UT-Chattanooga a school also on the verge of losing football. Godfrey was joined by Nick Rivers and Kent Jones.
Most of Paul Hamilton’s coaching staff followed him to Elon. Hamilton and staff took a bit of a beating in their first game at Elon; Towson won 34-13 in Hamilton’s opener.
Anyone interested in seeing Hamilton coach again will only have to look over the mountains as Elon will role into Appalachain State later this season for a game in Boone, N.C.
A real treat would be to take a Saturday ride to Elon. Rhodes Stadium is one of the most fan friendly stadiums in college football.
Elon has tons of alumni money rolling in for support and the athletics the facilities show it.
Some are asking when football will return to Johnson City. Do not count on it anytime soon the alumni just don’t want to donate.

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