Trojans Looking Forward to Challenge Presented by Cajun Field

Saturday, October 8

Lafayette, La.

6:00 p.m.

Troy University

Louisiana

Trojans coach Larry Blakeney walks through the tunnel to Cajun Field in 2009.

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Trojans Looking Forward to Challenge Presented by Cajun Field

10/8/2011 8:00:00 AM | Football

By: Ricky Hazel

MEDIA INFORMATION | GAME INFORMATION | ESPN3 BROADCAST | LIVE STATS

Over the course of the first decade of play at the highest level of college football, the Troy Trojans have visited some of the loudest, most challenging venues in the nation.

Stadiums such as Death Valley in Baton Rouge, not to mention Clemson, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio, and Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., have hosted the Trojans over the years.

This weekend the Trojans will visit what is likely the loudest, most intense venue in the Sun Belt Conference when they travel to Lafayette, La., to take on the Ragin' Cajuns at Cajun Field.

Kickoff on Saturday evening is set for 6:04 p.m. The game will be webcast on ESPN3.com.

The Trojans are no strangers to Cajun Field, having visited there four times since joining the Sun Belt Conference, posting a 3-1 record in those games, However, this trip will be a little different because instead of being the hunted this time, the Trojans are the hunters.

ULL comes into the game riding a four-game win streak and the Cajuns have the outright lead in the Sun Belt Conference race after consecutive victories over preseason favorite FIU as well as Florida Atlantic.

Trojans coach Larry Blakeney said the Cajuns have a different look this year under first-year head coach Mark Hudspeth.

“They look fast and big, but that is the same as when you look at anyone for the first time,” Blakeney said. “I would say they look like the Baltimore Ravens because I saw them play a little (Monday) night, but they are not quite that good. They look well put-together from a scheme standpoint on both sides of the ball.”

Mix in the fan fervor that comes from a four-game win streak, and Blakeney expect Cajun Field to be a less than inviting atmosphere for his Trojans on Saturday night.

“Those folks will be there all day and they will have plenty of that gumbo in them, or whatever, they'll probably have some of the hoochie-coochie sauce, but they are great people,” Blakeney said. “They are great fans and are a lot of fun. The stands there are really close and we have to make sure to coach our guys up to stay on the field and not be up there distracted by the fans behind the bench. We'll try to make sure we deal with all that. It will be an all-out crowd, I promise you.”

The Troy players, many of who have never played at Cajun Field, know they will be in for a tough game and a touch environment.

“Every time I have ever gone to play a Louisiana school, even when Levi (Brown) was still here, it was always a rowdy bunch,” sophomore quarterback Corey Robinson said. “They love their teams there. We are going to have to try to block all of that out in order to try to get the win.”

Junior defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi said the key to handling the crowd will be to handle business on the field.

“Those folks down there are tough,” Massaquoi said. “It will definitely be a rough atmosphere. We have to make sure our young guys keep their emotions from overflowing. They play hard-nosed football there and will get into your face and say all kinds of things. Those are things we have to be ready for.”

Of course, the Trojans come in riding a two-game win streak of their own. A victory over ULL would put Troy right back into the driver's seat in the race for a sixth consecutive league title. The fact that the two victories both came late in the fourth quarter and were by a combined four points doesn't bother the Trojans.

“I don't care how we do it, as long as we win, and that is what we all want to do,” Robinson said. “That is what we have done the last two weeks. If we continue to find a way to win, it doesn't matter if it is by 40 or by just one. That doesn't matter to us or the coaches. We just want to find a way to win games to get that sixth conference championship.”

Robinson, in particular, is looking forward to getting back on the field this week. The sophomore did not practice at all in preparation for the game last week against UAB with a sprain in his throwing shoulder. Despite not getting his normal prep work in, Robinson threw for 349 yards against the Blazers and comes into play this week needing to pass for 323 yards to move past Omar Haugabook into fourth on the career passing chart.

“I feel a lot better than I did last week,” Robinson said on Monday. “I am about 85 percent right now.”

The Trojans used junior running back D.J. Taylor's career-high three touchdown runs to help overcome three costly turnovers against the Blazers to escape with a one-point victory last week. It was the defense that helped turn the tide with a late interception by junior Jimmie Anderson setting the stage for the winning score.

Massaquoi said Anderson, who stands only 5-foot-8, played much bigger than his stature, especially considering that he, like Robinson, did not practice during the week leading up to the game.

“He played bigger than his height, that is for sure,” Massaquoi said. “He is a tough guy who had to go through some bumps and bruises from the last game. He wasn't able to do a lot of the things he usually does during the week.

“For him to be able to capitalize and make that big play, it shows a lot about his character. That was a big play that we needed. Big time players make big time plays in big time games, and that is just what Jimmie Anderson did.”

The Trojans will be looking for more big-time plays from big-time players on Saturday night. If they get those plays early on, they will have a chance to tame the Cajun Field rowdies.