UTC head football coach Russ Huesman takes his Mocs against Furman tonight at 6 p.m. at Finley Stadium.
photo by UTC Sports Information Dept.
The Chattanooga-Furman football game tonight at Finley Stadium (kickoff set for 6 p.m.) has several story lines including the meeting of those at the top of the football food chain – head coaches Russ Huesman (Mocs) and Bobby Lamb (Paladins) – who once were at the bottom.
“Bobby and I go way back when we were the young schmucks on the coaching staff and in charge of game film exchange with each opponent,’’ said Huesman who was an assistant at William & Mary when Lamb was at Furman two decades ago.
Long before today’s high tech, warp speed internet film exchange the night of the game, the film exchange coach had to put a copy of the 16 millimeter film (yes, I believe they called it film) on a bus Sunday morning and then a return trip for the opponent’s film to arrive on the Sunday night bus.
“One year we (W&M) were playing Delaware and I and my counterpart made our usual Sunday evening trip to the bus station,’’ said Huesman.
‘’The exchange was clean on our end, but our film never arrived and the Delaware coach was livid, to say the least.’’
The W&M film had some how been routed to Danville, Va., instead of Newark, Del. The film finally arrived on Wednesday.
“To his credit, our coach did not look at the Delaware film until they had ours,’’ Huesman stated.
A lot of water under the bridge and a myriad of game films shipped by Greyhound, Continental or dog sled for these talented SoCon coaches as Huesman has six coaching stops prior to his head coaching hiring last December, while Lamb has never left the Greenville, S.C. campus since his freshman year in college.
For tonight's encounter with a solid Furman team, Huesman’s need much more than a clean film exchange to register the Mocs’ first Southern Conference win since a 39-21 home victory against Western Carolina in mid-season 2007. UTC has lost 12 consecutive SoCon games
''The Paladins (who have beaten the Mocs 14 straight game dating back to 1994 in Greenville), have a solid quarterback, solid running game and a good young, athletic defense,’’ said Huesman.
Furman quarterback Jordan Sorrells was 24 of 30 for 285 yards and three TD passes and ran for 51.
“Jordan ran the offense great in their win against Presbyterian and he has some good weapons (receivers) on the outside.''
Seven Paladin receivers caught at least one ball in the opener, including Adam Mims who had eight catches for 96 yards and one touchdown. Former Tennessee player Tyler Maples had three catches for 15 yards.
The Paladins threw the ball well against Presbyterian, but coach Lamb looks to the run as the key.
“We definitely want to establish the running game,'' said Lamb, whose team out gained Presbyterian on the ground last week, 210-140. “Our goal is for another game of 200 rushing yards or more.''
The Paladins, were led last week 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.
For the Mocs, B.J. Coleman was a commendable 18 of 34 for 258 yards, one touchdown (73 yarder to tight end Garrett Hughes) and no interceptions.
Six Mocs totaled 18 catches, led by senior Blue Cooper with an impressive eight catches for 127 yards.
“Our vertical passing game was good and B.J, was solid for his first college start,'' said Huesman.
But Huesman knows the Mocs running game must step up the passing game.
“We didn't run the ball very well against Glenville last week and must do a better job against Furman,'' said Huesman.
Last week, Chattanooga had 103 rushing yards, but allowed Glenville 206. Mocs freshman Chris Awuah had 68 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Quarterback Sons: Jacob Huesman is the starting quarterback for Baylor School in Chattanooga. The junior is 4-0 as a starter after playing in Richmond, Va. last year.
Taylor Lamb is a backup quarterback for Greer (S.C.) High School (1-2).
Huesman & Lamb in College: Russ Huesman (1978-81) was 3-1 vs. Furman (all three wins on the road) as a defensive back for the Mocs. Lamb (1982-85) was 2-2 vs. the Mocs, losing both times at Chamberlain Field.
Assistant Coaches: While at William and Mary, Huesman was 2-1 vs. Lamb at Furman.
Head Coach: Lamb is 7-0 vs. UTC as a head coach.
National Championship Rings: Huesman has one (2008) as an assistant coach for Richmond, while Lamb has one (1988) as an assistant at Furman.
State Champions: Huesman won two state titles and a national prep championship while playing at Moeller High School (Cincinnati) in the mid-1970s, while Lamb led Commerce (Ga.) H.S. to the 1981 Ga. AA state crown.
Mocs '64 Team Honored:
UTC will honor the 1964 Mocs football team which is celebrating its 45th anniversary this weekend ... committee members include Truman Anderson, Bert Caldwell, George Farr, Skipper Nardo, Ray Soileau and Ron Wade ... '64 team activities include a dinner last night and players recognized on the field during the tonight's game ... '64 squad was 7-3, including 5-0 at Chamberlain Field.
Need Pronunciation Guide: at running back, its Chris Awuah (aah-wah) for UTC and Tersoo Uhaa (tes-O, ooh-Hah) for Furman.
All in the QB Family: Furman reserve quarterback Chris Forcier (transfer from UCLA), is one of three Forcier brothers with D-I football experience. Younger brother, Tate, is a freshman quarterback at Michigan, while Jason was a quarterback at Stanford in 2008.
Tate and the Wolverines are at home today (3:30 p.m. ABC) against Notre Dame.
College Football Saturday
Predictions
Winners are UTC over Furman, Vols over UCLA, Auburn over Miss. State and LSU over Vandy.
Mocs look to snap 14-game losing streak to Furman ... Mocs have not beaten the Paladins since 1994 and have not won at home since 1993,
Vols-Bruins series goes back four decades plus ... in Dec. 1965 it was the Swamp Rat (Dewey Warren) leading the Vols on a late scoring drive and a real good Deep South - West Coast Rivalry was born ... Two years later, Gary Beban (The Great One) ran 20 yards on a 4th-and-2 to score late for the Bruins in a night game in the L.A. Coliseum.
Stanford over Wake Forest ... in the battle of the brains, I'll take Stanford at Wake.
USC over Ohio State ... Trojans and freshman Matt Barkley in the Horseshoe ...
Notre Dame over the Wolverines ...
great non-conference rivalry in the Big House.
Richmond at Delaware ... defending national champion Spiders on the road for second week and win again.
Iowa over Iowa State ... probably the earliest in-state rivalry game on the schedule.
In memory of ''Hold That Line local radio scoreboard show in the 1960s ...
Slippery Rock (2-0) wins at Kutztown (2-0) ... The Rock is 7-0 all-time vs.Kutztown.
Double Name Teams
Wash. & Lee wins at home against Sewanee ... should be a close game ... Sewanee has not won at W&L since
1986.
Bill & Mary wins at home vs Central Conn.
No. 10 Wash & Jefferson (appropriately named the Presidents and located in Washington, Pa.) wins at Frostbug State in a D-III game.
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net
Furman head football coach Bobby Lamb is 7-0 vs. UTC as a head coach.
photo by Furman Sports Information Dept.