Mark WiedmerA kid being a kid, regardless of his age, Kota Nix tweeted out the following Saturday morning: "(University of Tennessee at Chattanooga) spring game at 12. Come watch me torch @YOungTREV__1 (Trevor Wright)."
Funny thing was, Nix - grandson of former UTC football coach Buddy Nix - then did exactly that. Well, that is the junior wide receiver got the best of his good friend Wright with more than a little help from the passing arm of Mocs senior quarterback Alejandro Bennifield.
But however you look at it, Bennifield's 33-yard scoring pass to Nix during the Mocs' first spring game under new coach Tom Arth was a definite highlight. Especially when you consider that the play, according to Arth, came off "a concept we'd just installed."
"Dro definitely puts it on the money," Nix said of the incumbent quarterback who hit four of five passes for 44 yards Saturday. "The ball's right there every time."
As for the accuracy of his tweet, he shrugged, flashed a wide smile and said, "Me and (Trevor) are really good buds. I didn't know he'd be matched on me on that play."
For his part, Wright attempted to project anger, but it wasn't much of an attempt. Barely suppressing a grin, he said of his emotional wounds from the tweet, "Yeah, a little bit. (I felt) a little bit disrespected."
He didn't have to fake any emotion when asked about senior defensive back Lucas Webb absolutely flattening Nix a few plays later in what arguably was the hit of the day.
"That did put a little smile on my face," Wright said. "I was a little excited. That was payback."
Countered Webb: "It wasn't payback. I just wanted to set the tone for the defense."
Added Nix, who quickly bounced back up from the collision, then enthusiastically clapped his hands: "I just wanted to make them think it didn't hurt. I also might have said, 'You're going to have to hit me harder than that.'"
But it was what Arth said to the team after the spring game ended that had them all cheering and clapping for their head coach.
"No practice tomorrow," he said, canceling an earlier scheduled workout.
At least one reason for the canceled practice likely centered on Arth's belief that he's seen improvement in each of the Mocs' last five or six practices, the new system beginning to take hold for those still adjusting from a hugely successful old system that guided the program to three straight playoff berths.
"Coach (Russ) Huesman was a fantastic coach," Nix said. "This is a different culture. None of us is used to it."
Added Wright: "It's just a whole different style. Old school (Huesman) versus new school."
Judging from Saturday's workout before several hundred fans at Finley Stadium, the offense figures to newer in appearance than the defense, which will make its mark along the defensive line, where it expects to be one of the saltiest in the land.
But unlike the spread offenses run during much of Huesman's time, Arth's offense will operate more from a pro set, which should best take advantage of Bennifield's accurate arm while hopefully hiding some of the inexperience along the offensive line.
"Offensively, we're not yet understanding the pace and purpose you've got to break the huddle with," Arth said. "Our defensive line is going to make our offense a lot better."
But football was only part of the reason Arth decided to give his players an unexpected day off.
After all, the final round of the Masters is today, and even Arth admitted that a chance to watch which player winds up donning the green jacket inside Butler Cabin was at least "a little bit" of the reason for canceling today's practice.
"I won't lie," he said. "We all wanted to watch Sunday at Augusta."
Not that they'll all watch America's most beloved golf tournament. Wright expects to spend his afternoon catching up on the exploits of his favorite professional soccer team: Juventus FC of the Italian League. A few others may grab a nap or a movie.
But Nix is all in for the back nine at Augusta National.
"I'm going to put my feet up," Nix said, "put some ice on some sore spots and watch the final round of the Masters."
There are certainly worse ways to spend today, sore spots or no sore spots.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com