Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Football prepares for long-running WKU rivalry with a midweek twist
9/25/2023 6:17:00 PM | Football, General
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Middle Tennessee football program has no time to waste at the start of this week, as Midweek games in Conference USA begin on Thursday when MTSU travels up the road to Western Kentucky for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Thursday for a nationally televised broadcast on CBS Sports Network, the first of four nationally televised games in a row for the Blue Raiders in 2023.
And after losing a game the Blue Raiders felt they let get away against Colorado State on Saturday, head coach Rick Stockstill found an upside to the challenges the short week brings his program
"I did tell the team the good thing about playing on Thursday is we don't have to wait two extra days to get this feeling out," Stockstill said.
The Hilltoppers are also entering Thursday night's game off a loss, a close 27-24 defeat on the road at Troy, after being their usual selves under head coach Tyson Helton through their non-conference slate: a pass-happy, explosive offense and an exotic, aggressive defensive team.
The fact the two teams, who have faced each other 72 times with WKU leading the all-time series 36-35-1, are still battling another year is something that brings excitement to both campuses in this age of drastic conference realignment, Stockstill said.
"Conference realignment has affected a lot of schools, a lot of traditional rivalries, probably even more so moving forward here in the next couple of years," Stockstill said. "There's a lot of history. It goes back to the OVC days. It goes back to the Sun Belt days and now the Conference USA days. This game has touched a lot of people from a lot of different eras. We're excited to play it."
The short week, resulting in the second of five games MTSU will play in 25 days this fall, will force MTSU to adjust its practice and meeting schedules throughout the month of October, Stockstill said, impressing on both his teams and his coaches the need to not overwhelm themselves physically or mentally this week.
"We as coaches have to be very cognizant of that and not put too much in game plans because everything a player has going on with being a student-athlete, now you lose two days of meeting time," Stockstill said. "You've got to be very smart in how much you put on them.
"They've got to come in today and get treatment, they've got to get in the tubs and all that kind of stuff, whether they think they need it or not," the head coach continued. "A 21-year-old doesn't think he needs it, but he needs it. This is a tough stretch for these guys the next four or five weeks on them physically."
100 Miles of Hope Blood Drive starts today!
As has become an annual event surrounding the football rivalry between Middle Tennessee and WKU, the two schools will take part in a blood drive battle leading up to the Sept. 28 game in Bowling Green.
Donors can give blood in support of their favorite school on the MTSU campus from Monday, Sept. 25 until Wednesday, Sept. 27 at the Rec Center, located at 1848 Blue Raider Drive in Murfreesboro on campus. Donation times will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. all three days.
All donors have to do is give their sponsor code – MTSU – while donating blood. All donors will receive a $20 Amazon eGift card, a tee-shirt, a free SportsClips haircut, pizza meal, game tickets and will be entered to win a VIP trip for two to a Nascar race.
The Blood Battle winner will be announced at the Sept. 28 football game between the schools. The American Red Cross will present the trophy to the winning school at the game.
Don't miss the MTSU CUSA Football Weekday Ticket Special
Middle Tennessee Athletics announced today a 2-for-1 Weeknight special for the Blue Raiders' next two home games. MTSU will host Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Oct. 4, then entertain Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Fans can purchase two tickets for the price of one by clicking HERE. That's two sideline reserve seats for $24.
This offer will expire on Oct. 10 at Noon CT.
When going to purchase, please select the number of tickets you want for each weeknight game (the number must be the same for each game) from the dropdown menu. Select "Add to Cart" and then complete your purchase. The tickets will be mobile and put in your online account immediately following completion of payment.
Soccer back at home on Friday
MTSU Soccer is back in the 'Boro this week, as the Blue Raiders will get a brief respite from Conference USA play as they take on Chicago State on Friday at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
Kickoff against the Cougars is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Soccer was in the same spot as MTSU Volleyball this weekend and made sure to cheer on their fellow Blue Raiders while the two teams competed in Las Cruces.
Volleyball starts first CUSA home series on Friday
After two hard fought matches on the road to start CUSA play, the Blue Raider volleyball program returns to Alumni Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University this weekend for a two-game set against the Liberty Flames.
The match on Friday is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday's match will start at 2 p.m., with both matches broadcast live on ESPN+.
Softball begins fall scrimmage schedule on Wednesday
Middle Tennessee softball will host two fall scrimmages this week, starting on Wednesday against Vol State, with first pitch set for 5 p.m. The second scrimmage of the weekend will be on Friday afternoon against Lipscomb, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. Both scrimmages are free and open to the public.
The Blue Raiders hosted an alumni game over Homecoming weekend on Sunday! Check out some of the images from the day below!
Men's Basketball opens practice for the 2023-24 season, Lady Raiders set for tomorrow
NCAA calendars are confusing at times, but today marked the first day that men's and women's basketball programs across the country could officially begin practice for the 2023-24 season and the Blue Raiders were up early on the court to get their work in, even with a morning fire alarm in the Murphy Center interrupting proceedings momentarily.
(Yes, both programs have been on the court since returning to campus, but in workouts rather than official practices. I've been told the difference in those two periods is, primarily, that official practices are granted more allowed time than the workouts are under NCAA rules.)
The Lady Raiders are taking one additional day before starting their official practices for the 2023-24 season. They'll take the Murphy Center court for the first time "officially" tomorrow.
New Video Boards going up in the Glass House!
Congratulations to the Blue Raider Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023
I wanted to close this edition of my Blue Raider Notebook with an acknowledgment of the Blue Raider Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023, who were inducted during homecoming weekend this past week on Friday evening. I greatly enjoyed hearing from the six inductees (Anne Marie (Lanning) Brentz, Anthony DeLuise, LaRon Dendy, Melanie (Manley) Durham, Jeff Littlejohn, Janet Ross) as they told stories of their time as Blue Raiders, which you can hear in the YouTube link to the ceremony below.
I think what I enjoyed most about this class was the fact that, as I sat and listened to their stories on Friday, was how much they reminded me of the current generation of Blue Raiders on campus.
MTSU Athletics still has hometown heroes like Brentz, who lit up the nets in high school gyms across Murfreesboro before she did it as a Lady Raider.
It has international-student athletes, like DeLuise, who learn about American culture while excelling in their sport.
The Blue Raiders have student-athletes like Manley-Durham, who took advantage of non-athletic department opportunities on campus (in the softball catcher's case, student government) while competing on the field.
I hope you'll take the time to listen to their stories.
And after losing a game the Blue Raiders felt they let get away against Colorado State on Saturday, head coach Rick Stockstill found an upside to the challenges the short week brings his program
"I did tell the team the good thing about playing on Thursday is we don't have to wait two extra days to get this feeling out," Stockstill said.
The Hilltoppers are also entering Thursday night's game off a loss, a close 27-24 defeat on the road at Troy, after being their usual selves under head coach Tyson Helton through their non-conference slate: a pass-happy, explosive offense and an exotic, aggressive defensive team.
The fact the two teams, who have faced each other 72 times with WKU leading the all-time series 36-35-1, are still battling another year is something that brings excitement to both campuses in this age of drastic conference realignment, Stockstill said.
"Conference realignment has affected a lot of schools, a lot of traditional rivalries, probably even more so moving forward here in the next couple of years," Stockstill said. "There's a lot of history. It goes back to the OVC days. It goes back to the Sun Belt days and now the Conference USA days. This game has touched a lot of people from a lot of different eras. We're excited to play it."
The short week, resulting in the second of five games MTSU will play in 25 days this fall, will force MTSU to adjust its practice and meeting schedules throughout the month of October, Stockstill said, impressing on both his teams and his coaches the need to not overwhelm themselves physically or mentally this week.
"We as coaches have to be very cognizant of that and not put too much in game plans because everything a player has going on with being a student-athlete, now you lose two days of meeting time," Stockstill said. "You've got to be very smart in how much you put on them.
"They've got to come in today and get treatment, they've got to get in the tubs and all that kind of stuff, whether they think they need it or not," the head coach continued. "A 21-year-old doesn't think he needs it, but he needs it. This is a tough stretch for these guys the next four or five weeks on them physically."
100 Miles of Hope Blood Drive starts today!
As has become an annual event surrounding the football rivalry between Middle Tennessee and WKU, the two schools will take part in a blood drive battle leading up to the Sept. 28 game in Bowling Green.
Donors can give blood in support of their favorite school on the MTSU campus from Monday, Sept. 25 until Wednesday, Sept. 27 at the Rec Center, located at 1848 Blue Raider Drive in Murfreesboro on campus. Donation times will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m. all three days.
All donors have to do is give their sponsor code – MTSU – while donating blood. All donors will receive a $20 Amazon eGift card, a tee-shirt, a free SportsClips haircut, pizza meal, game tickets and will be entered to win a VIP trip for two to a Nascar race.
The Blood Battle winner will be announced at the Sept. 28 football game between the schools. The American Red Cross will present the trophy to the winning school at the game.
100 Miles of Hope begins TODAY! Make an appointment and support your fellow Blue Raiders!
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 25, 2023
🗓️ Make an appointment: https://t.co/Wi2kuxzlQb
📰 Details: https://t.co/YDCSTyQwyq#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/b2S0Z26Ymk
Don't miss the MTSU CUSA Football Weekday Ticket Special
Middle Tennessee Athletics announced today a 2-for-1 Weeknight special for the Blue Raiders' next two home games. MTSU will host Jacksonville State on Wednesday, Oct. 4, then entertain Louisiana Tech on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Fans can purchase two tickets for the price of one by clicking HERE. That's two sideline reserve seats for $24.
This offer will expire on Oct. 10 at Noon CT.
When going to purchase, please select the number of tickets you want for each weeknight game (the number must be the same for each game) from the dropdown menu. Select "Add to Cart" and then complete your purchase. The tickets will be mobile and put in your online account immediately following completion of payment.
Soccer back at home on Friday
MTSU Soccer is back in the 'Boro this week, as the Blue Raiders will get a brief respite from Conference USA play as they take on Chicago State on Friday at Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium.
Kickoff against the Cougars is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
Soccer was in the same spot as MTSU Volleyball this weekend and made sure to cheer on their fellow Blue Raiders while the two teams competed in Las Cruces.
A fun afternoon supporting @MT_Volleyball at New Mexico State!#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/djbEg4lh2v
— Middle Tennessee Soccer (@MT_Soccer) September 23, 2023
Volleyball starts first CUSA home series on Friday
After two hard fought matches on the road to start CUSA play, the Blue Raider volleyball program returns to Alumni Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University this weekend for a two-game set against the Liberty Flames.
The match on Friday is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday's match will start at 2 p.m., with both matches broadcast live on ESPN+.
#BlueRaiders play in the 'Boro this week! 🤩#BLUEnited | #BetterInTheBoro pic.twitter.com/Qy7anDOR6J
— Middle Tennessee Volleyball (@MT_Volleyball) September 25, 2023
Softball begins fall scrimmage schedule on Wednesday
Middle Tennessee softball will host two fall scrimmages this week, starting on Wednesday against Vol State, with first pitch set for 5 p.m. The second scrimmage of the weekend will be on Friday afternoon against Lipscomb, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. Both scrimmages are free and open to the public.
The Blue Raiders hosted an alumni game over Homecoming weekend on Sunday! Check out some of the images from the day below!
Men's Basketball opens practice for the 2023-24 season, Lady Raiders set for tomorrow
NCAA calendars are confusing at times, but today marked the first day that men's and women's basketball programs across the country could officially begin practice for the 2023-24 season and the Blue Raiders were up early on the court to get their work in, even with a morning fire alarm in the Murphy Center interrupting proceedings momentarily.
We're back (again!)#BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/qAQNJHsBM7
— Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball (@MT_MBB) September 25, 2023
Back at it in the Glass House!#BlueRaiders pic.twitter.com/gg3xAZjJjD
— Middle Tennessee Men's Basketball (@MT_MBB) September 25, 2023
(Yes, both programs have been on the court since returning to campus, but in workouts rather than official practices. I've been told the difference in those two periods is, primarily, that official practices are granted more allowed time than the workouts are under NCAA rules.)
The Lady Raiders are taking one additional day before starting their official practices for the 2023-24 season. They'll take the Murphy Center court for the first time "officially" tomorrow.
Happy National Daughters Day to our True Blue Lady Raider Daughters! 💙 pic.twitter.com/4AUXEBszvJ
— Kim Brewton (@MTCoachKim) September 25, 2023
New Video Boards going up in the Glass House!
One videoboard down, one to go! Murphy Center will have a nice upgrade this basketball season!#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/ZtIEVEO7ep
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 25, 2023
Congratulations to the Blue Raider Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023
I wanted to close this edition of my Blue Raider Notebook with an acknowledgment of the Blue Raider Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023, who were inducted during homecoming weekend this past week on Friday evening. I greatly enjoyed hearing from the six inductees (Anne Marie (Lanning) Brentz, Anthony DeLuise, LaRon Dendy, Melanie (Manley) Durham, Jeff Littlejohn, Janet Ross) as they told stories of their time as Blue Raiders, which you can hear in the YouTube link to the ceremony below.
I think what I enjoyed most about this class was the fact that, as I sat and listened to their stories on Friday, was how much they reminded me of the current generation of Blue Raiders on campus.
MTSU Athletics still has hometown heroes like Brentz, who lit up the nets in high school gyms across Murfreesboro before she did it as a Lady Raider.
It has international-student athletes, like DeLuise, who learn about American culture while excelling in their sport.
The Blue Raiders have student-athletes like Manley-Durham, who took advantage of non-athletic department opportunities on campus (in the softball catcher's case, student government) while competing on the field.
I hope you'll take the time to listen to their stories.
Friday night was a special night as we inducted six more members of the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame.
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 25, 2023
📺 Watch the full ceremony: https://t.co/TJZZbJ68TY
📸 Photo gallery: https://t.co/qBphDIRbvp pic.twitter.com/KeDjiCIW3M
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