The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is on the road this weekend at No. 11/13 Furman.  The Mocs are ranked 12^th in the AFCA Coaches Poll and 11^th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and face the Paladins on Saturday, March 20.  Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Paladin Stadium in Greenville, S.C.

The Mocs are 2-1 overall and 2-0 in SoCon action and coming off an open weekend.  Furman is 3-1 overall and 3-1 in league play after last week's 17-13 win at ETSU. 

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 41st 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.

Furman is producing this weekend's game for ESPN+ and select Nexstar stations. Mark Childress (pxp) and Jay Sonnhalter (analyst) have the call for TV.  Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games are: ECBD (Charleston), WGHP (Greensboro/High Point), WJHL (Johnson City), WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke) and WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville), WMYT (Charlotte) and WMUB (Macon).

Below are excerpts and videos from today's press conference from head coach Rusty Wright, senior RB Tyrell Price, junior DL Devonnsha Maxwell and junior LB Kam Jones.

Rusty Wright – Head Coach
On the open week.
"We probably gave them a little more time off than normal.  Just so I'm concerned with them being burned out at the end of the day.  Really concerned with that, and not necessarily right now, but what happens later on in the fall. It's a grind in fall for sure. Nobody's ever been through two grinds in this short amount of time. I'm kind of concerned about that. But yeah, we did, we gave him a little more time off than normal.  Lifted weights a little more. Gave the older guys more time off, worked the young guys a bunch. A lot more than we normally would strive to see if we can get them better and get them ready for the stretch run."

On playing a lot of guys in the spring.
"After this week, I think you'll see a bunch more. It's kind of difficult to play all those young guys that aren't ready. You know, truly, truly ready.  We will play as long as these old guys want to play and keep playing, they'll play and do that. We're gonna start getting more guys in there. Usually get three or four type scrimmage deals in the spring, and we're gonna get those young guys in there and just let them go play. It's hard when you go on the road, because of the number of people you take, or can't take. We'll see how these these old guys do for another week or so and maybe these young guys go play. Let them go play you know, let them have at it. See how it goes."



Kam Jones – Jr.-LB
On the play of Furman to this point in the season.
"They have a lot of good players.  This year, they actually have a lot of different formations and different plays that can be a real danger to us, but I think this week is big on just being disciplined, trying to communicate.  It's been two weeks since our last game, so I think the biggest deal is making sure we are physically able to play and that we keep our eyes in the right place."



Devonnsha Maxwell – Jr.-DL
On the play of the Mocs defensive line.
"It is a collaborative effort. There are a lot of guys you can't leave one-on-one.  Christian Smith hasn't played a lot but when he comes back you can't leave him one-on-one.  John Prince, a freshman, you can't leave him one-on-one.  Quay Wiggles is a freshman who just got here, he is going to be good and when he gets up there, they can't leave him one-on-one.  There are a lot of guys you have to account for.  Ben Brewton and Jay Person off the edge, you have to pick one that you have to double-team and that really helps a lot.  We have a lot of guys that help me out."

On the play of Furman to this point of the season.
"They are a very good, disciplined team.  I would say they are up there with James Madison when it comes to discipline. I feel like this will be a good game because they are disciplined and we are pretty disciplined as well.  We try to come in and have the least amount of penalties and the least amount of missed assignments."

Is there a defensive lineman in the NFL that you say, That is my guy?
"Isaiah Mack, that is my guy. I was here for about two years and he was kind of mentor/mentee type thing. So, Isaiah Mack, that's my guy.  He still comes back and visits."



Tyrell Price – Sr.-RB
On the mental toughness needed to recover from the injury that cost him most of the 2019 season.
"It's definitely tough. That process going on, you can be out there with your brother, your teammates out there playing and they want to see you get in the trenches and get going.  Grinding with all summer and in the offseason. So to not able to do that. I love the sport, so just not being able to do something you love, it's kind of tough. It kind of motivated me to go hard as I could through the process. 

On the support he tried to give Ailym Ford when he went out with an injury.
"Yes definitely.  He was younger too when it happened … I already knew his work ethic and knew he would be fine.  I have to preach that to him. Just let him know that you got time.  Just take the season, but him being him, he is going to push it and go through the process with a pretty good mindset and a pretty good work ethic.  With his work ethic it just helps him out more."