Troy University Athletics
Practice Report #4: August 7th
8/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University Trojans practiced in shoulder pads for the second time on Monday night and continued to impress coaches with their level of effort.
The Trojans continued to implement the new spread offense of Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin. Junior Omar Haugabook and freshman Jonathan Chandler took most of the snaps with the first and second offensive units.
On Tuesday the team will hit the practice field in full gear for the first time, with the focus of the practice being fundamentals.
Defensive Line Spotlight: Kenny Mainor, Marcus Pittman, Brandon Lang, and Chris Bradwell; names not quite as familiar to Troy fans as Demarcus Ware and Osi Umenyiora, but those are the players who are already making an impact on the defensive line in Head Coach Larry Blakeney's mind.
"Mainor, Pittman, Lang, Bradwell," Blakeney said, "Those guys are really working hard and they have really shown me something quickly."
Co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Mike Pelton agrees, "I'm excited about coaching these guys.
"If they stay healthy, they really have a chance to be something," Pelton said.
Mainor is a sophomore returning starter who is stepping up as a leader on the defense.
"It's amazing how [Mainor] is taking to that role at such a young age," Pelton said.
Marcus Pittman and Chris Bradwell are both junior college transfers who are working hard to earn playing time.
"Marcus has impressed me with his athleticism and his eagerness to learn," Pelton said. "Bradwell has also done well so far."
Brandon Lang, a freshman, has also been an eye opener for Pelton. He is on the field this fall for the first time since 2004 at Hargrave Military Academy.
"I've been really impressed with Lang's athleticism and his hunger," Pelton said. "He is very, very athletic. He looks like he will play a good bit this year."
Returning players Boo Smith and Franklyn Lloyd have also impressed early on.
"Franklyn Lloyd is really showing himself to be a player this year," Blakeney said.
While the defensive linemen have been impressive thus far, Coach Pelton also understands this is just the beginning.
"All our guys have a ways to go before they get to where they need to be," Pelton said.
Practice Notes: A.J. Jones, Dominique Davis, and Jarred Gibbs have joined the Trojans for training camp … Sherrod Martin (shoulders), Sean Dawkins (knee) and Chris Jamison (hamstring) are all still out of action.
Football Appreciation Night Set: As the 2006 Trojans begin preparations for their third season in the Sun Belt Conference, preparations are also underway for the annual season kickoff event on the Troy University campus, Football Appreciation Night.
The event is scheduled for Saturday evening, August 26, at 6 p.m. and will again be held in the Stadium Club at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium. A $100 donation to the football program earns admission for two to the event and also earns the ticket holder a chance to win $10,000.
Fans not wishing to be in the drawing for the cash prize, but who would still like to attend the event, can do so at the cost of $25 per person. All tickets purchased prior to August 11 will be entered into the early bird drawing for a $1000 cash prize.
For more information on Football Appreciation Night, or to purchase tickets for the event via credit card, contact Judy Morgan in the football office at 670-3682 or 877-878-7529.
Season Tickets Still on Sale: Season tickets for the 2006 season remain on sale, starting at just $50 for general admission sections. Individual game ticket at also available as low as $15. For additional information, contact the ticket office at 800-878-9467 (670-3681 locally) or visit TroyTrojans.com
Away Game Tickets Still Available: There are only two weeks left to buy tickets for Troy's visit to Doak Campbell Stadium for their match-up with Florida State. To order tickets for the Troy-FSU game, or any of the Trojans away contests, contact the ticket office at 800-878-9467 (670-3681 locally) or visit TroyTrojans.com
Upcoming Practice Schedule:
August 8: 6 p.m. (First day of full pads)
August 9: 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
August 10: 6 p.m.
August 11: 6 p.m.
August 12 (Media Day): 2 p.m. scrimmage
August 13: 6 p.m.
August 14: 6 p.m.
