A Winning Statement: Tennessee Tech Coach Delivers on Rival’s Jab

Tennessee Tech football coach Bobby Wilder used a comment from a rival coach as a source of motivation, and his team delivered a powerful response on the field. The visiting Chattanooga Mocs and their coach, Rusty Wright, had a dominant performance from Tennessee Tech. Wright had previously made a joke about Tennessee Tech’s need to move their kickoff time due to stadium renovations, saying “Welcome to big-time college football.”

Wilder took that comment and used it to inspire his team to a 45-17 victory. The game was a statement from the opening whistle, with the Golden Eagles jumping out to a 21-3 lead in the first quarter. Wilder praised his team’s performance, calling it a “dominating performance, right from the start,” and highlighting their “relentless effort in all three phases” of the game.

The victory was a long time coming for Tennessee Tech, who had not beaten Chattanooga since 2004. Now ranked in the top 25, the Golden Eagles showcased their physical dominance, holding the Mocs to negative rushing yards in the first half. Wilder pointed to the physicality of his front-seven and the offense’s ability to establish a run game as keys to the victory.

The win extends Tennessee Tech’s winning streak to seven games dating back to last season, when they had a breakthrough 7-5 record and shared a conference title. Wilder noted that his team has a strong bond and a love for playing the game, which was on full display. He spoke about his team’s focus on playing with tremendous effort on every single play, from the starters to the backups. The win not only marked a major victory in a long-standing rivalry but also sent a clear message that Tennessee Tech is a program on the rise.