Troy Takes Part in Sun Belt Football Media Day

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NEW ORLEANS – Troy offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield, offensive lineman Terrence Jones and linebacker Wayland Coleman-Dancer spent Tuesday at the Mercedes Superdome in New Orleans for Sun Belt Conference Football Media Day.

Edenfield's day included a live interview on ESPN3, radio interviews in Monroe, La., Boone, N.C., Jonesboro, Ark., and Lafayette, La. Troy's offensive guru also meet with the record number of media that attended Sun Belt Media Day.

Troy's players were the first in the new Sun Belt Media Day Social Suite as they answered questions submitted by fans on Facebook and Twitter. Jones and Coleman-Dancer also sat down and answered questions from the media and hit the airwaves in San Marcos and Jonesboro.

The Trojans open fall practice on July 31. Troy's first scrimmage coincides with on-campus Media Day on Aug. 9 while Fan Day and Football Appreciation Night is set for Aug. 16.

Fans can either purchase season tickets online at TroyTrojans.com, by calling 1-877-878-WINS (9467) or in person in the Tine Davis Fieldhouse.

Troy opens the 2014 season at in-state rival UAB on Aug. 30 at Legion Field. Kickoff between the Trojans and Blazers is set for 11 a.m. and the game will be televised live on Fox College Sports.

Kenny Edenfield, Offensive Coordinator
On being at Sun Belt Media Day for Coach Larry Blakeney…
It's a tough job, let me tell you that. He's been doing this a lot longer than I have, and he has a lot of friends out there. I'm excited to be here and it's an honor that he asked me to come and John Hartwell asked me to come, so I'm excited about it.

On the game plan for this season…
Every play we call we're trying to score, but we really don't know. We'll see how it goes during camp. We worked hard on the running game in the spring, letting those quarterbacks compete a little bit. We're just going to see how it plays out and adjust and try to get the best players the ball as many times as we can, like we have in the past.

On the quarterbacks having an edge
Right now, I really don't know. When we got done with spring it was such a close race. We're giving all four of them equal reps in camp. We're hoping that someone will step out and take the ball.

On the pace of the game …
That's what we do now. We're going to try to play fast. We might not sub as much as we have in the past because of the new rules, but we're going to try to play as fast as we can and get as many snaps as we can. The more snaps you get, the more opportunities you have to score points and that's our job, to score a lot of points.

On UL Lafayette…
First of all, they've been very good the past couple of years, and when you have that much experience you have to give them the right, but preseason is preseason and you have to pick someone first. The end of the year is what really counts. For us, being picked where we were, it's a good start because now we have a lot to look forward to and a lot to prove.

On UL Lafayette…
Well, we've been close the past two years on a lot of games, and that's something we've talked about this offseason. We have to find a way to win the close games. If you win all the close games in your league, you're doing pretty well.

On the wide receivers…
One of the things is we cannot watch them do anything in the summer, but the kids do compete and they do work out. A lot of the guys are talking about Teddy Ruben. So we're excited about watching him. I think a lot of the freshmen are good players, whether they can crack the line up, we'll have a little bit of time to find out.

On game planning…
We always try and come into the game with a few wrinkles. We work on some wrinkles during fall camp. As the season goes on those wrinkles become pretty big, because you're working on twelve different teams. So, you've got a big toolbox to pull from. We always like to do some different things, but our main thing is we like to run a few plays and try and do it really fast and really good.

On the new teams in the conference …
I think traditionally Georgia Southern and App State have been really good, so you always worry about them. I don't know a lot about Idaho or New Mexico State, since we've never played them. That's also a good thing, because they've never played us.

On Arkansas State…
The most important part is we don't play them this year, unfortunately. We've lost to them the past few years and we wanted to play them. They've got really good players, and have had a lot of guys graduate these past few years. I'm sure this year they'll be a good team as well.

Wayland Coleman-Dancer, Senior, Linebacker
On the team …
Well, from my perspective, I've seen a lot of competition at every position. No position is fully locked in, it's a great competition on offense and defense as we compete against each other.

On what it will take for Troy to be back on top…
The change of leadership and accountability; that is what we have been preaching, holding each other accountable on and off the field.

On the strengths on the defense
Starting off, definitely the linebackers. Every single person is returning and we have been in the system. I feel like we have a strong core of linebackers.

On losing key members on offense adding pressure to the defense…
It's really sad to see those guys go. They were a very big part of the offense, but now you get to see a lot of the younger guys step up and be leaders. It does put a lot on the defense, but that's exactly where we want to be. We want the offense to count on us. Defense wins championships.

Terrence Jones, Senior, Offensive Lineman
On losing key members on the offense …
I think our offensive line is going to be very good this year. I think we're about three deep right now. Coach Dye likes to rotate people a lot, so no one will be getting tired.

On the defense…
Well so far, after the spring and summer workouts, I can tell that our defense has improved. This is going to be (defensive coordinator) Coach Bolt's second year, so I think the guys understand the defense better. I think our defense is going to be great.

On the preseason ranking…
Well, when they do the preseason polls they don't know anything about our new guys. Our new players are really good and I think they will be able to help this team a lot. I know defense wins championships and we've gotten a lot better.

Troy University Athletics

Troy Takes Part in Sun Belt Football Media Day

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