Bragging Rights Up For Grabs During "Battle for the Palladium"

TROY GAME NOTES | MTSU GAME NOTES | SUN BELT RELEASE

The four-time defending Sun Belt Conference Champions have had one common thread for each championship season. Each year the Trojans have hoisted a trophy, a win over rival Middle Tennessee played a large part in the success.

Troy (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) and Middle Tennessee (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) will battle once again for the Palladium Trophy on Tuesday night in Murfreesboro, Tenn., before a national audience on ESPN2. The game can also be heard on the Troy ISP Sports Network.

The Blue Raiders enter the contest on an emotional high due to the return of starting quarterback Dwight Dasher. The senior was suspended for the first four games this year and will make his season debut against Troy. Dasher led the Blue Raiders to a 10-win season in 2009 and a bowl victory. He poses a serious threat for the Trojans defense on Tuesday night.

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said that while Dasher is tough element on the Blue Raiders squad, he is just one piece of a multi-talented puzzle.

“You certainly have to prepare for him, but both of their other quarterbacks do a lot of the same stuff,” Blakeney said. “They are still in the same offense. In your mind, you have to upgrade to the fact that he is going to run it about half the time they run the ball, if not more.

“We will have to prepare well for the draw, the power and the trap where he has the ball in his hands. Sometimes they will just line him up and run it right or left. He is also not bad throwing the ball. We had a good game against him last year, but he is a viable guy who makes a difference.”

The Trojans are hoping their win against Arkansas State last weekend will help fuel another victory for Troy this week. A win this week would also be significant in that it would be the first on the road this year. Both of Troy's road losses came down to the final plays of the game.

“We are going into one of the most important games of the year for us,” freshman quarterback Corey Robinson said. “Middle Tennessee has a really good football team. They had a 10-win season last year and are getting their quarterback back. We have to play very well. It is always better coming off a win for team morale and team spirit.

“Coach Blakeney always talks about the Middle Tennessee game. We certainly don't want to go out there and get embarrassed because it is a national TV game. We played well against them last year and it is always a big game for recruiting. We just have to go out there and show what we can do. We have to be able to run the ball well and we have to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers and let them do what they do. It is a big game for us.”

The Trojans will rely on the play of offensive names like Jerrel Jernigan, Jason Bruce, Jamie Hampton and Robinson, but the defense will also need to make a bigger name for itself in stopping the versatile Blue Raiders offense this week.

“The scheme we had last week was very different for us,” defensive end Jonathon Massaquoi said. “We just had to adapt. It was really nothing different. We just had to utilize the talented players we have on this team. We had to move players to different positions, but they got the job done. It was amazing. Everything worked out for us.”

The defense is hoping the experienced gained in last week's game without senior end Mario Addison will help them to be more of a force in this week's contest, with Addison set to return.

“Those are lessons we can keep with us beyond college football,” Massaquoi said. “You always have to be on your Ps and Qs, cross your Ts and dot your Is. That is what we brought to the table last week and we got the job done. As players, our job is to take whatever the coaches give us and do it to the best of our abilities to get the job done.”

There will be no need for extra motivation on either sideline Tuesday night. The Trojans will be looking to continue the “Drive for Five” and earn a fifth straight win over their rivals. Both teams know to expect big hits and big plays, and nobody wants to lose.

“I am going to take advantage every time I get the chance,” linebacker Kanorris Davis said. “Any time I see someone with the ball I want them to feel me. I want them to look for me when they catch the ball and I want them to know that number 44 is coming to get them.”

That may just be the attitude of every man on the field on Tuesday.

Troy University Athletics

Bragging Rights Up For Grabs During "Battle for the Palladium"

Next Event

Related Videos