Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Raiders hold first practice in the Bahamas
12/21/2015 5:00:00 PM | Football
Enjoy water slides, beach, and the dinner bash
PHOTO GALLERY
NASSAU – With temperatures hovering near 80 degrees, a light breeze and clear skies, Middle Tennessee conducted its first-ever football practice in the Bahamas Monday morning in preparation for Thursday's Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
The Blue Raiders will kick-off against Western Michigan at 11 AM Central on Thursday and the game will be shown on ESPN.
The Blue Raiders practiced for two hours at Roscoe A.L. Davies Soccer field, fine tuning their game plan and spending extra work on special teams.
"This was like a Wednesday practice so it was physical," said Head Coach Rick Stockstill. "I was pleased with the work we accomplished today. They had a good attitude, worked hard and pushed through it. We implemented the game plan last week so now we are just refining everything. The weather was great and I loved our intensity and focus."
Quarterback Brent Stockstill agreed with the coach's assessment of Monday's workout.
"I thought it was a great day," said Brent Stockstill. "Guys were flying around and in good spirits. I think we were all ready to get back out on the field. We mainly just cleaned some things up so we can be fully prepared for Thursday."
After practice, MT coaches and players had some time off to enjoy all of the amenities the Atlantis resort had to offer. Beautiful weather, beaches, pools, and of course, the famous water slides.
To cap off the day, the Blue Raiders and Broncos had their Beach Bash, a cook-out style meal on the beach surrounded by music and various games for the two schools to compete. While many players from each side traded shots on the sand volleyball court, others tried to get involved in as many games as possible. Following the bash, players had free time for the rest of the night.
The Blue Raiders will enjoy an early breakfast and meetings tomorrow morning before heading to Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium for a 10 AM Eastern practice. It will be the team's first look at Thursday's game field.
Middle Tennessee Offensive Quotes
Buster Faulkner, Offensive Coordinator
I thought we came out with a lot of energy today. I was excited just to get down here and get out in this heat on the field. We've actually been fortunate enough to have good weather back home. Real encouraged by the work we put in today. Now we just have to put one good one in tomorrow and start winding down and get ready to play.
We took a lot of reps with the young guys (before we left). They probably took, I'd say, 50 live reps every day for about seven straight days. It was good for those guys to get out and move around in our system. They've been scout team guys all year and we're counting on a lot of those guys to play next year.
On playing in a foreign country
Once you get here, football's football. But it's pretty neat to be here and the kids deserve it but we're here for a purpose.
Brent Stockstill, Fr., QB
I've been on a cruise to the Bahamas before. I've been by Atlantis on a boat but hadn't stayed there until now. Everybody was jacked up and excited to get down here. I think when you get to a place like this with the weather and the atmosphere it kind of gets you in good spirits.
On playing in a foreign country
As long as you have a field and a ball, you're ready to roll. It was good for us to get out here, perfect the game plan and continue to fine-tune things. We'll have another good day tomorrow then wind down for Thursday.
On being in the Bahamas
I just kind of want to see what it has to offer. Enjoy the beach, the hotel, this place is new to me. Not sure if I'm going to do the dolphin thing but I know a lot of the guys are.
Jaylen Hunter, Sr. OG
It was awesome. This is my first time in the Bahamas. Seeing the all the sights and the different cultures was pretty cool. I've been to Mexico on a cruise before but this is a whole other experience. Everybody's excited most of the guys probably won't go to the Bahamas again so it's a once in a lifetime experience. We're going to enjoy it.
I want to go swimming a little bit and I definitely want to do the dolphin thing today. Just see everything and enjoy it.
Practice was good. It's a little more humid but it's all good. It was a great practice and we keep getting better.
NASSAU – With temperatures hovering near 80 degrees, a light breeze and clear skies, Middle Tennessee conducted its first-ever football practice in the Bahamas Monday morning in preparation for Thursday's Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
The Blue Raiders will kick-off against Western Michigan at 11 AM Central on Thursday and the game will be shown on ESPN.
The Blue Raiders practiced for two hours at Roscoe A.L. Davies Soccer field, fine tuning their game plan and spending extra work on special teams.
"This was like a Wednesday practice so it was physical," said Head Coach Rick Stockstill. "I was pleased with the work we accomplished today. They had a good attitude, worked hard and pushed through it. We implemented the game plan last week so now we are just refining everything. The weather was great and I loved our intensity and focus."
Quarterback Brent Stockstill agreed with the coach's assessment of Monday's workout.
"I thought it was a great day," said Brent Stockstill. "Guys were flying around and in good spirits. I think we were all ready to get back out on the field. We mainly just cleaned some things up so we can be fully prepared for Thursday."
After practice, MT coaches and players had some time off to enjoy all of the amenities the Atlantis resort had to offer. Beautiful weather, beaches, pools, and of course, the famous water slides.
To cap off the day, the Blue Raiders and Broncos had their Beach Bash, a cook-out style meal on the beach surrounded by music and various games for the two schools to compete. While many players from each side traded shots on the sand volleyball court, others tried to get involved in as many games as possible. Following the bash, players had free time for the rest of the night.
The Blue Raiders will enjoy an early breakfast and meetings tomorrow morning before heading to Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium for a 10 AM Eastern practice. It will be the team's first look at Thursday's game field.
Middle Tennessee Offensive Quotes
Buster Faulkner, Offensive Coordinator
I thought we came out with a lot of energy today. I was excited just to get down here and get out in this heat on the field. We've actually been fortunate enough to have good weather back home. Real encouraged by the work we put in today. Now we just have to put one good one in tomorrow and start winding down and get ready to play.
We took a lot of reps with the young guys (before we left). They probably took, I'd say, 50 live reps every day for about seven straight days. It was good for those guys to get out and move around in our system. They've been scout team guys all year and we're counting on a lot of those guys to play next year.
On playing in a foreign country
Once you get here, football's football. But it's pretty neat to be here and the kids deserve it but we're here for a purpose.
Brent Stockstill, Fr., QB
I've been on a cruise to the Bahamas before. I've been by Atlantis on a boat but hadn't stayed there until now. Everybody was jacked up and excited to get down here. I think when you get to a place like this with the weather and the atmosphere it kind of gets you in good spirits.
On playing in a foreign country
As long as you have a field and a ball, you're ready to roll. It was good for us to get out here, perfect the game plan and continue to fine-tune things. We'll have another good day tomorrow then wind down for Thursday.
On being in the Bahamas
I just kind of want to see what it has to offer. Enjoy the beach, the hotel, this place is new to me. Not sure if I'm going to do the dolphin thing but I know a lot of the guys are.
Jaylen Hunter, Sr. OG
It was awesome. This is my first time in the Bahamas. Seeing the all the sights and the different cultures was pretty cool. I've been to Mexico on a cruise before but this is a whole other experience. Everybody's excited most of the guys probably won't go to the Bahamas again so it's a once in a lifetime experience. We're going to enjoy it.
I want to go swimming a little bit and I definitely want to do the dolphin thing today. Just see everything and enjoy it.
Practice was good. It's a little more humid but it's all good. It was a great practice and we keep getting better.
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