3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Spring Practice Schedule Set
The Chattanooga Mocs being their 2009 Spring practice on Thursday, March 19 at 3:30 p.m. on Scrappy Field. UTC will have 14 practice days during their Spring schedule. Practice concludes with the annual Spring Game on April 18. Practices are open to the public and fans are encouraged to come out and see the building of the 2009 Mocs Football Team. A full calendar of Spring Practice dates is located on page 1 of the Spring Practice Notes .pdf. Please note that Spring practice times are subject to change. For updates on Spring practice, visit www.GoMocs.com.
Q&A With Head Coach Russ Huesman
Chattanooga head football coach Russ Huesman recently discussed the upcoming Spring practice in a brief Q&A. He revealed his thoughts on the purpose of Spring practice and his goals for the next four weeks.
What are your thoughts on the team now that they have gone through winter conditioning?
“I like them. I think they are working hard in the weight room and in the classroom. They are doing what we are asking them to do. We just got the lifting results and we got stronger in the offseason. That is a positive and it is always encouraging to see results this early in the process. They are a good bunch of kids and I can't wait to really get started working with them. We have a lot of hard work to do over the next few weeks, but I think they are ready to go.”
What is your approach to Spring practice?
“It is a lot different this year because it is a new staff. Spring practice is usually a time to get young kids better and to change and tweak things. It is usually a chance to do things differently both offensively and defensively.”
“This year it is a huge evaluation process for the coaching staff. It is a chance for us as a coaching staff to see what we have as football players. We are trying to find out who can play. We want to find out who is good and who is not. As a staff, we are still going to incorporate our offense, defense and special teams philosophies. We are also evaluating players and trying to determine what we have coming back.”
What do you anticipate will be a strength with this team?
“I would have to say the offensive line. I like our offensive line a whole lot. I think they can move pretty well. They have been working really hard in the offseason and have been showing a lot of great leadership. I have been very impressed with them throughout the winter conditioning and the offseason programs.”
“I think another strength of our team could be our skill guys. We do have some speed at the skill positions, which is always good. Those are the two areas that have stood out so far.”
How will it affect what you are trying to do on offense with RBs Brian Fitzgerald and Erroll Wynn out due to injuries?
“It effects what we are going to do because you always want everyone available for Spring. However, I have been places where you could barely get a full offense or defense out there due to injuries. I think we are fairly healthy, even without the two running backs. We have seen enough of them on film to know that they are both legit Southern Conference backs. There is no question about that.”
“We are going to redshirt Erroll in the Fall anyway, so we are really just missing one of our top running backs based on who will be available next season. He may end up getting some action at the end of the Spring, but we don't know that for sure. Fitzgerald is still dealing with an injury, so we still don't know if he will get any action in the Spring either.”
“The good side is J.J. Jackson, Shawn Kermah, Bo Dyer and the rest of the guys will get a lot of work. We have enough people at that spot, so it will be good to see what they can do.”
With five quarterbacks on the team and two more set to join in the fall, what is the competition like?
“I think it is wide open. We are not going into this with any preconceived notions about who can play and who can't play at that position. I can tell you that the guy who won't play is the one who is throwing interceptions. If he is not getting us into the right play, he won't play. That is something that we will have to emphasize in the Spring. We are not going to turn the ball over at that position. We are not going to make bad decisions at that position.”
There are 19 starters returning overall, including eight on offense and eight on defense. Is it encouraging to have that much experience returning?
“Anytime you have guys returning who have game experience, it is a positive. Wether it was good or bad, they have been in those situations. The lights have been turned on and they have played against good teams and good players. It is always good to have a bunch of guys who have a lot of experience.”
How do you set up your Spring practice schedule?
“Obviously there are NCAA limitations on what you can do. The first two practices have to be helmets only. There will be a lot of individual work on those first two days. Once we put pads on you can only have three full scrimmage situations and we will utilize all three. Not everyone does that, but we will have three at Finely Stadium, including the final one on April 18. You have to teach fundamentals and technique, but there is also a lot of value of putting those things to test in game situations. We will make it very game-like with officials for our three scrimmages.”
“One emphasis when you come out to practice is staying on our feet. When we are not scrimmaging and it is not a tackle situation, nobody should be on the ground. We are going to stay on our feet and thud ball-carriers up. What that does is force guys to move their feet and makes players more athletic. You just can't lean and run. You have to be athletic to do those things. That will be a huge emphasis and will hear us yelling to ?Stay on your feet' at every practice.”
Spring game April 18
The 2009 Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 18, at Finley Stadium - Davenport Field. The Mocs will conclude Spring practice with the annual scrimmage kicking-off at 7:00 p.m. (E.S.T.).
Season No. 102
The Chattanooga Mocs will begin preparation for the 102nd season of UTC football on March 19 with the start of Spring practice. The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football began play in 1904. No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I. There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944. The Mocs have an all-time record of 449-464-32 (.492) and have won 10 conference titles.
Mocs hire huesman as 22nd head coach
When the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Director of Athletics Rick Hart began the search for the Mocs' new head football coach, he had a list of qualities he was looking for in potential candidates. He had a plan and an idea from the beginning of the process and looked all over the college football landscape for the right person for the job.
First and foremost, Hart was looking for someone who could set an example for the student-athletes in the Mocs' football program. He wanted a leader and a teacher who could fulfill the mission of Chattanooga Athletics, “To guide, encourage and support Student-Athletes in their quest for comprehensive excellence - academically, athletically and socially - above all else, to prepare Student-Athletes for productive and meaningful lives.”
Second, Hart was looking for someone who could unite and ignite the fan base of Chattanooga. He wanted a coach with a proven track record for winning and one that could bring the passion and excitement needed to sell the program to students, alumni and the Chattanooga community.
On Dec. 22, 2008, Hart introduced the perfect fit for Chattanooga Football in coaching veteran and UTC alum Russ Huesman. Huesman has over 25 years of college coaching experience, having spent the last five years as the defensive coordinator at the University of Richmond. He takes over as the 22nd head coach in Chattanooga history after helping to guide the Spiders to the 2008 FCS National Title on Dec. 19, 2008.
Huesman?s success as a coach was on display for all of Chattanooga and college football to see in the 2008 FCS title game against Montana in Finley Stadium. The Spider's defense held the Grizzlies to just 39 yards rushing and seven points in a 24-7 win for Richmond. It was the first national title in the Spider's history.
Huesman's ability to ignite and unite the fan base of Chattanooga is evident in his passion for his alma mater. He is a 1983 graduate of UTC, having been a four-year starter at defensive back from 1978-81. He also played centerfield for the Mocs baseball team in his freshman and junior years.
Having graduated from UTC, Huesman brings a unique insight and experience to the position. His direct knowledge and relationships with former players and alumni will allow him to bring back the passion and interest in UTC football.
Starters/Lettermen Returning/LOST
The Mocs return a total of 42 lettermen from the 2008 campaign. There are 21 coming back on the offensive side of the ball, while 17 return on defense. Four specialists will also return for the 2009 season. There are 19 starters returning, including eight on offense, eight on defense and three on special teams.
Among the 21 offensive players returning are four of the five starting offensive linemen. Junior Justin Galyon is back at center while senior Bryce Garcia and junior T.J. Hurless were the starting guards in 2008. Junior Chris Harr is the lone returning tackle on the offensive side of the ball. Both starting receivers are back in senior Blue Cooper and junior Chris Pitchford. The backfield also consists of a pair of seniors who are returning starters. Jare Gault is back at quarterback while Erroll Wynn returns to the running back position. Senior Bryan Fitzgerald, a preseason first-team All-Southern Conference selection last year, is also back after having his 2008 campaign stopped due to a knee injury before the beginning of the season.
Gone from last year's squad are starting fullback Brent Hayes (Sr.-4L), tight end Joseph Pitman (Sr.-4L) and guard William Giles (Sr.-4L). Hayes started 10 games last season, rushing for 70 yards on 19 carries. Pitman started all 12 contests and had five catches for 47 yards. Giles was a preseason All-SoCon selection and started 11 times on the offensive line.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Mocs return most of their starting secondary. Sophomore Chris Lewis-Harris and junior Buster Skrine are back on the corners, while sophomore J.D. Dothard returns at safety. Senior Tony Swafford started nine games at safety last season, but is moving up to linebacker for Spring Practice. UTC also brings back two senior linebackers who started last season in Doug Faatiliga and Joseph Thornton. The down linemen returning include senior Jaron Norfleet on the end and senior B.J. Taylor at defensive tackle.
The defense lost four starters from a year ago in defensive end Neil Brown (Sr.-3L), nose tackle Rodney Beamon (Sr-2L), linebacker Jarvis Newsome (Sr.-4L) and cornerback Raeshon Ball (Sr-2L). Ball was third on the team with 53 tackles while recording an interception and four pass breakups. Brown posted 52 tackles and 2.5 sacks while Newsome had 50 tackles and 2.0 sacks. Beamon recorded 38 tackles and a team-high four sacks.
Chattanooga's kicking corps is intact from last season. Senior Jeff Lloyd was the primary punter in 2008 while senior Craig Camay was the place kicker. Sophomore Brock Oliver is back to compete for the long-snapping duties. Skrine was inserted into punt-return duty late in the season and proved to be a valuable special teams weapon. He averaged 27.7 yards per punt return in six attempts last season.
Both returners are gone from last season, including Ball and junior Jordan Hazard. Hazard handled the majority of the returns, including 19 punt returns and 43 kick returns. He averaged 7.9 yards per punt return and 18.4 yards per kick return. Ball had 19 punt returns for a 14.1 average.
Rosters, depth chart and breakdowns
A complete roster for Spring Practice is located on pages 8-9 while a depth chart is found on pages 10-11 of the Spring Notes .pdf. A breakdown of the starters/lettermen returning and lost is located on page 12 while a full roster breakdown is on page 15.
Majority of the Mocs are From Tennessee & Georgia
Of the 80 members projected to be on the Mocs' roster in the Fall, 64 list Tennessee or Georgia as their home state. Five Mocs are from Alabama and four hail from California. There is one representative each from Canada, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
Both Top Running backs to miss spring practice
Seniors Erroll Wynn and Bryan Fitzgerald were expected to compete for the starting position at running back during Spring practice. However, both are nursing offseason injuries and will not participate in Spring Practice. Fitzgerald was supposed to be the No. 1 running back last season. A preseason All-SoCon first team selection, his season ended just before the first game when he suffered a knee injury. Wynn took over the starting duties and totaled 636 yards on 196 carries in 2008. Fitzgerald ran for 798 yards on 117 carries in 2007. Wynn played most of the 2008 season with a broken hand and broke his right leg in the season finale.
Others Banged up for spring practice
Junior Garrett Hughes will miss Spring practice after having offseason wrist surgery. Freshman offensive lineman Nick Gipson is also out after suffering a knee injury during offseason workouts.
Crowded at QB
The Mocs currently have five quarterbacks on the roster for Spring practice and are set to bring in two more with the 2009 recruiting class. Seniors Jare Gault and Tony Pastore are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the Spring depth chart. Gault started 10 games last season, connecting on 99-190 attempts for 961 yards, seven TDs and six interceptions. Pastore saw action in five games with two starts. He threw for 456 yards and four TDs on 27-59 passing and four INTs. Sophomore Sloan Allison also saw action last season, completing 35-87 passes for 331 yards in 11 games. Junior Cody Romans returns to the Mocs after seeing action in one game in 2008. Sophomore Bret Stanton moves from punter to QB for Spring practice. He threw for 5,465 yards in his career at Carter High School in Strawberry Plains, Tenn. It was the most passing yards in Knoxville history and the third highest mark in Tennessee history when he graduated in 2006. Incoming freshmen Zac Fairchild and Graham Nichols will be in the QB mix in the Fall semester.
Familiar faces in different places
There has been some shifting of the roster for the upcoming Spring practice and some returning players will be adjusting to new positions. The more noticeable changes begin with starting safety Tony Swafford moving up to linebacker. Swafford started nine times in 2008 and was second on the team with 61 tackles, including a career-high 11 against Furman. He is No. 1 on the Spring depth chart at the Rover position.
A pair of Mocs will be moving from offense to defense. Sophomore Joel Bradford moved over from receiver to defensive back and is slated to backup Chris Lewis-Harris on the left corner. Senior Lee Hilt will also make the move from receiver to defensive back. He is No. 2 at the Whip position going into spring practice.
Sophomore Bret Stanton was listed as a punter for his first two seasons at Chattanooga but will compete at quarterback in Spring practice. The Strawberry Plains, Tenn., native threw for 5,465 yards in high school which was the third highest career total in Tennessee history when he graduated in 2006. Junior Garrett Hughes has 15 games under his belt as a receiver. He moves to the backfield where he is backing up Shaun Kermah at the fullback position.
Number Changes
A number of Mocs have changed their numbers for the upcoming season. Seniors Justin Buckhalter, Tony Pastore and Shawn Kermah all changed their numbers for their final year at UTC. Bradford went from 82 to No. 3, while Pastore traded No. 15 for 13. Kermah dropped from 27 to No. 17. Sophomore Joel Bradford moved from No. 19 to No. 4. Redshirt freshman Bo Dyer traded in No. 29 to move to 32. Fellow redshirt freshman Jeff Veres moved from No. 80 to No. 39.
Wynn Leads the Way on the Ground...Will MISS Spring Practice and plans to redshirt
Senior RB Erroll Wynn led Chattanooga's ground attack with 636 yards and three touchdowns on 196 carriers last season. Despite being slowed by a wrist injury for the early part of the 2008 season, Wynn is making a move into the rushing record books at UTC. His 460 career rushing attempts is currently ranked No. 8 all time at Chattanooga. He needs 152 attempts to break the all-time record held by James Roberts (1990-93). He has 1,804 career rushing yards and needs 85 more to break into the Mocs' top-10. He has a chance to break into the top-5 in Chattanooga's record books. Wynn will be held out of Spring practice due to an off season injury. He is also planning to redshirt the 2009 regular season.
Woods Receptive
Senior wideout Clint Woods led the Mocs with 512 yards on 49 catches in 2008. He also caught three touchdown passes averaging 10.4 yards per catch. With 95 career receptions, Woods needs 24 more to move into the Mocs' top-8 all time. He also has an outside chance of breaking into UTC's top-10 for receiving yards, sitting 663 yards out of the top-10 at the end of his junior year.
Mocs Sign 15-Member Recruiting Class...Ranked no. 9 in FCS by rivals.com
Chattanooga head football coach Russ Huesman will welcome 15 freshmen to the Scenic City next season. Despite getting a late start to recruiting after being named the Mocs' 22nd head coach on Dec. 22, 2008, Huesman grabbed a ton of regional talent to fill Chattanooga's needs for the future. With the exception of one freshman transfer, the entire Mocs recruiting class consists of high school seniors set to graduate in May 2009. Also among the 15 are two student-athletes with at least a two-star rating by Rivals.com and Scout.com and seven others who earned all-state recognition during their prep careers. Huesman and his staff kept their recruiting focus close to home with the 2009 class. All 15 of the signees are from either Georgia or Tennessee. For complete biographical information on the class see pages 13-14.
The 2009 Chattanooga Mocs Football recruiting class was ranked No. 9 in the Football Championships Subdivision according to Rivals.com. The list of signees includes Marlon Anthony (WR ? Acworth, Ga./Kell HS), Chris Auwah (RB ? Marietta, Ga./South Cobb HS), Will Brooks (FB ? White Pine, Tenn./Jefferson County HS), David Clemons (OL ? Calhoun, Ga./Calhoun HS), Wes Dothard (LB ? Carrollton, Ga./Carrollton HS), Zac Fairchild (QB - Ringgold, Ga./Ringgold HS), Jake Francis (OL ? Marietta, Ga./Walton HS), Briant Henry (SS - Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee HS), Durlandis Hill (DE ? Newnan, Ga./Newman HS), D.J. Key (DB - Centerville, Tenn./Hickman County HS), Gunner Miller (LB/FB - Chattanooga, Tenn./East Ridge HS), Graham Nichols (QB ? Franklin, Tenn./Franklin HS), Brian Sutherland (WR ? Smyrna, Ga./Miami University), Joshua Williams (DE ? Griffin, Ga./Stephenson HS), Kadeem Wise (CB - Lawrenceville, Ga./Berkmar HS)
Not only do these student-athletes posses excellent resumes for their play on the field, they are also excellent students in the classroom. Of the 15 signees, nine were either honor roll students, members of the national honor society or in the Beta Club. Brooks was a class president a named the Student of the Year as a junior. Clemons earned two letters on the academic quiz team while Henry earned the PSAT National Merit Award. Sutherland was Campbell High School's Scholar Athlete of the Year and Williams earned honors as the top Biology Student at Stephenson High School.
Quick Notes on Chattanooga's 2009 Recruiting Class
- 15 members, all from either Georgia or Tennessee
- 14 are current high school seniors
- 1 transfer who is currently enrolled as a true freshman
- 2 with at least a two-star rating by Rivals.com and Scout.com
- 7 earned all-state recognition during their prep careers
- 1 finalist for the Tennessee Mr. Football Award
- 4 from Tennessee
- 11 from Georgia
- 3 from the Chattanooga area
- 9 expected to contribute on offense ? 2 QBs, 2 WRs, 2OL, 2 FBs, 1 RB
- 6 expected to contribute on defense ? 1 LB, 3 DBs, 2 Des
- 9 honor role/National Honor Society/Beta Club students
- 3 earned Scholar-Athlete of the Year/Student of the Year/Top Student honors
Mocs Have a Challenging Schedule for 2008
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 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. It will be the Mocs' first trip to Clinton, S.C. since 1962. UTC closes out the month of September with its third home game, welcoming Wofford on Sept. 26 for Homecoming.
Following the open weekend, the Mocs begin a three-game road swing with a trip to Samford on Oct. 10. UTC continues the schedule with a visit to Georgia Southern on Oct. 17 and Elon on Oct. 24.
Chattanooga returns home against Western Carolina on Oct. 31 before hitting the road again for a visit to Appalachian State on Nov. 7. Senior Day for the Mocs will be Nov. 14 against The Citadel at Finley Stadium. The season finale is set for Nov. 21 at Alabama.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
New season tickets went 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.
Assistant Coaches with Chattanooga Ties
Chattanooga head coach Russ Huesman has put together an impressive group of assistant coaches for the 2009 season. Not only are the assistants very experienced college football coaches, but many of them posses ties to UTC and Chattanooga. A UTC letterman himself, Huesman brought in former Moc teammate Russ Ehrenfeld (1977-80) to guide the offensive line. Tony Coode, the tight-end's coach, also played at UTC from 1998-00. Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield was a graduate assistant at UTC from 1999-00 and the receivers coach in 2001. Defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator Carter Cardwell has had two previous stints at UTC. He was the tight-ends coach in 1989 and coached the offensive line, tight-ends and running backs from 1997-02. Offensive assistant Will Healy is a Chattanooga native and all-state quarterback at Boyd-Buchanan High School.
The remainder of Huesman's staff includes defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, defensive backs assistant B.J. Hogan, running backs coach Jason McManus, defensive line coach Fred Tate and defensive line assistant coach Marcus West.
Huesman's connection to the Super Bowl champion steelers
UTC head coach Russ Huesman has strong ties to the 2009 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. During his time at William & Mary, he coached Pittsburgh's head coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin was a three-year starter as a wide receiver/tight-end for the Tribe and was a second-team All-Yankee Conference selection in 1994. Tomlin is the youngest head coach in NFL history to win the Super Bowl.
Mocs honored for their work in the classroom
A total of 24 members of the UTC football program were honored for their work in the classroom for the 2008 Fall semester. 16 Mocs, including Joel Bradford, Nick Craig, Ryan Geist, Michael Hammons, Brent Hayes, Mitchell Meadows, Malachi McGee, Adam Miller, Timothy Oliver, Cody Romans, Steve Smigelsky, Dustin Tate, Jeff Veres, Phillip Walliser, Austin Wilson and Dylan Young were all honored on the Dean's List for having a 3.2 semester grade-point-average. Miller held the distinction of having a 4.0 g.p.a. for the Fall term. An additional eight were named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for posting a 3.0 g.p.a., including Ryan Consiglio, Louis Gibson, Thomas Green, Chris Harr, Tony Pastore, Charles Profit, Kenny Scrivens and Joseph Thornton. Smigelsky and William Giles also earned spots on the 2008 Academic All-SoCon squad for having a 3.2 cumulative g.p.a. and competing in 50% of the Mocs' games last season.
Rene haugerud & John Murphy Donate $500,000 to UTC Football
Renee Haugerud and John Murphy recently contributed $500,000 to the Mocs' football program as part of a $2 million gift to UTC. Murphy is a former member of the Mocs' football team from 1977-1980. He was the long-snapper on three Southern Conference championship squads during his career at UTC. He was also a teammate of current head coach Russ Huesman and assistant coach Russ Ehrenfeld. Murphy and Ehrenfeld were roommates for three years during their time with the Mocs. Haugerud and Murphy's gift totals $2 million for the University. In addition to the $500,000 given to the Mocs' football program, the couple also donated $1.5 million to UTC's College of Business. The donation to the business school is for the development of the Renee Haugerud and John H. Murphy Global Finance Center. This center will serve the more than 1,900 students from all business majors at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Brenda Lawson Student-Athlete Success Center
The Brenda Lawson Student-Athlete Success Center opened in December 2008 and is a valuable asset for the UTC football program. The $3.2 million facility is includes the Wolford Strength and Conditioning Center which is considered one of the best strength and conditioning facilities in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Wolford Center includes nearly every type of weight training equipment necessary to help UTC student-athletes perform at the highest level. Unique to the facility is a 43-yard, 3-lane indoor track. The track allows for agility and speed training and a proper warm-up area inside the weight room. The facility also contains a variety of cardio and rehab equipment for the exclusive use of UTC student-athletes. The entire facility overlooks Vine Street and is conveniently located in the middle of campus.
NFL Connections
Three members of the Mocs have direct connections to the National Football League. Senior receiver Justin Buckhalter is the brother of Chris and Correll Buckhalter, both of whom played for the Philadelphia Eagles. Correll is still on the active roster. Senior linebacker Steven Smigelsky is the son of Dave Smigelsky who punted for the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins. Senior wideout Clint Woods is the son of Chris Woods who played for the Oakland Raiders.
MOCS IN THE NFL
There are three former Mocs who are likely to be on an NFL roster in the Fall. Terrell Owens (1992-96) recently signed with the Buffalo Bills while Terdell Sands (1999) is currently with the Oakland Raiders. Eldra Buckley (2005-06) was recently released from the San Diego Chargers, but is expected to be picked up by another team before the start of the season.
UTC Hosts Division I Championship Game
UTC and the City of Chattanooga will host the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. The game will be played at Finley Stadium for the 13th straight year. Specific game date and time are still to be determined.
