Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Reaching home opener a huge accomplishment in uncertain season
9/17/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When Middle Tennessee takes the field Saturday at 3 p.m. against Troy, it'll be a surreal moment in many ways.
The Blue Raiders, like many programs around college football, were at one time unsure if they would get to even play a single game this fall, let alone in front of their friends, family and fans. Now, they've already played once, falling at Army on Sept. 5, and will get to perform in front of approximately 7,000 people on their home turf Saturday. MT will be the first mid-state team to have fans.
To say they're excited to have a home game with people in the stands doesn't quite tell the whole story. They're also relieved.
"You know, I'm proud of our players. I'm proud of our administration, everybody that's been involved to get to this point," head coach Rick Stockstill said this week. "I don't know if words can put it in proper perspective. These players have worked so hard and have sacrificed so much to get here, and now … their family, their friends, their girlfriends, everybody can come see them play. And I know that's important to them, and I'm happy for them that they're able to do that."
Like everyone in college football, the Blue Raiders weren't allowed to take part in spring practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the U.S. in March. Then, all summer long, they didn't know what was going to happen while they weren't allowed on campus, having to stay home and find a way to work out and prepare for a season they didn't even know would happen.
Teams started moving their seasons to the spring and canceling nonconference matchups, causing Middle Tennessee to alter its schedule several times. Other fall sports were also moved to the spring by the NCAA and conferences around the country.
With all of the changes in procedures and scheduling, the pandemic affecting every walk of life and social injustice taking over the airwaves, there was almost no way the Blue Raiders could focus on the uncertain football season. But, somehow, they pulled together as a team and did all the right things to find a way to start the season.
"I think it just comes from us being close," redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "You know, Coach Stock has told us all year long that we have to remain together, because we never know what could happen.
"It's not been easy, of course, for all of us, but you have to just prepare like you're going to play, because as soon as you have that moment of doubt, which I know some of us may have had earlier in camp, we got past that really quick and we said we're ready to roll."
In an abnormal time, being able to get on the Floyd Stadium turf with some friends, family, fellow students and fans in the stands will feel like a sense of normalcy Saturday.
When the Blue Raiders traveled to Army in Week 1, they weren't allowed to have any Blue Raider faithful at the game. It was only Army cadets, which surely gave a boost to the Black Knights.
Middle Tennessee is hoping to receive that kind of boost Saturday. Even if it will be a small crowd, it will be a crowd cheering for the blue and white.
"That's a big boost, because it means a lot to have people you love up in the stands," O'Hara said. "It's definitely helpful knowing that people have your back up there, and, of course, just the crowd noise in general helps, because with no one there, it would be like playing in the backyard … which we're all built for, but, of course, we'd rather have people we know in the stands and fans cheering us on."
It will obviously mean a lot to the Blue Raiders to be able to take the field Saturday. It could mean even more for the group of seniors, who weren't sure they'd even have a senior season this fall.
"You know, especially with all this COVID-19 stuff going on, I didn't know if I would have my family there," senior safety Reed Blankenship said. "But, now that we get to have our fans there and stuff, that means a whole lot. I'll probably have a few family and friends come to this game, and it's going to be a good experience for me."
Now that they've reached this point, Stockstill is preaching to his players and staff that they have to keep doing the necessary things to keep going. They've worked too hard to throw it all out the window at this point.
He's also helping the players' focus shift to actually playing the game. After all, there's really only one thing they've worked this hard to do: win.
"We got here, and the objective is to stay here," Stockstill said. "You want to stay healthy and keep doing the things that you had to do to get here to be able to play. I'm glad fans can come to the game … I'm glad our players' parents, players' friends and family are going to be able to come to the game.
"Our main objective now is to play better than what we did a couple weeks ago, and hopefully we can get here and do that and improve and come out of here with a win."
The Blue Raiders, like many programs around college football, were at one time unsure if they would get to even play a single game this fall, let alone in front of their friends, family and fans. Now, they've already played once, falling at Army on Sept. 5, and will get to perform in front of approximately 7,000 people on their home turf Saturday. MT will be the first mid-state team to have fans.
To say they're excited to have a home game with people in the stands doesn't quite tell the whole story. They're also relieved.
"You know, I'm proud of our players. I'm proud of our administration, everybody that's been involved to get to this point," head coach Rick Stockstill said this week. "I don't know if words can put it in proper perspective. These players have worked so hard and have sacrificed so much to get here, and now … their family, their friends, their girlfriends, everybody can come see them play. And I know that's important to them, and I'm happy for them that they're able to do that."
Like everyone in college football, the Blue Raiders weren't allowed to take part in spring practice due to the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the U.S. in March. Then, all summer long, they didn't know what was going to happen while they weren't allowed on campus, having to stay home and find a way to work out and prepare for a season they didn't even know would happen.
Teams started moving their seasons to the spring and canceling nonconference matchups, causing Middle Tennessee to alter its schedule several times. Other fall sports were also moved to the spring by the NCAA and conferences around the country.
With all of the changes in procedures and scheduling, the pandemic affecting every walk of life and social injustice taking over the airwaves, there was almost no way the Blue Raiders could focus on the uncertain football season. But, somehow, they pulled together as a team and did all the right things to find a way to start the season.
"I think it just comes from us being close," redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "You know, Coach Stock has told us all year long that we have to remain together, because we never know what could happen.
"It's not been easy, of course, for all of us, but you have to just prepare like you're going to play, because as soon as you have that moment of doubt, which I know some of us may have had earlier in camp, we got past that really quick and we said we're ready to roll."
In an abnormal time, being able to get on the Floyd Stadium turf with some friends, family, fellow students and fans in the stands will feel like a sense of normalcy Saturday.
When the Blue Raiders traveled to Army in Week 1, they weren't allowed to have any Blue Raider faithful at the game. It was only Army cadets, which surely gave a boost to the Black Knights.
Middle Tennessee is hoping to receive that kind of boost Saturday. Even if it will be a small crowd, it will be a crowd cheering for the blue and white.
"That's a big boost, because it means a lot to have people you love up in the stands," O'Hara said. "It's definitely helpful knowing that people have your back up there, and, of course, just the crowd noise in general helps, because with no one there, it would be like playing in the backyard … which we're all built for, but, of course, we'd rather have people we know in the stands and fans cheering us on."
It will obviously mean a lot to the Blue Raiders to be able to take the field Saturday. It could mean even more for the group of seniors, who weren't sure they'd even have a senior season this fall.
"You know, especially with all this COVID-19 stuff going on, I didn't know if I would have my family there," senior safety Reed Blankenship said. "But, now that we get to have our fans there and stuff, that means a whole lot. I'll probably have a few family and friends come to this game, and it's going to be a good experience for me."
Now that they've reached this point, Stockstill is preaching to his players and staff that they have to keep doing the necessary things to keep going. They've worked too hard to throw it all out the window at this point.
He's also helping the players' focus shift to actually playing the game. After all, there's really only one thing they've worked this hard to do: win.
"We got here, and the objective is to stay here," Stockstill said. "You want to stay healthy and keep doing the things that you had to do to get here to be able to play. I'm glad fans can come to the game … I'm glad our players' parents, players' friends and family are going to be able to come to the game.
"Our main objective now is to play better than what we did a couple weeks ago, and hopefully we can get here and do that and improve and come out of here with a win."
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