Troy University Athletics
Top Five Moments of 2016 from "Voice of the Trojans" Barry McKnight - No. 5
8/18/2017 8:26:00 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
No. 3 -Â Josh Anderson vs. Georgia State
No. 5 - Brandon Silvers vs. Appalachian State
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
No. 3 -Â Josh Anderson vs. Georgia State
No. 5 - Brandon Silvers vs. Appalachian State
Brandon Silvers is a living, breathing testament to the virtues that football imparts: patience, perseverance, teamwork, sacrifice and hard work. Last year, Brandon took a big step forward in his first team all-conference year; he's gotten measurably better every year, and it has most assuredly not been easy. I spent some time with him over the summer at a couple of functions, and his maturity and development struck me because, of course, I've known him since is freshman year. He's humble and pretty economical with his words, but he spends most of those words, in a football setting, crediting those around him. Absolutely, his production last year was made MUCH easier by the weapons he had at his disposal, but Brandon Silvers is a terrific football player in his own right, and an underappreciated athlete.
The top-ranked highlight of last year in TroyTrojans.com 's rundown on their YouTube channel (if you don't subscribe to it, you should), was the fourth-down pass from Silvers to Sidney Davis to set up the winning score, and I'll never forget it as long as I live. But my favorite play also came from Silvers, and it wasn't from his arm; it was his feet that made it uncommon.
With Appalachian State leading Troy 17-14 in the third quarter in a meeting of the Sun Belt's two best teams at that point, Troy had the football at their own 49. The four plays in that possession (including a QB draw by Silvers for six yards) had netted them 24 yards, so the Trojans had a bit of momentum. The play call relayed from the sideline was an option run, which Troy didn't use frequently at all, preferring to pick their spots with it to surprise the defense. Well, it was a surprise to App State. Silvers –again, an underappreciated athlete—read the end perfectly and cut upfield on the keeper; the linebacker was out of position, and Brandon used his speed to hot-foot it 51 yards past everybody for what – at that time – was the go-ahead score.
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I'm blessed and proud to be able to say that I am one of a very few who can say that they haven't missed a snap of Troy football in the past fifteen seasons, and these are a few of the dozens of snaps I saw and called last year that still resonate with me as the Trojans now begin preparations for the 2017 season. I can't wait to get it started, and I hope you take advantage of the chance this fall to join me and the Trojan Nation at the Vet this fall and make some new memories!
The top-ranked highlight of last year in TroyTrojans.com 's rundown on their YouTube channel (if you don't subscribe to it, you should), was the fourth-down pass from Silvers to Sidney Davis to set up the winning score, and I'll never forget it as long as I live. But my favorite play also came from Silvers, and it wasn't from his arm; it was his feet that made it uncommon.
With Appalachian State leading Troy 17-14 in the third quarter in a meeting of the Sun Belt's two best teams at that point, Troy had the football at their own 49. The four plays in that possession (including a QB draw by Silvers for six yards) had netted them 24 yards, so the Trojans had a bit of momentum. The play call relayed from the sideline was an option run, which Troy didn't use frequently at all, preferring to pick their spots with it to surprise the defense. Well, it was a surprise to App State. Silvers –again, an underappreciated athlete—read the end perfectly and cut upfield on the keeper; the linebacker was out of position, and Brandon used his speed to hot-foot it 51 yards past everybody for what – at that time – was the go-ahead score.
Â
I'm blessed and proud to be able to say that I am one of a very few who can say that they haven't missed a snap of Troy football in the past fifteen seasons, and these are a few of the dozens of snaps I saw and called last year that still resonate with me as the Trojans now begin preparations for the 2017 season. I can't wait to get it started, and I hope you take advantage of the chance this fall to join me and the Trojan Nation at the Vet this fall and make some new memories!
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballGoose Crowder - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Donnie Smith - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - T-Day
Saturday, April 18
Gerad Parker - April 16
Thursday, April 16