MTSU Wins Sun Belt All-Sports Trophy Dominant score marks sixth Vic Bubas Cup in 10 years for Blue Raiders.

For the sixth time in 10 years since joining the Sun Belt Conference, Middle Tennessee’s athletic department has won the Vic Bubas Cup as the top overall sports program in the league. The award is given each year to the university that comes in first in the Sun Belt’s all-sports standings.

The Blue Raiders scored a conference record 148 total points (out of a possible 197) and easily won this year’s trophy by a record margin of 24.5 points over second place Western Kentucky.

MTSU won the trophy its first year in the league, 2001, and now has become just the third school in Sun Belt history to win the award six times.

“The Bubas Cup, for us, is huge,” said Head Volleyball Coach Matt Peck. “We use it all the time to recruit. I know all of our teams are getting more exposure on TV every year, and something like this helps all of us in our recruiting efforts, and to put the Middle Tennessee brand name out there.”

“This trophy is a goal of ours at the start of every school year, and it’s really a culmination of the hard work of the student athletes and their drive to compete for championships,” said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. “We all know what a wonderful coaching staff that we have at Middle Tennessee. With all of the great programs in the Sun Belt Conference, this is indeed an honor to be recognized as the best overall.”

Middle Tennessee won regular season conference championships in men’s and women’s basketball during the 2009-10 campaign, and conference post-season championships in men’s cross country, volleyball and women’s basketball. The Blue Raider football program had a solid season as well, capped with a spectacular New Orleans Bowl performance by quarterback Dwight Dasher.

“Every year we strive to be the best and most complete athletic program in our conference,” said Football Coach Rick Stockstill.

Stockstill earned Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors this past season, as did Men’s Cross-Country coach Dean Hayes.

“Everybody that is involved in athletics at Middle Tennessee should take pride in the fact that we are Bubas Cup champions again, because it takes every single one of them to get it done,” said Golf Coach Whit Turnbow.