Previewing the 2011 Chattanooga Mocs
by Husker Mike on Jun 16, 2011 6:00 AM CDT
in 2011 Nebraska Huskers Football
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PrintNormally, I cringe when I see the Huskers schedule a 1-AA opponent, but in 2011, I'll make an exception. The 2011 schedule is quite strong, as the Huskers caught no favors from the Big Ten's schedule makers. Plus, non-conference games against bowl teams Washington and Fresno State means that the Huskers have one of the more difficult schedules in recent memories. And if you needed to schedule a 1-AA opponent, you could do far worse than scheduling the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Last season, Chattanooga finished 6-5, but four of those losses were to BCS national champion Auburn and three top-ten 1-AA opponents. The Sagarin rankings at the end of the season slotted the Mocs at #103, ahead of Wyoming (#108), Kansas (#119), Vanderbilt (#126), and Western Kentucky (#165). The Mocs should be even better in 2011, returning 19 starters from last season.
On offense, it all starts with senior B.J. Coleman, a two-year starter and second-team all-conference quarterback who directed the eighth-ranked passing attack in 1-AA last season. Coleman completed 56% of his passes last season for almost 3000 yards and 26 touchdowns. Against Auburn, Coleman went 20 for 39 passing for 210 yards and a touchdown. Recruitniks might remember him as a 4-star prospect who originally signed with Tennessee, then transferred after his redshirt freshman season to his hometown school. He's a pro-style quarterback who isn't a threat to run.
His favorite receiver is 1-AA third-team all-American Joel Bradford. Coleman and Bradford were high school teammates as well. Coleman caught 81 passes for 1,284 yards and 8 touchdowns as a junior last season. As a sophomore, Bradford made a midseason switch to safety after injuries depleted the depth there. Last season, he twice topped the 200 yards receiving mark in a game. Junior receiver Brian Sutherland should also be a prime target for Coleman; he caught 50 passes last season for 729 yards and five touchdowns. Look for sophomore Marlon Anthony as well; the 6'5" caught 14 passes for three touchdowns, earning him a spot on the Southern Conference all-Freshman team.
Like most pro-style offenses, they have more success when the running game contributes. The Mocs will likely use a running back-by-committee approach. Look for junior J.J. Jackson, sophomore Keon Williams, and junior Chris Awuah to split the carries. Williams was named to the conference all-freshman team last season. They may struggle for running room behind an offensive line that only returns two starters. Junior Austin Wilson moves from left guard to center, while Adam Miller will remain the right tackle. This looks like a mismatch in favor of Jared Crick and company, which doesn't bode well for the Mocs.
On defense, the Mocs return ten starters from a middle-of-the-pack defense in 1-AA. The defensive line is led by senior defensive end Chris Donald, a second-team all-conference pick last season who led the team with 7.5 sacks. Donald missed the end of spring practice after surgery on his wrist, but is expected back in the fall. Donald transferred to Chattanooga from Tennessee after his sophomore season; coming out of high school, Donald was a Parade all-American and a Rivals five-star prospect. He's a converted linebacker, and at 6'1" and 225 lbs., he still is built like a linebacker.
The linebackers are led by senior Ryan Consiglio, a second-team all-conference selection in 2010. A two-year starter, he's totaled 201 tackles in his career. Barring injury or a lackluster season, he'll likely finish up in the school's top ten tacklers of all-time. Consiglio was second to Donald on the Mocs in tackles for loss with 9.5 in 2010.
The secondary is led by sophomore cornerback Kadeem Wise, a second team all-conference pick and freshman of the year last season. He contributed 29 tackles and six interceptions last season. The lone new starter on defense will be sophomore cornerback Chaz Moore, who played in every game as a true freshman last season.
The Mocs will likely be one of the better season-opening teams that Husker fans have seen in recent years. Only Nevada in 2007 would be a better opponent than 2011 Chattanooga. But let's not forget that the Mocs are a 1-AA team...and a team that likely won't match up well with the Huskers. The Mocs offensive strength is a pro-style passing attack, something that the Blackshirts have proven to be very effective in shutting down. And while the Mocs return a lot of experience on defense, that defense was 80th out of 126 1-AA teams in total defense and 95th in scoring defense. That 75th ranked rushing defense will be sorely tested by Tim Beck's new offensive scheme. So when you boil it down, the game will be determined by how well the Huskers bounce back from the collapse from last season.
If you are looking for a sign of optimism for 2011, it's worth mentioning that Chattanooga lost to both national champions Alabama in 2009 and Auburn in 2010.
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I like where you're going with the above picture's caption, Mike.
by Fake Pelini on Jun 16, 2011 7:14 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
I mildly dislike your anonymous online persona...
BUT GREAT POINT!
Aside from that, I voted “closer than you would think”. Nebraska likes to play butt-puckered agaisnt 1-aa teams, so I’ll write that check and cash it. (Yeah, I cash my own checks)
If the Huskers somehow found a way
To lose this one, I’d vomit all over my television. I know it’s possible, but I expect them to win. The coaches just need to make sure everyone isn’t overlooking this one and paying too much attention to slaughtering Washington this time around.
by TexasHusker on Jun 16, 2011 9:59 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
nicest thing about this game
is that it won’t be a $39.95 PPV game.
You gotta believe that BTN will straighten out it’s issues for people on Time Warner…. and in Lincoln, but I ain’t spending $80 or $120 this year on watching PPV
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com
nickname
btw, the nickname “Mocs” is shortened from “Moccasins”, which I assume meant the snake, not the shoe.
Confirm? Anybody ever tangle with one of those damned things?
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
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Mocs
I graduated from UTC, and like many Mocs we’re not exacctly sure what the Mocs are anymore. For a time our mascott was in fact a Native American chief, and I suppose it was meant as slang for Native American warriors, or Cherokee for this area, that ceased being politically correct. ( Esp since he was a white guy with red paint all over him. ) For a time we had the most unusual mascott in the country it was in fact a a giant Moccosin shoe. It was a giant stuffed shoe that walked around at games. (not kidding) The shoe was infamous, winning several the worst Mascott in all of America contests at one time. However it was worst in a good way, it was funny to watch. The hole as it’s mouth it’s eyes were on the front and it’s back was the sole. It looked like a walking giant bedroom slipper. At some point there was a break in and the “Shoe” mascott suit was stolen, what fate became of it has never been learned. Though some say there was a burning. Some say it still haunts the campus. Someday the wraith of the shoe may be felt again. Currently the Mocs have become Mocking birds. That is the state bird but as the original name is Moccasins clearly that was never the original intent. Interestingly as far as I know we have never once in the schools history used the snake as a symbol….even though it’s obvious and we are an area full of Moccasin snakes of very mean temperment in our river city…..go figure. Beware the shoe…..it is said he will come again, and when he does all shall be trampled underfoot. Personally I think Red Forman would have approved of the shoe….excellent for a swift kick to the…..
by John V Heilker on Jun 24, 2011 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Mocs
Didn’t read below, hmm it makes sense if they did use snake back in 20’s I just have never seen them use it…..I never heard about a connection to any landmark. Also, the current shape of Moccasin bend is different then it would have been then.Tthey cut out and dredged much of it for river traffic back in 70’s , it does not look like a foot now……anyway that’s interesting. However he forgot to mention we did in fact use the shoe for a mascot. I have been looking everywhere for a picture of the “shoe” I can not locate one, it’s as if every picture was destroyed as well….poor shoe.
I will say a Mocking Bird is a good mascot, if you have ever delt with one you know they are a tenacious devil bird from hell that will even chase and attack cats…..fearless and mean little things.
by John V Heilker on Jun 24, 2011 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Origin of "Mocs"
The long time nickname of the Chattanooga team was “Moccasins”. While for a year or two in the 1920s a snake was used, the vast majority of time it was to denote the shoe moccasin. It comes from a penisula of land that is visible from Lookout Mountain overlooking Chattanooga. The land looks just like a foot. The native Americans had a name for it, it was “translated” into Moccasin Bend and has stayed that to this day. In 1997 the university chancellor woke up one morning and decided it was politically incorrect for the school to have a mascot and other images associated with "indians’. So, he proclaimed “Moccasins” to be dead and a committee came up with the obvious “Mocs”. We had always been nicknamed the Mocs for short. The new mascot was the Tennessee state bird, the mockingbird, but we are not the Mockingbirds. Famous Moc alumni in football: Terrell Owens, yes that one. Hugh Beaumont, better known as Ward Clever on Leave It To Beaver.
Thanks for the insight!
Go Big Red Nebraska!
Our Cobs Are Bigger Than Yours!
Corn Nation!
Twitter!
cornnation@gmail.com
by Jon Johnston on Jun 16, 2011 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions
There was even a “Chief Moccanooga” at one point in time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Moccanooga
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
As someone who lives in the Chattanooga area and has a degree from UTC, let me just say that while Coleman and Bradford make for a great combo, there is a reason why the players (aside from Coleman) play at UTC and not UT or another major football school.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
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