Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Football looking to increase “the strain” while wrapping up non-conference play
9/23/2024 7:04:00 PM | Football, General, Women's Volleyball, BRAA
Volleyball is only Blue Raider team in action this week in the 'Boro.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee football coach Derek Mason is not one to miss out on the chance to brand a concept with a phrase. Blue Raider fans remember "the work is free," "Boro Built, Middle Made," and "Every day is a job interview," among many others Mason has sprinkled in his interviews and media appearances in his time as the Blue Raiders' head coach.
One term that Mason's used a lot through MTSU's three-game losing streak, one the Blue Raiders will look to snap on the road against Memphis on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU and the Blue Raider Network? The fact he wants his team to learn how to "strain" more.
Is that just another way to say he wants his team to play with more effort? Sure, Mason says, but there's a little more depth to it.
"It's really what happens at the end of plays, in my opinion," Mason said. "You can play the play and you've played it good 90 percent of the time. But the toughest percentage of the play is always the last 10 percent. It's how you strain the block, how you strain to finish in tackling, when we talk about block destruction and being able to get off blocks."
The early challenges the Blue Raiders have faced have given the coaching staff plenty of tape to show their players what that level of strain looks like, Mason said, noting that straining can mean different things to different people. One person might strain to run one mile. Another might not strain until mile 10. But getting the whole team on the same high standard of where they can strain is key.
"I think our guys are getting better at it because they're starting to see it more," Mason said. "We're starting to give them more examples of what it looks like. But in the end, you have to just keep defining it and making sure that that the standard is the standard."
Offensively, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato said that the Blue Raiders will stay focused on the practice field to continue to correct mistakes, including four turnovers they committed against Duke on Saturday.
"It just starts in practice," Vattiato said. "Whatever we deem necessary that we need to work on, if it's taking care of the ball, sustaining the ball, being more consistent in the run and pass game, it just starts in practice. That's the only thing you can do after the game. You get back on the field and that's how you fix things."
Volleyball on Tuesday is your one shot to catch the Blue Raiders in the Boro this week
As happens from time to time during the season, all of our fall programs will be on the road this weekend. So, your one chance to cheer on the Blue Raiders at home this week comes on Tuesday night, when Volleyball welcomes Alabama A&M to the AMG at 6 p.m.
Congratulations to the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024!
I really enjoyed attending the induction ceremony for the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame on Friday evening. It was a great night of stories, memories and time with some of the best to ever compete as Blue Raiders.
You can watch a recap video below and catch the entire ceremony, featuring stories from baseball's Jeff Beachum, football's Jamari Lattimore and Marvin Collier, women's basketball's Ebony Rowe and men's basketball's Kermit Davis, at the YouTube link below. (Pro tip, you can skip past Chip Walters welcoming all the hall of famers in attendance by advancing the video to the 7:00 mark if you only want to watch the induction ceremony itself).
Just around the corner: Basketball Season
The first official practice of the 2024-25 Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball season tipped off in the early hours this morning inside the Glass House.
Season tickets are now on sale for both basketball seasons. You can visit GoBlueRaiders.com/tickets to purchase your seats for the upcoming season.
One term that Mason's used a lot through MTSU's three-game losing streak, one the Blue Raiders will look to snap on the road against Memphis on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPNU and the Blue Raider Network? The fact he wants his team to learn how to "strain" more.
Is that just another way to say he wants his team to play with more effort? Sure, Mason says, but there's a little more depth to it.
"It's really what happens at the end of plays, in my opinion," Mason said. "You can play the play and you've played it good 90 percent of the time. But the toughest percentage of the play is always the last 10 percent. It's how you strain the block, how you strain to finish in tackling, when we talk about block destruction and being able to get off blocks."
The early challenges the Blue Raiders have faced have given the coaching staff plenty of tape to show their players what that level of strain looks like, Mason said, noting that straining can mean different things to different people. One person might strain to run one mile. Another might not strain until mile 10. But getting the whole team on the same high standard of where they can strain is key.
"I think our guys are getting better at it because they're starting to see it more," Mason said. "We're starting to give them more examples of what it looks like. But in the end, you have to just keep defining it and making sure that that the standard is the standard."
Offensively, quarterback Nicholas Vattiato said that the Blue Raiders will stay focused on the practice field to continue to correct mistakes, including four turnovers they committed against Duke on Saturday.
"It just starts in practice," Vattiato said. "Whatever we deem necessary that we need to work on, if it's taking care of the ball, sustaining the ball, being more consistent in the run and pass game, it just starts in practice. That's the only thing you can do after the game. You get back on the field and that's how you fix things."
Volleyball on Tuesday is your one shot to catch the Blue Raiders in the Boro this week
As happens from time to time during the season, all of our fall programs will be on the road this weekend. So, your one chance to cheer on the Blue Raiders at home this week comes on Tuesday night, when Volleyball welcomes Alabama A&M to the AMG at 6 p.m.
What's Happening in the 'Boro - presented by Ole South@MT_Volleyball returns home for a Tuesday night match!
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 23, 2024
🏐🎟️ FREE#BLUEnited pic.twitter.com/ZsriE2A7CJ
Congratulations to the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024!
I really enjoyed attending the induction ceremony for the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame on Friday evening. It was a great night of stories, memories and time with some of the best to ever compete as Blue Raiders.
You can watch a recap video below and catch the entire ceremony, featuring stories from baseball's Jeff Beachum, football's Jamari Lattimore and Marvin Collier, women's basketball's Ebony Rowe and men's basketball's Kermit Davis, at the YouTube link below. (Pro tip, you can skip past Chip Walters welcoming all the hall of famers in attendance by advancing the video to the 7:00 mark if you only want to watch the induction ceremony itself).
It was a special night on Friday at the James Union Building as the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame added five new members!
— Middle Tennessee Athletics (@MTAthletics) September 22, 2024
If you missed the ceremony or want to watch it again, check out the link below ⤵️
📺 https://t.co/VukHeNDZ6d pic.twitter.com/SDVjETUIz3
Just around the corner: Basketball Season
The first official practice of the 2024-25 Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball season tipped off in the early hours this morning inside the Glass House.
First official practice in the books!📚 #BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/YGn8c8H10i
— Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) September 23, 2024
Season tickets are now on sale for both basketball seasons. You can visit GoBlueRaiders.com/tickets to purchase your seats for the upcoming season.
Players Mentioned
QB
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