Mocs seeking strong finish

UTC football coach Russ Huesman wants his players to maintain focus and intensity heading into Saturday's Blue & Gold game.

Two practices remain before the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wraps up spring football practice on Saturday with the Blue & Gold game at Finley Stadium.

The Mocs, who have been off since last Wednesday, will practice this afternoon and Wednesday night. Coach Russ Huesman said he's looking for a strong finish to what has been a productive spring.

"I talked to the team and told them that we've got two practices left and we've got to get better at both of them," he said. "It's been a good spring overall, and hopefully we can finish up with a good last week."

With so many freshmen and sophomores at or near the top of the Mocs' depth chart -- most of the players on the two-deep roster have two seasons or less of playing experience -- every practice period for them is critical, Huesman said.

"For the young kids, we need them to continue to see reps, see things full speed, to see things live," Huesman said. "We'll probably scrimmage a little bit on Wednesday, like we did last Wednesday, to put those guys in game situations to where you've got to make plays under fire.

"The more you can do that, especially the young kids, the better off you are."

Freshman wide receiver Marlon Anthony, who redshirted in the fall and is now working with the starters, said it has been a great, educational spring.

"I've made some mistakes and dropped some balls here and there, but I've also learned a lot and gotten a lot out of it," he said. "I feel like I've improved a lot as a receiver, but I also know I can get a lot better. We all can."

Scrappy work continues

The completion date for the major renovations to Scrappy Moore Field are nearly a month away and the project appears to be on target, UTC athletic director Rick Hart said.

The renovation, paid for out of last February's $500,000 donation to the program by Renee Haugerud and John Murphy's $500,000 donation to the program, began on Jan. 22. Chattanooga-based Competition Athletic Surfaces, Inc. is doing the work and should be done in early May, Hart said.

The grass field closest to the Scrappy entrance looks about the same, but the far field has been leveled and covered with gravel. The 80-by-60-yard artificial playing surface will be put down any day now, Hart said.

Allison to Texas

Former Mocs coach Rodney Allison is now back in Lubbock, Texas, where the Odessa native was a star quarterback for the Red Raiders. Allison, who spent six seasons at the helm of the UTC program before being let go following the 2008 season, has put aside his whistle, for now.

Allison is working for Reagor-Dykes Auto Group, but his son, Sloan, a redshirt sophmore wideout, said Allison hasn't ruled out a return to coaching. Sloan said the rest of the family, his mom, Leigh, and sister, Ashleigh, will being joining the elder Allison in Texas this summer.

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