The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team has had its break, which means it’s all business for the next seven weeks.
After a restful off day Saturday, which many of the Mocs spent in front of their televisions watching football, UTC got back to work Sunday at Scrappy Moore Field.
“These guys came out today, they came ready to work,” quarterback B.J. Coleman said.
Coleman said he spent about 12 hours watching games Saturday. The University of Tennessee transfer said it was painful to watch the Vols lose on the final play at LSU.
“I hated it for some of the guys, like Nick Reveiz and Chris Walker and all those guys,” Coleman said. “Those are my buddies, we hung out, we got close, and just to see something like that – they had it. I wanted it for them, I really did.”
The Mocs (2-2, 1-1 Southern Conference) head to Charleston, S.C., this weekend to face The Citadel (2-3, 0-2) and its new option offense. The Bulldogs lost 24-13 at home to Western Carolina on Saturday.
UTC’s off week came at a good time for multiple reasons. It allowed a banged up team to get healthy, or close to it, and it gave UTC some additional practices to prepare for the option.
“We’ve still got a ways to go with the option, but it’s always nice to have the extra time to prepare,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said.
UTC will face another option team on Oct. 16, when Georgia Southern visits Finley Stadium on homecoming.
Safety Jordan Tippit (ankle) practiced Sunday for the first time since getting hurt against Jacksonville State. Right tackle Adam Miller, who also suffered a high ankle sprain against the Gamecocks, said he’s feeling much better, as well.
“This past week, I just gained so much as far as getting healthy,” said Miller, who spent part of Saturday fishing with his dad. “I’m starting to feel normal.”
Huesman didn’t have a game to coach Saturday, but football still dominated his weekend.
On Friday night he watched his oldest son, Jacob, lead Baylor to a win over McCallie, and he spent Saturday morning watching his youngest son, Levi, score three touchdowns in a game.