CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Jordan Tippit doesn’t exactly know what to do with himself these days.
Before Saturday’s game at Western Carolina, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior safety, out since Sept. 11 with a high ankle sprain, walked around the field at Whitmire Stadium offering handshakes and upbeat comments to all his teammates.
The Huntsville, Ala., native isn’t used to being injured. Last week’s Eastern Kentucky game, he said Thursday, “was the first game I’ve missed since I was 12 years old.”
Tippit, a first-team All-Southern Conference pick last season, sustained the ankle injury against Jacksonville State on a low block that was followed by a leg sweep. The reason for his last absence, when he was 12, was much less impressive – he fell off his bike.
At least he has a cookie-sized scar on his left shoulder to show off.
“I was going down a hill, just being young and stupid,” he said. “I wasn’t trying to do a trick at all. I had flip-flops on, so I was going down the hill and my flip-flop got caught in my bike and I lost control.”
Sitting out now – Tippit has worn a boot on his left leg since the JSU game – is much more painful than the injury.
“It’s a terrible feeling,” he said of not playing. “Before the [Eastern Kentucky] game started, I couldn’t hold it back. I was emotional.
“I don’t have any brothers, but my teammates are my brothers – and it was like watching your brothers going into a fight that you can’t help them out in; you can’t do anything but sit there and watch them.”
The Mocs don’t play again until Sept. 9 at The Citadel. The off week comes at a good time for Tippit, who said he should be ready for the trip to Charleston, S.C., along with other injured Mocs.
UTC played Saturday also without left guard Omre Harris (ankle), defensive tackle La’Nard Carr (knee), kicker Nick Pollard (hip) and defensive lineman De’Markus Lee (leg).
Close to home
The only player from North Carolina on UTC’s roster is linebacker Shane Heatherly, who’s from Waynesville, which is about a 20-minute drive from Cullowhee.
Heatherly, a redshirt sophomore who has started every game this season, said he had about 100 family members and friends coming to Saturday’s game, as well just about everyone from his church.
Western Carolina was the college of choice for most of his high school friends, Heatherly said, so there was plenty of back and forth on Facebook all week.
Drop zone
The Mocs managed to move the ball a little on offense in the first half – and lead 14-7 at halftime – despite a rash of dropped passes.
Quarterback B.J. Coleman was 14-of-22 passing for 208 yards in the first half – UTC had 2 net rushing yards at the break – but the passing yards would have been much higher if it weren’t for six drops. Coleman’s favorite target, Joel Bradford, had three.
Extra points
Redshirt freshman Gunner Miller from East Ridge made the first start of his college career, at Will linebacker, in place of J.D. Dothard. Miller had four tackles for loss – a season high for UTC – in the first half. … Senior defensive end Jaron Norfleet started on the right side, ahead of sophomore Josh Williams, though Williams started the second half. … UTC was forced to punt on its opening drive for the first time this season. … Cornerback Kadeem Wise’s two interceptions Saturday gave him four for the season, tying coach Russ Huesman’s UTC freshman record.
Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mocsbeat.