| Bowl victory, 10 wins sets new MT football standard |
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Posted: Sunday, December 27, 2009 7:50 am
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Middle Tennessee's defensive made numerous big plays against Southern Mississippi. Jay Bailey photo
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Middle Tennessee football reached a new plateau in 2009, setting a standard for future teams.
The Blue Raiders capped a record 9-3 season with a precedent-setting victory in the New Orleans Bowl, the school’s first bowl win since entering Football Bowl Subdivision competition in 1999.
Middle fell behind early, 14-0, to defending bowl champion Southern Mississippi in last Sunday’s nationally televised bowl, and trailed 17-14 at halftime, but owned the second half en route to a 42-32 victory.
Dwight Dasher claimed the game’s most valuable player award convincingly with a stellar performance that saw him set a quarterback bowl rushing record with 201 yards on the ground while accounting for 363 yards total offense, adding 162 yards passing as he ran for two touchdowns and passed for two.
Dasher’s amazing production came despite leaving the game twice with leg injuries while playing on the Superdome’s artificial turf.
After giving up two early touchdowns, the Raider defense steadied and while not shutting down the powerful Golden Eagle defense forced several three-and-outs and tool the ball away twice, a strength of the unit all season.
The defense had two interceptions compliments of Alex Suber and Danny Carmichael. Making the turnovers even more impressive was the fact Southern Miss quarterback Martevious Young had thrown just two interceptions all season and had 165 consecutive completions without a pick before Suber turned him over in the second quarter. Suber's interception would set up a touchdown that enabled Middle Tennessee to rally and tie the game, 14-14.
“I've never been part of a team that plays with such effort, intensity, passion and toughness. I'm proud of every single one on this team. I've never been part of a team that plays harder than we do. Other teams can't match our intensity, enthusiasm and toughness and that was evident today,” Raider head coach Rick Stockstill said following the win in the second bowl appearance he has directed Middle to since taking the reins in 2006.
The victory left the Raiders with a seven-game win streak to conclude the record-setting ’09 season. Two of the team’s three losses were to conference champions, the ACC’s co-champ Clemson and Sun Belt Conference winner Troy, with the third loss against SEC foe Mississippi State in which the Raiders were without some key offensive personnel.
During that tough early part of the schedule, the Raiders posted notable wins over Memphis and Maryland and North Texas on the road. For the season Middle won four games while traveling.
At 3-3 the Raiders celebrated homecoming with a 62-24 beatdown of Western Kentucky that started the six-game streak that saw Middle challenged only once in a 27-20 win over Florida Atlantic.
While the defense was registering takeaway after takeaway, the offense rolled up no less than 34 points in five of the six regular-season final games.
Picked to finish fourth in the SBC, the Raiders wound up second, just behind champ Troy.
The Raiders made a huge showing on the all-conference team with Stockstill co-coach of the year and defensive end Chris McCoy sharing defensive player of the year honors.
Six MTSU players were honored with First Team All-Sun Belt Conference designations for their efforts during the 2009 season. Five Blue Raiders earned Second Team All-SBC honors, while two more made Honorable Mention.
The 11 All-Conference honors equals the second most in SBC history, tying the mark set in 2001, and one behind the record of 12 set in 2006.
In addition to McCoy, Middle Tennessee landed five others on the First Team. Senior Center Mark Thompson was named as an offensive lineman, while a trio of McCoy's defensive mates also made First Team All-SBC. They are seniors Suber and Marcus Udell, and junior Jeremy Kellem, who made up three-fourths of the All-SBC defensive backfield.
The sixth Blue Raider was sophomore place-kicker Alan Gendreau, who led the league in kick scoring with 98 points, and was second overall. He hit 18 of 21 field goal attempts, including a school-record 12 in a row, and missed only once in 45 extra point attempts.
Second team honors went to Dasher, OL Mark Fisher, DE Jamari Lattimore, and linebackers Danny Carmichael and Cam Robinson. Carmichael and Robinson are seniors, while the others are juniors.
Honorable Mention honors went to seniors Desmond Gee and Brandon Perry. Gee was named as a kickoff return specialist, while Perry was honored as a defensive lineman.
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