The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is celebrating Homecoming this week all across campus.  The festivities culminate with the Mocs football game against Western Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.  Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium. 
 
The Homecoming Game is sponsored by First Bank and the theme is Moc Star, Scrappy's Tour.  For more information on the Homecoming events during the week, visit www.utc.edu/homecoming. 
 
This is the Southern Conference opener for the Mocs, who bring a 1-3 mark against the second-toughest schedule in the nation.  UTC opened the season with a 24-10 win over Eastern Illinois, followed by losses at No. 17 Jacksonville State (20-41), at Tennessee (0-45) and last week against No. 2 James Madison (14-37) in Finley Stadium. 
 
Saturday's game is a Blue Out, and all fans are encouraged to wear their blue Mocs gear.  Student who attend the game receive free blue Mocs football t-shirts.  The Tennessee Department of Forestry will also be on hand, giving away thundersticks to the first 3,000 fans in attendance.
 
This is the C Club Reunion Weekend that includes special events for Chattanooga letter winners.  Championship teams from all sports in the 1979-80, 1989-90, 1999-00, and 2009-10 seasons will all be recognized at the game.  Learn more about all of the events and how to register at www.GoMocs.com/CClub.
 
The Catamounts are 1-2 overall and 0-1 in SoCon action.  They opened the year in league play with a 49-27 loss at home to Mercer.  That was followed by a 41-0 loss at N.C. State and a 20-17 win at home over North Greenville. 
 
TICKETS
Tickets for the game are available at the UTC Ticket Office by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or on GoMocs.com. In addition to the regular business hours of the UTC Ticket Office (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - M-F) at McKenzie Arena, the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket window at Finley Stadium opens at 12:00 p.m. on game day.  All other booths open at 1:00 p.m. on game day. 
 
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," not Moccasins.  Chattanooga is pronounced chat-uh-NEW-guh, commonly mistaken as CHATT-nooga.
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on the radio on WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 FM in Chattanooga.  Jim Reynolds has the play-by-play for his 40th season, 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.
 
ESPN3
UTC produces all home games for the ESPN family of networks.  This week's contest is carried by ESPN3, with Chris Goforth (pxp) and Scott McMahen (analyst) on the call.  
 
FREE DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE
The FREE CARTA Electric Shuttle runs from downtown to the corner of Main & Chestnut streets on gameday.
 
STUDENT SHUTTLE FROM CAMPUS
The Mocs-branded CARTA busses run from 3:00 p.m. until one hour after the end of the game, on game days.  Students can catch the bus at any of the regular CARTA stops on campus.  Drop off at Finley is the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets.  Students ride for free with a valid Mocs Card.
 
SEASON NO. 112
As a part of the year-long celebration of 150 years of college football, the Mocs are competing in their 112th season.  The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football officially 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 540-535-35 (.502) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Former Moc and former UTC assistant coach Rusty Wright was hired on Dec. 19 as head coach.
• Mocs are 61-60 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 41-45 in SoCon home games.
• UTC drew 8,254 fans for the home opener, 15th-best home crowd that weekend in the FCS ... Mocs are averaging 8,525 fans over two games this season .... third in the SoCon and No. 42 in the FCS.
• UTC is coming off its seventh winning season since 2009 ... 54th in the 111 years of football.
• Picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference by the league's coaches and fifth by the media.
• 2019 strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the FCS, according to HeroSports.
• 14 first-time starters in the first four games, including Ty Boeck (So.-LB), Kameron Brown (Fr.-DB), McClendon Curtis (So.-OL), Ailym Ford (Fr.-RB), Chris James (Sr.-TE), Kam Jones (So.-LB), Telvin Jones (Sr.-DL), Kanore McKinnon (Jr.-WR), Kyle Miskelley (Jr.-OL), Kayne Roberts (So.-LB), Lameric Tucker (Fr.-WR), Cameron Turner (Sr.-DB), Juwan Tyus (So.-WR), C.J. Winston (So.-LB).
 
Offense
• 24 letter winners and nine starters back ... all five starters return to the offensive line.
• Mocs have only allowed one sack in the first four games.
• 281.3 yards of total offense is No. 9 in the SoCon and No. 108 in the FCS. 
• 8th/80th in rushing offense (121.3).
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 105 in the FCS in passing offense (160.0). 
• Ninth in the SoCon and No. 108 in the FCS in scoring offense (14.5).
• 24/61 (39.3%) on third down ... 6th in the SoCon and 54th in the FCS.
• Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly is a preseason All-American, All-SoCon and on the Walter Payton Award Watch list.  He was second in the conference and No. 6 in the FCS with 112.5 receiving yards per game in 2018.  He was also third in the league and No. 8 in the FCS with 7.2 receptions per game.  He is fifth in the SoCon with 5.0 receptions per game and is fifth in the league with 60.2 receiving yards per game in 2019. 
• True freshman Ailym Ford leads the Mocs with 61.2 yards per game and two TDs.
• Junior OL Cole Strange is a preseason second team All-SoCon selection ...  started all 11 games at left guard in 2018.
 
Defense
• 17 letter winners and six starters back.
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 82 in the FCS in scoring defense (33.3).
• No. 6 in the SoCon and No. 80 in the FCS in rushing defense (189.5).
• No. 8 in the SoCon and No. 87 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (253.3).
• No. 7 in the SoCon and No. 82 in the FCS in total defense (442.8).
• Third in the SoCon and No. 49 in the FCS in red zone defense (13/16 - 81.3%). 
• Senior linebacker Marshall Cooper and junior defensive backs Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson made the preseason All-SoCon first team defense.
• Cooper was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after posting 10 tackles and two PBUs in the win over Eastern Illinois ... eighth in the SoCon with 28 total tackles in four games.
• Sophomore DL Devonnsha Maxwell is tied for sixth in the SoCon with 3.5 TFLs.
 
Special Teams
• Victor Ulmo is on the 2019 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List ... 3-4 (.750) in 2019 ... 13-19 (68.4%) in 2018 and 25-35 (71.4%) for his career ... fifth-best career average at UTC ... 1-2 vs. EIU with a make from 37 and a miss from 36 ... made from 36 and 33 at Jacksonville State.
• Senior Colin Brewer is third in the SoCon with a 43.1 punting average. 
• Fourth in the SoCon and No. 43 in the FCS in net punting (36.6). 
• Junior Brandon Dowdell had punt returns of 18 and 38 yards at JSU.
 
HOMECOMING NOTES
• UTC is 58-28-3 all-time on Homecoming. 
• The Mocs are 8-2 on Homecoming since 2009 ... only Homecoming losses were 34-17 against No. 17 Appalachian State on Sept. 22, 2012 and 41-17 against Furman in 2017.
• UTC is 13-8 on Homecoming in Finley Stadium. 
• The Mocs have hosted Western Carolina on Homecoming six other times.  UTC is 5-1 in those games.  The last time was a 41-13 win for the fourth-ranked Mocs on Oct. 31, 2015.  The lone loss was a 41-10 setback on Oct. 23, 1993. 
• This is the fourth time Homecoming has been in the month of September.  The last time was a 34-17 loss to No. 17 Appalachian State on Sept. 22, 2012.
• For a full list of Homecoming results, see page 151 in the 2019 Chattanooga Football Media Guide.  
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE WESTERN CAROLINA SERIES
• This is the 46th meeting in the series that dates back to 1973.
• UTC owns a 28-17 overall advantage.
• UTC has won 11 of the last 13.
• Western Carolina broke the Mocs eight-game winning streak in the series with a 45-7 win in Chattanooga on Sept. 30, 2017.
• UTC is 8-2 against the Catamounts in Finley Stadium.
 
UTC-WESTERN CAROLINA CONNECTIONS
• UTC senior OL Malcolm White and WCU senior DB Jermichal White both graduated from Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn.
• UTC junior receiver Kanore McKinnon and WCU senior defensive back Brandon Bawn and senior linebacker Jarquavius Wortham all went to Georgia Military College.  
 
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
• Head Coach Mark Speir (Clemson, 1990) is in his eighth season at Western Carolina ... 30-53 overall record and 18-37 in SoCon play ... just the fifth WCU head coach to win 30-or-more games.
• Headlined by QB Tyrie Adams collecting the 2019 SoCon Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honor, three WCU football players landed on the coaches' preseason All-SoCon team ... in addition to earning the league's top offensive accolade, Adams was dubbed first-team All-SoCon at quarterback where he was joined by one of his top targets in junior tight end Owen Cosenke on the first team. Second-year defensive back Ronald Kent, Jr., likewise tallied first-team All-SoCon honors. 
• WCU has had three, seven-win seasons over its last five years under head coach Mark Speir ... the 7-5 record in 2014 was WCU's first winning mark since 2005 (5-4) and the most victories by a Catamount team since 2001 (7-4).
• The Catamounts snapped a 10-game slide with their 20-17 win over North Greenville on Sept. 14. 
• WCU was shut out 41-0 at N.C. State on Sept. 7 ... first time since Nov. 1, 2014, a 51-0 defeat against Chattanooga, a span of 50 games.
• WCU redshirt sophomore QB WILL JONES made his first career start against N.C. State ... in his second start against North Greenville, he set a career high for pass completions with 27 … Jones finished 27-of-37 in the win, just missing his career-best for passing yards with 207.
• Preseason All-American QB and Candidate for the 2019 Walter Payton Award Tyrie Adams has missed the last two games for the Catamounts. 
• WCU halted a 10-game losing skid that dated back to last season with its 20-17 win over North Greenville, giving WCU its first win since Sept. 22, 2018 – a 52-50 win over VMI in Cullowhee;
• Redshirt junior WR Daquan Patten hauled in a career-high 12 receptions against North Greenville.
• Catamounts lead the SoCon in passing yards allowed per game ... 172.0 is also No. 18 in the FCS.
• 387.7 total yards allowed per game is third in the SoCon and No. 50 in the FCS.
• 15.7 points per game is eighth in the SoCon and No. 103 in the FCS.
• 91.0 rushing yards per game is ninth in the SoCon and No. 106 in the FCS.
• 207.7 passing yards per game is fifth in the SoCon and No. 62 in the FCS.
• 298.7 yards per game is eighth in the SoCon and No. 100 in the FCS.
• 35.7 points allowed per game is ninth in the SoCon and No. 90 in the FCS.
• 215.7 rushing yards allowed per game is eighth in the SoCon and No. 100 in the FCS.
 
GAME NOTES VS. NO 2 JAMES MADISON
• UTC closed out the non-conference portion of its 2019 schedule with a 37-14 loss to No. 2 James Madison in Finley Stadium on Sept. 21.  The Mocs dropped to 1-3 overall, while the second-ranked Dukes moved to 3-1.
• JMU is the highest-ranked non-conference opponent to visit Finley Stadium (opened in 1997).
• The Dukes are the highest-ranked non-conference opponent to visit Chattanooga since No. 1 MTSU on Sept. 29, 1990 … the Blue Raiders won that game 24-17.
• UTC has the second-toughest schedule in the FCS, built mainly on the early-season games at No. 17 Jacksonville State (L, 20-41), at Tennessee (0-45) and today's game.
• The Mocs offensive line gave up the first sack of the season … Nick Tiano almost scrambled back to the line of scrimmage, but was tackled for a loss of a yard.
• Devonnsha Maxwell recorded just the Mocs second sack of the year.
• Mocs had a season-high seven punts for a season-high 43.9 yards … senior Colin Brewer punted for times for 44.2 yards and a long of 52 … sophomore Gabe Boring punted three times for 43.3 yards and a long of 54.
• JMU's Percy Agyei-Obese ran for 114 yards on 19 carries … most against UTC this season … two rushing TDs tied for the most against the Mocs this year.
• The Dukes ran 49 times for 268 yards (5.5 per carry) … all season highs allowed for UTC.
• James Madison put up 532 yards of total offense (268 rushing and 344 passing) … most allowed by UTC against and FCS opponent since giving up 640 at Jacksonville State on Dec. 5, 2015.
• JMU had 30 first downs in the game … most allowed since No. 17 Samford had 32 in last year's game.
• UTC was flagged a season-low three times for 20 yards.
• Ty Boeck – So.-LB - Game-high and career-high 10 tackles … eight solo ... ties for the most by a Moc this season (Marshall Cooper 2x).
• Gabe Boring – So.-P - Three punts for a 43.3 average ... season/career long 54-yarder ... two 50+ punts in the game … three this season.
• Colin Brewer – Sr.-P - Four punts for 44.2 average … long of 52 ... 43.1 average for the season.
• Brandon Dowdell – Jr.-DB - Tied a career-high with two PBUs for the fourth time.
• Rashun Freeman – Jr.-DB - Three tackles and a FR ... second FR of his career.
• Chris James – Sr.-TE - 17-yard TD catch in the first quarter ... third career catch … first career TD reception.
• Jordan Jones – Jr.-DB - Seven tackles, including one for loss ... one tackle shy of a career-high.
• Devonnsha Maxwell – So.-DL - First sack of the season ... 2018 Freshman All-American had 5.5 last year.
• Nick Tiano – Sr.-QB - 12-26 for 161 yards, one INT and one TD ... ran seven times for 25 yards and a score ... third rushing TD of the season … fourth of his career ... 4,187 career passing yards moves into eighth place all-time at UTC … passes Tim Couch (1984-86).
 
LAST TIME VS. WESTERN CAROLINA
• UTC posted a 26-6 win at Western Carolina in their last meeting on Oct. 3, 2018.
• UTC has won nine of the last 10 against WCU ... 11 of last 13 ... five in a row in Cullowhee ... 28-17 overall ... 13-10 in Cullowhee.
• UTC kept a team out of the endzone for the first time since a 10-3 win against ETSU in the 2017 season finale … second time in 2018 the Mocs did not allow an offensive TD (TTU) … first time since 2015 the Mocs have kept two teams' offenses out of the endzone.
• WCU was kept out of the endzone for the first time since the Mocs posted a 51-0 shutout in Cullowhee on Oct. 25, 2014.
• Mocs ran the ball as season-high 38 times (tied with the Mercer game) … 144 yards rusing … 204 passing … 348 total on 66 plays.
• UTC held WCU to a season-low 238 yards of total offense (82 rush … 121 pass).
• Mocs were +2 in the turnover margin with two FRs and an INT … +7 for the year … came into the game leading the SoCon and No. 19 in the FCS.
• Jerrell Lawson forced a fumble on WCU's first possession that Isaiah Mack recovered and returned to the WCU five … Mack was stripped on the play and WCU recovered on their five.
• Jerrell Lawson sacked WCU QB Tyrie Adams for a safety on WCU's next possession … it was the first safety recorded by the Mocs since Dale Warren blocked a punt out of the endzone against No. 14 Fordham in the FCS Playoffs on Nov. 28, 2015.
• Kareem Orr had his SoCon-leading fourth INT of the year … ninth for UTC … Mocs came into the game leading the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS in INTs.
• WCU was 2-4 in the redzone.
• UTC kept WCU off the scoreboard in the first quarter … fifth time this season the Mocs defense has blanked its opponent in the first frame.
• Mocs only had three penalties for 39 yards in the game … second game in a row with three or less.
• Marshall Cooper – Jr.-LB - Team-high nine tackles ... FR on the goal-line.
• Khayyan Edwards – Jr.-DL - Career-high 1.5 TFLs ... seven stops overall.
• Rashun Freeman – So.-DB - Career-high six tackles ... first start of the season … second of his career. 
• Jerrell Lawson – So.-DB - Six tackles, including 2.0 TFLs ... forced a fumble on WCU's first possession ... sacked WCU QB Tyrie Adams for a safety on WCU's first possession ... also broke up a pass.
• Isaiah Mack – Sr.-DL - Career-high 2.5 sacks ... six tackles overall ... FR that he returned 28 yards before fumbling on the WCU five ... added two PBUs and a hurry.
• Bryce Nunnelly – So.-WR - Team-high with 55 yards on seven catches.
• Kareem Orr – Sr.-DB - INT in the second quarter … fourth of the season ... came into the game tied for the SoCon lead ... added three tackles.
• Joseph Parker – Sr.-WR -Three catches for 48 yards and two TDs ... 28-yard TD catch in the first quarter was his first of the season ... three-yard TD in the second quarter ... five career TDs ... first game with multiple receiving TDs.
• Tyrell Price – Jr.-RB - Season highs with 135 rushing yards and 29 carries ... most carries in a game since Jacob Huesman had 31 against No. 21 Indiana State in the FCS Playoffs on Dec. 6, 2014 ... also had six catches for 38 yards … season-high for receptions ... three yard TD run was his seventh of the year ... 173 all-purpose yards is a season-high ... seven TDs overall.
Nick Tiano – Jr.-QB - 22-28 for 204 yards and two TDs.
Victor Ulmo – So.-K - 39-yard FG in the second quarter.
Jacob Webster – So.-TE - 2 catches for 24 yards ... first two of his career.
 
ONE SACK ALLOWED IN FOUR GAMES
The Mocs have only allowed one sack in the first four games of the season. That one came against No. 2 James Madison and senior QB Nick Tiano almost made it back to the line of scrimmage.  The Mocs are tied for the SoCon lead and tied for No. 3 in the FCS in sacks allowed. 
 
This continues a streak of improvement up front.  UTC's offensive line gave up 17 sacks in 2018, which was third in the SoCon and 33rd in the FCS.  That was much better from 2017 when they were last in the SoCon and 109th in the FCS, allowing over three per game.
 
DOWDELL BACK RETURNING PUNTS
Junior DB Brandon Dowdell was No. 6 in the FCS with a 12.6 punt return average on 13 attempts as a freshman in 2017.  He did not return any punts on 2018, but returned to the job at Jacksonville State.  He quickly made an impact with returns of 18 and 38 yards.  The second was a career-long and set up the Mocs' second field goal.  He also had a return of 27 yards at Tennessee negated by a penalty.  So far this season, Dowdell is averaging 19.3 yards on three returns.
 
TUCKER WITH BIG PLAYS
Freshman Lameric Tucker has six catches for 132 yards in the first four games.  His 22.0 yards per catch average would rank in the top 20 in the FCS if he had enough receptions to qualify.  He caught a 39-yarder against EIU and a 36-yarder against Jacksonville State.
 
HENDERSON ALSO WITH BIG CATCHES
Junior WR Reginald Henderson has also had some big catches early in the season.  He hauled in a season-long 34-yarder against Eastern Illinois and a 31-yarder that set up a score against No. 2 James Madison.
 
FORD RECOGNIZED AMONG TOP FRESHMEN
True freshman Ailym Ford was in the Honorable Mention listings for National Freshman of the Week by STATS following the Jacksonville State game.  He posted 127 rushing yards on 22 carries and a score at Jacksonville State, becoming the Mocs' first true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Erroll Wynn had 131 against Jacksonville State on Nov. 4, 2006.  Ford is eighth in the SoCon with 61.2 rushing yards per game.  He led the Mocs with 50 rushing yards and a TD on 12 carries in the season opener against Eastern Illinois, the first true freshman to score in a debut since Chris Awuah in 2009.
 
IBITOKUN-HANKS BIG GAME AT TENNESSEE
Senior transfer Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks had a big game at Tennessee with 15 carries for 85 yards. He was 15 yards shy of becoming the first Mocs rusher to top the century mark against an SEC team since Bryan Fitzgerald's 123 (14 carries) at Arkansas on Oct. 6, 2007. It's happened six times in school history against SEC opposition.  He is now second on the team with 115 rushing yards on 28 carries in four games. 
 
NUNNELLY ON THE WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly is on the 2019 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. He is also on the preseason All-SoCon first team and a consensus preseason All-American.  He posted 100 receiving yards and a TD on six catches against Eastern Illinois and is now tied for third all-time at UTC with seven 100-yard receiving games.
 
ULMO ON MITCHELL AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior kicker Victor Ulmo is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second year in a row.  The Mitchell Award recognizes 31 place-kickers for their excellence on the football field for the 2019 season and for continued community service during their off-season. The Mitchell Award goes to the top place-kicker among FCS, NCAA Division II, Division II, NAIA and NJCAA programs from across the nation.  The full list includes representatives from 10 FCS schools, nine NCAA Division II, nine Division III, two NAIA, and one NJCAA.  Ulmo is currently 25-35 (71.4%) for his career, fifth all-time at UTC.  He is 3-4 on field goals this season with a long of 37 yards.  For his career, Ulmo is 23-27 (85.2%) from inside 40 yards.
 
COOPER NAMED SOCON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior LB Marshall Cooper was a second team All-SoCon pick last season and is on the preseason first team heading into 2019. He was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week, presented by GEICO, after posting 10 tackles to lead the Mocs to a 24-10 season-opening win over Eastern Illinois on Aug. 29.  It was the third career weekly honor from the SoCon for Cooper, a native of Hixson, Tenn.  He was Defensive Player of the Week after last year's win over Samford and Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt in a win over ETSU in 2017. Seven of his 10 tackles against the Panthers were solo stops.  He also broke up two passes in the win.  The Mocs' defense only allowed 10 points in the Thursday night home opener, the fewest given up by a SoCon team in Week 1.
 
TIANO CLIMBING UTC'S RECORD BOOKS
Senior QB Nick Tiano opened the season with 256 passing yards on 17-27 attempts against EIU.  He threw one touchdown and had two interceptions.  With 20 games at UTC under his belt, he is climbing the following lists in UTC's record book:
• 367-633 (.578) career passing.
• 4,190 career passing yards is eighth all-time at UTC ... needs 837 to pass Steve Woods (1978-81) for seventh
• Ninth in career attempts ... needs 29 to pass Tim Couch (1984-86) for eighth
• Eighth in career completions ... needs 19 to pass Antonio Miller (2004-07) for seventh• Seventh in career completion percentage.
• 23 career TD passes is 10th all-time at UTC ... needs six to pass Tony Merendino (1975-78) and Brian Hampton for eighth.
• 10 200-yard passing games is 7th all-time at UTC ... needs three more to pass Kenyon Earl for 6th.
• 4,613 yards of total offense is eighth all-time at UTC ... needs 104 yards to pass Antonio Miller (2004-07) for eighth.