Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Doughton: Game week is officially here for the start of football season
8/30/2021 5:00:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Golf, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Golf, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Volleyball, BRAA, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It's been a long time coming, but kickoff for 2021 Middle Tennessee football is this coming Saturday.
The Blue Raiders open the season at home on Saturday against Monmouth, their first time on the field in front of fans at Floyd Stadium in 322 days. An October 17 loss to North Texas was the last home game of the 2020 season due to multiple cancellations related to COVID-19 protocols.
"I hope it's a great crowd, I hope it's better than a decent crowd," head coach Rick Stockstill said at this week's press conference. "I'm excited about it, our players are excited about it. To be able to play in front of their friends, to be able to play in front of their families, it's what athletes strive for."
Monmouth poses a unique challenge for Middle Tennessee to open the season, particularly compared to the average FCS opponent. The Hawks are coming off back-to-back Big South titles, and were 3-1 in the shortened spring season this past school year, with the team's only loss coming to eventual national champion Sam Houston State in the FCS playoffs.
The Hawks return 21 of 22 starters on the offense and defense from a season ago, featuring 15 preseason All Big South selections, and including a sweep of the preseason Big South offensive and defensive player of the year awards (running back Juwon Farri, free safety Anthony Budd).
"Any time a team returns a lot of starters, it enables you to do more schematically offensively, defensively, and in your kicking game," Stockstill said. "When you have experienced players, you know what they can and can't do. There's a trust level there from coach to player, where you can put them in certain situations and you know they'll perform. It's a mature football team, and I'm sure it's a confident football team with what they've done in the past two years."
Of course, the extra year of eligibility granted to student athletes due to the pandemic also applies to MT, who return 18 of 22 starters on offense and defense from a season ago. That experience, plus the added depth from the younger classes' extra eligibility, has the Blue Raiders hungry to prove themselves as a group this season.
Dearmon: Just a High School Coach
This week's game notes from our communication's staff fearless leader, Mark Owens, has an interesting tidbit about the coaches who will be up in the press box for MT this season.
Defensively, coordinator Scott Shafer and defensive line coach Dustin Royston will be the Blue Raiders eyes in the sky, while wide receivers coach Brent Stockstill and offensive line coach Rick Mallory will handle box duties for the offensive side of the ball.
Notably absent from that list is offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon. It's not usual for a coordinator to call games from the sideline, particularly at the high school level. But often at the collegiate level, each team's coordinators will be two of the guys in the box every Saturday.
There's no right or wrong answer, other than what each individual coach prefers. And Dearmon has a few reasons why he likes coaching from the sidelines.
"My dad was a high school coach, and he was an offensive line coach," Dearmon said. "So my whole life, I got to see my dad on the sideline. You don't see many high school offensive line coaches sit in the box. My first five years in coaching, I was a high school coach. And that's kind of a high school mindset of coaching from the sideline. And then I'm a feel guy. I like to feel the game, I get into the feel of the flow. And probably one of my biggest guys that's influenced me is Gus Malzahn. And Coach Malzahn calls it from the field."
So, when you glance down toward the Blue Raider sideline this Saturday, you'll get a chance to see firsthand the intensity of Brent Dearmon on the sideline that we've seen all camp.
Blue Raider Recruiting Office: Now on the Road Again
In the Blue Raider recruiting office, things have been busy getting ready for the return of in-person recruiting. Although the dead period has been over since the start of June, in-season scouting on the football side can return the first day of September, recruiting coordinator Dustin Royston said.
"We won't be able to have contact with them, but we can go watch them play, we can go by the schools and get transcripts, talk to the teachers, guidance counselors and that stuff," Royston said.
Royston points out that the dynamics of the 2022 class are fluid, thanks to the ability for players to use an extra year of eligibility, as well as the potential for new players to break out their senior year of high school ball. But the strategy and recruiting areas, recruiting the mid-state hard, and then branching out in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Western North Carolina, within a five-to-six hour radius if possible, that have served Stockstill's program well in his 16 seasons remain the same, with a tweak or two.
"It used to be JuCo was 'where do you have an immediate need?'" Royston said. "Now the transfer portal has kind of taken that spot. A lot of these JuCo kids might have two or three years of eligibility left, especially three or sometimes four, you can look at those as like high school guys. We still want to make sure the base of our recruiting is high school kids."
Blue Raider Amenities Back at Floyd Stadium
This week's opening game is also the return of many fan favorite amenities to Floyd Stadium this fall. The Blue Raider Beer Garden in the south end zone returns, as well as the Family Fun Zone behind Sections 1A-3A. New in the Family Fun Zone is the addition of MTSU Creamery chocolate milk, now served in stations throughout the zone's concourse in addition to the usual inflatables and face painting.
Also returning this season is the successful post game rideshare program, offering fans discount codes towards Lyft rides to or from Floyd Stadium. MT Athletics' corporate partner, The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., are offering codes for the first game this coming Saturday.
More information on the returning amenities can be found here, while more information on the rideshare program can be found here.
Soccer Newcomers Shine
A pair of freshmen scored and a third made her debut in the net for the Blue Raiders last week, as Middle Tennessee dropped games to Ole Miss on the road and in overtime at home to Evansville.
Sascha Nielsen and Kirstin Lykke, both natives of Denmark, found the back of the net on Sunday against the Aces for their first career goal. Florida native Talia Nowlan also made her first appearance in the starting XI, saving four shots between the sticks.
The Blue Raiders continue their homestand this weekend with matches against Detroit Mercy and Houston Baptist. Kickoff against Mercy is Thursday at 7:00 pm, while Sunday's match against HBU will take place at 1:00 pm.
Volleyball Fights through Up and Down weekend in Jacksonville
MT Volleyball earned the sweep in the team's season opener this past Friday, defeating Alabama State in straight sets to open the Gamecock Classic in Jacksonville, Ala. The Blue Raiders held the Hornets to a match hitting percentage of .086 while earning 16 service aces, the programs most since 2017.
On Saturday, the Blue Raiders dropped a tough match to Gardner-Webb, losing five sets after a dominant comeback in the fourth set, which MT won 25-8. The Blue Raiders then fell in straight sets to host Jacksonville State to end the tournament. Samira Lawson Body combined for 30 kills across the two matches.
Volleyball continues their season with their home tournament, the Blue Raider Invitational. MT will play North Alabama at 3:00 pm on Friday, and then take on Alcorn State at 11:00 am on Saturday.
Men's, Women's Golf, Cross Country Open Seasons this week
Middle Tennessee's golf programs and cross country team start their fall schedules this weekend, all on the road. Women's golf tees off at the USA Intercollegiate on Saturday in Mobile, Ala., hosted by South Alabama. Men's golf, meanwhile, heads north to Bark River, Mich. for the Island Resort Collegiate, hosted by South Dakota State. Finally, cross country gets their season underway with the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic, hosted by Chirstian Brothers University.
The Blue Raiders open the season at home on Saturday against Monmouth, their first time on the field in front of fans at Floyd Stadium in 322 days. An October 17 loss to North Texas was the last home game of the 2020 season due to multiple cancellations related to COVID-19 protocols.
"I hope it's a great crowd, I hope it's better than a decent crowd," head coach Rick Stockstill said at this week's press conference. "I'm excited about it, our players are excited about it. To be able to play in front of their friends, to be able to play in front of their families, it's what athletes strive for."
Monmouth poses a unique challenge for Middle Tennessee to open the season, particularly compared to the average FCS opponent. The Hawks are coming off back-to-back Big South titles, and were 3-1 in the shortened spring season this past school year, with the team's only loss coming to eventual national champion Sam Houston State in the FCS playoffs.
The Hawks return 21 of 22 starters on the offense and defense from a season ago, featuring 15 preseason All Big South selections, and including a sweep of the preseason Big South offensive and defensive player of the year awards (running back Juwon Farri, free safety Anthony Budd).
"Any time a team returns a lot of starters, it enables you to do more schematically offensively, defensively, and in your kicking game," Stockstill said. "When you have experienced players, you know what they can and can't do. There's a trust level there from coach to player, where you can put them in certain situations and you know they'll perform. It's a mature football team, and I'm sure it's a confident football team with what they've done in the past two years."
Of course, the extra year of eligibility granted to student athletes due to the pandemic also applies to MT, who return 18 of 22 starters on offense and defense from a season ago. That experience, plus the added depth from the younger classes' extra eligibility, has the Blue Raiders hungry to prove themselves as a group this season.
.@CoachStock talks about facing an FCS opponent like Monmouth at today's press conference. #BlueRaiders | #EATT pic.twitter.com/G4xMbOkOJl
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) August 30, 2021
Dearmon: Just a High School Coach
This week's game notes from our communication's staff fearless leader, Mark Owens, has an interesting tidbit about the coaches who will be up in the press box for MT this season.
Defensively, coordinator Scott Shafer and defensive line coach Dustin Royston will be the Blue Raiders eyes in the sky, while wide receivers coach Brent Stockstill and offensive line coach Rick Mallory will handle box duties for the offensive side of the ball.
Notably absent from that list is offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon. It's not usual for a coordinator to call games from the sideline, particularly at the high school level. But often at the collegiate level, each team's coordinators will be two of the guys in the box every Saturday.
There's no right or wrong answer, other than what each individual coach prefers. And Dearmon has a few reasons why he likes coaching from the sidelines.
"My dad was a high school coach, and he was an offensive line coach," Dearmon said. "So my whole life, I got to see my dad on the sideline. You don't see many high school offensive line coaches sit in the box. My first five years in coaching, I was a high school coach. And that's kind of a high school mindset of coaching from the sideline. And then I'm a feel guy. I like to feel the game, I get into the feel of the flow. And probably one of my biggest guys that's influenced me is Gus Malzahn. And Coach Malzahn calls it from the field."
So, when you glance down toward the Blue Raider sideline this Saturday, you'll get a chance to see firsthand the intensity of Brent Dearmon on the sideline that we've seen all camp.
Just a high school coach. #BlueRaiders #EATT https://t.co/ybuaLi6bl5
— Brent Dearmon (@BrentDearmon) August 26, 2021
Blue Raider Recruiting Office: Now on the Road Again
In the Blue Raider recruiting office, things have been busy getting ready for the return of in-person recruiting. Although the dead period has been over since the start of June, in-season scouting on the football side can return the first day of September, recruiting coordinator Dustin Royston said.
"We won't be able to have contact with them, but we can go watch them play, we can go by the schools and get transcripts, talk to the teachers, guidance counselors and that stuff," Royston said.
Royston points out that the dynamics of the 2022 class are fluid, thanks to the ability for players to use an extra year of eligibility, as well as the potential for new players to break out their senior year of high school ball. But the strategy and recruiting areas, recruiting the mid-state hard, and then branching out in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Western North Carolina, within a five-to-six hour radius if possible, that have served Stockstill's program well in his 16 seasons remain the same, with a tweak or two.
"It used to be JuCo was 'where do you have an immediate need?'" Royston said. "Now the transfer portal has kind of taken that spot. A lot of these JuCo kids might have two or three years of eligibility left, especially three or sometimes four, you can look at those as like high school guys. We still want to make sure the base of our recruiting is high school kids."
Blue Raider Amenities Back at Floyd Stadium
This week's opening game is also the return of many fan favorite amenities to Floyd Stadium this fall. The Blue Raider Beer Garden in the south end zone returns, as well as the Family Fun Zone behind Sections 1A-3A. New in the Family Fun Zone is the addition of MTSU Creamery chocolate milk, now served in stations throughout the zone's concourse in addition to the usual inflatables and face painting.
Also returning this season is the successful post game rideshare program, offering fans discount codes towards Lyft rides to or from Floyd Stadium. MT Athletics' corporate partner, The Law Offices of John Day, P.C., are offering codes for the first game this coming Saturday.
More information on the returning amenities can be found here, while more information on the rideshare program can be found here.
Soccer Newcomers Shine
A pair of freshmen scored and a third made her debut in the net for the Blue Raiders last week, as Middle Tennessee dropped games to Ole Miss on the road and in overtime at home to Evansville.
Sascha Nielsen and Kirstin Lykke, both natives of Denmark, found the back of the net on Sunday against the Aces for their first career goal. Florida native Talia Nowlan also made her first appearance in the starting XI, saving four shots between the sticks.
Take another look at freshman keeper @talianowlan's first career save during her first career start! 🤩💪#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/VNTQAxCYAF
— MT Soccer (@MT_Soccer) August 29, 2021
The Blue Raiders continue their homestand this weekend with matches against Detroit Mercy and Houston Baptist. Kickoff against Mercy is Thursday at 7:00 pm, while Sunday's match against HBU will take place at 1:00 pm.
Volleyball Fights through Up and Down weekend in Jacksonville
MT Volleyball earned the sweep in the team's season opener this past Friday, defeating Alabama State in straight sets to open the Gamecock Classic in Jacksonville, Ala. The Blue Raiders held the Hornets to a match hitting percentage of .086 while earning 16 service aces, the programs most since 2017.
On Saturday, the Blue Raiders dropped a tough match to Gardner-Webb, losing five sets after a dominant comeback in the fourth set, which MT won 25-8. The Blue Raiders then fell in straight sets to host Jacksonville State to end the tournament. Samira Lawson Body combined for 30 kills across the two matches.
Volleyball continues their season with their home tournament, the Blue Raider Invitational. MT will play North Alabama at 3:00 pm on Friday, and then take on Alcorn State at 11:00 am on Saturday.
Men's, Women's Golf, Cross Country Open Seasons this week
Middle Tennessee's golf programs and cross country team start their fall schedules this weekend, all on the road. Women's golf tees off at the USA Intercollegiate on Saturday in Mobile, Ala., hosted by South Alabama. Men's golf, meanwhile, heads north to Bark River, Mich. for the Island Resort Collegiate, hosted by South Dakota State. Finally, cross country gets their season underway with the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic, hosted by Chirstian Brothers University.
.@MT_FB starts its season, @MT_Volleyball has its home opening tournament, and @MT_Soccer is home twice this week.
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) August 30, 2021
In action on the road this week is @MT_TrackField, @MT_WGolf and @MT_MGolf to start their seasons.#BlueRaiders | #MT pic.twitter.com/j501ZkoXss
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