Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders getting better on the gridiron while off it
4/12/2020 2:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Since Middle Tennessee announced in mid-March students would finish the spring semester online remotely, student-athletes have had to find ways to adjust to life at home.
Having to be away from teammates and team facilities has been tough for the Blue Raider football team, which should be gearing up for the end of spring football. Players and coaches aren't allowed on campus, and no one knows when they'll be able to get back on the practice field.
"It's a different experience for everyone involved in this," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "The biggest thing is we just need to get in a routine, because this is all different for everyone. It would be easy to sit on that couch and watch Netflix all day, but we're trying to stay organized and keep our guys motivated as best we can."
Getting into the routine Stockstill mentioned has been especially tough for those players who don't have access to workout equipment.
Head strength coach Matt Hickmann and his staff send out weekly workouts, and included are tips for how to get creative at home. They've been helpful for senior safety Reed Blankenship, who's at home in Anderson, Alabama, a town of about 300 people northwest of Athens, just south of the Alabama-Tennessee line.
"I'm doing as well as I can," Blankenship said. "I have to do bodyweight stuff, run … it's just hard to keep going. Our strength coaches have sent us three different categories for if we have equipment, have some equipment or bodyweight stuff. They've done a great job of guiding us along."
Blankenship is also one of the many Blue Raiders recovering this offseason from an injury. He missed the last five games of 2019, and while his injured ankle is pretty much healed, he's still in contact with therapists and trainers several times a week to track his progress.
"I'm pretty much healed at this point," he said. "Luckily, I was towards the end of my rehab, and I'm progressing into running full speed. I can do that here.
"We communicate a lot. They call two or three times a week, and if I have any questions, they're just a call away. They've sent me some programs and stuff to do while I'm here, so that's been good."
Communicating on apps has been critical for the entire team.
Middle Tennessee's position coaches have daily meetings with Stockstill and get two hours weekly to meet with players, usually spread out in half hour increments throughout the week.
"The Zoom app has been really good for us," redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "Without that, it'd be a little out of control. We can still learn every day and not just waste time through this."
O'Hara is one of the lucky ones who has someone to throw to every day — though, his parents might not feel lucky when quarantining is over.
He and his three brothers are all at home in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. O'Hara and his little brother, Jace, have been working out together mostly. Jace, a freshman defensive back, is the third brother to play at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, joining Asher and older brother Devin, a quarterback.
"It's just like back in the day," O'Hara said. "I have someone always ready to catch for me, and I can throw to my little brother, who goes to the same JUCO that I did. That's been pretty cool working out together and stuff."
Social media has been filled recently with videos of Blue Raiders finding ways to work out remotely. It's been inspiring for Blankenship and O'Hara, two of the team's leaders.
"It's a test when people go home, because they don't have anyone there holding them accountable," Blankenship said. "Seeing people making up their own workouts and wanting to get better makes me proud as a captain."
Hopefully, soon those videos won't be necessary because football players are back on the practice field and the world is back to normal.
Until then, the Blue Raiders will keep finding ways to put in work and get better on their own.
Having to be away from teammates and team facilities has been tough for the Blue Raider football team, which should be gearing up for the end of spring football. Players and coaches aren't allowed on campus, and no one knows when they'll be able to get back on the practice field.
"It's a different experience for everyone involved in this," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "The biggest thing is we just need to get in a routine, because this is all different for everyone. It would be easy to sit on that couch and watch Netflix all day, but we're trying to stay organized and keep our guys motivated as best we can."
Getting into the routine Stockstill mentioned has been especially tough for those players who don't have access to workout equipment.
Head strength coach Matt Hickmann and his staff send out weekly workouts, and included are tips for how to get creative at home. They've been helpful for senior safety Reed Blankenship, who's at home in Anderson, Alabama, a town of about 300 people northwest of Athens, just south of the Alabama-Tennessee line.
"I'm doing as well as I can," Blankenship said. "I have to do bodyweight stuff, run … it's just hard to keep going. Our strength coaches have sent us three different categories for if we have equipment, have some equipment or bodyweight stuff. They've done a great job of guiding us along."
Blankenship is also one of the many Blue Raiders recovering this offseason from an injury. He missed the last five games of 2019, and while his injured ankle is pretty much healed, he's still in contact with therapists and trainers several times a week to track his progress.
"I'm pretty much healed at this point," he said. "Luckily, I was towards the end of my rehab, and I'm progressing into running full speed. I can do that here.
"We communicate a lot. They call two or three times a week, and if I have any questions, they're just a call away. They've sent me some programs and stuff to do while I'm here, so that's been good."
Communicating on apps has been critical for the entire team.
Middle Tennessee's position coaches have daily meetings with Stockstill and get two hours weekly to meet with players, usually spread out in half hour increments throughout the week.
"The Zoom app has been really good for us," redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "Without that, it'd be a little out of control. We can still learn every day and not just waste time through this."
O'Hara is one of the lucky ones who has someone to throw to every day — though, his parents might not feel lucky when quarantining is over.
He and his three brothers are all at home in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. O'Hara and his little brother, Jace, have been working out together mostly. Jace, a freshman defensive back, is the third brother to play at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, joining Asher and older brother Devin, a quarterback.
"It's just like back in the day," O'Hara said. "I have someone always ready to catch for me, and I can throw to my little brother, who goes to the same JUCO that I did. That's been pretty cool working out together and stuff."
Social media has been filled recently with videos of Blue Raiders finding ways to work out remotely. It's been inspiring for Blankenship and O'Hara, two of the team's leaders.
"It's a test when people go home, because they don't have anyone there holding them accountable," Blankenship said. "Seeing people making up their own workouts and wanting to get better makes me proud as a captain."
Hopefully, soon those videos won't be necessary because football players are back on the practice field and the world is back to normal.
Until then, the Blue Raiders will keep finding ways to put in work and get better on their own.
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