Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Looking ahead to MT and Rice
11/15/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The second bye week of the season came at the perfect time for Middle Tennessee, but now it's back to business.
Rice (0-9, 0-5) is making its first trip from Houston, Texas to Murfreesboro to take on the Blue Raiders (3-6, 2-3), who need three wins in the final three contests of the regular season to reach bowl eligibility for the eighth straight year and 11th time in 14 seasons.
"This team coming in here may not have won a game yet, but this is a team that has our full attention, and we've got to get better," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We've got to make sure we have a good week of practice and preparation both mentally and physically to get ready for this team coming in here."
The game, which will also be MT's Salute to Veterans & Armed Forces, is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM, WDUC 93.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 90-84 (14th year), 67-39
Bowl appearances, record: 8 (2018 New Orleans Bowl), 2-6
Accolades: 6-time coach of the year, 2018 C-USA COY, sixth-longest tenured coach in the country, 3rd all-time at MT in wins
Mike Bloomgren
FBS record, at Rice: 2-20 (second season), same
Bowl appearances as head coach: 0
Accolades: As offensive coordinator at Stanford, coached 12 NFL Draft selections, 11 All-Americans and NCAA all-purpose yardage record holder Christian McCaffrey; 2014 National Recruiter of the Year (Rivals.com); 2013 Offensive Line Coach of the Year (footballscoop.com)
Series history
Saturday's game will be the first matchup between Middle Tennessee and Rice.
The two programs have been Conference USA foes since the Blue Raiders entered the conference in 2013, but they've never squared off on the gridiron.
Defense could dominate
It's been a rough season for the winless Owls, but their defense hasn't been the issue.
Their stoppers rank eighth in C-USA in scoring defense at 28.1 points per game given up, and they've improved that to 25.8 points in conference play behind junior linebacker Blaze Alldredge. He's currently tied with MT senior safety Jovante Moffatt with 8.2 tackles per game, and has upped his average to nine per outing in C-USA games.
"The big thing, and this is a compliment to their whole defense, is how hard they play," Stockstill said. "They're strong and physical, but they've played really hard.
"[Alldredge] is a relentless player. He gets around the ball. He's physical in the box, and he's a good tackler in space. He's a really good football player."
Middle Tennessee's defense has been good in its own right in conference play, giving up 25 points per outing. The Raiders' stop squad has also been instrumental in the team's plus-five turnover differential, which is second in C-USA.
The MT defense will line up across from what has statistically been one of the worst offensive units in the nation. Rice ranks dead last in C-USA averaging just 14.9 points per game and next to last in total offense (272.7 yards per game).
Don't be fooled
The negatives have mounted with every loss Rice has suffered this season.
Still, the Blue Raiders can't afford to overlook the Owls, and if they do, they could wind up on the wrong side of the final score.
While Rice hasn't won a game this season, it's played in its fair share of close contests. Four of its losses have come by a single possession, including a 23-20 overtime loss to C-USA West Division leader LA Tech. Three more of the Owls' games have been decided by two possessions, including the last two weeks against tough league opponents Southern Miss and Marshall.
"I told our team this week that by no stretch of the imagination should we or can we overlook or underestimate this team," Stockstill said. "When you look at their games, most of them are one-score or two-score games. They've played everybody very competitively."
Injuries abundant
A long season seems to be catching up to Middle Tennessee on the injury front, and the off week might not have done much to rectify the situation.
On Monday, Stockstill said if they were to suit up that day, 24 scholarship players would likely be out. It's unclear which will be back Saturday, but expect some notable names to be out.
"We're up to 24 [scholarship players injured]," Stockstill said. "It's been one of those years. When you think about it, you started in August, and you've got 24 scholarship players that started in August that if you played [Monday] we wouldn't play. That's almost a third of your team.
"I'm not overly optimistic that we'll get anybody back that we didn't have. … It's been a grind. It's one of those years. I've always said it, nobody practices safer, and nobody practices smarter than what we do. It's just been a lot of unfortunate things that have happened throughout the course of the year."
Three more for a bowl
Despite the injuries Middle Tennessee is facing, the Blue Raiders still have a chance at extending its program-record four straight bowl appearances into five.
They need wins in the final three weeks, but against a winless Rice, 1-9 Old Dominion and rivalry matchup at WKU, they aren't out of it just yet.
"I've said it all along that I can't fault this team's effort," Stockstill said. "We're playing hard … our focus is good at practice, and we've got to make sure that carries over into the game.
"This team is giving it everything they have. We've got a lot of people hurt, but they're not making any excuses."
Thank you, veterans
Saturday's game will be Middle Tennessee's annual Salute to Veterans & Armed Forces. It's become one of the better such events in the nation, and one that's not lost on Stockstill and his players.
"To all the men and women who have or are currently serving our country, I just want you to know how much I and we as a football program appreciate your sacrifices and everything you've done to allow us to live in this great country," he said. "I salute you today and have a lot of respect for what you do and what you've done for this country."
The tribute to veterans and active military personnel will start with a memorial service at noon at the Tom Jackson Building on campus. A pregame picnic will follow at 1 p.m. on the lawn of the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame, where the presentation of the Dr. Joe Nunley Award, which annually recognizes the accomplishments of a man or woman who served with distinction in the military, will occur.
Armed forces personnel will then be honored at halftime.
Rice (0-9, 0-5) is making its first trip from Houston, Texas to Murfreesboro to take on the Blue Raiders (3-6, 2-3), who need three wins in the final three contests of the regular season to reach bowl eligibility for the eighth straight year and 11th time in 14 seasons.
"This team coming in here may not have won a game yet, but this is a team that has our full attention, and we've got to get better," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We've got to make sure we have a good week of practice and preparation both mentally and physically to get ready for this team coming in here."
The game, which will also be MT's Salute to Veterans & Armed Forces, is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM, WDUC 93.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 90-84 (14th year), 67-39
Bowl appearances, record: 8 (2018 New Orleans Bowl), 2-6
Accolades: 6-time coach of the year, 2018 C-USA COY, sixth-longest tenured coach in the country, 3rd all-time at MT in wins
Mike Bloomgren
FBS record, at Rice: 2-20 (second season), same
Bowl appearances as head coach: 0
Accolades: As offensive coordinator at Stanford, coached 12 NFL Draft selections, 11 All-Americans and NCAA all-purpose yardage record holder Christian McCaffrey; 2014 National Recruiter of the Year (Rivals.com); 2013 Offensive Line Coach of the Year (footballscoop.com)
Series history
Saturday's game will be the first matchup between Middle Tennessee and Rice.
The two programs have been Conference USA foes since the Blue Raiders entered the conference in 2013, but they've never squared off on the gridiron.
Defense could dominate
It's been a rough season for the winless Owls, but their defense hasn't been the issue.
Their stoppers rank eighth in C-USA in scoring defense at 28.1 points per game given up, and they've improved that to 25.8 points in conference play behind junior linebacker Blaze Alldredge. He's currently tied with MT senior safety Jovante Moffatt with 8.2 tackles per game, and has upped his average to nine per outing in C-USA games.
"The big thing, and this is a compliment to their whole defense, is how hard they play," Stockstill said. "They're strong and physical, but they've played really hard.
"[Alldredge] is a relentless player. He gets around the ball. He's physical in the box, and he's a good tackler in space. He's a really good football player."
Middle Tennessee's defense has been good in its own right in conference play, giving up 25 points per outing. The Raiders' stop squad has also been instrumental in the team's plus-five turnover differential, which is second in C-USA.
The MT defense will line up across from what has statistically been one of the worst offensive units in the nation. Rice ranks dead last in C-USA averaging just 14.9 points per game and next to last in total offense (272.7 yards per game).
Don't be fooled
The negatives have mounted with every loss Rice has suffered this season.
Still, the Blue Raiders can't afford to overlook the Owls, and if they do, they could wind up on the wrong side of the final score.
While Rice hasn't won a game this season, it's played in its fair share of close contests. Four of its losses have come by a single possession, including a 23-20 overtime loss to C-USA West Division leader LA Tech. Three more of the Owls' games have been decided by two possessions, including the last two weeks against tough league opponents Southern Miss and Marshall.
"I told our team this week that by no stretch of the imagination should we or can we overlook or underestimate this team," Stockstill said. "When you look at their games, most of them are one-score or two-score games. They've played everybody very competitively."
Injuries abundant
A long season seems to be catching up to Middle Tennessee on the injury front, and the off week might not have done much to rectify the situation.
On Monday, Stockstill said if they were to suit up that day, 24 scholarship players would likely be out. It's unclear which will be back Saturday, but expect some notable names to be out.
"We're up to 24 [scholarship players injured]," Stockstill said. "It's been one of those years. When you think about it, you started in August, and you've got 24 scholarship players that started in August that if you played [Monday] we wouldn't play. That's almost a third of your team.
"I'm not overly optimistic that we'll get anybody back that we didn't have. … It's been a grind. It's one of those years. I've always said it, nobody practices safer, and nobody practices smarter than what we do. It's just been a lot of unfortunate things that have happened throughout the course of the year."
Three more for a bowl
Despite the injuries Middle Tennessee is facing, the Blue Raiders still have a chance at extending its program-record four straight bowl appearances into five.
They need wins in the final three weeks, but against a winless Rice, 1-9 Old Dominion and rivalry matchup at WKU, they aren't out of it just yet.
"I've said it all along that I can't fault this team's effort," Stockstill said. "We're playing hard … our focus is good at practice, and we've got to make sure that carries over into the game.
"This team is giving it everything they have. We've got a lot of people hurt, but they're not making any excuses."
Thank you, veterans
Saturday's game will be Middle Tennessee's annual Salute to Veterans & Armed Forces. It's become one of the better such events in the nation, and one that's not lost on Stockstill and his players.
"To all the men and women who have or are currently serving our country, I just want you to know how much I and we as a football program appreciate your sacrifices and everything you've done to allow us to live in this great country," he said. "I salute you today and have a lot of respect for what you do and what you've done for this country."
The tribute to veterans and active military personnel will start with a memorial service at noon at the Tom Jackson Building on campus. A pregame picnic will follow at 1 p.m. on the lawn of the Kennon Sports Hall of Fame, where the presentation of the Dr. Joe Nunley Award, which annually recognizes the accomplishments of a man or woman who served with distinction in the military, will occur.
Armed forces personnel will then be honored at halftime.
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