Wednesday evening, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team had a team meeting — players and coaches.
The purpose was for the Mocs, who had lost 41-27 at North Alabama four days earlier to open the season, to let go of that first week and completely focus on the game ahead, with Kennesaw State visiting Finley Stadium this weekend for what was expected to be a tough battle.
Head coach Rusty Wright called it a “come to Jesus meeting.” Players described it as intense, with receiver Sam Phillips refusing to comment on anything talked about behind closed doors.
“I told them I’d never seen that football team that took the field at North Alabama before. Ever,” Wright said. “In my five years here, I’ve never seen a football team play that bad, all the way around. I challenged them, each and every one of them. I can’t say what I challenged them with, but it was not good.”
Added quarterback Chase Artopoeus: “It’s definitely not one that I would want to relive, but it had to be done and I’m glad it happened.”