John Frierson is in his seventh year at the Times Free Press and seventh year covering University of Tennessee at Chattanooga athletics. The bulk of his time is spent covering Mocs football, but he also writes about women’s basketball and the big-picture issues and news involving the athletic department. A native of Athens, Ga., John grew up a few hundred yards from the University of Georgia campus. Instead of becoming a Bulldog he attended Ole Miss and read as much Faulkner as possible, graduating with a degree in Southern Studies. Among the stops in his career was a three-year stint covering Georgia sports for the Athens Banner-Herald and two years at the Florence (Ala.) TimesDaily, where he split his time covering Alabama and Auburn. In 2007, John earned Alabama Press Association first-place awards for column writing and game coverage. Contact John at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6268 or follow him on Twitter @MocsBeat. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mocsbeatCTFP.
On shelves along the back wall of Mike Royster's office are all of the different University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football helmets the Mocs have used since he's been at the school. There are many.
by John FriersonIt was a iconic image from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's football season: quarterback Jacob Huesman taking a knee in the end zone and pointing skyward after scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Mocs' 28-24 come-from-behind win over The Citadel on Oct. 26.
by John FriersonThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program received the official word from the NCAA on Tuesday: senior defensive tackle Derrick Lott will be allowed to return for a sixth year.
by John FriersonThe Chattanooga Football Club schedule for its sixth season will look a bit different from last summer's National Premier Soccer League slate -- just as the 2012 schedule was different from the year before.
by John FriersonIf you've been to a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's basketball game at McKenzie Arena this season, you may have noticed that you don't see or hear "Lady Mocs" like you have in years past.
by John FriersonMcCallie cornerback C.J. Fritz and lineman Cam Walker committed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sunday, following an official visit this weekend. The Mocs football program also got a commitment from Northeast (Tenn.) High School's Montrell Pardue.
by John FriersonToday
by John FriersonBobby Lamb was realistically hoping for five or six wins this season, the Mercer Bears' first since 1941. Instead, Mercer set an NCAA record for a start-up football program with 10 wins.
by John FriersonThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga needs linebackers. A lot of them.
by John FriersonMarcus West has coached the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive ends for five seasons, since Russ Huesman was hired as head coach.
by John FriersonWhen you come to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in pursuit of a career in engineering or athletic training - two of UTC's most renown areas of study - there's no reason to keep your dreams to yourself.
by John FriersonATLANTA - At the end of a Georgia football regular season in which little went according to plan, one near-constant thing followed its recent course: The Bulldogs beat rival Georgia Tech.
by John FriersonATLANTA - Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason played at times in the first half Saturday like someone making his first start. He was, and doing so against Georgia Tech in a bitter rivalry game.
by John FriersonATLANTA - At the end of a Georgia football regular season in which little went according to plan, one near-constant thing followed its recent course: The Bulldogs beat rival Georgia Tech.
by John FriersonATLANTA - At the end of a Georgia football regular season in which little went according to plan, one near-constant thing followed its recent course: The Bulldogs beat rival Georgia Tech.
by John FriersonDerrick Lott might not have played his final snap for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
by John FriersonFor now, the sting of missing the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs obscures many of the positive feelings the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has after its best season in decades.
by John FriersonTuesday was a good day for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program and the Huesman family in particular.
by John FriersonThe University of Tennessee at Chattanooga swept the Southern Conference football coaches' top postseason awards, which were released today.
by John FriersonThe silence among the 100 or so in the University Center auditorium said it all.
by John Frierson