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Bobby Wilder attacked Rusty Wright's character after a Tennessee Tech win against Chattanooga.
Tennessee Tech took down Chattanooga in Southern Conference football action last weekend, kickstarting September with a rivalry win.
After the game, Mocs coach Rusty Wright took issue with the Golden Eagles‘ alignment on a second half onside kick. His counterpart rejected accusations of rule breaking.
The play had major impacts on the outcome in a 24-9 contest. At the time, Tennessee Tech led 7-6. After securing the recovery, the Golden Eagles scored a touchdown on a short field to build a more comfortable lead.
Wright called out the alignment after the game. Bobby Wilder was having none of it.
Tennessee Tech football coach rips rival coach.
Chattanooga trailed by a point to start the second half and hoped to use some deception to grab an advantage. The Mocs attempted an onside kick. It failed.
Tennessee Tech recovered and subsequently drove the field to take a 14-6 lead.
After the game, Wright had the following to say:
“They shouldn’t be able to get away with how they lined up, and they lined up like that two games in a row and we can’t take advantage of it.”
Wilder had a different outlook. He called it poor execution on Chattanooga’s end. Tennessee Tech defended the kick perfectly and took advantage.
The play never really had a chance. The kick was poorly placed. It did not travel the necessary 10 yards. Wright says the alignment played a role. Wilder blasted his rival after the fact.
“That p—ed me off; he said schematically they’re wrong. (Wright) doesn’t know what the h— he’s talking about… We’re aligned perfectly for what we do.
“Just look at the two teams: The last two years, we’ve been third and fifth in the country on special teams. They’re 103 and 42. So, what the h— is Rusty Wright talking about?”
-Bobby Wilder
The Tennessee Tech coach then took aim at Wright’s character, saying he refuses to take accountability for his team’s failures.
“He’s an under-the-bus guy. He’s looking to throw anybody he can under the bus to make himself look better… (Special teams coordinator) Frank Wilson’s elite at what he does. Frank knew it. We had the book on Rusty Wright. We knew he was going to call [the onside kick].
“He gives his kicker an incredibly hard kick to make, and when it doesn’t work, he throws him under the bus. That’s Rusty Wright. He’s an under-the-bus guy.”
-Bobby Wilder
The back and forth adds some spice to a budding rivalry. Tennessee Tech plays in Cookeville, about two hours north of Chattanooga.
The Golden Eagles officially joined the Southern Conference in July, meaning this matchup will be played on a consistent basis moving forward. Assuming both coaches are on the sidelines next year, these words are sure to resurface in 2027.