Raider Review August 2015

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

Senior Darius Johnson sees his role on the Blue Raider football squad as part of a much bigger picture

FALL 2015

VOL. 2 NO. 1

DARIUS JOHNSON:

The sky is no limit for this soccer star

Tori Hawkins Page 8

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ON THE COVER

Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raider Athletic Association Fall 2015 / Vol. 2, No. 1 Director of Athletics Chris Massaro Director of Athletic Communication Mark Owens Associate Athletic Director/Development Keith McCluney University Editor Drew Ruble Art Director Kara Hooper Contributing Editors Bill Fisher, Justin Morrison, Mark Owens Contributing Writers Keith Ryan Cartwright, Jared Hastings, Chris Massaro, Keith McCluney, Justin Morrison, Mark Owens, Daryl Simpson, Tony Stinnett, Chip Walters Design Creative and Visual Services, David G. Lowry Athletics Photographer Brent Beerends Special thanks to Dr. Walter Chitwood University President Sidney A. McPhee Vice President of Marketing and Communications Andrew Oppmann Address changes should be sent to Advancement Services, MTSU Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; alumni@mtsu.edu. Other correspondence should be sent to the Blue Raider Athletic Association, 1301 E. Main St, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. 1,500 copies printed at Lithographics in Nashville, Tenn.

0615-1856 / Middle Tennessee State University is an AA/EEO employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its program and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance, 1301 E. Main Street, CAB 220, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132; 615-898-2185; Barbara.Patton@mtsu.edu.

Senior offensive lineman Darius Johnson sees his role on the Blue Raider football squad as part of a much bigger picture.

Page 6 Cover photo by Brent Beerends Photo by Brent Beerends

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Table of Contents 5

FROM THE DESK OF THE A.D.

TORI HAWKINS

FEATURES

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6 DARIUS JOHNSON:

A SOLID APPROACH

Senior Darius Johnson sees his role on the Blue Raider football squad as part of a much bigger picture

8 ALL SYSTEMS GO

DEPARTMENTS

15 COMPLIANCE CORNER 16 MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

10 GONE FISHIN’ One former Blue Raider football standout moves on from tackle football to a tackle box

BEHIND THE SCENES

18 BLUE RAIDER ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 20 DONOR SPOTLIGHT

12 JASON SPRAY

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14 VIEW FROM THE PRESSBOX

The sky is no limit for soccer star Tori Hawkins

FEATURED ALUMNUS

KENDALL NEWSON

You can see the enthusiasm in Jason Spray’s face as he starts to talk about the work Middle Tennessee football players are doing in the weight room

21 WEIGHTY ISSUE 22 WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Ashley Mead Jackson Dino De Iuliis

26 NOTEBOOK 28 RAIDERS IN THE PROS 30 CALENDAR

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From the Desk of the

All 17 Middle Tennessee Chris Massaro athletic teams have earned Academic Progress Rates (APRs) of more than 930 for six consecutive years. The Blue Raiders recently had 10 teams with 970 APRs or higher.

Men’s and women’s golf both earned perfect grades of 1,000, and senior golfer Brett Patterson was honored as an Academic All-American.

Football had an impressive multiyear APR of 973, and its 2013-14 score of 992 tied for the seventh-highest in the country (only exceeded by Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Minnesota, and Army).

Six Blue Raider teams recorded perfect scores of 1,000 for 2013-14: baseball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, and volleyball.

A.D.

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e have much to celebrate because of the great successes of our student-athletes and the Blue Raider Athletic Department. Thanks to you and your support, we are giving our studentathletes wonderful opportunities to succeed and learn.

Last spring we celebrated our men’s track team finishing 31st in the country. John Ampomah finished as an NCAA runner-up in the javelin, and Atsu Nyamadi finished ninth in the decathlon. Both earned All-American honors, and Ampomah was C-USA Male Field Athlete of the Year.

Our women’s golf team won the Conference USA title and participated in the NCAA Regionals for the first time in school history. Emily Miller became the first member of the Blue Raider women’s golf team to play in the NCAA Championships.

Junior baseball sensation Ronnie Jebavy was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the MLB Draft after leading the Blue Raiders to first place in C-USA until the very end of the regular season.

“It’s not Business...

These student-athletes chose MTSU wanting nothing more than a chance to showcase their abilities and get an excellent education upon which to build their lives.

None of this is possible without your generous investment to help make dreams come true. I thank you for your support. We are looking forward to a fantastic 2015-16 campaign. I am confident that at the end of next year we all once again will be amazed by the outstanding achievements of Blue Raider student-athletes.

Thank you for making this happen.

Go Blue Raiders!

Chris Massaro Director of Athletics

It’s Personal”

PROUD TO SUPPORT THE BRAA

118 Jackson Alan Drive • Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-217-2100 • www.rossfp.com R A I D E R

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F E AT U R E S T O RY

DARIUS JOHNSON:

by Keith Ryan Cartwright

For versatile offensive lineman Darius Johnson, there is no “I” in “team”

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t’s hard for Darius Johnson to think about himself and his role on the MT football squad without thinking about his teammates first.

“I’m on this team,” said the senior offensive lineman, “so everything I do is for the team. I push myself for the team. I try to get stronger for the team. I try to heighten my football IQ for the team.

“Right now, everything is for the team.”

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And by “everything,” Johnson means putting in the work and preparation required to go undefeated in 2015, to win a Conference USA title, to have the Blue Raiders once again receive a bowl bid, and, most importantly, to end his MTSU career by winning a bowl game.

But what about his personal goals?

Like beating a drum, Johnson simply said he’s ready to do whatever it takes to win…as a team.

A Shift in Perspective It is somewhat commonplace for students to switch academic majors— perhaps even as upperclassmen. Johnson is making a different switch of sorts this football season.

Johnson said he’s not as worried about his ability to get bigger and stronger than he already is in order to play his new position as he is focused on improving his footwork to be game-ready by the time practice opens.

Johnson has proven not only to be a workhorse on the football field and in the weight room, but also in the classroom.

This past spring, Johnson agreed to move from the tackle to the guard position—a switch he had previously joked about with teammates before he was approached by the coaching staff and asked to do it.

“One day they came to me and asked, ‘Are you willing to make that move?” recalled Johnson, who has been assured that the team plans to run the ball behind him a lot this year. “And I said, ‘Yeah, if it’s going to help the team out.’”

“I loved playing tackle,” he added, “but I think I’m beginning to love guard too.

I feel natural at it—having my hand on the ground.”

At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Johnson is already big and strong.

Nevertheless, he’s hard at work retooling his workouts as he prepares for the upcoming season at his new position.

“In those trenches, you have to get your hand on the ground,” Johnson said, “and move that guy where you need him to go. At guard, you have to manhandle people.”

By contrast, the tackle position was more of a finesse role. But Johnson said former teammate Josh Walker (who now plays in the NFL) told him that he thought the Orlando, Fla., native always played like a guard.

“You might move like you’re a tackle,” Johnson recalled Walker telling him, “but you play like you’re a guard.”

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“I’m getting better and better every day,” Johnson concluded. “I just want to keep doing that.”

Student of the Game In three previous seasons, Johnson has proven not only to be a workhorse on the football field and in the weight room, but also in the classroom.

Having already earned a degree in criminal justice administration, Johnson is now focused on earning a second degree: in concrete industry management, one of MTSU’s signature programs.

“After the first year here, I became more focused and more driven to accomplish my goals—and that was to get a degree,” Johnson related. “Now, my goal is to try and get another one.”

Johnson credits his parents, Nicole Butler and Keith Johnson, along with his academic advisors for instilling in him the work ethic needed to work toward two degrees. Johnson said his advisors “started putting me in classes for my major after my first semester here, and then taking classes in the summertime also helped.”

Much like the move he’s making on the football field, which will give the coaching staff more options and greater flexibility along the offensive line, the combination of the two degrees Johnson plans to secure promises to give him more career options after graduation.

According to Johnson, if one or the other leads him down a professional path that isn’t quite what he expected, he’ll have the flexibility to choose a more desirable career path.

“I’m still learning the ins and outs of concrete management,” he said, “but, if I had to pick one, I might lean toward that.”

With a determined approach to learning, a team approach to success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win, Johnson is no doubt cementing a bright future with the experiences he is gaining at MTSU both on the field and in the classroom. RR

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F E AT U R E S T O R Y

ALL SYSTEMS

by Keith Ryan Cartwright

Whether on the field, patrolling the air, or in the classroom, the sky is no limit for soccer star Tori Hawkins

Photos by Brent Beerends

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very summer as a child, Murfreesboro native Tori Hawkins attended the Great Tennessee Air Show in nearby Smyrna.

Although she didn’t aspire to become a pilot, Hawkins always looked forward to seeing the Blue Angels, the aerobatic flight demonstration team featuring top pilots from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

“I find planes to be just awesome,” said Hawkins, now a senior member of the women’s MT soccer team and an Aerospace major. “I also love NASA and astronaut stories, all of which are fascinating to me. I grew up around that and came to MTSU with the intent to major in Aerospace.”

By 2014, Hawkins was already well on her way to earning that degree. Then MTSU launched a new concentration in the aerospace major: Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations (UAS).

Hawkins’s academic plans changed, and she became one of many aerospace students to switch to the UAS concentration. Having already earned many of the credit hours needed to meet the requirements of the new program, Hawkins could become the first to graduate with the UAS concentration.

“Once UAS [aircraft] are commercialized, it’s going to be so revolutionary,” she said. “I felt I needed to hop on board because the fun stuff is always in the beginning. There’s so much trial and error. And once I got into the intro class, I really fell in love with it.”

Head in the Books, Feet on the Ground Hawkins said MTSU has always been supportive of athletes in the classroom as well as on the field.

“They put education first here,” she said.

Such a supportive environment, Hawkins said, gives her reason to be optimistic

with regard to her professional prospects after her playing days are over.

Hawkins was recently among a group of five undergraduate students from the Department of Aerospace and the School of Agribusiness and Agriscience who traveled to Argentina as part of a project involving what’s called “precision agriculture.”

During the trip, Hawkins was part of a small group that flew a 3D Robotics X-8 aircraft, more commonly known as a drone, that was used to study the soil and vines at an experimental vineyard outside the city of Mendoza.

Hawkins could become the first Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations degree graduate in MTSU history The project was completed in conjunction with the South American country’s National Institute of Agriculture Technology. In Argentina, drones had previously been used exclusively by the government— meaning the MTSU project was the first commercial effort using a drone in that country.

“The future is somewhat uncertain,” said Hawkins, who is hoping specifically to get involved with 3-D mapping of archaeological sites and also has an interest in developing the use of thermo-cameras in search-and-rescue operations. “But hopefully there are going to be so many options,” she said.

Hawkins hopes to complete her capstone academic project during fall semester 2016. This fall, however, will be her senior season as a student-athlete.

Not unlike her early fascination with planes, Hawkins has also been a fan of the Blue Raider soccer team since the age of eight. That’s when she first met head coach Aston Rhoden, who challenged the talented youngster in camps and other meetings to work hard and develop different skills.

Hawkins said she knew even back then that she would one day play college soccer. And with MTSU having one of the top aerospace programs in the country, it was almost a foregone conclusion that she would eventually play for the Blue Raiders.

“I grew up with a passion for this team,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins, who started all 20 games as a junior, described the Blue Raiders as a “working class” squad, which certainly fits her style of play. While the team has often played the role of underdog in Conference USA, Hawkins said she is proud of the “outstanding growth” the team exhibited this past year.

“I think this team can win,” she said.

“I don’t say that a lot because I don’t want to jinx the team; but we can win a conference championship—either regular season or tournament. I have a feeling we’re going to get a ring. I know I’m not going out without a fight. After all, it’s my last season.” RR

“We went down there to show them it can be commercial,” Hawkins said.

“That it can be efficient, and it can be a time saver.”

The commercial use of drones is also still evolving in the U.S. As the industry matures, as many as 150,000 new jobs could be created by the end of 2017.

Drone operations are also projected to contribute $13.6 billion to the U.S. economy in the next five years.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

FOOTBALL ALUMNUS

Gone Fishin’

by Keith Ryan Cartwright

L

One former Blue Raider football standout moves on from tackle football to a tackle ooking back box

on his formative years, Blue Raiders alumnus and former NFL receiver

Kendall Newson

said the “greatest gift” his parents ever gave him and his siblings was a life away from the television screens and electronic trappings and instead spent outdoors.

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More specifically, he’s thankful for the fact that they spent time together fishing as a family.

Nowadays, Newson is a professional bass fisherman sponsored by such big-name brands in the outdoors market as Bass Pro Shops and Nitro Boats. But despite becoming a professional in his second sport, Newson always makes time to pass along his love of the outdoors and of fishing through his “Teach a Child to Fish” program. For instance, Newson recently spent a weekend in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, home of Pocono Raceway, introducing 200 kids to the sport of fishing.

Newson teamed up with NASCAR great Tony Stewart to make the event a success.

“It’s a family relationship and [our sponsors] help us with all our events,” said Newson, who hosts 10 to 12 such events each year. He is also working with Bass Pro Shops on a second initiative called the “Gone Fishing” program.

According to Newson, the children he works with often don’t have the family support or the personal tools they will need to succeed in life. Many are faced with significant social and financial barriers, so Newson said he tries to give them an opportunity to see beyond their circumstances and experience a family-like environment like the one he flourished in growing up.

“We’re going to share this together,” he said.

A Growing Fish Story Growing up in west Georgia, fishing was a passion for Newson. In spite of playing football and being a college football prospect, Newson always managed to tape and watch all the televised weekend fishing shows. He

dreamed of one day being like Tennessee fishing icon, Bill Dance.

Following a highly-productive high school football career, Newson attended MTSU, where he set records that stand to this day. He eventually played with the Tennessee Titans and the Miami Dolphins in the NFL, as well as with teams in the European Football League, Canadian Football League, and Arena Football League.

After his football career ended, though, Newson got

It’s been a steep learning curve, to say the least.

“It’s like any sport,” he said.

“You never get it…and then you got it.You have moments where you look like you’ve got it, and it’s just rolling; but there’s so much you have to stay in front of.You have to stay in front of the learning curve.”

After his football career ended, though, Newson got his focus back to his first love—fishing. his focus back to his first love—fishing. He launched his new career through a relationship he forged with a bass fishing guide who worked with Bass Pro Shops, and was later introduced to representatives of Nitro Boats.

“I basically went to every fishing show I could go to,” Newson said,“to meet everybody I could—talk to them, talk to them, and talk to them. Eventually, it led me right down the path that I wanted and I knew I could get it done.”

As with any sport an athlete pursues professionally, fishing has become Newson’s life.

Nowadays when he’s not taking part in tournaments on the weekends, or fulfilling interviews and speaking engagements, he’s fishing during the week to try out new equipment and current techniques—a requirement, given that he mentors youth about the sport. He also

Photo Courtesy of the Daily News Journal.

Photo by J. Intintoli

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moved to a more rural environment along the banks of West Pointe Lake in Georgia near his hometown, so that he can spend more time on the water.

Same Game, Different Name During his ongoing transition to his new professional sport, Newson said he often calls on his football experience to guide him. For instance, memories of his personal and professional growth at MTSU give him confidence that his future in the sport of bass fishing is bright.

perhaps most importantly, making him feel wanted. It was motivational.

“I felt like they really wanted me to come and play here,” said Newson, who cherished the opportunity to be part of an MT football program transitioning from 1-AA to 1-A, “so I made the decision to go to MTSU.” “It’s a great town and a great community. Since I went to Middle in 1998, every year the university and city seems to be growing and doing something great.”

Newson said the Blue Raiders entire program should feel as though they can compete with anyone in college football. He only sees that confidence growing in Murfreesboro, and it’s the same approach he brings to his newfound career as a professional fisherman.

“I think what’s helped me most with my transition from football to fishing is my passion,” said Newson, who also said he foresees himself fishing until he’s 80 or 90 years old.“It only gets better with time.” RR

He recalled being recruited by former position coach Floyd Walker. Newson loved the idea that Walker was always in attendance at his high school games, including the spring game, encouraging him and,

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Jason pray S D

For This Alum, It’s Personal

by Tony Stinnett

You can see the enthusiasm in JASON SPRAY’S face as he starts to talk about the work Middle Tennessee football players are doing in the weight room.

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He seems exhilarated talking about Middle Tennessee State University and his job, which happens to be head strength coach for the Blue Raider football team.

Spray is in his 11th season with the Blue Raider strength and conditioning program. He spent seven seasons as head men’s basketball strength and conditioning coach and was the primary assistant in football. He became head football strength coach in January 2012.

He and his wife, Karisse, a former Blue Raider volleyball player, have two children, 4-year-old Jason Jr. and 1-year-old Jaxon.

The 2002 graduate and former Blue Raider football player (a Murfreesboro native) says he takes his job personally.

“The games are personal just because I have that relationship with the school and with this program,” Spray says.“I have seen it grow from the I-AA days when I was a kid growing up in Murfreesboro and coming to watch games, then getting to play on the first I-A team in 1999 and winning a championship in 2001. I have been blessed. . . .This place means so much to me.”

Spray is determined to give players as much good coaching as he got as a student-athlete at Middle Tennessee.

“I enjoyed my time so much when I was here,” Spray says.“I really liked my coaches, especially in the weight room.

Coach [Matt] Riley and Coach [Robb] Rogers helped mold me, and they pushed me and developed me in that weight room. I just want to be sure I give these guys back the same thing those guys gave me. It is my livelihood, my bloodline, so to speak.”

Working in the weight room as a player, Spray found his calling.

Actually, it found him.

A fullback, Spray suffered a seasonending injury late in the 2001 season, his senior year. He remembers how the door opened for him as a strength coach on Senior Day. “Coach Rogers came to me on Senior Day and said,‘Hopefully, we can work together one day,’” Spray says.“I thought it was a great idea because I love being in the weight room. On the following Monday I went to see Coach Rogers to see if he was serious and he was, so I

went to see [former head football coach Andy] McCollum and he provided me two avenues. I could either be an on-field coach or a strength coach.

“I chose the weight room because I want to mold those guys. I love seeing them every day. I just found a passion for it because I loved it, and I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

During his time at Middle Tennessee, Spray has worked with every sports program in the Athletic Department.

He says the 2011 Blue Raider men’s basketball squad has been his favorite team to train.

During his time at Middle Tennessee, Spray has worked with every sports program in the athletic department.

“I learned how to study and how to coach from Robb Rogers. He taught me how to coach on the floor whether it was three people or 300 people, and I am very appreciative for that.” Spray also has good memories of former offensive coordinator Larry Fedora.“I just loved his intensity and tenacity.”

“Kermit Davis [MT men’s basketball coach] knows one speed—full speed.

That guy is coaching whether he’s in the office, on the court, or out recruiting.

Rick Stockstill [MT football coach] always does a great job of staying level.

It’s never as bad as you think or as good as you think. If you win a big game, he stays level and if we lose a tough one, he stays level.”

With his history at MT and all he’s learned from coaches, mentors, and his own hard work, Jason Spray has became one of the Truest of the Blue. RR

“Those guys were great,” Spray says.“I have been blessed to work with every sport in our department.The biggest thing when you are dealing with sport to sport is to understand a lot of the concepts are the same but how you relate it to the guys may be different.You have to find the avenue to get there.”

Spray says he has learned different aspects of training and motivation from each of his previous coaches.

“The things I pulled from coaches as a player and a young man in this profession have helped mold everything in my beliefs today,” Spray says.“Riley always treated everybody the same.

Coach Riley would bust your butt when you were here working, but he would hug you up when you were done. He is a great manager of people.

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VIEW FROM THE

PRESSBOX WAIT WE CAN’T FOR

FOOTBALL SEASON!

Chip Walters

Five things your play-by-play team is looking forward to this season.

We’re down to just a handful of days before toe meets leather in earnest for the 2015 season.

Your Blue Raider Network play-by-play team of Chip Walters (CW) and Dennis Burke (DB) met recently and came up with the five things they are most looking forward to this year.

Hermitage Golf Course • “Top 10 in State” Golf Digest • “4-1/2 Star Rating.” Golf Digest Magazine’s Highest award in Tennessee.

• ESPN ZAGAT SURVEY - “America’s Top Golf Courses” • Tennessean Newspaper’s Toast of the City - “Best Public Course” • Nashville Scene Magazine’s “Best Public Golf Course” • Maximum Golf’s “One of the 100 Best Bargain Golf Courses in the United States” • Travel and Leisure Golf - “One of America’s 100 Best Golf Courses for $100.00 or Less.”

• Golf For Women’s “50 Best Courses for Women”

3939 Old Hickory Blvd. • Old Hickory, TN • 615-847-4001 • www.hermitagegolf.com 14

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COMPLIANCE

The Voice of the Blue Raiders The Vanderbilt Game DB Last time MTSU played them, I was playing, and it was a huge win for the program. Looking forward to the atmosphere and the intensity of the players. I’m already breaking out into a sweat over this one!

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CW I can still remember the first time this rivalry was renewed, and the energy that Blue Raider Nation took to Vanderbilt Stadium. I want to look out of our booth and not see a single seat available and a sea of blue throughout Floyd.

QB Battle DB Two tremendous athletes battling it out to earn the opportunity to lead this team.

Hard not to be excited about something like that!

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CW I can’t wait to see what Kevin Byard has in store for his senior year. He was so good as a freshman and sophomore that teams quit throwing in his direction. He

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DB This position has been a strength of ours in the past, but we’ve lost our leading rusher.

Someone will need to step up and fill that spot.

DB Naturally, I am drawn to T.T. Barber and to the linebacker position group. T.T. is a great player who is getting better. His consistency and numbers are only getting better.

R A I D E R

DB Jackson State is the first game of the season, and we always learn so much about our team in the opening game. It will be the first time a lot of these guys will have played in a college game. Although it’s an out-of-conference opponent, because it’s the first game, it will set the tone for the season.The Blue Raiders need to come out of the opener with a big shot of confidence.

Running Backs

Defensive Stars

Nutrition is an important part of every athlete’s development.

Student-athletes at MTSU receive meals in several ways. At times, it’s permissible for a Blue Raider Athletic Association member to provide a meal.

Game other than Vandy

CW I’m going with the Illinois game. I think this is a winnable road game against a power conference opponent. It won’t be easy to win in the Big 10, but if the Raiders can pull it off, it could be a big stepping stone toward postseason play.

CW There will probably be no storyline that will have the fans’ attention more as we get closer to kickoff than the quarterback competition between Austin Grammer and Brent Stockstill.

The great part is that both looked terrific in the spring and this appears to be a total winwin situation. Look for both to play . . . a lot.

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returned a punt for a touchdown last year at Old Dominion. Will the coaching staff find more ways to get his hands on the ball?

Providing Meals for Student-Athletes

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CW The Blue Raiders have been at their best offensively over the last few years when they have been able to showcase the power running game, take pressure off the quarterback, and pass when they want to, not when they have to. With a veteran offensive line and Tucker, Bryson, and Parker in the backfield, the running game could be the strength of this football team. RR

R E V I E W

On an occasional or special basis, a BRAA Daryl Simpson member may provide Assistant A.D. for a meal for a studentCompliance athlete or even an entire team, but it must be provided on the MTSU campus in a facility that is regularly used for home competitions (e.g., Stephen B. Smith Baseball Clubhouse or Murphy Center) or in the member’s home.

If the meal is provided in a BRAA member’s home, the member may provide reasonable transportation for student-athletes. If the meal is on campus, no transportation may be provided to student-athletes to attend. It is also possible for a BRAA member to have a meal catered for a team without hosting or attending.

If you would like to provide a meal for an MT team, please contact the head coach and/or the Compliance Office. Please do not contact student-athletes directly.The Compliance Office will ensure that the meal is in an acceptable location, is truly conducted as an “occasional” or special event, and is generally within the spirit of the NCAA legislation set for occasional meals. Remember, it’s always better to ASK BEFORE YOU ACT! For more information, please contact Daryl Simpson at daryl.simpson@mtsu.edu. RR

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Blue Raider Athletic Association

MOVING TO THE

NEXT LEVEL: Keith McCluney

Associate Athletic Director/Development

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he Blue Raider Athletic Association membership has always shown their commitment to the vision and the mission of the athletic department.That was again very evident as we wrapped a highly successful fundraising year.The goal always is to exceed the previous year, and we were able to do that with the help of our dedicated Blue Raiders.

We were able to raise over $2.4 million in support for our extremely talented student-athletes.

While we are excited and pleased with our progress, we realize that we are still behind the curve to annual funding and resources among our peer institutions within our conference and across the country. Our goal is to be the BEST among the BEST and with your help, we can achieve that goal.

MTSU has the best fans and the best donors in our conference and we know that you are ready to show the conference that we expect EXCELLENCE IN EVERY AREA. As we continue to implement sound, sustainable principles and processes that will help us continue to increase our fundraising efforts, we

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ask that you spread the word about the Blue Raider Athletic Association and what we stand for.

Over the next year and beyond you will begin seeing the annual fund slogan DRIVE 365 on our emails and all of our donor communications. The annual fund is critically important to the mission

The foundation of any successful athletic department is the annual fund. of the department, and it impacts our ability to operate and provide resources for our student athletes. Without a solid annual fund there is no foundation for larger projects and major gifts. The annual fund’s IMPACT is too important to be contained to a one–month or six–week campaign, so we will begin to change the focus from A CAMPAIGN to THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN which runs 365 days. There has been tremendous support over the past few years for the membership campaign. However, as we evolve, we must continue to refine and improve, the way we operate.

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So as we move forward, our focus will be on promoting the annual fund throughout the entire year! The DRIVE 365 CAMPAIGN will help us remain focused on the importance of the annual fund, and it will help our donors and the community shift their focus to a broader understanding of the year-round focus on attracting new members and those interested in investing in the lives of our student-athletes.

We appreciate every person who has made the decision to invest in our program by providing support to our department and to our mission. We understand that your time and your resources are a gift, and we commit to making your experience with MTSU Athletics and the Blue Raider Athletic Association a first class one, all while providing you with a tremendous return on your investment. We don’t take your involvement lightly, and we hope that you know you are making a tremendous IMPACT not only on the lives of our student-athletes, but also in the lives of the Blue Raider Athletic Association staff.

We are honored to have the privilege of building relationships with you and your families through our daily, weekly and monthly interaction. Thank you for trusting us with you, resources, and we look forward to continuing to move the organization FORWARD IN EXCELLENCE. Thank you for what you do and we look forward to seeing you this fall! . . . GO

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BLUE!

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2015–2016 BLUE RAIDER ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP PACKETS New for 2015, the Blue Raider Athletic Association mailed membership packets to all donors who made their donation by the June 30 deadline. Included in each packet was a car decal and membership card that you can use to gain access to special BRAA events throughout the year. The membership card is replacing the key chain tag from previous years. Each year in August, the BRAA will send you a new packet with your membership card and another special gift to thank you for your generous donation.

Membership packets were mailed in mid-August. Be on the lookout for your packets if you haven’t already received it. If you have not received your membership packet, please contact the Blue Raider Athletic Association at (615) 898-5206.

Chuck Taylor Golf Tournament

Set for September 21, 2015

BRAA BUS TRIP TO ALABAMA Join the BRAA on a road trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to see the Blue Raiders play the Crimson Tide on Saturday, September 12.This will be a down-and-back trip, but space is limited, so make your plans today! The cost for the trip is $150 per person for BRAA members and $175 per person for non-BRAA members.The price includes your game ticket. Call the BRAA at (615) 898-2210 to make your reservation today!

Keep up with the Blue Raider Athletic Association and connect with other members on Facebook and Twitter!

Facebook.com/BRAA

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@MT_BRAA

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Blue Raider Athletic Association

II0% DONORS Fred Adams Sam Adams Clyde Adkinson Lauren Agee Charlie & Susan Akers Dave & Sandy Alber Tim & Tammy Alexander Jerry & Nancy Allen Brad Allison Dorothy C. Alsup Greg & Jana Alverides Boniface Amuzu Greg & Dolly Andrews Ed Arning Tony Arnold Erika Austin Paul Bailey Billy & Annette Balch Robert & Linda Ballard Capt. P.J. Barnett James & Nancy Batcheler Lanny & Dinah Bates Tommy & Deborah Bates John & Melissa Batey Larry Beaty Alan Betz Tom Black Gloria Bonner Alex & Rachel Booten Angel Bowman Duane Brasfield Tom Ginny & Robbie Brinthaupt William Brittain Norman & Beth Brown Dan & Pam Bullock Angie Bumpus John B. Calfee Jr. Sherry L. Carpenter Thomas & Pansey Carter Alley Cassety John & Phyllis Catron Kirk & Carrie Beth Catron Russ & Edna Caughron Philip Cavender Jay Chaudoin Steve & Mike Cheatham Vikki Clark Dana Clegg W. Kent Coleman Pamela & John Collins John L. Comer Chris & Kim Cooper James & Debbie Cope Jim & Cathy Corder John & Deborah Cothern Wes Counts Mike & Carrie Cowles Charles R. Daniel Donnie & Peggy Davenport

Mark Deml Jerome Dempsey D.J. & Shana Denning Reed & Jayme Dills Wesley C. Dugan Anthony Dumat James Dunlap Jake Durham Chad & Jamie Eads Phillip & Clancy Eakes Phillip Earles Faye Elam John E. Ellington Deborah Eubanks Joe & Mary Evans Edward Ezell Alan & Kelly Farley Jeff & Jennifer Farlow Bob Farris Gail Fedak Chris Felker Kelly Fiore Bud & Anita Fischer John Fleischman Meagan Flippin John Floyd Robert H. Floyd Wayne Fox James H. Freeman Jack D. Gambill Jr. Solutions Garage Rebecca & Norval Garrett Robert Gentry Mike Gentry Rodney George Emily Gibson Cody Gibson Bonnie Good Jeff & Mary Jo Graham Phil & Lina Grammer Nancy Gray Dustin Gray Rick & Tonya Greenberg Phil & Connie Griffin Richard & Regenia Grissom Wayne Groce John Grubar Michael & Heather Hall Jeremy Harmon Earl Harris Hollie Harris Stephen Clarence Harris Boyd & Michelle Harvill Michael Hayes Jacob Hayes Russell & Maggie Henderson Chad & Tammy Hickey D. Mark & Jessica Hicks Felicia Hix G.C. & Stella Hixson

Teresa Hobson Eugene Hollman William Holt John & Marilyn Hood Brad Hopkins James Howard Jordan & Caroline Howell Brandon Hudson Raymond Huffines Jamie Huffman Pat & Cindy Hughes James & Betty Hutchinson Raymond Hutzler Matthew & Kendra Hutzler Rick & Deb Insell Randy & Kelly Inskeep Jerry & Emily Jackson Jamie & Judy Jamison Jim Jarmon Joe F. Jernigan Gary Johnson Dennis & Maribeth Johnson Steven Jones David & Kathy Jones Chris Jones Danny & Pam Jones Jeff Jordan Katherine & Michael Jordan Michael & Mary Katherine Jordan Phillip Jorgenson Grant & Diane Kelley Kelsey Ketron Richard Key Rodney & Sandy King Mark & Carol King Mary E. Kiser Jim Knight J.P. & Ashley Kraft Reuben Kyle Eric & Lisa Lamb David & Deborah Lasseter John & Susan Lee Leonard Lemay Mike & Janice Levi Eddie & Kim Linville Richard Lowe Michele Luter Chris Lynch Rob & Dana Lyons John Major Joe Maloney Bill Marbet Henry Martin Vicki Massey Tony Matusek DeWayne McCamish James McCarroll Ernest & Brenda McKinney Dr. Sidney & Liz McPhee

The following donors all contributed 110% or more to the Blue Raider Athletic Association in 2015–2016.

Robert B. Mifflin Edward E. Miller Jack & Sandy Mitchell Bill & Lisa Moffitt Shirley Montgomery Kristin & Justin Morris Max Moss John V. Mullane James Mark Mullinix Charlie Myatt Bart Myers Jeffrey Nebel Porter Nelms Jim & Colleen Nelson Junior Nelson Tyrone Nix Tom & Vickie Norris Andrew & Elise Oppmann Austin Owens Todd Paris Dennis & Casey Pash Brock Patterson Ron Pawlowski Daniel Percey Dan & Sloan Perry Audene Phillips Mark Pickle Mark Pickle Robbie Pigg Shalon Pillow Mike Polly Shirley Poole Jerry & Leeann Potts Joe Powell Eric & Leslie Price Shawn & Jan Puckett Pettus Read Frances Rich Joey Richardson Julie Ristvedt Lester Rizor Michael & Robin Robertson Tommy & Sharon Roddy Marc Rogers Wayne Rollins Renee Rounsaville Nick & Tyra Rowe Steve Ruckart Susan Sanders Joe E. Sawyer Steve & Patsy Sax Greg & Vicki Schaffer Dan & Margaret Scott Chris Scott Samuel Sells Charles E. Shelby John F. Shires Stephen & Paula Simpson John & Karen Simpson Jr. Ray & Pam Singer

Richard Siren Adam G. Smith Mike Smith Blake Smith Steve Smith Betty Smithson Nelson Smotherman William Smotherman Johnny Spies Julie Spies Michael & Deborah Spiroff Michelle & Jim Stepp Brian Stickel Horace & Catherine Stogner Johnny & Julia Sullivan Mae Summar Hope Tim & Braden Surrett Tim & Linda Tackett Stephen Talley Walter & Patsy Taylor Steven Taylor Eddie Taylor Ray & Ernestine Thomas Frank W.Thomason Jim & Billie Thompson Nolan Tippens Tim Tipps Harrison & Kesha Tisdal Clara Todd Bruce & Cindi Todd Carolyn Tumbleson Don & Patricia Turner Rebecca Upton Bob Verble Donna Victory Tim & Ann Wagner Amy Walker John & Rhonda Ward Jim Warden Ben Weatherford Micah & Emily Wells Eric Wessner Jackie D. Whitaker Marvin & FrancilleWhitworth Don & Cheryl Wiley Robert G. Williams Lloyd Williams Alice Wilson Kathy Wilson Trevor & Sarah Wilson Gary Wiser Jr. J. Don Witherspoon Andrew & Laura Woodward Taylor Wright Matt Young Gary & Anita Young Doug & Susan Young Emily & Joachem Zietz

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Membership ATHLETICS Calendar

STAFF SERVICE DAY

The Blue Raider Athletic Association organized a service day for MT Athletics on Friday, May 22, at Greenhouse Ministries in Murfreesboro.

Approximately 30 staff members and BRAA donors volunteered their time and energy to help out a great organization.

Event

Date

Chuck Taylor Golf Tournament

September 21, 2015

Men’s Basketball Season Ticket Renewal Deadline

October 2015

BRAA Basketball Parking Passes Mailed

October 2015

Last day to make a donation and receive tax credit for 2015

December 31, 2015

(left to right and back to front): Whit Turnbow, Drew Shea, Jimmy Borendame, Matt Harrington, Cathy Huehls, Keith Bunch (left to right): James Kentfield, Rick Stockstill, Mark Owens, Chris Massaro, Bethany Thurston, Sadie Harris, Chris Harris

Photos by Brent Beerends

YOUNG ALUMNI PROGRAM

Up to 20% off season tickets (varies by sport) Tax deduction on your annual donation (consult your tax advisor)

MAKE YOUR STATEMENT, AND JOIN THE BRAA.”

All members will receive one point per year of participation as a Young Alumni member and five points per consecutive year of giving.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Invitations to special Blue Raider Athletic Association events

Recent graduates of Middle Tennessee State University can embark on a lasting relationship with the Blue Raider Athletic Association by participating in the BRAA Young Alumni Program for four years after completion of their bachelor’s degree.

Networking Opportunities BRAA mailings The Young Alumni Program was created to keep all recent graduates engaged with MTSU and Blue Raider Athletics. Middle Tennessee young alumni represent the future of our success.

By joining now, you can build a valuable foundation of membership points for your future as a BRAA member and solidify an additional connection to your alma mater through your support of Blue Raider Athletics.Your donation is vital to help maintain our success.

RaiderReviewaAugust2015.indd 19

“BE THE DIFFERENCE,

PRIORITY POINTS

WHAT DO YOU GET?

As a Young Alumni Program member, you can join the Blue Raider Athletic Association for a minimum of $50 and receive benefits as a full entry-level member; a benefit that is unavailable to other BRAA members.

(left to right): Linda Cooper, Ron Cooper, Katie Grajewski, Shelley Godwin, Jeff Motluck

YEAR PARTICIPATION & MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION YEAR 1 - $50 YEAR 2 - $ 100 YEAR 3 - $125 YEAR 4 - $150

BRAA GIFT CREDIT $150 (Lightning Level) $150 (Lightning Level) $150 (Lightning Level) $150 (Lightning Level)

FOR MORE INFORMATION & JOIN THE YOUNG ALUMNI PROGRAM

CALL (615) 898-5953

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Donor SPOTLIGHT Dr. Walter Chitwood n MTSU Alumnus (B.S. ’78) n Consecutive Years Giving to the BRAA: 28 n Currently Reside: Murfreesboro

Q:

What caused you to become a fan of MTSU?

A:

I attended college here in the ’70s. I loved the campus and the experience I had. I returned here in 1982 to begin my dental career and decided at that time to start giving back to my University.

Q:

When did you attend your first Blue Raider game?

A:

I started going to football games in the fall of 1974 as a freshman.

I have been attending ever since, watching the Blue Raiders through many great seasons.

Q:

My favorite MTSU sports are . . .

A:

Well, I love all Blue Raider athletes, but several have a special place with me: football, men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball.

Q:

What is your best memory of MTSU Athletics?

A:

Hard question, there are so many.

From winning a national playoff game in football while in the OVC, all the way up to being featured on ESPN with the Georgia Tech upset (including Anthony Amos’s one-handed catch). Also, the most vivid memory was being in Utah watching MT play football while it was snowing.

Q:

What is the farthest you have traveled to see the Blue Raiders play?

A:

I am not very good at geography, but I would say it would the Utah trip, or when we used to travel to El Paso.

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Dr. Walter Chitwood and Priscilla (young girl he met on a mission trip to Nicaragua)

Q:

How did you first get involved with the Blue Raider Athletic Association?

A:

When I first came back to town, I became acquainted with Dr.Tom Johns, the attending athletic physician.Tom informed me that MT did not have an active participating dentist, and basically recruited me to work all the athletic teams. I have been so blessed to be the athletic dentist for MT for all these years. It provides me the opportunity to meet and work with great people from all over the world.

Q:

My favorite place to eat is . . .

A:

Another hard question.

Murfreesboro has several outstanding restaurants. I would have to say Maple Street Grill. Very good food, with outstanding service. Also, just as wonderful is Demos’. Always wonderful food accompanied by unequaled service.

Q:

My favorite hobby is . . .

A:

You mean besides going to Blue Raider games? I would have to say going on medical mission trips to foreign countries. It is such a blessing to me to be able to provide care to people who otherwise would have no access. I always love playing in the orchestra at Belle Aire Baptist.

Q:

My favorite TV show is . . .

Q:

Tell us about your most memorable trip.

A:

I have had several memorable mission trips. I guess the most memorable was one to a toxic waste dump in Mexico. People would scratch out a day-to-day existence there, with no real exposure to the rest of the world.

We built several 10-by-10-foot sheds, which would become new homes for the families living there.

One day, a young couple brought an infant that was near death.The child had just stopped eating for some reason.

Basically, there was little we could do at that point except to provide some Pedialight, give feeding instructions to the parents, and pray over the child.

It was one of the most heartbreaking moments I have ever experienced watching them walk back into that dump, with little hope that the baby would survive. Our team continued praying throughout the night.

Early the next afternoon, I heard screams coming from some of our team members. We all ran to see what was happening. What we saw were the young parents, holding their baby, sitting upright, drinking Pedialight!

(I saw photos of the child as a twoyear old, perfectly normal and healthy.)

This was indeed one of the great confirmations that we serve a wonderful God, who is still in the business of providing miracles. RR

A:

I love to watch the Sherlock series. My kids turned me on to this show a couple of years ago.

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F E AT U R E S T O R Y

ISSUE

MT’s half-million-dollar upgrade to its all-sports conditioning facility is sure to yield big-time dividends on the fields of play

T

he Middle Tennessee Sports Performance Center underwent a $500,000 renovation this summer, with the final pieces put into place in late July.

The project, a complete overhaul of the existing facility, was funded entirely

by BRAA donors.

ability to be more efficient in our strength training, and that is a critical component of developing our student-athletes.

“I also want to extend a special thanks to our donors for making this renovation possible,” Massaro added.

“Without their support, this extremely important project could never get off the ground.”

“This is something our strength staff has been wanting for a long time.”

Highlights of the renovation included the installation of all new equipment, a new floor, fresh paint (including painting the ceiling black), new signage and graphics, a 40-yard stretch of indoor field turf, a new sound system, and a sports nutrition bar.

“This is something our strength staff has been wanting for a long time, and we are very excited about getting it completed,” said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “This facility touches every single student-athlete—they all benefit from this renovation. With all of these changes, we are gaining the

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Here’s a closer look at some of the improvements: New Floor: Called Mondo Sport Impact and graphite gray in color, the product is resistant to the heavy weight of sports equipment, is nonslip, and extremely resistant to heavy wear and tear, cutting, or ripping. The floor also has 16 parquet wood lifting platforms with a custom MT logo.

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Nutrition Bar: The bar has solid– surface countertops, storage for nutritional supplements, and proper housing for items like smoothie machines and chocolate milk, and will aid the strength and conditioning of all student-athletes.

Equipment: The Blue Raiders now boast Power Lift equipment, which is state-of-the-art and regarded as the best equipment in the business.

Universities including Alabama, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and Ohio State have all recently installed Power Lift equipment in their weight rooms.

Turf: The 40-yard stretch of indoor turf is called Fast Grass Field Turf and will be used for agility drills, warm up, and as a place athletes can work when the weather turns cold. The Sports Medicine team was heavily involved in selecting this turf and felt it was the most beneficial for the student-athletes. RR

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

CATCHING UP WITH

ASHLEY

MEAD JACKSON

By Jared Hastings

A

shley Mead Jackson had a front-row seat to one of the greatest runs by any Middle Tennessee team in history. As a four-year player for the Blue Raider volleyball team, the Newnan, Ga., native shared three Sun Belt Conference championships and four NCAA tournament VOL L L appearances—including the 2007 team’s run to L E Y BA the NCAA Sweet 16. She was a 2009 Second-Team All-Sun Belt selection and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Sun Belt Tournament.

Raider Review recently caught up with Ashley, who still has a determined approach to being the best she can be in life, and who still “bleeds blue.”

Q

Tell Blue Raider fans what you have been up to since graduating from MT.

I just finished med school at Morehouse on May 16, and I have moved to Miami to do my residency at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, in anesthesiology. I’ve also gotten married, and my husband, Kyle Jackson, just finished law school at Georgia State College of Law, and we are both going to live and work down here.

A

Q

What are your plans now that you have finished Medical School?

Well, the residency will take four years, and after that, I’m interested in doing a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology, and that will be an extra year.

So it will be pretty busy. Usually it’s about 80 hours and six days a week.

A

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Q

What are your fondest memories as a student-athlete at Middle Tennessee?

Spending time with my teammates, winning conference three of four years. But it’s mostly just those relationships that I built with my teammates.

A

In 2007, you were part of a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 and had wins over No. 24 Louisville and No. 9 Hawaii. What was that experience like?

Q

Q

Do you still stay in contact with some of your teammates?

If so, who?

Ashley Waugh, Ashley Asberry, Ashley Adams, Stacy Oladinni, Iza [Izabela Kozon], she just got married, but I wasn’t able to go. I text with Matt [Coach Peck], but I haven’t got a chance to see [the team] play in a couple of years. But now living in Miami [near FAU and FIU] I’ll be able to see them play every year, which will be nice.

A

Thanks, Ashley. RR

That was the best experience.

We were a special team that year. We set our goals really high, and we achieved them. We said we wanted to go to the Sweet 16, and we were able to accomplish that. Beating Hawaii at that time was a big deal because they were one of the top programs. But setting those goals, and being able to say we made it was really special.

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CATCHING UP WITH

FOOTBALL

DINO

De IULIIS

Kathy, Dawson, Dillon, and Dino

By Jared Hastings

T

his football season marks the 30th anniversary of possibly the greatest team in Middle Tennessee history. The 1985 Blue Raider squad attained a No. 1 ranking and had an 11-game winning streak, a perfect regular-season record, and an Ohio Valley Conference championship. One of the stalwarts in the middle of that team’s rocksolid defense was Pennsylvania native Dino De Iuliis. The four-year letter winner excelled on the field and was an anchor in the locker room. And while the former defensive tackle may make his home more than 800 miles from Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee is always close to his heart.

Q

Since graduation, you have returned to Pennsylvania and made your home and life there.

Talk about your family and life back in Philadelphia Life is really great. After I graduated, my wife and I lived in Nashville, Memphis, and Charlotte. For the last 18 years, we have made Philadelphia our home. We have two sons, Dawson and Dillon. Dillon just graduated from high school where his football team (St. Joseph’s Prep) won two state championships. He’s going to be a student-athlete at Colgate. My other son (Dawson) is going to be a sophomore.

A

Q

What is your profession, and how did you get into it?

A

I work for Revlon consumer products and I’ve been with the company 27 years. I’m a vice president and general manager of a portion of our business sales organization. I was introduced to Revlon by a former teammate, [Blue Raider Hall of Famer] Roger Carroll.

He worked there for six months before I did.

There was a job opening in Memphis, and he called me, and I met him and his boss for

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lunch, interviewed for the job, and I have been there ever since.

Q

What are your fondest memories of your time as a Blue Raider?

Most importantly, if I didn’t go to Middle Tennessee it would have been the worst decision of my life.

Being the first one of my family to go to college and knowing my parents appreciated the high standards of Coach [Boots] Donnelly, Coach [Ed] Bunio, and Coach [Tom] Fiveash was important. But all of it was such a tremendous experience.

A

Q

The 1985 season was historic.

What was it like to be a major part of that remarkable year?

We played as a team. There was never one single individual. You think about the type of team we were and it personified the type of defense we put on the field. We were a wide-tackle six that was based on gaps and everyone doing their job. We all did our own thing. It all came together, and we played for a great coach, in a competitive conference, and were able to repeat what the team did in 1965.

A

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Q

The 1985 team is being honored in the homecoming game this year. What will it be like seeing a lot of your former teammates and reliving that incredible campaign?

It’s probably going to be no different. We’ll just pick up where we left off. It will be like the day of our last game, December 5, 1985. If I see Dwight Johnson, he’ll call me the same nickname he’s always called me, and I’ll tell him I love him just like I always did. It will be like coming home and paying honor to some of our parents and coaches who raised us to be better men.

A

Q

Do you still stay in contact with some of your teammates? If so, who?

Roger Carroll, Brad Zeitner—we probably talk weekly. We’re friends for life. There’s a handful. We do stay in touch as much as we can, but I travel a lot for business. When I am in Columbus, I stay at Brad’s house, and when I am in Dallas I stay with Roger.

A

Thanks, Dino. RR

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Student-Athletes: In Their Own Words “The Blue Raider Athletic Association is one of the main driving forces behind why Middle Tennessee State University has had so much success over so many years, and I’m very thankful for their contributions to our program.”

Avery George Senior | Women’s Golf “I’m really appreciative of the Blue Raider Athletic Association raising money for student-athletes so that we can play the games we love and have an opportunity to receive a great education.”

Maddie Denton Senior | Women’s Golf

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NOTEBOOK

Raider Roundup Adams Indoor Tennis Complex Officially Dedicated The City of Murfreesboro and MTSU officials unveiled the long-anticipated Adams Indoor Tennis Complex on July 15.The eight-court complex greatly enhances the

Blue Raider tennis program while increasing playing and tournament opportunities for area residents.

The new $5.8–$6.2 million complex covers 70,000 square feet at 925 Golf Lane and represents the latest partnership between the City of Murfreesboro, MTSU, and the nonprofit ChristyHouston Foundation.

Among the amenities: • Eight color-coated asphalt courts and support areas • An electronic scoreboard, pro shop, locker rooms, and lounge area • Two floors with a mezzanine for spectator viewing that includes bleachers, tables, and chairs

Murfreesboro,” said President Sidney A. McPhee.“The new indoor home for Blue Raider tennis will not only enhance the men’s and women’s programs but also showcase these excellent athletes by giving the community the opportunity to watch them in action without having to travel to Nashville.”

• An awning extending toward the outdoor tennis courts to provide shade for special events

Mayeaux Hired to Lead Athletic Marketing

Since 2008, MTSU tennis teams have practiced and played at an indoor facility at Nashboro Village in Nashville, nearly 30 miles from campus.

The agreement with the city gives MTSU priority access to the Adams Complex from 1 to 4 p.m. from November until March for tennis practices and matches. During those months, Murfreesboro residents will have access during morning and evening hours.

Memphis native Danielle Mayeaux became the MT Athletic Department’s new assistant athletic director for marketing and ticket sales on June 1. Before MT, Mayeaux was assistant athletic director for marketing, ticketing, and game operations at McNeese State University. In two years at McNeese, Mayeaux was responsible for the day-today operations of a 16-sport intercollegiate athletic department and was tasked with external and business affairs and the creation of ideas to promote each sport

“This is another in a series of partnerships that benefit both MTSU and the City of

Adams Indoor Tennis Complex dedication

Adams Indoor Tennis Complex ribbon cutting 26

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TABLE of CONTENTS native had 3,286 career rushing yards and 38 touchdowns. Both marks rank fourth on the all-time list.

Danielle Mayeaux and athletic event. During this time, the department went through an image rebranding and saw an increase in revenue and attendance for all sports and an increase in sponsorship. Mayeaux is a former soccer studentathlete and graduate of the University of North Carolina– Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in history.

Four to Be Inducted into Hall of Fame Middle Tennessee will be inducting four former student-athletes into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame before the football game against FIU October 17. Men’s golfer Brett Alexander, football

standout Kippy Bayless, baseball star Josh Renick, and track national champion Mardy Scales will make up the 40th class of inductees.

Alexander was a three-time All-Conference golfer and earned medalist honors and the conference championship three times during his career (1996 to 2000).The Richland, Missouri, native led the Blue Raiders to the 2000 NCAA Regionals and won six tournaments, which ranks second all-time in MT history.

Bayless, a two-time OVC Offensive Player of the Year, led the Blue Raiders to three NCAA playoff appearances and a league championship in 1992. He had 16 career 100-yard rushing games, which is fourth most in school history.The Knoxville

Renick helped lead Middle Tennessee baseball to championships in two different conferences and two NCAA Regional appearances (2000 and 2001) in only two seasons as a Blue Raider. A native of Sarasota, Florida, Renick is MT’s career batting average leader with.381. His .420 average in 2001 is the third highest in school history for a single season, and he set school records for runs scored (74) and hits (94) in a single season (2001).

Scales, from Franklin, won an NCAA championship in the 100 meters as a senior to cap a remarkable year. As a senior, Scales captured four All-American honors and was crowned the SBC’s Most Outstanding Track Performer after leading the Blue Raiders to an indoor title. Later that year he won a silver medal in the 100 meters at the Pan American Games and was a member of the gold-medalwinning 4x100m relay team.

The induction will take place two-and-a-half hours before kickoff just outside the Rose and Emmett Kennon Hall of Fame building.The public is welcome.

News and Notes Middle Tennessee men’s golfer Brett Patterson was named to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Second Team.

A native of McMinnville, Patterson earned a 4.0 GPA in Business Administration.

He was also named 2013–14 C-USA Men’s Golf ScholarAthlete of the Year.

Brett Patterson Middle Tennessee track AllAmerican John Ampomah was named C-USA Male Field Athlete of the Year.

The Blue Raiders announced that 10 of its 12 regular season football games in 2015 will be televised. RR

Hall of Fame Inductees

Brett Alexander R A I D E R

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Kippy Bayless R E V I E W

Josh Renick

Mardy Scales

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RAIDERS IN T Football

Benny Cunningham (2009-12) Kenneth Gilstrap (2009-13) Rod Issac (2007-10) Jeremy Kellem (2007-10) Logan Kilgore (2010-2013) Jamari Lattimore (2008-10) Keon Raymond (2004-05) Jimmy Staten (2010-13) Alex Suber (2005-09) Erik Walden (2004-07) Josh Walker (2010-13)

NFL AFL AFL AFL CFL NFL CFL NFL CFL NFL NFL

St. Louis Rams New Orleans Voo Doo Tampa Bay Storm Arizona Rattlers Toronto Argonauts New York Jets Calgary Stampeders Seattle Seahawks Toronto Argonauts Indianapolis Colts Green Bay Packers Photo by MLB

Photo by St. Louis Rams

Photo by Indianapolis Colts

Baseball Hunter Adkins (2010-2012) Independent Lake Erie Matt Blackham (2014) A New York Mets Bryce Brentz (2008-2010) AAA Boston Red Sox Zac Curtis (2013-2014) A Arizona Diamondbacks Nathan Foriest (2012-2015) Rookie San Diego Padres Jonathan Frebis (2012-2015) Rookie Chicago White Sox Andy Haines AAA Miami Marlins (Manager) Ronnie Jebavy (2015) A San Francisco Giants Michael McKenry (2004-2006) MLB Colorado Rockies Paul Mittura (2010-2014) Independent Frontier Greys Jeremy Owens (1996-1998) Independent Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (OF/Coach) Kenneth Roberts (2007-2010) MLB Colorado Rockies Heath Slatton (2013-2015) Rookie San Francisco Giants Ryan Stephens (2011-14) A Colorado Rockies

Women’s Soccer 28

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Shan Jones (2008-11) Long Island Rough Riders Vanessa Mueggler (2007-10) Ottawa Fury Lisa Marie Woods (2004) Adelaide (Australia)

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N THE PROS Men’s Basketball K.C. Anuna (2008-11) Tim Blue (2006-07) Raymond Cintron (2012-13) Michael Cuffee (2004-05) LaRon Dendy (2012) Jani Hiltunen (2000-01) John Humphrey (2002-03) Neiko Hunter (2012-14) Jason Jones (2010-13) Shawn Jones (2010-14)

Marcos Knight (2011-13) Bruce Massey (2012-13) Marcus Morrison (2005-06) Steve Thomas (2005) Torin Walker (2011-14) James Washington (2009-11)

Nigeria France Puerto Rico Germany Turkey Finland Japan Hungary Bolivia NBA Development Sioux Falls Skyforce Germany NBA D-League Mexico Venezuela Mongolia Sweden Photo by Dave Eggen/

Photo by Seattle Storm

NBAE via Getty Images

Women’s Basketball Alysha Clark (2009-10) WNBA Seattle Storm Chrissy Givens (2004-07) Euro CS Municipal Targoviste Cheyenne Parker (2014-15) WNBA Chicago Sky

Track and Field Noah Akwu Ann Dudley Stanley Gbagbeke Cordairo Golden Emmanuel Tugumisirize

Nigeria US Nigeria US Uganda

Photo by Getty Images

Men’s Golf Kent Bulle (2006-10) Rick Cochran (2005-09) Hunter Green (2009-12) Jason Millard (2008-11) Chase Narramore (2005-09)

Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/ Hillsboro Hops

Photo by Bob Donnan, USA Today Sports

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PGA Tour LatinAmerica Web.com Tour NGA Tour Web.com Tour Web.com Tour

29

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CALENDAR

UPCOMING

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

5 10

12

Football vs. Jackson State, Murfreesboro

October: Basketball Season Ticket Deadline

Soccer vs. Lipscomb, Murfreesboro

2

Volleyball vs. Louisiana Tech, Murfreesboro

Football at Alabama, Tuscaloosa

12

Volleyball vs. VCU & Kansas State, Murfreesboro

3

Football vs. Vanderbilt (Homecoming), Murfreesboro

Volleyball vs. Missouri State, Murfreesboro

21

Chuck Taylor Golf Tournament, Stones River Country Club

25

26

Soccer vs. Southern Miss, Murfreesboro

4

4

9

10

11

17 18

Soccer vs. Charlotte, Murfreesboro

13 14 16

19

Volleyball vs. Seattle, Murfreesboro Volleyball vs. UAB, Murfreesboro Football vs. Charlotte, Murfreesboro

Football at Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Volleyball vs. Western Kentucky, Murfreesboro Soccer vs. Western Kentucky, Murfreesboro Football at Western Kentucky, Bowling Green

EVENTS

NOVEMBER

Conference USA Soccer Championship, Miami 3-8 6 Volleyball vs. Charlotte, Murfreesboro

Football vs. Marshall, Murfreesboro 7

Football at Fla. Atlantic, Boca Raton 14 14 Volleyball vs. Marshall, Murfreesboro

Football vs. North Texas, Murfreesboro 21

Football at Texas-San Antonio, San Antonio 28

Soccer vs. Marshall, Murfreesboro Football vs. Fla. International, Murfreesboro Volleyball vs. Fla. Atlantic, Murfreesboro Women's Golf hosts the Blue Raider Invitational at Old Fort

19-20

23 Volleyball vs. Rice, Murfreesboro

24

25 25

Football at Louisiana Tech, Ruston Soccer vs. Louisiana Tech, Murfreesboro Volleyball vs. Fla. International, Murfreesboro

Men's Golf hosts The Intercollegiate at 25-27

The Grove

R A I D E R

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R E V I E W

F A L L

2 0 1 5

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PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit 169 Murfreesboro, TN

Blue Raider Athletic Association Middle Tennessee State University MTSU Box 576 1301 East Main Street Murfreesboro, TN 37132

PA R T N E R W I T H B L U E R A I D E R AT H L E T I C S Blue Raider Sports Properties can spotlight your company and help you exceed your marketing goals.

Floyd Stadium signage, Murphy Center signage, Corporate hospitality events, Game day sponsorships, Game program advertisement, On-court and in-arena exposure, Schedule posters and cards, On-site sampling, Premium item giveaways, Social media, Internet

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , P L E A S E C O N TA C T B L U E R A I D E R S P O R T S P R O P E R T I E S AT 6 1 5 - 9 0 4 - 8 3 8 1

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