FOOTBALL Stat of the day of the year of a lifetime

[C-Bow]

“Top 5 nationally in games played.”

Not sure what everyone is complaining about. We say we’re going to compete and we do it among the best in whole damn country!

#EATT

 

[RandallThomason]

I saw that yesterday and thought that was a new level of PR spin. For a majority of the season we ... played some games?? Also like how they mentioned we were one of 12 teams to play on 9/5. Of those 12, we were by far the least prepared to take the field.

I know the point they were making but that phrasing is about 5 steps too far. 😂

 

[MT Glenn]

I know you have to hang your hat somewhere, but that's a ridiculous statement. If they were describing my golf game, they'd probably say that I manage to get more strokes per dollar, than any other player on the course.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

I know you have to hang your hat somewhere, but that's a ridiculous statement. If they were describing my golf game, they'd probably say that I manage to get more strokes per dollar, than any other player on the course.

I know.
And I really have issues with CM touting to the media about being “breakeven” when knowing that he takes that big welfare check every year from Cope to offset his “actual” athletic revenue shortfall.

 

[Sommy]

I don’t even understand what that headline means?? Like games played?

 

[C-Bow]

I don’t even understand what that headline means?? Like games played?

It was in the GBR article yesterday highlighting that the season had ended - there was a line about how at one point MT ranked top 5 for total games played. Just a horrible spin attempt.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

It was in the GBR article yesterday highlighting that the season had ended - there was a line about how at one point MT ranked top 5 for total games played. Just a horrible spin attempt.

This last sentence of the article:
“There will be information later this week for fans interested in refunds.” 😂

 

[AustinLewis]

MT is even bad at spin.

Seriously.

At some point, just come out and say it for what it was rather than reaching for a level of spin that is not seen outside of Washington DC.

It's really not that hard. Here's how the release should have started

The Blue Raiders season is over, after COVID19 and injuries forced the cancellation of the Blue Raiders' last two games.

"It has been a very long and challenging season and we felt it was time for the players to go home and be with family,"said Massaro. "There's not a book on how to navigate a virus in college football so we were all experiencing it for the first time and learning as we went. All involved deserve a lot of credit. However, our overall record was not to our expectations and standards. All efforts in our football program will now point to focusing on the 2021 football season."

"Coach Stockstill and I will have a conversation about the direction of the program and will work together to ensure that MT is competitive in 2021."

 

[Hop45]

I seriously doubt there will be a "refund". They will carry it over to next year's season tickets cost, which I do NOT plan to purchase.

 

[RaiderDawg78]

Who is responsible for the article’s released by our athletic department? Are these assigned to writers, does it go through an editor or does Mark need to sign off on all of these?

 

[MT01]

It doesn't matter who the writer is. Wrong place to focus. The reality is this is the mindset and culture of MT. Whether it's the President or AD, or staff or janitor or cock roahces running around the culture instilled from the top on down is be just ok. Like that AT&T commercials. That's what MT is in just about every facet. Just ok.

And that's good enough for everyone there. Until there is change with people who believe in excellence rather than everything (not matter how shitty it is) being good enough then this is how it's going to continue to be.

 

[RaiderDawg78]

It doesn't matter who the writer is....”

Thanks, but I’m genuinely curious to our process. I’m curious what level of review exists or who actually is in charge of these stories if anyone knows.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

When the Coastal Carolinas and Charlottes pass us by you know there is a major problem. It is what it is.

 

[Raiderclyde]

When the Coastal Carolinas and Charlottes pass us by you know there is a major problem. It is what it is.

Yep! Our athletic department is looking more like an FCS operation every day—maybe arguably D-2. And, university leadership acts and expects us to buy tomfoolery and egregious platitudes about said football season that lessons needs to be learned and quickly left in rear view mirror. Just have a no nonsense mindset of competing and winning real championships. Not touting bowl eligibility (and losing mostly) in a minor level bowls. May I suggest North Dakota State, New Hampshire, or James Madison as a blueprint in football; it’s clear we aren’t going to be competitive with football schools named Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia, or Alabama anytime soon.

 

[AustinLewis]

Yep! Our athletic department is looking more like an FCS operation every day—maybe arguably D-2. And, university leadership acts and expects us to buy tomfoolery and egregious platitudes about said football season that lessons needs to be learned and quickly left in rear view mirror. Just have a no nonsense mindset of competing and winning real championships. Not touting bowl eligibility (and losing mostly) in a minor level bowls. May I suggest North Dakota State, New Hampshire, or James Madison as a blueprint in football; it’s clear we aren’t going to be competitive with football schools named Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia, or Alabama anytime soon.

At this point, MT needs to be less concerned with being competitive with Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia, and Alabama and MORE concerned with being competitive with Charlotte, WKU, Marshall, and UAB.

MT is miles behind those programs receon-field success

 

[Raiderclyde]

At this point, MT needs to be less concerned with being competitive with Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia, and Alabama and MORE concerned with being competitive with Charlotte, WKU, Marshall, and UAB.

MT is miles behind those programs receon-field success

The problem is we’re not really competitive with either group. The announcement 25 years ago to 1-A or FBS was sold under pretenses we would compete with SEC caliber programs and other mid-tier Big Ten programs like Illinois (now one can say a Nebraska, back then Nebraska was in the elites I mentioned). Simply put, we have regressed to a attendance and performance level similar to OVC, even pre COVID (our UAB Championship Game 2 years ago is but one example of many) . OVC is a lot more budget friendly and fans can relate to the area member teams in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Games were more spirited, that we haven’t seen very much of in last 6-7 years. Don’t have as much fun or as much school spirit as I did 15-25 years ago. Everything is platitudes and not “proof in the pudding” and that doesn’t make for a very happy fan.

Think there is too much and too many flimsy excuses for why we aren’t as competitive or winning C-USA championships with any frequency. 28 years without an outright conference championship is very hard to defend in a program being on the right track with the AD leadership, coaches, and efforts to recruit regionally and locally. We have a football state champions right here, time and again, but not a large traditional pipeline of players choosing MT.

 

[AustinLewis]

The problem is we’re not really competitive with either group. The announcement 25 years ago to 1-A or FBS was sold under pretenses we would compete with SEC caliber programs and other mid-tier Big Ten programs like Illinois (now one can say a Nebraska, back then Nebraska was in the elites I mentioned). Simply put, we have regressed to a attendance and performance level similar to OVC, even pre COVID (our UAB Championship Game 2 years ago is but one example of many) . OVC is a lot more budget friendly and fans can relate to the area member teams in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Games were more spirited, that we haven’t seen very much of in last 6-7 years. Don’t have as much fun or as much school spirit as I did 15-25 years ago. Everything is platitudes and not “proof in the pudding” and that doesn’t make for a very happy fan.

Think there is too much and too many flimsy excuses for why we aren’t as competitive or winning C-USA championships with any frequency. 28 years without an outright conference championship is very hard to defend in a program being on the right track with the AD leadership, coaches, and efforts to recruit regionally and locally. We have a football state champions right here, time and again, but not a large traditional pipeline of players choosing MT.

No doubt MT dropped the ball more times than I can count. They’ve continually overhyped and underdelivered.

Take, for example, the facility upgrades announced 3 or so years ago. Here we are, three years later, and not a shovel of dirt has been moved on a major upgrade and, to the best of my memory, they haven’t announced a major capital fundraising campaign (just the desire to build). I’m sure Massaro and his team have hit up the big donors

 

[TRUEBLUE73]

We will not building anything. We will be lucky not to cut sports. Millions will be spent to Covid test and play these games. We only have a 30m budget. Stock, Masarro, and MCD have the cash.

 

[RandallThomason]

No doubt MT dropped the ball more times than I can count. They’ve continually overhyped and underdelivered.

Take, for example, the facility upgrades announced 3 or so years ago. Here we are, three years later, and not a shovel of dirt has been moved on a major upgrade and, to the best of my memory, they haven’t announced a major capital fundraising campaign (just the desire to build). I’m sure Massaro and his team have hit up the big donors

It’s an indictment of Massaro that he hasn’t been able to cultivate more and bigger donors. That’s the AD’s number 1 job really. Set a vision, sell the vision in order to raise funds and build support for the vision, put dynamic people in place to implement the vision.

 

[Sommy]

It’s an indictment of Massaro that he hasn’t been able to cultivate more and bigger donors. That’s the AD’s number 1 job really. Set a vision, sell the vision in order to raise funds and build support for the vision, put dynamic people in place to implement the vision.

Spot on. Zero accountability. Does Massaro not take any pride in his work? He’s been a complete failure nd as it’s declined year after year, don’t you have pride to either step it up or step aside? dont you become embarrassed for what you’ve done and continue to do?

 

[MTTim]

Spot on. Zero accountability. Does Massaro not take any pride in his work? He’s been a complete failure nd as it’s declined year after year, don’t you have pride to either step it up or step aside? dont you become embarrassed for what you’ve done and continue to do?

Short answer is no. He's looked for other jobs but no one will hire him because of his dismal record here. CM will be here until he decides to retire or is bagged by 7wood, which ain't happening.

 

[BlueSioux]

About donations: Any guesses who are the top 10 riches MTSU alumni in both athletics & academics? I know MTSU is not a flagship university, but that has to be a CEO or two out there that are alums.

My wife used to work in Alumni & Donor relations at another university and the difference between MTSU Foundation and the organization she worked for is night and day.

 

[BRaiderDave]

The entire university is a study in mediocrity. Even the name says it. Middle.

 

[crposton]

About donations: Any guesses who are the top 10 riches MTSU alumni in both athletics & academics? I know MTSU is not a flagship university, but that has to be a CEO or two out there that are alums.

My wife used to work in Alumni & Donor relations at another university and the difference between MTSU Foundation and the organization she worked for is night and day.

I have no idea who the top 10 richest alumni are, but I can confirm I am not one of them.

 

[BlueSioux]

I just did some lunch hour research on MTSU Alumni & Foundation. The assistant director is not even a MTSU alum (Kentucky Grad per LinkedIn). Nearly all the board members are from Murfreesboro and only 1 is outside of Middle Tennessee (Knoxville). Alumni Foundation Board Members should be from diverse locations as they are both ambassadors of the University and builders of strong connections to other alumni that might resident in their home location. It's sad, MTSU Alumni & Foundation can't round up a couple of more people from outside the Middle Tennessee area to be on the board of directors.

SMH: I will just keep giving annual donation to my graduate school until MTSU finally understands fundraising and donor relations

 

[crclarke55]

It’s an indictment of Massaro that he hasn’t been able to cultivate more and bigger donors. That’s the AD’s number 1 job really. Set a vision, sell the vision in order to raise funds and build support for the vision, put dynamic people in place to implement the vision.

Thank you!!! The AD is the front man for the operation and the person in charge of fund raising and it starts and stops with him or her. The true recipe for disaster is a non fund raising AD with a great/nice guy head coach who doesn’t want to rub elbows with big donors and raise funds. This is a direct path to a disaster.......

 

[MTLynn]

The AD is the front man for the operation and the person in charge of fund raising and it starts and stops with him or her. The true recipe for disaster is a non fund raising AD with a great/nice guy head coach who doesn’t want to rub elbows with big donors and raise funds. This is a direct path to a disaster

This is what mcphee wants or there would be change.

 

[TRUEBLUE73]

I just did some lunch hour research on MTSU Alumni & Foundation. The assistant director is not even a MTSU alum (Kentucky Grad per LinkedIn). Nearly all the board members are from Murfreesboro and only 1 is outside of Middle Tennessee (Knoxville). Alumni Foundation Board Members should be from diverse locations as they are both ambassadors of the University and builders of strong connections to other alumni that might resident in their home location. It's sad, MTSU Alumni & Foundation can't round up a couple of more people from outside the Middle Tennessee area to be on the board of directors.

SMH: I will just keep giving annual donation to my graduate school until MTSU finally understands fundraising and donor relations

Are you aware of the fact that 70 percent of our alumni live in MT. Diversity is a huge challenge.

 

[Raiderclyde]

Are you aware of the fact that 70 percent of our alumni live in MT. Diversity is a huge challenge.

Yes, this statement is very true. In fact, The MT Alumni Association and MT Foundation used to acknowledge this in correspondence. Primarily, our sphere of influence (beginning to believe it used to be) is Murfreesboro and Rutherford County along with Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Giles, Marshall, Maury, Moore, Lawrence, Lincoln. Maybe would be Davidson, Wilson and Williamson—these three counties somewhat have questionable affinity to MT due to proximity of and affinity for other higher education institutions.

Around 10-15 years ago, there was a color coded map of number of graduates in Tennessee. There were several counties in where MT had fewer than 10 living alumni. Some had fewer than 5, such as Lake, Hancock and Unicoi that come to mind.

For decades, we have had an image of a “suitcase college”, then “commuter university” and now an identity of affordable public undergraduate university with a few notable programs such as aerospace, concrete management, RIMS, and finance/insurance (the latter chair of excellence since the mid 80s). Recently, fermentation science was added. The problem is we need something like dentistry, veterinary, law, medicine, or broader forms of engineering (we have a few specialties, but we aren’t an engineer school like Tenn. Tech or Georgia Tech) that support wealthier alumni jobs that can fund athletics and the university’s endowment for academics. Our 70 percent alumni penetration is heavily in the median income demographic, which is largely why MT endowment struggles to hold low 9 figures instead of multiple billions that Michigan, Vanderbilt, Stanford, and Rice all have. Our weak levels of alumni engagement do not help the cause either.

Geography, reputation for excellence, and brand affinity all are crucial to making up a diverse and powerful university with a strong sphere of influence. Wish more in Murfreesboro and leadership saw this vital connection and could move the needle towards greater achievement. It would do even more wonders for the grand division of Middle Tennessee and Murfreesboro directly.

 

[RandallThomason]

This last sentence of the article:
“There will be information later this week for fans interested in refunds.” 😂

Their self-imposed “later this week” timeline is about to expire. We’re also 24 hours from tip of tomorrow’s basketball game with no update on the fan attendance policy.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

Their self-imposed “later this week” timeline is about to expire. We’re also 24 hours from tip of tomorrow’s basketball game with no update on the fan attendance policy.

#W.A.I.T.

 

[AustinLewis]

Welp...you got your answer. No fans for a little bit longer.

 

[MTBig Blue]

This athletic dept continues to push away what little fan base they have every single day.

 

[RandallThomason]

Welp...you got your answer. No fans for a little bit longer.

Not surprising I guess. I figured if they were planning to let fans back in they would have announced something prior to today.

 

[SpaceRaider]

No fans for basketball through non-conference season - Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee men's and women's basketball teams will play their remaining non-conference games in Murphy Center without fans, Director of Athletics

goblueraiders.com