WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsMissing Mocs won't slow down UTC football

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- First and foremost Friday, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head coach Russ Huesman was happy to announce that there was nothing to announce.

"Nothing new today," Huesman said. "I think it's probably done. That's probably it. We did it in one big swoop."

What the Mocs did was part ways with five players, including three starters, for the upcoming season.

Huesman announced this week starting defensive lineman Chris Donald and Nick Craig will likely have their careers cut short by injury.

In addition, starting wideout Brian Sutherland has left the team for personal reasons, offensive lineman Dustin Tate was ruled ineligible, and SoCon all-freshman running back Keon Williams was suspended for the fall semester following a May arrest.

"Am I upset these guys aren't in the program and playing? I'm not upset," Huesman said. "I'm a little disappointed, but we've got good enough players. We can still win."

His players feel the same way.

More than 40 Mocs have already turned out to take part in voluntary summer workouts, with at least 20 more expected for the start of the second summer class session next week.

"You've got to come together as a unit, and I think we've got a good core group of guys," quarterback B.J. Coleman said following a workout Thursday. "I think we're really excited about the season, and this doesn't change anything.

"We will miss those guys. They were a big part of our team, but at the same time, that's part of life."

Defensive back Chaz Moore said it hurts to see teammates, especially the ones battling injuries, walk away from the game. But just because they won't be on the field with the Mocs this fall, it won't mean they're no longer part of the UTC family.

"Spots have to be filled and we've got a season to play," Moore said. "But they're going to stay a teammate. Even though they're not a part of our team out there, they're still in our hearts."

In Huesman's heart, he's still confident his program is moving in the right direction. He believes attrition is inevitable on the college level, it just happens to be the first major hit in his time with the Mocs.

"You can probably anywhere in the country and it's happening," Huesman said. "People come and go, and you just hope you can keep it to a minimum and you're doing things right socially and academically. If you lose some guys to injury, that's part of this game.

"That's what happens and you've got to move on. You can't dwell on it, and I don't think our guys have dwelled on it at all."