Troy University Athletics
Time For Some Football, Finally
9/11/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Behind the Microphone
September 11
Finally, some football! I'll give you a look behind the curtain at what goes on to get a Troy football broadcast on the air (suffice it to say it's a loooooong day).
Jerry Miller, Chris Blackshear, Tyler Oakes and I get to the broadcast booth very early and stay very late but, even if we didn't have to, we'll be in position early enough before the game to take in the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the 1968 NAIA National Championship team at Troy.
We all (especially Jerry) appreciate the history of college football, and can appreciate the groundwork and foundation that these men ? and many before and since ? have helped to make the Troy football program what it is as you see it on game day.
Trojan Walk is set to start at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon, and the ceremony is just prior to kickoff.
College football in those days started their season in mid-September (the Trojans opened on September 14th with a road win at Samford), with no off-weeks, no TV games, no midweek games, and thankfully no weather cancellations.
It certainly couldn't be helped that Hurricane Gustav forced the postponement of the LSU game until November, but it does point out that Troy will have waited 16 days between its opener and second game, which will be the longest streak of open calendar days of any football team in the nation.
To contrast, the 1968 Trojan squad was already 3-0 at the end of 14 days of the season and were a quarter of the way through the year! I may be totally wrong, but I'd be shocked if Troy's players weren't busting down the locker room doors Saturday night to finally get into a game that counts!
Tuesday was a busy day for me; after my morning radio show, I sped down to Dothan at the invitation of the Dothan Kiwanis Club and spoke to their lunchtime gathering. Thanks to long-time friend and radio legend Les Perault for asking me to stop by.
I learned that longtime Troy supporter and alumnus Allen Killebrew isn't going to be able to make it to the games this year because of illness and will be pulling for the Trojans via the radio. Allen is a media salesperson at WDHN in Dothan and I hope he gets better quickly.
A visit to Dothan always means a stop at ScreenTech's store off Ross Clark Circle for Troy supplies (this time it was a Troy belt and a good-luck Troy T-shirt for my mom). Great people, and they stock a lot of Trojan merchandise you can't find anywhere else!
After ScreenTech, it was up 231 to Troy for a quick look at Tuesday's practice and a checkup from the neck up with Chuck Ash, Richard Shaughnessy, Jon Adams and Alyson Steed. Not only do they give a unique perspective on the football team that I need, but each of them's good for one off-the-wall comment per day (Chuck: “I like to plant rosemary in my yard so I can smell it when I run over it with my lawnmower.”).
Then it was off to Yanni's Steakhouse for Trojan Talk that night. If you're in the area this weekend for the game, Yanni's is a great place to stop for dinner (Coach Blakeney loves the steaks; I'm a grilled chicken salad fan), and the special bar area has all the games on one of several TVs.
It was great to hear from callers like Mike from Columbiana and Stan from Franklin, Ky.; Troy Bob, where are you?
Just to get everyone in the game-time mood here are a couple of links:
Radio Highlights from the MTSU game (courtesy of the Troy ISP Sports Network)
“Trojan Football Report” TV show last week with Coach Blakeney
Live Game Audio Broadcast on the Troy ISP Sports Network: Troy vs. Alcorn State air time 5:00 p.m.
Live Game Video Broadcast online at Trojan Game Pass, exclusively at www.TroyTrojans.com
This week on the radio broadcast, our Trojan Highlight feature is on LB Bear Woods (about 35-40 minutes prior to kickoff). Our player feature on the TV show will be DB Sherrod Martin.
The TV show's affiliates and schedule have been set:
| WRJM-67 (Troy) | Sunday, 10:30 pm |
| WTVY-4 (Dothan) | Sunday, 11:00 pm |
| WNCF-13 (Montgomery) | Sunday, 10:30 pm |
| WOTM-19 (Birmingham) | Thursday, 8:00 pm |
| WFRZ-34 (Montgomery) | Friday, 9:00 pm |
| Sunshine Network | Wednesday, 5:00 pm |
