The three-time defending Southern Conference champion Chattanooga Mocs open the 2016 football season at home tonight against Shorter University at Finley Stadium at 7.
UTC coach Russ Huesman is in his eighth season with the Blue and Gold with a record of 50-33.
The Mocs are led by a pair of All-Americans in offensive lineman Corey Levin and defensive end Keionta Davis, plus pre-season All-Americans Deriick Craine (RB), (offensive line) and Senior running back Derrick Craine, senior linebacker Nakevion Leslie, senior kicker Henrique Ribeiro and junior defensive back Lucas Webb along with Levin and Davis..
The Chattanooga Mocs are 72-33-3 (.681) in home openers all-time. UTC has posted a 10-8 (.556) mark in the 18 at Finley Stadium. Chattanooga was 62-21-3 (.738) in the 86 seasons played on Chamberlain Field. The Mocs are 3-4 in the seven home openers during the Russ Huesman era.
Chattanooga is 59-48-1 (.551) in all-time season openers. The Mocs have lost six straight openers, but three of those were to FBS teams.
Shorter University is an NCAA D-II school and a member of the Gulf South Conference
The Hawks are led by All-American senior running back B.J. McCoy who led the Hawks and the GSC in rushing a year ago with 1,489 yards. He also scored 10 TD on 207 carries. He finished the year with 100+ yards in nine of the Hawks 10 games – including the final eight of the season – and surpassed the 200-yard mark twice.
Tickets
Tickets are available now at the UTC Ticket Office by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online on GoMocs.com. In addition to the regular business hours of the UTC Ticket Office (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at McKenzie Arena, the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket window at Finley Stadium opens on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 2:00 p.m. All other ticket windows open at 4:00 p.m. on gameday.
Dylan Scott To Play Pre-Game
Up-and-coming country artist Dylan Scott is playing the pregame Mocs Block tailgate on Chestnut Street, beginning at 5:00 p.m. This is a FREE concert open to all fans. The traditional tailgate in the First Tennessee Pavilion is also taking place all day, leading up to kickoff.