Game Notes: Mocs Vs. Georgia Southern

Game Notes: Mocs Vs. Georgia Southern
posted September 20, 2006

Chattanooga Mocs (1-2,0-0)

vs.

Georgia Southern Eagles (1-1,0-0)

Gameday Data

Date: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2006

Time: 6:00 p.m. ET

Site: Chattanooga, Tenn.

Stadium: Finley Stadium

Capacity: 20,668

Radio: Each UTC football game is broadcast on WGOW Radio 102.3 FM and on the Internet through the Mocs? website, www.GoMocs.com. The Mocs Radio Network consists of Jim Reynolds, play-by-play, Todd Agne, color analyst and Steve Ray, sideline.

Television: No television available for this game.

Coaches:

Chattanooga: Rodney Allison

Fourth year (Texas Tech, 1980)

12-25 at UTC; 12-25 overall

Georgia Southern:

Brian VanGorder

First year (Wayne State, 1991)

1-1 at GSU, 17-18 overall

Opening Kick

Chattanooga is finally making a home appearance. After three straight games on the road, the Mocs open the home schedule and the Southern Conference slate all on the same day as nemesis Georgia Southern visits the Scenic City. The Mocs have only defeated the Eagles once in series history, with that win coming in 1996 in Chattanooga. Georgia Southern has served as UTC抯 league-opening opponent every year since 1993, and the Mocs are 1-12 during that time frame. UTC is on a modest two-game slide after falling at Division IA Memphis and at Western Kentucky. In the seven-point loss at WKU last week, quarterback Antonio Miller set career highs for pass attempts, completions and yards while scoring all three Mocs? touchdowns on the ground. Running back Eldra Buckley surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for the sixth straight game, and receiver Emanuel Hassell caught a career-best 14 balls. Defensively, linebacker Chris Johnson was honored as the SoCon Player of the Week for his career-high 11-tackle performance against the Hilltoppers.

UTC-Georgia Southern Series

Chattanooga and Georgia Southern will meet for the 20th time Saturday in a series which began in 1984. The Mocs trail the Eagles in the overall series 18-1 after last year抯 48-10 loss to GSU in Statesboro. UTC抯 lone victory in the series came in 1996, a 23-21 win in Chattanooga.

Mocs vs. Eagles in Chattanooga

The Eagles will be making their 10th trip to Chattanooga to take on the Mocs. Georgia Southern is 8-1 when facing UTC in the Scenic City. The Eagles claimed the 2004 meeting in Chattanooga, 51-17.

SoCon Season Opener

Saturday will serve as UTC Southern Conference opener in 2006. Georgia Southern has been UTC SoCon-opening opponent every year since 1993. The Mocs are 1-12 against the Eagles in that span. Their only league-opening win over GSU is their only victory in the series, a 23-21 win in 1996.

Mocs in SoCon Season Openers

The Mocs are 10-19 in Southern Conference openers since beginning SoCon competition in 1977. UTC won eight of their first nine league-opening games since becoming a member of the SoCon. But the schedule makers placed Georgia Southern as UTC league-opening foe every season since 1993, and the Mocs have only won one of those last 13 SoCon openers.

Home Opener, Finally

UTC is finally making its home debut after opening the season with three consecutive road games. The Sept. 23 home opener is the latest for the Mocs since 2001, when UTC hosted Wofford on Sept. 29. That year, UTC was scheduled to face Kentucky State at Finley Stadium on Sept. 14. But because of the tragic events in our nation on Sept. 11, the home opener was rescheduled for Nov. 24.

Former Head Coaches Together

Paul Johnson left Georgia Southern after the 2001 season after five years as the Eagles? head coach. He is now in his fifth year as the head coach at Navy. Former UTC head coach Buddy Green (1994-99) joined Johnson four years ago as the defensive coordinator of the Midshipmen. Green left Chattanooga after the 1999 season to become the defensive coordinator at his alma mater, North Carolina State.

Twenty-Seven Georgia Natives

Twenty-seven players on UTC current dress roster are natives of the State of Georgia. This figure includes the following 17 players who are on the current depth chart: defensive backs Raeshon Ball, Ronnie Jackson and Quintez Smith; outside linebackers Mitchell Meadows and Jarvis Newson; receiver Blue Cooper; fullback Jordan Grant; linebacker Brandon Ridgeway; punter Jonathan Wright; defensive linemen Neil Brown and Charles Profit; tight end Brian Heflin and offensive linemen Brandon Bellamy, Sam Bentley, Robbie Elliott, William Giles and Wes Palmer.

Johnson SoCon Defensive Player of the Week

Linebacker Chris Johnson was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week this week for his performance at Western Kentucky. The junior registered a career-high 11 tackles with 10 solo stops. Two of his hits were behind the line of scrimmage. It was the third double-digit tackle game of his career.Johnson led the Mocs in tackles in 2005 with 74.

Buckley Six Straight

100-Yard Games

Running back Eldra Buckley has put together six straight rushing games of 100 yards or more, dating back to last season. He opened this year with a 204-yard performance in a victory at Tennessee Tech. The next week, Buckley collected 105 yards on the ground at Memphis. In the last outing, the senior ran for 127 yards at Western Kentucky. Buckley has nine career 100-yard rushing games and is tied with Tyrone Coleman for first in that category in the school record books. Buckley has accomplished his feat in just 14 career games.

Miller Career Game

Quarterback Antonio Miller put together a career game last week at Western Kentucky. The junior ran for three touchdowns. He set career highs in three passing categories, attempts (48), completions (23) and passing yards (224). His previous highs were 35 attempts in a 2005 win at Liberty, 21 completions twice last season and 218 yards in a victory at Jacksonville State.

Miller Throws Two Touchdowns

Antonio Miller completed two touchdown passes in the Sept. 9 game at Memphis. The junior hit wideout Michael Johnson for a 10-yard score in the first quarter and found receiver Michael Gilmore with a six-yard TD toss in the fourth quarter. It marked the first time in Miller抯 career that he had thrown two touchdown tosses in a single game. Miller registered three touchdowns passes in 2005.

Hassell Hauls in 14 Balls

Receiver Emanuel Hassell set a career high with 14 receptions last week at Western Kentucky. It was the senior sixth double-figure reception game. Hassell also recorded his sixth career 100-yard receiving game with 112 yards against the Hilltoppers.

Johnson First TD Catch

Michael Johnson touchdown catch in the first quarter Sept. 9 at Memphis was the first of his career. Johnson joined the Mocs? program last season after transferring from Jones County Community College in Mississippi. He caught 11 balls last season and has six receptions thus far this year.

Offensive Line Shuffle

Offensive lineman Joe Hudgins made his first career start at Memphis. Hudgins started at right offensive guard for the injured Justin Matherson. Hudgins is a Fairview, Tenn., native who spent two years at Iowa Central Community College. Matherson suffered an injury at Tennessee Tech in the season opener which was serious enough to keep him out of uniform at Memphis. The senior had started 23 games on the offensive line over his career. He returned to the starting lineup last week at Western Kentucky, while Hudgins will remain Matherson backup.

Mocs Held Lead Over Memphis

UTC owned a 7-6 lead over Memphis last week after the first quarter. It was the first time the Mocs led a I-A team after a quarter since holding a 12-7 edge over UAB after the third quarter in a 2000 matchup. UAB ended up winning that game, 20-15, in Birmingham.

Central time zone x Three

The Mocs opened the season with three consecutive away games. All three road games were played in the Central time zone. It was the first time since the 1974 season that UTC played three consecutive games in the Central time zone. That year, UTC traveled to Vanderbilt, Auburn and Middle Tennessee State in succession. The Mocs lost to Vanderbilt 28-6, to Auburn 52-7 and defeated MTSU 24-7.

Ball with Two Pickoffs

Cornerback Raeshon Ball picked off his second pass in as many weeks Sept. 9 at Memphis. Ball interception came in the third quarter, and he returned it 21 yards into Memphis territory. Ball, a transfer from Central Michigan, also recorded an interception in the season-opening win at Tennessee Tech. Safety Jeff Phillips also picked off a pass at Tech.

Turnover-Light

The Mocs did not commit a turnover in the win over Tennessee Tech Aug. 31. The team first turnover came on an interception at Memphis in week two. Last week at Western Kentucky, UTC lost its first fumble of the season. The Mocs have only given up two turnovers through three games this season and have collected six opponents? turnovers for a turnover ratio of +4. The opposite occurred last season as UTC gave up an average of more than two turnovers per game.

Lopez Continues Accuracy

Placekicker Esteban Lopez kicked a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter of the opening win at Tennessee Tech and improved his career kicking statistics to 11-for-13. Lopez was a First-Team All-SoCon performer following last season and earned Preseason All-SoCon accolades this July.

Wynn Strikes in Debut

True freshman running back Erroll Wynn introduced himself to Mocs fans and his teammates in his UTC debut at Tennessee Tech. Wynn gained 61 yards on five rushes in the opener, but his electrifying 52-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter showed his capabilities. With Buckley resting in the final quarter, Wynn busted through the right side of the line, broke two tackles, and outran the chasing Tech defense to the end zone at 8:29 of the fourth quarter for the game final scoring play.

Defense Dominant in Opener

The Mocs defense performed better at Tennessee Tech than it did at any point in 2005. UTC limited Tennessee tech to just 10 first downs and 165 total yards. The Golden Eagles managed just 27 offensive yards in the second half. The Mocs also picked off two Tech passes, recovered one fumble and registered five quarterback sacks in the game.

Hermanson Leads Defense

at Memphis

Linebacker Evan Hermanson had the game of his career in the win at Tennessee Tech. In his second full season with the Mocs, he tallied a career-best eight tackles with a sack and two other stops behind the line. The senior top game last year was a seven-hit effort in a win over The Citadel.

Six True Freshmen See Time

Six true freshmen have seen game action thus far through two games this season. Making their UTC debut in their first collegiate season have been running back Erroll Wynn, kickoff specialist Weston Perry, fullback Jordan Grant, offensive lineman Wes Palmer and linebackers Joseph Thornton and Edward Sawyer.

2006 Coaching Changes

Rodney Allison has welcomed six new assistant coaches to his coaching staff for this season. Carmen Felus takes over the roles of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, as last year coordinator, Jason Simpson, is now the head coach at Tennessee-Martin. Jay Graham replaces Jeff Nixon as running backs coach, Blaine McCorkle will coach tight ends instead of Jason Greene, and Jason McManus will work with the receivers after the departure of Justin Watts. Defensively, David Bibee steps in for Matt Wiekert to coach the outside linebackers, and Vantz Singletary replaces Jimmy Brumbaugh on the defensive line. Tim Powers, a student assistant last year, now works full time as a defensive line assistant.

Special Teams Assignments

The Mocs are not utiliziing a special teams coach this season. Rather, Coach Allison has broken down the different units and assigned a specific assistant coach to that special team. The special teams coaching assignments are as follows:

Special Teams Coaching Assignments

PAT and field goals John Turner

punt team Ahren Self

punt return David Bibee

kickoff team David Bibee

kickoff return Jay Graham

Allison Selects Team Captains

Coach Allison has chosen Eldra Buckley, Jeff Phillips, Edward New and Bryan Welch as this year permanent team captains. Buckley will serve as captain of the offense, Phillips the defense and New and Welch special teams. Phillips is a sophomore, and New is out for the season with a knee injury.

Eight on Preseason

All-SoCon Teams

Last year winning season and the prospects for 2006 were recognized in the preseason by the Southern Conference coaches and media as eight UTC players were honored on Preseason All-SoCon teams. The Mocs had the third-most preseason honorees behind Appalachian State 12 players and Furman 11. Six Mocs were on the two offensive teams, led by 2005 All-SoCon honoree Eldra Buckley at running back. Buckley set the school single-season rushing record last year with 1,233 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. Also on the first team was senior receiver Emanuel Hassell. Hassell caught a team-high 52 balls for 548 yards last season. Listed on the second-team offensive unit were senior offensive lineman Justin Matherson, junior offensive lineman Sam Bentley, senior place kicker Esteban Lopez and junior quarterback Antonio Miller. The UTC defense was represented by junior cornerback Quintez Smith on the first team and junior lineman Charles Profit on the second team. Smith paced the Mocs with four interceptions and 10 pass breakups last year.

Mocs Picked Fourth

in SoCon Preseason Poll

The Mocs were picked to finish in fourth place in the 2006 Southern Conference standings in the league coaches preseason poll. The media projected the Mocs to place fifth at the end of the season. Defending National Champion Appalachian State received 46 votes from the coaches and 189 from the media to hold down the No. 1 spot in both polls. Furman tied the Mountaineers for first place in the coaches poll, with each team receiving four first-place votes. Georgia Southern was third, and Wofford followed the Mocs in fifth. Western Carolina, The Citadel and Elon rounded out the final three places. ASU received 22 first-place votes in the media poll and held the top spot with 189 points. Furman and Georgia Southern each received a first-place vote in the media poll. The Paladins were second with 162 points, followed by GSU (125) and Western Carolina (122). Following fifth-place UTC (98) was Wofford (85), The Citadel (54) and Elon (29).

First-Year Players

The Mocs have 10 first-year players penciled in on this week depth chart. The list includes offensive tackle Joe Hudgins, backup offensive guard Wes Palmer, fullback Jordan Grant, backup receiver Blue Cooper, backup noseguard Malachi McGee, defensive tackle Neil Brown, and defensive backs Raeshon Ball, Ronnie Jackson, Tony Swafford and Brandon Golder. Palmer and Grant are true freshmen. Cooper and Swafford are redshirt freshmen, Hudgins and McGee are junior college transfers, and Brown, Ball, Jackson and Golder are Division IA transfers.

Lomax, New Out with Injury

Junior defensive lineman Brian Lomax and senior fullback Edward New are both out for the season because of injuries. Lomax suffered a leg injury last season and again during spring practice. New suffered a knee injury three weeks ago and has already undergone surgery to repair meniscus damage.

UTC Hosts Division I Football

Championship Game

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the City of Chattanooga will host the 2006 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. The game will be played at Chattanooga Finley Stadium for the 10th straight year. This year date is Dec. 15, and kickoff will be at 8 p.m. ET.