The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team travels to Spartanburg, S.C., for a Southern Conference showdown at Wofford with kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m. ET. The game is carried LIVE on the Mocs Sports Network (WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 AM) and ESPN+.

Below are excerpts from today's press conference with photos.  The full videos are attached to the story.  Today's press conference included remarks from head coach Rusty Wright, senior defensive lineman Khayyan Edwards, and senior quarterback Nick Tiano.

Nick Tiano, Sr.-QB
On facing the triple option offense, as an opposing offense, knowing possessions are limited.
"Going into these games you have to know that your possessions will be limited. You only get the ball a few times. Every time you get the ball, you have to hold on to the ball and give the defense a blow and then you have to put points on the board. We have to take advantage of every opportunity."

On staying in rhythm on the sidelines during opposing long possessions.
"We do a pretty good job of walking around and talking to each other, staying in tune with the game. We all love football and love watching the defense, staying involved. It's not too hard for us. They put you on your sidelines for six, seven minutes and that's a strength of their game. You start to lose your rhythm, but we just have to stay locked in and stay in tune with the game."

On feeling atop the SoCon standings and moving forward.
"It's early. We have to keep the same mindset, it's 1-0 every week. We're in a good spot and a spot where we want to be. We still have a long way to go, so take care of this one and go from there."




Rusty Wright, Head Coach
Recapping Thursday's win over ETSU.
"Good win for us last Thursday night. The kids played well, they played hard. Made enough plays down the stretch to give us a chance to win it, offensively and defensively. We made a kick when it mattered and got it down. It was an emotional win for those guys in that locker room. I think they embraced that rivalry so that part of it was cool. We gave them the weekend off and it was their first weekend off since fall camp. I thought it was important for them to go home and get away for a little bit as we finish these last five games in the league. We turn our attention to Wofford now."

On facing a tough Wofford team.
"We have our hands full against a team that is playing at a high level. Offensively, defensively and in the kicking game. They were picked to win the league and there's a reason they are playing well. It'll be all we can stand over there. I don't think we've won more than once over there in the last 12 times or so. It's always a hard place to play because they're always good. We'll have to handle that and see what happens on Saturday to give us an opportunity."

On what makes playing at Wofford tough year-in and year-out. 
"They're good. They're always good. Consistently. They've done what they do for a long time. They've recruited to it offensively and defensively. Coach [Mike] Ayers was there for 30 years or however long, building that place. That's their culture and their mindset. The offensive coordinator is still there from coach Ayers. They and coach [Josh] Conklin haven't changed that part of it, maybe a little offensively, but they still run the football. They're supposed to be there, they were picked to win the conference. We've put ourselves in a situation with reasons to play these next couple weeks, and that's a big deal for us and something that is good for us."


 
Khayyan Edwards, Sr.-DL
On challenges Wofford presents.
"The most present one is the triple option. We haven't seen that at all this year. We'll look back at past years and how they did it in the past. They're doing it again so we just have to be discipline and do our own thing, stick to what we know."

On facing the triple option. 
"I see it as a challenge. I do get a little frustrated the way those games can turn out because of the way they block. It's always a challenge, but we're up for it."

On biggest thing to focus on to slow Wofford offense down. 
"I think we have to take each down as its own. If we can shut them down on third down, that'll be big for us. We just have to stay discipline, stay in our gaps and not try to do anything extra. I think we're focused on that. Everyone is focused on doing their responsibility first."