Russ HuesmanIt certainly wasn’t the ending the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team had hoped for, but it might just be the beginning the program needs.
The Mocs’ five-point loss at top-ranked New Hampshire in last Friday’s FCS quarterfinal ended the most productive season in program history a couple of steps short of their championship goal. But the experience and confidence gained from their first outright Southern Conference title and playoff berth in 30 years, along with plenty of returning talent, should keep expectations soaring again next season.
“There’s still some disappointment, naturally, just because we were so close in that game,” UTC coach Russ Huesman said. “But it should help us. It should motivate our guys coming back to keep working to get better through the offseason, and I think what we did will help us in recruiting, too.
“There’s a lot to be proud of. That senior class accomplished a lot of good things while they were here — helped us get things turned around and laid the foundation for hopefully some big things to come.”
It was a record-setting season that included the program’s first playoff win and rankings among the nation’s elite in several team and individual statistical categories, as well as having multiple players on watch lists for national awards.
The Mocs had two 1,000-yard rushers (Keon Williams and Jacob Huesman) for the first time since 1977. Williams and Huesman also are tied atop the list of leaders for career rushing touchdowns, and quarterback Huesman has set himself up potentially to shatter every offensive record during the course of his senior season.
Defensive end Davis Tull leaves as the league’s career sack leader, and he and fellow lineman Derrick Lott have been projected as possible early second-day NFL draft prospects.
“It’s tough to have to think about the season and my college career being over right now,” Tull said moments after Friday night’s loss. “But I am really proud of what we’ve done here, and I think the program is in good shape for the future.”
Seated next to Tull and his quarterback/son in the media room at New Hampshire, Coach Huesman didn’t hesitate to acknowledge both the outgoing and returning building blocks of a program now on solid footing.
“These are the two best players at their position in the country,” Coach Huesman said matter-of-factly. “The best offensive player and best defensive player, and I don’t care if people disagree.
“You can’t say enough about what players like Davis Tull have meant to our program. And I’m really glad we have guys like Jacob and a lot of other talent around him coming back for next year.”
Five key dates for 2014 UTC football
• Sept. 27 (UTC 38, Samford 24): The Mocs were solid in all three phases — averaging 6 yards per carry, intercepting three passes and returning a punt for a touchdown — in winning their Southern Conference opener and avenging the loss from 2013 that had cost them a spot in the national playoffs. This win helped erase the frustration of an 0-2 start to the season and set the tone for their conference dominance.
• Nov. 1 (UTC 51, Western Carolina 0): What was supposed to be a showdown for the league lead turned into a beatdown, as the Mocs rolled to a 38-point halftime lead. Keon Williams was unstoppable, rushing for a career-high 194 yards (10.2 per carry) and scored twice, while the defense, led by Davis Tull, allowed just 102 total yards. “In six years here this was our most complete game,” UTC coach Russ Huesman said.
• Nov. 8 (UTC 31, Wofford 13): In convincing style, the Mocs wrapped up the program’s first outright SoCon title and first playoff appearance in 30 years. Quarterback Jacob Huesman guided UTC to 17 consecutive points in the second half to pull away, and his 286 total yards pushed him to the top of the career list in that category.
• Nov. 22 (UTC 45, Furman 19): Showing the focus of a team worthy of being ranked among the nation’s best, the Mocs put the cherry on top of an already sweet season by securing the program’s first unbeaten SoCon record.
• Dec. 6 (UTC 35, Indiana State 14): The Mocs dominated time of possession, keeping the ball for 72 percent of game time, and Jacob Huesman amassed 394 yards of offense and accounted for three touchdowns as the Mocs claimed the first 10-win season and playoff victory in program history.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.