Have you ever wondered about the origin story of campus icon Scrappy Moc? Flock to the Andrew Roth Grand Reading Room (LIB 402) on the fourth floor of the UTC Library for more information on the background of this celebrated mockingbird. On display through August 2024, the exhibition, titled “‘Crowd-Energizing Mission’: A UTC Mascot Retrospective,” features images, items, and narrative text outlining the history of the university mascot.
Scrappy became a fixture at UTC athletic events in 1997, but connects to university traditions from the early 1900s. For example, did you know that the “Mocs” moniker has been a part of campus lingo since the very first student publications? Were you aware that Scrappy Moc shares a name with a legendary football coach that led Mocs to 170 victories throughout his 35-season career? This exhibition explores these links between past and present while also reflecting on the previous mascots affiliated with the university and recognizing the “crowd-energizing mission” of each.
The images and information for the exhibition were drawn from a wide range of materials including University Echo student newspapers, Moccasin yearbooks, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus photographs, and the Frederick W. Obear papers. Visit the Special Collections website to learn more about making an appointment to use these collections for research of your own. Unless credited otherwise, all images featured here courtesy of The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Special Collections.