Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Football is back from open week to battle UTEP
10/24/2022 4:47:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, BRAA, Track & Field/Cross Country
Currently, the game is tied for the latest kickoff on ESPN+ that night, kicking off at 8 p.m. CT, 7 p.m. local time in the Sun Bowl. A fact that was not lost on head coach Rick Stockstill.
"We've got to do a good job of handling our day, organizing our day on Saturday because it is a long day," Stockstill said. "You can't just lay up in a bed all day, you've got to get them up and get them out. Do some things differently than what we have, and we'll do that."
UTEP is about as close as you can get to the exact middle of Conference USA so far this season, ranking sixth in passing, rushing and total offense, as well as sixth in scoring defense so far this season. The Miners also have a perfectly balanced record, 4-4 overall with a 2-2 clip within conference play, coming off a win at home against FAU this past weekend.
"Their quarterback is doing a really nice job of running that offense, doing a good job protecting the ball," Stockstill said. "They're a physical offense, they're going to come after you. They're going to try to pound the ball but take shots over the top of you also."
Defensively, Stockstill highlighted the multiple fronts the Miners will throw at you, as well as the disguised coverages that will present a challenge to his own offense. But the extra week of practice helps, Stockstill noted, in addition to all the other benefits of not playing during a bye.
"(The players have) been going since August 1st" Stockstill said. "About 10 weeks, they've been going. That's a long time. That's a long time on your body, it's a long time mentally with everything else they've got going on in their life. I think it was a good break for them, they came back yesterday ready to go.'
Of note for this week: Stockstill did say that he was unsure if the extra time got them any players that have missed the past few games with injuries back healthy enough to play, but the mental break helped everyone else on the team stay fresh ahead of the trip to the mountain time zone.
Cross Country heads to Denton for C-USA Championships
The Middle Tennessee Men's and Women's Cross Country teams will look to defend their C-USA titles this weekend, when both teams will race at the C-USA Championships in Denton, Texas on Saturday.
Both teams enter the weekend the top ranked C-USA team in the South Region, and one of just three C-USA teams to make their USTFCCCA Region Top 15 ahead of Championships this weekend (Charlotte and UTEP are also regionally ranked on the men's side, Rice and Charlotte for the women).
Early last week (but post notebook), Joice Jebor was named Co-Female Athlete of the Week by the Conference USA office after setting a PR at the Crimson Classic the previous weekend!
For the first time in her career, Joice Jebor is named 𝘾-𝙐𝙎𝘼 𝘾𝙤-𝙁𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝘼𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠 for her performance this weekend at the Crimson Classic! 👏
— MT XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) October 18, 2022
📰: https://t.co/ROgociEsBD#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/nA07tmCZPb
Women's Basketball at the Murphy Center this week!
Basketball is back on the Murphy Center floor this week, as MTSU fans will get their first chance to see the Women's Basketball team in uniform against an opponent this week, as the Lady Raiders take on Christian Brothers in an exhibition game on Friday. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.!
🚨 WE PLAY BASKETBALL THIS WEEK! 🚨#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/bAzg2qhRaa
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) October 24, 2022
All fans 12 or younger will receive free admission if they attend wearing a Halloween costume! They'll also be able to Trick or Treat around the Murphy Center concourse during the game. Exhibition tickets for all other fans will be available for purchase for $8.
We've got a treat for you fans! 🏀🎃
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) October 21, 2022
Get in the Halloween spirit next Friday when the Lady Raiders take on CBU in an exhibition matchup at the Murphy Center!
Kids 12 and under wearing their costumes will receive complimentary admission at the Box Office! pic.twitter.com/ooXU1G0D7H
Last week, the Lady Raiders were picked first in the C-USA preseason poll of the conference's coaches, with three players (Courtney Whitson, Savannah Wheeler and Kseniya Malashka) named to the preseason All-C-USA team.
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 20, 2022
The preseason favorites add last season's leading scorer in the conference through the transfer portal.@MT_WBB | #CUSAWBB pic.twitter.com/UcKbp2hwn2
Men's Basketball shines at media day
While Blue Raider fans will have to wait another couple of weeks to see the Men's Basketball team at the Murphy Center, they were already busy on the court this week, with both media day shoots and plenty of practice time this weekend.
Media Day BTS#StickTogether pic.twitter.com/mMgs3n3jH4
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) October 20, 2022
Scrimmage scenes.#StickTogether pic.twitter.com/Sh2VREPWAN
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) October 23, 2022
I also got the chance to profile the work Teafale Lenard Jr. has been doing this offseason, as he was named to the All-C-USA preseason team this past week. Check out the profile if you missed it here.
U.S. National Anthem Singers Needed
Want a chance to sing in front of the Murphy Center crowds this season? MTSU Athletics is currently accepting auditions for U.S. National Anthem singers for Blue Raider and Lady Raider basketball this winter.
Interested performers can submit their audition tape to MTMARKETING@MTSU.EDU. All auditions must be able to perform the National Anthem in under a minute and 30 seconds.
We're looking for national anthem singers for the upcoming @MT_WBB and @MT_MBB seasons.
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) October 24, 2022
Submit your audition video ASAP! pic.twitter.com/QZXzukMHsi
Murphy Center 50th Polls Continue
As part of the #MurphyCenter50 celebrations that kicked off last week, MTSU is once again asking for your help in naming the all-time Murphy Center teams this season.
This week, the Lady Raiders get the spotlight, with today's poll featuring the nominees for the All-Murphy Center Lady Raiders team. Stay tuned for an all-opponents team poll later this week for the MTSU Women's program!
Blue Raider Nation, it's time to pick the top 15 #LadyRaiders to play in Murphy Center!
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) October 24, 2022
Voting closes on Wednesday at 11:59 PM, so be sure to make your @MT_WBB picks before then.
VOTE: https://t.co/5kc3ehYobG#MurphyCenter50 pic.twitter.com/RSQienUnTC
MTSU Thanks the Smith Family for helping the Blue Raiders #BuildBlue
Blue Raider Athletics thanks the Smith family for their $1 million contribution to the #BuildBlue campaign!
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) October 20, 2022
The lobby of the new Student-Athlete Performance Center will be named in honor of Tommy and Judy Smith.https://t.co/wWVfioUK8n
Thank you to the entire Smith family for this transformational gift. A very special family of True Blue Raiders. https://t.co/w7LK5ZYJGX
— Chris Massaro (@ChrisMassaroAD) October 20, 2022
This Week in the 'Boro
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 '𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼 - presented by Ole South
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) October 24, 2022
Three sports are in town this week as @MT_Soccer wraps up its home slate, @MT_WBB opens the season with their first exhibition, and @MT_Volleyball hosts two matches.#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/KiX9jWrfeN
Players Mentioned
