Troy University Athletics
Top Five Moments of 2016 from "Voice of the Trojans" Barry McKnight - No. 2
8/15/2017 7:43:00 AM | Football
Editor's note - We will countdown Barry McKnight's Top Five Moments of 2016 all this week.
The offseason – if there is such a concept any more in big-time college football – is drawing to a close, and my guys on the radio network and I are about to start buckling down in our preparations for the 2017 Troy football season. At Sun Belt Media Days in the last week of July in New Orleans, Neal Brown pointed out a critical early issue for this team will be to "turn the page" on last year. With that in mind, I'll look back for the final time on the moments from 2016 that meant a little something extra for me.
I don't need to recount the momentous, game-changing moments from the stars of the team; the Trojan Nation remembers them well and, if you don't, they've been catalogued very nicely here - Top 10 Plays of 2016. My account will be of the plays and players that might either have been overlooked in their impact and importance on a particular game, or have a backstory that you might enjoy. My Top Five Moments are not ranked; they're presented chronologically, so here we go!
No. 1 - Rashad Dillard/Andre Flakes at Southern Miss
No. 2 - Blace Brown at Idaho
The offseason – if there is such a concept any more in big-time college football – is drawing to a close, and my guys on the radio network and I are about to start buckling down in our preparations for the 2017 Troy football season. At Sun Belt Media Days in the last week of July in New Orleans, Neal Brown pointed out a critical early issue for this team will be to "turn the page" on last year. With that in mind, I'll look back for the final time on the moments from 2016 that meant a little something extra for me.
I don't need to recount the momentous, game-changing moments from the stars of the team; the Trojan Nation remembers them well and, if you don't, they've been catalogued very nicely here - Top 10 Plays of 2016. My account will be of the plays and players that might either have been overlooked in their impact and importance on a particular game, or have a backstory that you might enjoy. My Top Five Moments are not ranked; they're presented chronologically, so here we go!
No. 1 - Rashad Dillard/Andre Flakes at Southern Miss
No. 2 - Blace Brown at Idaho
Blace is another example of a theme that resonates throughout the history of Troy football: a guy who simply wanted a chance to excel, came to a program that has a history of believing in a young player and giving him an opportunity, and having it pay off for both the player and the program. Blace was a walk-on at Troy who'd been a prolific high school wide receiver in Georgia (his uncle is Herschel Walker), but was moved to cornerback because of potential depth issues there.
Given his chance to play significant snaps as a sophomore last fall at his new position, all Blace Brown did was lead the Sun Belt with six interceptions. He had two against one of the best passers in the Sun Belt, Matt Linehan of Idaho, the second of which came with the Trojans in control in Moscow 31-6 midway through the third quarter.
I don't want to tell tales out of school, but that interception I remember for several reasons. The main reason, and the one for which I include this in my Top Five moments, is because Blace Brown wasn't supposed to be there. Linehan, who's run that pro-style offense very well for a couple of years at Idaho and whose dad, Scott, is a former NFL head coach, rarely makes a mistake in his reads. He may mis-throw one, or try to jam one in a tight space and get picked off, but he can read a defense very well. This particular play was uncommon, because it was fourth-and-8 at midfield, but Idaho was desperate, and Linehan found a receiver for a first-down opportunity, just as the play was designed. His only problem was that Blace Brown was there, also.
Blace made the interception (his fourth in two games), pushed upfield for 30 yards, and Troy got a field goal out of the possession change. But in no way was Blace supposed to be there. Linehan and Idaho coach Paul Petrino on the sidelines were beside themselves, because they had the right play call, the receiver ran the right route, Linehan read it well, but it had gone wrong! Brown was supposed to be covering another receiver, but missed his read and, with his spooky ability to be always around the football, made the pick and ended any chance at a Vandal comeback. Blace didn't miss many reads last year, and ended up seventh in the nation in interceptions, but he'll probably admit if you ask him that he was fortunate on that play. And the looks on the Idaho QB's and head coach's faces were unforgettable.
Given his chance to play significant snaps as a sophomore last fall at his new position, all Blace Brown did was lead the Sun Belt with six interceptions. He had two against one of the best passers in the Sun Belt, Matt Linehan of Idaho, the second of which came with the Trojans in control in Moscow 31-6 midway through the third quarter.
I don't want to tell tales out of school, but that interception I remember for several reasons. The main reason, and the one for which I include this in my Top Five moments, is because Blace Brown wasn't supposed to be there. Linehan, who's run that pro-style offense very well for a couple of years at Idaho and whose dad, Scott, is a former NFL head coach, rarely makes a mistake in his reads. He may mis-throw one, or try to jam one in a tight space and get picked off, but he can read a defense very well. This particular play was uncommon, because it was fourth-and-8 at midfield, but Idaho was desperate, and Linehan found a receiver for a first-down opportunity, just as the play was designed. His only problem was that Blace Brown was there, also.
Blace made the interception (his fourth in two games), pushed upfield for 30 yards, and Troy got a field goal out of the possession change. But in no way was Blace supposed to be there. Linehan and Idaho coach Paul Petrino on the sidelines were beside themselves, because they had the right play call, the receiver ran the right route, Linehan read it well, but it had gone wrong! Brown was supposed to be covering another receiver, but missed his read and, with his spooky ability to be always around the football, made the pick and ended any chance at a Vandal comeback. Blace didn't miss many reads last year, and ended up seventh in the nation in interceptions, but he'll probably admit if you ask him that he was fortunate on that play. And the looks on the Idaho QB's and head coach's faces were unforgettable.
Players Mentioned
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