BLUE RAIDER TRADITIONS Ride on to Victory
Legend of Lightning In Greek mythology, the winged horse possessed superior cunning and speed. The thundering horse of the gods was entrusted to carry awesome lightning bolts and could only be harnessed by a noble being with a pure heart. Character, talent, and strength were required to mount and ride the fabled winged horse. Today, this winged horse is a fitting symbol of a university that has earned its wings and excels in many academic arenas, including historic preservation, teacher training, aerospace, political science, horse science, and recording industry. But the winged horse is more than a symbol of physical accomplishment; it’s also a symbol of character and the responsible wielding of power. The challenge of all great universities and university athletic departments is to help studentathletes build character and strength. Our winged horse, Lightning, is a symbol to Middle Tennessee students, athletes, and alumni of the soaring school spirit they ex-
FIGHT SONG Blue Raiders ride on to vic-t’ry Never failing in the fight Upholding honor and tradition Of the name’s that’s held most high M-T-S-U Marching onward This will be our battle cry For the one, true pride of the Blue M-T-S-U Raiders Ride!
ALMA MATER We sing thy praises, faithful guide of youth, Through all the ages affirmed in strong and truth. Alma Mater, Middle Tennessee, We proudly offer our hearts in loyalty.
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perience at sporting events. For its nobility and character, the winged horse was immortalized in the stars. Now, with breathtaking speed and thundering, unbridled power, Lightning strikes, forevermore, fear in the hearts of Blue Raider opponents and leads Middle Tennessee to victory!
veiled along with an attractive, eye-catching logo, at a basketball game in Murphy Center. The introduction of Lightning gave a new identity to the nickname Blue Raiders.
Blue Raider Nickname In the early days of athletics at Middle Tennessee State University, the teams were known by several nicknames. Among these were Teachers, Normalites, and Pedagogues. In 1934, it was decided that the school needed a specific nickname. During football season that year, the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal held a contest to name the team. The late Charles Sarver, then a Middle Tennessee football player and later principal at White County High School in Sparta, Tenn., won the $5 prize for his entry of “Blue Raiders.” Sarver later indicated he had “borrowed” the nickname of the Colgate Red Raiders, but substituted MTSU Blue for Colgate Red. Ever since then, Middle Tennessee athletic teams have been known as the Blue Raiders. The symbol of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest on a horse was first used about 1945, when then-University President Q.M. Smith instructed Public Relations Director Gene Sloan to use the figure in conjunction with the nickname. In 1965, the Associated Student Body established strict specifications regarding the size of the student who would emulate Forrest. It is believed that this was done because there was only one uniform available and a “good fit” was desired. Later, in sensitivity to the African-American community, the figure of General Forrest was abandoned. For a time, the “unofficial” mascot for the Blue Raiders was a costumed, cartoon-like dog. A reasonable facsimile of a bluetick hound, the affable character was dubbed “Ole Blue.” On January 17, 1998, the current mascot, “Lightning,” was born. The mascot was un-
The Middle Tennessee athletic department unveiled its new logos (above) on January 17, 1998, before a packed house at a basketball game. The athletic department primarily uses the MT logo as opposed to the horizontal Blue Raiders logo. The MT horse logo was designed by Chris Brady.
2003-04 BLUE RAIDER BASKETBALL