There were times before and during this season when Nick Tiano's head was spinning.
In the spring and summer, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga quarterback was trying to learn a new offensive system with a new coaching staff and numerous new teammates. Once the season began, injuries started to mount and the offense struggled during a nonconference schedule packed with tough opponents.
The former Baylor School star and his fellow seniors saw their final season with the Mocs slipping away quickly.
"When the last staff left and Coach (Rusty) Wright came in, it was a completely different team," Tiano said. "We had so many new guys, it's been a crazy year. It's flown by. It took us a few games to find our identity, but now we're playing well and we're tough to beat. I'm proud of the way we handled it.
"This senior class has been through a lot of changes, so much turnover. We've tried to lead the best we can, and it's great to see Coach Wright has this team headed in the right direction."
Heading into Saturday's 1 p.m. regular-season finale at Virginia Military Institute (4-7, 3-4 Southern Conference), the Mocs (6-5, 5-2) are on a run in which their only losses since a 1-3 start have come to Furman and Wofford - and UTC held a lead against both of those opponents with Football Championship Subdivision national rankings. UTC would share the SoCon title with those two teams if it wins at VMI and Wofford loses to The Citadel, but the Mocs would need an at-large bid to make the FCS playoffs.
There is that hope, though, and the transformation reached its climax last week with a stunning comeback win over The Citadel on senior day at Finley Stadium. Like a movie script, the senior quarterback won his last home game with a touchdown scramble with seconds remaining. It's a game and a moment Tiano won't soon forget.
"I am so proud of this team and the way we fought through things this entire year," said Tiano, who along with his teammates was forced to begin a transition last December when Tom Arth left after two seasons to take over at Akron.
"That game shows what this whole season has been like. We have been up, we have been down, but we have just fought back and we continued to fight all year long. Through injuries, through wins, through losses, this team is resilient. We fight, we play hard and that is definitely something you never forget."
Along the way he has thrown for 2,012 yards and 12 touchdowns, seven of those scores coming in the past four games. He also has rushed for 347 yards at 4.6 yards per carry - including a 100-yard game at Samford - and scored eight times after coming into the season with one touchdown run in 15 starts. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder has a rushing touchdown in each of the past four games.
Tiano now ranks in the top 10 of several career passing records at UTC, including yards (seventh), attempts (fifth), completions (fourth), completion percentage (seventh), touchdown passes (seventh) and total offense (sixth).
His production was rewarded this week when he was invited to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl in January, the fourth year in a row UTC has had a representative chosen as Tiano follows offensive lineman Corey Levin, linebacker Tae Davis and defensive lineman Isaiah Mack, who all went on to the NFL.
Tiano's dedication and determination have never been questioned. He committed to the Mocs after transferring from Mississippi State, but on the day he came to town to sign Tiano learned coach Russ Huesman was likely leaving.
He never wavered on his decision.
"That young man came here in the middle of December (2016) when Coach was leaving, and he stuck around. It says a lot about him that he stuck around" said Wright, a UTC alumnus and former assistant to Huesman who had spent the past two seasons on Georgia State's staff.
"He's a good football player, but he's a better young man who is going to go on and do big things. I wish we would have had him longer, because I think he would do big things with this staff."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.