1988 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1988

| team = Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Ohio Valley Conference

| short_conf = OVC

| record = 7–4

| conf_record = 4–2

| head_coach = Boots Donnelly

| hc_year = 10th

| off_coach =

| oc_year =

| off_scheme =

| def_coach =

| dc_year =

| def_scheme =

| captain =

| stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

}}

{{1988 Ohio Valley Conference football standings}}

The 1988 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team represented Middle Tennessee State University as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) during the 1988 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 10th-year head coach Boots Donnelly, the Blue Raiders compiled an overall record of 7–4, with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, and finished tied for second in the OVC.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1988

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA

| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee

| timezone = Central

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 3

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 15

| opponent = Tennessee State

| site_stadium = Vanderbilt Stadium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| score = 14–7

| attend = 18,764

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mtsu-slips-slides-past-t/142487806/|newspaper=The Tennessean|title=MTSU slips, slides past TSU 14–7|date=September 4, 1988|accessdate=March 1, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 10

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| rank = 15

| opponent = Northern Illinois

| site_stadium = Huskie Stadium

| site_cityst = DeKalb, IL

| score = 10–14

| attend = 13,572

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-chronicle-nius-defense-hangs/162265335/|work=The Daily Chronicle|title=NIU's defense hangs onto 14–10 win over MTSU|date=September 11, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 17

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 15

| opponent = Western Kentucky

| opprank = 17

| site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN

| score = 13–10

| attend = 10,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-raiders-twirl-to/162187589/|work=The Daily News-Journal|title=Raiders twirl 'Toppers|date=September 18, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 24

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 20

| opponent = Georgia Southern

| opprank = T–6

| site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN

| score = 26–10

| attend = 6,800

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-raiders-electrif/162186659/|work=The Daily News-Journal|title=Raiders electrif(r)y Eagles|date=September 25, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 1

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| rank = 7

| opponent = Alcorn State

| site_stadium = Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Jackson, MS

| score = 19–21

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-alcorn-cashes-in-on-new-n/130474294/|work=The Clarion-Ledger|title=Alcorn cashes in on new NCAA rule|date=October 2, 1988|accessdate=August 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 8

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| rank = 16

| opponent = Mississippi Valley State

| site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN

| score = 40–3

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mtsu-takes-block-buster-4/130490924/|work=The Tennessean|title=MTSU takes block-buster 40–3 victory|date=October 9, 1988|accessdate=August 22, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 15

| w/l = w

| rank = 12

| opponent = Morehead State

| site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN

| score = 49–0

| attend = 12,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-freshman-sparks-midd/162265554/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Freshman sparks Middle's 49–0 rout of Morehead|date=October 16, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 22

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 9

| opponent = Austin Peay

| site_stadium = Clarksville Municipal Stadium

| site_cityst = Clarksville, TN

| score = 36–0

| attend = 5,623

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mtsu-wins-grabs-share-of/162265735/|work=The Tennessean|title=MTSU wins, grabs share of OVC lead|date=October 23, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 5

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 9

| opponent = Eastern Kentucky

| opprank = 12

| site_stadium = Hanger Field

| site_cityst = Richmond, KY

| score = 14–27

| attend = 7,600

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-backfield-duo-s/143992045/|work=Lexington Herald-Leader|title=Backfield duo, stingy 'D' lift Eastern over Middle, into OVC driver's seat|date=November 6, 1988|accessdate=March 23, 2024|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 12

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 17

| opponent = Murray State

| site_stadium = Roy Stewart Stadium

| site_cityst = Murray, KY

| score = 22–23

| attend = 1,210

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-middle-has-nothing-t/162265917/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Middle has nothing to kick about as Murray State pulls off upset|date=November 13, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 19

| w/l = w

| opponent = Tennessee Tech

| site_stadium = Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium

| site_cityst = Murfreesboro, TN

| score = 51–0

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-no-mercy-mtsu-dominates/162266107/|work=The Tennessean|title=No mercy: MTSU dominates Tech 51–0|date=November 20, 1988|accessdate=January 4, 2025|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

}}

{{cite web |url=https://goblueraiders.com/documents/2016/7/20//1998_Media_Guide.pdf?id=9991 |title=1988 Football Schedule |website=goblueraiders.com |publisher=Middle Tennessee State University |access-date=December 11, 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football navbox}}

Middle Tennessee

Category:Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football seasons

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football

{{collegefootball-1988-season-stub}}