Troy University Athletics
For the Seniors - One Last Ride in The Vet
11/19/2021 8:33:00 AM | Football
If you're not emotional for a Senior Day event, well, you haven't invested as much as those seniors have.
Troy running back B.J. Smith knows Saturday's game against Appalachian State will be his last at The Vet.
"It's a bittersweet moment, for sure. It'll definitely be emotional," Smith said this week.
He knows what he has invested in this program. He's reminded every time he puts his throbbing knees on ice.
Longtime center Dylan Bradshaw of Enterprise knows what he's invested, too. He sees it every time he squares off in practice against standout defensive linemen like Will Choloh and Elgin Griffin.
But Bradshaw doesn't talk about what he's given. He spoke about what he's gotten back from that investment of blood, sweat and tears demanded of every college football player.
"To be honest with you, Troy and this football program has molded me into the man that I am today," Bradshaw said. "I can't say enough good words about what this place has done for me. I've been blessed to be able to play six years – that's probably the only blessing that came from COVID."
In fact, Trojan head coach Chip Lindsey laughed when asked because of the COVID allowance if it's difficult to know just who is a senior.
"We're going to honor the guys in their last year of eligibility," the coach said. "We only have 10 of them. We're not losing many. We've got a bunch of guys coming back next season."
Smith and Bradshaw, both part of Troy's 2016 signing class, headline that list. They have 55 career starts between them.
The other seniors include receiver Reggie Todd, kicker Kyle Coale, long snapper Cameron Kaye, linebacker Jordan Anthony, safety Kyle Nixon, defensive end John Hines, nose tackle Elgin Griffin and defensive tackle Cherokee Glasgow.
What the group lacks in numbers, it makes up for with impact. Lindsey called it a special group.
"Most of these guys have been with me three years now," the coach said. "They were younger players when I first got here and gone through our system for three years.
"Those guys all made decisions to stay. In this day and age, that's pretty special. They could've left, and they decided they love Troy and wanted to finish their careers at Troy – which I think is pretty neat."
Lindsey will remember this group not just for its production but the example it set.
"These are all the kinds of kids you want in your program," he said. "Some of them have had to wait for their time to play more. Some have fought through injuries and got back healthy. That's a hard thing to do in itself.
"They've all done well in school and earned a degree. They've been a great example for our younger players."
The coach immediately brought up the impact of Smith and Bradshaw.
"B.J. Smith was injured and came back and what he's meant to our program is huge," Lindsey said. "Dylan Bradshaw, the same thing. When you talk about those two guys and Reggie Todd – who I've known since he was about 15 years old – those are three guys on offense that we're really going to miss. They've all obviously impacted our program."
Troy edge rusher Javon Solomon talked about the two most veteran seniors.
"Dylan and B.J., first of all, I want to give them kudos for being able to lead and how they approach situations when we're down and when we're up," Solomon said. "They're really good people. Bradshaw understands the game. B.J. has been fighting through so many injuries and is able to come back from each and every one of them. He's like three lockers away from me. He's a really humble guy."
The coach cited contributions from Griffin and Hines, a Montgomery area player who "has really grown and matured as a player and a person."
Nixon is a player, like Smith, whose career was interrupted by injuries. He noted Nixon has become a starter.
Of course, there is a game to play Saturday. A week after playing Louisiana, which has won the Sun Belt West and is the only unbeaten team in the league, Troy faces perennial Sun Belt East power App State.
Lindsey said the team wants to send this group of seniors out "the right way" in its finale at The Vet.
Smith, sounding like a senior, said he has talked to his teammates about "not letting their situation define us." He said there is plenty to play for in this game and the season finale at Georgia State in Atlanta.
"We don't want to let one loss turn into two losses," Smith said, referring to last week's loss to Louisiana that knocked Troy out of contention for a Sun Belt title. "We still have games left."
Bradshaw said he is taking a sense of gratitude into his home finale.
"I'm thankful for everything that I've been able to accomplish here … and the people that I've met, the relationships that I've created," Bradshaw said. "That's what's going to last a lifetime. I knew that football one day would come and go for me – as it does for everybody. Hopefully, I'll get the chance at the next level. We'll see. But as for my time at Troy, it is coming to an end."
Troy running back B.J. Smith knows Saturday's game against Appalachian State will be his last at The Vet.
"It's a bittersweet moment, for sure. It'll definitely be emotional," Smith said this week.
He knows what he has invested in this program. He's reminded every time he puts his throbbing knees on ice.
Longtime center Dylan Bradshaw of Enterprise knows what he's invested, too. He sees it every time he squares off in practice against standout defensive linemen like Will Choloh and Elgin Griffin.
But Bradshaw doesn't talk about what he's given. He spoke about what he's gotten back from that investment of blood, sweat and tears demanded of every college football player.
"To be honest with you, Troy and this football program has molded me into the man that I am today," Bradshaw said. "I can't say enough good words about what this place has done for me. I've been blessed to be able to play six years – that's probably the only blessing that came from COVID."
In fact, Trojan head coach Chip Lindsey laughed when asked because of the COVID allowance if it's difficult to know just who is a senior.
"We're going to honor the guys in their last year of eligibility," the coach said. "We only have 10 of them. We're not losing many. We've got a bunch of guys coming back next season."
Smith and Bradshaw, both part of Troy's 2016 signing class, headline that list. They have 55 career starts between them.
The other seniors include receiver Reggie Todd, kicker Kyle Coale, long snapper Cameron Kaye, linebacker Jordan Anthony, safety Kyle Nixon, defensive end John Hines, nose tackle Elgin Griffin and defensive tackle Cherokee Glasgow.
What the group lacks in numbers, it makes up for with impact. Lindsey called it a special group.
"Most of these guys have been with me three years now," the coach said. "They were younger players when I first got here and gone through our system for three years.
"Those guys all made decisions to stay. In this day and age, that's pretty special. They could've left, and they decided they love Troy and wanted to finish their careers at Troy – which I think is pretty neat."
Lindsey will remember this group not just for its production but the example it set.
"These are all the kinds of kids you want in your program," he said. "Some of them have had to wait for their time to play more. Some have fought through injuries and got back healthy. That's a hard thing to do in itself.
"They've all done well in school and earned a degree. They've been a great example for our younger players."
The coach immediately brought up the impact of Smith and Bradshaw.
"B.J. Smith was injured and came back and what he's meant to our program is huge," Lindsey said. "Dylan Bradshaw, the same thing. When you talk about those two guys and Reggie Todd – who I've known since he was about 15 years old – those are three guys on offense that we're really going to miss. They've all obviously impacted our program."
Troy edge rusher Javon Solomon talked about the two most veteran seniors.
"Dylan and B.J., first of all, I want to give them kudos for being able to lead and how they approach situations when we're down and when we're up," Solomon said. "They're really good people. Bradshaw understands the game. B.J. has been fighting through so many injuries and is able to come back from each and every one of them. He's like three lockers away from me. He's a really humble guy."
The coach cited contributions from Griffin and Hines, a Montgomery area player who "has really grown and matured as a player and a person."
Nixon is a player, like Smith, whose career was interrupted by injuries. He noted Nixon has become a starter.
Of course, there is a game to play Saturday. A week after playing Louisiana, which has won the Sun Belt West and is the only unbeaten team in the league, Troy faces perennial Sun Belt East power App State.
Lindsey said the team wants to send this group of seniors out "the right way" in its finale at The Vet.
Smith, sounding like a senior, said he has talked to his teammates about "not letting their situation define us." He said there is plenty to play for in this game and the season finale at Georgia State in Atlanta.
"We don't want to let one loss turn into two losses," Smith said, referring to last week's loss to Louisiana that knocked Troy out of contention for a Sun Belt title. "We still have games left."
Bradshaw said he is taking a sense of gratitude into his home finale.
"I'm thankful for everything that I've been able to accomplish here … and the people that I've met, the relationships that I've created," Bradshaw said. "That's what's going to last a lifetime. I knew that football one day would come and go for me – as it does for everybody. Hopefully, I'll get the chance at the next level. We'll see. But as for my time at Troy, it is coming to an end."
Players Mentioned
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WR
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