Aldo Giovanni Amato

agamato@dnj.com

DENTON, Texas — As I sat in the press box at Apogee Stadium Saturday night as the Blue Raiders closed out their third straight win, my mind could focus on one thing.

How is MTSU not the hottest ticket in town back home in Murfreesboro?

Once again the Blue Raiders showed they can overcome injuries en route to their second road win of the season and enter their bye week on a three-game winning streak.

Every facet of MTSU’s game seems to be clicking at the right time ahead of a showdown in Murfreesboro against rival Western Kentucky.

It was MTSU’s defense that rose up in Saturday night’s win in Denton.

When the Blue Raiders and Hilltoppers square off at 1 p.m. on Oct. 15, there should be no excuse why Floyd Stadium shouldn’t be packed.

You want one of the top quarterbacks in the country?

The Blue Raiders have him.

How about one of the most physical run games in Conference USA?

Yep, the Blue Raiders have that, too.

Do you want to see a sometimes exotic defense rush the passer?

Yeah MTSU has that covered as well as Saturday showed.

MTSU has all the ingredients of an exciting and explosive team most schools would charge an arm and a leg to witness. And they’ve been doing it without key receivers like Terry Pettis and Demetrius Frazier, who went down with season-ending injuries earlier this year.

Throughout my time as beat writer, there always seems to be a constant every Saturday in the fall in Murfreesboro and that’s the constant excuses not to show up to Floyd.

I love the city I cover sports in but sometimes Murfreesboro can put the “pathetic” in “apathetic” when it comes to MTSU sports.

Now with the Blue Raiders at a 4-1 start and ahead of a conference matchup with possible Conference USA championship implications on the line, there is no excuse Murfreesboro.

Yes the Tennessee Vols play Alabama that Saturday with a time to be determined. But who cares.

If you live in Murfreesboro, there is no excuse for you not to be inside Floyd Stadium for perhaps one of the biggest games of the year.

If MTSU pulls out a win over Western Kentucky (3-2, 1-0), it could be back in Murfreesboro in December playing for a chance to win a conference title.

Coming to or skipping games is totally up to fans and they are well within their right to stay home.

But if you really want to create one of the best atmospheres in the state, it will be at 1:30 p.m. at Floyd Stadium on Oct. 15. Western Kentucky is one of the best non-Power Five teams in the country flaunting a high-powered pass attack.

MTSU has a chance to take that crown in two weeks.

Face it Murfreesboro, there are no excuses.

Reach Aldo Amato at 615-278-5109 and on Twitter @Aldo_ Amato.