MTSU’s 41st annual Groundhog Day Luncheon took place on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at Murphy Center, where baseball supporters enjoyed the traditional menu of ham hocks, white beans, tomato salad and corn bread as the 2014 squad was introduced and legends of MT baseball honored.

Head coach Jim McGuire and the Middle Tennessee baseball team hosted the event to kick off the 2014 inaugural Conference USA baseball campaign.

The Blue Raiders will wear a sleeve patch in 2014 to honor longtime Blue Raider coach John Stanford, who passed away in July. The circular patch will feature a blue outline, with Stanford’s number, 16, in blue. Stanford’s signature will be placed over the number.

In addition to the sleeve patch in 2014, Stanford and another Blue Raider supporter instrumental in the growth of the Middle Tennessee baseball program will be honored with statues. A statue of Stanford will stand in front of Reese Smith Jr. Field in the north central portion of campus along with a statue of the late Smith, a Nashville alumnus whose two sons played baseball for MTSU.

The Blue Raiders open the 2014 season at Kennesaw State Feb. 14. Their home opener against Tennessee Tech is set for Tuesday, Feb. 18. For more details, visit http://www.goblueraiders.com/news/2014/2/4/BB_73531.aspx?path=baseball.