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Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football

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The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football is the intercollegiate football program representing Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Blue Raiders compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of Conference USA. They are coached by Derek Mason, who was hired as the 15th head coach in program history on December 6, 2023.[3]

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football
2024 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team
First season1911; 113 years ago
Athletic directorChris Massaro
Head coachDerek Mason
1st season, 2–6 (.250)
StadiumJohnny "Red" Floyd Stadium
(capacity: 30,788)
Field surfaceSportexe PowerBlade turf
LocationMurfreesboro, Tennessee
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceConference USA
All-time record607–469–28 (.563)
Bowl record6–8 (.429)
Conference titles13
Division titles1
RivalriesTroy (rivalry)
Western Kentucky (rivalry)
ColorsRoyal blue and white[1]
   
Fight songMTSU Fight Song[2]
MascotLightning
Marching bandBand of Blue
Websitegoblueraiders.com

Middle Tennessee has appeared in 13 bowl games and seven I-AA playoffs. The Blue Raiders play their home games at the Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 30,788.

History

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See also: List of Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football seasons

Early history (1911–1946)

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Middle Tennessee State University first fielded a football team in 1911 under the direction of head coach L. T. "Mutt" Weber. They won their first game in 1912. From 1913 to 1923, Alfred B. Miles led the Blue Raiders football program. The 1914 football season led by Miles was its first undefeated season, with five straight victories after a tie with Cumberland.[4][5]

Frank Faulkinberry was hired as MTSU's head coach after Miles' departure. During his tenure, the Blue Raiders compiled a record of 33–26–4. Faulkinberry was found shot to death in his garage on May 13, 1933, a suspected suicide being the cause.[6]

E. M. Waller led the Blue Raiders for two seasons and compiled a 3–14–1 record.[7] Waller resigned due to the team's struggles after two seasons.

Johnny Floyd started coaching MTSU in 1935 and led the Blue Raiders for four seasons.[8] Under his tutelage, the Blue Raiders compiled a record of 30–8–1. Floyd's 1935 team went a perfect 8–0.[9] However, a 2–6 campaign in 1938 ended his time in Murfreesboro.[8]

Ernest Alley was named the next head coach of MTSU football, and in his one-season, the Blue Raiders compiled a 1–6–1 record.[9]

Elwin W. Midgett led the Blue Raiders for four seasons (MTSU did not field a football team from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II. In 1940, Midgett led the Blue Raiders to a 4–4 mark.[10] In 1941, the Blue Raiders posted a 4–3–1 campaign,[10] followed by 4–2–1 in 1942,[10] and 6–2–1 in 1946.[11]

Charles Murphy era (1947–1968)

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Charles Murphy is the longest-tenured and winningest head coach in MTSU, football history, with a 155–63–8 record in 22 seasons as MTSU's head coach. Under Murphy's tutelage, the Blue Raiders posted four undefeated seasons (1949, 1957, 1959 and 1965) along with 17 winning seasons and four bowl appearances.[12] Murphy was asked to resign at MTSU after a 2–8 campaign in 1968.[13]

Donald Fuoss era (1969)

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Succeeding Murphy as the Blue Raiders head coach was Donald Fuoss, who only lasted for one season, a 1–9 campaign in 1969[14] that resulted in his firing.

Bill Peck era (1970–1974)

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Bill Peck took over as head coach in 1970 and instantly brought improvement to Murfreesboro. In his first season, the Blue Raiders posted a 6–3–1 record.[15] In 1971, MTSU posted a record of 7–4.[15] That was followed by a 7–3–1 mark in 1972,[15] a 4–7 mark in 1973 and a 3–8 campaign in 1974.[15] Peck was asked to resign after back to back losing seasons to end his tenure.[16]

Ben Hurt era (1975–1978)

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Ben Hurt took over the Blue Raiders in 1975. Under his tutelage, in 1975, MTSU posted a 4–7 mark.[17] That was followed by another 4–7 campaign in 1976.[17] In 1977, Hurt's Blue Raiders posted a 3–8 record that was followed by a 1–9–1 1978 season,[17] after which Hurt was fired.

James Donnelly era (1979–1998)

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Austin Peay head coach James Donnelly was hired as MTSU's head coach in 1979. Under his leadership, the MTSU football program compiled a record of 133–80–1.[18] Donnelly is the second winningest football coach in MTSU history. Of his 20 seasons at the helm, 15 of them were winning seasons (including 12 in a row) and four of them were seasons of at least 10 wins. Donnelly resigned after a 5–5 season in 1998.

Andy McCollum era (1999–2005)

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Baylor assistant coach Andy McCollum took over for Donnelly in 1999.[19] McCollum led the Blue Raiders to a 6–5 record in 2000, their first as an FBS program. In 2001, McCollum oversaw an offense that ranked fifth nationally and MTSU finished 8–3 as the runner-up behind North Texas which won the Sun Belt Conference championship. In 2005, MTSU's defense ranked ninth nationally. McCollum was fired after the 2005 season.[20]

Rick Stockstill era (2006–2023)

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Coach Stockstill

In 2006, South Carolina tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Rick Stockstill got the head coaching job at Middle Tennessee State.[21] In his first season, Stockstill led the Blue Raiders to the program's second bowl game as well as a share of the Sun Belt Conference title. He was later that year named the conference coach of the year.

The 2007 and 2008 seasons saw the Blue Raiders take a small step back with back-to-back 5–7 seasons.[22][23] However, in 2009, Stockstill and the Blue Raiders went 10–3[24] and won the New Orleans Bowl, which was the third bowl victory in school history.[25] Again, Stockstill was named conference coach of the year for the 2009 season. The Blue Raiders went to another bowl in 2010, and they finished the season 6–7 after losing the GoDaddy.com Bowl.[26][27]

After the successful 2009 season, he turned down several offers from other schools, including Conference USA's East Carolina[28] and Memphis,[29] citing that it was not the right time to leave the Blue Raiders.[30] Stockstill has led MTSU to seven bowl games in 13 years.

In 2016, Stockstill led the Blue Raiders to an 8–5, 5–3 in C-USA play to finish in third place in the East Division.[31] They were invited to the Hawaii Bowl where they lost to Hawaii.[32]

In 2017, Stockstill led the Blue Raiders to a 7–6, 4–4 in C-USA play to finish for a tie in third place in the East Division. They were invited to the 2017 Camellia Bowl where they defeated Arkansas State.

Stockstill was fired after a 4-8 season in 2023.

Derek Mason era (2023- )

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On December 6, 2023, former Vanderbilt head coach, Derek Mason, was hired to be MTSU's next headcoach.

Conference affiliations

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Middle Tennessee has been both an independent and affiliated with multiple conferences.[33]: 128–134 

Championships

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Conference championships

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Middle Tennessee has won 13 conference championships, seven outright and six shared.[33]: 128–134, 156 [34]

Season Conference Coach Overall Record Conference Record
1956 Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 7–3 5–0
1957 Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 10–0 5–0
1958† Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 8–2 5–1
1959† Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 10–0–1 5–0–1
1962† Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 6–4 4–2
1964 Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 8–2–1 6–1
1965 Ohio Valley Conference Charles M. Murphy 10–0 7–0
1985 Ohio Valley Conference Boots Donnelly 11–1 7–0
1989 Ohio Valley Conference Boots Donnelly 9–4 6–0
1990† Ohio Valley Conference Boots Donnelly 11–2 5–1
1992 Ohio Valley Conference Boots Donnelly 10–3 8–0
2001† Sun Belt Conference Andy McCollum 8–3 5–1
2006† Sun Belt Conference Rick Stockstill 7–6 6–1

† Co-championship

Division championships

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As a member of Conference USA since 2013, Middle Tennessee competes in the East Division. The Blue Raiders have won one division title.

Season Division Coach Opponent CG result
2018 C-USA East Rick Stockstill UAB L 25–27

Head coaches

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See also: List of Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders head football coaches

Middle Tennessee has had 16 head coaches since it began play during the 1911 season.[35] Since December 2023, Derek Mason has served as head coach at Middle Tennessee.[36]

Bowl games

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Middle Tennessee has appeared in 13 bowl games including four prior to joining NCAA Division I. The Blue Raiders have a record of 5–8 in those games. The Blue Raiders appeared twice in the Tangerine Bowl, now known as Citrus Bowl. The first game, played January 1, 1960, against Presbyterian, resulted in a 21–12 win. The second game, against Lamar Tech on December 29, 1961, was a 21–14 loss.

The Blue Raiders were invited to the Motor City Bowl in 2006 after a shared conference title with Troy. Troy earned a bid to the New Orleans Bowl with a tie-breaker over Middle Tennessee. Middle Tennessee was invited to the Motor City Bowl due to the Big Ten Conference having two teams in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and thus being unable to fulfill their bowl contract for the Motor City Bowl. This was the Blue Raiders' first bowl game in 42 years and their first since joining NCAA Division I. They played Central Michigan in the game and were defeated 31–14.

Middle Tennessee finished the 2009 regular season with a 9–3 record and was invited to play in the New Orleans Bowl on December 20. The team played against the Southern Miss, winning, 42–32. This was their second bowl game since joining the FBS and first ever bowl win. Quarterback Dwight Dasher was named as the game's MVP after rushing and passing for two touchdowns each.[37]

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
1956 Charles M. Murphy Refrigerator Bowl† Sam Houston State L 13–27
1959 Charles M. Murphy Tangerine Bowl† Presbyterian W 21–12
1961 Charles M. Murphy Tangerine Bowl† Lamar Tech L 14–21
1964 Charles M. Murphy Grantland Rice Bowl† Muskingum W 20–0
2006 Rick Stockstill Motor City Bowl Central Michigan L 14–31
2009 Rick Stockstill New Orleans Bowl Southern Miss W 42–32
2010 Rick Stockstill GoDaddy.com Bowl Miami (OH) L 21–35
2013 Rick Stockstill Armed Forces Bowl Navy L 6–24
2015 Rick Stockstill Bahamas Bowl Western Michigan L 31–45
2016 Rick Stockstill Hawaii Bowl Hawaii L 35–52
2017 Rick Stockstill Camellia Bowl Arkansas State W 35–30
2018 Rick Stockstill New Orleans Bowl Appalachian State L 13–45
2021 Rick Stockstill Bahamas Bowl Toledo W 31–24
2022 Rick Stockstill Hawaii Bowl San Diego State

W 25–23

†non-Division I bowl game

NCAA Division I-AA playoff results

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The Blue Raiders appeared in the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs seven times with a record of 6–7.

Year Round Opponent Result
1984 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Eastern Kentucky
Indiana State
Louisiana Tech		 W 27–10
W 42–41 3OT
L 13–21
1985 Quarterfinals Georgia Southern L 21–28
1989 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Appalachian State
Georgia Southern		 W 24–21
L 3–45
1990 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Jackson State
Boise State		 W 24–21
L 13–28
1991 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Sam Houston State
Eastern Kentucky		 W 20–19OT
L 13–23
1992 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Appalachian State
Marshall		 W 35–10
L 21–35
1994 First Round Marshall L 14–49

Rivalries

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Troy

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Main article: Battle for the Palladium

Middle Tennessee's rivalry with Troy, now dormant following Middle Tennessee's 2013 move to Conference USA, is known as the Battle for the Palladium.[38] Troy and Middle Tennessee first played each other in 1936,[39] but it wasn't until 2003 that schools started playing annually for the Palladium Trophy.[38] Middle Tennessee leads the series 12–9.

Middle Tennessee-Troy: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting Middle Tennessee wins Middle Tennessee losses
21 October 9, 1936 (Won 19–0) September 9, 2020 (Lost 47–14) 12 9

Western Kentucky

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Main article: 100 Miles of Hate

The rivalry between Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, is both school's oldest rivalry, as the two programs played together for several decades in the Ohio Valley Conference before both became members of the Sun Belt Conference and then transitioned to Conference USA about the same time.[40] The name comes from the fact that the two universities are separated by about 100 miles.[40]

Middle Tennessee-Western Kentucky: All-Time Record
Games played First meeting Last meeting Middle Tennessee wins Middle Tennessee losses Series Tied
71 October 10, 1914 (Won 47–0) October 3, 2021 (Lost 48–21) 35 35 1

Nickname

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The nickname of the Middle Tennessee athletic teams is the Blue Raiders. Female teams were long known as the Lady Raiders, but adopted the Blue Raiders name in 2007. The nickname's origin goes back to a 1934 newspaper contest. An MT football player, Charles Sarver, won $5 from Murfreesboro's The Daily News Journal with his winning entry "Blue Raiders", which he later admitted borrowing from Colgate University, whose teams were known as "Raiders" at the time. No official nickname existed prior to 1934, when teams were called "Normalites", "Teachers", and "Pedagogues".[41]

Colors and mascot

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MT is represented by the colors white and royal blue, described as PMS 301 by the university.[42]

Lightning is the mascot of both the Middle Tennessee men and women's sports teams.[41]

Retired numbers

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Main article: List of NCAA football retired numbers

Middle Tennessee has retired two jersey numbers.

No. Player Pos Career No. retir. Ref.
14 Teddy Morris QB 1962–65 1965 [43]
20 Kevin Byard S 2012–15 2022 [44][45]

All-time record vs. CUSA teams

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Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current CUSA opponents through the 2023 season:[46]

Opponent Won Lost Tied Percentage Streak First Last
FIU 14 5 0 .737 Won 5 2005 2023
Jacksonville State 14 3 2 .789 Lost 2 1927 2023
Kennesaw State 0 0 0 – — 2024
Liberty 1 2 0 .333 Lost 2 1992 2023
Louisiana Tech 3 5 0 .375 Won 1 1984 2023
New Mexico State 2 3 0 .400 Lost 2 2001 2023
Sam Houston 1 2 0 .333 Lost 1 1956 2023
UTEP 5 1 0 .833 Won 4 2013 2023
Western Kentucky 35 37 1 .486 Lost 5 1914 2023
Totals 75 58 3 .563

Future non-conference opponents

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Announced schedules as of July 24, 2024.[47]

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2036
vs Austin Peay vs Murray State vs North Alabama vs Chattanooga at Duke vs Southern Miss vs Army vs Georgia Southern at Troy vs Troy vs Eastern Michigan at Eastern Michigan
at Wisconsin at Marshall at South Alabama at Southern Miss vs Northern Illinois at Northern Illinois at Georgia Southern vs Ball State at Ball State
at Nevada at Kansas vs Memphis vs South Alabama
vs Marshall vs Nevada

References

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  1. ^ "Color". Middle Tennessee State Athletics Branding Guide (PDF). October 18, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Fight Song and Alma Mater". goblueraiders.com. Middle Tennessee State University Athletics. August 18, 2003. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  3. ^ "Mason named 15th head coach of Blue Raider football". Middle Tennessee State University. GoBlueRaiders.com. December 6, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  4. ^ "100 Years of MTSU Football". Archived from the original on September 20, 2014.
  5. ^ Stone, India (June 20, 2003). "The Heritage of Champions". GoBlueRaiders.com. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Cattell, James McKeen, ed. (1933). "School & Society". Society for the Advancement of Education. 37 (960). The University of California: 652.
  7. ^ Forsythe, Regina (July 3, 1995). "Oral History Interview With Isa Lee Freeman" (PDF). MTSU.edu. Albert Gore Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 19, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Sparks, Adam (October 1, 2015). "Johnny "Red" Floyd: MTSU legend, Vandy lost treasure". The Tennessean.
  9. ^ a b DeLassus, David. "Middle Tennessee State Yearly Results: 1935–1939". College Football Data Warehouse.
  10. ^ a b c DeLassus, David. "Middle Tennessee State Yearly Results: 1940–1944". College Football Data Warehouse.
  11. ^ DeLassus, David. "Middle Tennessee State Yearly Results: 1945–1949". College Football Data Warehouse.
  12. ^ Organ, Mike (May 11, 2014). "Former MTSU coach nominated for College Football Hall". The Tennessean.
  13. ^ Bullen, Bob (1984). "Recollections: The Middle Tennessee Voices of Their Times Series, Television Program with Charles "Bubba" Murphy" (PDF). MTSU.edu. Albert Gore Research Center.
  14. ^ DeLassus, David. "Middle Tennessee State Yearly Results: 1965–1969". College Football Data Warehouse.
  15. ^ a b c d DeLassus, David. "Middle Tennessee State Yearly Results: 1970–1974". College Football Data Warehouse.
  16. ^ Schmadtke, Alan (October 16, 1988). "Peck's Kids: He Loves Them For Just Trying". Orlando Sentinel.
  17. ^ a b c DeLassus, David. "Middle Tennessee State Yearly Results: 1975–1979". College Football Data Warehouse.
  18. ^ "Donnelly, James "Boots"". Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
  19. ^ "Andy McCollum". RamblinWreck.com.
  20. ^ "Middle Tennessee fires coach Andy McCollum". USA Today. November 21, 2005.
  21. ^ Dooley, Pat (December 13, 2005). "Stockstill tapped as MTSU coach". The Gainesville Sun.
  22. ^ "2007 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  23. ^ "2008 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  24. ^ "2009 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  25. ^ "Southern Mississippi vs. Middle Tennessee - Game Recap - December 20, 2009 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017.
  26. ^ "2010 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  27. ^ "Middle Tennessee vs. Miami (OH) - Game Recap - January 6, 2011 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2017.
  28. ^ Anderson, Reggie (January 20, 2010). "Former Clemson and USC Assistant Stockstill Staying At Middle Tennessee". WLTX. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013.
  29. ^ Stukenborg, Phil (November 17, 2009). "Tigers to talk to MTSU's Rick Stockstill about vacancy". The Commercial Appeal. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013.
  30. ^ "Stockstill stays at MTSU, won't pursue East Carolina opening". Nashville City Paper. January 19, 2010. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012.
  31. ^ "2016 Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Schedule and Results - College Football at Sports-Reference.com". College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  32. ^ "Hawaii takes down Middle Tennessee for first bowl victory since 2006". USA Today.
  33. ^ a b "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). goblueraiders.com. Middle Tennessee Athletics.
  34. ^ "2017 Ohio Valley Conference Media Guide" (PDF). ovcsports.com. pp. 80–82.
  35. ^ "Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders Coaches".
  36. ^ Thamel, Pete (December 5, 2023). "Middle Tennessee names Derek Mason as new head coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  37. ^ Staff (December 20, 2009). "Blue Raiders power past Southern Miss to win New Orleans Bowl Championship, 42–32". GoBlueRaiders.com. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  38. ^ a b "Battle for the Palladium: More than a trophy". October 6, 2009.
  39. ^ "mcubed.net : NCAAF Football : Series records : Middle Tennessee St vs. Troy St". mcubed.net.
  40. ^ a b Rutledge, Billy. "'100 Miles of Hate': Hilltoppers prepare for MTSU".
  41. ^ a b Stone, India (June 20, 2003). "The Heritage of Champions". GoBlueRaiders.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  42. ^ Staff (August 1, 2008). "Blue Raider Logos". GoBlueRaiders.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  43. ^ Teddy Morris - 1976 Hall of Fame induction at Goblueraiders.com
  44. ^ Blue Raiders to retire Byard's number at Goblueraiders.com, August 4, 2022
  45. ^ MTSU is retiring Kevin Byard's No. 20, an honor about much more than football by Gentry Estes at Nashville Tennessean, August 4, 2022
  46. ^ "2024 Blue Raider Football Media Guide" (PDF). Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. August 19, 2024. pp. 145–48. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  47. ^ "Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
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