Enthusiasm and effort, if not execution, was on display in abundance Sunday afternoon at Finley Stadium during the first practice of the spring for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team.
The Mocs practiced in shorts and helmets for about two hours in cool, sunny conditions. The offense looked good at times, as did the defense, and coach Russ Huesman said it was a good start to spring practice.
"The kids were excited, energetic, moved around -- I liked it," Huesman said. "Obviously the ball was on the ground too much, but all in all I liked what they did."
The practice was about equal parts position work and offense vs. defense. Both sides return most of their starters from last season's 6-5 squad, but there are some key holes to fill.
At wide receiver, Joel Bradford and Marlon Anthony looked good as the Mocs try to find replacements for Blue Cooper and Clint Woods. Bradford is back at wideout after playing safety last season, and he and quarterback B.J. Coleman, the former McCallie teammates, appeared to be picking up where they left off a few years ago.
The 6-foot-5 Anthony, who redshirted last season, also showed some good hands and big-play potential.
"I dropped a couple of balls, but it was good to be out there again," Anthony said. "I feel more a part of the team now, and hopefully I can have a good spring."
Sophomore Ryan Consiglio is the only returning starter at linebacker. He had 86 tackles last season, his first as a starter, and is the veteran of the group that has to replace Joseph Thornton and Steven Smiglesky.
"I went from being the youngest to the oldest in six months," Consiglio said. "It's cool. I'm trying to embrace it, and I realize that I've got way more of a leadership role this year."
Entering the spring, Consiglio, Shane Heatherly and Tennessee transfer Chris Donald are listed as the starters. Consiglio and Donald both had interceptions Sunday.
"Chris is a great guy, good worker and obviously talented," Consiglio said. "I love how he gets after it."
Chris Lewis-Harris is working at safety this spring after starting at cornerback the past two seasons. Kadeem Wise and Robert Harrison are working at Lewis-Harris' old spot.
Red Bank signees Keon Williams and Keith Mayes attended the practice, as did numerous alumni. Among them was former Huesman teammate and long snapper John Murphy, and his wife Renee Haugerud.
It was their $500,000 donation to the football program that financed the renovations going on at Scrappy Moore Field. It's because of those renovations that UTC will be at Finley throughout the spring.
The Mocs will practice this afternoon, Wednesday night and then take take a two-week break.