Energetic Rutherford County Students Boost Blue Raiders to a Win in MTSU Education Day Game

Lascassas Elementary School students and teachers cheer on the MTSU Blue Raiders Monday, Nov. 7, in their home game against Brescia University of Owensboro, Ky. They had plenty to cheer about as the Raiders defeated the Bearcats. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Nearly 5,000 Rutherford County Schools’ students turned Murphy Center from the Glass House to the Loud House.

The fourth- and fifth-grade students turned the decibel levels on high — but it could have been louder Monday, Nov. 7, when the 4,700 students got wound up during the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 79-52 victory against the visiting Brescia Bearcats in the men’s basketball team’s annual Education Day game.

These events are a way for MTSU, the Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders to partner with Rutherford County Schools and Murfreesboro City Schools, bringing the youngsters to campus for a college basketball game and small sample of college life.

The youngsters stood much of the game, often twisting and gyrating when loud music — including “Macarena” and “I Want Candy” played during timeouts — and screaming their lungs out when the Raiders scored.

The young man with the mic, MTSU senior finance major Weston Hargrove of Manchester, Tennessee, a student marketing coordinator in athletics, kept the youngsters revved up with his own on-court energy.

It was the first time Landon Russell, 10, a fifth grader at David Youree Elementary in Smyrna, Tennessee, and G’Anni Milton, 10, a fifth grader at Kittrell Elementary, ever attended a game in Murphy Center, though Milton recalled attending a cousin’s graduation in the historic venue.

“(It’s) loud. I knew it would be loud, but I didn’t know it would be that loud,” Russell said just before the halftime break. “I’m very excited to be here and have been since our teacher told us in October were going to come to the game.”

Milton, who admitted she likes sports and has played basketball and soccer when she was younger, saw the interest rekindle while watching the tall players race up and down the court under the extremely loud conditions.

“It was fun watching the game and a good experience,” she said. “I am enjoying myself.” She admitted not being a fan of the noise, but “liked cheering and the MTSU Dance Team.”

Following two exhibition triumphs, coach Nick McDevitt’s Blue Raiders used balanced scoring — including 52 points in the paint and 26 second-chance points — to defeat the NAIA opponent from Owensboro, Kentucky, that is coached by Sarah Gaylor, who’s also the school’s athletics director.

Quite a partnership

MTSU Athletics Director Chris Massaro and Rutherford County Schools’ AD Chris Harris, a former Blue Raider, shared how they want to expand the relationship.

“It was great having this many students come to campus,” said Massaro, feeling the excitement generated by the preteens. “You can see they are having a great time. We want them to have a great time and for the visit to be inspiring.”

Calling the environment “awesome,” Harris said he hopes the RCS students will also have an “opportunity to be exposed to fine arts and academic things” along with attending MTSU sporting events.

“This was a great atmosphere for our kids, but we don’t want this to be just about the athletic piece,” Harris added. “This can mean connections and relationships. I met my wife (Darlene) here. Our children, Chris and Danielle, went here, and she’s teaching in the school system.

“This is a great university. The facilities are good. They have a national reputation (in athletics and academics). It’s great from an economic (value) aspect.”

Coming soon

The MT Lady Raiders, who kicked off their season Monday night with a 76-75 loss to Mercer University in Macon Georgia, after two resounding exhibition victories in Murphy Center, will host Tennessee Tech at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, in the Education Day game for Murfreesboro City Schools.

Students at the men’s game and those attending Dec. 1 will be given a voucher for them to attend a future game free, with the purchase of an accompanying adult ticket.

The options include the Blue Raiders 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, home game against Conference USA rival Western Kentucky and the 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, Lady Raiders game against CUSA opponent University of Texas-San Antonio.