When it comes to birthday gifts, Chattanooga football co-captain Chris Harr goes straight for the big ticket items.

At 16, he received the all-important drivers’ license and a new car; one which he still owns.

At 18, the gift of being able to vote – priceless.

This Saturday, the All-Southern Conference offensive tackle turns 21 and has two requests; a Blue Ray cd player adorned with all the bells and whistles and something desired by every SoCon player outside of Boone, N.C. city limits – a win against No. 3 Appalachian State.

The Mountaineers put their 20-game SoCon win streak on the line in the regionally televised season opener (3:05 p.m. on SportSouth) for both teams.

That gift appears to be priceless, yet comes with a price tag of year’s of hard work, discipline, blood, sweat and a few tears and the reliance and trust on teammates and coaches to become one unit that only comes with time and dedication.

A four-year starter, Harr and the Mocs have three “Ls” against the impressively talented Mountaineers prior to this season, but a “W” – a big “W” – at Finley Stadium by dinner time on college football’s opening weekend, would make the already set post-game birthday party at Merv’s on Mountain Creek Road, a night to remember.

Yet all of Harr’s honors and football recognition since his days at St. Jude, this much anticipated senior gridiron season and a possible shot at the NFL next summer, almost didn’t occur.

The 6-6, 285-pound stellar left tackle didn’t don the pads until the 7th grade at St. Jude and only because his mom, Tina, entrusted her son to the team coach Dr. Gary Meredith.

“I was concerned about the injury factor, but with Gary being a pediatrician, I knew Christopher was in good hands,” she said.

Already good at soccer, Harr quickly adapted to the pads and helmet and was the team’s top running back.

Tina’s concerns went far beyond a mother wondering about scrapes, scratches, bumps and bruises, as her oldest son, David (then a freshman at Notre Dame) had lived with cystic fibrosis since being diagnosed at three months.

The Mocs O-Line anchor has suffered only minor football injuries, but did break a wrist in youth basketball and received 60 stitches and a severely damaged and later reconstructed nose in a biking accident while in grammar school.

“David struggled in life as did we and died at the age of 17, shortly before graduation his senior year at Notre Dame,” said Tina who credits docs Joel Ledbetter and Steve and Marian May for taking care of her sons.

”We as a family suffered through David’s illness and still suffer, but we also received joy from his 17 years on earth.”

As the Mocs line up for Saturday’s 3:05 p.m. kickoff of the most important game in their lives, to date, Harr will play for the big ticket item of a “W” not just for himself, but for his teammates and coaches, parents and a brother who was never able to see him play.

Moc Notes

Keys to a Mocs Victory

The famous question on Sept. 1, 2007 …

“How many batteries does it take to shock a Wolverine?”

Answer: I-AA ... (i.e. Appy State’s 34-32 upset win against Michigan in the Big House)

Russ Huesman was asked about this week’s keys to victory and an upset of No. 3 Appy:

“The two things vital for us to win on Saturday are avoiding turnovers and we must make the big plays when the opportunities arise.”

So, how many Mocs does it take to shock the No. 3 Mountaineers?

Eleven, big play Mocs on both sides of the ball, plus special teams guys.

“And 20,000 fans cheering for our guys on Saturday is so important for us to grab a win,” said Huesman. “We need every advantage and a big crowd is key to our success.”

Football Facts and Figures

Season Openers: 102 overall … 59-42-1 (58.3%) in season openers …

Home Openers: 70-29-3 (70.1%) … Mocs have played home games at a variety of local venues in 103 years, including Olympia Park (1904-1907), Chamberlain Field (1908-1997) and Finley Stadium (1997-2009).

Finley Stadium Openers: 8-4 (66.7%) … also won the inaugural game at Finley … A midseason opener, 28-7, vs. Tennessee State, Oct. 18, 1997

Earliest Opener: Aug. 20, 2001 ... Mocs def. Samford, 23-6, in B’ham

Latest Opener: Oct. 29, 1904 (inaugural game in Grant University’s first varsity season) ... The University defeated Athens, 17-0, at Olympia Park.

Overall: UTC: 456-437-33 (102 seasons)
Appy State: 538-302-28 (80 seasons)

Mocs record on Sept. 4: first game

Appy State on the Road: The Mountaineers are 24-8 overall in road games since losing all five away contests in 2004 …

Under ASU head coach Jerry Moore, the Black and Gold are 77-56 in road wins since 1989 … only 19 of those 56 losses have come against FCS (formerly I-AA) opponents.

Appy State Ticket Sales: Approximately 6,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday’s 3 p.m. opener with Appalachian State at Finley Stadium.

Buy Early … Arrive Early: UTC athletic staff are encouraging fans to buy tickets before Saturday – in person or online – to avoid the lines on game day … and to arrive early for the 3:05 p.m. televised (SportSouth) broadcast.

Finley Stadium gates open at 1: 30 p.m.

Once a Yankee Fan … Always A Yankee Fan: while the players were stretching at the start of Tuesday’s practice, offensive coordinator Russ Ehrenfeld stated that his beloved New York Yankees had a big win on Monday ... then loudly and emphatically asked in the direction of defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and sophomore Bo Dyer, “ Where are the Red Sox?” Answer: 8 games back of the Pinned-Striped, Bronx Bombers …
In the American League East …

The Beantown Bosox and the Boys from the Bronx meet in a three game series, Sept. 24-25-26 in New York.

Don’t worry ... in between meetings that week, Ehrenfeld might will check the web for updated scores …If the Yanks are up, he will most definitely remind Fuller of the score … if not, Fuller will inquire if Ehrenfeld’s web connection went down.

Mocs vs. Appy State: The Mocs beat Appy , 14-7, in the inaugural meeting in 1977 … a year before Huesman enrolled at UTC as a freshman … Huesman, Ehrenfeld and Co. defeated Appy, 72-14, in 1978 at Chamberlain Field ..

But a light years different Mountaineer team comes calling this weekend … Appy has won the past five meetings between the two SoCon schools and leads 23-10 overall ... The Boys From Boone (N.C.) are five-time defending SoCon champs and three-peat NCAA champs; 2005-06-07 … the gold standard in the SoCon and in the top echelon of teams in the nation.

Last Mocs win against Appy State was a 59-56 home win in 2004 …quarterback B.J. Coleman was a sophomore at McCallie … Huesman was in his first year as an assistant coach at Richmond.

Lots of Sacks:

Tied with 30 Sacks: The Mocs and Appy State were second in the SoCon and 13th nationally with 30 sacks in 2009.

Which O-Line Blinks First: The Mocs allowed only nine sacks in 11 games none in the final four games, including against Appy State and Alabama ... ASU allowed 20 sacks in 14 games, including the playoffs.

20 in a Row: Appy State has a 20-game SoCon win streak entering Saturday’s game with Chattanooga dating back to the start of the 2007 season … last SoCon loss was to Georgia Southern, 38-35.

Moore Appy: ASU running back Devon Moore scored three touchdowns against the Mocs in the 35-20 win in 2009.

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net