Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
MT thankful for another opportunity
11/30/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football
Face UAB Sunday
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee fans might've thought the Blue Raiders' season was finished when their game against Florida Atlantic was canceled, but they were quickly granted one more chance to watch the team.
The contest between the Owls and Raiders was canceled Friday, then Sunday, MT announced a special Sunday matchup will be played Dec. 6 at home against UAB.
"We're disappointed that we couldn't play last week, but, like I've said all year long, we have to control what we can control, and that was out of our control last week," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We're excited about having another opportunity to play."
The Blazers (4-3, 2-1) are a good team that rely on a high-quality defense and dominant run game. Those aren't the only things that will give the Blue Raiders (3-6, 2-4) challenges heading into Sunday, though.
A bit of an unknown aura surrounds UAB. It hasn't taken the field since Halloween night against LA Tech, a 37-34 overtime loss. Having more than a month between games makes the Blazers tough to game plan against, especially considering Middle Tennessee didn't learn of the game until Sunday.
"They haven't played in a long, long time … so you don't know a whole lot about what's changed with them over the last month," Stockstill said. "There are some unknowns, but they're a really good football team."
It's hard telling which players will be back in the mix for both teams.
MT had upwards of 33 scholarship players who would've had to sit out against FAU because of COVID-19 or injury. UAB likewise has had its own issues with the pandemic and injuries.
"We still have some issues that we're working through, but I feel really good about where we're at right now," Stockstill said.
One player who should be in the fold that will demand Middle Tennessee's attention is running back Spencer Brown.
The senior is in the top tier of running backs in Conference USA, currently sitting on 740 rushing yards (third in C-USA) and 10 touchdowns (second in C-USA) this season. He's paired with freshman DeWayne McBride (396 rushing yards) to make maybe the best one-two running back punch in the league.
"Their running backs are really special," Stockstill said. "They're going to come out and try to establish the run. … [Brown] is averaging over 100 yards per game, and he's a downhill runner. He runs with strength and power, and he has deceptive speed.
"We've got to do a good job of getting off blocks, and we have to tackle well."
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full with Brown, McBride and the rest of the Blazers. Then, they'll figure out where to go next, or if there will be another game in this unique season.
Despite the unknown future, they're thankful to just be able to take the field at Floyd Stadium one more time.
"I'm still hopeful that we get to play Dec. 12 … but it's still up in the air," Stockstill said. "We're really, really excited about having the opportunity to play this week at home."
The contest between the Owls and Raiders was canceled Friday, then Sunday, MT announced a special Sunday matchup will be played Dec. 6 at home against UAB.
"We're disappointed that we couldn't play last week, but, like I've said all year long, we have to control what we can control, and that was out of our control last week," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We're excited about having another opportunity to play."
The Blazers (4-3, 2-1) are a good team that rely on a high-quality defense and dominant run game. Those aren't the only things that will give the Blue Raiders (3-6, 2-4) challenges heading into Sunday, though.
A bit of an unknown aura surrounds UAB. It hasn't taken the field since Halloween night against LA Tech, a 37-34 overtime loss. Having more than a month between games makes the Blazers tough to game plan against, especially considering Middle Tennessee didn't learn of the game until Sunday.
"They haven't played in a long, long time … so you don't know a whole lot about what's changed with them over the last month," Stockstill said. "There are some unknowns, but they're a really good football team."
It's hard telling which players will be back in the mix for both teams.
MT had upwards of 33 scholarship players who would've had to sit out against FAU because of COVID-19 or injury. UAB likewise has had its own issues with the pandemic and injuries.
"We still have some issues that we're working through, but I feel really good about where we're at right now," Stockstill said.
One player who should be in the fold that will demand Middle Tennessee's attention is running back Spencer Brown.
The senior is in the top tier of running backs in Conference USA, currently sitting on 740 rushing yards (third in C-USA) and 10 touchdowns (second in C-USA) this season. He's paired with freshman DeWayne McBride (396 rushing yards) to make maybe the best one-two running back punch in the league.
"Their running backs are really special," Stockstill said. "They're going to come out and try to establish the run. … [Brown] is averaging over 100 yards per game, and he's a downhill runner. He runs with strength and power, and he has deceptive speed.
"We've got to do a good job of getting off blocks, and we have to tackle well."
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full with Brown, McBride and the rest of the Blazers. Then, they'll figure out where to go next, or if there will be another game in this unique season.
Despite the unknown future, they're thankful to just be able to take the field at Floyd Stadium one more time.
"I'm still hopeful that we get to play Dec. 12 … but it's still up in the air," Stockstill said. "We're really, really excited about having the opportunity to play this week at home."
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