Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders announce 2011 football schedule
3/1/2011 9:30:00 AM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - An attractive home schedule that includes two bowl teams from a year ago highlight the 2011 Middle Tennessee football schedule as announced by Director of Athletics Chris Massaro.
The Blue Raiders will once again have six home games that will include non-conference contests against Georgia Tech and Memphis, and league battles with WKU, Louisiana, Arkansas State, and FIU.
"This is a very exciting schedule and one that provides our program some great opportunities," said Massaro. "A prestigious school like Georgia Tech commemorating our institutions 100th birthday will make it an historic day at Floyd Stadium.
"I hope our fans continue to value games against Memphis and Western Kentucky because they are rivals who generate a lot of local interest."
Middle Tennessee, coming off back-to-back bowl seasons, will open the 2011 campaign on the road against Big Ten foe Purdue and the game will be broadcast nationally on either ABC, ESPN, or the Big Ten Network. It will be the second straight year the Blue Raiders have opened a season with a Big Ten school. Middle Tennessee and Purdue have never met in football.
The Blue Raiders will hold their home opener on September 10 when they host Georgia Tech from the ACC. It marks the sixth straight year the Blue Raiders have played host to a team from one of the Big Six conferences.
Following an open date, Middle Tennessee will travel to Troy on September 24 for its Sun Belt Conference opener and the first of three games in 13 days. The Blue Raiders have lost five straight to the Trojans and have not won in Troy since 2005.
The Blue Raiders will host consecutive home games on October 1 and October 6. MT will face in-state rival Memphis for Homecoming on Oct. 1 before hosting league rival Western Kentucky on Thursday, Oct. 6. The game with the Hilltoppers will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
A trip to the Sunshine State is next with an October 22 meeting with Florida Atlantic before the Blue Raiders wrap up the month of October with a home game against Louisiana on October 29.
The three October home games are the most for Middle Tennessee since it had three in 2004.
The Blue Raiders will begin November with a trip to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Vols of the SEC. It will mark the first meeting between the two schools since 2002 when the fourth-ranked Vols took a 26-3 decision.
Middle Tennessee will complete the regular season with four straight league games beginning November 12 at Louisiana-Monroe before coming home for back-to-back contests against Arkansas State and FIU.
The Blue Raiders will complete the regular season on December 3 at North Texas where they have won three in a row.
"I really like the consistency of this schedule where we have just one mid-week game and two open dates that are spread out well," said Head Coach Rick Stockstill. "We have a big challenge to begin the season with such a young team against Purdue then come back for a great home opener with Georgia Tech. Along with facing teams from five different leagues, I think our fans will enjoy what I believe is a great home schedule."
SCHEDULE NOTES
Middle Tennessee will face four bowl teams from a year ago ... The December 3 game at UNT marks the Blue Raiders' third time in four years having a regular season game in December ... Since Rick Stockstill's arrival in 2006, the Blue Raiders have been on national television 14 times and will have at least two more added to that total in 2011 ... Three October home games are the most since 2004 .
2011 MIDDLE TENNESSEE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 at Purdue (ABC/ESPN/Big Ten Network)
Sept. 10 GEORGIA TECH
Sept. 17 Open
Sept. 24 at Troy*
Oct. 1 MEMPHIS (Homecoming)
Oct. 6 WESTERN KENTUCKY* (ESPNU)
Oct. 15 Open
Oct. 22 at FAU*
Oct. 29 LOUISIANA*
Nov. 5 at Tennessee
Nov. 12 at ULM*
Nov. 19 ARKANSAS STATE*
Nov. 26 FIU*
Dec. 3 at North Texas*
