After a recent practice, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior defensive tackle Derek Mahaffey was walking toward the field when junior quarterback Nick Tiano came up to him and said, "Pops, why've you got to do us like this?"
"Pops," one of the nicknames Mahaffey is called by his teammates, had dominated the offensive line that day, to the point where every time Tiano turned to make a pass, he "saw (No.) 5."
When the Southern Conference released its preseason all-star teams, one of the most glaring omissions was Mahaffey, the 6-foot-2, 310-pounder who was a second-team all-league selection in 2017 after totaling 51 tackles - five for loss. He admitted he "didn't understand it" but said he wasn't too worried about it early on.
"It's not our focus," he said. "I'm just trying to get better with my teammates and be the best I can be every day with them."
He did say it would serve as motivation, though.
"They'll see me soon," he said. "We'll sort all of that out on the field."
Coach Tom Arth didn't understand the apparent slight, either, but he's seen a clearly locked-in Mahaffey the first week of practice.
"He was an excellent player last year. We certainly felt like he was one of the best defensive linemen in the conference last year, and we certainly feel like he is this year," Arth said. "He's really grown into a leadership role within the defense and the entire program. He came out the first day and had a dominant practice - we had no answer for him. He was running all over the field; his effort was outstanding.
"I've been very pleased with Derek. I'm sure he is driven: I would be. I wouldn't be really happy about it if I was him. I'd have a chip on my shoulder and go out there every week with something to prove."
Mahaffey is one of two returning starters on the Mocs' three-man front, along with preseason first-team selection Isaiah Mack. He worked some at defensive end during the spring but has made the switch back to the tackle position, which has given redshirt freshman Devonnsha Maxwell opportunities for more repetitions at the end opposite Mack.
The coaching staff has talked about dominating the practices early on, with a laser-like focus that would serve to improve the team. It's led to a level of competitiveness in the early going that, if Mahaffey has his way, will continue into the season.
"We have to come out every day with the sense that we're competing," he said. "For me, that's something I love, and as a team I know it's something we enjoy, so competing is the main thing for us."
The Mocs are off today for the Terrell Owens Hall of Fame celebration at McKenzie Arena but will be back on the field Sunday morning.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.