Staff File Photo by Robin Rudd/Chattanooga Times Free Press
UTC quarterback Terrell Robinson.University of Tennessee at Chattanooga redshirt freshman quarterback Terrell Robinson was the dominant topic of conversation during today's media luncheon at McKenzie Arena.
Mocs coach Russ Huesman discussed a range of things, including Robinson, as UTC (2-4, 0-3 Southern Conference) prepares to host Western Carolina (1-4, 0-3) on homecoming this Saturday at Finley Stadium. Here's some of what he had to say:
On the 28-27 loss to Georgia Southern ...
"When you play the No. 1 team in the country, you need to make some plays. You can't have missed opportunities if you want to end up winning. We had a shot at the end, we took a chance on a 2-point play, made that decision, but there were so many opportunities as you look back through that game."
"You hate to say we held them to 28 points because it should have been better than that, but they came in averaging 48 a game."
On how the team responded after quarterback B.J. Coleman went down and GSU led 21-7 at the half ...
"They kept fighting, they had a feeling that we could play, even at halftime when it was 21-7. They felt confident and they got after it in the second half, especially offensively."
"We battled and I'm proud of the kids for that, but we have to start winning these games."
On the play of Robinson, who ran for 114 yards and three touchdowns ...
"I don't want to take anything away from Terrell because he was fantastic. I mean he was electric, he brought energy, life to the offense in the Georgia Southern game. If we don't have Terrell, we have no shot to win that game - we probably get beat 38-7, something like that."
On the status of Coleman, who has a sprained shoulder ...
"When he's ready to go, he's going to go. And I'm sure there are people that don't agree with that [because of how well Robinson played] and I don't care."
"He's got the sling off today, which is a good sign. I saw him this morning and they'd said he'd be in the sling for two or three days."
"I'd say if he comes in and he's only 80 percent, we'd probably hold him [out]. Again, it depends on how he feels. ... We may not know until Saturday. He may not take a snap this week and we'll see what happens on Saturday."
For more Mocs coverage, see tomorrow's Times Free Press. You can also follow beat writer John Frierson on Twitter at twitter.com/mocsbeatCTFP.