Blue Raiders cashing in early

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A year from now, the trips will seem routine for the Middle Tennessee State football team.

Load the charter plane, fly to the site of a major college program, try to keep the game close and go home with a big check. A really big check.

Saturday, the Blue Raiders make a dry run. In its last season as a I-AA school, Middle Tennessee plays two I-A schools in '98: Illinois and Alabama-Birmingham.

"If we're going to move into I-A, we need to be playing these people," Middle Tennessee coach Boots Donnelly said. "It's going to be a great test for us, particularly on the road."

The rest of the '98 schedule is filled with the Murray States and Tennessee Techs of the Ohio Valley Conference. Fine schools. Decent football teams. But not a threat to the Big Ten.

Next year, the road turns uglier. The Blue Raiders visit Mississippi State, Arizona and Arkansas. In future seasons, they'll play at Louisiana State, Florida, Georgia and Georgia Tech. Don't count on any of those schools returning the game at Floyd Stadium.

"We hope to be able to play eight teams the likes of Arkansas States or somebody that's going to be reasonably compared to us athletic abilitywise," Donnelly said. "Then, play three teams for a lot of money. That money will be used to go out and recruit more quality football players to bring into our program."

Donnelly hoped the Blue Raiders would be in I-A a year earlier. But renovation to Floyd Stadium took longer than expected. The school is increasing capacity from 15,000 to 31,000. In Saturday's 28-27 win over Tennessee State, Donnelly's team set an OVC record with 27,568 fans.

Why leave I-AA now? Donnelly answered that question with two of his own. First, do schools gain respect staying at I-AA? Second, where will I-AA end up? The prospect of cutting scholarships from the current 63 doesn't thrill Donnelly.

"We better join (I-A) while the gate's still open," Donnelly said.

Wins against I-AA teams used to not count toward a I-A school's six needed for bowl eligibility. That rule has been changed to allow a I-A school to use one win against the lower division every four years.

Middle Tennessee's move makes scheduling easier. The I-A powers have enough trouble winning every game in their conferences. They need to find teams that will "play for a lot of money."

There are plenty of I-A schools within shouting distance of Murfreesboro – Vanderbilt, Memphis, Kentucky and Tennessee. Donnelly is willing to visit almost all of them.

"We're going to leave Tennessee alone for a while," Donnelly said.

Middle Tennessee hopes to avoid the independent route that kept 9-2 Louisiana Tech out of a bowl game in '97. Donnelly said folks in Mobile, Ala., are trying to start the Mardi Gras Bowl. The host might be the winner of a new conference including Middle Tennessee, Central Florida, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State and others.

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