Chattanooga Football Game Notes
No. 13/14 Chattanooga Mocs (0-0, 0-1 SoCon) at No. 12 LSU Tigers (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
Tiger Stadium (102,321) – Baton Rouge, La.
Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 – 7:39 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (Real 96.1 FM – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)
TV:  SEC Network – Tom Hart (pxp), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline). 
Online: Live Audio, WatchESPN & Live Stats Links on GoMocs.com
 
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team stays on the road for the second game of the year when it travels to Baton Rouge, La., to face 12th-ranked LSU.  This is the eighth time in the last 10 years the Mocs have taken on a top 15 opponent from the Football Bowl Subdivision.
 
UTC is 0-1 after dropping a 27-13 matchup with No. 5 Jacksonville State in the Guardian FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Ala., on Aug. 26.  Chattanooga is No. 13 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and No. 14 in the FCS Coaches Poll, the two rankings officially recognized by the NCAA. 
 
LSU brings a 1-0 mark that includes a 27-0 shutout against BYU in New Orleans on Sept. 2.  The Tigers are No. 12 in the both the Coaches Poll and Associated Press Top 25.   
 
Game time is set for 7:39 p.m. (E.D.T.) from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.  Tom Hart is handling the play-by-play for the SEC Network, and is joined by Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline).
 
This is just the second meeting between these two teams.  LSU took a 26-19 win in the previous game on Nov. 6, 1954 in Baton Rouge.
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on the radio on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga.  Jim Reynolds has the play-by-play with Todd Agne giving the color commentary and Will Poindexter on the sideline.  A link for a free audio broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.  Fans can also listen to the game on the iHeart Radio app by searching for Real 96.1 FM on their mobile device.
 
SEC NETWORK
The Mocs-LSU game airs on the SEC Network.  A list of providers with specific channel numbers is below.     
EPB - 332
AT&T U-verse - 607/1607
Comcast - 740 or 400
DirecTV - 611
Dish - 408 or Hopper 404
Verizon FiOS - 75/575
 
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga". After that, we prefer to be called "Chattanooga" or "UTC."  Our nickname is "Mocs".
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE LSU GAME
• This is just the second meeting the series ... LSU won the other, 26-19 on Nov. 6, 1954. 
• The Mocs are 4-116-3 all-time against teams currently in the SEC ... UTC has a win over Ole Miss (31-6 on 11/29/45) and Vanderbilt (13-6 on Nov. 10, 1945) and two over Tennessee (5-0 on Dec. 2, 1905 and 14-6 on Nov. 8, 1958).
 
LSU NOTES
• LSU allowed the fewest touchdowns (16) and fewest touchdowns per game (1.3) in college football in 2016.  They continued that trend with their 27-0 shutout against BYU last week. 
• The Tigers' defense finished ranked No. 5 in points per game and No. 10 in total yards. In 2016, LSU held six of its 12 opponents to fewer than 300 total yards.
• LSU is 54-1 in regular season non-conference games since the 2002 season.
 
NOTES FROM THE JACKSONVILLE STATE GAME
• The No. 12 Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 27-13 matchup against No. 5 Jacksonville State in the Guardian FCS Kickoff in Montgomery, Ala., on Aug. 26 on ESPN.
• The Mocs put up 294 yards of total offense … 76 rushing and 218 passing.
• UTC lost the turnover battle 3-2 … the Mocs threw two INTs and lost a fumble … JSU had two INTs.
• Richardre Bagley – Sr.-RB ... five catches for 55 yards ... tied career-high for receptions ... 627 career receiving yards is fifth all-time for RBs at UTC … 74 receptions is second all-time at UTC for RBs.
• Tavon Lawson – Jr.-LB ... career-high 14 tackles in his first game at LB ... first career game with 10 tackles.
• Joseph Parker – Jr.-WR ... six catches for 56 yards and TD in his first game after transferring from Wyoming.
• Nick Tiano – So.-QB ... 23-43 passing for 218 yards, one TD and an INT in his first career start ... ran eight times for 68 yards.
• Victor Ulmo – Fr.-K ... 2-2 on FGs (25, 31) in his first collegiate game.
• Lucas Webb – Sr. – DB ... INT in the first half is the 11th of his career ... tied for sixth all-time at UTC.
 
TWO MOCS MAKING SECOND TRIP TO LSU
UTC sophomore QB Nick Tiano and senior FB Chris Jones have both experienced the crowd at Tiger Stadium.  Tiano was a backup QB at Mississippi State in last year's 23-20 loss on Sept. 17.  Jones made a tackle on special teams in Arkansas's 31-14 upset over the ninth-ranked Tigers on Nov. 14, 2015.  Both are in their first season at UTC.
 
MOCS AGAINST BIG-TIME OPPONENTS
Like most FCS teams, Chattanooga takes on at least one FBS squad each year. However, the Mocs have faced some of the best in recent years. Here is a rundown of Chattanooga's notable FBS opponents since 2008:
No. 1 Alabama - Lost 31-3 on Nov. 17, 2016
No. 14 Florida State - Lost 52-13 on Nov. 21, 2015
Tennessee - Lost 45-10 on Oct. 11, 2014
No. 1 Alabama - Lost 49-0 on Nov. 23, 2013
No. 10 Nebraska - Lost 40-7 on Sept. 2, 2011
No. 2 Auburn - Lost 62-24 on Nov. 6, 2010 - eventual BCS Champion
No. 2 Alabama - Lost 45-0 on Nov. 21, 2009 - eventual BCS Champion
Florida State - Lost 46-7 on Sept. 13, 2008
No. 4 Oklahoma - Lost 57-2 on Aug. 30, 2008
 
UTC has also played South Florida (L, 34-13 on 9/1/12), Georgia State (W, 42-14 on 9/14/13) and Central Michigan (L, 16-20 on 8/28/14) in recent FBS action.
 
MOCS SHOWED WELL VS. NO. 1 ALABAMA LAST SEASON
• UTC played well in last year's 31-3 loss at Alabama, leading 3-0 after the first quarter on Henrique Ribeiro's 47-yard field goal. 
• Mocs managed seven first downs in the first half and only trailed 14-3 at the break. 
• Chattanooga posted three sacks in the game, equalling the most Alabama was sacked in 2016.
• 184 yards of total offense were more than Kent State (166), Kentucky (161), Tennessee (131), LSU (125) and Auburn (182) had against the Tide last season.
• Alabama's lowest offensive output the last two seasons ... 2015 vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 303 ... 2016 vs. LSU, 323 ... 2016 vs. Chattanooga, 332.
 
CHATTANOOGA WINS VS. FBS TEAMS
UTC picked up its third win in program history over an FBS opponent on Sept. 7, 2013, with a 42-14 victory at Georgia State. Prior to that, the last time the Mocs defeated an FBS team was a 9-7 win over Southwestern Louisiana (Louisiana-Lafayette) on Sept. 1, 1984, in Chattanooga. The other win since the divisional split in 1978 was also over the Ragin' Cajuns, 38-14 on Sept. 17, 1983, in Lafayette, La.
 
MOCS AGAINST HEISMAN TROPHY WINNERS
UTC faced the eventual Heisman Trophy winner for three straight seasons from 2008-2010, including Oklahoma's Sam Bradford (2008), Alabama's Mark Ingram (2009) and Auburn's Cam Newton (2010). The Mocs were one of only two teams to sack Newton three times in a game in 2010.
 
BIG CROWDS
Two of the biggest crowds the Mocs have played in front of in school history have come against an SEC opponent.  UTC faced No. 1 Alabama last season in front of 101,821, the most ever to see the Mocs play.  There was also 100,170 in attendance at the 2013 game at Alabama.
 
UTC-LSU CONNECTIONS
• UTC senior Joshua Phillips and LSU freshman LB Jacob Phillips are brothers from Nashville, Tenn. Josh was a three-year letterwinner on the MTSU basketball team before transferring to UTC prior to the 2016 season.  Jacob was a five-star recruit out of East Nashville High School. 
• LSU sophomore FB Matt Brock is from Chattanooga and is a graduate of the McCallie School where he played with C.J. Fritz, Alex Trotter and Kerrington Wilson. 
• UTC senior OL Josh Cardiello and LSU sophomore long snapper Blake Ferguson both went to Buford High School in Buford, Ga.
 
SCHOOL-RECORD EIGHT ON NFL ROSTERS
Prior to this week's final cuts, the Mocs had a school-record eight former student-athletes on an NFL roster.  Those included C.J. Board (Ravens), Keionta Davis (Patriots), Jacob Huesman (Giants), Corey Levin (Titans), Chris Lewis-Harris (Broncos), Derrick Lott (Lions), Buster Skrine (Jets) and Davis Tull (Rams).  Levin and Skrine both made the 53-man rosters for their respective teams, while Lott is currently on the practice squad in Detroit. 
 
ARTH NAMED 23RD MOCS HEAD COACH
Tom Arth was named the 23rd head coach of Mocs football on Dec. 19, 2016.  He was the 2016 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.  A former NFL quarterback, Arth (35) owned a 40-8 overall record in four seasons at his alma mater.  His building of the John Carroll program was highlighted by 2016 road victories over two No. 1-ranked opponents in Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater.  The 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year guided the Blue Streaks to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the third time in his four-year tenure. 
 
In the four seasons under Arth's leadership, John Carroll was among the nation's elite, finishing inside the Top 25 every season, including top 5 finishes in 2016 (No. 3) and 2014 (No. 5).  John Carroll won the league's automatic bid for the first time in school history in 2016, breaking Mount Union's run of 24 consecutive OAC titles.  The Blue Streaks finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation, tying a school record with a 12-2 overall tally and a 9-0 mark in league action.
 
SEASON NO. 110
The Chattanooga Mocs are in their 110th season of college football in 2017.  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 530-520-35 (.505) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
LETTERMEN/STARTERS RETURNING/LOST
UTC returns a total of 46 lettermen from the 2016 campaign.  It is the most returning lettermen from one season to the next since 52 came back for the 1997 season.  There are 20 on the offensive side of the ball, 23 on defense and three specialists.  There are 12 starters back, including five on offense, five on defense, the punter and long snapper.
 
LEAGUE-HIGH 10 ON THE PRESEASON ALL-SOCON TEAMS
UTC put a league-high 10 student-athletes on the preseason All-Southern Conference Football Team, picked by the league coaches and released as part of SoCon Media Day on July 18. 
 
Senior defensive back Lucas Webb (Northport, Ala.) is one of four Mocs on the first team. He is joined by junior defensive lineman Isaiah Mack (Tunnel Hill, Ga.), senior linebacker Dale Warren (Covington, Ga.) and senior offensive lineman Josh Cardiello (Buford, Ga.) on offense.
 
Senior quarterback Alejandro Bennifield (Lovejoy, Ga.), senior running back Richardre Bagley (Powder Springs, Ga.), sophomore offensive lineman Malcolm White (Johnson City, Tenn.) and senior wide receiver James Stovall (Cleveland, Tenn.) were all named to the second team offense.  Senior defensive lineman Taylor Reynolds (McCalla, Ala.) and senior defensive back Trevor Wright (Greeneville, Tenn.) earned second team defense honors.
 
MOCS PICKED FOURTH IN THE SOCON PRESEASON POLLS
The Mocs were picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference by both the league coaches and media. Wofford was tops in both polls, with 11 of 22 first-place votes on the media side and seven of the nine from the coaches.  The Citadel and Samford were 2-3 in both polls. 
 
MOCS RANKED FOR 50 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS
UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 50 consecutive weeks, dating back to Nov. 4, 2013.  That is the sixth-longest active streak in the country.  The Mocs have been in the Top 25 for 53 weeks since 2009.  UTC was ranked as high as No. 3 on Nov. 1, 1968, in the Small College Top 20, before the FCS was created in 1978.
 
MOCS & ESPN
Nine of the 11 games on the Mocs slate are scheduled to be on the ESPN family of networks.  UTC kicked off against Jacksonville State on ESPN on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 6:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) in Montgomery, Ala.  This week's game at LSU on Sept. 9 is on the SEC Network Alternate Channel.  Seven other games can be found on ESPN3. 
 
STAFF CHANGES
With the head coaching change, come a number of additional staff changes.  The following are new faces on UTC's sideline:  Tom Kaufman (Defensive Coordinator), Justin Rascati (Offensive Coordinator), Ryan Aplin (Receivers), Brian Cochran (Defensive Line), Chris Cook (Tackles/TEs), Jonathan Cooley (Defensive Backs), Matt Feeney (Linebackers), Shelton Felton (OLB), Nick Hennessey (Offensive Line), Chris Hurd (Special Teams/Running Backs). 
 
TWO NEW ASSISTANTS GET NFL JOBS
Before they even coached a snap at UTC, two members of Tom Arth's staff were picked up by NFL teams.  Arth's first defensive coordinator was hired by the Chicago Bears in February to be their new linebackers coach.  Then outside linebackers Coach Demarcus Covington was hired by the New England Patriots in May as a member of their defensive staff. 
 
TEAM CAPTAINS
Captains for the upcoming season are Alejandro Bennifield (Sr.-QB-15), Taylor Reynolds (Sr.-DL-94), Alphonso Stewart (Sr.-WR-9), James Stovall (Sr.-WR-8) and Lucas Webb (Sr.-DB-29). 
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Tom Arth is in his first season with the Mocs ... he came to UTC from John Carroll University where he was the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year ... 40-8 record the previous four years at JCU.
• Ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 48 consecutive weeks ... sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
• 57-52 all-time at Finley Stadium.
• The Mocs were No. 94 among all 253 NCAA Division I programs (FBS & FCS) in the final USA Today Sagarin ratings in 2016 ... that is ahead of 44 FBS programs, including Virginia, Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue, Kansas and Arizona from Power 5 Conferences.
• UTC is 3-4 all-time in the playoffs ... 3-3 in the last three seasons.
• Finley Stadium was the host of the FCS Championship Game for 13 seasons from 1997-2009.   
 
Offense
• Chattanooga finished second in the SoCon and No. 16 in the FCS in scoring offense (34.2 ppg) in 2016 ... second-most points per game in school history.
• Third in the SoCon and No. 30 in the FCS in total offense at 412.5 yards per game ... third-highest total in school history in 2016. 
• Mocs have to replace six starters on offense, including All-American RB Derrick Craine, All-American OG Corey Levin and All-American center Jacob Revis.  Others not returning include WRs C.J. Board and Xavier Borishade and OT Hunter Townson. 
• 13th in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (151.2).
• Third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (206.3) ... 26th in the FCS.
• Senior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating was No. 13 in the nation (152.6) ... second in the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS with 26 passing TDs ... 11 of his passing TDs were 30 yards ... 20th in the FCS in points responsible for (14.8) ... 10th in the country in completion % (64.4%). 
• Rising senior RB Richardre Bagley steps into the starting role after posting 593 yards on 107 carries.  He had 189 yards and two scores in place of an injured Derrick Craine against VMI. 
• Rising seniors Alphonso Stewart and James Stovall anchor the receiving corps.  Stewart had 12 catches for 135 yards and two scores in the playoffs.  Stovall started 12 games and had 25 catches.
• Two offensive linemen return with SoCon postseason honors.  Senior Josh Cardiello started all 13 games and made the All-SoCon second team.  Sophomore-to-be Malcolm White returns to the offensive line after making the SoCon All-Freshman team.
 
Defense
• UTC was sixth in the nation in total defense (294.0) and ninth in scoring defense (19.6) in 2016 ... sixth in the FCS in passing yards allowed (164.5).
• Mocs have to replace six starters on defense, including All-American DL Keionta Davis, All-American LB Nakevion Leslie and first team All-SoCon DL Vantrel McMillan.  Others not returning include DBs Montrell Pardue and Cedric Nettles and DL Justin King.   
• Also led the SoCon in team pass efficiency defense (119.6). 
• Posted back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the season for the first time since 1964 … 18-0 vs. Tennessee Tech (Sept. 23) and 7-0 vs. ETSU (Oct. 3). 
• Held three teams under 200 yards of total offense this season ... Shorter (16), Presbyterian (196) and ETSU (132).
• Held eight teams to under 100 rushing yards last season ... Shorter (14), Presbyterian (86), Furman (85), Samford (46), ETSU (81), VMI (11) and Weber State (69) and Sam Houston State (48) ... No. 25 in the FCS in rushing defense (129.5).
• Held Alabama to its third-lowest offensive output the last two seasons ... 2015 vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 303 yards ... 2016 vs. LSU, 323 yards ... 2016 vs. Chattanooga, 332 yards.
• Led the SoCon and was No. 12 in the FCS with 38 team sacks.
• Senior Lucas Webb has three career pick-6s ... school record and tied for the SoCon record ... 10 career INTs is tied for sixth all-time at UTC ... twice been tagged as a preseason All-American.
• Senior LB Dale Warren led the SoCon with 19.0 TFLs.
• Warren and Webb lead five returning starters on the defensive side.  Senior Taylor Reynolds is the lone returning starter on the defensive line.  Junior Isaiah Mack is also back on the interior.  He posted 7.5 sacks in 2016 and has 10 starts over the last two years.  Senior Trevor Wright and junior C.J. Fritz give the Mocs a total of three returning starters in the secondary.   
 
Special Teams
• Sophomore Colin Brewer returns as the punter after earning SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2016.  He was fifth in the league with 40.6 yards per kick.
• The Mocs have to replace K Henrique Ribeiro, the school's career scoring leader at UTC with 307 points ... 76.2% (48/63) career FG% is second all-time at UTC ... eight-time SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week is tied with Appalachian State's Sam Martin (2009-12) for the SoCon mark.
 
NFL TIES
The Mocs coaching staff has some obvious NFL ties with their connections to John Carroll University and the number of coaches and administrators who have come from that institution.  There are a trio of student-athletes on the roster who are also connected to the NFL.  Junior WR Kota Nix is the grandson of former UTC head coach and Buffalo Bills General Manager Buddy Nix.  Freshman tight end Jacob Webster is the son of former Tennessee Titans General Manager Ruston Webster.  Freshman quarterback Dominic Caldwell is the nephew of current Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell.      
 
RECRUITING CLASS PICKED SECOND IN THE SOCON, NO. 11 IN THE FCS
New head coach Tom Arth and his staff did an outstanding job in a short amount of time, bringing in a 21-member recruiting class.  Both 247Sports.com and HeroSports.com tabbed it as the No. 2 class in the Southern Conference and No. 11 overall in the FCS.  The Mocs have had a top 15 recruiting class in eight of the last nine years.   
 
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE REDSHIRTS
The Mocs have made a reputation for themselves as have one of the top recruiting classes, year-after-year in the FCS.  As they build depth, a lot of these talented newcomers redshirt their first season.  UTC has a number of highly-touted second-year players who will see the field for the first time.  It is easy to forget that the 2016 recruiting class was ranked No. 7 in the nation. 
 
On the defensive side of the ball, three-star and all-state defensive back Jerrell Lawson (Brundidge, Ala. - Pike County HS) is coming off a redshirt season.  As is two-star and all state defensive back Rashun Freeman (Chattanooga, Tenn. - Ooltewah HS) and two-star and 2015 Tennessee Mr. Football AAA Lineman of the Year Jonathan Decker (Alcoa, Tenn. - Alcoa HS). 
 
Offensively, two linemen will try to work their way on to the field, including two-star and all-state Cole Strange (Knoxville, Tenn. - Farragut HS) and Quintin Alibocas (Johnson City, Tenn. - Science Hill HS).   
 
A NUMBER OF TRANSFERS COULD MAKE AN IMPACT
The Mocs have 20 transfers on the roster, 12 of which are trying to earn playing time for the first time in 2017.  Hawk Schrider (LB) played in 13 games as a true freshman at Richmond in 2015.  He transferred to UTC in the spring of 2016 and sat out last season.  Kareem Orr was a freshman All-American at Arizona State in 2015 where the set the Sun Devils' freshman record with six interceptions. 
 
Darrell Bridges is a local product from nearby Ridgeland HS who played his first three seasons at Presbyterian, rushing for over 2,000 yards for the Blue Hose. Cameron Turner is a former high school teammate of Tavon Lawson in Munford, Ala., and played in 12 games as a redshirt defensive back at Nevada last season.  Joseph Parker is a former two-star prep prospect at receiver who played in 23 games over the last two years at Wyoming.  Markell Boston is a former three-star DB from Auburn.       
 
Other transfers new to the team are Dominic Caldwell (Fr. - QB - Florida International) Marshall Cooper (So.- LB - Carson-Newman), Matthew Draper (So. - LB - Cincinnati), Andrew Hill (Jr. - LB - Bethel), Chris Jones (Sr. - FB - Arkansas), Jared Nash (So. - LS - Western Kentucky), Luke Schultheiss (Jr. - OL - Louisville) and Cody Swabek (Jr. - WR - Louisville).