The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ONE half of our participants in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl have been announced, and the first team to accept the bid to participate in the second year of the event has distinct Bahamian roots at the administrative level.

The Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders will represent Conference-USA in the bowl on Thursday, December 24 in Nassau’s Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

Following a 42-7 win in their regular season finale Saturday night, President of the University, Bahamian native Dr Sidney McPhee, was on-hand in the Blue Raiders locker room to officially notify the team of their opportunity.

This will be the fifth bowl game appearance, and the first since the 2013 Armed Forces Bowl, for the Blue Raiders, all under head coach Rick Stockstill, who is in his 10th season at the school.

McPhee was born in Mayaguana before he moved to Nassau and graduated from the former Highbury High School, now the RM Bailey Secondary School.

As the president of the largest university in the state of Tennessee for the past 15 years, McPhee said he was proud to have participated in past bowl games, but he’s even more enthusiastic about what they are bringing here with the Bahamas Bowl.

In his capacity as a member of the NCAA Board of Directors and the NCAA Executive Committee, McPhee was involved in promotion for the inaugural event in 2014 and touted the game as a great opportunity for the Bahamas.

“I know a good opportunity in athletics when I see one,” McPhee said. “The Bahamas is emerging now on a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase, not only the beauty of the sun and the sand and all of that, but the beautiful culture, the people, the history, that the world has yet to see. “When people typically think about the Bahamas, they think about coming to the beaches. There’s no other place like the Bahamas. But the people and the culture and the history is an opportunity for the government of the Bahamas to display around the world in terms of being displayed on ESPN. So this is an opportunity that this country needs to seize and run with it.”

He said although he has lived in the US for the past 35 years, he called it a pleasure to bring such an incredible and exciting game to the Bahamas.

“As a native son, I am beaming with pride. You are going to embark on a journey that will tell the world that the Bahamas is the place to be for culture, for sports, for education, for beauty, you name it,” McPhee said. “This country is going to make its mark and I’m looking forward to a longtime commitment.”

Their opponent, representing the Mid-American Conference, will be announced December 6.

The Blue Raiders finished the regular season 7-5 overall and 6-2 in Conference USA play. They enter the postseason riding a four-game winning streak. The team set a school record for total offence yards with 5,504 as Middle Tennessee has over 5,000 offensive yards for the third consecutive season and the sixth time in school history. A large part of the offensive output has come from a pair of freshmen, quarterback Brent Stockstill, the son of the Middle Tennessee head coach, and wide receiver Richie James. Stockstill set a Conference USA record for most passing yards by a freshman with 3,678 yards. James, his favourite target, set a school record for receptions with 100 and became the second player in school history to have over 1,000 receiving yards with 1,220. The duo is the first 3,000-yard passing and 1,000-yard receiving combo in school history.

“We are pleased that Middle Tennessee will be competing in the 2015 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl,” said Pete Derzis, senior vice president, ESPN Events. “Coach Rick Stockstill and his staff have done a tremendous job in preparing the Blue Raiders all season long, and we look forward to hosting them in Nassau.”