2010 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

The 2010 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University as a member of the Sun Belt Conference during the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders compiled an overall record 6–7 with a mark of 5–3 in conference play, placing third in the Sun Belt. Middle Tennessee was invited to the GoDaddy.com Bowl, where they lost to the Miami RedHawks, 35–21. The team played home games at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

2010 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
GoDaddy.com Bowl champion
GoDaddy.com Bowl, L 21–35 vs. Miami (OH)
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	6–7 (5–3 Sun Belt)
Head coach	Rick Stockstill (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Schultz (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Randall McCray (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
Seasons ← 2009 2011 →

2010 Sun Belt Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Troy +		6	–	2					8	–	5
FIU +		6	–	2					7	–	6
Middle Tennessee		5	–	3					6	–	7
Louisiana–Monroe		4	–	4					5	–	7
Arkansas State		4	–	4					4	–	8
Florida Atlantic		3	–	5					4	–	8
Louisiana–Lafayette		3	–	5					3	–	9
North Texas		3	–	5					3	–	9
Western Kentucky		2	–	6					2	–	10
+ – Conference co-champions

During the off season

In January 2010, defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz, left Middle Tennessee and accepted the defensive coordinator job at Mississippi State. Weeks later, Wisconsin assistant Randall McCray was hired to lead the defense.^[1]

In February 2010, offense coordinator Tony Franklin left Middle Tennessee to accept the vacant position of offensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech.^[2] On March 3, Mike Schultz, former TCU and Illinois offensive coordinator, was hired to coach the Blue Raider offense.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
April 10	1:00 pm	Blue-White Spring Game	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN		White 56–42	3,110
September 2	6:30 pm	Minnesota*	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPNU	L 17–24	25,908
September 11	6:00 pm	Austin Peay*	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN		W 56–33	16,806
September 18	6:00 pm	at Memphis*	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN		L 17–24	27,965
September 25	6:00 pm	at Louisiana–Lafayette	Cajun Field Lafayette, LA		W 34–14	17,249
October 5	7:00 pm	Troy	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN (Battle for the Palladium)	ESPN2	L 13–42	28,010
October 16	2:30 pm	at Georgia Tech*	Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPN3	L 14–42	40,652
October 23	3:30 pm	Louisiana-Monroe	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN		W 38–10	19,052
November 2	6:00 pm	at Arkansas State	ASU Stadium Jonesboro, AR	ESPN2	L 24–51	13,589
November 13	2:30 pm	North Texas	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN		L 17–23	14,227
November 20	3:30 pm	at Western Kentucky	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY (rivalry)	CSS	W 27–26	12,322
November 27	2:30 pm	Florida Atlantic	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN		W 38–14	10,140
December 4	5:00 pm	at FIU	FIU Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN3	W 28–27	16,628
January 6	7:00 pm	vs. Miami (OH)*	Ladd–Peebles Stadium Mobile, AL (GoDaddy.com Bowl)	ESPN	L 21–35	38,168
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Central time

Game summaries

Minnesota

Pregame line: Minnesota -3.0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Gophers	7	7	0	10	24
Blue Raiders	0	14	3	0	17

Phillip Tanner carries the ball late in the second quarter.

Austin Peay

Pregame line: N/A

	1	2	3	4	Total
Governors	3	14	16	0	33
Blue Raiders	14	21	7	14	56

Memphis

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -4.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	3	7	7	0	17
Tigers	3	14	7	0	24

Louisiana–Lafayette

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -2.0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	3	17	14	0	34
Ragin' Cajuns	0	14	0	0	14

Troy

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -3.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Trojans	14	7	7	14	42
Blue Raiders	0	7	0	6	13

Georgia Tech

Pregame line: Georgia Tech -18.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	0	7	0	7	14
Yellow Jackets	7	7	21	7	42

Louisiana–Monroe

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -12

	1	2	3	4	Total
Warhawks	3	0	0	7	10
Blue Raiders	7	21	3	7	38

Arkansas State

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -1.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	10	7	0	7	24
Red Wolves	13	10	14	14	51

North Texas

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -10.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mean Green	14	3	3	3	23
Blue Raiders	0	10	7	0	17

Western Kentucky

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -4.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	7	3	3	14	27
Hilltoppers	13	6	7	0	26

Florida Atlantic

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -5.5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	7	0	0	7	14
Blue Raiders	7	7	10	14	38

FIU

Pregame line: Florida International -5.0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	7	7	7	7	28
Golden Panthers	14	3	3	7	27

Miami (OH)–GoDaddy.com Bowl

Pregame line: Middle Tennessee -2

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blue Raiders	14	0	7	0	21
RedHawks	7	7	14	7	35

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Rick Stockstill
• Defensive line: John Palermo
• Offensive coordinator, quarterbacks: Mike Schultz
• Offensive line: Jimmy Ray Stephens
• Wide receivers: Justin Watts
• Inside receivers: Brent Brock
• Defensive coordinator, linebackers: Randall McCray
• Running backs: Willie Simmons
• Safeties: David Bibee
• Cornerbacks: Steve Ellis
• Strength: Russell Patterson

After the season

NFL draft

The following Blue Raider was selected in the 2011 NFL draftt following the season.^[4]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	NFL club
5	147	Rod Issac	Defensive back	Jacksonville Jaguars