.,;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; While the UTC Football Nation is focusing on 2013 and a possible run at a Southern Conference title, it’s worth looking at 2014.
Originally set for the season opener on Aug. 30, the UT-UTC game is now scheduled for Oct. 11 in Knoxville.
12-Game Schedule in 2014: With 11 dates already filled – five of them as home games at Finley Stadium - and open dates on Aug.
30 and Sept. 20, UTC has the option of staying with 11 games, but preferably having a home opener on Aug. 30.
The Mocs could bring in an NCAA D-II team on a one game contract as the home opener or have a home-and-home series with a FCS school in this region.
That return game (away) could be played from 2015-2018 depending on how the new Southern Conference schedule is set from year-to-year with VMI, Mercer and East Tennessee State joining the league.,;;,
VMI and Mercer will play a SoCon schedule in 2014, with East Tenn. State set to play at least three conference games (possibly one with UTC) in 2015.
UTC plans to announce its full 2014 schedule in early 2014.
“We would like to announce the full schedule after the first of the year in conjunction with the new season ticket plans and also sometime close to signing day in early February so as to take advantage of people talking about college football,” said Matt Pope, the senior associate athletics director for finance.
Back to 11 Games: UTC will play 11 games from 2015-1018 and then will have the option to play 12 games in 2019.
BCS Games: UTC plays at Tennessee (Oct. 11, 2014) and at Florida State (Nov. 21, 2015).
“We are at UT next year and at Florida State in 2015, but we are not ready to announce any other future games with BCS schools at this time,” said Pope.
The partial 2014 UTC football schedule:
Aug. 30 – Open Date
Sept. 6 – Ga. State (home opener)
Sept. 13 - at Austin Peay
Sept. 20 – Open Date
Oct. 11 – at Tennessee
Southern Conference home games should be with VMI, Mercer, Samford and Wofford.
Away games should be with The Citadel, Furman and Western Carolina.
2014 U. of Tennessee Schedule: The Vols asked UTC to move the game to Oct. 11 from the original date of Aug.30 ... UT has not announced its opponent for Aug. 30, but it is could be a Chick-fil-A Bowl type game to open the season…
Home and Home with Oklahoma … the Vols travel to OU on Sept, 13, 2014 and host the Sooners on Sept. 12, 2015
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net