SCHEDULE | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---Summer is here (albeit early by the calendar). The Chattanooga Mocs football team is back on campus and at work preparing for the start of fall camp in August. GoMocs.com is starting its annual preview series in June this year to keep up to date with the guys.
 
We start with the quarterback position. Everyone always starts at quarterback right? Well, our series traditionally begin at the line of scrimmage offensively or defensively. Looking at NFL rosters, six of the seven Mocs currently in the league play on the offensive (3) or defensive (3) line.
 
But there is strategery involved here. The Mocs return Chase Artopoeus from a stellar start to his Chattanooga career in 2023. Y2Chase is historic. He's the first returning starter of the Rusty Wright Era coming off a full season.
 
Now, Nick Tiano was a returning starter in 2019, but that was Wright's first season. Having a seasoned quarterback room is an essential starting piece for this squad.
 
"We didn't know what we were getting with Chase last year," Coach Rusty Wright said. "He exceeded expectations for us. He came in and played like a guy that'd been playing all along instead of a guy that was just getting started. There's a comfort level (for our staff) with him. He has the understanding of the offensive people around him, their skill sets and being able to do the things we're wanting to do.
 
"Hopefully, we can expand a little bit with both of those guys. They played in big games and been successful in those things. I think that'll be a bonus for us moving forward."
 
We sat down with Chase for a quick Q&A on Y2Chase:
 
Year 1 was a good start to your 2-chapter Chattanooga novel. What did you learn about yourself after transferring from UCLA?
Artopoeus: "You know, I wouldn't say a whole lot. I always felt like I had a pretty solid confidence about myself that I could get the job done and when times got tough, that I'd persevere. I guess actually doing that, being able to actually put some stats or some actions to my thoughts and the words that I was kind of talking to myself about. I think that's pretty neat. As far as what I've learned about myself? I don't think a whole lot. I feel like I'm still the person I thought I was before."
 
You talked about the biggest reason for going to UCLA to start with was to start learning about the coaching profession. What did you learn during that process and how has that kind of helped you playing here and adding to your repertoire?
Artopoeus: "That was a big reason on why UCLA was because Coach (Chip) Kelly was there, and Coach (Dana) Bible was our QB coach and OC. Both of those guys have been around for a long time at the highest levels of the game. So that was really attractive. It wasn't necessarily like they just told me something. It was more observing the day in and day out and just watching how they do what they do. How they coached, how they formulated words to guys differently and you know, teaching concepts and schemes. How do you watch film? How do you break it down? How do you turn into a report so that you can easily analyze it? I think that helped me out last year."
 
It's also year 2 in this offense and with your various weapons. How much changes, or is it just fine-tuning what's already there heading into 2024?
Artopoeus: "I think the biggest thing to me is the discipline that we have now as an offensive unit. I know last year, and this is a whole offensive-wide thing, it was like maybe just some immaturity. Now we go out there, and we just got back from throwing today, and it's just like a like a machine, you know? It's just like an assembly line. He knows what to do here. He knows what to do there. There's not a whole lot of joking around anymore; we're here to play football and win. I'd say it's a lot more disciplined now...all working towards a common goal."
 
What do you see in that room as a whole and what it brings to the team as a whole?
Artopoeus: "I think we have a really good room. I think we all work really well together toward a common goal to be the best that we can possibly be. I never have to text these guys that I'm gonna to go watch film. It's always our group asking when are we going to get together to watch film, you know? I think they're really receptive to anything that I know like I'm always really receptive anything that they know. Luke is here ready for this moment, too. He trains, he does all the stuff that I do...I think we're in good hands with him too."
 
What's the goal for the room, the offense, the team?
Artopoeus: "At the end of the year, not only be back in the playoffs, but championships and things of that nature. I mean, obviously that's the goal. My arm's healing up really well. So, I'm blessed to be able to get back out there and throw and do what I love. That first part of the offseason was a little difficult, but now it's just trying to get that timing back with the receivers. It seems like we haven't really missed a step. So far, I don't think the balls really hit the ground in throwing sessions. A lot of that can be attributed to my receivers. I think they're making a lot of tough catches and think they've obviously taken the step up."
 
2024 Quarterback Room
Starters Returning/Lost (1/0): Artopoeus
Letter Winners Returning/Lost (3/1): Artopoeus, Schomburg, Matthew Clemmer | Tucker Pope
 
Notes to Know…

• Artopoeus threw for 2,672 yards completing 62.8 percent of his passes (187-298) with 20 TDs and seven interceptions in his 10 games behind center. He had the eighth-most yards thrown in a season and tied Cedric Stevens (2004) for sixth in TD passes.
• Artopoeus and Schomburg (517) combined for 3,189 yards passing. That's the third highest total in school history behind 3,730 in 2000 and 3,591 in 1999. The 8.31 yards per pass is second only to 8.45 in 2022.
• Artopoeus averaged 281.8 yards per game in total offense in his 10 starts. That's the 10th highest total yards and third most per game behind only Chris Sanders. The prolific Texas had 317.4 yards per game as a junior in 1999 followed by 341.5 in 2000.
• Artopoeus is one of two returning starters behind center in the SoCon (Cole Gonzales-Western Carolina).
• Artopoeus is rated the 6th-best returning QB in the FCS per HERO Sports.

 
MEET THE MOCS
Sports Talk on WGOW 102.3 FM is running it back again this year. Their weekly "Meet the Mocs" position segments interviewing key student-athletes over the summer months follow along with GoMocs.com's position previews. Check out Chase Artopoeus with the Sports Talk gurus Scott McMahen, David Paschall and Joe Varner at 4:35 p.m. Click the listen live link here on WGOW.com.
 
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are now available to the general public. The deadline to renew last year's seats is May 31. Prices start at $60 for general admission. Mocs Club members have the option for reserved seats beginning at the $250 donation level which includes a season parking pass to go with the season ticket. The purchase of season tickets is the lowest per game price for fans.
 
MOCS TOP 10 IN 1ST PRESEASON POLL
The Mocs are No. 10 in the HERO Sports FCS Preseason Top 25 released Thursday morning. The top 10 is led by South Dakota State followed by North Dakota State, Montana, Montana State, South Dakota, Villanova, Idaho, Sacramento State and Southern Illinois. Furman is 14th and Western Carolina comes in at 16.
 
STUDENT SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Season tickets for students are FREE. However, students do need to register for their ticket here.
 
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