Tom Arth was pretty clear with what he wanted Tuesday.
"Tempo!" he was heard yelling on numerous occasions.
The new University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football coach walked around, spending most of his time watching the offense but also keeping a watchful eye on the defense, now under the control of new coordinator Tom Kaufman.
UTC football coach Tom Arth watches his team during spring drills Tuesday afternoon at Scrappy Moore Field.
When good plays were made, the head coach extended a hand to the responsible party. When adjustments needed to be made, he also was involved.
And afterward he was pleased with the product.
"I think it was a good day," Arth said. "Obviously there's a lot that needs to be cleaned up from a schematic standpoint, but what we're looking for is attitude and effort - a willingness to compete, to push, to improve - because right now the execution is not going to be perfect. What's more important to us is finding the guys that are willing to keep working at it, keep fighting at it, to realize that it's a learning process.
"Saw a lot of great things, but obviously it's important for us to go watch the tape, make the corrections, come out and be better on Thursday."
The players felt pretty good about the first day as well, considering they're learning new systems on offense and defense. There were plenty of glitches, but everybody had reason to feel good going forward.
Senior receiver Alphonso Stewart said the first practice was "a lot more up-tempo" than last year.
"We move around a lot more," he said. "Even with the new plays, I still feel like we moved around pretty fast, pretty well for everything to be new. The pace of practice is a lot faster."
Ex-Mocs watch
Two former Mocs with NFL aspirations were at practice Tuesday: record-setting quarterback Jacob Huesman and offensive lineman Corey Levin.
Huesman was signed to the New York Giants' practice squad in December and has been in town working out before heading back to mini-camp in April; while Levin has been training for the UTC pro day on March 30. Levin said he has been in contact with the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, among other teams.
Practice inactives
The Mocs had five players out of practice Tuesday: receiver James Stovall, linebacker T.J. Jenkins, offensive linemen Payton Anderton and Cole Strange and quarterback Zack Weatherly. The first four were out for various injuries, while Weatherly, a redshirt freshman, missed due to illness.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.