Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
“For a lot of them, it would be their first time to be on campus” — Middle Tennessee welcomes back Education Day in 2022
11/30/2022 5:56:00 PM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When Tennessee Tech walks up to the line in the Glass House on Thursday, there will be the typical challenges of shooting free throws on the road. An unfamiliar rim, perhaps an unusual sight line. One challenge, however, will be a bit more unique for the Golden Eagles.
The screams of thousands of students from the Murfreesboro City Schools in their ears.
After a COVID-forced hiatus, Middle Tennessee has brought back their annual Education Day games to the Glass House in 2022, with the Lady Raiders' 11 a.m. tip against Tennessee Tech on Thursday serving Murfreesboro City Schools, while the Blue Raiders' season opener against Brescia earlier this month giving an opportunity for Rutherford County Schools' students to watch MTSU play.
Head Women's Basketball Coach Rick Insell started the MTSU tradition shortly after taking over the Lady Raiders program, working closely with Lisa Trail, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives for Murfreesboro City Schools, as well as then MCS Director of Schools Dr. Linda Arms Gilbert, to bring MCS students into the Murphy Center.
The first Education Day Game tipped off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, as 10,107 students from MCS (as well as a few season ticket holders, I'm sure) watched the Lady Raiders defeat Austin Peay 70-56. The Lady Raiders' games with MCS students would regularly draw in excess of 10,000 people into the Glass House.
"Any time I've seen an Education Day online or hear people talk about their Education Day, I've always looked to see how many people they have there," Insell said. "And I've been a part of a lot of other Education Days at other schools, and none of them have been as large as ours, or as loud as ours."
Late in Kermit Davis' tenure as head coach of the Men's Basketball program, the Blue Raiders also started an Education Day Game of their own, this time bringing in the students of the Rutherford County School System. MTSU defeated Milligan 102-64 in front of 6,020 fans at 11 a.m. on November 11, 2016 for their season opener.
The hiatus due to the pandemic has been tough for all parties involved, but Education Day's return has brought immense value and countless memories to local school children already this year.
"We were thrilled to be able to participate in the return of Education Day at MTSU," said. Dr. Trey Duke, Director for Murfreesboro City Schools. "Our partnerships with the university allows our students to learn about and experience a college campus. From Club Marvel and Invention Convention to our Lady Raider basketball game, these experiences help inspire students to reach out and grab their dreams.
"The access MTSU allows our students is incredible and we are extremely grateful for their legacy of good will with Murfreesboro City Schools."
Chris Harris, the Athletic Director for Rutherford County Schools (and a Blue Raider men's basketball player from 1978-82), said that the chance to watch a basketball game might be the first time a child opens their eyes to the possibility of attending college altogether.
"For a lot of them, it would be their first time to be on (a college) campus, a major university that's in their own backyard," Harris said. "It's an opportunity to connect between the county and Middle Tennessee State. Many of these students may decide at some point to go to MTSU."
On the court, Education Day brings in a raucous crowd of children ready to cheer for the hometown team, giving MTSU a distinct home court advantage. The Lady Raiders are 7-1 all-time in Education Day games, while the Blue Raiders are 5-0 (albeit all against non-Division I competition).
"To have that many elementary age students from Rutherford County in here, I don't have to tell you guys anything," Men's Basketball Head Coach Nick McDevitt said after his team's 79-52 win over Brescia earlier this season. "It was loud in there! The decibel level was really high."
For the Lady Raiders, it's a game the players get excited about. Courtney Whitson, who's one of a few players on this year's team with experience in the environment, said that the early tipoff means she and her teammates are often in the gym as early as 6 a.m. on game day. Personal focus is key in these games, Whitson notes, because of the noise. One has to be locked in on both their communication and the team's scouting report.
But ultimately, Education Day is much bigger than the game on the court. Whitson, who just finished student teaching this semester, had that reminder every day this fall.
"It's a reminder that one day the ball is going to have to be put down and I want to bring my classroom back here and have that pride," Whitson said. "For those kids to see that we're not just basketball players on the court, but that they see that we're human beings off the court that care about them."
For her head coach, Rick Insell is reminded of watching basketball for the first time as a first grader, walking into the gym and watching Woodbury Grammar School play somebody. Then rushing home to his mom and dad and telling them about it, then going to a high school game that next Friday for the first time, and never missing a game as a family after that.
Insell said he hopes his Lady Raiders can be that pivot point for somebody, that sparks that love of basketball that brings them back to the Murphy Center, or to their local high school or junior high gym, for that matter.
"I'm not saying somebody up there is going to be Rick Insell," Insell said. "But somebody up there may be Pat Summit, or Geno Auriemma, that's sitting here and this being their first real experience seeing a college basketball game."
The screams of thousands of students from the Murfreesboro City Schools in their ears.
After a COVID-forced hiatus, Middle Tennessee has brought back their annual Education Day games to the Glass House in 2022, with the Lady Raiders' 11 a.m. tip against Tennessee Tech on Thursday serving Murfreesboro City Schools, while the Blue Raiders' season opener against Brescia earlier this month giving an opportunity for Rutherford County Schools' students to watch MTSU play.
Head Women's Basketball Coach Rick Insell started the MTSU tradition shortly after taking over the Lady Raiders program, working closely with Lisa Trail, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives for Murfreesboro City Schools, as well as then MCS Director of Schools Dr. Linda Arms Gilbert, to bring MCS students into the Murphy Center.
The first Education Day Game tipped off at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, as 10,107 students from MCS (as well as a few season ticket holders, I'm sure) watched the Lady Raiders defeat Austin Peay 70-56. The Lady Raiders' games with MCS students would regularly draw in excess of 10,000 people into the Glass House.
"Any time I've seen an Education Day online or hear people talk about their Education Day, I've always looked to see how many people they have there," Insell said. "And I've been a part of a lot of other Education Days at other schools, and none of them have been as large as ours, or as loud as ours."
Late in Kermit Davis' tenure as head coach of the Men's Basketball program, the Blue Raiders also started an Education Day Game of their own, this time bringing in the students of the Rutherford County School System. MTSU defeated Milligan 102-64 in front of 6,020 fans at 11 a.m. on November 11, 2016 for their season opener.
The hiatus due to the pandemic has been tough for all parties involved, but Education Day's return has brought immense value and countless memories to local school children already this year.
"We were thrilled to be able to participate in the return of Education Day at MTSU," said. Dr. Trey Duke, Director for Murfreesboro City Schools. "Our partnerships with the university allows our students to learn about and experience a college campus. From Club Marvel and Invention Convention to our Lady Raider basketball game, these experiences help inspire students to reach out and grab their dreams.
"The access MTSU allows our students is incredible and we are extremely grateful for their legacy of good will with Murfreesboro City Schools."
Chris Harris, the Athletic Director for Rutherford County Schools (and a Blue Raider men's basketball player from 1978-82), said that the chance to watch a basketball game might be the first time a child opens their eyes to the possibility of attending college altogether.
"For a lot of them, it would be their first time to be on (a college) campus, a major university that's in their own backyard," Harris said. "It's an opportunity to connect between the county and Middle Tennessee State. Many of these students may decide at some point to go to MTSU."
On the court, Education Day brings in a raucous crowd of children ready to cheer for the hometown team, giving MTSU a distinct home court advantage. The Lady Raiders are 7-1 all-time in Education Day games, while the Blue Raiders are 5-0 (albeit all against non-Division I competition).
"To have that many elementary age students from Rutherford County in here, I don't have to tell you guys anything," Men's Basketball Head Coach Nick McDevitt said after his team's 79-52 win over Brescia earlier this season. "It was loud in there! The decibel level was really high."
For the Lady Raiders, it's a game the players get excited about. Courtney Whitson, who's one of a few players on this year's team with experience in the environment, said that the early tipoff means she and her teammates are often in the gym as early as 6 a.m. on game day. Personal focus is key in these games, Whitson notes, because of the noise. One has to be locked in on both their communication and the team's scouting report.
But ultimately, Education Day is much bigger than the game on the court. Whitson, who just finished student teaching this semester, had that reminder every day this fall.
"It's a reminder that one day the ball is going to have to be put down and I want to bring my classroom back here and have that pride," Whitson said. "For those kids to see that we're not just basketball players on the court, but that they see that we're human beings off the court that care about them."
For her head coach, Rick Insell is reminded of watching basketball for the first time as a first grader, walking into the gym and watching Woodbury Grammar School play somebody. Then rushing home to his mom and dad and telling them about it, then going to a high school game that next Friday for the first time, and never missing a game as a family after that.
Insell said he hopes his Lady Raiders can be that pivot point for somebody, that sparks that love of basketball that brings them back to the Murphy Center, or to their local high school or junior high gym, for that matter.
"I'm not saying somebody up there is going to be Rick Insell," Insell said. "But somebody up there may be Pat Summit, or Geno Auriemma, that's sitting here and this being their first real experience seeing a college basketball game."
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