Troy University Athletics
Troy Football Completes Day Two of Fall Camp
8/4/2018 4:00:00 PM | Football
TROY, Ala. - With the emotional high of day one subsided, Troy returned to the football practice fields behind Trojan Arena on Saturday for a 90-minute workout in helmets and shorts. It was the Trojans' first day on the grass practice fields after opening camp in Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Saturday's work load was a near mirror of Friday's opening practice session as the offense was tasked with ball security and position work, while the defense focused on tackling and turnovers before the two joined together for 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and full team drills. Â
Pads will pop for the first time of camp on Sunday evening when the Trojans will transfer from the NCAA mandated acclimation period of just helmets to shells (helmets and shoulder pads). Head coach Neal Brown will flip the schedule with a morning walk thru, early afternoon meetings and a 5 p.m. practice.Â
Troy returns nine of 13 starters on offense and five starters on defense from last year's 11-win Sun Belt and New Orleans Bowl championship team. The Trojans led the league with 11 Preseason All-Sun Belt selections, including seven on the defensive side of the football – four of Troy's five returning starters on defense were named to the preseason first team.
The Trojans carry the nation's fourth-longest winning streak into the opener against Boise State with seven-straight victories, including the record-setting performance in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Troy's third straight bowl victory.Â
Head Coach Neal Brown
Opening statement …Â
"I was impressed with our guys. I said this at media day, I said it during the preseason, I like our football team. I like the mix of the guys that have played a lot and I like some of the youth that we have here. It was a very spirited practice, evenly matched on offense and defense. We're making some strides on special teams, so overall I'm really pleased with day two."
On receiving votes …Â
"We got those votes in the Coaches Poll, it's always impressive to be recognized by your peers. We feel like we're a little under the radar, we were picked to finish third in the league, which I thought was fair. We haven't got any recognition nationally in any of the preseason magazines. It's nice. I think if you do the math, we're probably still in the 40s. I think at the end of the season last year, we finished at No. 27. We lost some key guys, I get that, but we return a lot as well."
