Report: MTSU headed to Bahamas Bowl

MURFREESBORO — MTSU will play in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 24, according to a report Monday by ESPN's Brett McMurphy.

This report comes one day after MTSU Athletic Director Chris Massaro confirmed to The Daily News Journal that MTSU (6-5, 5-2) would indeed go bowling.

"I've seen the report out there, and there is nothing official to me," Massaro said Tuesday afternoon.

The university will likely not receive a formal bowl invitation until later this week or until after their last game against Texas-San Antonio.

The Blue Raiders missed out on a bowl game last season despite posting a 6-6 record. Before the season started, the feeling around Conference USA was if the team became bowl eligible this year, they would head to the island paradise.

After all, MTSU President Sidney McPhee is a native of the Bahamas and played a key role in Conference USA getting a bowl game there.

McPhee’s brother Earlston is also the director of sustainable tourism in the Ministry of Tourism in the Bahamas.

No matter what, the latest report locks in a once 3-5 MTSU team for a bowl game for the fourth time since 2009.

In a conversation last week with The Daily News Journal, Massaro said players and coaches had their passports ready just in case MTSU received a bid to the Bahamas Bowl.

On Monday Massaro encouraged fans to hop on the team's website (goblueraiders.com) to start making plans so they, too, can be ready, no matter the destination.

Keith McCluney, who heads MTSU's Blue Raider Athletic Association, said the BRAA would seek alternative packages to the one that bowl games usually offer schools.

While he declined to comment on the recent report, McCluney said the BRAA was in the process of looking at the best travel packages out of Nashville.

Residents can apply for their passport on the government's website (travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports.html) and submit the application at the Rutherford County Clerk's office in Murfreesboro (319 N. Maple St.) or Smyrna (205 I St.).

For a $60 fee, residents can get their application expedited, meaning the passport or denial letter would take two to three weeks to arrive.

The Blue Raiders travel this weekend for their final game and first meeting with Texas-San Antonio.

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