Blue Raiders bring experience

Harry · July 14, 2013

HUNTINGTON -- One of the Sun Belt Conference's top programs over the last decade is making the move to Conference USA, but don't bother thinking expectations are going to change for Middle Tennessee State in their new home.

Despite being snubbed by the bowl contingent last season, the Blue Raiders went 8-4 and return several key elements of a team that is making the transition to a new conference.

Offensively, Middle Tennessee has the tools to be productive in Conference USA's open scoring style of play. The defense, although maligned in 2012, has some solid cogs who could prove to be leaders and assist the Blue Raiders in making the transition a successful venture.

While other newbies to the conference are facing some schedule issues that might make for a difficult first year, the Blue Raiders have things working in their favor.

In the East Division, Marshall and East Carolina are expected to be the frontrunners and Middle Tennessee State gets the pleasure of hosting both at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium.

Both of those contests will take place in October, which lends itself for plenty of midseason excitement. The battle with the Pirates will be Oct. 5 while Marshall heads to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Oct. 24.

The return of a strong offense plus the schedule factors have Middle Tennessee looking to be a major player in the Conference USA East Division race from the onset of its inception to the conference.

As with all teams, though, there will be a bit of a transition period for the Blue Raiders to undergo.

Read more: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/x1495869821/Making-a-conference-transition

DeepGreen · July 14, 2013

O.K., I'm already tired of hearing how the MUTS are going to dominate CUSA in their first year. Everyone's going "ga-ga" over them already; must be that "sexy" thing raising it's ugly head again.

North Texas Shep · July 15, 2013

All I can say is I beat them on NCAA 2014. It was a good game, but I scored 14 points in the 4th quarter for the win!

UNTLifer · July 15, 2013

They walked into the Sun Belt with the same fanfare. How'd that work out for them?

PlummMeanGreen · July 15, 2013

They walked into the Sun Belt with the same fanfare. How'd that work out for them?

When North Texas first entered the Sun Belt in 2001, I did know of the Tennessee Volunteers (obviously) but for the life of me...I really never know there was a Middle Tennessee, but the whole idea of a middle Tennessee conjured up thoughts of Music City--USA, Hee Haw along with Nashville's Grand Ol' Opry. ("What's for supper, Grandpa")?

MUTS: You sexy thing ! ! ! Wasn't it just 2 years ago that we completely dismantled them at Apogee Stadium to the tune of 59 to 7? So.............how in the world did they become the new CUSA's darlings so quickly? Is their publicity department that good? (If so, it didn't get them in a bowl last Fall). Seems their publicity department was even just as good back in 2001, ie, the SBC's first year as I recall. In fact, just how did they become the SBC's first official sexy darlings during that leagues first 4 years of operation when it was (still) the U of North Texas Mean Green who represented the SBC in the New Orleans Bowl--and 4 years in a row to boot?

Another new CUSA school with a roller coaster ride of W/L seasons the last 20 to 25 years (like the MUTS) also has one helluva' publicity department and were IMO able to smoke and mirror their way into CUSA (even over a ULaLa) and to get so damn much push or mileage and all that based on.......... "2" winning seasons in a row? Go figure......... http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/teams/latech.shtml I might ordinarily suggest that our school go after some of these school's publicists or smoke & mirror wings of their athletic departments but I think we'd all prefer that when we start winning again that Mean Green football will never need such façades or to become urban legends unto themselves and as far as the 2 aforementioned CUSA newbie schools are concerned to damn well make sure others know about those "wish it were actually true" legends.

:judge: Listen To Me Now:

This is not what CUSA newbie or oldie schools want from North Texas (and can you blame them)? That is, the return of the North Texas Mean Green football program that produced top NFL draft choices; that integrated (in the mid 1950's) the entire Southwest and Deep South with 2 great black gentlemen and darn good athletes, too; as well as the UNT that played (even beat) some schools back in the 50's, 60's and 70's that some of our new CUSA conference mates have only recently been able to even get on their football schedules.

Of course, back-tracking in time.....how could they have been on such school's schedules since some of the CUSA newbies didn't even exist back in the NCAA's first 3 decades of its so-called modern era and/or were not operating as a football program at the NCAA Division 1 (FBS) level. And today some of these newbies only needing a minimum stadium capacity to slip in to the NCAA FBS level while NCAA powers that be seemedly paying no attention to the most important criteria--attendance over a 2 or 3 year period.

In Closing: :thumbsu:

A perennially winning North Texas football program just does not fit the narratives of most all present CUSA schools. Narratives? Just read many of their posts or comments and especially on the CUSA-bbs board for proof of that; that is, many of their comments of a subtle and then the not so subtle variety of put downs aimed at our school which many of those (humorously) remind me of a...

.....very nervous guy who one particular midnight finds himself walking & whistling his way thru a cemetery with his hoping (of all hope) that he does not awaken something that could become ominously scary for himself and pretty damn fast. Whistling time for CUSA members as far as North Texas is concerned will have a short timeline beginning (IMHO) this Fall. Sexy or not....put that in 3 inch headlines.