Russ Huesman
photo by Hollie Webb
There are 24 Saturdays before the opening home football game - Sept. 5th vs. Jacksonville (Ala.) State – but first it’s the all-important 15 days of Spring Practice prior to the 108th gridiron campaign for the Blue and Gold.
With 43 returning lettermen, including 16 starters, the Mocs open the first of 15 sessions today (Friday March 20) at 3:45 p.m.
(E.D.T.) on Scrappy Moore Field.
The 2015 Blue & Gold Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 18, and a complete spring practice schedule is listed below.
The offense is led by All-American quarterback Jacob Huesman and first team offensive lineman Corey Levin, while the defense has a pair of first team all-Southern Conference defensive backs in Dee Virgin and Cedric Nettles.
SCRIMMAGES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
The Mocs take part in two scrimmages during spring action. The first is Saturday, March 28, at Scrappy Moore Field. Action takes place on the Mocs’ practice field while the turf replacement at Finley Stadium finishes. The second is Friday, April 10, at Finley Stadium. Both are open to all UTC football fans.
Gomocs.Com: For complete information on the team and the schedule of spring practices go to gomocs.com and click on football.
SPRING GAME APRIL 18
Practice concludes with the annual Blue & Gold Spring Game on Saturday, April 18. Be sure to check GoMocs.com for a specific time. UTC coaches and staff again host its yearly FREE Kids’ Clinic prior to the Spring Game. All youth, middle school and younger, are encouraged to attend the free event.
“Spring Practice is so much different than practices in the fall in that we want as many players to get rep after rep so we can see them in different situations,” said UTC head coach Russ Huesman who heads into his seventh year with the Mocs.
“In the fall, we are concerned about a game plan for the upcoming opponent, whereas in the spring we are looking at redshirts, reserves and starters as they battle for starting spots and show the coaches what they can do.”
35th Spring Practice: The 55-year-old Huesman was reminded Thursday 2015 is his 35th spring practice as a college coach having earned a national championship ring (Richmond 2008) and conference rings at William & Mary and Chattanooga.
Coaching Experience – 2015 is Coach Huesman’s 35th Season in College Football
Chattanooga (7) - Head Coach
2009-Present
Richmond (5) - Assistant Coach
2004-08
Memphis (6) - Assistant Coach
1998-03
William & Mary (14) - Assistant Coach
1984-97
South Carolina (2) - Graduate Assistant
1983-84
Chattanooga (1) - Student Assistant, 1982
2015 SCHEDULE – 5 Home Games, 6 Away Games
Date Opponent
Sept. 5 ... Jacksonville State
Sept. 12 ... Mars Hill
Sept. 19 … at Samford*
Sept. 26 … at Presbyterian
Oct. 10 .... Furman*
Oct. 17 ... at VMI*
Oct. 24 ... at Wofford*
Oct. 31 ... Western Carolina*
Nov. 7 ... at Mercer*
Nov. 14 ...The Citadel*
Nov. 21 ... at Florida State
2014 QUICK RECAP
The Mocs put together the most successful season in school history in 2014. UTC won a school-record 10 games, won a postseason game for the first time and finished with the highest national ranking in school history. Chattanooga was 10-4 overall and had a perfect 7-0 Southern Conference tally for the first time.
Chattanooga boasted one of the most dominating defenses in the nation in 2014. Chattanooga led the SoCon and was No. 4 in the FCS in total defense, allowing just 277.6 yards per game. UTC gave up 11.4 points per game, another number that led the SoCon and ranked 11th, nationally.
On offense, Chattanooga led the SoCon, and was 20th in the FCS, in scoring at 34.7 points per game. UTC was also third in the league in rushing offense at 210.8 yards per game. That number only trailed the two triple offense teams in Wofford and The Citadel.
Individually, UTC boasted a school-record 21 on the various All-SoCon and SoCon All-Freshman teams. The Mocs also had five All-Americans, led by senior Davis Tull and junior Jacob Huesman. Tull was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year for the third time, while Huesman repeated at the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year. Head Coach Russ Huesman grabbed his third SoCon Coach of the Year honor.
LETTERMEN/STARTERS RETURNING/LOST
UTC returns a total of 43 lettermen from the 2014 campaign. There are 19 on the offensive side of the ball and 22 on defense. Two specialists also return for the 2015 season. There are 16 starters back, including seven on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• UTC head coach Russ Huesman is entering his seventh season at his alma mater. He is 41-29 overall and 30-17 in Southern Conference action. The Mocs only won 37 games total in the 11 years prior to Huesman’s arrival.
• UTC finished with a No. 8 national ranking in both the FCS Coaches Poll and The Sports Network Top 25, the two polls recognized by the NCAA. That is the highest final ranking in school history.
• The Mocs led the SoCon in home attendance, averaging 10,146 in six games ... UTC hit that mark only four previous times in school history ... three of those in the Russ Huesman era (2009, 2010, 2011).
Offense
• Junior QB Jacob Huesman finished tied for 11th in the Walter Payton Award voting and was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year. He is the first Moc with 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards, topping both milestones against VMI.
• Sophomore offensive lineman Corey Levin won the Jacobs Blocking Award as the top offensive lineman in the SoCon. He is just the second Moc in school history to take that honor.
• The Mocs led the SoCon and were No. 20 in the FCS in scoring offense (34.7) ... that is a school record for points per game.
• UTC led the SoCon and was No. 6 in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (154.76).
• UTC was third in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS with just 13 sacks allowed all season.
• Chattanooga led the SoCon and was No. 4 in the FCS in Time of Possession (33:44).
• The Mocs put up 500+ yards of total offense in five games this season ... 2000 was the last time they did it five times in one year.
• Chattanooga had 250+ rushing yards in five games this season, including three that topped the 300-yard mark ... the last time the Mocs ran for 300-plus three times in a season was 1980 ... they did it four times in 1979 and 1977 as a Division I program.
• UTC was No. 16 in the FCS, second in the SoCon, on third down (92/203 - 45.5%).
Defense
• Chattanooga led the SoCon and was No. 4 in the FCS in total defense (277.6 ypg) ... that’s the lowest number for the Mocs since giving up 266.4 yards per game in 1985.
• UTC was No. 2 in the league and No. 3 in the nation in passing yards allowed (153.2).
• After holding five of its last six opponents to less than 20 points, UTC finished No. 11 in the FCS in scoring defense (9.42) ... that’s the best number for UTC since 16.4 in 1987.
• The Mocs led the SoCon in first down defense, allowing 13.6 per game ... that number was 13th, nationally.
• The Mocs led the SoCon with 35 sacks ... 25th in the FCS ... school record.
• Chattanooga also led the league and was No. 23 in the country with 100 TFLs.
• The Mocs held five teams to less than 200 yards of total offense ... the last time UTC did that in a year was 1980.
Special Teams
• Sophomore Henrique Ribeiro was 16-22 (72.7%) on FGs this season ... he made his first 12 tries ... second longest streak in SoCon history ... led the league in makes and percentage.
• As a team, the Mocs were second in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS in net punting (38.2).
SEASON NO. 108
The Chattanooga Mocs enter their 108th season of football in the fall of 2015. The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football began play in 1904. No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I. There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944. The Mocs have an all-time record of 512-511-35 (.501) and have won 12 conference titles