The Chattanooga Mocs are 7-time Southern Conference Champs. The league coaches and media association agree that an eighth is on the horizon though the local ball coach proceeds with caution.
“Last time I checked,” Coach Rusty Wright started. “They don’t give out trophies in July. We are excited about this team.
It has the potential to be special, but there’s a lot of work to do to get there. That comes in practice and is applied each Saturday in the fall.
“I’d certainly rather talk about being first in November when is all said and done. This group can make that a reality.”
The Mocs received four of eight possible first-place votes on the coaches’ side (coaches cannot vote for their own team in the poll). Samford (2), VMI (2) and ETSU (1) got the other five ranking two through four, respectively. Furman is next in fifth followed by Mercer, The Citadel, Wofford and Western Carolina.
The media leads with Chattanooga taking the top spot on 18 of 30 ballots. VMI (6) is next with ETSU (3), Furman (1) and Samford (2) all tied for third while accounting for the remaining first-place tallies. Mercer comes in sixth with Wofford, The Citadel and Western Carolina rounding out the prognostications.
There are four Mocs picked to the first team offense and defense per the coaches. Reigning Jacobs Blocking Award winner Cole Strange and running back Ailym Ford rep one side of the ball with DL Devonnsha Maxwell and DB Brandon Dowdell on the other.
Second team offensive selections include offensive line stalwarts McClendon Curtis and Harrison Moon along with wide receiver Reginald Henderson. OLB Jay Person and DB Jerrell Lawson get nods on the second team defense. Curtis (Chattanooga), Moon (Signal Mountain) and Person (Cleveland) are all Chattanooga-area natives.
The Mocs are readying for the 2021 fall campaign. Home games await hosting Austin Peay, Western Carolina, ETSU, Furman and The Citadel. It opens on Thursday, Sept. 2, with a visit from the Governors. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
To build on top of the optimistic news of the day, the Mocs have a special offer for new season ticket buyers. For the remainder of the week, purchasers get $10 off providing $30 general admission seat or $89 for reserved chairback covering the 5-game slate. Use the promo code “NUMBERONE”.
The Mocs Club is also getting wrapped up in the excitement of the new season. New members joining for $20.21 become a member at the $100 level. Both promotions run through Friday. Tickets are available by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online here at GoMocs.com. Fans also can go through the GoMocs app available on Android and Apple IOS devices in their respective app stores.
2021 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
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Team (1st-place votes)
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|
Total
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|
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1. Chattanooga (4)
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|
59
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|
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2. Samford (2)
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|
52
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|
|
3. VMI (2)
|
|
50
|
|
|
4. ETSU (1)
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|
49
|
|
|
5. Furman
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|
34
|
|
|
6. Mercer
|
|
29
|
|
|
7. The Citadel
|
|
22
|
|
|
8. Wofford
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|
21
|
|
|
9. Western Carolina
|
|
8
|
|
2021 Preseason All-Southern Conference Football Teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Liam Welch, QB, Gr., Samford
Defensive Player of the Year: Stone Snyder, LB, Jr., VMI
2021 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
|
Team (1st-place votes)
|
|
Total
|
|
|
1. Chattanooga (18)
|
|
248
|
|
|
2. VMI (6)
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|
217
|
|
|
t3. ETSU (3)
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|
181
|
|
|
t3. Furman (1)
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181
|
|
|
t3. Samford(2)
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181
|
|
|
6. Mercer
|
|
123
|
|
|
7. Wofford
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|
108
|
|
|
8. The Citadel
|
|
79
|
|
|
9. Western Carolina
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|
32
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|