2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Quotes
August 31, 2024 – at Tennessee – Neyland Stadium
 
Rusty Wright, Head Coach
Opening statement after 69-3 loss at Tennessee.
"Props to Coach Heupel. They have a good football team and do things like they're supposed to. They play well on both sides of the ball, play at a high tempo and high rate, and they do a good job of executing. It gives them an opportunity to be a good football team this year. We did too many things early, that you can't do, against a good football team let alone a team like that. Hopefully we'll learn from it and get better from it. That's it."
 
On the group's early identity.
"There's not any doubt, and it's something that concerned me since camp started, but this group will definitely fight you. We're just not a smart football team yet. We don't understand concepts of things and how things should happen and how they should play out in the end. We've worked hard on it, and I thought we were a little better at that today. We just haven't caught up fully yet and we have to do a better job as coaches to allow these kids to figure it out. The kids battled, some freshmen made some plays, this group will be physical with you, that's for sure."
 
On season outlook after the season's first look.
"I really believe we have an opportunity to become a good football team, I love how these kids work, I loved how they handled themselves in the locker room after this one, I still think we can have a good football team, and we will have a good football team. It doesn't matter if we're playing Tennessee or whoever else, you can't do the things we did today and go win. That's the disappointing thing for me right now because we went over these things."
 
On the group following today's result.
"It doesn't change anything we have. Everything we want to do is right in front of us. Even if we won this game, it still doesn't matter. Our goal is to win the Southern Conference and play in the FCS Playoffs. That's what we do it for. No doubt they hurt right now, because it's a prideful bunch who works hard and football is important, I firmly believe with my whole heart that they'll come back and fight their tails off."

Chase Artopoeus, QB-Gr.
Overall thoughts after the contest at UT.
"A lot comes from experience and being in situations like this. I don't know if many of our guys have been in situations like this in a loud SEC environment. Lining up right, the little maintenance things. It was a tough learning experience for sure. It will help us in the future, it was unfortunate, but we'll benefit from this in the long run."
 
On first game back since injury that ended 2023 season.
"It was great to back first off. You take some things for granted when you play for so long and it gets taken from you. It was fun to be out there once again. As far as things to work on, I think there's a lot, but mostly timing. It was a bit difficult and it was a testament to the other team too. We were able to move the ball a bit in the second half and got more comfortable as the game went on, along with a lot of the other guys."
 
Jordan Walker, Jr.-DB
Overall thoughts after the result.
"Against a team like Tennessee, it was good to learn how to adjust to the speed of their game and how they play, this will help us a lot moving forward. Guys will be able to know what to expect and adjust. We'll benefit from it for sure."
 
On Tennessee's offense.
"It's pretty hard. They go so fast, I tip my hat to them, that's a really good SEC team and offense. They are technically sound, they don't make many mistakes and they don't turn the ball over. It's a hard offense to matchup with. We'll keep fighting hard and playing for the Chattanooga on our chest."

Kobe Joseph, Gr.-LB
On the extreme heat.
"Yeah, it was hot and we tried to prepare for this game. We came out early in the day, we had a few mid-day practices and we did everything we could try to prepare for this heat but it still got to us. As much as we did they came out fast, that fast tempo with 90 degrees, at noon, and the sun. There's not much we could do. It got us a bit today.".

Preparing for Tennessee's offense.
"It's very hard it's a great offense and we tried to prepare for it, like I said, were trying to get those stats up but its really hard when we can sale on and off we all focus on trying to run the ball and pursuing so when you get 11 of our guys pursuing and sprinting the ball it take a toll really quick and it makes it hard to keep playing ad to communicate

Tyrell Ragland, Jr.-OL
On playing in hometown of Knoxville.
"Of course we all wish we could play for our hometown team. But I'm definitely happy where I am now and I'm living the dream where I am at Chattanooga. It's always good to be back home, you know? This is where it all started, this is where my story began, this is where the people are who made me the man I am today. I'm happy where I am today."