2008 Woodie Awards
Allison set to return for final season of contract as football coach
Jennifer Adkins
Issue date: 11/29/07 Section: Sports
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The recent affirmation of head football coach Rodney Allison's position at UTC has sparked controversy throughout campus.
Allison was hired by the university Dec. 6, 2002 and his record in five seasons is 16-39. And the Mocs, 2-9 and 2-5 SoCon, recently took a beating 37-17 from Appalachian State at the finale game Saturday, Nov. 18.
"For the size of the school and what we're paying him, it's about the best we can get," sophomore cheerleader Donovan Weaver, a Manchester, Tenn., said. "But with his record well below 500 percent win average ... I mean, [Coach Allison] is a good guy, a good coach, but all his traits aren't translating into wins."
The Mocs football team is Allison's first job as head coach. Under Allison, the Mocs have defeated all but one Southern Conference team during his five years and this year he has four of his players on All-SoCon teams, including Chris Camacho, Los Angeles, Calif. senior, Garret Windham, Andalusia, Ala. junior, Chris Johnson, Chattanooga senior, and Charles Profit, Marietta, Ga. senior.
Rishi Naik, a Chattanooga junior, said, "It is always easy to place the blame of another losing season for the Mocs football team with either the athletic director or the head coach, and since Rick Hart was newly signed last year, the blame inevitably falls onto the head coach."
"Obviously, changes need to be made...However, I do not feel firing the head coach is the solution."
However, other students have voiced their opinion that UTC does not need a football team at all.
According to junior Keeton Christian of Kingsport, Tenn., "The football team is a black hole for student money. The football program has to be one of the most expensive sports programs to run and all it is doing is sucking the money from campus."
Athletic director, Rick Hart said, "I feel that our program needs continuity and stability. He is committed to the educational mission of this institution, and I am proud of the way he represents us in the community and of the positive impact he has had on our program and the university."
Allison was hired by the university Dec. 6, 2002 and his record in five seasons is 16-39. And the Mocs, 2-9 and 2-5 SoCon, recently took a beating 37-17 from Appalachian State at the finale game Saturday, Nov. 18.
"For the size of the school and what we're paying him, it's about the best we can get," sophomore cheerleader Donovan Weaver, a Manchester, Tenn., said. "But with his record well below 500 percent win average ... I mean, [Coach Allison] is a good guy, a good coach, but all his traits aren't translating into wins."
The Mocs football team is Allison's first job as head coach. Under Allison, the Mocs have defeated all but one Southern Conference team during his five years and this year he has four of his players on All-SoCon teams, including Chris Camacho, Los Angeles, Calif. senior, Garret Windham, Andalusia, Ala. junior, Chris Johnson, Chattanooga senior, and Charles Profit, Marietta, Ga. senior.
Rishi Naik, a Chattanooga junior, said, "It is always easy to place the blame of another losing season for the Mocs football team with either the athletic director or the head coach, and since Rick Hart was newly signed last year, the blame inevitably falls onto the head coach."
"Obviously, changes need to be made...However, I do not feel firing the head coach is the solution."
However, other students have voiced their opinion that UTC does not need a football team at all.
According to junior Keeton Christian of Kingsport, Tenn., "The football team is a black hole for student money. The football program has to be one of the most expensive sports programs to run and all it is doing is sucking the money from campus."
Athletic director, Rick Hart said, "I feel that our program needs continuity and stability. He is committed to the educational mission of this institution, and I am proud of the way he represents us in the community and of the positive impact he has had on our program and the university."
