Mocs Kick Off Fall Camp With Chip on Their Shoulder

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Chattanooga Mocs kicked off fall practice on Wednesday afternoon at Scrappy Moore Field. UTC is hoping to bounce back from last season’s dismal record, which snapped their three year run in the playoffs.

You can always hear the start of fall practice with the way coaches yell. The Mocs are hoping to make some noise this year after last season’s 3-8 record.
Reporter:”How much do you talk about last year’s record?”
Said defensive back C.J. Fritz:”We don’t talk about it at all. We get ready for each day. Like coach said yesterday, be where your feet are.”
Said quarterback Nick Tiano:”I mean we’ve all get a chip on our shoulder. This program has been extremely successful the last few years, so we want to keep that going and prove to everybody like you said that last year was just a fluke.”
Quarterback Cole Copeland was at practice today, even though he has been suspended for the season, reportedly for academics. He threw for over a thousand yards as a true freshman last year.
Said head coach Tom Arth:”He’ll be out all year, and pending his performance throughout the fall will determine where he stands going into the winter and spring. And then kind of reevaluate that at the end of spring.”
With Copeland ineligible, Nick Tiano and Chris James should battle for the starting job.
Said Arth:”I’m excited to see the battle. I hope they take it out of my hands. I don’t want to be the one that has to make that decision. I hope they make that decision and somebody steps up and is a clear-cut winner.”
The Mocs were among the worst teams in the nation in rushing offense last season, but they’ve added some transfer O-linemen and a sizable running back in Tyrell Price.
Said Tiano:”When you can run the ball, it makes our lives a lot easier. Hopefully we can get that going early and often and hand it off to those guys and let them get some good yards.”
A good ground game can also make things easier for the head coach
Said Arth:”I need to trust my instincts. That’s one thing that I took away from last season. Being in a new situation. Very unfamiliar territory. I need to trust my instincts.”