Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Conference USA Kickoff Coverage
7/20/2017 3:14:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It can officially be dubbed as football season at Middle Tennessee.
Blue Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill, quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver Richie James traveled to Irving, Texas, to take part in the annual Conference USA Football Media Kickoff Wednesday and Thursday, officially kicking off the 2017 football season for the blue and white.
The three met with members of the media, including C-USA live show host Ron Thulin, to discuss everything about their 2016 season and expectations for the upcoming year.
Coach Stockstill shared his beliefs on what his team has to do in 2017 to improve on its 8-5 record from a season ago. Most notably, he thinks his defense needs to show vast gains from the 35.8 points and 449.5 yards it allowed per game in 2016, good for 11th and ninth in C-USA, respectively.
"We've got to be more consistent throughout the course of the year," he said in the live interview with Thulin. "We've got to improve defensively, and I think we will this year. I like the attitude of our defense right now. I think there's a chip on their shoulder; they've got something to prove."
The main reason for the optimism Coach Stockstill has for his defense is new coordinator Scott Shafer.
The former three-year Syracuse head coach brings a different, more aggressive philosophy to the team that Coach Stockstill is excited about.
"I think he's brought an air of confidence to our defense," Coach Stockstill said. "Our philosophies are going to change – we're going to be more aggressive than what we were the last couple years.
"All great defenses take something away from the [opposing] offense, and it always starts in the running game. Stopping the run means we've got to tackle better. I didn't think we tackled as well as we needed to last year, so that was an emphasis this spring."
The Blue Raider offense is expecting to continue to be one of the best units in not only C-USA but the entire country in 2017.
Coach Stockstill shared with Thulin what he believes MT will have to do to replicate the record-setting pace its shown the last two years, and he also gave an update on the health of his son and quarterback.
The younger Stockstill missed three games in 2016 with a broken right collarbone, then after playing in the Hawai'i Bowl he underwent minor left shoulder surgery (his throwing arm) to clear out scar tissue.
"He'll be ready when we get started here in the next couple weeks," Coach Stockstill said. "He's done a great job with the rehab part of it and everything, so I think he'll be ready to roll."
The Blue Raiders are hoping Brent Stockstill finds the same mojo with James that the two have shown the past two seasons.
No active pass-catching duo in the country comes into 2017 with more connections than the two (168), and it's the relationship they share both on and off the field that makes it necessary.
"It's special," Brent Stockstill said. "It's hard to describe. He's one of my best friends and hardest workers I've been around. He makes my job a lot easier, and I'm just honored to call him a friend and a teammate.
"We just kind of clicked since Day 1. I kind of gravitate to guys who work extremely hard, and he's one of those guys."
The Stockstill-to-James connection will have to be as dynamic and special as it was in 2016 right away for Middle Tennessee. After opening the season at home against Vanderbilt, the Blue Raiders will travel to Syracuse and Minnesota, making their non-conference slate one of the toughest in C-USA.
If their answers from media day are any indication, they aren't backing down from the challenge, though.
"We never will be [intimidated]," James said. "That's Coach Stock in us – we're never scared to play anyone. We love it. We love the opportunity."
More quotes from media day
Coach Stockstill
On finishing the 2016 regular season with wins over Charlotte and FAU without Brent Stockstill:
"Finishing the [regular] season on a positive note winning those two games and getting to the Hawai'i Bowl were satisfying to our team.
"I'm not sure how much that's going to carry over to this year because every team is different, but I thought the way we finished the season overcoming the adversity that we had faced towards the end was critical to our season."
On having one of the most experienced linebacking corps in C-USA:
"I like our linebacker position. We were a little inconsistent there last year, but they were a lot better this spring. Some of the new guys that we've added to the depth there I think are really going to help us.
"We've got some guys that have played now that I think will play a lot better and be more consistent than we were last year."
On replacing four offensive linemen from last year's team:
"There are still some holes that we have to fill there, but we lost some really good players last year in Dan Stephens, Josh Chester, Maurquice Shakir and Hunter Rodgers as a backup.
"We have to replace some guys, but I'm confident in who we're putting up there. They haven't played as much as those other guys had, but I think by the time we open up in September I'll feel good about them."
On C-USA's reputation nationally:
"This conference does not get the credit it deserves. There are tremendous players in this conference that are highly underrated nationally, and there are great coaches in this conference."
On MT's reputation nationally:
"Middle Tennessee does not get the credit it deserves nationally. To do what we've done over a consistent time period – we've been bowl eligible eight of my 11 years here – and the product we put on the field, the people we play, the people we compete against, the people we beat – what we're doing, we deserve a heck of a lot more credit than what we're getting."
On the 2017 schedule:
"We're not going to back down from anybody. It's a tremendous, challenging schedule. We're the only team in the conference that plays three Power 5 schools this year, so it's a heck of a challenge but one that we're going to roll up our sleeves and get after."
Brent Stockstill
On his injury in 2016:
"The thing is, you just hate not being out there with your team. I wasn't really thinking long-term, I thought short-term. It happened in the beginning of the ninth game, so I was just trying to figure out if I could get back for the bowl game or before the end of the season."
On what the offense will have to do to improve in 2017:
"I think we've just got to finish drives. I think we did a good job of moving it up and down the field, but if you want to win ballgames you have to score points and score in the red zone.
"Also, protecting the ball. I think we did lot better last year, but that's something you have to continue to do."
Richie James
On his relationship with Brent Stockstill:
"It's different. It's different than a lot of players get to experience. It's a really good relationship that you have with an individual, and lucky for me the receiver and quarterback is one of those special relationships that you have to have."
On what the offense will have to do to improve in 2017:
"Definitely we have to stay consistent. We have to be a consistent offense every week and improve on knowing that we can get better and never settling for less."
Blue Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill, quarterback Brent Stockstill and wide receiver Richie James traveled to Irving, Texas, to take part in the annual Conference USA Football Media Kickoff Wednesday and Thursday, officially kicking off the 2017 football season for the blue and white.
The three met with members of the media, including C-USA live show host Ron Thulin, to discuss everything about their 2016 season and expectations for the upcoming year.
Coach Stockstill shared his beliefs on what his team has to do in 2017 to improve on its 8-5 record from a season ago. Most notably, he thinks his defense needs to show vast gains from the 35.8 points and 449.5 yards it allowed per game in 2016, good for 11th and ninth in C-USA, respectively.
"We've got to be more consistent throughout the course of the year," he said in the live interview with Thulin. "We've got to improve defensively, and I think we will this year. I like the attitude of our defense right now. I think there's a chip on their shoulder; they've got something to prove."
The main reason for the optimism Coach Stockstill has for his defense is new coordinator Scott Shafer.
The former three-year Syracuse head coach brings a different, more aggressive philosophy to the team that Coach Stockstill is excited about.
"I think he's brought an air of confidence to our defense," Coach Stockstill said. "Our philosophies are going to change – we're going to be more aggressive than what we were the last couple years.
"All great defenses take something away from the [opposing] offense, and it always starts in the running game. Stopping the run means we've got to tackle better. I didn't think we tackled as well as we needed to last year, so that was an emphasis this spring."
The Blue Raider offense is expecting to continue to be one of the best units in not only C-USA but the entire country in 2017.
Coach Stockstill shared with Thulin what he believes MT will have to do to replicate the record-setting pace its shown the last two years, and he also gave an update on the health of his son and quarterback.
The younger Stockstill missed three games in 2016 with a broken right collarbone, then after playing in the Hawai'i Bowl he underwent minor left shoulder surgery (his throwing arm) to clear out scar tissue.
"He'll be ready when we get started here in the next couple weeks," Coach Stockstill said. "He's done a great job with the rehab part of it and everything, so I think he'll be ready to roll."
The Blue Raiders are hoping Brent Stockstill finds the same mojo with James that the two have shown the past two seasons.
No active pass-catching duo in the country comes into 2017 with more connections than the two (168), and it's the relationship they share both on and off the field that makes it necessary.
"It's special," Brent Stockstill said. "It's hard to describe. He's one of my best friends and hardest workers I've been around. He makes my job a lot easier, and I'm just honored to call him a friend and a teammate.
"We just kind of clicked since Day 1. I kind of gravitate to guys who work extremely hard, and he's one of those guys."
The Stockstill-to-James connection will have to be as dynamic and special as it was in 2016 right away for Middle Tennessee. After opening the season at home against Vanderbilt, the Blue Raiders will travel to Syracuse and Minnesota, making their non-conference slate one of the toughest in C-USA.
If their answers from media day are any indication, they aren't backing down from the challenge, though.
"We never will be [intimidated]," James said. "That's Coach Stock in us – we're never scared to play anyone. We love it. We love the opportunity."
More quotes from media day
Coach Stockstill
On finishing the 2016 regular season with wins over Charlotte and FAU without Brent Stockstill:
"Finishing the [regular] season on a positive note winning those two games and getting to the Hawai'i Bowl were satisfying to our team.
"I'm not sure how much that's going to carry over to this year because every team is different, but I thought the way we finished the season overcoming the adversity that we had faced towards the end was critical to our season."
On having one of the most experienced linebacking corps in C-USA:
"I like our linebacker position. We were a little inconsistent there last year, but they were a lot better this spring. Some of the new guys that we've added to the depth there I think are really going to help us.
"We've got some guys that have played now that I think will play a lot better and be more consistent than we were last year."
On replacing four offensive linemen from last year's team:
"There are still some holes that we have to fill there, but we lost some really good players last year in Dan Stephens, Josh Chester, Maurquice Shakir and Hunter Rodgers as a backup.
"We have to replace some guys, but I'm confident in who we're putting up there. They haven't played as much as those other guys had, but I think by the time we open up in September I'll feel good about them."
On C-USA's reputation nationally:
"This conference does not get the credit it deserves. There are tremendous players in this conference that are highly underrated nationally, and there are great coaches in this conference."
On MT's reputation nationally:
"Middle Tennessee does not get the credit it deserves nationally. To do what we've done over a consistent time period – we've been bowl eligible eight of my 11 years here – and the product we put on the field, the people we play, the people we compete against, the people we beat – what we're doing, we deserve a heck of a lot more credit than what we're getting."
On the 2017 schedule:
"We're not going to back down from anybody. It's a tremendous, challenging schedule. We're the only team in the conference that plays three Power 5 schools this year, so it's a heck of a challenge but one that we're going to roll up our sleeves and get after."
Brent Stockstill
On his injury in 2016:
"The thing is, you just hate not being out there with your team. I wasn't really thinking long-term, I thought short-term. It happened in the beginning of the ninth game, so I was just trying to figure out if I could get back for the bowl game or before the end of the season."
On what the offense will have to do to improve in 2017:
"I think we've just got to finish drives. I think we did a good job of moving it up and down the field, but if you want to win ballgames you have to score points and score in the red zone.
"Also, protecting the ball. I think we did lot better last year, but that's something you have to continue to do."
Richie James
On his relationship with Brent Stockstill:
"It's different. It's different than a lot of players get to experience. It's a really good relationship that you have with an individual, and lucky for me the receiver and quarterback is one of those special relationships that you have to have."
On what the offense will have to do to improve in 2017:
"Definitely we have to stay consistent. We have to be a consistent offense every week and improve on knowing that we can get better and never settling for less."
Players Mentioned
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