UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman runs the ball during the Mocs' 45-19 win over Furman on Nov. 23, 2014.Of all the nagging demons the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team has exorcised from its past this season one of the most tormenting was put to rest Sunday morning.
The memory of the empty feeling as they exited the University Center auditorium last year, having been left out of the FCS playoffs, helped inspire the players and coaches through offseason workouts, preseason practice and carried over onto the field each week of the season.
That agonizing flashback was erased when the Mocs were announced as one of the top eight seeds in this year's bracket.
"Coming out of here, as you reflect on it, you say what happened last year after walking out of those doors is the reason we are where we are now," UTC coach Russ Huesman said. "The kids put a huge chip on their shoulder and they weren't going to be denied this year.
"They worked hard and handled themselves in a professional manner. It's a great group and I'm excited to have more weeks to be around them."
Like checking off items from a grocery list, the Mocs have set a new standard for the program seemingly with each passing week. UTC's nine wins equals the most in program history and the 7-0 Southern Conference finish is both the most league wins and its first unbeaten conference record. The Mocs' 26.4-point margin of victory over league opponents is the second highest in SoCon history and several individual players have rewritten school records.
In reaching the postseason for only the second time, this will also be the first home playoff game for UTC. Although the national polls no longer matter with the playoffs getting underway, the Mocs also climbed to a school-best No. 8 in the final national rankings.
But the only numbers that mattered when the players, coaches and fans filled the auditorium Sunday were earning one of the top seeds and the first-round bye that comes with that status.
"I woke up this morning, and I was really, really nervous," said junior defensive lineman Josh Freeman. "I actually tweeted about it. Coming in here this time and knowing we were in the playoffs was a better feeling than last year, but there was still that nervous edge about whether we were going to get a first-round bye.
"I wanted to wait and actually see it on the bracket officially. Once I did, I lost my mind. It's been such a long time coming. I still remember that feeling of being left out last year and all of us walking away not really knowing how to handle having our season end like that. Today is the complete opposite of that feeling."
Several players seated in the front row actually jumped to their feet and started yelling before the official announcement had even been made. As the ESPNU studio hosts were discussing each of the top eight seeded teams a list of the next team to be discussed would scroll along the bottom of the screen.
As Villanova was announced as the No. 6 seed, the players closest to the big screen could see "Chattanooga" as one of the next two seeded teams to be discussed, setting off a loud celebration by some. Several other players looked confused before realizing they had earned a seed.
"When we saw Chattanooga listed at the bottom of the screen we knew then we had made it," said quarterback Jacob Huesman. "Now we can practice and get ready this week, go home and have Thanksgiving with our families and watch to see who we're going to play.
"Once we get back on the practice field we understand where our focus needs to be and it's back to business."
Future opponents' game televised
The Mocs will host the winner of Saturday's game between Indiana State (7-4) at Eastern Kentucky (9-3). That game will be played at 1 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN3.
Tickets on sale
Tickets for UTC's second-round playoff game at Finley Stadium can be purchased by going to GoMocs.com or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627). Prices are $10 for youth, $20 for general admission and $30 for reserved chairback seating. The UTC ticket office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased in person at any of the four men's and women's basketball games scheduled for the coming week.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.