Mocs hold Spring Game in Alan Jones backyard
LOL

Did it get your attention? Well, quite literally, for the third year in a row the Chattanooga Mocs loaded up and bused 40 minutes north of Chattanooga and held their Spring Game at the Alan Jones Estate on his private football field (full regulation with light, PA, and scoreboard) in Cleveland, Tennessee.

It is probably one of the most unique experiences in (spring game) college football. It is a big donor, "invitation only" event.

If you have ever been to the Biltmore in Asheville, it has the same feel. You enter the property and drive about a mile into the woods, then all of the sudden, this big pavilion pops up (it is basically a quarter scale Churchill Downs looking building). The entire back opens up to overlook the field.

It is a bit of a circus atmosphere with Mr. Jones classic car collection (from muscle cars, to Europeans, to basically a street legal fourmula 1 car with a top end of 231mph). There was also a race between our mascot Scrappy and a camel and a demonstration from their stable of Champion Tennessee Walking Horses. The event is catered by one of the best restaurants in the region (amazingly...also owned by Mr. Jones :o ).

It is a fun, albeit surreal, experience (for a mere "mortal" like me) and has raised over $230K for the football program and $60K for the wrestling program over the last 3 years.

So, if you would like to see some pics, check 'em out below. If anyone wants to read about the game itself, I also have links to some Times-Free Press articles (the defense is apparently much improved...of course, when you were last in all of D1...there is nothing you can do but improve ) I think this will be a much different team from the Mocs of the past...run, run, run with a great young QB (Antonio Miller) who is Vick-esque (without the herpes...sorry, couldn't resist) with equal parts run and throw.

I am not predicting big things for next season, but I think (hope) this team has the mix of talent and experience to be much more competitive in the SoCon (baby steps).

2005 Spring Game Photos

Mocs’ surging defense earns win (T-FP)

Miller displays ability, leadership (T-FP)