On Tap for the Tigers:
Nov. 10, 2001
7 p.m. (CDT)
Tiger Stadium ? Baton Rouge, LA
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Head Coach: Andy McCollum (Austin Peay ?81)
Record at MTSU: 16-15 (2 years)
2001 Record: 7-2
Sun Belt Conf. Record: 5-1
Home Stadium: Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium (30,788)
Starters Returning: 16
(7 Offense, 5 Defense, 4 Specialists)
Starters Lost: 10
(4 Offense, 6 Defense, 0 Specialists)
|
Returning Offensive Starters: |
|
|
Brandon Westbrook |
(OT, 6-6, 286, So.) |
|
Dwone Hicks |
(RB, 5-11, 218, Jr.) |
|
Tyrone Colico |
(WR, 6-4, 220, Jr.) |
|
Hansford Johnson |
(WR, 5-8 162, Sr.) |
|
Kendall Newsome |
(WR, 6-2, 186, Sr.) |
|
David Youell |
(WR, 5-11, 176, Jr.) |
|
Wes Counts |
(QB, 6-1, 186, Sr.) |
|
Returning Defensive Starters: |
|
|
Scott Brown |
(LB, 6-2, 220, Sr.) |
|
Chris Gatlin |
(LB, 6-1, 214, Jr.) |
|
Anthony Hood |
(DE, 6-2, 226, Sr.) |
|
Tanaka Scott |
(DE, 6-2, 260 Sr.) |
|
Jykine Bradley |
(DB, 5-10, 182, Sr.) |
Blue Raiders in the NFL:
|
Name |
Position |
Team |
|
Mike Caldwell |
LB |
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
Marty Carter |
DB |
Atlanta Falcons |
|
Jermaine Francis |
DB |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|
Barry Hall |
OL |
Tennessee Titans |
|
Kelly Holcomb |
QB |
Cleveland Browns |
|
Jonathan Quinn |
QB |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
|
Sulecio Sanford |
WR |
Chicago Bears |
|
Dwight Stone |
WR |
NY Jets |
2000 Record: 6-5
2000 Sun Belt Conf. Record: 4-0 (1st)
2000 Final Ranking: Not Ranked
2000 Bowl Appearance: None
The Series
First Meeting
About the Game:
Andy McCollum:
On Death Valley:
“We know it is a very tough environment. We?ve been in some tough environments before, though. This may be the toughest. Florida was tough, The Swamp wasn?t real fun. Mississippi State with the cowbells wasn?t the greatest, either. When you?re growing up people always talk about playing at LSU in the Tiger Den, so this is what college football is all about. It gives us an opportunity to take our families down there and turn it loose and go play. It doesn?t have anything to do with the conference. We?re just playing one of the best college teams in America and we?re going to turn it loose and see how we do.”
On the game:
“They?re a balanced team. They have great running backs, too. Our biggest challenge is to not give them anything. They have talent and they?re really a Top 25 team. That?s what we?re going against. Let?s go down there and fight and scratch. We?re going to put our talent up and see where we stand. They?ve got weapons everywhere. When you?re recruiting the top five in America every year then it usually shows on the field, and it does for them. They?re a well-coached team and they play very well at home. When you look at the schedule and see that you?re playing LSU at LSU then you know its going to be tough. It is going to be tough, but what else would we be doing on Saturday. Let?s go play one of the top teams in the country. We?ve got a good team, too. We?ve won seven games. We?ll play hard and throw it out there and see if we can shock anybody.”
Nick Saban:
“This team that’s coming in here (Middle Tennessee) probably doesn’t have the respect that they probably deserve. They are champions in their conference, they’re 7-2, and they’ve been able to score 40 points a game as an average.”
“They put some big numbers up with almost 500 yards a game offensively and they really do it in a no-huddle, Tulane-style offense. It really features their best players, which are their two running backs and their quarterback.”
“They are much more of a running team. Even though they pass the ball effectively, they are much more of a running team and a threat to run in the no-huddle style. The only other team that I can compare them to would be Tulane in terms of their philosophy and no-huddle offense.”
“They play hard and they are aggressive, and I’m sure that they are being told that this team (LSU) has not been a consistent team and that’s a challenge to us and that’s what we’re going to have to prove in the game.”
Players to watch:
*stats from last game vs. Arkansas State
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
Att. |
Yards |
|
|
Rushing |
24 |
Rashard Lee |
RB |
6-0 |
210 |
So. |
23 |
146 |
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
Comp-Att-Int |
Yards |
|
|
Passing |
17 |
Wes Counts |
QB |
6-1 |
186 |
Sr. |
10-15-0 |
102 |
|
No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
Catches |
Yards |
|
|
Receiving |
27 |
Tyrone Calico |
WR |
6-4 |
220 |
Jr. |
2 |
39 |
At a Glance:
Middle Tennessee State University
Founded on September 11, 1911, Middle Tennessee State University is the oldest, largest, and fastest-growing public university in central Tennessee. For the past three years, MTSU has been the number one college choice of mid-state high school valedictorians and salutatorians in an independent survey.
The University has a long history of and commitment to educating middle Tennesseans. With a current enrollment of more than 19,000 students, MTSU educates more people in this region than any other school. More than 90 percent of the student body are Tennessee residents, and the majority remain in middle Tennessee after graduation. Of almost 70,000 alumni, approximately 77 percent live in Tennessee.
A comprehensive university, MTSU offers more than 140 undergraduate programs in its five colleges ? Basic and Applied Sciences, Business, Education and Behavioral Science, Liberal Arts, and mass Communication ? and some 65 graduate programs, including doctoral degrees.
Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Murfreesboro, the home to Middle Tennessee State University, is one of the fastest growing communities in the state. Located just 32 miles from Nashville, Murfreesboro has a storied past and an extremely bright future.
The city was founded in 1811 as Cannonsburgh. However, the name was changed after only 33 days in honor of Revolutionary War Col. Hardy Murfree, one of the early settlers of the town. Murfreesboro, which is considered the state?s geographic center, served as the state capital from 1819 to 1825.
Industry is an important cornerstone of Murfreesboro?s econonmy. Manufacturers such as Aladdin, Nissan, Bridgeston/Firestone, and Georgia Pacific have located in the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County area and make a significant inpact on the area. Residents enjoy the benefits of living in a large city with a small town atmosphere. The town sports two golf courses, a mall, several shopping centers, and restaurants of every variety. Residents also enjoy a 4.5 mile Greenway that circles the northwest quadrant of the city.
Blue Raider nickname
In 1934, it was decided that the school needed a specific nickname. During football season that year, the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal held a contest to name the team.
Charles Sarver, then a middle Tennessee football player, won the $5 prize for his entry of “Blue Raiders.” Sarver later indicated he had “borrowed” the nickname of the Colgate Red Raiders, but substituted MTSU Blue for Colgate Red. Ever since then, Middle Tennessee athletic teams have been known as the Blue Raiders.
Legend of Lightning
In Greek mythology, the winged horse possessed superior cunning and speed. The thundering horse of the gods was entrusted to carry awesome lightning bolts and could only be harnessed by a noble being with a pure heart. Character, talent and strength were required to mount and ride the fabled winged horse.
Today, this winged horse is a fitting symbol of a university that has earned its wings and excels in many academic arenas, including historic preservation, teacher training, aerospace, political science, horse science, and recording industry. But the winged horse is more than a symbol of physical accomplishment; it?s also a symbol of character and the responsible wielding of power.
Information courtesy of: www.goblueraiders.com, 2001 Middle Tennessee football media Guide, 2001 LSU media guide, lsusports.net, nicksaban.net