Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry dies at 93 - CBS Baltimore Pro Football Hall of Famer Raymond Berry, a former Baltimore Colts player and New England Patriots head coach, has passed away at the age of 93, according to his family. Berry, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973, died at his home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, three children, and nine grandchildren. Hall of Fame President Jim Porter praised Berry’s dedication and character, stating, “People said Raymond Berry was not blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to refine his skills and master his craft. There was no finer gentleman – a person who remained humble and grounded when others sought to thrust stardom upon him.” Berry’s playing career spanned 13 seasons with the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967. During his time with the team, he earned six Pro Bowl selections and contributed to two NFL championship victories. He was a dominant receiver, leading the league in receptions in 1957, 1959, and 1960. By the end of his career, Berry retired as the NFL’s all-time receptions leader, a testament to his longevity and skill. After retiring as a player, Berry transitioned to coaching, joining the New England Patriots in 1978 as a receivers coach. When head coach Ron Meyer was fired in 1984, Berry took over as interim head coach. His first full season as head coach in 1985 marked a historic milestone for the franchise, as he led the Patriots to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance. Despite a thrilling playoff run, the team fell to the Chicago Bears in a 46-10 defeat.#new_england_patriots #murfreeboro_tennessee #baltimore_colts #pro_football_hall_of_fame #raymond_berry
MTSU Tennis Hosts Conference USA Tournament Amid Mixed Momentum for Men's and Women's Teams The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) men’s and women’s tennis teams are set to host the Conference USA (CUSA) tournament from April 15 to 19 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This marks the first time both teams will compete in the event at their home venue, with the Blue Raiders carrying distinct levels of momentum heading into the weekend. The men’s squad aims to extend its streak of six consecutive conference championships, while the women’s team seeks a breakthrough after a challenging regular season. The men’s team enters the tournament with a 20-8 overall record, including a dominant 19-3 home slate. Their success has positioned them as the favorites to win the conference title, though head coach Jimmy Borendame acknowledges the pressure of maintaining their dominance. “I feel like I’ve got a target on my back every day,” Borendame said. Despite their strong performance, the roster has changed significantly from last season’s championship team. Four new transfers and four freshmen have joined the squad, leaving only two players from the previous year’s roster. “There’s eight out of 10 new guys on this team,” Borendame noted. “So it’s not really a repeat. It’s a whole new entity.” Ondrej Horak, the sole player on the current roster who has played under Borendame for four years, emphasized that the focus is on progression rather than repeating past success. “For me personally, I don’t feel any pressure,” Horak said. “I got used to it. For me, this is already four years of winning conference. It became… I don’t want to say normal, but the goal is to make Sweet 16, so this is part of it, part of the journey. And yeah, we’ve got to still work hard for it and fight. It’s not going to be easy.#murfreeboro_tennessee #conference_usa #mtsu #jimmy_borendame #ondrej_horak
Lady Tops Earn No. 8 Seed for CUSA Tennis Championship The Western Kentucky University women’s tennis team has secured the No. 8 seed in the 2026 Conference USA Women’s Tennis Championship, which will be held from April 16 to 19 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Lady Toppers will open the tournament with a first-round match against the No. 9 seed Sam Houston State on Wednesday, April 16, at 10 a.m. CT. This placement marks the second time in program history that the team has achieved at least 10 wins in five consecutive seasons, highlighting their sustained competitiveness within the conference. The Lady Toppers finished the regular season with an 11-13 overall record and a 2-2 mark against CUSA opponents. Their recent performance included a 4-2 victory over Middle Tennessee on Senior Day, where they earned the doubles point and secured singles wins at the No. 3, 4, and 5 positions. The team previously faced Sam Houston in a regular-season matchup on March 12 in Bowling Green, losing 5-2. This history adds context to their upcoming challenge, as the Lady Toppers aim to overcome their earlier defeat and advance in the tournament. The CUSA Championship represents a critical opportunity for WKU to compete against top-tier programs in the conference and potentially earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The tournament schedule includes quarterfinal matches on April 17, semifinals on April 18, and the championship match on April 19. The semifinals and final will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Head coach Greg Davis emphasized the significance of the upcoming match against Sam Houston, noting, “We had a very close match with Sam Houston at our place in March and know they will be a very difficult opponent in the conference championship.#western_kentucky_university #cusa_tennis_championship #sam_houston_state #murfreeboro_tennessee #greg_davis
