'100 Miles of Hate'

Middle Tennessee opens as a 10 point dog on the road. Quite honestly I expect a three or four TD blow out at the hands of wku.

The oldest and most played series in Conference USA belongs to Middle Tennessee and WKU. The Blue Raiders own a 35-32-1 advantage in a series that began in 1914. WKU has won three of the last four meetings and own an 18-14 mark in games played in Bowling Green.

Under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders are 6-5 against the Hilltoppers with four of the last seven games being decided in overtime.

I don’t know about other Raider fans, but it’s hard to really get excited about this one. Even if it is a rivalry, the intensity on both sides seems to have died down.

Last time this game was played at JRF the visitor fan section wasn’t as full as I’ve been accustomed to seeing in years past. This game used to be more exciting but it typically has had some sort of championship race implications. This year it’s just for pride for the Raiders, while the Toppers need to avoid a bad loss in order to get a better bowl game bid.

Also... when did we start saying 100 miles of hate? I don’t remember it as a student and really I’ve only heard tv sportscasters use the phrase. Never even heard it used casually with work friends who are MT and WKU alums/fans.

Hoping for an entertaining game but going into it with tempered and realistic expectations.

Somewhere between 27/34 to 10/17, so I will go with...

31-13...if we're lucky to keep it that close.

Haven't won back-to-back games all season. No reason to see it changing this week.

Also have not won on the road once this season. It's not happening up there Saturday.

I am thinking an ass-kicking of 48-17, give or take a FG or safety.

(11-27-2019 05:34 PM)Country_Wisdom_359 Wrote:  Also... when did we start saying 100 miles of hate? I don’t remember it as a student and really I’ve only heard tv sportscasters use the phrase. Never even heard it used casually with work friends who are MT and WKU alums/fans.

If I'm not mistaken it started on the Sun Belt board. There was a thread asking to name the series and some MTSU poster actually named it. Anybody remember who that was?

At any rate it is not a super exciting installment in the series. The game will have basically no bearing on either team's bowl chances and the rainy forecast and holiday weekend will likely mean that the crowd is pitiful.

I would like to see the game moved to the start of the season.

(11-27-2019 11:17 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  

(11-27-2019 05:34 PM)Country_Wisdom_359 Wrote:  Also... when did we start saying 100 miles of hate? I don’t remember it as a student and really I’ve only heard tv sportscasters use the phrase. Never even heard it used casually with work friends who are MT and WKU alums/fans.

If I'm not mistaken it started on the Sun Belt board. There was a thread asking to name the series and some MTSU poster actually named it. Anybody remember who that was?

At any rate it is not a super exciting installment in the series. The game will have basically no bearing on either team's bowl chances and the rainy forecast and holiday weekend will likely mean that the crowd is pitiful.

I would like to see the game moved to the start of the season.

I can assure you that would be true regardless of those variables. Fan base has quit on our leadership and coaching. We are now Charlotte over the last five years. In other words, we won't help any.

I never rule out the blue unicorns...... I expect a closer game than most think

To answer the question about where the moniker "100 Miles of Hate" came from... I believe it really started to take off with this thread:

https://csnbbs.com/thread-595865-page-2.html

Although the earliest reference I can come up with is from the summer offseason of 2010... did KAjunRaider name the series?

(06-12-2010 01:05 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Honestly, I don't know why a conference would split MT and WKU. 96 miles apart....... heck, we draw a couple of thousand when we play each other in volleyball. 100 Miles of Hate, and an easy way to face both programs via a weekend trip with Nashville (airport, team hotels, tourist draw for fans) in the middle.

I agree, I expect a tight game. The WKU defense is pretty solid but they gave up 35 to FAU, actually 28 one was a fumble return. Preventing opponents from scoring in the second half has been terrific allowing 33 points total in 7 conference games.
This game will not be one of the shootout 44-43 double OT games most likely. Storey has been pretty consistent but the running game is missing an explosive back like the ones from the last decade or so. I do like the receiving core, especially Jackson, Pearson and Simon (another potential NFL TE from WKU).
I think WKU will win something like 28 to 17 but a loss would not be that shocking.

Observations from an Old MT alum with Western connections:

1. "100 Miles of Hate" is just a marketing tool.
2. Rivalry with Western: Best Rivalry in CUSA. ( Record-35-32-1 MT)
3. With Western's and Middle's proximity to Nashville; most MT/WK fans have
friends and family that attended the "other" university. (ex. I've got 3
generations who went to MT; but two brothers-in-Law played FB at Western and
other relatives and friends who wondered off to Bowling Green.
4. CUSA is better when both MT and Western are performing at their best.
(Haven't we had 4 Overtime FB games in the last 10 years?)
5. May all Toppers and Raiders enjoy a Great Thanksgiving and then MT
needs to kick the #$@*& outta the Toppers this Saturday.

(11-27-2019 11:17 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  At any rate it is not a super exciting installment in the series. The game will have basically no bearing on either team's bowl chances and the rainy forecast and holiday weekend will likely mean that the crowd is pitiful.

Thanksgiving weekend games are tough. It will be the only home game I'll miss this season. I'll be watching this one on TV.

On a related note, I'm hoping to win a Corvette at halftime.

Rain and rain and more rain if Western lets the Middle qb run the ball anywhere close to his 5.4 avg...

Middle will hit a couple easy TD passes and if Western turns the ball over, more than once. I expect a loss. I hope Western hires someone from USM to count attendance. They are very good at turning 10k into almost 21,000. So Western's 6 to 7k cant turn into 15,000

At least my seats should be dry and 60 degrees isnt bad. Seems like yesterday the season was just starting

(11-28-2019 01:41 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  Rain and rain and more rain if Western lets the Middle qb run the ball anywhere close to his 5.4 avg...

Middle will hit a couple easy TD passes and if Western turns the ball over, more than once. I expect a loss. I hope Western hires someone from USM to count attendance. They are very good at turning 10k into almost 21,000. So Western's 6 to 7k cant turn into 15,000

At least my seats should be dry and 60 degrees isnt bad. Seems like yesterday the season was just starting

Looking forward to being at game, at least will not be a cold rain even if windy...I can handle mid 50s and rain...As far as attendance not expecting more than 5k when you combine weather and UK playing UofL at noon...I never understood the thanksgiving weekend angle but I guess a lot of people will be out of town...However I would venture to guess a lot to people with WKU ties travel within a 200 mile radius for Thanksgiving...Plenty of time to come back Sat morning...I will be hauling it up from Nashville from staying for hoops game in Nashville Friday night ...With basketball game would have been more convenient to play game in Murfreesboro...

How about rotating this game through Nashville once every three years?

Not exactly the same deal but when Rice plays Houston in baseball we play one at each home field and a third at a local minor league park (Sugarland)

Its rained very hard over the last 10 hours in Owensboro, well over an inch, 60 minutes away from Western. It's calling for rain the rest of the day with a chance of thunderstorms in BG.

Dont know who the rain helps but with a running qb I think it's Middle. Probably going to be a sloppy game...

with very few fans in the stands, so if Middle wins and no one sees it does it count? We are leaving in about 20 minutes heading that way I hope the other 4000- 5000 seats under cover are filled. Awful cool, damp, rainy day to sit outside watching a football game.

The team that limits turnovers, and dropped balls wins.

(11-30-2019 11:44 AM)WKUYG Wrote:  Its rained very hard over the last 10 hours in Owensboro, well over an inch, 60 minutes away from Western. It's calling for rain the rest of the day with a chance of thunderstorms in BG.

Dont know who the rain helps but with a running qb I think it's Middle. Probably going to be a sloppy game...

with very few fans in the stands, so if Middle wins and no one sees it does it count? We are leaving in about 20 minutes heading that way I hope the other 4000- 5000 seats under cover are filled. Awful cool, damp, rainy day to sit outside watching a football game.

The team that limits turnovers, and dropped balls wins.

I don’t like missing games, but I’ve picked up whatever bug has been going around BG area. Im sure it’s going to be a empty stadium unfortunately

Wow, looks like as many MT fans as WKU fans... sad

wet weather seems to be bothering wku more than MT.

Odd ending to the half - WKU snaps the ball before the ref starts the play clock, and then they get a play instead of a penalty. But can't score. 13-10 MT.

Pretty empty there today. Poor weather conditions keeping many away I’m sure. Middle is hanging tough. OHara just got 1000 yards rushing this season. Only other MT QB to get that was Dasher.