Former Chattanooga football star Sib Evans is current coach Russ Huesman’s kind of player.

Versatile – capable as running back, passer, defensive back, punter – and having the ability to keep the opposition guessing, Evans led the Blue and Gold to Dixie Conference titles seven decades ago (1940, 1941) under head coach Scrappy Moore.

His flair for the element of surprise on Homecoming Saturday 1941 – ironically three weeks prior to Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor – received national attention –
write ups in New York Times and Saturday Evening Post – as the Mocs posted a 27-0 win against Sewanee on Nov. 15.

First quarter with Mocs leading 7-0 and threatening another score … first and 10 on the Tigers 13 … but five straight penalties – including three, 15 yarders (one of which nullified a Mocs touchdown) – pushed the Mocs to their own 39 and a 1st and 58.

Coach Moore had had enough so he called for Evans to punt and salvage some type of field position and rely on the defense to hold that Tiger.

But Evans, currently one of the oldest living Mocs football alums, had other plans.

Upon receiving the snap, he rolled left, luring the Sewanee defenders into believing he would run, the senior suddenly turned and threw to a wide open Hymie Phillips who scampered 61 yards to pay dirt and the Mocs led 14-0. An Evans to Bill Akers scoring pass was the fourth score of the afternoon which sent home 3,000+ happy Mocs fans.

A check in the McKenzie Arena archives shows no game film for coach Huesman and current Mocs punter Mike Hammons to critique.

Evans, who was one of the first college football players to wear contact lenses in games (wore helmets with no face masks), played four seasons for coach Moore and the Mocs after transferring from Bluefield (Va.) Junior College.

While Evans, Phillips and other starters took care of the wins on the field, coach Moore made sure his starters were well taken care of off the field.

Moore made arrangements for his starters to eat three meals a day free at nearby restaurants and also secure part time jobs.

Evans made his daily trek to Tomlinson’s Restaurant originally located across for the Memorial Auditorium on McCallie Avenue with a part time job at Dixie Yarns.

After graduating from Chattanooga with a Biology degree – the football star married the 1941 Homecoming Queen Martha Dillard in 1943 – she was also Miss UC and head cheerleader – then taught and coached at Baylor School for the next 24 years.

A member of the legendary Humpy Heywood football staff, Evans helped guide the Red Raiders to five perfect seasons; 1944-47-55-60-63.

”We had a real good football staff at Baylor with Luke Worsham, Sib, Jim Worthington and myself and had a great leader in head coach Humpy Heywood,” said Jack Stanford.

“I first met Sib when he was Baylor summer camp director and hired me as part of his staff. He is a good man and I have always admired him.”

Stanford’s summer job choices in 1950 were camp counselor in Chattanooga or picking peaches for 70 cents an hour. “So Baylor School looked real good compared to cheap wages back home in the Carolina’s,” stated Stanford with a laugh.

That summer job experience on the resume reaped great dividends when it came time to apply for a teaching/coaching job for the Red Raiders. The recommendations from Evans and Worsham to headmaster Dr. Herb Barks proved valuable as Stanford was hired.

Evans left Baylor in the mid 1960s and served as headmaster at Cleveland Cay School and later at The Bright School.

Sixty years after first working for Evans, the two stay in touch as Stanford helps organize the older football alum gathering at Homecoming each year which Evans attends.

Evans, who turned 90 in July, and his son Dillard, plan to Homecoming (Oct., 16) and/or the Moc football alums gathering at the Elon game on Oct. 30.

“Dad enjoys making at least one game a year and visiting with a few old football buddies,” said Dillard.

With Evans in the stands later this season, quite possibly Huesman and company can honor the former Moc with a few surprise attacks of their own on the field and a win for the alums.

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