Troy University Athletics
Trojans To Host Raiders In Battle For Palladium Trophy
11/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
The game also marks the end of the Trojans first season in the Sun Belt Conference. Picked to finish second in many of the preseason polls, Troy will finish as the league's runner-up with a victory over Middle Tennessee. Defending league champion North Texas has already wrapped up its fourth straight league crown, but the Trojans are in a tie with New Mexico State for second.
The game this Saturday will also mark the first time the Trojans and Blue Raiders will play for "The Palladium" trophy. The Student Government Associations at the two schools have gotten together and created a trophy that will go to the team that wins the annual football game between the two schools. They are also billing the game as the "World's Largest Toga Party" in an effort to celebrate the Greek mythological heritage in the two schools nicknames.
Troy University will use the final home game of the season as an opportunity to recognize the men and women of the military and their contributions to the freedoms we all enjoy as Americans. Saturday will officially be "Fort Rucker Appreciation Day" on the the Troy campus. Active duty military, as well as retired and reserve military, will be honored during the game and several military items will be on display outside the stadium.
But, even with all of the outside events surrounding the game, the focus will be on beating a team that has won 10 of the 11 meetings all-time. A win means the Trojans will be able to hold out hope of securing one of the 56 spots available in 28 bowl games in December and January. A loss means putting away the equipment for the year.
The Trojans and Blue Raiders have taken different paths to this point in the season. Troy is among the top defensive teams in college football, ranking in the top 15 in the nation in rush defense (4), scoring defense (9), pass efficiency defense (11) and total defense (15). Troy also ranks high in kickoff returns (9), turnover margin (10) and net punting (19). The Blue Raiders are among the best passing teams in college football, ranking 14th in passing offense and 21st in passing efficiency.
Several season and career records are in range for members of the Troy team going into the game, and the team has a chance to set several marks as well. In addition, Troy has a chance to set a new single-season home attendance record. Through four home games, the Trojans have drawn 87,269 fans to Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. A crowd of 21,860 on Saturday would break the mark of 109,128 set during the 1999 season. That mark was set in a seven-game season. It wouold also be just the second time Troy has drawn more than 100,000 fans in a season.
All-time team records within range include interceptions (25), interception return yards (440), interception returns for a touchdown (3) and punt returns for a touchdown (3). Individual marks in jeopardy are the sole province of senior running back DeWhitt Betterson. The Starke, Fla., native is already the all-time leading rusher in school history, and is within range of the marks for rushing attempts in a season (33 from breaking), rushing attempts in a season (36), average rushing yards per game (69) and rushing yards in a regular season (149). The mark for overall rushing yards in a season (including post-season) is a more difficult 327 yards away.
Winning vs. Losing:
A Troy win on Saturday:
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Would improve the Trojans' overall record this year to 7-4.l
Would improve the Trojans' record to 31-17 in the month of November under head coach Larry Blakeney.l
Would improve the Trojans' record to 27-28 under Larry Blakeney against teams currently in Division I-A.l
Would improve the Trojans' overall record to 24-22 since moving to Division I-A in 2001.l
Would improve the Trojans' record in the Sun Belt Conference at 5-2 this year.l
Would improve the Trojans' 26th victory in their last 28 games at Movie Gallery Stadium.A Troy loss on Saturday:
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Would drop the Trojans to 26-29 under Larry Blakeney against teams currently in Division I-A.l
Would drop the Trojans' overall record to 23-23 since moving up to Division I-A in 2001.l
Would drop the Trojans' record against teams from the Sun Belt Conference to 15-26-1 all-time.l
Would drop the Trojans' all-time record against Middle Tennessee to 1-11.BATTLE FOR THE PALLADIUM
Greek Mythology holds that The Palladium is a wooden statue that fell from the Heavens. It was kept at the Temple of Athena in the city of Troy. According to legend, as long as The Palladium was preserved within the walls of the city, Troy would be safe and could not be taken. However, a "Raider" by the name of Odysseus - also known as the Raider of Cities - stole The Palladium during the Trojan War leading to the fall of Troy.
In the spirit of the Blue Raiders' and Trojans' Greek mythology link, Middle Tennessee and Troy will compete in "The Battle for The Palladium" during their annual Sun Belt Conference game.
Legend dictates the winner of The Palladium gains an unknown and unexplainable advantage over the other making it more difficult to regain control during future battles.
The history between the two schools dates back to 1936 with the Blue Raiders owning a 10-1 advantage in the series. Now competing in the same conference for the first time, the legend may extend well after the football season is over. Many believe losing possession of The Palladium has an enduring effect, mystically influencing other athletic events throughout the year matching the Trojans and Raiders.
ATHLETES CARE:
Student-athletes in the Troy University Department of Athletics are banding together to make Thanksgiving better for needy families in and around Troy and Pike County. Each athletic team selected a team leader to lead collection efforts, with a goal of generating more than 1,000 pounds of food that will be donated.Every student-athlete has been asked to donate one or two cans of food. The donations will be collected at Eldridge Hall on Friday, Noveber 19. The food will be donated to the Salvation Army for distribution.
Team leaders for the respective athletic teams are: Clint Coe (football), Clint Robinson (baseball), Kacie Flinn (softball), Michael Heck, Ioanna Dafermou and Lindsey Waldrop (track/cross country), Claudia Straus and Josh Rogers (tennis), Ben Moody (golf), Ryan Heck and Laura Lee Holman (basketball), Kendra Sytsma (volleyball) and Emily Cobb and Tara Petrucci (soccer).
