by B.B. Branton
posted September 11, 2009
) Photo by UTC Sports Information Dept. UTC senior linebacker Joe Thornton and the rest of the Mocs football team will face Furman Saturday at Finley Stadium at 6 p.m. |
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team has its own ''Mean Joe'' on defense – senior linebacker Joe Thornton – who has developed a friendship with a youngster in real life, not a well- scripted commercial.
Thornton – mean only to opposing running backs – was on the Moc sideline after a defensive series during last Thursday's 30-13 win against Glenville (W.Va.) State, when he heard someone from the stands yell his name.
“I looked up and it was Myers Dickinson who was one of my campers this summer at a week-long camp at Warner Park,'' said a smiling Thornton when asked to re-tell the incident.
“It was great to see Myers at the game. He's a bright kid and I am glad I was his counselor this summer,'' stated the three-year starter and Athletic Director's Honor Roll student who leads the Mocs (1-0) against Furman (1-0) Saturday at Finley Stadium at 6 p.m.
The 6-2, 215 pound senior from Stone Mountain, Ga. has a good name-face memory as he had not seen Dickinson, a sixth grader at Scenic Land School, in five weeks (before the start of pre-season camp).
One of Thornton's UTC teachers offered him a class credit to work the camp or earn the credit in the classroom, with the senior opting for the former.
“Camp was fun and it was great to bond with Myers,'' said Thornton, who has started 28 straight games at linebacker. ''He asked me lots of questions about football and we really connected.''
Myers friendly hello might have played a part in Thornton's excellent showing – a career-high 17 tackles – against Glenville State.
“It's great to have the 17 tackles, but my teammates have let me know more than once about the potential interception I had in my hands and dropped,'' he stated. “I had a sure touchdown if I had held onto the ball.''
Thornton might still wonder the ''what ifs'' on the missed opportunity, but he has already scored a touchdown with his friend, Myers.
UTC coach Russ Huesman didn't pass on the opportunity to make Thornton's teammates aware of this important learning moment.
“Myer's dad, Tommy Dickinson, wrote a letter on chattanoogan.com about the quick, but sincere re-connection at the football game and the importance of taking the time to do the the little things which could mean so much to other people,'' said Huesman.
“I read the letter to the team in the locker room on Wednesday and Joe's teammates gave him a richly deserved ovation.''
Mr. Dickinson, wrote a letter posted Sept. 8 on Opinion on chattanoogan.com, titled “A Special UTC Football Player''
He wrote, in part, ''This is an open letter to Coach Huesman, letting him know what a wonderful representative one of his football players is in our community ... Joe Thornton was Myers' counselor and my son couldn't stop talking about him. Well, when I met him I knew why. He was truly involved and sincere in his interest for the campers.
''Fast forward to last Thursday night at Finley Stadium and we are sitting four rows up behind the Mocs. It was one point during the game when Myers yelled to Joe and he turned around and with a huge smile he looked up and called Myers by name then gave him a wave. That might not seem much to many people, but to me and my son it made it a night to remember.''
Myers-Thornton Notes:
The director of Scenic Land School is Yogi Anderson, who played some college football of his own, at Notre Dame ('68) and then for The University of the South ('72).
Myers' uncle is George Dickinson, who is a University of Chattanooga alum and won a small college tennis national championship in men's singles in the 1960s. Dickinson, who also played tennis for old City High School, is a member of the UTC Athletics Hall of Fame and the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame.
Mocs Notes:
Game 2: The Mocs host Southern Conference rival Furman Saturday at Finley Stadium at 6 p.m.
Furman leads the series, 25-18.
Starting Backfield: Freshman Chris Awuah will start at running back against Furman, while senior Shaun Kermah is listed as the starting fullback. Senior Bryan Fitzgerald is listed behind Awuah in the depth chart for Saturday and will see significant playing time.
“We have a good group of backs and having Fitz in the lineup this week is a great plus for us,'' said coach Huesman.
Fitzgerald, who did not dress against Glenville State, gained a team-high 798 rushing yards and three touchdowns as a junior in 2007, but missed the 2008 season due to a knee injury. He has not touched a football in a game in 22 months; a 37-17 loss at Appalachian State in Nov. 2007.
Awuah rushed for 68 yards on 13 tries and two scores in his college opener last Thursday, while Bo Dyer had 12 yards on three carries and one touchdown. Backup quarterback was the Mocs answer to Florida's Tim Tebow with 23 yards on four carries.
14 in a Row: The players have signs in the locker room reminding them of the 14 straight losses to Furman. The last time UTC beat Furman was 1994 (in Greenville) and the last win in Chattanooga was 1993.
Statement Game: The SoCon opener is vital for Thornton and his teammates.
''A win Saturday will put us on the map,'' said Thornton who had a then career-high 12 tackles against Furman as a freshman. ''We were expected to win last week, but I doubt too many people outside of Chattanooga think we can win this week. This is a statement game.''
No Respect: Coach Huesman has reminded the team that Chattanooga was voted to finish last (ninth) in the conference this year.
“I want them to have a chip in their shoulder and show the other teams that we are for real.''
“I was disappointed that only Buster Skrine (defensive back) was voted to the pre-season all-conference team,'' he stated. ''That means that Buster (second team pick) is the only guy on our team that can play?
''I was shocked that Joe Thornton didn't make the team.''
Spotlight on Players: Coach Huesman is glad the first game is behind him.
“It was great to win the season opener, but it is good to get all the hype around the first game out of the way and put the spotlight on the players where it belongs. “It's not the Russ Huesman Era, it's the players era.''
Leading up to his first college football game a head coach, Huesman's first game week included two pep rally's and numerous media interviews.
Running Game: Both head coaches – Russ Huesman and Furman's Bobby Lamb – feel the need a strong running game on Saturday.
“We definitely want to establish the running game,'' said Lamb, whose team out gained Presbyterian on the ground last week, 210-140.
The Paladins, were led by Tersoo Uhaa with 95 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Jordan Sorrells had 51 yards on the ground and one score.
In 2008, Furman out rushed the Mocs 178-103 in a 35-10 win in Greenville.
Last week, Chattanooga had 74 rushing yards, but allowed Glenville 171.
“We didn't run the ball very well against Glenville last week and must do a better job against Furman,'' said Huesman.
“But if we have to throw the ball a lot to win we will. We had a good vertical passing game last week and that needs to carry over this week.''
Time of Possession: Reminded that the Mocs scored 30 points, but Glenville led in time of possession, 35:52 to 24:08, Huesman said, “If we can score 30 points a week, I'll be okay with 24 minutes.''
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net
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