Team preview: Middle Tennessee

The Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook previews the 2007 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, exclusively on Insider.

Originally Published: July 16, 2007
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook
Editor's Note: ESPN Insider has teamed with Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook to provide a comprehensive look at all 119 Division I-A teams. To order the complete 2007 edition of Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, visit www.blueribbonyearbook.com or call 1-866-805-BALL (2255).

(All information as of June 20, 2007)

COACH AND PROGRAM

Rick Stockstill knew he had 'em after the Oklahoma game.

When the players looked into the eyes of their first-year head coach after a 59-0 loss and saw he was the same guy who addressed them after a one-point win against Florida Inter-national, a hard-fought two-touchdown loss to Maryland and a blowout victory over Tennessee Tech, they were believers.

"Players lose respect for coaches when they see the coach change, when a coach gets all high and mighty after a big win and down in the dumps after a loss," Stockstill said. "They saw how we responded -- we didn't change."

At that moment, the Blue Raiders bought in to Stockstill's system and came together in a big way.


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