Middle Tennessee returns home this weekend to face undefeated Charlotte in the Conference USA opener for both teams. The Blue Raiders and 49ers will kick-off at 6:00 PM central and the game will not be televised, but we will have it here on NewsRadio WGNS. Pregame coverage begins at 3:30 with the Thompson Services Pregame Show with Danny Page and Monte Hale, Jr. Blue Raider Network coverage begins at 4:30.
Middle Tennessee, winners of seven straight home conference games, will be looking to go 1-0 in C-USA play for the third straight season.
GAME INFORMATION
(GAMEDAY CENTRAL)
Hashtag: BeatCharlotte, BlueRaiders
Twitter: MT_FB
Instagram: @MTAthletics
Facebook: Blue Raider Athletics
Game Captains: OL Daniel Stephens, LB DJ Sanders, LB T.T.Barber
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
Time: 6:00 PM
Teams: Middle Tennessee (1-1) vs Charlotte (2-0)
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Stadium: Floyd (30,788)
Weather Forecast: Partly Cloudy, 90
Family Weekend
Raider Walk: 3:45 p.m.
Gates Open: 4:30 p.m.
TV: None
Radio: WGNS (1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM)
Play-by-Play: Chip Walters
Analysis: Dennis Burke
Live Audio/Live Streaming | Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: First Meeting
At Middle Tennessee: 0-0
At Floyd Stadium: 0-0
At Charlotte: 0-0
At Neutral Site: 0-0
Rick Stockstill vs Charlotte: 0-0
Brad Lambert vs MT: 0-0
Last MT Win: NA
Last CHAR Win: NA
QUICK HITTERS WR Richie James is averaging 8.0 receptions a game this season as a freshman to tie for 10th nationally.Cody Clark's consecutive made PAT streak of 103 ranks as the third longest nationally.MT's 70 points scored in the opener against JSU matched the second most in school history, the most ever in a season opener for the Raiders and went down as the third most in the NCAA for week one.When Brent Stockstill started against JSU, he became just the second head coaches son in C-USA history to start at quarterback. In 1997-98, Tyson Helton started at Houston when his dad, Kim Helton, was the head coach.MT has been bowl eligible six times in nine years under Rick Stockstill.In their last 24 conference games, MT has a mark of 17-7.Kevin Byard is 2nd among NCAA's active players in interceptions per game at 0.41. He also ranks 1st in total interceptions with 16.RB Shane Tucker has scored at least one touchdown in 12 of his last 17 regular season games.Over the last 32 games, the Blue Raider defense has come up with 40 interceptions. The team had 15 picks in 2013 by eight different players and had 13 in 2014.Kevin Byard has 327 career interception return yards to own the MT record and rank first on the NCAA active list. The NCAA all-time record is 501 by FSU's Terrell Buckley.Consecutive Starts Leaders: Kevin Byard 39 and Darius Johnson 37.Under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders have been involved in 16 games that were decided in the final minute of regulation or overtime. The team is 10-6 in those games and have won six in a row.Head Coach Rick Stockstill is third on the school's all-time wins list with 58 victories.MT has scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game 27 times under Stockstill.In 114 games under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders are +23 in turnover margin.The longest offensive drive in the Rick Stockstill era was 9:33 at North Texas in 2006. It resulted in a TD.Middle Tennessee has scored 30 or more points 47 times under Rick Stockstill. The most 30-point games in a season under Stockstill is nine (2009).
CONFERENCE OPENERS
Dating back to 1952 when Middle Tennessee began Ohio Valley Conference play, the Blue Raiders own a mark of 41-19-1 in conference openers. MT was 33-13-1 in OVC openers and 6-6 in Sun Belt openers. The Blue Raiders are 2-0 in C-USA openers and own a mark of 20-5-1 when playing a league opener at home and stand 21-14 on the road.
RAIDERS AT FLOYD STADIUM
Since Floyd Stadium opened in 1933, the Blue Raiders have compiled an overall mark of 280-116-13 (.700), including a record 31-game win streak from 1987-94.Under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders are 30-18 overall at Floyd Stadium and 20-12 in conference games (5-1 vs C-USA).Since 2007, MT has had home games against Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Georgia Tech and BYU. MT will host Vandy in 2015, 2017, Duke in 2019 and Missouri in 2022.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Middle Tennessee's 70 points in the opener matched the second most ever scored in a game in 101 seasons of Blue Raider football. It was also the most points scored at home since MT put up 70 in a win over Idaho in 2001. After piling up the fourth 600-yard plus game of the Rick Stockstill era, the Blue Raiders also notched the 13th 70 or more point game in C-USA history.
IMPACT NEWCOMER
Junior Jeremy Cutrer, a late transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC and an original LSU signee, has made quite an impact for the Blue Raiders. In just two starts, Cutrer leads the team with three pass breakups to go with a 77-yard interception and a blocked field goal. He ranks 9th nationally in passes defended.
NEXT UP
Middle Tennessee will hit the road to face Big Ten foe Illinois in Champaign. Kickoff is set for 3 PM Central. The game will be broadcast on ESPNews.
Ticket Notes
The Blue Raider ticket office is located at Gate 1 and will open at 8:00 a.m. to facilitate will call pick up and season ticket reprints. Fans wishing to purchase tickets the day of the game can visit Gate 1 starting at 8:00 a.m. Blue Raider fans can also purchase tickets online 24 hours a day by visitingwww.GoBlueRaiders.com/tickets.
Parking Notes
If your permit indicates Reese Smith, you should enter campus via Middle Tennessee Blvd. or from Rutherford Blvd. Due to construction; access the interior lots by continuing straight through the roundabout on Middle Tennessee Blvd. and turning right onto Founders Lane. Midgett and Tower permit holders are encouraged to enter campus on Old Main Circle via East Main Street to avoid Greenland Drive congestion. You must access the Greenland Drive Lot via Middle Tennessee Boulevard or Old Lascassas Highway. Fans not destined for Greenland should avoid Greenland Drive.
Paid parking will be available in the back half (closest to Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium) of the Greenland lot, as well as in the Holmes lot. Free parking will be available in the Livestock lot located off Greenland Drive.
The map here has identified the different parking areas available.
Lot Closures: On Friday at 5:00 p.m. all parking spaces and Faulkenberry Drive will totally shut down to the public. Any vehicles that remain after 5:00 p.m. along Faulkenberry will be towed at the owner's expense as this area will be transformed into Raider Town. Additionally, Greenland Drive parking lot will also shut down Friday night at 10:00 p.m. All non-permitted vehicles remaining in the lot after 10:00 p.m. will be towed at the owner's expense.
