Tennis Champs

The MT Men's tennis team is on a roll of late here is there accomplishments so far....
- 2009 Sun Belt Conference Championship (First Ever)
- Head Coach David McNamara named Sun Belt Coach of the Year
- Automatic bid to NCAA Tournament, and the opponent is-

The Blue Raiders earned a number three seed and will face Boise State on May 8 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Blue Raiders are 2-2 all-time against the Broncos. If the Blue Raiders win they will meet the winner of the Furman/Alabama match on May 9.

Best of Luck to Coach McNamara and the men's tennis team!

School Visit

Last Friday a few Blue Raiders got the chance to visit Scales Elementary school. Everyone had a great time as the players got to read to the 2nd graders and then share in "Fun Friday" with some recess time! Thanks to Scales Elementary for allowing us to stop by.

From Scales Elem

From Scales Elem

APR Recognition

The NCAA Champion Magazine, a quarterly pulication covering a myriad of issues concerning NCAA institutions ,just released an article on the Middle Tennessee State Football program and our vast APR improvement. Its a great read on the effects APR has had on college athletics and especially the great strides that the MT Football program has made under Coach Stockstill.

>>CLICK HERE FOR NCAA ARTICLE

Daily Pictures

Pictures from today's Iron Man..

The Winner is....

The results are in, Coach Patterson is announcing his winners here first on The Stock Report....
Individuals:
Linemen- Jake Padrick

From Spring Iron Man

Combo- Danny Carmichael

From Spring Iron Man

Skill- Dwight Dasher

From Spring Iron Man

Team:
1st Place- Team Led by Brandon Perry & Desmond Gee
2nd Place- Team Led by Mike Cannon & Marcus Udell

Iron Man Action

Mike Cannon is making a comeback determined to have a great year in '09.

From Spring Iron Man

Kevin Brown elevates to flip this pole.

From Spring Iron Man

Pound for Pound one of the strongest Blue Raiders, Patrick Honeycutt hauls the kettle bells.

From Spring Iron Man

Danny Carmichael is feeling the burn on the "Prowler".

From Spring Iron Man

Tools of the Trade

Some have asked about the tools used in today's Iron Man challenge so we are glad to answer our fans...

From Spring Iron Man

The "Prowler", guaranteed to turn legs to jello.

From Spring Iron Man

The telephone pole, how fast can you flip this?

From Spring Iron Man

The kettle bell, your biceps don't stand a chance against me...

Iron Man

The lightning in the area is putting a delay in the competition but things will get cranked again when the weather passes through the area.

Iron Man 2

The Stock Report just met with Head Strength Coach Russell Patterson about the "Iron Man" competition that is set to get underway in about 30 minutes. Here is some of that interview...

TSR- What is the "Iron Man" competition and why have it?
Patterson- Great question, the iron man competition is really a culmination of the spring semester for our players. Its purpose is really two fold, first it is a reward and second it is another chance for the players to compete.
Its a reward for our guys because since classes started in January they have put in about 13 weeks of difficult training throughout winter lifting, Mat Drills and Spring Practice. The iron man gives them a chance to let loose aside from football to see who is the toughest and strongest which is always fun for these guys.
The competition part of the contest both individual and team. Coach Stockstill is always telling the guys to compete in every aspect of their lives because he wants them to be the best at anything they do. When guys buy into that concept it will infect everything they do so we can get every ounce of potential out of them, on the field and off. This is just another way to provide a competitive environment away from football, that encourages leaders to emerge and guys to increase thier intensity.

TSR- How is the iron man event organized?
Patterson- The seniors are the leaders and they hold a draft to choose their teams. This is fun for the guys because the teams will start a banter and it really gets the competitive juices flowing. Another great thing about the draft is that it combines guys that would not normally be working together or competing on the same team so to speak. Doing this helps build bonds on the team that don't develop when guys are compartmentalized on offense & defense.

TSR- What are the events?
Patterson-
1)Farmer's Walk= Each guy will carry a kettle bell in each arm for 100yds, the faster you get to the 100yd mark the better the score. Linemen will carry 90lbs in each hand while skill players carry 70lbs in each hand.
2)Pole Flip= Players will flip a section of a telephone poll as many times as possible in 45 seconds. The more flips the better your score.
3)Prowler Push= A small sled loaded with about 80lbs must be pushed for 70yds, the quicker the time the better the score.

TSR- How is the scoring for events done?
Patterson- The best finisher in each event gets 100pts. Everyone else is assessed points by % based on how close they are to the best finisher. There is an individual champion and team championship. The individual champion is split into a Lineman, Combo and Skill position winner. The teams are scored on the best 5 people on each team.

Iron Man

Head Strength Coach Russell Patterson's annual "Iron Man" challenge for the football team is being held today in Floyd Stadium. The Stock Report will be live on location to get photos and a summary of the day's activities.

- On a side note the entire football staff met this morning with MT's head of NCAA Compliance Daryl Simpson to refresh on spring evaluation rules, new changes to legislation and to answer any specific questions coaches have about the process. After the meeting the staff was fired up to get out on the road and find some more great talent to bring to "The Boro".

Sun Belt Champs

Congrats go out to the MTSU Golf teams for their stellar performances at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Houston, TX this week.
The ladies tied their highest finish ever in the SBC Championships by ending the day in 3rd place.
The men have been playing some great golf lately and this week was no different as they claimed the Sun Belt Title.

From Desktop

Starting new season

Today the coaching staff has hit the ground running watching as much film on 2010 recruits as possible so they can set their itineraries for the May Evaluation Period. This time is crucial for the Blue Raider Program as coaches will search the Southeast for next season's top recruiting targets.
During this time coaches will collect academic information, copy game film, speak with high school coaches & teachers and hopefully find a few hidden gems other programs haven't seen yet. This period lays the foundation for a successful 2010 recruiting class.

Coach Franklin on XM

Coach Tony Franklin was on XM Rivals Radio yesterday talking about the Blue Raider Football program and we have a copy of the interview here for you on The Stock Report thanks to our friends at XM Rivals Radio...

Golf Tourney

Today the coaches are out of the office for the annual Football Lettermen's golf tournament. It's a great event that gives former Blue Raiders a chance to catch up and enjoy some fellowship.

The Stock Report will bring you all the results later today!

Practice Pictures

The picture show from Practice #14

Practice #14

Practice #14 is now complete, only Saturday's Blue & White Spring Game is left to complete the spring practice period for the Blue Raiders. Today's practice was short as the team ran through a mock-up of the spring game and met with coaches for a last bit of instruction before summer.

-As a side note like most spring periods backup players get a few reps, and today walk-on Barry Cunningham (#11) put on a display with some very accurate and difficult throws. Most of the team stopped to watch and he even got compliments from the defensive players.

From Practice #14

Garage Sale

In conjunction with Saturday's spring game, the MTSU athletic department will also hold their annual garage sale in Floyd Stadium. Fans will be able to purchase Nike jerseys, a limited number of helmets, along with a few other items. The garage sale will be located outside of Lightning's Locker Room near Gate 2A and will get underway at 10 AM.

The Stock Report is bringing you a sneak peak of a few of the many items on sale...

From Gear

From Gear

Rosters Announced

The rosters for the annual Blue & White Spring Game have been announced. Coach Stockstill and the coaching staff spent the morning dividing the players up into the Blue Team & the White Team. Coaches and staff will also be divided up into these two groups.

The game has more on the line than bragging rights, the winners will dine on a Steak dinner while the losers eat hamburgers and hot dogs.

The game will begin at 1pm on Saturday, but check www.goblueraiders.com for the other activities on the day such as the garage sale and autograph sessions!

Blue Team

Coaching Staff-Graduate assistant Zach Johnson will serve as head coach of the Blue team while Brent Brock, Justin Watts, Les Herrin, Steve Ellis, and Tommy Harvell will make up the rest of the coaching staff.

Players-

*3 Marcus Udell, CB

5 Hakeem Johnson, CB

8 Zeke Anderson, QB

10 Brent Burnette, QB

12 Barry Cunningham, QB

16 Gene Delle Donne, TE

19 Andrew Banks, WR

20 Jeremy Kellem, S

22 Stuart Taylor, CB

23 D.D. Kyles, RB

26 Jawan Carson, CB

28 Josh Gregory, S

37 David DeFatta, P

39 Taylor Ports, PK

40 Wesley Hale, FB

43 Gorby Loreus, LB

44 Danny Carmichael, LB

*45 Jarrett Crittenton, DL

#48 Adam Wade, DS

49 Andre Wicker, DL

*50 Colin Boss, OL

55 Daniel Waller, LB

57 Jeremy Michel, OL

59 Darin Davis, LB

62 Evon Lettsome, OL

69 Austin Taylor, OL

73 Travis Lilienthal, OL

75 Chris Hawkins, OL

79 Brian Lorman, OL

^81 Wes Caldwell, WR

83 Eldred King, WR

84 Harold Turner Jr., WR

85 Shane Blissard, WR

*88 Marcus Thurmond, WR

91 Emmanuel Perez, DE

92 Brandon Perry, DL

94 Gary Tucker, DL

98 Chris McCoy, DE

*99 Antonio Hill, LB

*Injured and will not play

^with baseball and will not play

#playing with both teams

White Team

Coaching Staff- Graduate assistant Mike Polly has been named head coach of the White team and will be assisted by Willie Simmons, Tony Franklin, Jimmy Ray Stephens, Manny Diaz, David Bibee, and Roger Pollard.

Players-

1 Chris McClover, WR

2 Desmond Gee, RB

4 Malcolm Beyah, WR

6 Rod Issac, CB

*7 Alex Suber, CB

9 Dwight Dasher, QB

11 Jamari Lattimore, DE

*13 Michael Cannon, WR

15 Sancho McDonald, WR

17 Patrick Honeycutt, WR

18 Nicholas Coleman, QB

21 Phillip Tanner, RB

24 Derrick Crumpton, S

30 Cam Robinson, LB

31 Denzell Guerra, S

32 Sherman Neal, CB

33 Kevin Brown, S

34 Marquise Branton, FB

36 Nathaniel Toulson, P

38 Alan Gendreau, PK

41 Craig Heyward, FB

46 Norman Washington, LB

*47 Dwight Smith, DL

48 Adam Wade, DS

51 SaCoby Carter, DL

52 Antwan Davis, LB

53 Jerry Cobb, LB

*60 Brandon McLeroy, OL

65 Alex Stuart, OL

70 Jamal Lewis, OL

*71 Jake Padrick, OL

72 Mark Thompson, OL

74 Mark Fisher, OL

78 Mike Williams, OL

86 Byron McLeod, TE

93 Phillip Tinsley, DE

96 Kendall Dangerfield, DL

*Injured and will not play

Practice #13

The Blue Raiders just came off the field from practice #13 of 15. There was no rain today but it was overcast and unseasonably cool for late April in Tennessee. That still didn't stop the players and coaching staff from having a spirited last practice in pads before the spring game on Saturday.
Tomorrow will be the last regular practice of the spring period with the team hitting the field at about 4:15pm. It will be a light day with players in shorts, the NCAA mandates that three spring practices be in shorts, and focusing on technique and schemes for Saturday's scrimmage.

Part 6: 5 Burning Questions

Today's segment of the 5 Burning Questions series covers Safeties Coach David Bibee..

1) Talk about the benefits of having Kevin Brown and Jeremy Kellem returning to your unit in 2009?
Having both starting safeties returning is super because they are both outstanding people as well as players. They will provide positive leadership and experience to our defense as well as our team. They are both very coachable and want to be the best they can be. They just need to work to be the best and continue to study the game every day. Both young men are a blast to coach!

2) Derrick Crumpton was a surprise last season by getting significant playing time as a true freshman, how has he grown in the spring and what do you expect from him next season?
Derrick is just a ball player. He loves to play and plays the way you are supposed to play this great game. Derrick is working hard to become a technician and is fine tuning the small things. His willingness to focus and work on the little things has shown his maturity. I expect him to contribute in a major way to the success of our defense and special teams next season.

3) Denzell Guerra redshirted last year but has some people excited about his potential, what have you seen from his development and maturation this spring and do you think he will make an impact this fall?
Denzell has matured a lot since the beginning of fall. We have seen what we were so excited about when he was in high school and we recruited him. If he continues to work and discipline himself he should be in the thick of things this fall.

4) What type of contributions if any will the incoming freshmen have at the safety position in 2009?
The great thing about Coach Stockstill’s philosophy is that the best players play. Safeties are big time situation players (Dime & Nickel packages) as well as special teams players. If a freshman safety learns quickly and can match the college tempo, I don’t see any reason why one could not get on the field in the fall.

5) What was your secret to success and how were you so productive on the recruiting trail this past signing day by signing 8 recruits?
There is no secret to recruiting. The old saying goes; “recruiting is like shaving, if you don’t do it every day you look like a bum.” Along with each individual’s hard work, team work is also vital. Everyone a prospect comes in contact with on his visit must make a positive impression. Last and certainly not least, our head coach’s work ethic in recruiting sets the bar and he truly runs a class program in all aspects which is essential.

Extra Point- You have an extensive background in coaching, with all the stops in your career what coach has had the biggest influence on your style or philosophy as a coach?
The person with the biggest influence on me was my head high school coach, John Cropp, who became a very successful college coach and is now a college assistant athletic director. Coach Cropp cared about us as individuals and would never compromise integrity for success. I learned that if you want to get 100% out of a player, he better believe you care about him as a man not just as a player. If the only way our guys grow is on the field as a player then we have missed the boat and have failed them.

Rick Stockstill Camps

The 2009 Rick Stockstill Summer Camp dates have been announced. All camps will be held on the campus of Middle Tennessee State and ran by the Blue Raider coaching staff. For more information call Camp Director, Chris Matusek @ 615.494.8735

Elite Camp
(9-12 Graders)
Camp 1- Sunday, May 31
Camp 2- Sunday, June 7
>>CLICK HERE FOR ELITE BROCHURE

Youth Camp
(1-8 Graders)
June 1 - June 4, 2009
>>CLICK HERE FOR YOUTH BROCHURE

7-on-7 Passing Tournament
(Teams Only)
Friday, July 10
>>CLICK HERE FOR 7-on-7 BROCHURE

Practice #12

Today's practice was short and spirited as the Blue Raiders were on the field for about an hour and a half. Practice was fast paced and coaches focused on keeping the players moving around with a high tempo.
The remaining practices are as follows:
Wednesday April 15- 4:15pm
Thursday April 16- 4:15pm
Saturday April 18- 1:00pm (Blue & White Spring Game)

Part 5: 5 Burning Questions

This edition of the 5 Burning Questions Series covers new Cornerbacks Coach & Special Team Coordinator Steve Ellis. Coach Ellis just joined the Blue Raider staff this spring from Nichols State University where he led a top ranked defensive unit.

1) What do you think of the group of CB’s that you inherited this season?
I feel good about the group of guys I inherited this season… The guys are aggressive, tough, and smart football players. They have a great attitude about meetings and on the practice field... They have good change of direction and the effort they display is second to none .The best part is they are great citizens and great people.

2) With great depth and a combination of experience and youth at cornerback what has been your focus in the spring?
My main focus this spring is to take each player and raise his level of play. For example, if he is bad make him average, if he is average make him good, if he is good make him great, and if he is great make him the best. That process starts from Day 1 thru Day 15, Everyday they must get better @ something. I tell them each practice, let’s keep sawing that wood every single day and eventually it will fall off. It’s the same with DB’s, let’s get better & better everyday.

3) What do you see as your goals for a successful ’09 for the cornerbacks?
The biggest goal is for every guy to maximize his potential; to play as tough and physical as he possibly can. Those guys have to realize that the only goal they should have is to be the very best you can be and have the respect and trust from your teammates.

4) You have coached several guys that play on Sundays, what qualities made them a success? Have you made sure they talk with your current players?
All those guys were excellent football players and they were all great people. The one aspect that all those guys shared, which is an unbelievable trait, the trait all the great ones have; was they were all "self motivated". I remember a guy like Chris Thompson, drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars, would run the stadium every morning at 5 am because he felt he was not fast enough and he eventually ran 4.45 at the NFL combine. A guy like Kareem Moore that was drafted by the Washington Redskins, graduated with a degree in psychology and then received a degree in education. They had a determination and desire that nobody on the team was going to out work them. It was amazing to watch how those guys worked and how they really left the blood sweat and tears out on the practice field.

My older guys call my current players @ MTSU, because I wanted Chris, Kareem, etc. to communicate with Alex Suber, Rod Isaac, etc. so these guys would understand how much hard work and dedication it took to be successful in college and make it to the NFL. The bottom line is that we all are average guys but it comes down to who will put that extra time and effort into it, that’s what will separate the average ones from the great ones. I also wanted my guys to understand that even though they succeed on the field all those guys have degrees from Nicholls State and they are great ambassadors of the university. I want those guys to have a bond and to grow as friends because this is what coaching is about; bringing a group of men together that do not have any knowledge of each other. Kareem calls Hakeem Johnson then Hakeem calls Kareem then before you know it they form a bond and now Kareem is a mentor for Hakeem. That’s why I love coaching so much!

5) Where does your high energy, vocal style of coaching come from?
No doubt my energy came from my dad S.L. Ellis. My dad dropped out of high school in the 9th grade along with his brothers to help my grandparents in the fields and on the farm to make ends meet. They worked from sun up to sun down every day except for Saturday. On Saturday, they stopped working at three o’clock, so they could play sports with all the other people around the area (We call that sandlot baseball or football). It was their time to have fun and enjoy life. That’s what he taught us growing up in Mississippi, man enjoy life and enjoy your job. I enjoy the coaching profession, I love going to work everyday, it is a great feeling to be alive doing what I do.

My family is loud, my aunt Emma Jean, they call her Radio. My dad would carry a bull horn to me and my brothers’ football games and you could hear him across the football field yelling. The home fans and the opponents fans would be laughing at him. If you are not passionate about something, then I really believe you need to find another job. If you are a ditch digger, be the best ditch digger; if you are the CEO of Wal-Mart, be the best CEO in the country.

Extra Point- What is your favorite part of Murfreesboro area so far?
The best part about Murfreesboro is the city itself. It's a great city. It's very clean, and the people are friendly. The location is great because you are so close to Nashville but the town still has its own identity. Another great thing is that there are so many places to eat here. MTSU is in a great location and I am excited to be a part of it!

Practice #11

The weather broke and the Blue Raiders finally got on the field to finish practice #11. This is the first practice since last Wednesday April 8th. Even though staff and players had heavy hearts with the destruction of Friday's storms on their minds, everyone was in good spirits and excited to get back to work.

Before and after practice Coach Stockstill reminded players to keep those affected by the Tornado in their thoughts and prayers, he also urged the players to give of themselves and volunteer in the community and support others that are always there for us.

Here are today's practice shots...

Practice update...

Players & coaches just finished the team meeting and have gone into position meetings. Coach Stockstill is watching the radar and hoping that the current weather moves through the area while meetings are taking place.
We are planning to start practice around 4:15pm today so stay tuned for practice updates....

Part 4: 5 Burning Questions

Coach Justin Watts gets involved in part 4 of The Stock Report's 5 Burning Questions Series. Coach Watts is the Wide Receivers coach and Recruiting Coordinator for the Blue Raiders Football Program:

1)Were you surprised by the play of your freshmen WR’s in 2008?
Yes and No. I knew that the young guys would have to contribute a good bit last season because of the lack of depth that we had returning, but by no means did I envision the two freshman making as big of impact as they made.

2) What are your expectations for the WR unit in 2009?
I expect us to become a consistent unit that our team can count on every week to make plays and help MTSU win. With the top 6 WR’s returning from last year and some young new talent I think that we can put pressure on the defense with our playmakers.

3) Has there been any challenges for the WR’s in adjusting in to the new offense? If so what?
The biggest adjustment for all of the receivers has just been learning the terminology of the new offense. Also, we are coaching some techniques a little different than last year, but overall they all are picking it up very well.

4) With the need for WR depth in the new offensive scheme, who has stepped up in the spring to add depth at the position?

With the speed that we practice at, and hopefully play at, we must have several WR’s that can contribute. All of the guys from last year have improved and also some guys such as Andrew Banks, Gene Della Donne, Shane Blissard, and Harold Turner have done some good things. The biggest thing is for every guy to learn that he must come to work hard everyday so that each person is ready to play in a game situation.

5) What do you hope to get out of Gee moving into the slot from running back?

We moved Desmond Gee there with the hope of getting the ball in his hands in space so that he can use his speed and quickness to his advantage. Des can do some special things when he has the ball. He is also a good example for the younger WR’s because he is one of the hardest practice players I have ever seen.

Extra Point: Being recruiting coordinator, what is your favorite part of the process as a coach?
I enjoy getting out on the road, meeting young men and building a relationship with them that goes way beyond football. I also enjoy out working an opposing coach in order to get a top prospect.

Final Push

After getting the Easter weekend off to spend time with their families, the coaches are back at it this morning with a staff meeting and then offensive & defensive meetings. With only one week of spring practice left, the coaches are focusing on getting the most out the next 4 practices and Saturday's spring game.

Today's plan, weather permitting goes like this:
8:30am Staff Meeting
9:00am Offensive/Defensive Staff Meetings
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Coaches prepare for position meetings
3:15pm Team Meeting/Position Meetings
4:15pm Practice

Practice Cancelled

Middle Tennessee Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill canceled Friday's scheduled practice due to the devastating tornadoes that hit Rutherford County Friday afternoon.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in Rutherford County and the mid-state area during this difficult time," said Stockstill. "There are a lot more important things in life than football and we felt it was not appropriate to be on the field today. We have a number of kids from Tennessee and they need to be with their families at this time."

The Blue Raiders will return to the practice field on Monday.

The Blue Raider Football program, coaches and players a like, wants to offer our services to help during this recovery period.

Special Olympics (2)

As promised The Stock Report is bringing you some pictures from today's Special Olympics. We also visited with Coach Stockstill during the event to get his thoughts on taking part in this event...
"Our players are heavily involved in community activities, but being able to help with the Special Olympics is one of the opportunities that we enjoy the most. I feel it gives us as coaches and players a chance to help and support others that are less fortunate. To go out and see the enjoyment on the faces of each person we meet is very rewarding to our players and coaches. It is truly something we look foward to every year." - Coach Rick Stockstill

Part 3: Five Burning Questions- Coach Willie Simmons

Part 3 of The Stock Report's 5 Burning Questions Series covers the running backs and their coach Willie Simmons...

1) With Gee & Tanner carrying the load at running back in 2008, how does Gee moving to the slot effect your depth at the position? Anyone stepping up in the spring?
Of course with Desmond Gee moving to receiver, it will create a little bit of a depth issue at the runningback position. Des's production dipped a little last year and I think that part of that was due to the fact that he played only RB. Philip is more than capable of carrying the load, but someone else will have to prove themselves worthy come fall. Both D.D. Kyles and Marquise Branton have made drastic improvements since the start of spring ball and have both shown the ability to contribute in this offense.

2) With the 2009 recruiting class being so deep at running back do you see one or several freshmen getting serious carries in 2009?
I think that runningback is one of the easier positions to transition from high school to college because of the skill set and instincts of the position. All four of the guys we signed in this year's class are physically ready to play with all being over 190 lbs. If any of them can learn protection schemes then they'll have a good shot at getting valuable playing time.

3) People may view this offense as “pass heavy”, how will the running back position fit into this scheme?
I think that any "Spread" team has to be successful running the football if it is to be successful as an offensive unit. The runningbacks in this offense will have many opportunities to get the ball in space, which is what you want to do in the spread (get playmakers in space). They are also heavily involved in the passing game.

4) Was Tanner’s performance against North Texas in 2008 a surprise to you?
Yes and no. Yes, because he had a great deal on his plate that week with the birth of his daughter and the circumstances surrounding that situation. He actually graded out fairly low assignment wise! No, because he has the potential to play that way every week. He is as talented of a player as I've been around when he wants to be and that week he ran with a chip on his shoulder playing against a team from his home state.

5) What are your goals/expectations for Phillip Tanner in his senior season?
I expect him to pick up where he left off the last four games of the season last year, when he ran the ball extremely well. He should have a phenomenal year with the ball in his hands, but the area I really expect him to excel is playing without the ball (blocking, route running, faking, etc.).


Extra Points- Being a young coach, how does that help in your coaching and recruiting styles?
I think players feel they can relate to me in ways that maybe they can't with older coaches because I am the closest to having been in their shoes. I think recruits see my enthusiasm and tenacity which comes with being a young coach and it helps build a trusting relationship with them and their parents.

Special Olympics

Today is a very special day on the campus of MTSU, we have the honor of hosting the local Special Olympics and there are hundreds of athletes competing in the track/soccer complex.
Our football players and many athletes from other MT sports are proud to help out and make it an exciting time for our visitors.
The Stock Report is on the scene throughout the day and will bring you some pictures later on today..

Practice #10

Practice #10 is now in the books. It was great weather today with clear skys and temps in the mid 60's. The players were upbeat and had an energetic practice. Make sure to check Coach Stock's Twitter for his post practice thoughts. Until then here are some pictures from today's activities....

Part 2: Five Burning Questions- Coach Brent Brock

In this installment in our new series, The Stock Report visits with Tight Ends Coach Brent Brock. The following is from our earlier interview with Coach Brock...

1) You were the Tight Ends Coach last season, how have your responsibilities changed this season under new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin?
I still have the same title but my role has shifted somewhat. In this offense my role has expanded to assist Coach Watts with all the wide receivers. Since we will use non-traditional sets my players will migrate to that area so my focus will be coaching all the Inside (slot) Receivers.

2) How will your Tight Ends be used in the new offense?
As we talked about before, we will line up in non-traditional sets so my guys will be moved around the field. Primarily they will be expected to play in space... not only as a receiver but also as a motion player back in the box for the run game/ protection purposes.

3) What are you most excited about in the new offense?
The biggest thing for me is the expectation of detail, not only as it relates to the scheme of our offense but also to the individual coaches and players.

4) What are your goals for your players this spring?
I think my goals would focus on the niche of the offense as it relates to my players. For them to understand their role and get excited about the prospect of becoming a contributor to this team.

5) How have Byron McLeod and Gene Delle Donne performed this spring?
Like all of us, they have had their moments good and bad. But they must consistently give their best efforts to improve day after day to make the coaching staff notice that they can help this football team be successful next season.

Extra Point: You were a player under coach Bobby Bowden at FSU, have you taken any lessons from him that you apply to your coaching style?
Change the culture immediately; communicate expectations from day 1...Stick to your plan, never panic; more importantly discipline with empathy!

MT Baseball tops Vandy

Congratulations to Coach Pete and the MT Baseball team as they shutout SEC foe Vanderbilt last night 8-0!
That gives the Blue Raiders a 22-7 record heading into this weekend's home series against Florida International which starts on Friday, April 10 at 6 p.m.
Schedule Notes: Saturday, April 11's game with Florida International will be at 3 p.m. on CSS as the Sun Belt Game of the Week.
The Blue Raiders' game with FIU set for Sunday, April 12 has been moved up one hour to 12 p.m. due to FIU's travel schedule out of the Nashville airport.

Part 1: 5 Burning Questions with Coach Diaz

Today's first installment of 5 Burning Questions starts of with Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz. Here is the interview The Stock Report had with Coach Diaz earlier this afternoon...

1) What is your main goal going into spring practice?
Spring is all about every member of our defense improving their fundamentals, techniques and understanding of the scheme. You are looking for players to take a step up - you want the ones who redshirted to be able to contribute to the team this season - the ones who were back-ups last year to push for starting jobs, and the ones who started last year to take their play to another level.

2) Is the question mark at the linebacker position something you have focused on during this spring?
For whatever reason, every spring we have been here we have had a "question mark" at LB. In spring of 2006, Marcus Brandon and Justin Rainey had played very little, and both had very good years for us. Then we lost those 2 along with JK Sabb, and LB was a question all over again. This time last year no one had seen what a healthy Ivon Hickmon was capable of, and Danny Carmichael made a big step up last season too. We are thankful we have Danny coming back but we feel like the other players there are making good strides too.

3) What young players do you expect to step up or have you seen emerge in the spring?
Phillip Tinsley has impressed us, he has great physical tools but also plays with a motor beyond his years. Kendall Dangerfield has done some nice things for us inside as well. Gorby Loreus and Darin Davis are 2 young LBs who are getting better every day, and Hakeem Johnson and Denzell Guerra have both competed well after redshirting last year. We don't even consider Derrick Crumpton a young player any more, but he has had a very good spring as well.

4) Are there any position battles on defense that are really heating up?
We rotate so many people on defense we look at position battles as a blessing. With the way we are recruiting we feel like before too long we will have great depth at all positions on defense, but right now we have the best competitions going on at DE and in the secondary.

5) What do you feel Coach Steve Ellis brings to your defense and how have the cornerbacks reacted to his style?
Coach Ellis has brought his high-energy style to our corners, and I really like the job he and David Bibee are doing with our secondary. We have some really good players back there who are actually better as people and they are a joy to coach. I know they all appreciate coaches who are focused on getting them better.

Extra Points:
What are your top five songs in your iPod right now?
If it's my iPod, there's about 350 U2 songs on there, and about 35 by a few other groups, so it's not real complicated

Basketball Update

An update to the earlier story about the staff basketball game...
Coach Watt's team came out firing on all cylinders ready to avenge their 3 game skid. They did just that as they swept 4 straight games from Coach Diaz's team to make the series 4-3 in favor of Coach Watt's squad. Stay tuned for future updates on this ongoing challenge...

Lunch break

The coaches have just broke from watching recruiting film to play some competitive lunch basketball as a staff. Coach Diaz's squad is riding a 3 game win streak, we will have an update after lunch.

5 BURNING QUESTIONS

During the last two weeks of Spring Practice '09 the Stock Report will be bringing you an inside look at the Blue Raider Football program from a coaches perspective. We are starting a series called 5 Burning Questions which will have each coaches' thoughts on their position and goals for the spring.
We hope you check back over the next 12 days for each segment of the series as we try to give you even more access to the MT Football Program!

New Week

Coaches & Players will be back at it today after the weekend off. The coaches met as a staff at 8:30am this morning and just broke out of the meeting to prepare for film study with players this afternoon.
Coaches will also take advantage of this lull between practices to to catch up on watching 2010 recruiting film. With spring recruiting season almost here each coach has to know which prospective student-athletes he has to target during the short evaluation period.

NEW 2009 Schedule Changes

Hot off the press: The Blue Raiders will receive one of the Sun Belt Conference's nationally televised football games this fall as announced by the league office today. This late announcement will alter the previously announced schedule.

The Blue Raiders will face defending league champion Troy on ESPN2 at 7 PM CST in a Tuesday night affair on October 6 at Movie Gallery Stadium. The teams were previously scheduled to meet on Nov. 21.

Since 2006, Middle Tennessee has played an SBC best seven nationally televised games and will now see that total go to eight.

New 2009 Schedule

Sept. 5 @ Clemson

Sept. 12 Memphis

Sept. 19 @ Maryland

Sept. 26 @ North Texas

Oct. 3 OPEN

Oct. 6 @ Troy (ESPN2)

Oct. 10 OPEN

Oct. 17 Mississippi State

Oct. 24 Western Kentucky

Oct. 31 @ Florida Atlantic

Nov. 7 Florida International

Nov. 14 UL-Lafayette

Nov. 21 Arkansas State

Nov. 28 @ UL-Monroe

Early Morning Start

Because of the Thursday's storms the team did not practice yesterday, but they met again this morning at 6:30am to watch film with their position coaches before getting the weekend off. Players will report back on Monday to watch more film and prepare for Wednesday's practice. The rest of the spring practice schedule is...

Practice #10 - Wednesday April 8th

Practice #11 - Friday April 10th

Practice #12 - Monday April 13th

Practice #13 - Wednesday April 15th

Practice #14 - Thursday April 16th

Practice #15 (Spring Game) - Saturday April 18th

Practice #9

Practice #9 is in the books, it was a great day in Floyd Stadium as the sun was out and temperatures were in the high 60's. Coach Stock will be posting his post practice thoughts on Twitter soon but in the meantime here are some shots from today's practice...