2021 Chattanooga Mocs Football
at Kentucky – Sept. 18 – Kroger Field
Postgame Quotes

Rusty Wright, Head Coach
Overall thoughts after near upset.
"The kids played hard. We didn't make enough plays when we had a chance. Kicked too many field goals… simple as it gets. We just went out there and played. We didn't do anything crazy. We have to find a way to just make basic football plays. We need to figure out a way to do that. You are what your record is. Am I proud of them and how they fought? No question. I knew that would happen, but your record is what your record is. When you're 1-2, nobody can feel good about anything. I don't care who we play. I expected to win today. Whether anybody though we had a chance or not, I expected to go out there and give ourselves an opportunity to win. And we did."

On improving from week-to-week.
"When you only give up 21-points defensively in a college football game, you ought to have a chance to go win. I don't care who you play… we got better today. Don't get me wrong. Chattanooga got better today. We did some things better, but we're still doing way too many things that drive me absolutely crazy."

Moving forward to SoCon action.
"We gotta make Chattanooga better between now and league play, and I think these first 3 games are going to help us do that. I really do. We've played good people… but I think we're going to be a better football team for it in the long haul."
 
Rashun Freeman, Sr.-DB
On today's near upset bid.
"No matter what game you're playing in, it always comes down to a few plays. When it came to crunch time, we had an opportunity, and we didn't capitalize."

On adapting to SEC opponent.
"After that first drive when they scored, we kind of got settled in. We got to play fast and play the type of ball we like to play after that."

Ty Boeck, Jr.-LB
On being in a position to win.
"We played well, and we were in a position late in the game to win but didn't capitalize. A couple plays lost us the game. We'll look to improve and come out better next week."

On overall efforts.
"I was really proud of how the offense played today. Cole [Copeland] played great. Obviously, we ran the ball really well. We had a couple long drives that got us [the defense] off our feet a little bit. That was good to see."

Cole Copeland, Jr.-QB
On the play from the offense.
"Offensive line played a heck of a game. They kept us clean all day. I could not be more proud of our offensive line and our running game. The backs ran hard, and they run hard every week. They set the tone, and offensive line sets the tone. I just have to be better behind them."

Ailym Ford, So.-RB
On today's team effort.
"We practice to play in stadiums like this. High intensity. Defense showed out like every week. They gave the offense a chance to drive down the field. O-line was very confident. They were moving bodies. We have some good, discipline guys. They play hard and are experienced. All we have to do is run behind them and trust them."