Troy University Athletics
Trojans Turning Focus Toward Rivalry Game at UAB
9/18/2010 6:00:00 AM | Football
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The message from Troy head football coach Larry Blakeney was simple after a tough loss against Oklahoma State on Saturday night. The Trojans dropped a game they felt they could have, and maybe should have, won on the road and as the team put that game to the side to focus on UAB, Blakeney offered his thoughts to the team about the future of the season.
“I started in the locker room,” Blakeney said. “I told our kids in the locker room, 'I wasn't sure about you, but if you will do (what we ask), and take coaching, and take what I think we can teach you to do then we'll be okay. You're passionate and play hard enough; you just have got to put it all together. You have got to be on top of your mental game.'
“We play hard. We play fast on both sides of the ball. We're going to be a pretty good team. We've got a chance to win. We've got a chance to win the games we've got to win for sure.”
That's the focus for the Trojans as they prepare to renew the in-state rivalry against the Blazers this Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham. Kickoff for the game is set for 3 p.m. The game can be heard on the Troy ISP Sports Network with “The Voice of the Trojans” Barry McKnight taking you through the action along with analyst Jerry Miller and sideline reporter Chris Blackshear.
There will be no television coverage for the game, however, UAB will offer it's All-Access internet webcast for a cost of $9.95.
The Trojans dropped the 41-38 decision to Oklahoma State in their last outing, and the Blazers enter the game this week after dropping their first two contests of the season. UAB opened the season with a one-point loss to Florida Atlantic, and followed that heart-breaker with a 28-7 C-USA loss to SMU in Dallas.
Despite the fact that the Blazers have lost their first two games this year, and the Trojans are coming off a tough loss, the players know they have to prepare well in order to have a chance at victory on Saturday.
“I think we're going to be ready for UAB this week,” freshman quarterback Corey Robinson said. “We've got to be ready to go. It's a rivalry game, and those are always tough. Their season didn't start out the way they wanted it to so they will be ready to go this week. We've got to leave that (Oklahoma State) behind us, and move forward.”
Blakeney echoed those sentiments and knows from experience how difficult it is to play at Legion Field.
“I don't think it will be easy in Birmingham,” Blakeney said. “We're going to have to play good, and that's the way it should be. They get to coach and play also. They have got some dang good coaches, and it looks like they have got some good players too.”
Blakeney and Blazers head coach Neil Callaway are long-time friends and rivals and there is an obvious level of respect.
“Certainly my connections with Neil Callaway, Kim Helton and several other guys on that staff are going to make things interesting,” Blakeney said. “I know they are looking for a way to win, and we are trying to get back on track.”
Leading the charge for the Blazers on the offensive side of the ball is quarterback David Isabelle. The sophomore from Huntsville has rushed for 248 yards and three touchdowns through the first two games. Isabelle's totals have earned him a ranking as the 13th best rusher in the country, and the Blazers have the 26th best rushing attack in the nation.
“He's just a running back with the ball in his hand,” Trojans sophomore Jonathan Massaquoi said. “He is able to run it and able to throw. Guys like that are very dangerous. It's all about preparation this week, us being ready physically and mentally to play by Saturday. I'm pretty sure, as a defense and a team, will be ready for that challenge.”
Blakeney said that slowing Isabelle is a top priority.
“We certainly are concerned about it,” Blakeney said. “Isabelle, he can really run. He can do some things with the football, not only running but throwing it. They give him some opportunities with some quarterback sweeps, power and zone read where he makes your backside stay and take care of him. He is a good athlete. We'll have to be ready for the runs and scrambles.”
The Trojans are hoping to counter with an effective defensive effort on Saturday, but also with an offense that Blakeney hopes can eliminate costly mistakes.
“I'll tell you that I really like our receivers and the receiving corps,” Blakeney said. “Everybody is going to talk about and focus on Jerrell Jernigan, and they better. I like what I see. We have got to continue to work on the other side of that with the running game, and hopefully upgrade our numbers there.”
Senior Jason Bruce has proven with long touchdown receptions in each of the first two games to be a perfect counter to Jernigan, while another senior, Tebiarus Gill, has shown himself to be a quality big play receiver.
“If (Bruce) is making plays, then that opens things up for me more,” Jernigan said. “That means they'll probably take some attention away from me and put on him. That will leave me open down the seams sometimes.”
For Troy, the game on Saturday has multiple angles. Blakeney and the Trojans' staff put an added importance on winning in-state ball games. Another angle for Troy is responding to the loss last week. While the Trojans hold the all-time series lead against UAB, the last trip to face the Blazers at Legion Field, where Troy has a 2-2 record, was a 21-3 loss where troy has a 2-2 record. Avenging that loss for Blakeney is an angle as well, but with all of that aside the Trojans are focused and anxious about playing their best football.
“I wish we could have played (again) on Sunday, but that probably wouldn't have been good either,” Blakeney said. “There is (anxiety to play again), and I'm sure as a player there is. I know certainly, as a coach, that you want to be able to do something different from losing. You want to go back out and play. I think we'll get good effort and good work out of our guys. Our coaches are excited about the task at hand, and they are working diligently trying to get plans up. Yes, I wish we had it all in the can and we were playing tomorrow.”
The game isn't tomorrow, but the Trojans will be working this week to get ready to face the Blazers on Saturday.
Thursday, May 28
Saturday, April 18
Saturday, April 18
Saturday, April 18