Tag: Middle Tennessee State

Flau’Jae Johnson explains how LSU women’s basketball stayed poised during comeback against Middle Tennessee

The Tigers will face the winner of Creighton-UCLA next Saturday in the Sweet 16.

The LSU Tigers beat Middle Tennessee State 83-56 on Sunday evening to advance to the Sweet 16 of the [autotag]2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament[/autotag]. That score was not indicative of how close the game was. LSU was down at halftime 36-32.

LSU would then go on to outscore the Blue Raiders 51-20 in the second half and 24-7 in the fourth quarter alone to pull away with the big victory. The defending national champions have moved on to the next round as they look to defend their title.

One of the key players in the game for LSU was [autotag]Flau’jae Johnson[/autotag]. Johnson led the team with 21 points. After the game, here is what she had to say about the win.

“I wasn’t going home, bro,” Johnson said, per On3. “I put in too much work. Our team put in too much work. I’m so thankful, man. First of all, I want to thank God, Jesus, my Lord and Savior. But I put in so much work, and I’m just a walking representation of that.

“We’ve got to stay poised and stay together. We’ve got to play together. I told them, if we don’t keep shooting one shot and they’re making a three, we’re not gonna win this game. I said we’ve got to play together. Let it go, let’s just play together. And look, we came out with the dub.”

The Tigers will face the winner of Creighton-UCLA next Saturday in the Sweet 16.

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Former Nebraska quarterback hired as FBS tight ends coach

A former Nebraska quarterback has accepted a job at an FBS school.

A former Nebraska quarterback has accepted a job at an FBS school. Joe Ganz has been hired as the tight ends coach of Middle Tennessee State.

Ganz has spent the last four seasons at Northern Iowa coaching wide receivers, working for current MTSU offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder. Blue Bomber head coach Derek Mason believes Ganz perfectly fits his team.

“Joe has had the opportunity to work with Bodie Reeder and was with Bo Pelini at Youngstown State, where they won several titles. He is a winner. He played quarterback, which gives us another offensive mind in that room who understands the Xs and Os and how to get it from the class to the grass quickly and efficiently.”

Ganz played at Nebraska from 2005 to 2008. During the 2008 campaign, the Palos Heights, Illinois native started all 13 games for the Huskers, throwing for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

By the end of his collegiate career, Ganz had set 23 Nebraska school records. You can find a photo gallery of Joe Ganz’s

career below.

 

Middle Tennessee State transfer Jakobe Thomas signs with Vols

Middle Tennessee State transfer Jakobe Thomas signs with the Vols.

The 2023 early signing period is taking place Wednesday-Friday for Tennessee’s 2024 recruiting signing class.

The 2023 early signing period is Josh Heupel’s third as Tennessee’s head coach. He was hired as the Vols’ head coach in Jan. 2021.

Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting class ranked No. 10 nationally (247Sports Composite). The Vols’ first recruiting class under Heupel in 2022 ranked No. 17 nationally (247Sports Composite).

Jakobe Thomas signed with the Vols on Wednesday during the early signing period.

Jakobe Thomas’ transfer bio:

  • Position: Safety
  • Height: 6-foot-2
  • Weight: 190 pounds
  • School: Transfer from Middle Tennessee State

READ: Tennessee football early signing period tracker for 2024 class

READ: Tennessee football NCAA transfer portal tracker

Middle Tennessee State transfer Jakobe Thomas commits to Vols

Middle Tennessee State transfer Jakobe Thomas commits to the Vols.

Middle Tennessee State redshirt sophomore safety Jakobe Thomas entered the NCAA transfer portal on Nov. 28.

He committed to Oregon State on Thursday. Thomas has since committed to Tennessee on Saturday.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back appeared in 24 games from 2021-23 at Middle Tennessee State. He recorded 108 tackles, four tackles for a loss, four interceptions, one interception touchdown, 12 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one block and six punt return yards.

Thomas went to Middle Tennessee State from Tullahoma High School in Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Student-athletes can enter the NCAA transfer portal from Dec. 2 until Jan. 2, 2024. Players can also enter the NCAA transfer portal from April 15-30, 2024.

READ: Updated Tennessee football NCAA transfer portal tracker

Helen Comer/USA TODAY Network

Vols offer Middle Tennessee State defensive line transfer

Vols offer Middle Tennessee State defensive line transfer.

Middle Tennessee State junior defensive tackle Marley Cook entered the NCAA transfer portal on Nov. 27.

Tennessee offered a scholarship to Cook on Nov. 30.

“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Tennessee,” Cook announced.

The 6-foot-2, 298-pound defensive lineman appeared in 49 games for the Blue Raiders from 2019-23. He recorded 61 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks, one interception, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one block at Middle Tennessee State.

Student-athletes can enter the NCAA transfer portal from Dec. 2 until Jan. 2, 2024. Players can also enter the NCAA transfer portal from April 15-30, 2024.

READ: Updated Tennessee football NCAA transfer portal tracker

Kellie Harper recaps Lady Vols’ loss to Middle Tennessee State

Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper recaps the Lady Vols’ loss to Middle Tennessee State.

Middle Tennessee State (7-3) defeated Tennessee (4-5), 73-62, Wednesday at Propst Arena and Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The Lady Vols are now 261-62-2 all time versus in-state schools. Wednesday’s win is the first for the Blue Raiders in the all time series against Tennessee. Tennessee is 22-1 versus Middle Tennessee State, dating to 1971.

Fifth-year Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper discussed the Lady Vols going forward after suffering a third consecutive loss.

“This one, we’ve got to take some ownership a little bit, more ownership than we’re taking in that locker room right now to be quite honest with you,” Harper said. “I think we are. We’re trying to help them, but at some point they’ve got to step up and help themselves and really challenging our team right now.”

PHOTOS: Kellie Harper through the years

Lady Vols fall to Middle Tennessee State, suffers third consecutive loss

Lady Vols fall to Middle Tennessee State, suffers third consecutive loss.

Middle Tennessee State (7-3) defeated Tennessee (4-5), 73-62, Wednesday at Propst Arena and Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Wednesday’s loss is the third consecutive for the Lady Vols, who fell out of the top 25 after losing at home to Ohio State on Sunday.

The Blue Raiders led, 37-33, at halftime after being tied, 20-20, at the end of the first quarter.

Tennessee’s Karoline Striplin scored a game-high 29 points. She was the only player to score 10-plus pints in the contest for Tennessee.

Striplin also recorded three rebounds and two assists.

Jasmine Powell recorded nine points, five rebounds and four assists, while Destinee Wells finished with eight points and three assists.

Jallynn Gregory scored 22 points to lead the Blue Raiders. She also totaled five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

PHOTOS: Kellie Harper through the years

Middle Tennessee State hires former SEC head coach

Middle Tennessee State football hires former SEC head coach.

Middle Tennessee State announced the hiring of Derek Mason as the Blue Raiders’ football head coach on Wednesday.

“We are ecstatic to welcome coach Derek Mason to Middle Tennessee and the Blue Raider football program,” Middle Tennessee State director of athletics Chris Massaro said. “With his experience as a head coach, his reputation for coaching fast, aggressive defenses, his strong reputation as a recruiter, and deep connections in college football to formulate an outstanding staff, coach Mason’s vision for MTSU football fits exactly what we were looking for during our interview process. Coach Mason is no stranger to the mid-state community and we expect his connections to allow him and his staff to hit the ground running as our 15th head football coach.”

Mason served as Vanderbilt’s head coach from 2014-20.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

5 takeaways from Alabama’s dominating 56-7 win over Middle Tennessee State in 2023 season opener

The 5 biggest takeaway’s from Alabama’s season-opening victory Saturday night

The Alabama Crimson Tide kicked off their 2023 campaign in dominating fashion with a 56-7 victory over Conference USA foe Middle Tennessee State Saturday night. The Blue Raiders were 8-5 a season ago which included a victory over the Miami Hurricanes who were ranked in the top-25 at the time, so MTSU isn’t quite the cupcake some people have made them out to be.

There is no doubt that Alabama entered the season as one of, if not the most talented teams in the country, but with two new coordinators, a new quarterback, a true freshman left tackle and many more changes, the Tide had some questions to answer. They answered resoundingly as they looked sharp from the jump. The Alabama defense forced a three-and-out to start the game and the offense took over from there with a six-play drive that went for 63 yards and a score, the Tide coasted from there.

There were a lot of positives to take away from game one, and Alabama fans should feel pretty good heading into their highly anticipated matchup with Texas. Here are some of the key takeaways from the Crimson Tide’s stellar performance last night.

Alabama DB Jaylen Key suffers injury vs. MTSU in season opener

DB Jaylen Key heads to locker room before half with injury.

Late in the second half, Alabama DB Jaylen Key was taken to the locker room after suffering an injury against Middle Tennessee State. The severity of the injury is unknown, but it was bad enough that he was not able to finish out the first half.

Key made the defensive play of the first half by picking off the Blue Raiders shortly before half which eventually led to a touchdown. Hopefully, it is nothing serious as he was one of the best-looking players for Alabama in the first half. The Tide secondary looks as if they’ll be the strength of this defense, so losing Key would be a very tough loss.

Alabama takes a 28-0 lead into halftime against the Raiders. Key’s health will be the most important question for Tide fans.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.