Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Blue Raiders take their talents to South Beach (or, well, Miami Gardens)
9/19/2022 5:10:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Golf, Women's Volleyball, BRAA
"It'll be a great opportunity for us, a great challenge for us," Stockstill said. "But I can't tell you how fired up we are and how excited we are about the opportunity go down there."
There's little reason not to be if you're Rick Stockstill, after two dominant first halves the past two weeks have helped his team build up a winning streak before playing No. 25 Miami, who's coming off their first loss of the season on the road at Texas A&M. And while Miami will certainly pose the biggest test MTSU may face all season under first-year coach Mario Cristobal, MTSU does hold the all-time advantage in the overall series, defeating the Hurricanes in 1931 and 1932 while not allowing a single point either game.
Stockstill praised the talent level of the Hurricanes, particularly their speed at every level of their unit, highlighting how even the offensive line has good speed for their position.
"They're big, they're athletic, they can run, they don't give up big plays," Stockstill said of the Miami defense. "The suckers can fly at every position. It's really good defense, they're well coached, they do a lot of good things, they put a lot of pressure on you, they play a lot of man coverage. It's a very talented defense."
Stockstill is familiar with Cristobal in two ways: Cristobal's six seasons at the helm of FIU when both the Panthers and Blue Raiders were in the Sun Belt Conference as well as Cristobal's time at the University of Alabama, where Cristobal was the offensive line coach for the Crimson Tide and would often run into Stockstill when he visited his daughter, Emily, who worked in the football office.
MTSU will look to knock off an ACC opponent for the first time since 2017, when the Blue Raiders defeated Syracuse 30-23 in the Carrier Dome. MTSU will get the chance to knock off Miami in Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins as well as adjacent to the Miami International Autodrome, F1's grand prix circuit that spans through the stadium's parking lots during race weekends.
Jordan Ferguson was on that team that pulled off the win at Syracuse.
"We've just got to be ready to go and have some more energy this week," Ferguson said. "It's going to be hard; it's going to take four quarters. I know that game (against Syracuse) went down to the wire back in 2017. It took a lot, we were all beat up after the game, but you've got to leave everything out on the field this week."
Kickoff is set for 2:30 CT/3:30 local time on the ACC Network.
Relive the MTSU win over Tennessee State
At the top of his weekly press conference, Rick Stockstill made sure to thank all of the fans that came out to support the Blue Raiders in their win over Tennessee State this past weekend.
"Before I start talking about Miami, I just want to give a shoutout to our crowd this past weekend against Tennessee State," Stockstill said. "It was a great crowd, a great student atmosphere. You guys were loud, (we're) very appreciative, our players enjoyed it. So, I just want to give you guys, everyone who came to the game a shoutout and hope you enjoyed what you saw."
Fans were treated to a dominant 49-6 win from the Blue Raiders, a parachute game ball delivery, delicious tailgating in the Grove and a post-game fireworks display, among many other live long memories.
The crowd of 22,227 was the largest for MTSU at home since the 2017 home opener against Vanderbilt, where just over 26,000 fans came to Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium.
Relive the action from a fun night at Floyd Stadium!#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/NWxQm7OuK4
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) September 18, 2022
Home dubs never get old.
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) September 18, 2022
📸 https://t.co/WUgzZ3ncKW pic.twitter.com/mdTrCTjTCi
Good vibes only 🤩
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 18, 2022
It was a great atmosphere last night! See y'all back at Floyd Stadium on Sept. 30!#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/jaokZVKxar
Jordan Ferguson makes final Allstate AFCA Good Works Team
Blue Raider fans were treated to an excellent surprise on Monday morning, as one of their own became the third Blue Raider to make the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. One of 11 selections to the FBS team, Ferguson is the only student-athlete honored outside of the Autonomy 5 conferences on the FBS squad.
Two other Blue Raiders have been selected to the Good Works Team: Brent Stockstill made the 2017 team, while Wes Counts, who currently serves on the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team selection panel, was on the 1999 team.
This award shines a spotlight on the incredible stories of selflessness and community service displayed by these student-athletes and honorary head coach (Mark Stoops, Kentucky) and honors their dedication to volunteerism and enriching the lives of others. Ferguson founded his nonprofit, Hands Worldwide, in 2021, serving the Atlanta and midstate communities through various projects including blanket drives, food donations and much more.
To God, my family, coaches/teammates, and whoever contributed…. Thank you! This is for all of us ❤️ #HandsWorldwide pic.twitter.com/kJjHov9Qem
— Jordan Ferguson (@JoFerg__) September 19, 2022
Adri Rhoda takes third-straight Freshman of the Week honor from C-USA
Adri Rhoda continues her scalding start to her collegiate career, racking up her third-straight Conference USA Freshman of the Week award this Monday after another All-Tournament showing in New York City.
The Hutchinson, Minn. native led all C-USA freshman in hitting percentage (.356), kills (47), kills per set (3.92), service aces (14), aces/s (1.17), points (63.0), and points/s (5.25) this week. She is just the fifth player in program history to earn three or more weekly honors from a conference office during a single season, but the first to earn three or more weekly honors from Conference USA.
The other four three-or-more time honorees in the single season (Alicia Lemau'u '05, Ashley Waugh '08, Izabel Kozon '10, and Yanira Santiago '95) all earned their honors in either the Sun Belt or OVC.
𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝟐-𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝟐-𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 👑
— MT Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) September 19, 2022
Rhoda is named @ConferenceUSA Freshman of the Week for the third week in-a-row. The Hutchinson, MN native led all freshman in hit %, kills, kills/s, aces, aces/s, points, and points/s.
📰: https://t.co/4C0wFNG1d4#BLUEnited | @adrianarhoda pic.twitter.com/nLZClvKHAt
ICYMI: MTSU Breaks Ground on new outdoor tennis center
Check out all the highlights from a big day in Blue Raider tennis history, as MTSU broke ground for the new outdoor tennis center at the corner on Middle Tennesse Boulevard and Greenland Drive this past week.
What a great morning at @MTSU as we broke ground on the new on-campus @MT_WomensTennis and @MT_MensTennis facility!
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 15, 2022
📸 https://t.co/DkoxRggPHb pic.twitter.com/5hO9G6f3LU
Special morning for @MT_WomensTennis and @MT_MensTennis as we break ground on the new Outdoor Tennis Complex
— Blue Raider Athletic Association (BRAA) (@MTSUBRAA) September 15, 2022
Learn more at https://t.co/f5KMG2I5AI #BLUEnited | #BuildBlue pic.twitter.com/BXeiKcopV5
Miss the groundbreaking ceremony for the new on-campus tennis facility?
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 16, 2022
Catch all the speeches on YouTube or on True Blue TV!
📺 https://t.co/pxpd8jB7AY
📺 https://t.co/nhW8BWJZFi
📺 Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 2 PM, and every day throughout September pic.twitter.com/C5UF0r5PGC
Men's Golf off to Strong Start
Falling just one stroke short of the team title at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate last week, MTSU men's golf has gotten off to a hot start to open their 2022-23 season, led by a player of the week honor for Owen Stamper after the Blue Raiders' first competition.
Congratulations to Owen Stamper on being named Conference USA Player of the Week! #BlueRaiders | @ostamper9 pic.twitter.com/93vGHXoQEW
— MT Men's Golf (@MT_MGolf) September 14, 2022
The Scottsville, Ky. native shot a tournament-leading 16 birdies on the weekend, setting a three round personal best score of 206 (-10) while finishing second overall as an individual.
Get ready for the MTSU v. WKU Blood Drive
We're two weeks away from bleeding BLUE to beat WKU! Make your appointment today, and we'll see you at Campus Rec in a couple of weeks.
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 19, 2022
🗓 Schedule an appointment: https://t.co/Wi2kuxzlQb
📰 More info: https://t.co/nMn1xnPM58 pic.twitter.com/mXBDdUlhyA
Three Chances to watch the Blue Raiders at Home This Week
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 '𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗼 - presented by Ole South
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 19, 2022
We've got a couple of @ConferenceUSA home openers this week.
Get to campus and root for @MT_Volleyball and @MT_Soccer!
🎟 FREE#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/E2zVWRY9q8
