Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Hall of Fame
Charles "Stumpy" Sarver
- Induction:
- 1987
- Class:
- 1936
Charles "Stumpy" Sarver stepped up in the spring of his freshman year to the challenge from then MT football coach and fellow Hall of Famer, Frank Faulkinberry, for "two good men in the middle of the defensive line." From that day forward, he was an MT guard.
His playing career was capped in 1935 by an 8-0 season and the SIAA championship. While he went on to coach in high schools throughout the Southeast, at MT he is best known as the student who accepted the challenge of the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal to come up with a new team name. To replace the uninspired "Normalites," "Pedagogues" and "Teachers" that been used since the school's founding, Sarver proposed the "Blue Raiders." It was a name he said was inspired by Colgate University's Red Raiders. For his effort, Sarver won $5.
His playing career was capped in 1935 by an 8-0 season and the SIAA championship. While he went on to coach in high schools throughout the Southeast, at MT he is best known as the student who accepted the challenge of the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal to come up with a new team name. To replace the uninspired "Normalites," "Pedagogues" and "Teachers" that been used since the school's founding, Sarver proposed the "Blue Raiders." It was a name he said was inspired by Colgate University's Red Raiders. For his effort, Sarver won $5.
MTSU Football at WKU post-game press conference – 11/15/25
Sunday, November 16
MTSU Men's Basketball Recap vs Evansville 11/12/25
Friday, November 14
MTSU Men's Basketball Recap vs Evansville 11/12/25
Friday, November 14
Raider Report Game 10 - MTSU vs. Western Kentucky University
Friday, November 14
