Mocs have another chance to live up to their potential
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The next step in the growth of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football program occurs today.
This time the step is more like looking up at a staircase from the bottom, but it’s the next step nonetheless.
The Mocs (2-7, 2-4 Southern Conference) play at eighth-ranked Wofford (7-1, 5-1) at 1:30 p.m. at Gibbs Stadium. UTC is coming off a 23-21 upset of then eighth-ranked Samford on the road last week — the program’s first road win against a top-10 foe in 34 years — with today providing a second consecutive opportunity.
“It was such a great moment,” UTC coach Tom Arth said. “Just the pure joy. Nobody was holding back. Everybody was just raw, the raw emotion, the raw excitement with what just happened.
“I know that where we go from here, if this is the springboard that we need, if this is something we can build on, it’s certainly a moment that I’ll always look back on and always remember that was a step in a really positive direction.”
Some of the players in the program this season won’t be able to reap potential long-term benefits. The offense had been a muddled mess for much of the season, but in the past couple of weeks it has strung together some extensive drives, none bigger than the 56-yard, nine-play drive that ended in Victor Ulmo’s game-winning field goal. The Mocs also held the ball for nearly 32 minutes, which kept the defense rested on the sideline against the high-powered Samford offensive attack.
As a result, the defense limited the Bulldogs to nearly 50 fewer yards than their season average and forced seven turnovers.
“That win was huge for the program,” fullback Chris Jones said. “The offensive line did an outstanding job, and everybody else can see now that we have that ability, that Coach Arth has that ability to beat big teams like that. Samford, the last time they were in the top 10 was in (19)93, and we went in not scared and said, ‘Let’s take it from them,’ and that’s what we did.
“It’s saying, ‘Hey, you can come to Chattanooga and get ready to win a championship in the future, because it’s coming.’”
Now the challenge is to beat Wofford on its home turf, something UTC has done only once in its past eight tries, dating back to 1997. The Terriers have dabbled in close game this season, with seven games ultimately decided by one possession, and they have a 6-1 record in those games.
It will also be the final home game for 22 Wofford seniors, so the Mocs’ task won’t be easy. But it’s starting to become doable.
“Our goal is to finish the season 3-0,” defensive lineman Taylor Reynolds said. “I think for the younger guys, this’ll be a great feeling going into the offseason, and for the coaching staff and Coach Arth moving forward into next year, it’ll give them great confidence in what we’re doing and what they’re doing.
“I think it’ll be huge for them.” Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.