Staff Photo by John Frierson UTC wide receiver Blue Cooper displays the tribute to outgoing Mocs coach Rodney Allison that he has shaved into the back of his head for UTC’s season finale against Samford on Saturday.

Blue Cooper has never been shy about using his head as a canvas. Quite often during his career he has had some kind of design — sometimes bold, sometimes subtle — shaved into his buzz cut. His latest look is by no means subtle.

Cooper, a junior wide receiver, showed up at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s final practice of the season Thursday with an elaborate new design, at the heart of which is the name “Hot Rod,” in honor of outgoing Mocs coach Rodney Allison, who will coach his final game Saturday against Samford at Finley Stadium.

“I parked next to him today and I said, ‘Come over here, I’ve got a little tribute to you.’ He looked at it and said, ‘That’s for me?’” said Cooper, who has 21 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Later, Allison appeared touched by the gesture, though the old-school coach also had a look of “Kids today!”

The artist — “barber” just seems inadequate — is a man named Dale who works at Profile’s on Brainerd Road, Cooper said.

Names and more names

If every rumor I heard was true, UTC athletic director Rick Hart’s list of potential candidates to replace Allison would run about 30 deep — and maybe it does. I know my list is getting pretty long.

Every single day, someone tells me that this is the hot guy or that guy wants the job. It’s to the point that unless I hear it from a source who would know what Hart is thinking because they have discussed the search, which isn’t very many people, then I pretty much just add the name to the list and move along with my day. The rest I take a hard look at based on how Hart might know them or of them and what kind of connection the coach might have to UTC or this area, if any.

It’s a fun game of Name That Coach at this point, but the clock is starting to tick. The fact is that Hart announced that Allison wouldn’t be back a month ago today, on Oct. 21, and somebody is going to get the job at some point in the next few weeks. Who that might be is still the $64,000 question.

Bring a gift to the game

Allison’s wife, Leigh, along with the assistant coaches’ wives, will be at the First Tennessee Pavilion before Saturday’s game accepting donations to the Forgotten Child Fund. With the holidays approaching, they are requesting donations of unwrapped gifts that will be distributed to needy children.

For more Mocs coverage, see Friday’s Times Free Press.

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