Growing up about an hour and a half from Jacksonville, Ala., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive lineman Hunter Townson from Ider has a number of friends who attend Jacksonville State University, whose seventh-ranked Gamecocks will be visiting the eighth-ranked Mocs on Saturday at Finley Stadium.
Fourteen players on UTC’s roster hail from the state where “Roll Tide” and “War Eagle” reign. Some come from close proximity to the Jacksonville campus.
Nobody on the Mocs’ roster has played in a win over the Gamecocks – Toyvian Brand was on the roster in the 2011 win but was redshirting – and the players hope that changes this weekend.
Cedric Nettles (35) and Sema’je Kendall defend as UTC’s Tommy Hudson fails to reach a deep pass.
UTC head football coach Russ Huesman shouts to players during the Mocs’ first spring football scrimmage Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Scrappy Moore Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.“Being from Alabama, a lot of people say, ‘Go, Jax State,” UTC senior defensive back Sema’je Kendall said. “To be honest, I don’t like them that much: They’re arrogant to me. It’s going to be a good competition between two great teams, and I’m looking forward to Saturday.”
To others, the game brings back fond memories from the high school days.
“It was great getting to play my freshman year against them,” sophomore defensive back Tavon Lawson said. “I know a lot of the players on the roster, and it feels good to get out there and compete once again like we did in high school.”
The two schools don’t often go head-to-head against each other in recruiting. The Mocs beat out JSU for players such as receiver Alphonso Stewart, running back Kyle Nalls and Kendall, while the Gamecocks were victorious in their pursuit of Josh Barge, a 6-foot-1 junior receiver from Carrollton, Ga.
UTC coach Russ Huesman, who said he expects to have a number of recruits on campus for Saturday’s game, doesn’t foresee a win helping in any recruiting battles against the Gamecocks.
“Our coaches have done a great job of recruiting Alabama,” Huesman said. “We don’t go up against Jax State as much as you’d think; they’re hard to beat and it’s a great battle, like in the game. Their talent level is good, but I don’t think anybody is going to pick us in recruiting because we beat Jacksonville State in the game.”
Mocs morsels
Huesman said Sunday that the team will get back freshman receiver Bingo Morton, junior offensive lineman Alex Hooper and defensive tackle Isaiah Mack from injuries today. Morton will be limited as he recovers from an ankle injury, but Hooper and Mack will be full go. UTC will have a pep rally downtown Friday evening, starting with the band and spirit squad at 6:30, Huesman and select players at 6:45 and entertainment beginning at 7. CARTA will have an adjusted bus route Saturday, offering free shuttles to the game. In addition to the normal stops, additional stops have been set up on Chestnut Street and Main Street. The shuttles will run from 2:30 until 10:15.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.