WOFFORD
2017 record: 10-3 (7-1 in SoCon; lost 42-10 to North Dakota State in FCS quarterfinals)Season opener: Sept. 1 vs. The CitadelDate against UTC: Oct. 6 in Chattanooga, 3 p.m.Preseason ranking (coaches/media): 2/3
Josh Conklin pulled up again in Spartanburg, South Carolina, this time as the new football coach of Wofford College, and took inventory of the town.
He was quick to look at the improvements that had taken place in the downtown area. He made sure to pinpoint a few places where he really likes to eat, primarily Mexican food such as Mezcal (“It’s really authentic”) and Willy Taco (“Really good”).
His purpose for being back in Spartanburg in a work capacity for the first time since 2009 was to take over the Terriers program. Mike Ayers, who coached 30 seasons and won 218 games, retired after the 2017 season. Conklin, most recently the defensive coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh, became the new Wofford coach on Jan. 2.
He had been the Terriers’ defensive backs coach from 2007 to 2009 before stops at The Citadel, Tennessee and Florida International, so he’s somewhat familiar with the layout of the land.