The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team practiced for two hours Friday at Scrappy Moore Field. It might have been the Mocs' last Friday on-the-field session of the season.
Because of the program's poor historical Academic Progress Rate performance, UTC is limited by the NCAA to five days of team activities this season instead of the usual six. That's on top of its limitation of 16 hours of team time a week, four fewer than the maximum of 20.
Mocs coach Russ Huesman opted to eliminate the team's Friday activities during the season. Those typically consist of a walk-through and some position meetings.
"We can have a team meal, we can have a team meeting with a motivational speaker, and [the players] can do whatever they want on their own," Huesman said.
Quarterback B.J. Coleman said it's up to the players to have voluntary meetings to make sure they're prepared for each game, starting with next Saturday's season opener against No. 3 Appalachian State.
Coleman, one of the team captains, said he hasn't discussed any plans for what the players will do on Fridays, but he said it "will be a topic of choice" when they get together Sunday.
"I really think that it's a blessing in disguise," Coleman said. "It's going to force a lot of us to know our stuff that much more so that we can orchestrate those meetings and make sure that they run smoothly.
"It's something that if we want to take this program to the next level, we have to be able to do."
Huesman said a film room will be set up at the hotel on road trips and players will be able to go in and watch and "do what they think they need to do to be ready."
The Mocs could practice on Friday, Oct. 1, during their off week, but that will be it. The team's other day off each week will be Monday.
Pitchford positions
Senior wide receiver Chris Pitchford is not only the most experienced of UTC's wideouts, he's also the most versatile.
This season Pitchford, who has 73 career receptions, is going to be UTC's "utility guy," offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. Pitchford will line up primarily at split end but also will be used at flanker and in the slot.
"He'll play a little bit of everywhere," Satterfield said. "He's a valuable asset to have, a guy that's played that much football and can play at every position and know how to line up and run the routes."
Extra points
The Mocs are off today and will resume practice Sunday afternoon. ... Wideout Joel Bradford (knee) and running back Keon Williams (ankle) went through all phases of practice Friday and should be ready for the opener. Defensive tackle Nick Craig (foot) was held out of contact, and kicker Nick Pollard (hip) did not practice.