Collegefootballfan.com had the pleasure of attending a luncheon held by the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raider Blitz featuring Head Coach Rick Stockstill at CP Between the Lakes Pub in Mt. Juliet, TN on Monday. Coach Stockstill gave an overview of this year’s Blue Raiders and took questions. In C-USA clashes, CFF plans to see his charges go up against the UTSA Road Runners on Friday, September 30, and again Saturday, October 15, when they host their big rival, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
Head Coach’s pre-season analysis
Stockstill, who played QB at Florida State (class of ‘82) under Hall of Fame HC Bobby Bowden, looks forward to this season with more depth at QB than last season (7-6, 4-4 in C-USA). When we attended the game at WKU last season, frosh QB Nick Vittiato started, taking over for Senior Chase Cunningham who left previously due to a leg injury that ended his season. Both return this season. Vittiato thrived last year as the Blue Raiders won three of their last four games including a 31-24 win over Toledo in the Bahamas Bowl. He earned the MVP Trophy completing 23 of 35 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. MTSU also recruited heralded, three-star freshman QB DJ Riles to the program to add more depth.
Stockstill feels good about his returning running game which will be bolstered by transfers, although the O-line requires some rebuilding. The defense returns key starters up front which will be a strong point for the team. In some cases, transfers will be stepping in on D, especially in the secondary where DC Scott Shafer, former HC at Syracuse, pulls the team together. So, when practice starts next week, work in progress begins putting the finishing touches to the Blue Raiders who welcome James Madison University from the FCS to the FBS in their first game on September 3 in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
New world of recruiting
Speaking of transfer portals and the NIL, Rick took some questions about how these are affecting not only his program, but college football in general. Whereas recruiting used to focus on kids and where they’d play, playing time, and their interests in the academic goals, the new focal points zoom in on money they can possibly make and what facilities a school offers. You hear about the sliding boards in the Clemson football facility, and Georgia’s new multi-million-dollar investment. This forces every FBS program to keep up. The NIL opens up a whole new world, but he envisions some changes will have to be made. We hope as soon as possible.
One change of utmost importance to him is shortening the open portal window. Currently, it’s constantly open. Coaching staffs are already overwhelmed by time spent on recruiting, but the portal requires even more time now focused on the future as opposed to the present. Programs have to prepare for anything, especially now, not knowing who they can possibly lose. He foresees changes for the better alluding to hearing about designating limited portal dates. One other attendee mentioned NIL offers made now to high school players. And in an honest answer to my follow-up question regarding, “Who is supposed to monitor this process?”, he rolled his eyes to the laughter among the audience and said, “No one.” That’s what scares me most regarding the future of college football.
Extra Points
I lunched with MTSU play-by-play radio broadcaster Chip Walters. We had a great conversation about MTSU and college football in general. He introduced me to the audience as a “sidewalk” alum and told of the 634 games I’ve attended. Even Rick Stockstill’s eyes opened up! Met several nice people, fans and athletic staff members. Chip plans to invite me to talk again before a Blue Raider game on his pre-game tailgate show. Go Blue Raiders! I look forward to seeing them play.
Ed. – Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!
