麻豆果冻传媒

Jerry Cantrell鈥檚 gift to 麻豆果冻传媒 Football honors fond memories playing for the Golden Eagles

Jerry Cantrell (`67 industrial engineering) says his 麻豆果冻传媒 degree and 46-year career in the financial services industry are in many ways thanks to football. Now, Cantrell wants to give back to a program that prepared him for success through a generous gift to Tech鈥檚 football program.

鈥淚 could not 鈥� could not 鈥� have attended college without a scholarship,鈥� Cantrell said. 鈥淗ad it not been for Coach Wilburn Tucker, there鈥檚 no telling where I would be. I have a deep-seated respect for this university.鈥�

Cantrell grew up in Sparta, Tenn., and was a member of the White County High School football team who, by Cantrell鈥檚 senior year, had lost only one game in three years. After graduating from high school, Cantrell signed on with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville but quickly realized it wasn鈥檛 the right place for him.

鈥淚 was a very small duck in a very large pond,鈥� he said.

When Cantrell decided to transfer to Tech, he knew he would need a scholarship to pay for college. He met with then-Head Football Coach Wilburn Tucker and explained his financial situation.

While scholarship money was tight, Tucker found a residence hall and book scholarship for Cantrell. In his sophomore year, Cantrell started as a linebacker and played for the Golden Eagles in `64, `65 and `66.

鈥淔ootball is either a character builder or an imposter鈥檚 exposure,鈥� Cantrell said. 鈥淭here is no feeling that I鈥檓 aware of like winning a tight football game where you have left your heart out on the field. I played with some great guys: Tommy Cassell, Bryan Draper, Jim Woodall 鈥� the list goes on and on. Those friendships were like no other. You didn鈥檛 want to let your friend nor your team down.鈥�

Throughout high school and college, Cantrell says his mom and girlfriend never missed a game.

鈥淭hey would sit in the stands in the pouring rain 鈥� sometimes with not many other spectators 鈥� watching me play,鈥� he said.

In November 1967, Cantrell married his childhood sweetheart Judy 鈥� the girlfriend who never missed a game 鈥� and they had two children. In 1970, Cantrell established Cantrell Financial Services and enjoyed a career in personal and professional financial planning for Upper Cumberland residents.

鈥淭he failure rate in the insurance world, back when I started in 1970, was 97 percent,鈥� Cantrell said. 鈥淥ut of every class of 100 potential representatives, 97 of them got out of the business within a year. That 鈥榥ever quit鈥� attitude is what I got out of football, and it was instilled in me by Wilburn Tucker and the other coaches.鈥�

Head Football Coach Bobby Wilder says Cantrell鈥檚 fondness for Tucker and the football program are inspiring.

鈥淭he entire football program is grateful to Jerry Cantrell for his support of our program,鈥� Wilder said. 鈥淎s a former 麻豆果冻传媒 football player, Jerry understands the importance of commitment. His gift will go a long way towards helping us build a championship program in Cookeville.鈥�

Cantrell says his gift to Tech Football gives back to a program that gave so much to him.

鈥淗ad it not been for football, I could not have afforded a college degree and I could not have become an entrepreneur,鈥� Cantrell said. 鈥淭ech Football did a lot for me, and I鈥檇 like to think I have done a lot for Tech Football.鈥�