Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
DOUGHTON: Definitely “Worth playing for”
11/14/2021 5:20:00 PM | Football
Reed Blankenship reminded this writer of why college sports have such staying power, with a little help from Jeff Probst
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — If you've run into me in the past few months during the week in the Murphy Center, or on game days at Floyd Stadium on my way to the press box, there's a good chance you caught me wearing a Buff from the CBS Reality Show "Survivor" as a face covering around the hallways.
Yes, "Survivor" is still on air, as it has been every year since it first debuted in 2000. They're currently airing their 41st season every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Central, as my coworkers will know from me sprinting home after interviews every Wednesday night.
Anyway, as I drove home from Middle Tennessee's dominant 50-10 win over FIU on the gridiron yesterday, my mind kept wandering to a phrase host and executive producer Jeff Probst always breaks out at every reward challenge. After explaining the mechanics of whatever obstacle course, puzzle, maze etc. the castaways are embarking on, Probst will then showcase that day's reward, usually some sort of comfort food, ending with on his catchphrases that have endured for decades at this point.
"Worth playing for?"
I think that phrase is especially prescient at this point in the college football season. Because looking at things from a big picture perspective, a lot of teams in the sport don't have a lot to play for at the moment, other than their own personal pride. The FIU Panthers, now 1-9, with a coach reported to be soon let go via non-renewal of his contract at the helm of the program.
For the Blue Raiders, there's plenty still on the table, even as they've been eliminated from conference title contention, to answer "yes" when asked if it's still worth playing for. One more win will make the Blue Raiders bowl eligible for the first time since 2018, two wins would give them their first winning season in that same time frame. So there will be no let up as MT faces Old Dominion next week in their home finale, or as they travel south to face FAU over Thanksgiving weekend.
But I think Reed Blankenship's opening comments to the media after Saturday's game is what put the rest of the season in the most focus for me, as far as what's really worth playing for in the grand scheme of things. It's more than an amorphous "pride" that coaches often reference in cliches. But it's the people that make these games worth it.
"There's not a day that goes by that I (don't love) the opportunity to play with these guys," Blankenship said. "I love them to death. We work hard during the week, we know what to prepare for. And I love going to war with them."
It's a time of transition for Blankenship, who's name will be all over the record books as he finishes up his sixth season as a Blue Raider over the rest of the season. But far more than any accolades for him, or even for his team, his focus is still on his teammates. That's who really makes this game worth playing for him, regardless of what has happened or will happen in the future on the field.
This has been a tough season in Murfreesboro at times. It almost always will be when you have four different quarterbacks take meaningful snaps due to circumstances often outside of the team's control. And I know that in January, when the team has time to look back, there will be games that they'll know could've flipped with one or two more plays.
But for now, this is a team that's competing for one another, that's coming with new ideas to win games (who knew a jumbo package featuring Marley Cook and Jordan Ferguson could be so effective), that's fighting. I've been around teams that just sort of cruise once certain goals are lost, and this team certainly isn't one of them.
Anyway, there's been a lot of ink spilled over the years on the purpose of college athletics. What are we playing the games for? Championships? Certainly. To give student-athletes opportunities for furthering their education? Absolutely.
But at the end of the day, whether it is a cold blowout on a November afternoon, or a massive investment in facilities like what Middle Tennessee is debuting tomorrow, college athletics is about playing for the teammates beside you in the huddle, about playing for the coaches that have mentored you, about the people these students-athletes have touched in their time at Middle Tennessee.
Perhaps it's the coming senior day this weekend making me sappy, mixed in with a sense of gratefulness and humility in this year's Blue Raider football team for giving me the great honor to share some of their stories.
But I know, even removing the very real goals still on the table for this team, these last two regular season games will stay "worth playing for" for a long time after the clock hits triple zeros.
Yes, "Survivor" is still on air, as it has been every year since it first debuted in 2000. They're currently airing their 41st season every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Central, as my coworkers will know from me sprinting home after interviews every Wednesday night.
Anyway, as I drove home from Middle Tennessee's dominant 50-10 win over FIU on the gridiron yesterday, my mind kept wandering to a phrase host and executive producer Jeff Probst always breaks out at every reward challenge. After explaining the mechanics of whatever obstacle course, puzzle, maze etc. the castaways are embarking on, Probst will then showcase that day's reward, usually some sort of comfort food, ending with on his catchphrases that have endured for decades at this point.
"Worth playing for?"
I think that phrase is especially prescient at this point in the college football season. Because looking at things from a big picture perspective, a lot of teams in the sport don't have a lot to play for at the moment, other than their own personal pride. The FIU Panthers, now 1-9, with a coach reported to be soon let go via non-renewal of his contract at the helm of the program.
For the Blue Raiders, there's plenty still on the table, even as they've been eliminated from conference title contention, to answer "yes" when asked if it's still worth playing for. One more win will make the Blue Raiders bowl eligible for the first time since 2018, two wins would give them their first winning season in that same time frame. So there will be no let up as MT faces Old Dominion next week in their home finale, or as they travel south to face FAU over Thanksgiving weekend.
But I think Reed Blankenship's opening comments to the media after Saturday's game is what put the rest of the season in the most focus for me, as far as what's really worth playing for in the grand scheme of things. It's more than an amorphous "pride" that coaches often reference in cliches. But it's the people that make these games worth it.
"There's not a day that goes by that I (don't love) the opportunity to play with these guys," Blankenship said. "I love them to death. We work hard during the week, we know what to prepare for. And I love going to war with them."
It's a time of transition for Blankenship, who's name will be all over the record books as he finishes up his sixth season as a Blue Raider over the rest of the season. But far more than any accolades for him, or even for his team, his focus is still on his teammates. That's who really makes this game worth playing for him, regardless of what has happened or will happen in the future on the field.
This has been a tough season in Murfreesboro at times. It almost always will be when you have four different quarterbacks take meaningful snaps due to circumstances often outside of the team's control. And I know that in January, when the team has time to look back, there will be games that they'll know could've flipped with one or two more plays.
But for now, this is a team that's competing for one another, that's coming with new ideas to win games (who knew a jumbo package featuring Marley Cook and Jordan Ferguson could be so effective), that's fighting. I've been around teams that just sort of cruise once certain goals are lost, and this team certainly isn't one of them.
Anyway, there's been a lot of ink spilled over the years on the purpose of college athletics. What are we playing the games for? Championships? Certainly. To give student-athletes opportunities for furthering their education? Absolutely.
But at the end of the day, whether it is a cold blowout on a November afternoon, or a massive investment in facilities like what Middle Tennessee is debuting tomorrow, college athletics is about playing for the teammates beside you in the huddle, about playing for the coaches that have mentored you, about the people these students-athletes have touched in their time at Middle Tennessee.
Perhaps it's the coming senior day this weekend making me sappy, mixed in with a sense of gratefulness and humility in this year's Blue Raider football team for giving me the great honor to share some of their stories.
But I know, even removing the very real goals still on the table for this team, these last two regular season games will stay "worth playing for" for a long time after the clock hits triple zeros.
Players Mentioned
MTSU Football Signing Day Press Conference 12/3/25
Wednesday, December 03
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Sunday, November 30
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Saturday, November 29
Raider Report Game 12 - MTSU vs. New Mexico State University
Friday, November 28
