Troy University Athletics
It Has Been Far Too Long
2/5/2010 6:45:00 PM | Football
Wow, it has been quite a while since I have had a chance to fire off a blog. Too long!
It's not like I have been busy, what with the holidays, a bowl guide, a week in Mobile for the GMAC Bowl, home basketball games almost every night (it seemed that way) during the month of January, the Senior Bowl and putting together a baseball guide.
I never feel as if I am caught up, and it is just two weeks before my favorite day of the year, opening day for baseball.
With all that being said, I have a lot of football and baseball stuff to talk about, so sit back and relax. It will be a double-blog day for me.
First of all, the GMAC Bowl trip was awesome. I've been to the game three times with teams and four other times to work the game doing statistics, and I have never been disappointed. The only part of the trip that was disappointing was the result of the game.
It was truly a shame that either team had to lose. I thought going in that the game featured two of the most evenly matched teams of the bowl season, and that proved to be correct.
I have now been on both the winning (Marshall 64, ECU 61) and losing end of a double overtime game at the GMAC Bowl. I can tell you, winning is much more fun, but that should not come as a surprise.
I received a copy of the TV ratings for all of the bowl games, and the numbers are very interesting. First of all, the GMAC Bowl saw a 24 percent ratings increase, from 2.19 to 2.73. In real numbers, that means an increase of more than half a million viewers, to 2,704,838.
If you are interested, the New Orleans Bowl saw a four percent drop in viewers from 2008 to 2009, down to just under 751,000 total.
Of course, right after the bowl we lost both Neal Brown and Chad Scott to Texas Tech. I have been friends with Tech's SID, Chris Cook, for years and made sure he knew he was getting two great guys and great coaches. It is tough to lose guys like that, but it is inevitable that coaches are going to move on at some time.
I am sure that Kenny Edenfield, John Schlarman, Shayne Wasden and the two new offensive assistants – Jeff Beckles and Chip Lindsey will make sure there is no drop in production next year.
The big thing about playing in a bowl game so late is that it really compressed recruiting season, not that that bothers me at all. I know there are people out there who get more excited talking about recruiting than they do about the games, but I have never been one of those.
Don't get me wrong, recruiting is very important, but the things that happen once the players arrive on campus is much more important to success on the field. The work done by Coach Richard Shaughnessy and his staff in the weight room, the determination of the players themselves, and the coaching they receive once they get to Troy is far more important to the success of the program.
I can illustrate that fact very easily. For the fourth time in the last five years, Scout.com ranked Troy's signing class as the best in the Sun Belt Conference. The fact that the program has won four straight titles on the field bears out that assessment.
But you have to look at the lists much closer to see the truth.
Scout.com lists 30 signees in 2005, meaning their five-year window closed this season. Among those 30 player only five became major contributors – Boris Lee, Terence Moore, Danny Franks, Courtland Fuller and Patrick Cherry. That's it.
The 2006 class had 25 players listed, 13 of who ever played, and just five who have made an impact. The 2007 class had 29 signees listed, 19 of which who have played, including two who went to junior college and came back, and just 12 are still in the program.
The 2008 class had 31 players in it, 17 of which are still in the program and the 2009 class lists 32 players, 18 who are in the program right now.
People ask me every year how we did in recruiting and I always have the same answer – “We'll see in a few years.”
Of course, the football season didn't end with the GMAC Bowl. After the bowls there are the all-star games, pro days and, later this month, the NFL Combine. You could say that the secret that used to be Troy football is out, because there were more NFL scouts through campus this year than at any time in history.
Past seasons have seen Troy produce the highest drafted player from the Sun Belt Conference four times, and that should be the case again this year. I don't think anyone will best the 11th overall pick, which is where both DeMarcus Ware and Leodis McKelvin were selected, but I do expect to see at least three Trojans have their names called on the first day of the draft.
Both Brandon Lang and Cameron Sheffield played in the Senior Bowl last weekend, and neither hurt their stock during the week. The big question is whether they will play as a 3-4 outside linebacker, like Ware does with the Cowboys, or will stay as 4-3 ends with their hands on the ground. My guess is that both guys can do either, and may wind up being like DeMarcus and doing some of both.
This week quarterback Levi Brown and linebacker Boris Lee have been in El Paso preparing to play in the Texas vs. The Nation All-Star Game at the Sun Bowl. The game kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday and is being televised by CBS College Sports.
I got to see Brandon and Cameron play in person because I do stats for the Senior Bowl every year, but I will have to settle for watching Levi and Boris on TV (thank you DirecTV!).
All four guys have been invited to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis later this month, and that will go a long way toward determining when the get drafted.
Of course, last weekend Ware played in the Pro Bowl, again, and he was named to the first team All-Pro team, again. It seems as if there is nothing he can't do on the football field. His success should be all the more satisfying to all Troy fans because he is such a great guy.
After he gets back from El Paso, Levi will receive a great award next Tuesday. He has been named the state college player of the year by the Montgomery Quarterback Club. He chuckled when I told him about the award, saying “Isn't there a Heisman winner just up the road?” That is true, but the folks in Montgomery like to give the award to a deserving senior player, and I can't think of a more deserving senior in the state.
Troy football fans should also be very proud of the effort sophomore offensive lineman Micah Grimes put in last week in putting together his Help for Haiti concert. While it would have been nice in the weather had cooperated and the concert could have been on Tailgate Terrace, the effort he put in over a short amount of time to put that event together was incredible.
Most of you know that Micah is incredibly talented in many areas, and I am confident that he is going to be super successful as a TV mogul in the not to distant future.
Because I was in Mobile for the Senior Bowl, I didn't get to see The Nasty Nate Experience (formerly Nasty Nate and the Funky Bunch) but I am determined to see those guys perform before this semester ends and they lose two of the founding members. The group includes Nate Nolin (bass), Bear Woods (lead guitar), Sam Sellers (vocals), Jacoby Thomas (drums) and Donnell Golden (keyboards/steel guitar).
I understand that Jacoby stole the show on the drums.
A couple of other quick football notes before I wrap up.
Lang was named to the CollegeFootballInsiders.com All-America and All-BCS Buster teams. Levi and Boris were both named to the honorable mention All-BCS Buster teams.
Former Trojan Dion Small signed to play for the Columbus Lions of the Southern Indoor Football League. If you get a chance, go see him play.
Finally, spring practice will be here before you know it. The coaching staff has set most of the dates. They will start the week of March 15, probably late in the week, with two days in shorts before cranking up in full gear the week of March 19. Starting that day, a Monday, the team will practice each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with scrimmages set for each Saturday, ending on April 10.
There will be campus events surrounding at least two of the three scrimmages. March 27 is Spring Reunion Weekend, April 3 is the official T-Day, and I am sure there will be something going on for the final scrimmage on April 10.
Of course, by that time I will be deep into baseball season. You can read my Diamond Notes blog to catch up on the baseball team.
Until later, (hopefully not as much later as this blog) Go Trojans!
It Is Going To Be A Busy Weekend
Friday, October 23
● Campus Crawl, Trojan Center, 3 p.m.
● Trojan Soccer vs. UL Lafayette, Soccer Field, 3 p.m.
● World War II Reunion, Stadium Club, 5 p.m. (Invitation Only)
● Vietnam War Reunion, Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor, 6 p.m.
● Pep Rally, Bibb Graves Quad, 6:30 p.m. (Fireworks and music to follow)
● Troy Alumni Baseball Game, Riddle-Pace Field, 7 p.m.
● Trojan Volleyball vs. Denver, Trojan Arena, 7 p.m. (Wear pink to help “Dig for a Cure”)
Saturday, October 24
● Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Breakfast, Stadium Club, 8 a.m.
● Alumni of the Year Breakfast, Hawkins-Adams-Long Hall of Honor, 8:30 a.m. (Invitation Only)
● Alumni Softball Game, Troy Softball Field, 10 a.m.
● Homecoming Parade, Starts downtown and ends on campus, 10 a.m.
● Tailgating, Shackelford Quad (live music from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.)
● Clipson Era Reunion, Alumni House, 11 a.m.
● Trojan Walk, Begins on University Avenue in front of fountain, 12:15 p.m.
● Sound of the South performance, Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium, 2 p.m.
● Introduction of Homecoming Court, Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium, 2 p.m.
● Trojan Football vs. North Texas, Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium, 2:30 p.m.
● Crowning of the Homecoming Queen and King, Recognition of the Alumni of the Year and performances by the Sound of the South marching band and the Alumni Band, Halftime
● Trojan Volleyball vs. North Texas, Trojan Arena, 7 p.m.
● Alpha Phi Alpha Greek Step Show, Claudia Crosby Theater, (Admission is $15), 7 p.m.
Sunday, October 25
● Trojan Soccer vs. ULM, Troy Soccer Field, 1 p.m.
Monday, October 26
● Troy Women's Invitational Golf Tournament, Troy Country Club, 8 a.m.
Tuesday, October 27
● Troy Women's Invitational Golf Tournament, Troy Country Club, 8 a.m.
Tebow As Good As Advertised
People have said that he may be the best college football player of all time. I don't know about that, but he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.
His performance on Saturday, 15-of-24 passing for 237 yards and four touchdowns to go with 13 carries for 71 yards and another score, was among the best of his career. Plus, he did that in less than three full quarters of play.
Besides his ability on the field, he has a great image and is almost as well-known for what he does off the field with regard to his faith and his desire to help his fellow man.
Some have suggested that he is too good to be true, that no person could be as talented as he is and still do all of the things he does away from the field.
I know Tebow is a great kid, but I also know he has a very well crafted and protected image. In fact, his image is so well-protected that security at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium does not allow anyone to enter the facility with signs of any kind that might be construed as negative toward their star.
To that end, former Troy cheerleader Tiffany Robinson had her homemade sign confiscated upon trying to enter the stadium on Saturday. She had a sign that simply read “T is for Troy, not Tebow”. That, she was told at the gate, is not allowed.
Simply amazing.
Missing Leader
The Trojans took the field on Saturday without the athletic department's leader, AD Steve Dennis.
No person is a more vocal supporter of Troy athletics, but he has fallen victim to the flu bug that has been going around campus. With a 102 temperature on Saturday, he stayed at home in Troy, but made sure that his wife, Lisa, a two of his sons, were in attendance at the game on Saturday.
A Great Time For a Visit to "The Swamp"
Tomorrow the Troy Trojans football team will hit the road to face the biggest challenge in the history of the program.
I know this is not the first time the Trojans have faced the nation's No. 1 team in football, it is also not the first time Troy has played the defending national champions, but it is the first, and probably only, time Troy has ever faced a team that is considered to be among the best of ALL-TIME.
Coach Blakeney has said it over and over this week. The Gators have probably the best coach in the country in Urban Meyer, they have Superman Tim Tebow at quarterback and they have perhaps the best defense in the country.
In addition to being considered among the best all-time teams, many national pundits throw Tebow's name around as among the best two or three players in the history of college football.
With all that being said, and with the Trojans coming off a heart-breaking loss at Bowling Green last week, some might wonder if the team is heading toward Gainesville on a Batan death march, with the inevitable awaiting them.
That has not been what I have seen this week.
The Trojans came back from the Bowling Green trip rededicated to making this a special season. At our weekly news conference on Monday I heard players say that Sunday's practice was the best and most spirited they had held.
From my perspective, the players appear to be excited. There aren't many times when a team gets a chance to make history and shock the world at the same time. That is the opportunity the Trojans have this week.
The players are anxious to see how they stack up against the best, as any competitor would be.
I am not one to make predictions, but I expect to see and exciting game on Saturday.
For those Troy fans who aren't making the trip to Gainesville, the game is being televised virtually nation-wide on the SEC Network. You can see all of the channels where the game will be available here.
Personally, this will be my sixth trip to “The Swamp”. I have made the trip with four different schools – Alabama in 1986, Southern Miss in 1994 and 1997, Marshall in 2001 and Troy in 2007. The thing I remember most from those trips is that Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is always a hot box, and Gators fans are some of the loudest, and often rudest, in college football.
Going for The Belt
There was a line (one of many) that retired professional wrestler Ric Flair (a big Gators fan) made famous during his career. It says – “To be the man, you have to beat the man.”
There is a web site out there that takes this axiom to heart. It is called CollegeFootballBelt.com and it eliminates the need for a college football playoff system. Their theory is that if you beat the reigning belt holder, or champion, then you instantly become the champion.
Pretty simple theory really.
The site tracks the major college football “belt” back to the early part of the 20th century. They have records available for how teams have fared in “belt” games and, for teams that have held the “belt” their record in defending the belt.
Needless to say, the Trojans will challenge for the “belt” this weekend. It is Troy's third belt game, and all have been in the state of Florida. The Trojans challenged for the “belt” in 2001 when they played at Miami and again in 2007 when they played Florida.
For the record, the Gators are currently in the middle of their fourth “belt” title run. They first won the “belt” from LSU in 1983 and lost it three weeks later to Auburn (with Blakeney on the coaching staff).
Florida had chances to regain the “belt” in 1984 and 1986, but lost those games to Miami and Alabama (I was at that one). They finally regained the “belt” in 1987 with a road win over Alabama (I was at that one too). That run lasted just two weeks before Florida handed the “belt” back to LSU.
Florida had five more cracks at the “belt” before finally regaining it in the 2006 BCS championship game win over Ohio State. That title run lasted just four games, including the 2007 win over Troy, before dropping the “belt” to Auburn.
The Gators did not regain the “belt” until their victory over Oklahoma in the 2008 BCS title game, and will be defending it for just the second time when the Trojans visit this weekend.
The “belt” title has been held at one time or another by 52 different programs. Many of the schools are the ones you would expect, but there are some on the list that would surprise you – Tulsa, Virginia, Baylor, Duke, Wyoming, Rice and Southern Miss, to name a few.
All-time records for every school that has played for or held the “belt” are available on the site. The program that has had the most “belt” chances without a win is Virginia Tech. The Hokies have played for the “belt” eight times, but have never held the title.
The whole think means absolutely nothing, but it is a fun web site to look at.
I'll see you at the game on Saturday and I look forward to a packed house at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium next Saturday when the Trojans host UAB on World Wide Trojan Pride Day.
Hopefully, that will be the first of many “belt” title defenses for the Trojans.
Let The Games Begin
August 21, 2009
Well, it is official. The 2009-10 Troy Athletics year officially started about 15 minutes ago when the Trojan soccer team kicked off against Alabama A&M in Huntsville.
For the next eight months there will be literally hundreds of games, meets and matches involving Troy's more than 400 student-athletes. No time of year for a college athlete is filled with more promise.
With the start of competition, we are still more than a week away from the first event here on campus. The soccer team will be the ones to christen the new athletic year when it faces Nicholls State on Sunday afternoon, August 30.
While there are no official games on campus next week, it will still be a busy week.
Tomorrow the football team, which is less than two weeks from opening the season, will hold a special teams scrimmage at 10:30 a.m. Tomorrow night is the annual kickoff to football season for friends and boosters of the program at Football Appreciation Night.
That event will start at 6 p.m. in the Stadium Club at Movie Gallery Veterans. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Admission is $30 per person or $100 per couple with an entry into the draw down.
Festivities will continue on Sunday afternoon with Fan Day at Trojan Arena. The football, volleyball and soccer teams, along with the cheerleaders, will be on hand for pictures and to sign autographs.
The Trojans will turn their attention toward Bowling Green with a practice on Sunday evening.
Speaking of the Bowling Green game, even though the game is not being televised, Troy fans will have a chance to watch the game live through Troy's Athletics web site, TroyTrojans.com. A local cable outlet in Toledo, BCSNVision.tv, will the carrying the game locally and web streaming the broadcast.
I have been told that the web stream will be shared back to our web site, which means it will be available as a part of our GamePass package, which will include most home events during the year for just $8.95 per month.
On Monday, the Troy golf program will hold a fundraiser tournament at Troy Country Club. The tournament will have a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Spots are still available by contacting golf coach Matt Terry at 334-372-7055.
Troy football coach Larry Blakeney will be the keynote speaker at the Montgomery Quarterback Club's Kickoff Meeting on Tuesday night. There will be a social hour at 5:30 with dinner to follow at 6:30. Tickets are $30 and are available by calling 334-207-6196.
On Wednesday night Coach Blakeney and “The Voice of the Trojans” Barry McKnight will be at Yanni's Steakhouse in Troy for the first weekly installment of Trojan Talk. The show will run from 7-8 p.m. and will move back to its regular Tuesday evening slot on Sept. 1.
The Troy volleyball team will open its 2009 season on the road next weekend in a tournament at Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga. The Trojans will face Stetson, Presbyterian and the host Eagles in the tournament.
Looking ahead to game week, Coach Blakeney will take part in an ambitious effort by ESPN when they conduct live interviews with all 120 Football Bowl Subdivision coaches over a two day period on ESPNU. Coach Blakeney is schedule to be on with the College Football Live crew on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 2:30 p.m.
Twitter Update
Troy's Twitter efforts continue to grow. At last check there were more than 50 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and other Troy-related folks who are tweeting on a regular basis. I hope to set up a links page soon that will have all of the Troy Twitters listed so that fans can follow.
Personally, I am just a few followers shy of 200 and am hopeful that number will continue to grow. You can follow me at www.twitter.com/TroySID.
I have worked all week to get the football roster ready for the season. Everything I have is now updated on the web site. There are a few walk-ons who have not yet gotten a picture made or turned in a questionnaire, and they will be updated when that information becomes available.
I also hope to get the depth chart updated following tomorrow morning's practice. I got a updated depth chart from offensive coordinator Neal Brown today, and hope to get the same from defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell and special teams coordinator Shayne Wasden following tomorrow's special teams scrimmage.
You can watch the TrojanVision News preseason football preview show on our TroyAthletics YouTube page, or just click below.
Until next time, I'll see you at the games.
Go Trojans!
Ricky
