2025 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Quotes
Nov. 8 – Furman – Finley Stadium
 
Coach Rusty Wright, 7th Season
Opening statement:
"That was a good win. We have a bunch fighting with everything they've got. We talked last night as a team about the 'people in the room,' and those people aren't going to take a 7-5 team in the playoffs. We know that. We must find a way to keep growing, keep getting better, fighting for each other, and growing up. I don't have a lot of seniors playing, but there's a lot of guys that are giving us everything they have. These freshmen are playing and making plays, and we have to continue to grow. It's only going to get harder. Next week's going to be all we want and then some, but I'm enjoying this one tonight because this group is trying to grow up and trying to play a little better."
 
On the play of Battle Alberson:
"Our offensive staff did a great job of putting Battle in really good situations, and the kid responded. I think the guys around him played well, which helped. He made some really nice throws out there and made some really good decisions. We tried to limit those for him and put him in the best position we could, but I thought they had a great plan for that young man to go be successful today. H took advantage of his opportunity."
 
On rebounding from a scoreless 10-minute first drive:
"I knew that drive was going to be important, and it was in the second half because I knew we were going to wear them out. I knew that if we ever got going, Furman was going to have a hard time, and I didn't feel great about kicking it in that situation. Jude Kelley was just coming back, but we still should have made the first down and kept that drive going. We missed a block, but I knew that would pay off, and that's what I told the kids at halftime. Furman got tired, and our kids just kept battling."
 
Thoughts on the play of the receivers around Alberson:
"That's something we talked about all week. I told I pulled AJ Little and Josh Williams to the side on Tuesday morning during practice and told them they would need to help Battle this week. They had to like guys that have been starting eight or nine games and help him out because they're capable of it. Those guys fought their tails off out there and made some great catches. That catch Josh made over here on the sidelines on first down was big, and it was a good throw."
 
On deciding to go for it on fourth-and-7 in the third quarter:
"We had the right play called. I wasn't as worried about Battle throwing the ball as much as I was Landon Strickland catching the ball. But you have to trust guys to go play, and we have some really good, young players. They're going to be just fine. We were kind of in no-man's land on kicking a field goal because it was going to be a long one, and Furman does a really good job of blocking field goals and putting pressure up the up the middle. It was a great call by coach Pizzo, and we went out and executed it."
 
Battle Alberson, Quarterback, Freshman
On preparing for the start:
"Getting ready for the game wasn't much different than a normal week. Coach Pizzo preaches to us to always be ready, so all year I've been doing the same thing – I've been in the film room and preparing like I was going to play. So when it was my time, it was just like a regular week."
 
On what goes into preparing for a game and the support he received from his teammates:
"I think our coaches do a great job of making practice feel like a real game, and that definitely helped. For my team, I can't speak enough as to how amazing they are and how supportive they are. I'm really thankful for just them for giving me confidence, just telling me that I got it, and telling me to trust my game.
 
On throwing his first touchdown pass to fellow freshman Landon Strickland:
"It was great, and I'm so happy for Landon. He's a great person and a great player. It was special, for sure."
 
Ky Tayo, Defensive Tackle, Junior
On his pick-6:
"That play was drilled into my head this week by our coaches. We watched a lot of film this week, and Coach kept telling us to watch the screen and feel them out, and that opportunity came during the game. I knew their guys were chasing me down, but I have good teammates blocking for me. It was an amazing feeling to get that touchdown and knowing I had my teammates right behind me, celebrating with me."
 
On finishing the home portion of the schedule with a win:
"It's going to be very important in the future and in the long run to get this last win at home. We're a young team, and we're still growing, so I think this helps our confidence and helps us come together as a team. We're still figuring out the in's and out's, but I think we have the chance to become better as a team down the stretch."
 
Thoughts on the play of Battle Alberson:
"I saw a veteran quarterback out there today. That's what I saw this whole week of practice. I know people question backups, but I always have faith in Battle. He got his opportunity and made the best of it."