Troy University Athletics
NOTEBOOK - Inside Troy's SBC Opener at ULM
9/26/2021 12:09:00 AM | Football
The physical errors, while confounding, happen. It's the mental mistakes – not being in the right position, pre-snap penalties, post-play flags – that Troy head coach Chip Lindsey found unacceptable in Troy's 29-16 loss to ULM on Saturday night.
Troy was flagged 10 times for 90 yards, but that wasn't the only source of trouble.
"We were very undisciplined tonight, which is something I'm very disappointed in," Lindsey said. "We typically are really good with penalties and turnovers and things. Tonight, all the way around, we were a very undisciplined football team and that's obviously my responsibility and something we've got to go to work to fix quickly."
Holding that line: Coming into the game, Troy was one of just three teams (Georgia, Iowa State) to have held multiple opponents to less than 190 yards this season; Troy's 684 yards allowed through three games are the second-fewest in Sun Belt history, and the Trojans are one of just two schools (Minnesota) to hold an FBS opponent to negative rushing yards this year. They held Southern Mississippi to minus-1 yard rushing last week.
The Trojans limited ULM to 20 points, marking the eighth time in their last 10 games that Troy's defense has held its opponent to 21 points or fewer.
ULM is also the fourth opponent this season with fewer than 170 yards passing.
ULM ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference and No. 17 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing defense, allowing only 78.0 yards per game. The Warhawks have permitted only four runs of 10 or more yards – tied for the fifth lowest total in the FBS.
ULM defensive end Ty Shelby leads the nation in sacks per game with 2.0. Coming into the game he also led the Sun Belt in total tackles despite ULM playing one fewer game than the other nine schools in the conference. Shelby had one sack and one quarterback hurry Saturday against Troy.
Slow start: Troy was forced to punt on the opening drive of the game. The Trojans have received the opening kickoff in 20 games under Lindsey. This was just the eighth time in those 20 games where they didn't score.
Oddity: Troy fell to 9-2 under Lindsey when winning the time of possession battle. The Trojans held the ball for 31:47 against ULM.
Fast strike: Luke Whittemore's 49-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was Troy's longest play from scrimmage this season, the longest of Whittemore's career and the fourth touchdown reception of his college career.
First "3": Troy's Brooke Buce made his first career field goal at the collegiate level. In the second quarter, the Georgia transfer booted a 32-yard field goal. It was his first attempt in a game in 1,751 days.
Boogie bored: ULM slot receiver Boogie Knight came into the game leading the Sun Belt Conference averaging 6/0 receptions per game. Knight was leading the Warhawks in receptions (12), receiving yards (137) and yards after catch (36).
Troy limited his touches. He finished the game with zero receptions against the Trojans. He did have a 14-yard kickoff return and two punt returns totaling 14 yards.
Protecting the ball: Coming into the game, ULM joined Liberty, Michigan and Rutgers as the only FBS teams that haven't committed a turnover this season. The Warhawks also led the nation in turnover margin at +3.0 per game with six takeaways – four fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
However, Troy came up with a turnover when Javon Solomon recovered a fumble on the ULM 23 with 3:44 late in the first half.
The series: Saturday night's game was the 19th meeting. Troy leads 10-8-1. It was the first meeting since Troy's 35-27 victory in 2018. It was the third time the Warhawks have opened league play against the Trojans, including Troy victories in 2007 (24-7) and in 2018.
Coaching connection: Troy insider receivers coach and passing game coordinator John Carr spent the 2018 as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at ULM. He worked on then-head coach Matt Viator's staff. From 2005-12, Carr was head coach at Ouachita Parish High School, where he went 72-28, including an appearance in the state playoff semifinals and three appearances in the state quarterfinals.
What's next: Troy goes back out of conference but stays on the road and faces a challenging environment when the Trojans play South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC) at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Troy is 0-3 all-time against the Gamecocks. The last meeting was in 2010, a 69-24 South Carolina victory. South Carolina lost to Kentucky on Saturday.
The Trojans' next home game is Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. against Georgia Southern for their first home game in Sun Belt play. The Eagles are 1-3 overall and lost their Sun Belt opener Saturday against Louisiana.
Troy was flagged 10 times for 90 yards, but that wasn't the only source of trouble.
"We were very undisciplined tonight, which is something I'm very disappointed in," Lindsey said. "We typically are really good with penalties and turnovers and things. Tonight, all the way around, we were a very undisciplined football team and that's obviously my responsibility and something we've got to go to work to fix quickly."
Holding that line: Coming into the game, Troy was one of just three teams (Georgia, Iowa State) to have held multiple opponents to less than 190 yards this season; Troy's 684 yards allowed through three games are the second-fewest in Sun Belt history, and the Trojans are one of just two schools (Minnesota) to hold an FBS opponent to negative rushing yards this year. They held Southern Mississippi to minus-1 yard rushing last week.
The Trojans limited ULM to 20 points, marking the eighth time in their last 10 games that Troy's defense has held its opponent to 21 points or fewer.
ULM is also the fourth opponent this season with fewer than 170 yards passing.
ULM ranked second in the Sun Belt Conference and No. 17 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing defense, allowing only 78.0 yards per game. The Warhawks have permitted only four runs of 10 or more yards – tied for the fifth lowest total in the FBS.
ULM defensive end Ty Shelby leads the nation in sacks per game with 2.0. Coming into the game he also led the Sun Belt in total tackles despite ULM playing one fewer game than the other nine schools in the conference. Shelby had one sack and one quarterback hurry Saturday against Troy.
Slow start: Troy was forced to punt on the opening drive of the game. The Trojans have received the opening kickoff in 20 games under Lindsey. This was just the eighth time in those 20 games where they didn't score.
Oddity: Troy fell to 9-2 under Lindsey when winning the time of possession battle. The Trojans held the ball for 31:47 against ULM.
Fast strike: Luke Whittemore's 49-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was Troy's longest play from scrimmage this season, the longest of Whittemore's career and the fourth touchdown reception of his college career.
First "3": Troy's Brooke Buce made his first career field goal at the collegiate level. In the second quarter, the Georgia transfer booted a 32-yard field goal. It was his first attempt in a game in 1,751 days.
Boogie bored: ULM slot receiver Boogie Knight came into the game leading the Sun Belt Conference averaging 6/0 receptions per game. Knight was leading the Warhawks in receptions (12), receiving yards (137) and yards after catch (36).
Troy limited his touches. He finished the game with zero receptions against the Trojans. He did have a 14-yard kickoff return and two punt returns totaling 14 yards.
Protecting the ball: Coming into the game, ULM joined Liberty, Michigan and Rutgers as the only FBS teams that haven't committed a turnover this season. The Warhawks also led the nation in turnover margin at +3.0 per game with six takeaways – four fumble recoveries and two interceptions.
However, Troy came up with a turnover when Javon Solomon recovered a fumble on the ULM 23 with 3:44 late in the first half.
The series: Saturday night's game was the 19th meeting. Troy leads 10-8-1. It was the first meeting since Troy's 35-27 victory in 2018. It was the third time the Warhawks have opened league play against the Trojans, including Troy victories in 2007 (24-7) and in 2018.
Coaching connection: Troy insider receivers coach and passing game coordinator John Carr spent the 2018 as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator at ULM. He worked on then-head coach Matt Viator's staff. From 2005-12, Carr was head coach at Ouachita Parish High School, where he went 72-28, including an appearance in the state playoff semifinals and three appearances in the state quarterfinals.
What's next: Troy goes back out of conference but stays on the road and faces a challenging environment when the Trojans play South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC) at Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Troy is 0-3 all-time against the Gamecocks. The last meeting was in 2010, a 69-24 South Carolina victory. South Carolina lost to Kentucky on Saturday.
The Trojans' next home game is Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. against Georgia Southern for their first home game in Sun Belt play. The Eagles are 1-3 overall and lost their Sun Belt opener Saturday against Louisiana.
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