UTC offensive lineman Josh Cardiello blocks Samford defensive lineman Xavier Forrest as quarterback Alejandro Bennifield passes during the Mocs' home win this past Saturday.Barring unforeseen developments, Josh Cardiello and his fellow University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive linemen will pack up after practice this evening and head to Puckett's restaurant.
There they will consume obscene amounts of food and talk.
And bond.
It's a weekly ritual the group started in recent years, and it has worked this season.
The Football Championship Subdivision third-ranked Mocs (4-0, 2-0), who travel to face rival East Tennessee State University (2-1, 1-1) in a big Southern Conference game Saturday in Johnson City, rank in the top five in the league for their per-game averages in rushing yards (223.5), passing yards (212.2), total offense (435.8 yards) and points (40.5) while allowing only four sacks in 81 pass attempts.
"We're spending more time each week watching film together, just hanging out a little bit more," senior offensive lineman Corey Levin said. "It took a couple of movements around the line, some adversity and a good game to tie us all together."
That "good game" was a 521-yard performance against Samford on Saturday, a balanced showing of 285 rushing and 236 passing yards with only one sack allowed. Running back Derrick Craine, who on Wednesday was named Southern Conference student-athlete of the week, had 222 of those rushing yards in the 41-21 win over the Bulldogs.
The line chose Chili's as its spot to eat together last season but decided to look for a new place after losing to Jacksonville State in the second round of the 2015 FCS playoffs. When Puckett's opened at the old TGIFriday's location downtown, it had a hook that was too good to pass up: half-priced appetizers. Levin said the group "probably eats unhealthy amounts" of food there, but that it's a good deal and the linemen have to keep going until they lose a game.
"It's something we all look forward to, to get away from football and actually get to hang out together," Cardiello said. "It brings us closer together on the field."
New offensive line coach Adam Ross has been a part of the Mocs' on-field development as a unit, but he has not been included in the Thursday ritual that was created before he got to UTC. But he loves the fact that he doesn't have to create camaraderie among the group; it already exists.
"They take great pride in it," Ross said. "They take ownership of that, and it's their tradition, so I love it.
"I heard about it when I first got here and I was fired up about it. I think it's pretty special."
So who's the biggest eater? Jacob Revis, who recently ate 20 wings, got a vote. So did Cardiello, who after a preseason practice spent "about $20" at a fast-food restaurant. Backup lineman Tyler Martin had a vote as well.
On the field, the unit has had to deal with adversity. Right tackle Hunter Townson didn't play against Furman and wasn't fully healthy against Samford. Freshman Brian Marshall replaced Townson against the Paladins and had what was considered a "solid" game in his first start. Left tackle has a new face, with redshirt freshman Malcolm White - who returns to his hometown this week - and sophomore Kennington Cadwell splitting time.
In Townson's absence, two-time Jacobs Blocking Award winner Corey Levin was moved from left guard to right tackle, with Marshall moving into Levin's vacated slot.
"I think we're coming together well. It kind of put us back a little bit when Hunter got hurt, but Brian stepped in and played pretty well," Cardiello said. "I think Corey and Malcolm have developed a good bond together, and me and Hunter played together last year, so we kind of knew what we had going into it. We're taking steady strides each week which are helping us out."
In addition to the SoCon stakes of Saturday's game, it will be a homecoming for White, who was an all-state lineman for Science Hill High School as well as the Big 7 Conference lineman of the year. Science Hill's Kermit Tipton Stadium is the temporary home venue for ETSU until the Buccaneers' stadium is completed for next season.
"It's exciting," White said Tuesday. "I'm excited to play there one more time. That's always cool."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.