WKU Football: Middle Tennessee Q&A with 100 Miles of Hate
We’re just one day away from WKU’s annual matchup against arch-rival Middle Tennessee. There is a lot a stake in this one. Both teams are…
We’re just one day away from WKU’s annual matchup against arch-rival Middle Tennessee. There is a lot a stake in this one. Both teams are winless and are desperately searching for a statement to get fans back on the bandwagon. With all of that in mind, we thought that we’d get a MTSU perspective on the game. Luckily for us, we got Jon from the 100 Miles of Hate Twitter account to give us his thoughts on the MTSU program, the game, and some predictions. Without further adieu, here is our conversation with Jon.
Middle has had a very rough start to the season (0–3) but did almost pull the upset against UTSA (35–37), What are the positives to be pulled from that near-miss?
The positives to be taken away are that the offense showed they can put up points. But too many self-inflicted mistakes on special teams & penalties caused this to be a loss.
Rick Stockstill’s seat was scorching hot heading into the season, is he a dead man walking at this point?
Stockstill’s seat is very hot. But the fan base is also divided by the purists that see him as more than an average coach. I still don’t see him being fired this season mainly because of his terrible buyout. He will only ever leave on his terms in my opinion.
If Middle moves on, what kind of direction do you see them going with the next head coach?
If Middle moves on, they need to hire a young & energetic coach that is a proven recruiter. The fans & alumni are craving someone to get behind
Now onto the game…
Asher O’Hara was a stud last season but has struggled thus far in 2020 (5 INT’s to 3 TD’s), why has he started so slow?
Asher has been very inconsistent so far this season. It hasn’t helped that his defense has given up a lot of points that put him in a “must throw” situation which has led to poor decisions, throws, & results.
Jarrin Pierce appears to be the Blue Raiders most consistent weapon on offense, what type of player is the senior receiver?
Jarrin is a very skilled and speedy player. Anytime the ball is in his hands he’s liable to break a big play.
Who are some other skill players that Hilltopper fans should worry about on Saturday?
Running back’s Jayy McDonald & Chaton Mobley are a very complimentary “thunder & lightning” duo. Mobley will run you over & McDonald is a home run threat on every touch. I’d look for MT to also look to get those guys going.
Middle has gotten All-Conference Safety Reed Blankenship back from injury. How has he bounced back?
Reed has bounced back with a bit of inconsistency and rust. The defense has given up a lot of points & big plays; abs he’s the back-end and captain on that side of the ball. I’d look for them to take a step in the right direction in this rivalry matchup
What are the strengths of the MTSU defense? Are there any other players WKU fans should worry about?
MTs defensive strength has been the front 7 getting good pressure on the QBs. I’d look for that to continue in an effort to beat WKU with their inconsistent QB play thus far. Linebacker DQ Thomas is a guy to watch out for. He’ll make a lot of plays and is always looking to knock the ball out.
What is your prediction for Saturday?
My prediction is both of these teams are both hungry for a victory and will come in with a chip on their shoulder. I’d expect a hard-fought & close game, with overtime being a possibility. I think MT has more potential offensively right now and comes away with a victory by a field goal, 27–24.
I want to thank Jon for taking the time to do this q&a with us. You can follow the 100 Miles of Hate twitter account @100MilesofHate for rivalry news and fun analysis and reaction to Saturday’s matchup.