The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team travels to Knoxville on Saturday for a Noon ET kickoff at Tennessee inside Neyland Stadium. The game will be carried nationally on the SEC Network.
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, sophomore offensive lineman
McClendon Curtis and sophomore linebacker Ty Beock.
McClendon Curtis, OL-So.
On the experience of in an SEC playing atmosphere at Tennessee.
"Saturday is going to be great. It's going to be great for all of us and especially our seniors. We'll be prepared for it. You have 90,000+ fans watching you play. You have, potentially, scouts watching you play, it's a big stage. It doesn't happen every day. It's pretty cool. As a kid, I played at Finley and I thought that was the biggest stadium around until you get deeper into sports. It's a great opportunity to play there."
On improving from week one to week two and matching up against Tennessee.
"We improved drastically. Coach [Chris] Malone gets us prepared and ready for everything. He gives us every possible look there is. We're both big guys. Everywhere you go, you're going to compete. I'm not nervous, it's exciting."
On week-to-week goals.
"You see mistakes and then you really try to improve on what you made a mistake on in the following week. Coach Malone harps on it and we try to fix things one day at a time. I trust all the five guys up front with me, our quarterback, and especially Ailym [Ford]. He has stepped up in a big role and I'm proud of him. We just try to protect those guys."
Rusty Wright, Head Coach
Recapping last week's game at Jacksonville State.
"We had a tough ball game down in Jacksonville, Alabama last week against a good Jacksonville State team. The score is not really indicative of how we played. We did some foolish things early that put us in a hole, but I was trying to see how we responded after halftime. At half, we said that as a staff and as a football team. We said just get us to the fourth quarter and give us an opportunity to see what we can do. I felt pretty good if that we ever scored and got the game tied or one point down, I was going to go for two and put them under a little pressure to see how they responded. We never got to that point, and that's my fault. I learned a lot about myself Saturday, I have to calm down a little and handle some things differently. What I did learn was that this football team fights and they'll play hard for four quarters. We have to keep building upon that and keep battling every week and see how it goes."
Previewing this week's contest at Tennessee.
"We're getting ready to go to Tennessee on Saturday, I know our guys are excited about that. It'll be a huge challenge for us, no question, but we'll be up for it. I hope they understand the opportunity to experience a place like Neyland Stadium and face an SEC opponent. I don't think we'll be in shock by any stretch of the imagination, but it'll take our best effort and as well as it can be. As much as we got better from week one to week two, we have to continue to improve and that's what we talked about the last couple days. There's a lot of things we have to control as a group and as a football team, and not worry about who we're playing. It starts from Monday all the way to Friday, and then we'll see what happens on Saturday."
On developing patience as a team.
"It's tough. And I talk to these guys all the time and I try to explain it to them, I want them to be right. That's where impatience comes from. They have to understand that we're pushing them and stressing these things because we want them to be as right as they possibly can. They have to truly understand that everything we do has a reaction. If we don't handle our business during the week going to study hall, tutoring, treatment, class, it affects us on Saturday. If you don't think it's important on Monday or Tuesday, then Saturday it might be that important in your three-technique when it's fourth-and-one. We're two weeks into it, basically eight practices, there has to be some patience. There's some things we have to continue to grow on. After that game Saturday, I didn't feel bad, I felt bad that we lost. But we played better than week one. We played at times like we're capable of playing. They have to see that and keep building on that."
Ty Boeck, So.-LB
On facing the speed and quickness from an SEC opponent.
"Their backs are a lot faster than anything we've seen this year. Of course they have two great backs and I think it's the strength of their program right now. I think we'll adjust to it."
On broken plays turning into big gains last week.
"It's frustrating. When we watch film, there's always something that one guy could have done better. It's not one guy's fault every play. It's a team effort and we need to fix some things. We're looking forward to that."
On the overall experience playing at Tennessee.
"It's big. Neyland Stadium is a big part of the culture around here. Almost everyone that lives around here is a Tennessee fan. I've gotten a lot of calls and texts messages talking about the game and how they're looking forward to it. I've been to a couple games there and it's a unique place, I think it's going to be a great atmosphere and going to fun for the guys."
