MIKE PIRTLE, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, September 5, 2010 7:43 am

Aaaaah, football.

Except for the final score and surprisingly poor officiating, Middle Tennessee’s football season opener here Thursday night was superb.

A big crowd turned out for the game with tailgating starting Wednesday night. By Thursday afternoon the traditional Greenland lot and The Grove tailgating were going strong with a crush of folks at both sites some two hours before kickoff.

Yeah, the Blue Raiders lost a tough game to visiting Big 10 opponent Minnesota, 24-17, but Middle fans saw a competitive game and plenty of reason to be hopeful for this season.

Despite the absence of star quarterback Dwight Dasher, out indefinitely due to an NCAA infraction for borrowing $1,500 to pay off poker debts, the Blue Raiders definitely still have plenty of offensive potential.

Junior college transfer Logan Kilgore looked as good in real competition as he had looked on the practice field.

Certainly, the Raiders are diminished somewhat with the absence of Dasher a dual threat who would be abetted seriously this season with the return of running back Phillip Tanner, who played well Thursday, and the resulting shift of Malcolm Beyah back to receiver.

But, Kilgore showed Thursday night he can run the Raider offense, take advantage of the weapons around him and can certainly throw the ball – his scoring strike to Sancho McDonald to tie the game at 14 was as good a throw as can be made at any level of football.

Despite some significant losses on defense, especially in the middle, the Raider defense also looked good. Yeah, Minnesota used its size to brutalize Middle somewhat in the running game, but the Raiders adjusted and did well until the end of the fourth quarter and the Gophers’ eventual winning drive. By then Minnesota’s huge size advantage most likely had a wearing affect.

Dogging the officiating after a loss doesn’t accomplish anything, but, gee whiz, the refs hurt the Raiders Thursday. On both of Minnesota’s first-half scoring drives, Middle was hit with highly questionable pass interference calls that gave the Gophers the ball at the two, a good spot for a big, power team.

Then, after Minnesota took the lead in the fourth quarter, Middle’s chances for a comeback were dashed by a poor call on Beyah’s kickoff return. Beyah lost the ball as he hit the ground, but the officials called a fumble and upheld it on review, making the stripes the only folks in the stadium who didn’t see Beyah clearly down before the ball in his outstretched hand bounced out afterward.

Instead of homecooking, the Raiders were home cooked.

Officiating is part of the game, including bad officiating.

That the Raiders were obviously competitive to the end against a major conference team, against a team with a huge size advantage and without the pre-season Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the year makes prospects for this season still greatly hopeful.

Going into the season Minnesota was one of few opponents that was likely to be considered a favorite over the Raiders.

Most of those who remain will not be favored.

• Minnesota’s offensive game plan wasn’t particularly imaginative but it was effective. With a gigantic offensive line, the Gophers generally just lined up and pounded on Middle’s front seven. With an assist from the guys in stripes each drive, Minnesota scored on its first two possessions by hammering the ball up the middle.

• After a stunning season-ending injury early last season, it was great to see Phillip Tanner, a super football player and young man, come back and shine for the Raiders.

• Blue Raider football showed some political muscle Thursday night too. GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam and 6th Congressional District candidate Diane Black both showed up to work the crowd in anticipation of the November election.

• Blue Raider Nation is definitely getting the tailgating food deal down. I think I gained five pounds while wandering from my parking spot by the admin building to the Greenland lot.