New Tickets RecordFor the third straight season, UTC has set a school record for season ticket sales. Friday, sales surpassed last season's mark of 2,676.
Ten games remain on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's football schedule. Ranked 25th in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, the Mocs must win seven to have any shot at reaching the playoffs, one of their primary goals.
All coach Russ Huesman is concerned about, however, is getting win No. 1. UTC dropped its season opener last Saturday at Nebraska and will try to earn that win this evening at Finley Stadium against No. 10 Jacksonville State (1-0).
"It's a big game," Huesman said. "It's a big game because we're playing a good football team. We need a win - it's important that we get a win - but it's going to be real, real hard."
The Mocs were in position to win at JSU last season but couldn't close it out. UTC led 17-0 in the third quarter before the Gamecocks rallied for a 21-17 victory.
That loss, immediately following a 42-41 defeat against Appalachian State, when UTC had a 35-14 lead in the fourth quarter, was tough to swallow.
"It was one of those things where you look back and you're like, 'Dang, are we going to be able to finish? Are we going to be able to cap it off and seal a victory when it's tight or when you've got to have it in the fourth quarter?'" Mocs quarterback B.J. Coleman said.
The Mocs want more than a third straight 6-5 season in 2011, and to do that they must finish off opponents. Of course, Jacksonville State is like Jason Voorhees from the "Friday the 13th" movies - it just won't die.
The Gamecocks have come from behind to win eight times in their past 13 games. And five of those wins have come in the final 80 seconds, including last week.
Jacksonville State trailed UT-Martin 23-10 in the fourth quarter but won 24-23. The winning touchdown was scored with 38 seconds left.
"There's no magic in football," JSU coach Jack Crowe said. "I think we've been fortunate in some things, and it keeps reminding us we're not good enough to control games."
Jacksonville State is the first of four teams UTC will play this season that are ranked in the top 10 of the FCS coaches' poll, joining No. 2 Georgia Southern, No. 3 Appalachian State and No. 9 Wofford.
UTC hasn't defeated a top-10 team since 2000, when it upset No. 6 Appalachian State.