Stompin Grounds: Behind the Scenes
DALLAS – Conference USA has partnered with Middle Tennessee State University’s internationally renowned Department of Recording Industry to produce original music for the league’s marketing and promotional efforts.
The collaboration was led by Assistant Professor
Bess Rogers who integrated the project into the
Songwriting for Film & TV class. Students were given the unique opportunity to compose songs designed specifically for the league’s branding campaign.
“When Conference USA initially approached us about this opportunity, I was really excited because I’m always searching for ways to find real-world experiences that I can bring the students into and give them opportunities beyond just the traditional assignment,” said Rogers. “This was really perfect to give them a chance to write a song for CUSA, specifically for them, and to have an opportunity for it to actually go somewhere on a national television commercial.”
The collaboration began with summer discussions between CUSA staff and Rogers, which led to a song contest held during the Fall 2024 semester. At the start of the semester, CUSA and Rogers hosted an on-campus information session, presenting the project and creative brief to approximately 50 students.
The high quality of the finalist submissions provided CUSA with a versatile selection of songs to support multiple branding initiatives. Final recording sessions were held on January 26 inside Studio D in Murfreesboro.
The song
Stompin Grounds, created by Kate Statham (MTSU ’25) and Spencer Kramer (MTSU ’24), was selected for use in the league’s brand spots, the first of which recently debuted on CBS Sports Network during Conference USA’s first football game of the season. The Southern rock–inspired track delivers a powerful and distinctive sound, complementing the league’s tagline,
“No Limits on Us.”
“I think this partnership is really meaningful because here at MTSU we have a great athletics department and also have a recording industry department that’s really thriving—and also we’re so close to Nashville in this industry,” Rogers added. “So, it’s great to be able to merge the music that we have and the sports that we have. Music and sports go hand in hand, so we are excited for this opportunity to showcase these two really great areas that MTSU has.”
The league plans to incorporate the music into additional promotional campaigns and projects, alongside promotion of the CUSA x MTSU collaboration.
CUSA x MTSU Song Project Selections:
- Stompin Grounds – Kate Statham & Spencer Kramer
- We See No Limits – Ariana Grosh
- One Life – Savannah Spann
-ConferenceUSA.com-