With a dominating win already secured on Sept. 7, 2013, Rusty Wright – then the linebackers coach for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – saw then-head coach Russ Huesman do something he hardly ever did.
Take his headset off.
The occasion was the Mocs’ 42-14 win over Georgia State in the Georgia Dome, the program’s first and only win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team since NCAA Division I and Division I-AA were divided into FBS and Football Championship Subdivision respectively in 2006. UTC jumped out to a 42-0 lead, with the turning point being the game’s second drive when the Mocs lined up for a 44-yard Nick Pollard field goal before faking it, with Jacob Huesman hitting Faysal Shafaat for a 27-yard score to make it 14-0.
“We got down there and our guys started playing,” said Wright – whose own headset didn’t work that day – during Tuesday’s weekly media luncheon. “Next thing we know, it’s 28-0 and we said we’re going to win this thing, so let’s keep playing and we did. We were up 14-0 real quick, and after that we were in control.”
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Chattanooga head coach Rusty Wright congratulates offensive lineman after a successful extra point. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the Austin Peay State University Governors, at Finley Stadium, in the season-opener for both team on September 2, 2021The Mocs finished with 401 rushing yards and over 500 yards of total offense that day while limiting the Panthers to just 30 yards on the ground. Keon Williams had 147 yards rushing and a score, while true freshman Derrick Craine had 53 and another touchdown. Shafaat caught both Huesman touchdown passes.