This is a huge problem connected to this football program, if true. I distinctly remember comments after a recent loss to VU that: "We still have all our goals before us". Utter BS if growing the program is one of your goals.
IMHO the game yesterday was by far the most important game of the season. I don't have to give you the reasons why. Nor to I have to give you reasons why each game in the recent 4-game series with VU was the most important game in each of those seasons, conference games and bowl eligibility be damned. (I could understand not placing much emphasis on a non-conference game late in the season, especially if in the conference race, but a season opener with so much riding on the outcome???)
Massaro made emphasis of MT being Middle Tennessee and not Mufreesboro Tn St U when he was hired. Yet he, Stock, McPhee and others connected to the program (Last and current BkB coach included) don't come from the area. Living as they do in the bubble from Murphy to Cope they don't realize where MT stands in the pecking order of teams to support or even keep up with.
Murfreesboro has always been considered by many a UT-K town, there is VU support in the county, and the southern part of our service area has a huge Bama contingent. Not only has the arrival of the Titans moved MT down the pecking order but the arrival of so many transplants to the area has brought fans of other teams to the area. I guarantee you if you drive around Rutherford and the seven contiguous counties you will see more support for every $EC team and half the Big 10 than for MT. I know, I count yard signs and vehicle identification all the time. Didn't have to be this way.
Do we even have a plan to increase support and move MT up the pecking order in the sports world? If we do the entire football community would have known, in no uncertain terms, that yesterday's game was the most important game of this season.