UT-Chattanooga

In 1886, Chattanooga University was founded as a private school.  It went through various mergers and re-organizations for the next 83 years.  Finally, in 1969, it became part of the University of Tennessee system, thus become the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  These days, the school prefers to be referred to as "Chattanooga," but they are still part of the UT system.  Besides, I've always thought of them as "UT-Chattanooga," and so that's what they will be here.

I did not realize, until I started writing this post, that UT-Chattanooga no longer refers to its sports teams as the "Moccasins."  In fact, since 1996 they have been the "Mocs."  Here's the explanation from their web page:

Why Mocs? 
Faced with politically sensitive issues and in need of a stronger core identity to help establish a strong brand as Chattanooga's Team, the athletics department embarked on a comprehensive identity program in 1996. A new direction for the athletics identity was determined, moving away from the politically incorrect Native American Indian imagery.

Several identities have been used in the past. With the old nickname "Moccasins," a snake was used in the 1920s and an Indian was used until the year of major change in 1996. A moccasin shoe was even used in the 1980s.

In 1996, it was decided to adopt the State Bird of Tennessee, the Mockingbird, as the core of the new identity, while incorporating the strong regional imagery of Chattanooga's vast railroad history.  The mascot "Scrappy" was born and a new emphasis was placed on the athletics department's role in the region.

The committee also recognized the need for the word "Chattanooga" to have a great emphasis in the logo. The nickname "Moccasins" was shortened to simply "Mocs." Thus established, Chattanooga could rebuild its athletics programs and initiatives around this new identity.

There's not much I can add to that.

When I was growing up, the UT-Chattanooga Moccasins played Division I-AA football.  These days, they would have us believe that the Chattanooga Mocs play FCS football.  But to me, it's all the same.

This is the Golden Age of UT-Chattanooga football.  Until 2014, they had only made the I-AA playoffs once.  But in 2014, the Mocs reached the quarter-finals of the I-AA playoffs, before losing 35-30 to New Hampshire.  Last year, the Mocs made the second round of the playoffs, before losing to Jacksonville State 41-35 (in overtime).  This year, the Mocs went 8-2 overall, and 6-2 in the Southern Conference.

This will only be the second time UT-Chattanooga, in any of its iterations, has played for the UCFC.  On November 14, 1942, the Moccasins lost to Georgia 40-0.  They will hope to do better tonight.