Chattanooga football coach Russ Huesman announced the 2009 Mocs Football schedule today. Included in the 11-game slate is a Thursday night home opener against Glenville State College and a season-ending trip to Alabama. The Mocs will play a total of five games in Finley Stadium in 2009, with three of the first four contests at home.
UTC will kick-off the season on Thursday, Sept. 3, against the Pioneers at 7:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) in Finley Stadium. GSC finished the 2008 season ranked No. 25 in the NCAA Division II national polls. They won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title after posting an 8-3 overall mark and a 7-1 record in league action.
Glenville State College is a four-year state institution in Glenville, West Virginia, with an enrollment of 1,500. Coached by Alan Fiddler, the Pioneers averaged 33.9 ppg in 2008. Despite playing Division I teams on a consistent basis, GSU has not been shutout in Fiddler's six seasons as head coach. Current Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez patrolled the Pioneer sidelines from 1990-96, winning four-straight WVIAC titles.
The Mocs continue their home schedule the following week with a match-up against Southern Conference foe, Furman. UTC looks to snap a 14-game losing streak to the Paladins on Sept. 12 at Finley Stadium. The game against the Paladins will kick-off at 6:00 p.m.
Chattanooga steps out of conference play the next week with a trip to Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., on Sept. 19. The Blue Hose went 4-8 in 2008, but have won nine of their last 11 homes games. Presbyterian will compete as a full member of the Big South in the 2009 season. Chattanooga is 3-2 all-time against the Blue Hose, but they haven't faced each other in 37 years. Their last meeting was a 31-20 Mocs win in Clinton on Nov. 3, 1962.
UTC closes out the month of September with its third home game, welcoming Wofford on Sept. 26. Chattanooga looks to even a 6-7 series record with the Terriers at 6:00 p.m.
Following the open weekend, the Mocs begin a three-game road swing with a trip to Samford on Oct. 10. UTC holds a 22-8-3 all time mark against the Bulldogs and have won three-straight in Birmingham, Ala.
Chattanooga continues the schedule with a visit to Georgia Southern on Oct. 17. UTC has won two of the last three in the series, including a 45-38 win at Statesboro on Sept. 22, 2007. That was the only road-win in the series for the Mocs, who own a 3-18 record against the Eagles all-time.
Travel continues for UTC at Elon on Oct. 24. The Mocs are 2-1 in three previous trips to face the Phoenix in Elon, N.C.
Chattanooga returns home against Western Carolina on Oct. 31. The 2:00 p.m. start is the only home game for UTC in the month of October. The Mocs are 4-2 all-time against the Catamounts in Finley Stadium.
UTC hits the road again for a visit to Appalachian State on Nov. 7. Chattanooga has not won in Boone, N.C., since 1983, dropping 12 straight road games in the series.
Senior Day for the Mocs will be Nov. 14 against The Citadel at Finley Stadium. The Mocs will kick-off at 2:00 p.m., trying to snap a three-game losing streak in the series with the Bulldogs.
The regular season concludes with a trip to Alabama on Nov. 21. The Mocs are winless in 10 games against the Crimson Tide all time. These two teams have met twice since 1959, with Alabama winning both games in Tuscaloosa in the 1991 and 1994 seasons.
Reservations for new season tickets are available online on the ticket page on GoMocs.com. New season tickets will go on sale to the general public on March 1, 2009. Renewal letters for current season ticket holders will be mailed on April 1, 2009. Current season ticket holders will have their seats reserved for renewal until May 15, 2009. Single-game tickets go on sale to the general public on Thursday, Aug. 20, two weeks before the home opener.
Season tickets start at $22 for youth, UTC employees and UTC Alumni. Season ticket prices for the general public begin at $44. Fans will save up to 12% off the single-game price when purchasing season tickets. See below for a complete pricing list.
