The Chattanooga Mocs are coming off back to back 6-5 seasons for the first time since 1990-91 so another winning record isn’t enough anymore.

The Mocs are aiming much higher in their third year under coach Russ Huesman — they want to make the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and compete for a Southern Conference championship, according to senior All-American wide receiver Joel Bradford.

...

“We feel, we believe that we can (reach those goals),” said Bradford, who set a school record last season with 1,284 yards receiving. “We believe we can go up to the national championship. We believe we’re one of the better teams out there.”

The Mocs came up a win short of making the playoffs in 2010, losing fourth-quarter leads in several games. They finished tied for third in the SoCon but ended the season with a lopsided loss at Wofford that spoiled their playoff hopes.

“Everybody talks about the last game, but the 10 leading up to it were just as important,” Huesman said.

The Mocs are led offensively by Bradford and senior quarterback B.J. Coleman, former high school teammates in Chattanooga. Coleman threw for 2,996 yards in 2010 with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Nine of those interceptions came in a two-game stretch for an offense that ranked 11th in the FCS.

Defensively, the Mocs this season are without cornerback Buster Skrine, who was a fifth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns. They also must replace defensive end Chris Donald and Nick Craig, returning starters who gave up football because of injuries. Four of the defense’s top five tacklers last season return led by senior linebacker Ryan Consiglio.

Chattanooga’s only playoff berth came in 1984. To have a shot, the Mocs must survive a tough opening stretch where they play three of their first four games on the road, starting with a Sept. 3 trip to Nebraska.

By The Greenfield Reporter
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/41b7080fe58542f3a313be686f89326a/FBC–Chattanooga-Preview/