MTSU will play host to the four-time defending SBC champion, Troy on Tuesday night in a game that will be shown across the nation on ESPN2. Senior quarterback Dwight Dasher will also make his 2010 debut, after being suspended for the opening four games for breaking an NCAA rule. Blue Raider head coach Rick Stockstill said Dasher can only prepare so much for game action in practice.

“Some of it you can only get from playing in a game,” he said. “We have two extra days of practice this week, so he will get enough reps. It is hard to simulate everything in practice like you can in a game.” 

Stockstill added he just wants Dasher to control the game and not try to do everything by himself.

“It is not like he has not been out there and this is his first time back on the field. Our players have confidence in him,” he continued. “He has been practicing with us throughout this process. The rest of the team will be glad to get him out there because this is what we were going to start the season with anyway. He cannot go out there and try to be Superman. He has good players around him and he must play within the system.”

In Dasher’s absent, MTSU went 2-2, but won its conference opener 34-14 at Louisiana-Lafayette. 

The school is marking this game with a “Blackout” atmosphere. The Blue Raiders will wear black jerseys, while it hopes all of the fans and students coming to the game will wear specially made black T-shirts. MTSU won its previous two blackout games. That included in 2008, the Blue Raiders used a last minute “Hail Mary” pass to beat Florida Atlantic. Last season, MTSU dominated in-state rival Memphis in front of a Floyd Stadium record crowd.

Senior running back Phillip Tanner said Stockstill enjoys making a fashion statement, but also knows it does not improve its performance on the field.

“Like coach said, we get fired up to wear the black jerseys, but it does not make you run faster or tackle better,” Tanner said. “It gives our fans something to get excited about.”

Last week, the Trojan squad began its so-called “Drive for Five” with a last minute 35-28 win against Arkansas State. Troy also has a 2-2 record, with all of their games coming down to the final minute.

One of the leaders for the Trojans is senior wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan, who was named SBC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance last week. Jernigan has 10 receptions for a career-best 209 yards and a touchdown catch. If he has 28 or more yards receiving against the Blue Raiders, he becomes the SBC all-time leader in that category and 21 catches will put him in first in the SBC career list in receptions.

Stockstill knows he is a tough matchup for the defense.

“You have to try to limit his catches as much as you as you can,” Stockstill said. “They are going to get him the ball, but you must keep him in front of you. You cannot let him get the big play.”

This game is also known as the “Battle for The Palladium”, which has something to do with Greek Mythology. The victory will receive “The Palladium” trophy, but the team is only taking it as an important SBC game.

“I saw it in 2006,” Tanner said. “It is just another game. We do not think of the Palladium Trophy. We want the conference trophy.”

David Hunter can be contacted at sports@murfreesboropost.com.