Nick Tiano stood tall Monday afternoon, smiling as he spoke to everyone he encountered on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.
It wasn't just the smile that was noticeable, though; it was the confidence he carried himself with, which was evident when he spoke.
A year ago, that may not have been the case for the 6-foot-5, 240-pound quarterback, who likely will start for the Mocs when they open their season tonight by hosting Tennessee Tech at 7 at Finley Stadium.
Tiano went through what seemed like three seasons' worth of developments in last year's 11 games. The day before the opener against Jacksonville State, news broke that the NCAA had suspended UTC incumbent starting quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, meaning it was Tiano who was left to start against the Gamecocks - and LSU and UT-Martin after that - behind a young, inexperienced offensive line. The Mocs lost each of those games by at least two touchdowns.
Tiano had a brief high point in the fourth game of the season with a 249-yard, four-touchdown passing performance in a 63-7 win at Virginia Military Institute, but he promptly lost his starting job a week later with the return of Bennifield. Tiano admitted he was "pretty shaky" and afraid to make a mistake last year, but he doesn't expect any of that this season, saying he's "ready to step out there and play my game."
The 1-6 start to last season was challenging, though, especially because a fair share of the blame for any offensive failure falls on the quarterback.
"It was tough the first few games," said Tiano, a Baylor School graduate who transferred to UTC after beginning his collegiate career at Mississippi State.
"We weren't playing great as a team, but this season we've been working. Seeing how much the guys believe in me and respected me meant more to me than anything. Just knowing I've got these guys behind me, I've got nothing else to worry about."
Bennifield started the fifth game, against Western Carolina, but did not return after sustaining at the end of the first quarter what was later diagnosed as a concussion. Tiano replaced Bennifield, but then he incurred a season-ending shoulder injury in the 45-10 loss.
Unable to play, he watched as freshman Cole Copeland led the Mocs to a 2-2 record down the stretch.
"It was tough. I wasn't really expecting any of that," said Tiano, now a redshirt junior. "That kind of threw me a curveball, but I learned from it. When I was hurt, I had the chance to sit back and watch from a different angle for a little while, and I headed into the offseason with a great mindset and ready to take the team over, be the player I want to be and lead this team to what we want it to be."
What the team really wants to be is better than last season. The 3-8 record threw many for a loop after a four-year stretch of 36 wins and three Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearances. Tiano wasn't around for that, and neither was UTC coach Tom Arth, who is in his second season leading the Mocs.
"I think Nick learned a lot going through his injury," Arth said. "It was difficult. He had played well against VMI, then coming back the next week, he's not the starter. He gets a chance to go in and gets hurt. He had the opportunity, and it was taken away from him.
"Last season made him stronger, made him tougher. I've been impressed by his leadership, by his command of the offense. I'm excited. I'm looking forward to this opportunity for him. I know what it means to him. I just think he's prepared and poised to do very well for our team."
News and notes
UTC and Finley Stadium are implementing a clear-bag policy for games this season. Fans are allowed to bring in one plastic, vinyl or PVC clear bag that doesn't exceed 12-by-6-by-12 inches to home games. Storage bags, small clutch purses, seat cushions or bleacher chairs and small diaper bags are also allowed. The Mocs will show off their new videoboard tonight. With the addition of the new "NoogaNation" student section on the home side along with the new chair-back seating and the band, all seats on the home side are reserved. Chestnut Street is open but without parking, while there will be no parking on 19th Street, formerly used for handicap parking. Instead, the North Lot and the Pavilion Lot can be used, as well as some spaces in the VIP lot. The Mocs will host Eastern Illinois on Aug. 31, 2019. They were originally scheduled to face Jacksonville State on the road that day, but the Gamecocks requested the game be moved back a week. In 2022, UTC will travel to Eastern Illinois on Sept. 10, then host North Alabama a week later before traveling to Big Ten member Illinois on Sept. 24.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.