SPORTS SIDELINES • JULY 14,1993 • PAGE 13 Build it - and they may come Cat and mouse games beginning with MTSUfans ^Progress or TONY J. ARNOLD The possibility of a stadium shared with Sports Editor MTSU and located in La Vergne is MTSU's PART 77 OF III hope. However, many other counties are in the Egress? If you build it, they will come. running for the approximately S30 million MTSU LOOKING I-A WAY Seems like the famous line from Field of But the one that's drawing the most deal as well, including Davidson (where the Dreams is becoming a reality at MTSU. attention is a possible joint adventure with the Sounds arc presently located). Part II of III In order for Middle to advance to a Nashville Sounds. The financial situation for Middle is The Sounds, owned by Larry Schmittou, Division I-A status in football, it must have a uncertain but Middle may be forced to take TODAY stadium with a 30,000 seating capacity. But are a AAA baseball franchise of the Chicago the gamble. To advance to a I-A where or how will this be built? "What do we want to do with football?" level in football, MTSU "Right now, we're in the situation where 'My dream before I finish is I'd Donnelly asked. "Is it a value to the must have a new there's only so many dollars that can be used university? Is it a rallying point for the stadium. But the like to see an 'A' taken off our alumni? Is it worthwhile? If it is, let's keep it in athletics because of a cap put on [by the question is Tennessee Board of Regents]," said Athletic name. Drop one 'A' and then we're and go for it. If someone can convince me that Director John Stanford. "We have a certain in a class equal to all other it's not, we need to drop it. where and how? amount of money, and after that, you're own universities.' "People drive through here and see your own." -MTSU Football Coach MTSU and say 'what the hell is that?' You NEXT WEEK can go downtown and see orange in the Money hasn't kept Blue Raider football Boots Donnelly A bit of advice from coach Boots Donnelly from dreaming, though. windows for sale. You sec orange shirts on Arkansas State head "My dream before I finish is I'd like to campus. People are making money off the football coach John see an 'A' taken off our name," Donnelly White Sox. But for many years, it has been community and no one really cares about this Schmittou's dream to bring a major league Hobo, who's school revealed. "Drop one 'A' and then we're in a university. recently made the same franchise to the Nashville area. "We have to get this second-rate image class equal to all the other universities." jump MTSU is Possible sites for a stadium have been Hoping to do so with the lure of a new out of the way. We have to do it with students, numerous. Sites off campus, as well as on, stadium could be helpful in his chase. But a exploring. have been run through the mill. site for a stadium is up in the air. See STADIUM, Page 11 Walters1 wealth of talent added to MTSU team Chip making an impact in Blue Raider athletic realm TRENT MILLER players. We also want to get more Kentucky Radio Network where, Assistant Sports Editor coverage of our games," Walters he said, he gained insights on said. "That extra media coverage promotion from observing the While MTSU's athletic builds name recognition for the Kentucky basketball program. programs continue to grow. Chip university and that reflects very Walters also occasionally fills in Walters finds himself getting well on our athletic programs." as sports anchor for WSMV busier. Walters has a wealth of Channel 4 in Nashville. Walters joined the Athletic experience in sports broadcasting Walters started his new job Department in January in the during basketball season, and it newly created position of Athletic hasn't been hard to tell an Marketing and Promotions 'I think MTSU will be immediate difference. Director. given automatic respect Of the most notable, he "This job deals with with the move to I-A added music during breaks in the marketing of MTSU athletics via football.' action and at key moments of the games on radio, on television, game to get the crowd into the game-day programs, corporate - Chip Walters action. He also persuaded former sponsorships, and game-day Blue Raider stars to attend games promotions," Walters explained. and promotion. He graduated and be recognized. All this means that Walters is from MTSU in 1985 and was "I think it's very important to a busy man, and he hustles to sports director for the Tennessee bring back former players just to keep up with all the various Radio Network for five years. As let the students know that MTSU athletic programs as the seasons part of this job, he said he earned athletics does have a history," change. valuable experience while Walters said. "We really want to get more broadcasting Yanderbilt games. Walters said he hopes to keep Sherri Larose/Photographer media coverage of our Immediately before coming this practice and add others to personalities, both coaches and to MTSU, Walters worked for the See WALTERS, Page 11 CHIP WALTERS .