2003 Blue Raider Football 147 GoBlueRaiders.com a decade-by-decade review of mt football through the years In 1929, the football team played its first ten-game schedule, going 6-3-1 on the season. 1930s The 1930s brought definitive change within the football program. In 1933, the team had a new place to play their home games, Horace Jones Field. E.M. Waller would coach the team for the next two years. After witnessing a 70-7 loss to Murray State, Horace Jones - although he never played or coached football - helped initiate the recruiting of football players. His first recruit….Charles Murphy. In 1934, The Daily News Journal held a contest to give the school a specific nickname. The Pedagogues, Normals, and Teachers had all been used. Charles Sarver, a member of the football team, won the $5 contest with the name Blue Raid- ers. Sarver had been a fan of the Colgate Red Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium was constructed in 1933 as Horace Jones Raiders and substituted the schools blue for Field. The facility had portable bleachers for about the first 15 years Colgate’s red. until a major renovation put concrete grandstands in place in the late In 1935, the season saw the return of 1940s. Johnny “Red” Floyd. As in his first stint in 1917, Floyd led the Blue Raiders to another undefeated 1910s to the war and Floyd would return to Vanderbilt the season including revenge over Murray and a win following season. Miles also returned in 1919 to over Tennessee Tech for the first time in seven In 1912, the Middle Tennessee Normal coach the team once again and led the Normals to School strapped up and donned the pads for the years. their second straight undefeated season and third Floyd’s first loss as a head coach would first time as L.E. (Mutt) Weber, a student no less, in the program’s six years of play. coached the Normals or Pedagogues depending not come until the following year in the opener on who you ask. Although it is unlikely that this against Vanderbilt. group of men actually played an organized game 1920s The 1937 season saw the Blue Raiders play a 13-13 tie against rival Tennessee Tech. At against another institution (since no records exist), Miles continued to coach the team the end of the season, unsatisfied by the tie, the the foundation for football had been laid on the cam- through the early part of the decade, but his final two teams decided to play a second game. The pus of the Normal School in Murfreesboro. year would come in 1923. Miles was credited with Blue Raiders won 29-0. Middle Tennessee also By 1913, a buzz had been created by a a 34-15-4 record as the Normal School’s first offi- reached the 100-win plateau that season with a 19- group of young men forming a football team the cially recognized coach. 0 victory over Austin Peay. previous year which prompted the administration Guy Stephenson coached the team in Floyd retired following his only losing sea- to appoint an official coach for the team. Alfred B. 1924 and 1925. Although Stephenson produced son in 1938. Miles, a biology and physiology professor, took the only a 4-9-2 record, he did give the school its first reins of the football team. In 1913, the Normal win over an opponent which we would refer to as School would play its first official game, a 47-0 win Division I in today’s terms with a 57-7 win over 1940s against MBA. Although it’s unknown what level of Memphis State. Horace Jones Field was given a facelift talent the team played, they went on to a 5-1-1 In the final game of the 1925 season, the in 1940, when expansion added permanent con- record including a tie over Vanderbilt’s “B” squad. Middle Tennessee Teachers College (as it would crete grandstands. The following season, the Normal School be known from 1925-1942) would take its longest The school’s name was changed in 1943 rolled to an undefeated season, winning five straight road trip of the team’s existence. The Normals to Middle Tennessee State College; however, no games after a tie against Cumberland in the opener. made their way to central Florida to take on Stetson. football was played from 1943 to 45 due to World In 1917, Miles would leave the school due The Hatters won the game 10-0 in a contest played War II. to World War I. Although he would return in 1919, on a natural surface of sand. In 1947, the winningest coach to ever walk a young man by the name of Johnny “Red” Floyd In 1926, Frank Faulkinberry began his first the sidelines of Horace Jones Field began the first would take over for Miles that season. Interest- season at the helm. Not only did Faulkinberry serve of his 22 years leading the Blue Raiders. Charles ingly enough, Floyd was a football player at as football coach, he was also the schools basket- “Bubber” Murphy led his team to a 9-1 record that Vanderbilt at the time. However, no football was ball and baseball coach, as well as a professor. He first year. played at Vanderbilt that year. produced an overall 32-24-4 record during his seven Although he had to weather the critics af- In his first season as a football coach, years as head coach. ter switching the offensive system to the wing-T the Floyd led the Normal school to an undefeated sea- In a game against North Alabama in 1927, following year, which produced a mediocre 4-4 son at 7-0. 76 points were put up by MTSTC, which still stands mark, Murphy led the team to the first of his four No football would be played in 1918 due as the most points scored in one game. undefeated seasons the next year. 2003 Blue Raider Football 148 GoBlueRaiders.com 1960s Baltimore Colts. Mike Moore is named OVC Player of the The decade is Middle Tennessee’s most Year in 1975 and earns All-American status the fol- prolific as the Blue Raiders won 75 of their 105 lowing season. games (winning percentage of .714). Prior to the Charles Murphy, Teddy Morris, and 1960 season, Horace Jones Field was expanded Horace Jones become the first inductees to the Blue to seat 10,000. Raider Hall of Fame in 1976. For the second time in three seasons, After reclassification of the football struc- Middle Tennessee played in the Tangerine Bowl in ture by the NCAA in 1978, Middle Tennessee played 1961, but were defeated by Lamar Tech. its first game against a Division “I-A” team - Ten- In 1962, the Blue Raiders shared the OVC nessee State, which was classified “I-A” from 1978 title with Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, and to 1981 a 13-6 loss on September 2, 1978. East Tennessee State. Prior to the 1979 season, James “Boots” End George Dykes (1963), halfback Donnelly became the twelfth man to coach the Blue Jimbo Pearson (1964), and Keith Atchley (1965) Raiders. earned All-American honors. The 1964 squad won the OVC title and played in their final bowl game to date, a 20-0 win 1980s in the Grantland Rice Bowl over Muskingum. The 1980s would see the football program In 1965, Middle Tennessee State College produce more talent than in any other decade. Five acquired university status. Maxie Runion joined Max Arnold All-Americans and seven OVC Players of the Year and Charlie Lyons as the first All- Charles Murphy led the 1965 team to his played on the Horace Jones carpet. Americans in school history. All fourth and final undefeated season as well as his Roger Carroll (1983), Kelly Potter (1984), three were honored in 1950. seventh OVC Championship. Teddy Morris and Don Griffin (1984), and Don Thomas (1988) earned Keith Atchley become co-OVC Players of the Year, All-American honors. 1950s - the first Blue Raiders to win this honor. OVC Player of the Year honors went to At the end of the 1965 season, Teddy The 1950 season produced the first all- Dennis Mix (1982), Vince Hall and Randy Carr Morris left the University as the most prolific passer American selections in the school’s history. Full- (1984), Marvin Collier and Don Griffin (1985), Don in school history. Following the season, Morris’ back Max Arnold, halfback Maxie Runion, and guard Thomas (1988), and Anthony Coleman (1989). number 14 becomes the first and only number to Charles Lyons became the first. James Griffin was selected in the seventh be retired at Middle Tennessee. On November 18, 1950, Middle Tennes- round of the 1983 NFL draft by the Cincinnati The opening game of the 1967 season see traveled by plane for the first time in school Bengals. saw the Blue Raiders play Navy Pensacola, a team history as the team flew to Beaumont, Texas., to In 1984, Boots Donnelly led the Blue Raid- of former college all-stars. The Naval team was face Lamar Tech. The Blue Raiders won the game ers to their first ever I-AA playoff appearance. led by 1963 Heisman Trophy winner Roger 27-0. Maxie Runion, the All-American halfback took Middle Tennessee reached the semifinals after de- Staubach. In the 28-7 victory, the Blue Raiders held a one week train ride because he was afraid to fly. feating Eastern Kentucky (27-19) and Indiana State Staubach to 16 of 45 passing for 137 yards and He returned a punt for a touchdown in the win.