Tom Arth called 2017 “a learning experience” for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team.
The coach’s returning players this year had much stronger words.
“I felt like we let the city down,” senior receiver Bingo Morton said.
“We left a sour taste in Chattanooga’s mouth,” senior defensive end Isaiah Mack chipped in.
The 3-8 record in 2017 came after a four-year run in which the Mocs won 36 games, earned three consecutive Southern Conference championships and reached the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs three times. Their 1-4 record at Finley Stadium was particularly hard to digest, because despite losing five All-Americans from the season before, they still had some talent.