Mocs Chasing Upset of FBS School as They Face Illinois
Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) Mocs play their first ever Big Ten opponent Thursday as they face Illinois.
Since UTC is ranked ninth in the FCS polls, who says they can’t step up and beat an FBS school.
Last year, the Mocs nearly beat an FBS team before losing 28-23 to Kentucky.
Said Mocs head coach Rusty Wright:”I think at Kentucky, we might have gotten down 7-3 in the first quarter, but we were playing. We gave up that first drive. It was fast. They came to the sidelines. We’re like are you good now? They kind of settled in and just played. We made them play. That’s the thing. You have to make those guys go make plays. You can’t give them things.”
Cats didn’t make many plays running the ball.
Mocs held’em to just 102 yards rushing.
Said Mocs linebacker Kam Jones:”It was a legit defense last year. We have the ability to play anybody in the country.”
Sounds like Illinois coaches will be showing that Kentucky game to their players.
Said Illinois head coach Bret Bielema:”Took Kentucky last year who was a really good football team to the fourth quarter. I believe it was a 28-23 game or somewhere in that ballpark. Yeah they’re a very talented football team and one that we’ve got to prepare our tails off for because I know they’re coming over here with the idea of one thing. Making history for themselves.”
Said Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney:”They all understand that any given Saturday it’s fair game across the country. It’s just becoming more and more common not just withing divisions. It’s just the way college football is. Any given Saturday, you don’t know what’s going to happen so you better bring your best on Saturday.”
So what will it take for UTC to pull off the upset?
Said Wright:”You’ve got to be able to withstand the initial part of it. That’s the thing because a lot of times these things get out of hand. They boat race you early. You’ve got to withstand that.”
Said Jones:”They have some great players, so I think for us it’s going to be about going out there and doing the best we can.”
Mocs and Illinois kick at 8:30 on Thursday from Champaign, Illinois.
