The Broker of Cool Returns - by Tom Hagen

If you have not been by to see Luc and the setup from IPR, then this coming Tuesday is a must.  The "Tailgating Division" of Integrated Product Resources made a stop in Greenland Drive for the first game of the season and taught the Blue Crew a thing or two about Satellite TV's and tailgating.  Wow.  Who would have thought that you could have 7 (yes SEVEN) flat screens on one trailer!  Serioulsy, this guy knows his stuff and he is a lot of fun to be around on a game day.  Check out his website HERE and join us on Tuesday.

News wrap-up into the weekend - Tom Hagen

A general roundup of some blogs and news about our Blue Raiders going into the weekend and a game against Arkansas State...

• This one form the AJC - not sure I like the comparison, but I'll file it under "any mention is a good mention": HERE



• One by Jonathan Willard at the ASU Herald can be found HERE.



• Some good commentary from Joshua Parrott at The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette, La on Coach Stock and his handling of the holding call at the end of the UK game is HERE.



• Of course, you can always count on The Tennessean to have a pessimistic view on MT...HERE



• And, the idiotic statements by UK Coach Brooks about signal stealing seems to continue to create drama HERE and then HERE and then finally HERE.  This guy needs to focus on his next game, not the one that is last week...

Enjoy the weekend.  Go Blue.

Suck it up coach - By Fredo

So Rich Brooks' latest issue is that he thinks Middle Tennessee coaches stole signals during the game, and that is why we played so well. READ IT HERE

Are you freaking kidding me, coach!!!

Is that the best you can come up with to help yourself sleep at night knowing the better team lost that game because you had a bunch of SEC homer referees? You don't agree with me, then go ask the Kentucky commentators calling the game that night and they will tell you. Coach Brooks also goes on to say that we are in collusion with the University of Tennessee.

How stupid could you possibly be??

Why don't you just accept the fact that Middle Tennessee is the better team and we would win that game 7 out of 10 times we played. 10 out of 10 if you use impartial referees! So, get off your high horse and realize that you are not the great coach that you think you are. If you wanted to see a great coach, you could simply look at the other sideline. He is the tall, skinny coach wearing the hat.

And one other thing...a combined 21 out of 22 upperclass starters does not constitute rebuilding. You won the game, so quit crying like a baby.

Time to move on - By Sonny

I know everyone was as heartbroken as I was about the ending of the Kentucky game, especially since once again we got jobbed on several occasions by the SEC referees. However, we had our opportunities as well and cannot lay this one on the refs.

Now on to Arkansas State. They are the other team in the Sun Belt to beat a power conference tea this year, and return possibly their best team, and have their best chance to beat us. We have to remember as a team that we can beat anyone, and not get it in our heads that Arkansas State may be a lesser opponent. They are not. And why are they not?

Because they are our next opponent.

Good luck in Jonesboro this weekend.

Earned Media...by Tom Hagen

Always nice to get a mention in your local paper.  Any of you Florida Atlantic fans thinking about coming up for the game on 9/30, we'd love to have you stop by.  Read the article about us HERE.

TO THE MATTRESSES STOCK! By Sal Tessio

The Blue Raiders are pumped coming off of their amazing 24-14 win while hosting Maryland. TO THE MATTRESSES this week as Coach Stock prepares our boys to take to the gridiron as we are hosted by Kentucky this week. We'll travel to Lexington for the second time in our D-1 career. The first visit had a bench clearing fight that sadly put the Blue Raiders on ESPN, but not the way we wanted. A total of 4 players ended up being ejected from that game (2 starters for us and 2 back-ups for them - we're still scratching our heads over that officiating) and Kentucky ended up with a 44-22 win against us. We're not looking for a repeat of any of that this week. We just want to prove ourselves as a solid team and one these SEC schools can't overlook. It will be a tough week for us preparing for a tough game. For those of you in the boro not able to make it to Lexington, we'll also be having a watch party somewhere. For evolving details on this, visit www.blueraiderzone.com.

Swim with the turtles - by Sal Tessio

We'll the GFBC would normally say "we'll make you swim with the fishes", but in this case, I think "swim with the turtles" is more appropriate. The Blue Raiders captured an amazing victory Saturday by beating a Maryland team that may have slightly overlooked us. We dominated the ball with a time of possession over 40 minutes. In the D1A era for our program, this is the biggest victory we have had. A great weekend for football as the Titan's also triumphed, but a tough week ahead. MTSU travels to Lexington to take on the Wildcats in a game that will be a battle. Kentucky has a very tough defense and is surely a better team than Maryland. Our hands will be full. Blue Raiders, RIDE ON TO VICTORY!!

Tom Hagen's Game Day - Maryland

As usual, our day began early this morning setting up the tailgate.  As fans and friends have slowly begun to arrive and talk college football, I have been left wondering what our chances are against our ACC foe. 

We are certainly facing a lesser opponent, no doubt, than the VA Cavaliers from last year.  However, few would argue that our own team is in a lesser position based not only on graduation but also on injuries.  Just how do our Blue Raiders stack up against the Terps?  To answer this I have looked around the web for answers rather than write my own analysis since I was a bit off last week...

Here is what I found:

The Tennessean does not paint a pretty picture for the Blue Raiders HERE or even HERE or HERE.  Whether it is pointing out that we are 30+ pounds lighter and 3 inches shorter on the line or that we are "craving" a big home win, our local rag just does not give me the feeling that they like our chances too much (even if they write an article about our near win last year against Virginia).

Maryland fans are pretty sure the game will be over by halftime HERE on the Scout.com message boards.  As well, they don't like our town HERE.

The Washington Post feels that the Terps will take advantage of our youth and (lack of) size in this Terp Insider article.

This all leaves me feeling very empty.  Kind of like when I went to California to have a discussion with Jack Woltz about giving the lead role in his next big movie to Johnny Fontane and he told me that Johnny "ruined" his most prized starlet.  Of course, I think he got our point the next morning and Johnny got that role.  Anyway, I think I actually like our chances better this week than last.  Troy is a tough game, no matter what.  Our first game of the season is typically poorly  played.  We have a nice history of making improvements for game two and that might just be the case tonight.

We'll see.  It sure would be nice to score a win.  If not, I still think I'll show up for the next home game...

It's gameday! - By Sonny

It is about 1:30, the weather feels great, the grill has been fired, and the satellite is up and running.  The big questions for the day is:  Do we have a chance?

I say yes, and here's why:  We have very athletic defensive linemen, and can get around their monster offensive front.  Also, We can spread the field.  We have to play perfect ball today, but this is definitely possible.

Whatever you do, get to the game.  Cheer for the Big Blue.  We need everyone at the game.  It is going to be great, and who knows, we are definitely due.  See you there!

Game 2 Time – By Sonny

OK, we have all heard the complaints about the Offensive line, the play-calling, the personnel, blah, blah, blah. 

That game is done. 

We can’t go back. 

Here is what we can do:  We can get ready for Maryland.  We almost beat an ACC team last year, and we have a shot to do it again.  While victorious, Maryland looked susceptible.  Let’s quit crying about losing another home opener, and get ready to cheer our Blue Raiders to victory on Saturday.  See you early in the parking lot for tailgating.