Troy University Athletics
National TV Audience To See Battle For The Palladium
11/13/2007 6:00:00 AM | Football
Game Facts:
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2007 Time: 6 p.m. Site: Troy, Ala.
Stadium: Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium Stadium Opened: 1950
Surface: AstroPlay Capacity: 30,000
National Rankings (AP/ESPN-USA Today): Troy (NR/NR), Middle Tenn. (NR/NR)
Television: ESPN2
Announcers: Rece Davis (play-by-play), Lou Holtz and Mark May (color), Todd Harris (sideline).
Radio: The Troy/ISP Network (See Page 5 for affiliates)
Announcers: Barry McKnight (play-by-play), Jerry Miller (color), Chris Blackshear
(sideline) and Mike Mote (studio host). The broadcast begins one hour prior to kickoff.
Internet: Live audio and live stats will be available on www.TroyTrojans.com.
Tickets: Visit www.troytrojans.com for information. Tickets are $20/$15 each.
Forecast: Clear (20%) Temps: High 69, Low 47
THE HEAD COACHES
TROY: Larry Blakeney (Auburn, ?70)
Record at Troy: 135-67-1 (17th year)
Career Record: Same
MT: Rick Stockstill (Butler, ?94)
Record at MT: 12-12 (2nd year)
Career Record: Same
THE SERIES
MTSU leads the all-time series 11-3, including a 3-2 lead in games played in Troy.
LAST MEETING
The "Miracle in Murfreesboro" last November sparked the Trojans to the Sun Belt crown. Troy scored twice in the final 2:19 to take a 21-20 victory over the Raiders.
Trojan Story Lines:
The 2007 season for the Troy Trojans comes down to the final two weeks. With consecutive home games against Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic, all Troy has to do to wrap-up a second straight Sun Belt title is defend its home turf. Since the start of the 2003 season, that is something the Trojans have done very well, posting a 19-3 mark at Movie Gallery Stadium, but one of those three losses came to MTSU in 2005 ... The game between the Trojans and Blue Raiders is also for the "Palladium" Trophy ... The Trojans are 6-0 all-time on November 20, with the last game in 2004, a 37-17 victory over Middle Tennessee ... The MTSU roster includes eight players from the state of Alabama ... The Troy roster includes one player, junior quarterback Levi Brown, from the state of Tennessee ... Brown is from Mt. Juliet and is redshirting this year after transferring from Richmond ... Senior receiver Gary Banks enters play having recorded at least one reception in 29 consecutive games, which is the 14th longest such streak in the nation ... Troy defenseive coordinator Jeremy Rowell will celebrate his 34th birthday on Nov. 21 ... Troy is 34-37-3 all-time against teams from Tennessee ... Kenny Cattouse needs 262 rushing yards over the final ttwo games to reach 1,000 yards for the season ... Troy's starting corners, Leodis McKelvin and Elbert Mack, are both at the top of the national rankings. McKelvin leads the country in punt return average and Mack is second nationally in interceptions ... Over the last four games the Trojans have turned the ball over 16 times after having just 10 in the first six games ... The Trojans rank first in the Sun Belt, and 14th in the country, in pass efficiency defense (105.95) while Middle Tennessee ranks first in the league, and 22nd in the nation, in passing efficiency (139.52) ... Troy, MTSU and FAU are all tied for fourth in the country in turnovers forced with 28 ... Troy has scored seven non-offensive touchdowns this season, which is tied for third most in the nation ... The Troy defense continues to rank first in the country on third downs, allowing just a 25 percent conversion rate.
