Troy University Athletics
October is a Busy Month
10/2/2008 5:00:00 AM | General
October 2
Technically, this is an off week for the Troy football team, but that does not mean the players or coaches are laying around taking it easy.
The Trojans have one of their biggest games of the season on Tuesday night in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., when they face Florida Atlantic in a showdown that will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. CT.
The fact that the game features the two teams that shared the Sun Belt Conference title last year, are winners of the past two R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowls and features the two most successful and recognized coaches in the Sun Belt are reason enough to warrant national TV coverage.
The fact that ESPN is putting one of its “A” announce teams on the game, should also tell you how big the game is expected to be. The trio of Rece Davis, Mark May and Coach Lou Holtz will be in the booth at Lockhart Stadium for the game and Rob Stone, one of ESPN's top sideline reporters, will be on the field.
Davis, a native of Muscle Shoals, Ala., along with May and Holtz are familiar with the Trojans. That trio teamed up to announce Troy's 45-7 victory over Middle Tennessee late last season.
While the impending football game dominates the early landscape for the month of October, there are plenty of other events this month. It will certainly keep everyone in the athletics department busy.
To start with, coach Sonny Kirkpatrick's Trojan volleyball team will be in action Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Trojan Arena, hosting Sun Belt foes UALR and Arkansas State. October is big for the Trojans' hopes of earning a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament, with 11 league matches on the schedule.
Coach Chris Bentley and the Troy soccer team will also have a busy month, starting with a weekend road trip for games at Middle Tennessee (Friday) and Western Kentucky (Sunday). The Trojans play every Friday and Sunday this month, with nine games, all in league play, on the schedule.
The Trojans also have a home football game on the schedule this weekend ? a junior varsity football game. Troy will entertain Georgia Military on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Movie Gallery Stadium. There is no admission charge for the game, and it will give Troy fans a chance to see many of the young players who will be playing on Saturdays in the very near future.
While there is plenty going on at home this weekend, the Troy golf teams will both hit the road for tournaments. The ladies will head to Bradenton, Fla., for the USF-Waterlefe Invitational while the men head to Savannah, Ga., to play in the Mizuno Savannah Invitational. Both tournaments run Sunday through Tuesday.
Speaking of golf, congratulations to Trojan senior Jay Harris, who set a new course record at Troy Country Club this week with a sparkling 63.
Coach Matt Terry said both teams played exceptionally well in qualifying for the road trips and he expects them both to perform well in the upcoming events.
Both Troy golf teams will play in tournaments later in the month as well, with the women going to Houma, La., Oct. 19-21 and the men heading to Hattiesburg, Miss., Oct. 26-28.
The Trojan rodeo teams will also be in action twice this month, including the annual Trojan Stampede October 16-18 at the Pike County Cattlemen's Association Facility. Prior to that event, the Trojans will travel to West Alabama for a three-day event next weekend.
Another set of Trojan teams in action this month is the cross country squads. Those teams will compete each of the next three weekends: at Auburn this Saturday, in Hoover, Ala., next week, and at home in the Coach “O” Invitational on Oct. 18.
You would think that would be enough for one month, but it's not even close.
Troy tennis coach Eric Hayes closes out the annual USTA Tennis Classic of Troy this weekend at the Lunsford Tennis Center. The Troy teams are both slated to be represented in the ITA Southeast Region Tournaments later this month, with the men competing in Lexington, Ky., and the women competing in Athens, Ga.
October also means baseball on the Troy campus. Coach Bobby Pierce will be putting his squad through numerous intra-squad games throughout the month before facing a travel team from Ontario, Canada, in an exhibition doubleheader on Sunday, Oct. 19.
Lastly, but certainly not least, October means basketball. Both of the Trojans teams will begin practice this month in preparation for the start of the 2008-09 season in November. Schedules for both teams (men - women) are available on the web site. Both squads can begin practice on Friday, October 17.
Coach Don Maestri's team will open the season with an exhibition game on Monday, November 10, against West Alabama, while coach Michael Murphy's women's squad will open on the road at Georgia Tech on November 14.
Without a doubt, October is the busiest month of the year around any athletics program, and Troy is certainly no exception. By the time all of the spooks come out at the end of the month, everyone will need some rest.
Of course, there is a home soccer game and a home volleyball game that day, so time to rest will have to wait.
I'll see you at the games. E-mail me here if you have questions or comments.
Go Trojans
RH
