University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman spoke about the Mocs’ win over Furman last week, Saturday’s key Southern Conference game against Elon and more during his weekly media luncheon Wednesday. Also on hand were wideout Joel Bradford, the SoCon offensive player of the week, and running back Erroll Wynn.
Here’s some of what they had to say:
Russ Huesman
On rallying from 28-10 down in the fourth quarter last Saturday at Furman …
To come back and score 26 in the fourth quarter and win that game was huge. The one thing that I saw, I don’t think anybody ever thought we were out of the game – and that’s coaches, players. I don’t think anybody ever said, “man, there’s no way we can come back.”
Too many good things were happening as far as moving the ball and stopping them. And all we needed was a break or two and we got those in the fourth quarter.
On hosting Elon (2-5, 1-3), which has lost to four ranked teams, on Saturday …
We’re getting ready to play a really, really good football team. We’re going to have to practice well, we’re going to have to play well, to have a chance to win this thing.
On defending Elon’s passing attack, which leads the SoCon …
It’s up to the defense, when they go out on the field, to stop them. I think some of the key things that have to happen in this game [are], we’re going to have to get to [Elon quarterback Scott] Riddle some, I don’t know how much. He gets the ball out, he’s really good.
We’re going to have to get to him some, we’re going to have to tackle their wideouts when they catch the football – can’t give them a bunch of yards after the catch – and obviously we can’t give up a big throw over the top of us.
On the play of running back J.J. Jackson …
J.J. was huge last week. As long as he’s healthy, he’ll start this week. He hung on to the ball, he protected, he got big plays for us, huge plays for us, got some critical third-down conversions, ran the ball hard – so if he’s healthy, he’ll start this week.
Joel Bradford
On being 5-2 and on a five-game win streak …
We’re a good team, but we’ve got a long way to go before we’re a great team.
Erroll Wynn
On the Mocs playing with some swagger …
The Mocs got some swagger now. We’ve always had a little swagger, but now we’re putting wins behind it.
On the definition of swagger …
Swagger is the flavor and style that you bring to a win.
On the Mocs’ confidence after so many difficult years …
We believe in [Huesman] and we believe in ourselves.
For more on the Mocs, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
You can follow John Frierson’s Mocs coverage at twitter.com/mocsbeat.