Georgia State, Mocs agree on 2-game deal

by John Frierson

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Georgia State football teams have signed a two-game, home-and-home deal for 2013 and ’14.

UTC will face the Panthers in the Georgia Dome in 2013, and the Atlanta school will visit Finley Stadium the following season. Mocs coach Russ Huesman said the matchup has a lot of potential.

“It could become a nice rivalry,” Huesman said, citing the schools’ proximity and shared recruiting territory.

Georgia State played its first season in 2010, going 6-5 against opponents from nearly all levels of college football. The Panthers are directed by former Alabama and Georgia Tech coach Bill Curry.

Before being hired by GSU in June 2008, Curry was the director of Leadership Baylor at the Baylor School. Former Mocs quarterback Tony Pastore was an assistant on Curry’s staff last season.

Georgia State will begin conference play in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2012. The Panthers and Mocs had one common opponent last season: Jacksonville State. The Gamecocks beat UTC 21-17 and beat GSU 34-27 in overtime.

UTC athletic director Rick Hart said a series with Georgia State is a “natural fit” for the Mocs and meets the criteria he looks for in nonconference games.

“It makes a lot of sense for us,” he said. “You know how important Atlanta is to our recruiting efforts, and for each of us it’s an up-and-back [day] trip and it’s an easy trip for our fans.”

Along with playing Georgia State in 2014, the Mocs likely will play Tennessee for the first time since 1969. While that game is not yet official, Hart said both sides want it to happen.

I understand that ETSU and Milligan have finally negotiated a home and away soccer series beginning in 2012. The negotiation was bogged down for some time over what the term "home" meant for both schools. That was finally resolved with a coin toss, at the suggestion of Dave Mullins, after he called Paul Stanton.

Seriously, the GSU - UTC series should be good for both programs, while ETSU remains on the outside of mainstream regional university athletics without the leadership to even be looking in at this point.

(03-11-2011 09:23 PM)Buc66 Wrote:  I understand that ETSU and Milligan have finally negotiated a home and away soccer series beginning in 2012. The negotiation was bogged down for some time over what the term "home" meant for both schools. That was finally resolved with a coin toss, at the suggestion of Dave Mullins, after he called Paul Stanton.

Seriously, the GSU - UTC series should be good for both programs, while ETSU remains on the outside of mainstream regional university athletics without the leadership to even be looking in at this point.

Congrats to Dave and Paulie for finally figuring out a way to get Milligan to come to Johnson City. Let it never be said again that we can't get big names to play at ETSU. I say go Buffs!

At least Chattanooga is thinking about their fans when making athletic department decisions...Look at the quotes.

“It makes a lot of sense for us,” he said. “You know how important Atlanta is to our recruiting efforts, and for each of us it’s an up-and-back [day] trip and it’s an easy trip for our fans.”

Along with playing Georgia State in 2014, the Mocs likely will play Tennessee for the first time since 1969. While that game is not yet official, Hart said both sides want it to happen.

Imagine if ETSU did a survey of it's fans...(might I add a group of people that is growing increasingly smaller). The University would learn the obvious... get out of the ASun and get football back.

It's not good for ETSU to ignore people who care....people whom if asked would do all they could for the Buc cause as long as they have a voice. Please Mr. President...change your ways!

I hope you guys bring back football