Troy University Athletics
Blakeney to Provide Commencement Address
12/8/2009 11:00:00 PM | Football
One of the nation's longest-serving head football coaches will offer the keynote remarks at Troy University's fall commencement on Dec. 11.
Trojan head coach Larry Blakeney will speak before about 500 graduates representing 15 states and 17 nations in Sartain Hall where commencement exercises get under way at 10:30 a.m.
Coach Blakeney is in his 19th season as head coach at TROY, making him one of the longest-serving college head coaches at the same school. Only Joe Paterno (Penn State), Bobby Bowden (Florida State) and Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) outdistance Coach Blakeney, who is ranked fourth in total of wins among Alabama football coaches with a record of 153-76-1 at TROY.
A 1970 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, Coach Blakeney was a three-year letterman at quarterback for Auburn's legendary Ralph "Shug" Jordan from 1966 until 1969. He was the first sophomore ever to start for Jordan, and Auburn played in two bowl games during Blakeney's career. Coach Blakeney was a two-sport star for the Tigers, also lettering in baseball in 1968 and 1969 while playing shortstop and third base for coach Paul Nix.
He earned his master's degree in education from the University of Montevallo in 1976.
Fall Commencement is free and open to the public.
