Troy Football Has No Off Season

The warm weather is back in the air, and though I'm not too excited about sweating walking across campus again, I am excited about spring practice.

On January 10th we started winter workouts. There is no such thing as an OFF-season in football. We started working out at 6:45 a.m., and had conditioning afterward. Classes followed at different times for different people. The offense, organized by quarterback Levi Brown and the veteran linemen, got together at four to go through plays and throw the ball around.

On Mondays and Thursdays we went through what we call “Octagon.” I suppose it started as an eight-station circuit for conditioning. Now it is 10 stations, and the time that you stay at the circuit increases each week. Last spring, we did Octagon at about five in the morning.

This year, much to the team's appreciation, we did it at nine at night. Though that didn't make it any easier to perform the drills per say, it made it easier to accept doing because you didn't have to wake up at 4:15 in the morning!

It got us in shape, and built the team's chemistry. I found myself getting a little bit better each time we did it, and noticed a big leap from how I was able to get through it last year to this year.

This brings us up to spring break, and the now. I went to Panama City, with the rest of Troy University for my break. I left after doing sports on TrojanVision Friday night, and got back Tuesday night very late.

I would have been back in Troy around seven, but I began hearing reports of the shootings in Geneva County on the radio. I interned at WSFA 12 last summer, and will help them from time to time when I am near something happening. I decided to drive over to the area and help.

It was dusk as I drove, and I didn't know what to expect. I've covered murders, and accidental shooting deaths, but I've never been to such a crime. The sun was well down by the time I got into Geneva and Samson. It was a sad and very hectic scene, even when I got there around seven.
I began to talk to people near the scene, and asked the reporters already there what had happened. It wasn't until around 10 that we began to piece together some kind of idea of what had happened.

I told a few of my friends how, even though it would be very easy to, I didn't feel like I should pass judgment on the man. To do something like this, to so many people, he must have been very mentally sick. It is sad that these people are able to go untreated, but it is hard to spot the ones who will do such things.

My thoughts are with all involved.

I drove back to Troy around 1 a.m. on 84 to Elba, Alabama, on to Troy past Zion Chapel. It was a dark drive, but gave me a lot of time to reflect on the scene I had just left. I also thought about things that will be happening when we get back to school on Monday.

Coming up within the next week we start spring ball. It seems like just yesterday I was taking off my pads for the last time in 2008 down in New Orleans. I've not watched the game to this day. I may never watch that game, or the LSU game. Those burn deeply inside. I may not watch them, but I will not forget them.

They inspire “what if” and remind you to do what you can now, so you don't have to ask “what if” again.

We start practice on Wednesday. It is a big spring for me. I go in as the first team right guard while Danny Franks is working back from foot surgery. It's my job to maintain my spot, and to show that I deserve it. That is what I will do this spring. That's all I have to say about that.

We have a good team this year. I am excited to see us on the field. We are a disciplined team. We are a talented team. We have a good chemistry. I think those things combined together will make us a great team.

Coach Neal Brown talked a lot about how were are a good team, but had to become a great team. I felt that we became a great team last year. But, great teams finish what they start, so I guess you can argue against my feeling.

I should post like I did last fall camp during spring camp. I have a lot more to talk about when we're actually practicing. Until then...

Micah

Troy University Athletics

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