The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team begins spring practice on Tuesday, March 21, at 3:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Scrappy Moore Field.  The Mocs open the first of 15 sessions as they prepare to go for an unprecedented fourth-straight trip to the FCS Playoffs.  The Mocs Spring Game, presented by MetroPCS, is set for Saturday, April 8 at Noon.  A complete spring practice schedule is listed below, along with details for the Spring Game.
 
SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tuesday – March 21 - 3:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Thursday – March 23 - 3:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Saturday – March 25 - 8:30 a.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Saturday – March 25 - 2:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
 
Wednesday – March 29 - 8:00 p.m. – Finley Stadium
Friday – March 31 – 4:00 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Saturday – April 1 - 8:30 a.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Saturday – April 1 - 2:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
 
Wednesday – April 5 - 8:00 p.m. – Finley Stadium
Friday – April 7 – 4:00 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Saturday – April 8 – Noon – Spring Game – Finley Stadium
        - Wing Contest and Kids Clinic Start at 10:00 a.m.
 
Sunday – April 9 – 3:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Tuesday – April 11 – 3:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
Thursday – April 13 – 3:30 p.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
 
Monday – April 17 – 6:45 a.m. – Scrappy Moore Field
  SPRING GAME APRIL 8 – KIDS CLINIC – WING CONTEST
The annual UTC Spring Game, presented by MetroPCS, is Saturday, April 8.  Kickoff is 12:00 p.m., but be sure to check GoMocs.com for more promotional information about the Spring Game as the date draws closer.  UTC coaches and staff again host the annual FREE Kids' Clinic prior to the Spring Game. All youth, middle school and younger, are encouraged to attend the free event that starts at 10:00 a.m.  The Wing Contest is also back for the second year in a row and those interested in participating can sign up on GoMocs.com. 
 
ARTH NAMED 23RD MOCS HEAD COACH
UTC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics David Blackburn announced the hiring of Tom Arth as the 23rd head coach of Mocs football on Dec. 19, 2016.  Arth was the 2016 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.  A former NFL quarterback, Arth (35) owned a 40-8 overall record in four seasons at his alma mater.  His building of the John Carroll program was highlighted by 2016 road victories over two No. 1-ranked opponents in Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater.  The 2016 Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year guided the Blue Streaks to the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the third time in his four-year tenure.  In the four seasons under Arth's leadership, John Carroll was among the nation's elite, finishing inside the top 25 every season, including top 5 finishes in 2016 (No. 3) and 2014 (No. 5).  John Carroll won the league's automatic bid for the first time in school history in 2016, breaking Mount Union's run of 24 consecutive OAC titles.  The Blue Streaks finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation, tying a school record with a 12-2 overall tally and a 9-0 mark in league action.  It was their first outright conference championship since 1989.
 
SEASON NO. 109
The Chattanooga Mocs wrapped up their 109th season of football in the fall of 2016.  The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football began play in 1904.  No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I.  There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944.  The Mocs have an all-time record of 530-519-35 (.505) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
LETTERMEN/STARTERS RETURNING/LOST
UTC returns a total of 49 lettermen from the 2016 campaign.  It is the most returning lettermen from one season to the next since 52 came back for the 1997 season.  There are 22 on the offensive side of the ball, 26 on defense and three specialists.  There are 11 starters back, including five on offense, five on defense and the punter.
 
END OF AN ERA
Following the conclusion of the 2016 season, head coach Russ Huesman announced his resignation on Dec. 14 to become head coach at the University of Richmond.  He was the Spiders' defensive coordinator on their national championship team in 2008 prior to coming to Chattanooga.  He posted winning records in three of his first four seasons.  Over the last four years, the Mocs went 36-16 with three Southern Conference titles.  It is the winningest four-year stretch in the history of the program.  Coach Huesman left with an eight-year record of 59-37, the second-most wins in school history.
 
2016 QUICK RECAP
Chattanooga advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs for the third year in a row in 2016.  The 10-ranked Mocs finished another outstanding campaign with a 9-4 record and a second place showing in the SoCon race with a 6-2 league record. 
 
UTC posted its third consecutive 9-win season, the longest such streak in school history.  Chattanooga has been ranked for 48 consecutive weeks, the sixth longest active run in the nation.
 
The Mocs' season ended with a 41-36 loss at top-ranked Sam Houston State in the playoffs.  It was the fourth appearance in the FCS Playoffs for Chattanooga, having also made the postseason in 1984.  UTC advanced to the second round last season and the quarterfinals in 2014. 
 
Senior Keionta Davis was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Year.  He led the league in sacks with 10.5 and was a consensus All-American.  It is the fifth year in a row the Mocs have produced either the offensive, defensive player of the year in league, or both. 
 
Four other Mocs earned All-American honors, including senior offensive linemen Corey Levin and Jacob Revis, senior running back Derrick Craine and senior linebacker Nakevion Leslie. 
 
DAVIS & LEVIN EARN COMBINE INVITES
Keionta Davis and Corey Levin were both invited to the 2017 NFL Combine.  This is the second time in the last three years the Mocs have sent multiple representatives to the Combine.  Derrick Lott and Davis Tull both went in 2015.  Other Mocs to take part in the Combine are B.J. Coleman (2013), Buster Skrine (2012) and Eldra Buckley (2007).
 
Davis and Levin were the only two representatives from the SoCon at the Combine.  There were 19 from the FCS level and only UTC, Youngstown State, Eastern Washington and Tennessee State had multiple players invited.
 
Davis did not participate in the drill, but Levin posted some strong numbers.  He was fifth among the OL in the three-cone drill with a time of 7.55.  He was seventh with 26 reps on the 225 bench press and 12th with a 5.16 40-yard dash.  He was also 12th in the broad jump (106") and the 20-yard shuttle (4.73).
 
RECRUITING CLASS NO. 11 IN THE FCS
New head coach Tom Arth and his staff did an outstanding job in a short amount of time, bringing in a 21-member recruiting class.  Both 247Sports.com and HeroSports.com tabbed it as the No. 2 class in the Southern Conference and No. 11 overall in the FCS.  The Mocs have had a top-15 recruiting class in eight of the last nine years.   
 
STAFF CHANGES
With the head coaching change, come a number of additional staff changes.  The following are new faces on UTC's sideline:  Tom Kaufmnan (Defensive Coordinator), Justin Rascati (Offensive Coordinator), Ryan Aplin (Receivers), Brian Cochran (Defensive Line), Jonathan Cooley (Defensive Backs), DeMarcus Covington (OLBs), Matt Feeney (Linebackers), Nick Hennessey (Offensive Line), Chris Hurd (Special Teams/Tight Ends). 
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 48 consecutive weeks ... sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
• 57-52 all-time at Finley Stadium …  33-12 in the Huesman era.
• The Mocs were No. 94 among all 253 NCAA Division I programs (FBS & FCS) in the final USA Today Sagarin ratings ... that is ahead of 44 FBS programs, including Virginia, Rutgers, Illinois, Purdue, Kansas and Arizona from Power 5 Conferences.
• Mocs have been ranked in the FCS Top 10 in 21 of the last 22 weeks.
• UTC is 3-4 all-time in the playoffs ... 3-3 in the last three seasons.
• Finley Stadium was the host of the FCS Championship Game for 13 seasons from 1997-2009.   
 
Offense
• Chattanooga finished second in the SoCon and No. 16 in the FCS in scoring offense (34.2 ppg) ... second-most points per game in school history.
• Third in the SoCon and No. 30 in the FCS in total offense at 412.5 yards per game ... third highest total in school history. 
• Mocs have to replace six on offense, including All-American RB Derrick Craine, All-American OG Corey Levin and All-American center Jacob Revis.  Others not returning include WRs C.J. Board and Xavier Borishade and OT Hunter Townson. 
• 13th in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (151.2).
• Third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (206.3) ... 26th in the FCS.
• Rising senior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating was No. 13 in the nation (152.6) ... second in the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS with 26 passing TDs ... 11 of his passing TDs were 30+ yards ... 20th in the FCS in points responsible for (14.8) ... 10th in the country in completion % (64.4%). 
• Rising senior Richardre Bagley steps into the starting role after posting 593 yards on 107 carries.  He had 189 yards and two scores in place of an injured Derrick Craine at Western Carolina. 
• Rising seniors Alphonso Stewart and James Stovall anchor the receiving corps.  Stewart had 12 catches for 135 yards and two scores in the playoffs.  Stovall started 12 games and had 25 catches.
• Two offensive linemen return with SoCon postseason honors.  Senior Josh Cardiello started all 13 games and made the All-SoCon second team.  Sophomore-to-be Malcolm White returns to the offensive line after making the SoCon All-Freshman team.
 
Defense
• UTC was sixth in the nation in total defense (294.0) and ninth in scoring defense (19.6) ... sixth in the FCS in passing yards allowed (164.5).
• Also led the SoCon in team pass efficiency defense (119.6). 
• Posted back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the season for the first time since 1964 … 18-0 vs. Tennessee Tech (Sept. 23) and 7-0 vs. ETSU (Oct. 3). 
• Held three teams to under 200 yards of total offense this season ... Shorter (16), Presbyterian (196) and ETSU (132).
• Held eight teams to under 100 rushing yards this season ... Shorter (14), Presbyterian (86), Furman (85), Samford (46), ETSU (81), VMI (11) and Weber State (69) and Sam Houston State (48) ... No. 25 in the FCS in rushing defense (129.5).
• Held Alabama to its third-lowest offensive output the last two seasons ... 2015 vs. Louisiana-Monroe, 303 yards ... 2016 vs. LSU, 323 yards ... 2016 vs. Chattanooga, 332 yards.
• Led the SoCon and was No. 12 in the FCS with 38 team sacks.
• Senior Lucas Webb has three career pick-6s ... school record and tied for the SoCon record ... 10 career INTs is tied for sixth all-time at UTC ... twice been tagged as a preseason All-American.
• Senior LB Dale Warren led the SoCon with 19.0 TFLs.
• Warren and Webb lead five returning starters on the defensive side.  Senior Taylor Reynolds is the lone returning starter on the defensive line.  Junior Isaiah Mack is also back on the interior.  He posted 7.5 sacks in 2016 and has 10 starts over the last two years.  Senior Trevor Wright and junior C.J. Fritz give the Mocs a total of three returning starters in the secondary.   
 
Special Teams
• Sophomore Colin Brewer returns as the punter after earning SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2016.  He was fifth in the league with 40.6 yards per kick.  
 
BENNIFIELD PUT UP TOP 10 NUMBERS
Junior QB Alejandro Bennifield threw 26 touchdown passes this season, second-most in a year at UTC.  The school record is 27 set by Chris Sanders in 1999.  His 26 passing TDs were second in the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS. 
 
BAGLEY STEPS UP
Junior Richardre Bagley took over the starting running back spot against VMI due to an injury to senior Derrick Craine.  Bagley responded with an outstanding game that included 23 carries for a career-high 189 yards and two touchdowns.  For his play, he was named Honorable Mention STATS FCS Player of the Week and SouthernPigskin.com X-Factor of the Week.  He continued that strong play with 126 yards and two scores on 19 carries at Western Carolina.  In those two games, he had  315 rushing yards and four TDs on 42 carries (7.5 yards/carry).  He also added an 8-yard TD catch at Western Carolina.
 
LUKE DAVIS SAT TWO GAMES FOR A SPECIAL REASON
Redshirt freshman linebacker Luke Davis is a staple on many of the Mocs' special teams units this season.  However, he missed the two games early in the year after recovering from donating stem cells to a cancer patient at Vanderbilt hospital the week before the Presbyterian game.  Each year, the Mocs take part in the "Be the Match" bone marrow registry started by Villanova head coach Andy Talley.  Not only does the team recruit students to register, but they also sign up themselves as potential donors.
 
MOCS END SEASON VS. NO. 1 FOR THIRD YEAR IN A ROW
For the third year in a row, Chattanooga was knocked out of the FCS Playoffs by the No. 1 ranked team in the country.  UTC has two wins in 12 tries against the No. 1-ranked team. The Mocs defeated No. 1 Marshall 33-31 at home on Oct. 2, 1993. Chattanooga also bested No. 1 Furman 21-14 at home on Sept. 29, 1984. UTC has faced Georgia Southern five times when the Eagles were ranked No. 1.
Below is the list of the 12 games against top-ranked teams for the Mocs.
Defeated No. 1 Furman at home - 21-4 - Sept. 29, 1984
Lost to No. 1 ETSU on the road - 14-34 - Sept. 19, 1987
Lost to No. 1 Georgia Southern at home - 3-13 - Sept. 17, 1988
Lost to No. 1 Georgia Southern on the road - 13-34 - Nov. 11, 1989
Defeated No. 1 Marshall at home - 33-31 - Oct. 2, 1993
Lost to No. 1 Marshall on the road - 20-56 - Oct. 1, 1994
Lost to No. 1 Marshall on the road - 0-45 - Oct. 5, 1996
Lost to No. 1 Georgia Southern on the road - 10-49 - Sept. 25, 1999
Lost to No. 1 Georgia Southern on the road - 7-70 - Sept. 22, 2001
Lost to No. 1 Georgia Southern on the road - 27-28 - Oct. 8, 2011
Lost to No. 1 New Hampshire on the road - 35-30 - Dec. 6, 2014
Lost to No. 1 Jacksonville State on the road - 41-35 (OT) - Dec. 5, 2015
Lost to No. 1 Sam Houston State on the road - 41-36 - Dec. 3, 2016
 
ONE SCORE FROM MOVING ON AGAIN
Each of Chattanooga's last three playoff runs have ended with a margin of defeat that was one score or less.  UTC lost at No. 1 New Hampshire 35-30 in 2014, 41-35 in overtime at No. 1 Jacksonville State in 2015 and this year (41-36) at No. 1 Sam Houston State. 
 
MOCS TIED SCHOOL RECORD WITH FIVE ALL-AMERICANS
For the second time in the last three years, the Mocs tied a school record with five All-Americans.  Seniors Keionta Davis (DL) and Corey Levin (OL) were consensus picks. Senior LB Nakevion Leslie was on the HeroSports.com second team and STATS third team.  Senior RB Derrick Craine (HeroSports.com) and junior OL Jacob Revis (Madness) were third team honorees.
 
LEVIN PARTICIPATES IN 2017 NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL
Senior All-American Corey Levin participated in the 2017 NFLPA Senior Bowl on Jan. 21 at the Stubhub Center in Los Angeles, Calif.  Levin, a four-year starter and two-time winner of the Southern Conference Jacob's Blocking Award has been one of the top offensive linemen in the FCS over the last three seasons. This is the sixth year of the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
 
DAVIS PARTICIPATES IN THE 2017 REESE'S SENIOR BOWL
Senior Keionta Davis accepted an invite to participate in the 2017 Reese's Senior Bowl.  The Senior Bowl is the nation's most unique football game, featuring the country's best senior collegiate football players and top NFL draft prospects.  They represent teams from the North and South that are directed by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams.  Davis is the seventh Moc to compete in this prestigious showcase, including Chester Lagod ('53), Tom Drake ('54), Dick Young ('55), Curtis Rouse ('82), Travis McNeal ('89) and Terrell Owens ('96).  The Senior Bowl is always played on the weekend prior to the Super Bowl. 
 
WEBER STATE & UTC RAISE FUNDS FOR WOODMORE TRAGEDY
The week prior to the UTC-WSU playoff game on Nov. 26, 2016, Weber State Athletics Director Jerry Bovee and head football coach Jay Hill reached out to their fans and supporters, asking for donations to help the victims and families of the Woodmore Elementary School bus tragedy that occurred in Chattanooga.  Six students were killed when their bus crashed on Monday, Nov. 21.  UTC also asked our fans to join in and together, the Mocs and Wildcats raised over $8,000.  In response, the Mocs would like to send our most sincere thanks to Coach Hill, Mr. Bovee and the entire Weber State Athletics fans base.
 
SENIORS HAVE SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS
The 2016 senior class ended their careers with a 36-16 (.693) record with three SoCon titles.  That is the most wins in school history.  This group passed the 2015 and 1980 seniors with the victory against VMI on Oct. 22.  Coach Huesman's 1981 class is fourth all-time at UTC with 31 wins.
 
CRAINE REPEATS AS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
Senior running back Derrick Craine earned his second Academic All-America ® honor, announced by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA) in November.  Craine is a first team Division I selection that includes nominees from both the FBS and FCS levels.  A native of McDonough, Ga., Craine has a 3.61 grade-point-average as a Health & Human Performance major.  He was a second-team Academic All-American honoree last year and is a three-time member of the Academic All-SoCon squad.  This is the fourth Academic All-American honor for Mocs football.  Davis Tull made the team in 2013 and 2014 to go with Craine's two awards.
 
MOCS RANKED FOR 48 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS
The Mocs are No. 10 in the final FCS Coaches Poll and No. 13 in the season-ending STATS Top 25.  UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 48 consecutive weeks, dating back to Nov. 4, 2013.  That is the sixth-longest active streak in the country.  The Mocs were in the Top 25 for 52 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) and were 31-19 when ranked under Huesman.  UTC was ranked as high as No. 3 on Nov. 1, 1968, in the Small College Top 20, before the FCS was created in 1978.
 
SEVEN MOCS EARN ACADEMIC ALL-SOCON HONORS
Seven members of the Mocs football program earned a spot on the 2016 Fall Academic All-Southern Conference Team.  Senior Derrick Craine (3.67 - Health & Human Performance) and junior Hunter Townson (3.78 - Health & Human Performance) were recognized for the third time.  It was the second for junior Alex Hooper (3.59 - Accounting) and sophomore Cody Bennett (3.30 - Health & Human Performance) and the first each for sophomores Alex Trotter (3.53 - Mechanical Engineering) and Branden Parker (3.35 - Health & Human Performance) and freshman Colin Brewer (3.31 - Health & Human Performance).