UTC coach disses OVC in remarks on move

UT-Chattanooga coach Rodney Allison, in remarks to a Civitan Club this week, said he'd rather his team stay put than move to the OVC. According to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, he said. "I think the Southern Conference is the SEC of Division 1-AA. I didn't come here to beat Jacksonville State." The paper appears to have already archived the story, but it's available at MocFans.com, a fan forum. Understandably, it's generated some discussion.

EDIT (Aug. 25, 9:42 p.m.): I got a Google alert with a link to the TFP story. Here it is, if you're interested.

I won't dispute the strength of the SoCon. Some of its teams are and have been powerhouses. UTC isn't among those programs, however. And I don't think they would automatically be among the OVC's top teams, either. The Mocs were better last year, yes, but they're not all that far removed from 65-20 and 52-34. They beat JSU and Tennessee Tech last year by a combined 10 points. I'd pick them fourth, maybe third, if they were in the OVC this year.

Would a school make a decision like this over the stated desires of its coach? Of course, there are other sports to consider besides football. The Mocs would fit in the OVC just fine in men's basketball, though they might be a bit surprised at the full arenas in places like Murray and Cape Girardeau.