Next year the fans should jump in and help them. Here's what the Blue Raider players and fans did Saturday. It was a lot of fun. MTSU football team flying the colors By ADAM SPARKS sparks@dnj.com John Marc Stephens has a different perspective of MTSU football than nearly all of his Blue Raider teammates. A life-long Murfreesboro resident, Stephens has seen the popularity of MTSU football rise and fall and rise again. He certainly recognizes the current upswing. ADVERTISEMENT "It's completely different from what it used to be," said Stephens, an MTSU junior tight end. "We're bigger now. Football is (Division) I-A. We went to a bowl game last year. "Everything is on the rise, and I think the community and local businesses are a little more eager to hop on board." But just in case some area businesses aren't yet anxious to board the bandwagon, a parade of MTSU fans and players did the leg work Saturday for the third annual Paint the Town Blue event. Rest of story Photo Gallery