MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Rick Stockstill and his Blue Raiders are talking only about football right now, and that's a refreshing change from a year ago.
Middle Tennessee hosted media day a year ago with a news conference announcing that senior quarterback Dwight Dasher would be suspended for the first four games. Hopes of a 10-win season quickly fizzled, though the Blue Raiders rallied enough to finish 6-7 with a loss to Miami (Ohio) in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Stockstill said Monday his Blue Raiders have a better comfort level now without that distraction. He does have to replace nine starters on defense including Rod Issac, a fifth-round pick by the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, and seven on offense, including Dasher.
Middle Tennessee opens the season September 3 at Purdue.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
