Chattanooga Football Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga at Mercer
Five Star Stadium – Macon, Ga.
Saturday – Oct. 14, 2017

Head Coach Tom Arth
Opening thoughts on the game:
"Plaqued by penalties and self-inflicted mistakes.  I can't even count how many penalties we had, whether it was jumping offsides, defensive holding, pass interference or substitution error on offense.  So many things that we are in control of and we need to be better at. 

"We are seven games into this and even our guys that are playing for the first time, they are not rookies any more.  We have to grow up and execute at a higher level.  We have to play better in all phases of the game."

On accountability within the team:
"I think when you are the leader, that comes with the territory.  Everything that happens on the football field is my responsibility.  That is just the way that it is and the way that it will always be.  When things go good, I am sure I will get a lot of credit, which I probably won't have much to do with.  Players win games and coaches lose them.  That is the way that it is.  All we can do is fight and we just have to keep getting better."

On the play of true freshman QB Cole Copeland:
"He doesn't act like a freshman and he doesn't compete like a freshman.  I am so proud of him, and I just wish we were able to play a little bit better around him.  He is playing at a high level.  Unfortunately, we are having a hard time capitalizing on one another. 

"We had opportunities in the first half where we could have moved the ball and put some points on the board.  The defense was playing great, unfortunately we just … we are not finishing halves well, offensive or defensively.  We are giving up scores at the end of the half, which is a big predictor of success, one way or the other.  We have to do better there."

On his message to the team after the 1-6 start:
"We showed our leadership council the Dr. Rigby video.  Once you hit that rock bottom, that is where you build that foundation.  These seniors, they can be responsible for that.  They can be responsible for rebuilding that foundation and helping this program getting back to where it is capable of going." 

Cole Copeland – Fr.-QB
On the offensive effort today:
"We drove it down the field, we just stalled it in the red zone.  We were doing the right things, not missing assignments.  I have to stop taking sacks.  I put us in a bad position a couple of times.  Especially, getting behind the chains.  Execution was good at time and at times it was poor.  We have to clean some stuff up.  We will." 

On getting comfortable with the offense: 
"I feel a lot better.  The first week I was a little shaky, coming in not knowing what it is like.  Hopefully, I can build on it." 

On the play of Darrell Bridges:
"I couldn't' be prouder.  We have the grit.  It is just execution and the little things.  We are going to clean it up.  It is just as simple as that, we are going to clean it up."

Derek Mahaffey – Jr.-DL
Thoughts on the play of the defense:
"We improved.  Last week, we struggled with the run, but this week we took the line out.  We hurt ourselves with penalties but other than that, I thought we played well as a unit.  We just have to eliminate the minor mistakes."

On guys missing time due to injuries and Dale Warren coming back:
"Dale played an excellent game.  I loved his energy.  He played every snap at full-speed.  Of course, we miss those guys, but as the core of our lineup, I feel comfortable with anyone out there." 

On keeping the team positive:
"You have to understand that it is football.  Things are not always going to go your way.  When you are at the bottom, it is how you respond.  All we have is each other.  We just have to come together and it is going to eventually fall for us."