Head UTC football coach Russ Huesman presides over a UTC football practice at Scrappy Moore Field.BUSY DAY AT FINLEYThere will be a lot going on at Finley Stadium today:9 a.m. -- UTC women's soccer alumni game10 a.m. -- UTC women's soccer scrimmage vs. Bryan CollegeNoon -- Free football clinic with UTC players and coaches12:30 p.m. -- Live music by the Long Gone Darlings2 p.m. -- Blue and Gold game
Don't expect a lot of razzle-dazzle at Finley Stadium today.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team's Blue & Gold game will be about energy and execution, coach Russ Huesman said, not cleverness.
"We won't be quirky and we won't be fancy," he said.
Huesman said his plan was to limit the offense to fewer than 20 different plays. That will limit confusion as the offense continues to adjust to a new, fast-paced system, and it will put a premium on players doing the basics.
"We'll see if the running backs can run the ball and see if we can throw and catch it," he said.
Terrell Robinson and Jacob Huesman will split time at quarterback on the first-team offense, which will go against the first-team defense. Graham Nichols will play quarterback for the second unit, which will play the No. 2 defense.
Nichols has been the offensive MVP of the past two spring games, when he was the backup to B.J. Coleman. A third straight award would be a surprise to the pocket passer who's not exactly built for UTC's new spread offense.
"We'll see how it goes," he said with a laugh. "I'll do my best like I always do."
The defense dominated most of UTC's first scrimmage this spring, while the offense clearly had the upper hand in last Saturday's scrimmage. Today will be the rubber match with summertime bragging rights on the line.
Huesman said the Mocs have had a good spring overall, especially the offense. That unit struggled at the beginning but has made some big jumps in the past two weeks.
Along with the offensive and defensive MVP awards, UTC will announce after the scrimmage the 2012 season's captains, as selected by the players, and the Bob Davis Winter Warrior award.