Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
History Won’t Matter When Troy Hosts FIU
11/9/2010 4:53:02 PM | Football
TROY GAME NOTES | FIU GAME NOTES | SUN BELT RELEASE | NEWS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT | NEWS CONFERENCE AUDIO
Historically, the records are unmistakable.
Under coach Larry Blakeney the Trojans have piled up an all-time record of 88-11-1 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The mark on Homecoming is equally impressive, with a 17-1-1 mark when the alumni return to campus, not to mention a 12-game win streak.
The Trojans are also perfect in six all-time meetings with FIU, which will pay a visit to Troy this Saturday.
The one thing this game has that past Homecoming tilts, or past games with the Panthers for the matter, have lacked is the tension that comes from having something more than history on the line.
When the Trojans host FIU this Saturday at 2:30 p.m., the 2010 Sun Belt Conference title will hang in the balance. Troy has played with a target on its back all year, but comes into the game with a 5-3 overall mark that includes a 4-1 record in league play.
FIU, which has only been playing football since 2002, enters the game with a 3-5 record overall, but the Panthers are 3-1 in the conference play and hold the keys to their own destiny enter the game this weekend.
Trojans coach Larry Blakeney put all of the past in perspective.
“It just happens to be homecoming and we've been successful with homecoming,” Blakeney said. “It just happens to be right here in Troy, Alabama, where we have been pretty successful too. We got some things in our favor, we just have to make sure we understand that we can't count on those things. Those things are legacy and history. What we can count on is hopefully a great crowd and great support and, if we get great preparation, we will play well.”
Coming off back-to-back road games, with a hard-fought victory over North Texas last Saturday, the Trojans know what is at stake this weekend and are focused on preparing for the battle FIU is sure to provide.
“It is huge,” freshman quarterback Corey Robinson said. “They only have one loss, like we do, and whoever wins this game is obviously going to be in the driver's seat to win the conference. They are very talented and the have a real fast defense. We are going to have to practice hard this week to get ready to go.”
The game sets up simply. The Trojans lead the league in total offense, piling up 455.5 yards per game, while the Panthers lead the conference in total defense, holding opponents to 360.25 yards per game.
“What more can you ask for?” senior receiver Jerrel Jernigan asked. “You have the top two teams in the Sun Belt Conference going head to head for first place. It will be two good teams playing each other and the best team will win.”
Jernigan will be in the spotlight more than normal for the Trojans. After breaking the all-time Sun Belt Conference record for career all-purpose yards last week, he is on the verge of breaking two more high profile records.
In addition, Jernigan needs just four receptions to move past Casey Fitzgerald of North Texas for the Sun Belt record.
“It feels good to break the record, especially in a win,” Jernigan said of the all-purpose mark. “Like I have said, the records don't matter, as long as we get the win. I hope that we can go ahead and get it over with in the first quarter so everyone will stop talking about it.”
What makes the record chase special this weekend is that Grant will be in attendance at the game. Jernigan said he is looking forward to meeting the man who set all the marks at Troy.
“It is great,” Jernigan said. “I hope I get to meet him after the
game, after I break the record. Getting to meet him after the
game will be a great pleasure for me.”
But Jernigan won't be the only record-setting receiver on the field this weekend. FIU's T.Y. Hilton has had a fantastic career for the Panthers and the junior is, like Jernigan, a threat to score every single time he touches the ball.
Hilton is coming off a spectacular performance in an overtime victory over ULM last week. All he did in that game was pile up 291 all-purpose yards and score four touchdowns – two as a receiver, one on a rush and one on a kickoff return. For his efforts he was named the Sun Belt offensive and special teams player of the week.
“We lose sleep over him in the kicking game as much as anything,” Blakeney said. “Every time he touches it, and they have all kind of ways to get it to him – throw it to him, run it to him, direct snap it to him, on reverses, he runs the option some – he is a threat. He is a great player.
“I'm sure that it will be tabbed as two of the best offensive players in the conference. Guys that, when they have the ball in their hands, can make a difference in a game. Those two people are probably the best two in our league.”
Jernigan said he has a lot of respect for Hilton who, with 2,165 career receiving yards, will likely break Jernigan's SBC mark next year.
“We have spoken a few times after games,” Jernigan said. “I have four games left here and I am not ready to hand the title over to him just yet. I am going to try to put on a show for him.”
For both teams, the task of slowing the two dynamic offensive threats in the game will fall to the defense. FIU has held its own on the defensive side of the ball this year, with the Panthers' marquee performance coming against Rutgers in the season-opener when they held the Scarlet Knights to just 172 yards of total offense.
FIU is, however, coming off a game against ULM where the Panthers allowed season-highs for both passing yards (366) and total yards (482) allowed.
The Trojans come into the game leading the league in rush defense, but sitting in last place in the league, and 110th in the nation, in pass defense. The Trojans also rank among the nation's best in forcing turnovers, but failed to do so last week against North Texas.
Sophomore defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi leads the team in total tackles this year and is second in the nation in sacks, averaging 1.19 per game. His numbers have jumped with three sacks in each of the last two games.
Despite the numbers he has been putting up, things have not been easy for Massaquoi, who is playing at this level for the first time this year. The learning curve has been steep, and the challenge of facing constant double-teams has made it difficult to stay focused on the job at hand.
“It is very hard because things don't always go your way and I have a good understanding of that,” Massaquoi said. “I just try to keep my composure as much as possible and have fun. That is all part of the game.”
He also knows that the pressure will be on him and the rest of the defensive unit this Saturday.
“They say that offense wins games and defense wins championships, but that doesn't necessarily apply to our concept,” Massaquoi said. “The defense has to be ready to show up every game.
“This is a big game, it is basically for the conference championship. I am not trying to exclude the other teams in the league, but FIU is tied with us. Going into this week there needs to be a lot of intense preparation. We need to show a lot of urgency this week. Coming off a big road win can carry over into this home game and we want to keep that same vibe going. We want to build off last week and come out with another W.”
All of the Trojans, including Coach Blakeney, agreed that the most important aspect of the game being on Homecoming is the chance to have a very large, and very loud, crowd.
“I'm hoping that we break a record as far as attendance and the attendance at the Trojan Walk,” Blakeney said. “We've had some good turnouts for that, but the game itself, it's a game in which our people certainly will see some talented people and hopefully they will come out and support the Trojans.”
Massaquoi summed up the players' feelings with regard to homecoming.
“It adds to the excitement,” Massaquoi said. “I am into the crowd and I love when the crowd gets into the game. That fires me up and makes me want to be even more productive on the field. Being aware of all the things that will be in place, and aware of all of the dedicated Troy Trojans fans there will make us want to fight even harder.
“Number one, losing is not an option. Number two, we are at home and, number three, this is for the championship.”
If the “Drive for Five” is to stay alive, the Trojans know they will need a championship effort to defeat FIU.
The game will be televised as the Sun Belt Conference game of the week on CSS and CST, but tickets are available through the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office. The ticket office will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, Veterans Day, and also has tickets for the game next week at South Carolina available. Call 877-878-9467 to reserve your tickets to see the Trojans play.
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