UTC Mocs logoUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman didn't plan on making his players do up-downs during Thursday's practice at Scrappy Moore Field. But a few too many mistakes led to a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Huesman said it started when he saw a lack of effort by some defenders at one point and "then I decided to expand it a little bit."
After wide receivers failed to line up correctly, up and down the players went a few times. Later, it was the defense's turn again. On a few occasions, Huesman called over individual players and they were soon dropping to their chest and popping up again.
"We've got to start holding them a little more accountable as the days progress," Huesman said after UTC's eighth preseason practice.
The Mocs' assistant coaches weren't immune, either.
The offensive staff had to do one set after a mistake, and running backs coach Thomas Brown and receivers coach Will Healy popped back up much more easily than some of their colleagues.
Brown, the former Georgia tailback who was on an NFL roster a couple of years ago, looked like he could have done up-downs all day.
"Thomas is an SEC athlete and I'm a backup CAA athlete -- there's no competition there," Healy said.
Overall, Thursday's practice, a day after the Mocs' first two-a-day, was "hit and miss," Huesman said.
Playing together
There were some quality plays made by the offense and defense. Perhaps none was better than quarterback Terrell Robinson threading a pass through traffic near the goal line and wide receiver Tommy Hudson's diving catch for a touchdown.
The offense also worked on its package featuring more than one quarterback on the field. Robinson and Jacob Huesman had some success together, and Robinson lined up at wideout inside the 10-yard line and caught a touchdown pass from backup Graham Nichols.
"It's always exciting to score a touchdown," said Robinson, adding that the responsibility for an average day by the offense falls on the quarterback's shoulders.
Defensively, cornerback Sema'je Kendall had a diving catch for an interception at the goal line.
More preseason plugs
Linebacker Wes Dothard and defensive end Josh Williams were named preseason third-team All-America and cornerback Kadeem Wise made the fourth team in Phil Steele's Football Championship Subdivision preview magazine.
Dothard, a Sports Network first-team All-American in 2011, and Williams have made three preseason All-America teams. This was the first for Wise, who was voted preseason second-team All-Southern Conference.
Along with the All-America teams, Steele's Top 40 ranking was released Thursday and the Mocs were listed at No. 29. Wofford was the SoCon's highest team at No. 5, followed by Georgia Southern at No. 10 and Appalachian State at No. 16.
Extra points
Wide receiver Marlon Anthony (ankle) did not practice, nor did cornerback Will Johnson (head). ... UTC will practice twice today and scrimmage for the first time Saturday at 3 p.m. at Finley Stadium.