The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team hits the road for the regular season finale at VMI this weekend.  The Mocs still have an outside shot at a share of the Southern Conference title with a 5-2 league mark and 6-5 overall record.  The game is carried LIVE on the Mocs Sports Network (WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 AM) and ESPN3.

Below are excerpts from today's press conference with photos. Today's press conference included remarks from head coach Rusty Wright, senior linebacker Marshall Cooper and senior quarterback Nick Tiano.

Marshall Cooper – Sr.-LB – Video above in the title photo.
On this being the last game of the season:
"It is a bittersweet moment.  My body has definitely been torn up for the past three years.  It will be emotional.  I have gotten really close with everybody on this football team.  This is a place where I had transferred here and walked-on.  This was my last chance to make a football career for myself and chase my dreams.  A lot of people here gave me a chance."

On Coach Wright not talking about tying for the SoCon Title:
"His big focus is just winning the day.  He doesn't want our minds being on making the playoffs.  He just wants us to go win tomorrow.  Win the practice tomorrow and win Thursday.  Then win Friday in the classroom and when it comes Saturday, everything will work out for us."



Head Coach Rusty Wright
Opening thoughts on the win over The Citadel:
"It was a good weekend for us all the way around on campus.  Started out Friday night with a big basketball win.  Had the opportunity to take the team over there and watch that instead of going to a movie.  It was good to see and that got us kick-started for the weekend."

"We played a really good Citadel team on Saturday.  It was interesting at times to say the least out there, but we put ourselves in a position to go win it.  We kept playing and ourselves an opportunity.  I was really pleased with the effort."
On the play of VMI this season:
"That is probably the most improved football team in our league.  Coach Wachenheim and those guys have done a tremendous job there the last 2-3 years and it is paying off this year.  They have been in every game.  Went on the road and won some game.  They have won some big games at home."



Nick Tiano – Sr.-QB
On committing to UTC during the coaching transition from Russ Huesman to Tom Arth:
"When I was coming here, really planned to play for Coach Huesman.  The day I came into sign my scholarship, he told me there was a chance he was leaving. For me, this is where I wanted to be anyways.  I figured I would stick it out and see what happened.  I think it has worked out the best for me."

On the comeback win last week:
"It was just an unforgettable game.  I am so proud of this team and the way we fought through things this entire year.  That game shows what this whole season has been like.  We have been up, we have been down, but we have just fought back and we continued to fight all year long.  Through injuries, through wins, through losses, this team is resilient.  We fight, we play hard and that is definitely something you never forget."