SUTC linebacker Nakevion Leslie practices at Scrappy Moore Field early Monday morning.MOCS TO OPEN ON CSSUTC football coach Russ Huesman wants fans to come to Finley Stadium on Aug. 29 for the Mocs’ season opener against UT-Martin. But for out-of-towners, the game will be televised on Comcast Sports South.“[The telecast] is for recruits, for the exposure on television,” Huesman said Tuesday. “[Locals] need to come on out. Locally they need to act like it’s not even on TV.”The Mocs are hoping for a crowd of around 15,000 for the opener to a much-anticipated season. UTC is among the favorites to win the Southern Conference.UTC will produce the telecast and athletic director David Blackburn said the university, the athletic department and the SoCon are combining to cover the costs, which will be about $8,000 each for the university and athletic department.“We get to control the message, the production, commercials and so forth,” Blackburn said of a telecast that effectively will be a UTC infomercial when the game clock isn’t running.CSS has outlets in 12 states, including all of UTC’s recruiting areas. Along with the live telecast, CSS will air at least one replay of the game.Kickoff for the game will be around 7:30 p.m., with longtime Mocs radio broadcaster Jim Reynolds and “Sport Talk” co-host Scott “Quake” McMahen in the booth. Channel 3 sports anchor Keith Cawley will serve as the sideline reporter.
This is supposed to be the football season when the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s veterans play the bulk of the snaps. It’s supposed to be the season when battle-tested players lead the Mocs beyond average to a Southern Conference title and a deep Football Championship Subdivision playoff run.
The older players may carry a lot of the weight, but they won’t do it alone. There are several redshirt freshmen, and possibly some true freshmen, who will play pivotal roles.
“Our philosophy is to get the best 11 on the field, whoever they are,” fifth-year UTC coach Russ Huesman said.
Wide receiver C.J. Board and Will linebacker Nakevion Leslie are redshirt freshmen who appear to have solidified starting spots. Redshirt freshman safety Cedric Nettles has been in for a lot of snaps with the first team in camp due to injuries to Zach McCarter, who returned to practice Tuesy, and Dean Haynes.