Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
C-USA's oldest rivalry kicks off Friday at Floyd Stadium
10/31/2018 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – As is usually the case, more than bragging rights will be at stake when the 100 Miles of Hate rivalry is renewed on the gridiron this week.
One team will be fighting to keep pace in the Conference USA East Division title race, while the other is still looking for its first league win and a turnaround to what's been a tough season.
Rivals WKU (1-7, 0-4) and Middle Tennessee (5-3, 4-1) are separated by about an hour and 45 minutes driving, a short jog for the Blue Raiders from Murfreesboro up Interstates 24 and 65 to Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The schools feature some similarities, both having just over 20,000 students when undergraduates and postgrads are combined. Both also pride themselves on rich athletic prowess.
Fans of both football teams would rather not focus on those similarities, though. As the rivalry's name suggests, there's plenty of differences between the two to create some animosity, right down to their teams' colors. MT features royal blue as its primary color, while the Hilltoppers fashion a bright red in stark contrast.
As it should be in any rivalry, the games are usually close. It could be again Friday.
"We all know [the history of the game], the rivalry of the game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "When you look back over the years, it's two evenly matched teams. Usually it's a close game and goes down to the wire."
The special Friday night game may not look like it'll be close on paper, with WKU struggling in its second season under head coach Mike Sanford.
The Hilltoppers have lost four games by three points apiece, however, meaning they've been more competitive than their record suggests. At least, that's what the Blue Raiders are thinking.
"This is the perfect example of why you cannot look at a team's record and assume anything," Stockstill said. "It's a very talented team … We're not looking for one second at their record, and we know we'll get their best shot. We want to be sure we give them our best shot, too."
Oldest C-USA rivalry
The 100 Miles of Hate is widely considered the most intense rivalry in Conference USA presently. It's also the oldest rivalry in the league between two conference foes.
The teams have played 67 times since 1914, when on Oct. 10 Middle Tennessee took a 47-0 win in Murfreesboro. It was the Blue Raiders' third win that year, and they'd go on to finish 5-0-1 in their fourth year of fielding a football team.
Middle Tennessee would start 3-0 in the series, but then fell on hard times against its budding rival, going winless (0-9-1) in the next 10 matchups.
Since their 3-9-1 start in the rivalry, the Blue Raiders have turned things around, holding a 31-23 advantage since 1935 to take an overall series lead at 34-32-1.
MT trying to mend a broken heart
Middle Tennessee is 13-7 in the last 20 meetings between the rivals. Hardships have still befallen MT, though, especially recently.
The Hilltoppers are 4-2 in the last six matchups and have taken the last three. The last two came in heartbreaking overtime fashion for the Blue Raiders.
In 2016, MT went into the rivalry game with a 3-1 record and perfect 2-0 mark in C-USA, while WKU was 3-3 overall and trying to find its stride at 1-1 in the league.
After both teams scored on their first possession of the extra frame, Middle Tennessee capped its second drive with another touchdown. The PAT was blocked, though, giving WKU a chance at a winning score and successful point after.
The Hilltoppers needed just six plays to reach the end zone, and the subsequent PAT was right down the middle, giving them an incredible 44-43 road win that was their first of eight straight victories to end the season. The Blue Raiders would go on to finish the year 4-3 after the loss.
It's hard to imagine a tougher way to lose, but Middle Tennessee may have found bigger heartache the following year in the rivalry.
Looking for their sixth win and bowl eligibility, the Blue Raiders traveled to Bowling Green and again found themselves in an overtime situation.
Both teams scored on their first possession of the overtime, setting up Middle Tennessee with a chance to take the lead on a 42-yard field goal on its second drive.
Kicker Canon Rooker had been automatic all season, stepping up to the 42-yarder riding seven straight makes of 40-plus yards.
His kick was wide left, though, setting up the Hilltoppers with a chance at a second straight overtime walk-off win in the series.
They ended the game with a 37-yard field goal, taking a 41-38 victory.
The last six meetings have featured four overtime games, and the Hilltoppers are 3-1 in those. The losses have been hard to swallow for the Blue Raiders, and they're hoping to mend their broken hearts with a win on Friday.
"It's been good games coming all the way down to the whistle," MT redshirt senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "It's going to be a good game no matter what the records are … it's always going to be a good game between us two. We're ready for it to be a dog fight."
A win would also be the first for MT redshirt senior quarterback Brent Stockstill over his rival since becoming the starter in 2015.
The program's all-time leader in just about every passing category has seen the rivalry first-hand since his dad was named the Blue Raiders' head coach in 2006.
"We know what we're getting – it's MTSU and Western, it's always going to be a close game and be a battle," Brent Stockstill said. "In the locker room, we know it's two good football teams going at it. They've had our number, and all we can do is prepare and try to play our best game."
It's clear the rivalry runs deep for both schools. An exciting next edition of the 100 Miles of Hate is in store for Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
One team will be fighting to keep pace in the Conference USA East Division title race, while the other is still looking for its first league win and a turnaround to what's been a tough season.
Rivals WKU (1-7, 0-4) and Middle Tennessee (5-3, 4-1) are separated by about an hour and 45 minutes driving, a short jog for the Blue Raiders from Murfreesboro up Interstates 24 and 65 to Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The schools feature some similarities, both having just over 20,000 students when undergraduates and postgrads are combined. Both also pride themselves on rich athletic prowess.
Fans of both football teams would rather not focus on those similarities, though. As the rivalry's name suggests, there's plenty of differences between the two to create some animosity, right down to their teams' colors. MT features royal blue as its primary color, while the Hilltoppers fashion a bright red in stark contrast.
As it should be in any rivalry, the games are usually close. It could be again Friday.
"We all know [the history of the game], the rivalry of the game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "When you look back over the years, it's two evenly matched teams. Usually it's a close game and goes down to the wire."
The special Friday night game may not look like it'll be close on paper, with WKU struggling in its second season under head coach Mike Sanford.
The Hilltoppers have lost four games by three points apiece, however, meaning they've been more competitive than their record suggests. At least, that's what the Blue Raiders are thinking.
"This is the perfect example of why you cannot look at a team's record and assume anything," Stockstill said. "It's a very talented team … We're not looking for one second at their record, and we know we'll get their best shot. We want to be sure we give them our best shot, too."
Oldest C-USA rivalry
The 100 Miles of Hate is widely considered the most intense rivalry in Conference USA presently. It's also the oldest rivalry in the league between two conference foes.
The teams have played 67 times since 1914, when on Oct. 10 Middle Tennessee took a 47-0 win in Murfreesboro. It was the Blue Raiders' third win that year, and they'd go on to finish 5-0-1 in their fourth year of fielding a football team.
Middle Tennessee would start 3-0 in the series, but then fell on hard times against its budding rival, going winless (0-9-1) in the next 10 matchups.
Since their 3-9-1 start in the rivalry, the Blue Raiders have turned things around, holding a 31-23 advantage since 1935 to take an overall series lead at 34-32-1.
MT trying to mend a broken heart
Middle Tennessee is 13-7 in the last 20 meetings between the rivals. Hardships have still befallen MT, though, especially recently.
The Hilltoppers are 4-2 in the last six matchups and have taken the last three. The last two came in heartbreaking overtime fashion for the Blue Raiders.
In 2016, MT went into the rivalry game with a 3-1 record and perfect 2-0 mark in C-USA, while WKU was 3-3 overall and trying to find its stride at 1-1 in the league.
After both teams scored on their first possession of the extra frame, Middle Tennessee capped its second drive with another touchdown. The PAT was blocked, though, giving WKU a chance at a winning score and successful point after.
The Hilltoppers needed just six plays to reach the end zone, and the subsequent PAT was right down the middle, giving them an incredible 44-43 road win that was their first of eight straight victories to end the season. The Blue Raiders would go on to finish the year 4-3 after the loss.
It's hard to imagine a tougher way to lose, but Middle Tennessee may have found bigger heartache the following year in the rivalry.
Looking for their sixth win and bowl eligibility, the Blue Raiders traveled to Bowling Green and again found themselves in an overtime situation.
Both teams scored on their first possession of the overtime, setting up Middle Tennessee with a chance to take the lead on a 42-yard field goal on its second drive.
Kicker Canon Rooker had been automatic all season, stepping up to the 42-yarder riding seven straight makes of 40-plus yards.
His kick was wide left, though, setting up the Hilltoppers with a chance at a second straight overtime walk-off win in the series.
They ended the game with a 37-yard field goal, taking a 41-38 victory.
The last six meetings have featured four overtime games, and the Hilltoppers are 3-1 in those. The losses have been hard to swallow for the Blue Raiders, and they're hoping to mend their broken hearts with a win on Friday.
"It's been good games coming all the way down to the whistle," MT redshirt senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "It's going to be a good game no matter what the records are … it's always going to be a good game between us two. We're ready for it to be a dog fight."
A win would also be the first for MT redshirt senior quarterback Brent Stockstill over his rival since becoming the starter in 2015.
The program's all-time leader in just about every passing category has seen the rivalry first-hand since his dad was named the Blue Raiders' head coach in 2006.
"We know what we're getting – it's MTSU and Western, it's always going to be a close game and be a battle," Brent Stockstill said. "In the locker room, we know it's two good football teams going at it. They've had our number, and all we can do is prepare and try to play our best game."
It's clear the rivalry runs deep for both schools. An exciting next edition of the 100 Miles of Hate is in store for Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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