The Evolution of Middle Tennessee State University's Mascot: From Confederate Imagery to Lightning
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has a rich and complex history, particularly when it comes to its athletic teams and mascots. The evolution of the MTSU mascot reflects changing social attitudes, campus integration, and the university's ongoing efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive environment. From its early, unofficial nicknames to the modern-day Lightning, the story of MTSU's mascots is a fascinating journey through time.
Early Years: Unofficial Nicknames (1911-1934)
In its early years, from the university’s inception in 1911 until 1934, MTSU's athletic teams did not have an official mascot or even a consistent nickname. Instead, they were referred to by a few unofficial titles, including the Normalites, the Teachers, and the Pedagogues. These names reflected the university's original mission as a normal school focused on teacher training.
The Rise and Fall of Confederate Imagery (1930s-1968)
Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the college went without an official mascot. By 1950, however, the image of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest began to be incorporated into campus life. Students resembling Forrest in stature were employed to dress up like the General and ride on horseback at football games and Homecoming rallies. This decade saw an influx of Confederate imagery on campus amid the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision and the Confederate Centennial. In 1956, The Midlander staff commissioned an artist from the Nashville Banner to depict Forrest brandishing a pistol, leading his cavalry, Confederate flag in tow.
As attitudes changed locally and nationally, so did the Blue Raiders mascot. After campus integration in 1962 and the college’s transition to university status in 1965, attitudes on campus changed and the appearance of Forrest waned. In 1968, the university discontinued Forrest as the official mascot and created a committee specifically to choose a more generic, less controversial mascot who would be more palatable to minorities on campus and the community.
Attempts at a Neutral Mascot: Beauregard and Lord Byron (1968-1970s)
In an attempt to distance themselves from controversy, the university replaced Forrest with a soldier named Raider, and then with a St. Bernard dog. Their choice was a Zorro-like St. Bernard named Beauregard. However, Beauregard failed to inspire sports fans, and controversy stirred due to crosses being burned on campus.
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In 1970, after Beauregard had failed to inspire sports fans and controversy stirred due to crosses being burned on campus, the mascot’s name was changed to Lord Byron after the British romantic poet. The graphic depiction of Lord Byron was similar to Beauregard. He appeared to be a musketeer-like infantryman yielding a sword. While images of Byron graced the merchandise sold at Phillips Bookstore, an actual St. Bernard was housed at a campus house and could be seen walking the sidelines on game day.
Raider 1 and the Shift in Focus (Mid-1970s)
The mid-70s saw yet another mascot change as “Winks Choice” or “Raider 1,” began to appear at university sporting events. This was essentially the same mascot they had 10 years prior: a general riding a horse, except now rather than the general being the focal point, the focus had shifted to his horse.
The Blue Raider: A Swashbuckler Emerges (1978)
In 1978, MTSU president M.G Scarlett, faced with cries to omit images of Forrest from campus life, finally removed his image from the university’s official seal and adopted the modern MTSU logo, which can still be seen around campus today. The same year, the university adopted a new mascot: an ambiguous swash-buckler-like superhero character simply named the Blue Raider.
The Return of Old Blue (1980)
Old Blue had not been completely washed from the public’s consciousness because he was phased back in as the official mascot by 1980. The new, “Old Blue” lacked some of the infantry regalia of his predecessors and was basically just a big, fuzzy blue dog.
Lightning Strikes: A New Era Begins (1996-1998)
In 1996, MTSU president James E. Walker decided that the university needed a new look. He assembled a committee of students, faculty and fans to decide on a new mascot and logo. On Jan. 17, 1998, during the halftime of a well publicized men’s basketball game against Tennessee State University, the public laid their eyes on Lightning for the first time.
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In 1998, Middle Tennessee adopted “Lightning” as the Blue Raiders mascot, as part of a two-year campaign to find a new look that would represent the university when the football program switched to FBS football. Lightning is said to be a nod to MTSU’s accomplished aerospace and agriculture programs, but what’s certain is that he was inspired by Greek mythology. Pegasus, a winged horse carried lightning bolts to Zeus. Additionally, the university states that “character, talent, and strength” are required to mount and ride the fabled winged horse. Ideas of mythology, symbolism, and pride create an almost perfect and polished image of the Blue Raiders mascot.
The Blue Raiders Nickname
For the first 20 years of the university’s existence, Middle Tennessee did not have an official name for its sports teams. In the early 1930s, it was decided that the program needed an official nickname, and The Daily News Journal held a competition to find the new name. The nickname 'Blue Raiders' was coined by an MTSU football player, Charles Sarver, in 1934 Daily News Journal contest.
MTSU Athletics: A Legacy of Success
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are the men's and women's athletic teams at Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. MT athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I (Bowl Subdivision in football) in Conference USA. The baseball team has won 16 conference titles and for the last 37 seasons they had been coached by two men. The last 23 of those years Steve Peterson has been at the helm. Middle Tennessee has made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Their best turnout was in 1982 when the Blue Raiders fell one game short of making the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
The men's basketball program has had staggered history. 1975 saw Middle Tennessee and head coach Jimmy Earle make their first NCAA Tournament. On March 18, 2016, the 15th seeded Blue Raiders defeated 2nd seeded Michigan State in the opening round of the Midwest Region of the 2016 NCAA men's tournament, becoming the eighth #15 seed to win a game in the history of the tournament.
The women's basketball team, currently coached by Rick Insell, has appeared several times in the NCAA and WNIT basketball tournaments, dating back to the 1970s. In recent years, the 2023-2024 season was arguably the greatest in the Lady Raider's history. The Lady Raiders defeated #5 seed Louisville in a comeback win of the first round of the 2024 NCAA Women's Tournament.
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The football team has won 12 conference titles, the most recent being in 2006. In 2009 the team became the first Sun Belt Conference team to reach 10 wins in a single season.
The track program has a storied history including 43 conference titles, 18 NCAA top-25 finishes and 80 All-American awards. The women's volleyball program has developed into a national power with Sun Belt Conference championships in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010; and NCAA tournament bids in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
MT fields teams in club sports such as rugby union, ice hockey, men's soccer, and inline hockey. MT also has an equestrian team which competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association in both huntseat and western division. MT has won two NCAA national championships in team sports: golf (1965) and men's tennis doubles (2007).
Campus Facilities and Rivalries
The university's main athletics building, the Charles M. Murphy Center, lies on the northwest corner of MTSU's campus. Inside the Murphy Center is Monte Hale basketball arena, which seats 11,520. Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, named after a former MTSU football coach, lies adjacent to the Murphy Center. MTSU also features many smaller stadiums for various other sports. MTSU broke ground on its new $66 million "Student-Athlete Performance Center" in January 2023.
MTSU's main rival in all sports is against WKU (Western Kentucky Hilltoppers) in the aptly named "100 Miles of Hate". The Blue Raiders also have a growing rivalry with the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
University Songs and Traditions
The university recognizes two songs as its official songs, both simply titled "Alma Mater" and "Fight Song". The original fight song of MTSU is "Blue Raiders Ride!" A new fight song was adopted in 1993, featuring a cheer.
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