MTSU's Time is Now

From Sidelines, 11/05/07

It took a while for Bradley Robinson's kick-off return for a touchdown to register in my head. Maybe it was because of the Appalachian State-like call I got from Charlie McAlexander and Chip Walters but I can't blame them. In the span of eight seconds, Robinson not only returned the game winning score for the Blue Raiders but he also grabbed hold of the Blue Raider bandwagon and stated, " Either roll with me or get rolled over."

I have been waiting since Oct. 1, 2005 for an event like this to take place. That was the day that Jonathan Harris blocked a field goal that would have given the victory to Vanderbilt. No other game has touched me with as much emotion since, but there have been plenty of close calls - namely Troy last year, and Louisville, Western Kentucky, and Virginia this year.

These were all close calls because winning those games would have done wonders for this school's fan base and would have brought notoriety to the football program. Instead they all ended as losses and brought frustration to not only the players in the game, but the fans that have been hungry for a signature win for quite some time.

How important is a signature win? It became a focal point in the head coaching search two years ago. It is always a hot topic in the message boards. Not to mention it seems as though the national media is begging for Middle Tennessee to pull off an upset. Anytime you hear of the Blue Raiders within 10 points of any power six conference school, ESPN will interrupt any program short of the reappearance of Jesus Christ to report it.

Middle Tennessee is not just a local favorite anymore. It is slowly becoming a statewide favorite and soon a national phenomenon. Fans of other schools will doubt my beliefs but the opportunities are apparent. The diminishing reputations of the other three FBS football programs in Tennessee has made room for MT to grab to hearts of fans looking for a school to root for. To add to the university's growing reputation, MT has been able to show that it is not just a football school by having all sports, whether fans view them as major or minor, succeed in their own right.

In the next four years, MT will be hosting Maryland, Memphis, and Georgia Tech. These schools know that national exposure can lead to increased funding from donors who, for the most part, haven't heard of MT or its academic and athletic programs. High school students from across the country can now place their interest in the university commonly known as the top choice of valedictorians and salutatorians from this region of Tennessee.

Add to it the fact that MT's biggest rival in football, Troy, has seen recent success in its football program and a victory over them can help establish MT's growing fan base and burgeoning football program.

The time is now for students, faculty, and Murfreesboro to hop on the bandwagon known as the Blue Raider nation. No longer will games with less than 20,000 people in attendance be excusable. Not when Taron Henry, who was born and raised in Murfreesboro, is playing the best season of his college career. No longer will the Volunteers playing at the same time as the Blue Raiders be an excuse for people not coming to Floyd Stadium. Not when Joe Craddock and Dwight Dasher are playing in a more exciting offense than every other quarterback in this state.

More importantly, no longer will the Blue Raiders wait on the fans to cheer them on to victory. The time to hop on the bandwagon is now before the nation leaves no one.