chattanooga MOCS

Roger Catarino – Football – 1966-69
Roger Catarino was a talented signal caller for the Mocs from 1965-68.  He graduated with a number of passing and offensive records at UTC.

Catarino took over the starting quarterback position late in the 1966 season when Don Shaver went down with an injury.  He threw four, second-half scoring strikes in a 27-17 comeback win over Austin Peay in the season finale.  Three of those four passes came in the fourth quarter and sparked a great career at UTC. 

Catarino was 17-8 as a starting QB.  That mark stood until Steve Woods topped it in 1981 and is still No. 3 for wins all-time at Chattanooga. 

He was 201-360 for 2,801 yards and 17 TDs in his career.  He set school records with 1,273 yards on 93-173 as a junior in 1967.  He also set the total yards record with 1,500 that season.  He was having an outstanding senior year in 1968 before suffering a season-ending injury. 

Frank Orend – Football – 1938-40
Frank Orend was a two-time All-American for the Mocs from 1938-40.  He earned Honorable Mention Little All-American honors after the 1938 and 1940 seasons. 

Mike Smith – Football – 1977-80
Mike Smith is one of the most prolific rushers in school history.  He posted 3,340 career yards on 607 carries with 24 touchdowns from 1977-80. 

Smith is third all-time at UTC in rushing yards, third in attempts and tied for fifth in TDs.  His 5.5 career yards per carry is seventh in the Mocs’ record books.

Smith burst on to the scene in 1977, setting a UTC freshman record with 1,090 rushing yards.  He and Gwain Durden (1,045) were the first freshman teammates in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards. 

Smith led the team in rushing in 1977 and 1979.  His 6.2 yards per carry in 1977 is still the eighth-best output in school history.  He is also tied for the school record with 15 100-yard rushing games. 

The Mocs were 33-9-2 in his four years, including SoCon Championships in 1977, 1978 and 1979.  Smith was the Scrappy Moore team MVP in 1979 and the Most Valuable Back in 1977.

Bucky Wolford – Football – 1966-69
James L. “Bucky” Wolford was an All-American running back and defensive back for the Mocs from 1966-69.  Wolford played for head coaches Scrappy Moore and Harold Wilkes. 

Wolford came to Chattanooga from Kimberly, Ala., and had an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball.  His seven interceptions in 1966 are still a freshman record and tied for second most in a season in school history.

He added another six picks in 1967.  The 13 in his career are tied for the school record with Phillip Aldridge (1982-85).  One of the highlights of his sophomore season was a 51-yard fumble return for a score against Auburn on Sept. 23, 1967.

Wolford moved over to offense in 1968 and led the Mocs in rushing with 852 yards on the ground.  He topped 100 yards on two occasions, with 118 against Jacksonville State on Sept. 28 and 116 against ETSU on Oct. 19.

He also had an 80-yard TD run against Furman on Nov. 16.  Wolford went on to post a career average of 5.2 yards per carry, which remains in the top 10 in the record book.

The 1968 season was the first under head coach Harold Wilkes, and Chattanooga's 9-1 record that year is the best in school history.  Wolford tried to secure a perfect season for UC with a 94-yard kick-off return for a touchdown against Ole Miss on Nov. 9.  However, Chattanooga came up short in its only loss to the Rebels 38-16.

Wolford won the Joe Morrison Award, given to a former UTC student-athlete for lifetime accomplishments, in 1993.  His biggest impact on UTC may have come after his playing days.  A successful businessman, Wolford generously supported his beloved Mocs.  UTC's current weight room is officially called the Wolford Family Strength & Conditioning Center because of his generosity.

A lengthy career in commercial development earned him a spot in the UTC Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.  He has served as a member of the UT Board of Trustees and, until recently, was the Chairman of the UC Foundation.  This foundation provides resources that support distinctive programs and promote bold initiatives that enrich the educational experience at UTC.

Jack Wyatt – Football – 1923-26
Jack Wyatt was described as a triple-threat for his abilities on the gridiron from 1923-26.  He played quarterback, linebacker and punter for the Moccasins.  He led the team to a 6-2-2 record as a senior under Hall of Fame head coach Frank Thomas.

Wyatt was also the captain of the basketball team.  The four-year letter winner played forward and center.  He was also vice-president of the C Club. 

Everett Allen – Meritorious Service
Everett Allen was a member of the UC Foundation Board of Trustees and long-time President of the University of Chattanooga Athletics Association.  He was the driving force behind the construction of the north stands at Chamberlain Field and the construction of Maclellan Gym.  He also helped raise funds to add lights to Chamberlain Field, among other building projects on campus. 

Ken Hood – Meritorious Service
Ken Hood spent over 50 years as the photographer for the Mocs football team.  He began filming Mocs football games as a volunteer in 1946 and the photo deck at Finley Stadium is named in his honor.  A Colonel in the Air Force Reserves, Hood was a graduate of UC.