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Mocs Mission Review - Socially

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Muhasibi Wakeel pins medals on participants at the Special Olympics spring meet in Chattanooga.

With the start of the 2011-12 season rapidly approaching, GoMocs.com is wrapping up its annual Mocs Mission Review with a look back on UTC student-athletes' social involvement over the last year.  The Mocs continue to maintain a strong presence throughout the Chattanooga community, volunteering their time for a myriad of service projects.

Chattanooga student-athletes have an established reputation of excelling in the classroom, being winners in competition and selflessly giving their time to volunteer efforts throughout the Scenic City.  Each individual program involves itself as much as it can based on class, practice and competition schedules, while the Mocs' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) takes a leadership role in organizing department-wide initiatives.  

"We have amazing community involvement among all of our programs and student-athletes," stated Director of Athletics Rick Hart.  "There is a sense of civic responsibility among the Mocs that is not fabricated or manufactured.  Instead, it comes from an appreciation of our campus and community and a desire to help make it even better."

Each year, SAAC pushes the Mocs' involvement and participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on the UTC campus.  Nearly all of the available teams run in the race while the football and track & field programs help to administrate the event. 

SAAC was also the driving force behind many of the Lady Mocs' pink games promoting breast cancer awareness.  Volleyball started it off with a record crowd at their Dig Pink night against Samford on Oct. 6.  Soccer also hosted a pink game against Wofford on Oct. 10, while the women's basketball team showed their support for the Kay Yow Pink Zone Cancer Fund against Appalachian State on Feb. 14.  Softball rounded out the pink games hosting UNCG on April 9.

Promotion of the Mocs' participation in "Read Across America" on March 2 was also spearheaded by SAAC.  Representatives from the Mocs football, softball, soccer, cross country, track & field, men's tennis and women's tennis teams all read to elementary schools students throughout the Chattanooga area. 

Another SAAC project was the organization of over three dozen student-athletes and coaches during National Volunteer Week April 10-16.  The Mocs were seen throughout town helping clean up a city block, working the Special Olympics and conducting a clothing drive.  UTC Athletics also set up future events and appearances as a part of the week-long focus on volunteerism.

Each Mocs squad also had its own volunteer and community projects.  A list those undertaking can be reviewed at the bottom of the page. 

Being engaged in the community can extend past volunteering to include how UTC athletics is working to become a recognizable brand in Chattanooga and the surrounding region.  The Mocs created quite a stir with a number of creative marketing ideas throughout the year, including the White Out football game against Appalachian State, the Black Out men's basketball game against Furman, Phillip D. Glass donning a football helmet for the first time and the extremely popular April Fools' joke to name a few. 

The Chattanooga athletics department was again awarded for its successful marketing campaign, bringing home four "Best of" awards from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA).  That gives UTC seven NACMA honors in the last two years.

The Mocs looked to expand their presence in the surrounding areas with Caravan trips to Atlanta and Nashville.  Not to forget their closest fans, the student-athletes again took part in Operation Move-In, helping freshmen unload into their dorms to begin the fall semester.       

"As you can see, we continue to build the Mocs brand as a successful program; academically, athletically and socially," stated Hart.  "The work we do in the community is a vital part of achieving our vision of establishing comprehensive excellence as the UTC standard." 

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee

  • Organized the Mocs involvement in National Volunteer Week.
  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure.
  • Organized many of the Lady Mocs' "Pink" games during the year to promote breast cancer awareness.
  • Held a student-athlete clothing/shoe drive.
  • Held a used furniture drive.

Men's Basketball

  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure.
  • Participated in Operation Move-In on campus.
  • Big Mocs Fan Can't Stop Talking About His Trip To The Game.
  • UTC's Athletic Department Makes Senior's Dream Come True.
  • Conducted various clinics and appearances in the community, including inner city ministries.
  • Spoke at a number of local schools such as Hillcrest Elementary & Brown Academy.
  • Held a clinic for the City of Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services program for people with disabilities.

Women's Basketball

  • Took part in the National Volunteer Week with the Green Team Initiative to clean up around campus.
  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure.
  • Raised money for Kay Yow Pink Zone Cancer Fund.
  • Hosted the Girls Scouts Sports-A-Thon.

Cross Country/Track & Field

  • Participated in Read Across America.
  • Helped to administer the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure.

Football

  • Participated in Operation Move-In on campus.
  • Helped to administer the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure.
  • Collected over 4,000 pounds of Food for the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
  • Volunteered at the Special Olympics state bowling tournament.
  • Participated in Read Across America.
  • Volunteered at the local Special Olympics spring meet.
  • Conducted a FREE Kid's Clinic prior to the 2011 Blue & Gold Spring Game.

Men's Golf

  • Participated in the Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Services Division C.H.I.P.S. program for individuals with disabilities.
  • Hosted a Golf Skills Open House for C.H.I.P.S.

Women's Golf

  • Hosted the Girls Scouts Sports-A-Thon.
  • Head coach Colette Murray received the Empowering Women Global Award from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland.

Soccer

  • Hosted a "Wear Pink" game to promote breast cancer awareness.
  • Took part in the National Volunteer Week with the Green Team Initiative to clean up around campus.
  • Hosted the Girls Scouts Sports-A-Thon.
  • Participated in Read Across America.

Softball

  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure.
  • Participated in the Friends of Jaclyn Program.
  • Participated in Read Across America.
  • Hosted the Girls Scouts Sports-A-Thon.
  • Hosted a Pink Game for breast cancer awareness.
  • Collected clothing for April 2011 tornado victims.

Men's Tennis

  • Participated in Read Across America.
  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure.

Women's Tennis

  • Participated in Read Across America.
  • Hosted the Girls Scouts Sports-A-Thon.

Volleyball

  • Hosted A 'Dig Pink' game to raise breast cancer awareness.
  • Took part in the National Volunteer Week with the Green Team Initiative to clean up around campus.
  • Hosted the Girls Scouts Sports-A-Thon.
  • Visited T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital.

Wrestling

  • Participated in Operation Move-In on campus.
  • Participated in the Susan G. Komen Run for the Cure.
  • Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.
  • Volunteered with the Interfaith Homeless Network of Chattanooga.