The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team hosts Tennessee Tech in the home opener on Thursday night with kickoff slated for 7:00 p.m. ET at Finley Stadium. 

Below are excerpts from today's press conference with photos.  The full videos are attached to the story.  Today's press conference included remarks from head coach Tom Arth, senior wide receiver Bingo Morton and senior defensive lineman Derek Mahaffey.

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Bingo Morton, Sr.-WR
On when the 'game day' feeling started to settle in.
"It was about right after camp ended. It hit me that it's almost time to play a game against a real opponent. It feels sweet. Just being able to play against someone else rather than the same guys that are your teammates."
 
On offensive improvement.
"I'm extremely confident in our offensive unit. We have some new faces on the offensive line and also at tailback. We also have a lot of guys returning so we have a lot of weapons and everyone is prepared to play on Thursday."
 
On importance of opening season with win.
"That's very important. Starting the season 1-0 is the first goal because you can't win them all if you don't win the first one. That's our number one goal this week is to start off with a great win. Hopefully we have a lot of fan support from the students and the city of Chattanooga as we take on Tennessee Tech on Thursday night."



Tom Arth, Head Coach
On starting the season 1-0.
"I think every year that's important. Every game you go out there with the objective to play as well as you can and get a win. That is big for us, especially being at home. WE struggled at home early on last season, it would be great for us to go out there and play a clean, well game. Whatever happened last year has no bearing on what will take place on Thursday night. You are going to have two teams that are incredibly excited to go out there and very excited to go and try to get a win. I expect them to bring great energy and their best game to us. We know Tennessee Tech is hungry with a new coaching staff that has injected a lot of enthusiasm and life into that team. We're going to get a great challenge so we have to be at our best to go out there and get a win."

Overall feelings on the group coming into the season.
"The really exciting thing is that we feel great with the group as a whole and that was real positive point for us throughout the offseason and camp. I told the coaching staff halfway through camp that I was so proud of them and how they have developed these players. There are players that I thought we would not have to count on in the opening week, but they have improved that much and now will be contributors for us and have a big role on this team."
 
On what it means to open up at home.
"Just the opportunity to be in front of our fans is important to not only me, but our team. We have that opportunity to go out there and see where we are as a group. Fans can see all the hard work we have put in to get to this point and we have a great opportunity to put it on display. Everyone can see what to expect from this team and what the guys are going to be about. I am really excited for that opportunity."
 
Thoughts coming out of offseason.
"We've put the time in. We have built a very strong foundation to build our team on. It is going to be what we do on a daily basis. It is what we did this week leading up to this game, how we continue to perform and continue to improve, that is going to determine what type of season we are going to have. The foundation has been laid and the work and time have been put in. Now it is, can we continue to do that over a long period of time and continue to improve."





Derek Mahaffey, Sr.-DL
On getting set for senior season.
"It's that opening kickoff, that's when it hits you. I'm really looking forward to Thursday night. This is the last ride; we have to put everything on the line for this season because we'll never have the chance to play college football again. It adds to the moment and it's really special. I'm looking forward to it."
 
On goals for the season.
"We want to try and be the number one defense each week. We have to take it day-by-day and week-by-week. We just want to be 1-0 every week."
 
On practicing well and carrying into a game.
"I think it does. When you repetitively do something well then eventually, it will translate in the game. Playing a game is actually the easy part. Practices are intense and that's what you need. When you are in a game, it just flows easier."