Blue Raider football wins Dashie "awards"

While browsing ESPN.com, I also happened to stumble upon a couple of mentions of the MTSU football team. There was an article in which the website gave mentions to the top performers in each conference and nationally in a segment it called "The Dashie Awards." They have categories for some obvious things, like Coach of the Year and Freshman of the Year, but there are some more silly ones too. MTSU received the Dashie Sun Belt Moment of the Year for heaving two hail mary passes in the same season against Kentucky and Florida Atlantic. Here it is, in the words ESPN's Pat Forde himself:

"Middle Tennessee completed last-play Hail Marys twice in 17 days -- but only one of them worked. The Blue Raiders threw one against Kentucky on Sept. 13 that was caught on the carom, but the receiver was tackled at the 1-yard line as time expired. Against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 30, MTSU got the ball into the end zone on the final pass for the game-winning touchdown."

The Blue Raiders also received a shout out under the conference bragging points for their win over Maryland.
Plus, each conference had their own "Dashie presenter." Melissa Haro represented the Sun Belt. Quite a looker, dontcha think?

Former student trainer gets shout out on EPSN.com

It's not everyday that you scan through the pages of EPSN.com and acutally read about someone that you know, but it happened to me today. Andrew Haag was a trainer for the football team I played for in high school at Hendersonville High. When he was eight years old, Haag and his family were in a car crash that claimed the lives of his father and older brother, and his other brother was injured. He sustained abdominal injuries and a broken back that forces him to use forearm crutches and leg braces to get around, even to this day. He was always a really well respected guy at HHS, and I'd often see him around the locker room helping out with equipment and handling other various duties. I haven't seen him since I graduated, and I honestly didn't even know he was associated with the UT football program. But it was good to see him get a mention. I always thought he was a good guy who was always willing to work hard and was very down to earth. If I remember correctly, he should have one more year as a UT Vol. I wish him the best of luck there and to whatever he does down the road.