Go TROY Trojans

Top Ten GoTroyTrojans.com subjects: fall 2009

2010-02-06T11:04:00.007-06:00

Let's take a look at one person's opinion on what the top 10 message board subjects were for the fall of 2009. Once we're done, go over to www.GoTroyTrojans.com/forums and tell me what you think.

10. Band Haters: For some reason this topic kept coming up and over and over this fall. There might not have been a more divise subject with it split almost 50/50 down the line. Half of the membership seemed to like the SOTS and what they were doing and the other half...well, they didn't care much for it. Either way the discussion was hot and heavy with some members adding some constructive criticism and others adding some not so contructive criticism.

Bottom line, whether you love 'em or hate 'em, they are here to stay and add something to the university as a whole. I'm proud of our SOTS members and am even prouder that they do listen to their base (fans, alums, GTT members, etc) and continue to work to improve their already awesome craft.

9. JUCO Athletes: As a former junior college coach, this one hits home a little more then some of the 'normal' discussions we have on GoTroyTrojans.com. Almost 100% of all Trojans seem to have no problem with the practice of signing JUCO athletes while almost 100% of our opponents (heavily skewed towards MTSU fans) seem to think it will be our demise. I'm not sure I understand the 'hatred' of JUCO athletes some people have. These are still individuals who are going to school to complete their degree and play football.

We have had some great people come from JUCO (great off the field and on the field) and we've had some, well, not so good ones. These kids went to JUCO for a reason (almost 100% academic), but guess what? They went there and got their second chance. Isn't that great? They learned a lesson, that academics DO MATTER. If they fail out of JUCO, well then they don't get to play DI ball, do they? So they got on the academic bandwagon and came out ahead. Good for them. I applaud them for not giving up and continuing towards their dream of not only playing for the TROY Trojans, but also for working towards and receiving their degree.

8. Arkansas: There might not have been a higher concentration of opponent's fans this year then the 'Hogs of Arkansas. It seems like there were dozens that joined our board on a daily basis to tell us how great they were and how bad we were. Whatever reason you think we lost (defense, offense, etc) the 'Hogs whooped us good and showed us we had a lot of room for improvement. Speaking of playing the hogs....

7. Scheduling: This one comes up every year and reared its head again. Again the vote seems to be split 50/50 with our scheduling of football games. The camps fall into we shouldn't schedule the 'elite' teams (Florida, Ohio State, etc) or we should schedule 'name' teams that we think we can beat (Southern Miss, Miss State, etc). Other issues that came up this fall include having a 7 game home schedule and our signing of home and home contracts with Navy and Mississippi State.

The problem with complaining about the current year's schedule (or the next year for that matter) is that the schedules are set years in advance. It seems like we are moving in the right direction with the 7 game home schedule (partly in thanks to USA joining SBC). That is set up for the near future. In regards to 'elite' teams versus 'name' teams, that seems to be on the right track as well. We've got South Carolina next year (definitly a name and definitly NOT elite), as well as Navy and Miss State coming up.

6. GoTroyTrojans.com adds ads: With new ownership comes new changes. One of the first changes that most board members commented about was the addition of the Google adsense program to the message boards. Somehow this got snowballed and some members started assuming that we were moving to a subscription fee website. One member even said, (paraphrase) "This site has always sucked and will always suck. There's no way we should have to pay to use it."

As you can see we have removed the Google ads and have moved into the direction of Amazon ads (which have netted $zero$ dollars, by the way) and private advertisement. We have our first ad up now from Arrow Pest Control and another on the way soon. Before these guys got on board with us (and we thank them VERY much) we had a very good outpooring of support from donations. I was blown away with a couple of people and their generosity. This helps pay for the yearly fees we incur and also help pay our webmaster who does everything for a handshake and a dinner (when I visit).

5. Fire Sale: There were three main firecoachx.com thought processes coming from the TROY camp this fall. From Neal Brown to Jeremy Rowell to Larry Blakeney himself. I guess we don't have to worry about the Fire Neal Brown camp anymore (get ready Edenfield) since he's off to TT land. Rowell, well he's back again, like it or not. LB even said that Rowell had his pick this year of defensive backs for the signing class since we were pretty depleted back there from injuries and academics.

For those who were on the Fire Larry Blakeney bandwagon, I encourage you to express your opinions, but I have to think you are blowing in the wind (i.e. wasting your time). While it is just my opinion, I feel there is NO WAY IN HELL anyone is going to fire CLB from TROY. He's done so much for our university and whether you think has reached his zenith or not, he is going to be allowed to go on his own time. I for one am thankful for that attitude and hope that LB stays as long as he likes and continues to build his staff and recruiting classes the way he sees fit.

4. Mr. HO MIA: With new moderators and old members sometime a mix does not go well. When the firestorm that was our losing streak (TROY losing both the BGSU and UF games), heated discussion flared up left and right. One member even suggested that if TROY lost its third game in a row that we should shut the board down for a 24-48 hour cooldown. Thank goodness we didn't have to do that!

One of the heated discussions that came up had a comment by long time board member Mr. HO. When one of the moderators decided that the thread (not Mr. HO's comment) needed to be removed he accidently deleted the thread instead of moving it to a private area that only mods are allowed to visit. Unfortunatly when this happened, Mr. HO took it very personal and decided to take a hiatus from the message board. It was amazing how many people cried out for our hilarious Mr. HO, even accusing moderators of banning Mr. HO. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

And while we again live without Mr. HO for awhile (I haven't seen a post from him in quite some time) life goes on. We enourage all members to express themselves in any civilized manner they see fit, with the caveat that the moderators have a tough job of making everyone welcome. I'm very glad Mr. HO returned and continues to contribute.

3. Josh Jarboe: To thug or not to thug, that is the question. This could easily have been the number one most discussed and volatile subject we had all season. After a less then stellar off the field career in high school and at Oklahoma, the talented Josh Jarboe came to TROY for a second (third?) chance. And while he has yet to contribute on the field the way some people thought he would immediatly, he has had some off the field issues. From an incident at SAGA to another incident that led to his suspension for two games, Josh presents a case in opinionated sociology that few waiver on. After some self published pictures of Josh surfaced on Facebook and therefore the entire internet, the name calling began. Even after one member told a story of how Josh gave his daughter an autographed football and was extremely nice to her, the thugish name calling continued.

While I have no opinion one way or the other in regards to how Josh dresses or whether someone calls Josh a thug or not, I do have an opinion on someone who continues to berate an individual who is still in college. Whether you think he is or is not a thug, whether you think he should or should not be on the team, or whether you think he will or will not be a great receiver for TROY, it is the adnaseum repetition of berating the individual that I do have an opinion on. Let it go. Move on. Make your opinion known, discuss the reasons you have come to your conclusion, but to continue the beration as if you were on a personal mission...well that's just silly.

2. NO vs GMAC: I'm beginning to think most people come to message boards just to pick a side. We have very few people who straddle the fence and can see both sides (positives and negatives) before they form an opinion. With the advent of bowl season, it was apparant that TROY had two real choices for a bowl game (there were other options, but none came in a serious conversation, I believe). We had the NO Bowl crowd vs the GMAC Bowl crowd.

While both had merits, it became a conversation of who could come up with the most excuses conversation. Some of the loudness came from weekend game vs week day game, New Orleans vs Mobile, middle of December game vs night before national championship game, dome vs open (weather), etc. In the end, I think TROY won out because not only were we arguing about which bowl we would go to (we were guaranteed a bowl!), but also because TROY experienced a great bowl (except we lost) in a great recruiting town. If only we had won!

1. APR: This gets number one status because it fires me up so much. There is plenty of talk about some exceptions that we may or may not get on the APR from the NCAA. If we do get some kind of exceptions, its not because we asked for it or because we root under the rules, if we don't get them then its simply a case of misinformation.

Even with some supposed exceptions our APR has been above the minimal score needed to stay current of NCAA infractions. I'm not a big fan of coaches speaking publicly about the APR of other schools, especially if its in a negative light. Lafayette coaches came out the week of our game and said the reason TROY had been so good for so long in the Sun Belt Conference was because of our exceptions. They continued saying that put them (La-La) at a huge distinctive disadvantage. I say: if you think you're going to lose, don't say it publicly with some wishy-washy excuse.

***Let's see how the year 2010 treats us. I continue to encourage open dialogue and open discussion about all things TROY and Sun Belt related. I value each and every member more then you'll know. I am encouraged every day about our university when I log on to GoTroyTrojans.com and see such spirited care-filled discussions occuring almost on a 24 hour basis. Let's keep up the discussion and most importantly let's keep up the support for all things TROY.

Talk about this post now HERE.

What Owning the Palladium Trophy REALLY Does for Troy

2009-10-08T17:15:00.003-05:00

"It's ours, no you can't touch it, stop looking at it."

Over the last four years, "The Battle for the Palladium" has become a one-sided rivalry. Troy has blown the Blue Raiders out of the water on ESPN the past two meetings, making the MTSU football program look pathetic to a national audience, and helping Troy maintain its "bully" persona.

In an attempt to catch up with Troy's success, Middle Tennessee went out and played the "copy-cat," hiring offensive guru Tony Franklin to install his spread attack in Murphreesburo. I was worried when I first heard about this. Franklin's arrival at Middle immediately gives them credibility on the recruiting trails. His contacts, along with a larger campus located near a major metropolitan area, could spell disaster for Troy when competing for players.

However, winning trumps everything.

This year's "Battle" showed that Troy's Neal Brown has surpassed his former mentor. In the eyes of young men, why would you want to play for second best? If you want to show what you can do, go to Troy!

The Trojans clear domination over Middle Tennessee is a major selling point.

When it all boils down, the "W" next to this game is what has made Troy what it is. Continued success against Middle Tennessee will equal continued success in the Sun Belt. Troy is able to go out and get the kids they want, with the promise that they are coming to the best program in the Conference, and have the ability to make it to the next level if they do all the right things.

(The ability to play in bowl games regularly also helps.)

The ring brings top recruits, and top recruits bring rings. So I guess you could say, here at Troy, we have both the chicken AND the egg.

Be proud of that trophy Trojans, and be wary of raiders named Franklin looking to steal it. As long as we have possession of the Palladium, we have the inside track to the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

The State of TROY

2009-09-21T19:32:00.005-05:00

Long blog that touches on campus, stuff to buy, gameday, TROY vs TSU, and SOTS.

Campus

I hadn't been on campus for almost three years (and that was at night) and I hadn't been to a home football game since (gulp) my last football season in 1999. So I was caught off guard by how much has changed on campus. The quad and the statue! Wow, I have seen some awesome pictures but to see it in person was breathtaking. Very nice job, TROY!!!

I lived in Dill Hall and well, I'm sure you already know, it's not there. Some academic building is up now (irony if you know anything about Dill Hall). But that 'some academic building' is beautiful.

Football stadium renovations, new track/soccer complex, baseball renovations, new dorms, the list goes on. Campus is alive and well (well, Slumni is still there unfortunately). Even more importantly, the people are thriving and nicer then ever. I met with three big time important people who all took time out of there VERY busy schedules to meet with me and Mrs. Hurdlelove.

Faith Ward, alumni director, took my wife and I out to lunch (her first meat and three!) and really took the time to talk with us about how GoTroyTrojans.com can become a vital part of the TROY community. We are very VERY lucky to have her as a TROJAN!

Dr. Jean Laliberte, associate vice chancellor for development, met with us for a bit. She was able to reward me with my items for being an founding member of the Shield Society (thank you!!!!!). She represents TROY extremely well (even recruited my wife HARD to get an online degree from TROY so she could be an official TROY alum). We are very VERY lucky to have her as a TROJAN!

Mystery person: This person has an extremely important job of representing the university as well, but shall go nameless. This individual took time out of their important schedule to show the wife and I the new weightroom, Trojan Towers and new parts of the fieldhouse. This person did so without me even asking, they offered it to us with no hints from us. It was definitly the 2nd best highlight (the win over UAB being 1st) of the weekend. This person absolutely represents TROY in a great way and I believe will continue to do so for MANY years.

Stuff to buy

One of my missions on this road trip (11 hours each way) was to get as much as I could afford in TROY gear. As you can imagine, I am unable to buy any TROY gear here in Illinois (crazy, huh?) and there is only so much I allow myself to buy on Ebay. I was quickly told that there were only three places to go: Wal-Mart, Jab's and the Bookstore.

Wal-Mart: Some things, but not much really. They did have a really cool fold up chair. If I needed one (or if it would have been $10) I would have gotten it. I highly recommend it to anyone though as it looked great. They had some hats (got my own GoTroyTrojans.com hat, so I don't need anymore hats), some car flags (bought one!) and t-shirts. Oh and some great prices on stadium cushions.

Jab's: A lot more selection. These guys had anything from luggage tags, old Troy State stickers, TROY gym bags and of course t-shirts. I wasn't able to find exactly what I was looking for (an orange Trojan shirt so I could wear it to the U of I football games, yet still have my Trojans!), but they did have a lot of great things. I would definitly recommend Jab's as they had a ton of stuff and fairly good prices.

Bookstore: JACKPOT! These guys had it all. I mean, everything. Frames? Check. Flags? Check. Pennants? Check. TROY helmet chip bowl? Check. (Uh yeah, I got one! Heck yeah!!!) Christmas ornaments, shot glasses, clocks, footballs, mini-helmets, jerseys, shirts, stuffed animals and more? CHECK! I'm not a crazy guy who spends $40 for a shirt or even sweatshirt, but we left $200+ richer (cause when you buy TROY stuff, you are inherently richer). We got pennants, chip bowl, Christmas ornament, door sign, parking sign, ALL the stuffed animals, and even two shirts for the wife. If you don't go to the bookstore, you ain't getting it all baby!!!

BONUS: We actually got a pretty good deal on a TROY jersey for the wife. Youth jerseys were $40 over at Hibbett's across from Wal-Mart. Wife got the #12 for Levi. Now we get to both wear our jersey's at games and look ultra cool!!!! (For those who wonder; I've got the #1 to represent my boy Lawrence Tynes from back in the day!)

Game atmosphere

Now, while reading this section, you have to remember one thing: This is a VERY small sampling as this is one man's (and his wife's) experience at one home game.

Night before the game: Not much going on. There were some RVs already there, but didn't really see anyone tailgating much. We had dinner at Yanni's (you MUST eat here) and it wasn't entirely packed out or anything. Disapointing, but maybe it was rain fears.

Before the game: Now this is why I came back! Everyone was asking where the GoTroyTrojans.com tailgate tent was and I was quick to answer, "If I set up my own tailgate, I can't hop around to all these other tailgates!"

I was able to visit for awhile with several old and new friends. Hemi Man, Navarre, P'Cola and Hector: Sorry I was way early and couldn't stick around long. You guys were gracious in letting us hang out some and get in your way.

WWTP Day Tent: Great idea and great people. Troy87 this is a great tradition to continue. EVERYONE looked like they enjoyed themselves and the deal you guys were giving (tickets, shirts and a meal) cannot be beaten. While I didn't like the gator tail, the catfish was awesome and the sweat tea was perfect! Get some signs to let people know you are there and you are IN THE MONEY!!!

Tom Davis: Great to hang out with Chip (GoTroyTrojans.com webmaster extrodinaire) and his wife and Tom's wife. Oh and that little dog too! Sorry Tom had to work (Bibb Graves dedication) but there is always next time.

Track Tailgate: Here were my boys!!! Green (greatest distance runner ever in TROY history) and Jackson (greatest P'cola fan in TROY track history) were good people when I was there and have somehow turned into even better people. Heck, Green is now officially Professor Green of TROY University. How we pulled off keeping that guy on campus is beyond me. The school is definitly better off though.

Alumni Tent: Here is where it is! Great food, great drink, great people. Oh and it's FREE. Sort of. You have to be a member of the Alumni Association. Wait, what? You AREN'T a member? How can that be? Rectify that NOW! We (TROY UNIVERSITY) need your support. First thing you should do is become a lifetime member of the Alumni Association. It's $500. If you do it yearly it's $50. So as long as you live longer then 11 years after you join, you are saving money (morbid, I know). What do you get? Only a really cool membership card, a lifetime member pin, free food(!), a cool quarterly magazine, and most importantly the knowledge that you are helping your alma mater in so many ways I can't list them all.

During the game: Hmmmm, this is a hard one. I thought I was going to walk into a stadium full of 30k people with a ton of blosers and all. Well, it was a little different. They said attendance was a tad over 21k (no reason to doubt) and I didn't see maybe 1000 blosers. I understand the chance of heavy down pour (see the others games for more info) had some stay home, but I was disapointed none the less. The crowd that was there was loud I thought (for 21k people).

Where I was very surprised was I did not see a ton of the others clothing. I read almost daily on GoTroyTrojans.com that people wear the others clothing all the time. I thought it would be all I would see (some exageration there). I truly did not see much at all. I saw one guy wearing the others hat but he also had on a TROY shirt. I think as we continue to march down the D-IA line (I refuse to call it whatever it is supposed to be) we will see less and less of the others and more and more of the good guys.

TROY (State) University

I've never cared too much when people (even TROY people) have called our school Troy State University. I always figured: 1) There are more Troy STATE alums then TROY U alums, 2) My degree (yep I actually graduated) says Troy STATE, and 3) Who really cares as long as they are talking about us?

In fact, I have always purposely called our school Troy State, even having an avatar of our old TSU helmet, and having a former signature that said, "Always a Troy STATE fan!" That all changed Friday night before the UA-Birmingham game. I had dinner with someone who worked 'behind the scenes' on the University's name change. He had to work VERY hard and took a TON of time to go through and change everywhere on the school's website from Troy State to TROY University. This person is a great friend who I admire a lot. It put things in perspective.

Being adament of calling our University Troy State is a selfish endevour. I would whole heartedly back our Chancellor and other leaders in their decision making abilities, so why would I blatently not move into the future with them and call our beloved alma mater its proper name: TROY University?

While I will still continue to collect all TROY memorabillia (including old school TSU stuff), I will no longer refer to her as Troy State. She is now and in the future our beloved TROY University.

I reserve the right to not go nuts on someone who does call us Troy State though. While I might correct someone, I ain't going nuts. I'll reserve that for football games!!!

SOTS

Those cats are AWESOME! 'Nuff said.

-end-

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My Thanks Go Out To...

2009-09-04T13:50:00.004-05:00

After watching last night's performance in Ohio, I am dissapointed in what I believed would be the best team the Sun Belt Conference has seen to date. All the pieces are there, all the talent, but the execution is missing. Bowling Green State proved lastnight that their program is stronger than Troy's. Maybe not all year long, but they certainly were on September 3.

Still, with all the anger and emotion of watching my hopes for the season get crushed, there were some big plays. I want to thank certain individuals for their efforts in the loss. I would not normally call out specific players so bluntly, but I feel lastnight there was less of a team effort and more of the indivisual's efforts.

Tebiarius Gill, outstanding job son. You proved you are one of the biggest playmakers on the offense. You have the size, you have the hands, you make the catches, you are a Trojan receiver in the class of Gary Banks.

Boris Lee, as always you impress. You made several crucial tackles during the game that prevented the Falcons from gaining big chunks of yardage on the ground.

Jerrel Jernigan, you were a superstar as usual the first half of play. Your touchdown was extremely impressive and you looked good running routes. You are our biggest offensive playmaker, stay healthy my friend.

That's really all the praise I have for last night's effort. I feel that the coaches should have dedicated more second half reps to the wildcat formation, and I think our defensive line underachieved against an opponent we believed was inferior.

This team is the most talented Troy has ever had. I am dissapointed because we have grown to a level that expecations are high. That can be seen as a positive, but let's not continue the trend. It's time to bounce back Trojans, let's show all the nay-sayers that we are legit.

To Our Falcon Friends

2009-09-03T21:02:00.003-05:00

I would like to first of all congratulate the Bowling Green State Falcons on an outstanding game. Your team was ready for us and you executed a perfect game plan after falling behind by 14. You have a very good quarterback, and your receivers did great getting open on our inexperienced backfield. Good game.

Commitments in Action

2009-09-02T22:18:00.006-05:00

High school and Junior College football is underway and I wanted to keep everyone updated on the progress of Troy's commitments.

QB Greg Jenkins (pictured above) lost a hard-fought battle last Thursday. His No. 2-ranked Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College lost to No. 19-ranked Northwest 30-25.

QB Luke Barnes completed 16-of-26 passes for 247 yards. He threw for a touchdown and had two passes intercepted in a losing effort. Fort Walton Beach lost the game to Niceville 42-35.

LB Talris Brown had a total of 8 tackles, including one tackle for loss against Navarro. Brown's team lost the game 35-7.

ATH Khary Franklin was the QB for the Lowndes Vikings last year. He has moved to halfback this year and has been impressive in his first two games. Franklin had 106 yards on 11 carries last week. Lowndes won the game 75-14 over Woodland.

DT Dalton Bennett forced a fumble that was recovered by fellow Troy commit, DE Tommy Stephens. Their effort wasn't enough, as Marianna was defeated by East Gadsen 19-7.

Blakeney has a talented bunch of recruits headed his way. I'll try to post stats on some of these commitments as the football season progresses.

EVALUATION - An evaluation is an activity by a coach to evaluate your academic or athletics ability. This would include visiting your high school or watching you practice or compete.

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Bowling Green Blog Swap: Answers to BGSU Board Questions

2009-09-01T16:14:00.004-05:00

I’d like to welcome our readers to the first ever “Blog Swap” involving GoTroyTrojans.com! In our inagural attempt, we pair up with MAC opponent Bowling Green State University's Blogger BJ. The guy knows his stuff. He's a dedicated Falcon fan and one who's passion for his team is admirable.

Here are several questions posed by our friends from Bowling Green, and you can check out their answers to ours at www.orangeandbrown.blogspot.com. Hope you enjoy!

1. You seem to have a pretty good coach and he has had success and isn't leaving. What is your secret?

Larry Blakeney came to Troy (State) after leaving Auburn University on less than stellar terms. For those outside of the loop, he basically took the fall for an entire staff for NCAA infractions. Anyways, Larry came to us when we were playing at the Division II level. He carried us to the Division I-A level where the Trojans were a dominant force, making several playoff appearances. Now he has taken us in to the FBS, where we have made three bowl appearances and three consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships.

So after all of that, I would have to say the reason Larry has stayed with Troy is because he loves Troy. The Blakeney family has made the small town their home and like where they are. Larry is the “big fish” here in the small pond, recognized everywhere he goes and always loved by those who recognize him. I have no way of knowing this personally, because I wasn’t able to get an interview on such short notice, but I would imagine Coach Blakeney has enjoyed building the Troy program from infancy all the way to the ranks of the “big boys.”

In the end, Larry Blakeney is one of the longest tenured coaches with a single university in the NCAA. He is Troy’s Paul Bear Bryant, our Joe Paterno, our Bobby Bowden. The day Larry leaves will be a very sad day for all Trojans, worldwide.

2. You have averaged over 30 points per game for two seasons. You have lots of guys back. Could you score more? What could stop you?

Troy’s offense wasn’t always this prolific. Before the arrival of offensive guru Tony Franklin (formerly of Auburn, now coaching Middle Tennessee State University’s football team), the Trojans were a ground-and-pound type of team. Three yards and a cloud of dust was our style, and one that most Troy fans were happy to see go.

Omar Haugabook, Franklin’s first quarterback at Troy, was a JUCO transfer brought in by Tony. He showed Trojan fans just how great our offense could become. Since Haugabook’s departure, the Troy football program has been able to maintain excellence at the quarterback position through top-notch recruitment. New offensive coordinator Neal Brown (a prodigy of Franklin’s) has been able to tap in to high schools and junior college programs to bring the absolute best players in to run the offense.

Last season, Levi Brown took the helm after Jamie Hampton was “taken out” while playing Conference rival Florida Atlantic. He threw for fifteen touchdowns and three interceptions and went on to become Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year. He showed that a steady hand, cool head, and rocket arm, could dominant any defense he faced. Unlike Jamie Hampton, who relied on his legs regularly, Levi is strictly a pocket quarterback.

With a full season as the starter, and with several new weapons to throw to, the Trojan offense looks to be even better than the 2008 version.

Newcomer Josh Jarboe, who transferred from Oklahoma prior to his first season as a Sooner, will be available for the first time. With Jarboe, and returning “Mr. Everything” Jerrel Jernigan, the passing attack looks to be unstoppable.

The only way I can see Troy’s offense being stopped this season, is through attrition. If the Trojans rack up too many injuries, depth could take a hit and the wheels could get rusty. It will be imperative that the offensive line protect Levi. This season rests on his shoulders.

Let’s hope Bowling Green plays a friendly, clean game.

3. How often do you think about the LSU game?

To be on the wrong side of the largest comeback in a program’s history is not something a fan base soon forgets. If I could sum it up in one sentence, I would say, “It was the most deflating feeling any of us had ever experienced." To dominate one of the SEC’s greatest programs for three quarters of football, only to see it slip away in the fourth, was just awful.

There are numerous explanations offered by Trojan fans as to why the team continued to throw the ball late in the game with a big lead, but all boil down to the same thing…it was a mistake.

The team (and particularly OC Neal Brown) has used the experience as a building block in this season’s preparation. As Cardinal-clad followers of the program, all Troy fans pray it is not an experience that we have to live through again, and one fresh on the minds of everyone on the field when we face the Arkansas Razorbacks this year.

4. How big a loss is Jorrick Calvin?

Huge. Jorrick was our lone returning starter in the defensive backfield. Nothing can replace his experience and talent. That part of the team is still suspect, and could be a weakness that Bowling Green could exploit. If the Falcons can take advantage of the youngsters, and manage to hold off our high-octane offense, it could spell disaster for the Trojans.

5. Tell me about the city of Troy. Is there an airport? An Applebee's?

If you’ve ever roamed an endless desert, then stumbled across an oasis, you could relate the experience to the city of Troy. There is very little to do within the City’s limits. There are a few nice restaurants such as Ruby Tuesday and Sante Fe Cattle Company, as well as some local establishments and bars, but for the most part it is a sleepy southern town nestled quietly in the Wiregrass. The oasis I mentioned earlier is the University. It is a beautiful campus with a distinct southern charm to it that visitors always love. Tons of new buildings and athletic facilities are going up daily, and many compare them to the SEC Universities out there. If you have a chance, try to make the trip next season and enjoy the scenery.

6. Are you bringing Helen?

Absolutely not. The last Trojans who let that witch in to their midst’s ended up with a wooden horse full of raiders in their city. The last two times a (Blue) Raider has stepped foot in the Walled City, they were sent home with red behinds and sobbing noses.

We have a bit of a saying in the Trojan fan base, “burn the horse,” it means “protect our house.” It is a direct reference to the story of Helen and the great Greek raping of the city of Troy. We pride ourselves in the fact that our team does not lose at home often.

We have an outstanding home record, and with this game we look to improve our away record as well. ;)

Compliments from Auburn Fans

2009-08-27T12:56:00.003-05:00

Since 2001, Troy has been regarded as the "other" team, the "third" team in the state. Auburn and Alabama are the "big boys," the SEC powerhouses that rule the landscape. The Trojans have always dealt with the perception of being lesser than the Tide and the Tigers, and in the past it was true.
Today we are exactly one week away from kick-off of the 2009 college football season. Guess what? The talk on local sports talk (and ESPN), is that the Troy Trojans are better than the Auburn Tigers.

I'll give you just a moment to let that sink in.

In the past people have said "hey Troy could play Alabama good," or "the Trojans would play respectable against Auburn." However, I have never seen so many different sources openly declaring that Troy is the better team, and with such certainty. The topic has gotten so much attention, that Auburn fans have come out of the woodwork to defend their honor. "We are in the SEC, we are Auburn!"

SportsLine with John and (the Voice of TROY) Barry on 740AM has become a virtual battleground with McKnight stuck in the middle. He has taken quite a bit of heat from certain callers after he announced he too believed that Troy would beat the Plainsmen if they were to play this year. He maintains that this is in no way a slant to Auburn, but a compliment to the Trojans who have built an impressive program in southeast Alabama.

Troy fans feel it is about time that the state recognizes what an impressive program they have just a little ways down Hwy. 231. Larry Blakeney has brought the Trojans from Division II all the way to the FBS, and has climbed to the top of each level. Three Conference Championships and three Bowl appearances loudly announce Larry's ascension at the highest level. That threatens the traditional powers.

The uproar from Auburn fans has even gotten a little nasty. Bloggers like "the Realist" have slammed the Trojans on the internet. Sometimes the insults are based on facts, other times not so much. In one attack, this blogger even had this to say about the University's academic standards:

"These "short-cuts" over the years have always made The Realist Nation feel that Troy was a borderline "rogue" program. The same lower academic standards apply today and unlike Auburn and Alabama, Troy can stockpile significant talent that SEC schools will not compromise on. "

According to Forbe's Magazine though, that is not the case. Troy is actually ranked as the number one public university in the state of Alabama. Simply an attempt to deal a low blow, but obviously based on personal biased rather than facts.

All of this newfound negativity from the Auburn faithful is actually quite a compliment. It shows that Troy has finally arrived. You can not be an Auburn fan AND a Troy fan, it is one or the other. If Troy plays as well as I think they are going to play this season, this could be the moment Troy takes its proper place and the State of Alabama becomes a three-team state like Florida. Well maybe not exactly like Florida, afterall UF, FSU, and Miami are all BCS teams...but you get the idea. This state is fully capable of supporting three large fanbases.

If Troy continues to perform at such a high level, the fanbase will grow. Mostly from students who finally discover that the Trojans are equally deserving of their loyalty. Those are where the future lies for Troy University football.

I'm excited about this season, and you should be too.

This team will be the best football team that the Sun Belt Conference has ever seen. I hope you will make it a point to call in to your local sports talk radio shows to make sure the state knows what is going on with YOUR Troy Trojans. The team will take care of business on the field, we just need to provide a little PR outside of Troy, AL.

Sources:
http://realistrants.blogspot.com/2009/08/troytrojan-fans-want-reparations-game.html
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/94/colleges-09_Americas-Best-Colleges_Rank_20.html

100

2009-07-23T18:47:00.015-05:00

"Life is a War"

Our war, TROJANS, is the disrespect of our Troy University Trojans. We are a small, yet rabid, fan base with die hard loyalties...yet we are few. It is not our battle to show others that TROY is just as good as the others ('Bama and Auburn). It is our destiny to teach others that we are BETTER then the others.

We are not inferior because of our associated conference. We are not inferior because of the size of our athletic budget. We are not inferior because our stadium doesn't hold 80,000.

We are superior because we are not elephants nor cats; we are mighty war-forged historical mighty TROJANS!

"There will be no glory in your sacrifice. I will erase even the memory of Bear from the histories! Every piece of Tuscaloosa parchment shall be burned. Every war eagle historian, and every elephant shall have their eyes pulled out, and their tongues cut from their mouths. Why, uttering the very name of Alabama, or Auburn, will be punishable by death! The world will never know they existed at all!"

We started as makers of teachers and have become educators of many. From respected authors to powerful politicians, TROJANS have been strong in spirit, yet few in numbers. That changes now. Today, this season, we have a call to arms. Today is our day to remind others of their heritage. From powerful Dothan to dynamic Montgomery, we have kindred spirits across the land ready and willing to join the alpha of Troy, Ala. From Ft. Lewis, WA and Eglin (FL) Air Force Base to exotic Japan, we have soldiers ready for our beck and call. All around we have misguided Trojans swearing allegiance to the others; confused as they are, they need to come home.

It is time to bring the flock home.

"The enemy outnumber us a paltry three to one, good odds for any TROJAN. This day we rescue a world from elephants and tigers and usher in a future brighter than anything we can imagine."

It is time to show the world (believers, non-believers, and unknowing believers) that the TROJAN nation is strong. How, you ask? You dare ask how! The answer starts simple, my friends and fellow mighty Trojans. ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS! We take the love of TROY we have in our hearts and put it on our sleeves. Literally. At all times, have the TROJANS on your sleeve. Wear your shirts, use your license plate frames, fly your flags, buy your books, and show your memorabilia. This will show the others that the Trojan nation is all encompassing. This will give direction to the flock and they will return.

"Give thanks, men, to Blakeney and the brave 100! TO VICTORY!"

Returning flock have a magical power of multiplying. Flock beget flock. Soon the flock that are lost will follow those that have direction. The flock of the others will travel with those who have seen the cardinal light. When this begins, other actions must spring forth. We must buy our tickets, we must join our Trojan Warriors, we must submit to our TROY Shield Society, we must commit to our National Alumni Association. It is these tools that build palaces brick by brick. It is these devices that create castles. It is these weapons that grow legacies!

Yesterday is where the others live, today is our playground. Tomorrow is our path.

"Children, gather round! No retreat, no surrender; that is Trojan lore. And by Trojan lore we will stand and fight... and die. A new age has begun. An age of freedom, and all will know, that 100 Trojans gave their last breath to defend it!"

Talk about this post now HERE

My Thoughts on the Pre-Seaon Love

2009-07-18T10:26:00.005-05:00

Well college football season is just a little over a month away now and the pre-season material is flowing like a river from countless blogs and websites. Every sports writer out there (professional or recreational) has his or her picks in for who will win what and who will be ranked where. Troy is no excepti0n.

Phil Steele, who I personally believe to be "the man" when it comes to reading the pre-season crystal ball, has Troy ranked 31st in the nation. Not bad for the little ol' teacher's school in southeast Alabama.

ESPN said, "Troy is one of the top-10 best non-BCS programs in the country." Scout.com has Troy's games against Florida and Arkansas both up as "BCS vs non-BCS Games You Should Care About." The Quad Blog (part of the New York Times) says, " It has become clear – painfully, in my case – that as long as the Countdown exists, Troy should be viewed as the prohibitive favorite in the Sun Belt."

It seems the world has finally taken notice, well, atleast the sporting news world, that the Trojans are here and are a force to be reckoned with.

But does all the hype help the Trojans or hurt them? In the past, Troy has flown under the radar, alusive and mysterious. No one knew who Troy was in 2004 when they defeated the 17th-ranked Missouri Tigers on ESPN. The Oklahoma State blowout was another shocker for those watching across America. But now, with these signature wins under their belt, increased respect from professional sports writers, and overwhelming love from ESPN (who let's face it, loves an underdog story they can sell), will this lead to greater preperation by the BCS opponents in 2009?

Certainly I would expect coaches to always have their teams prepared physically for a game, but in the past I can't help but think that many of the (BCS) players the Trojans take the field against in the fall are not expecting a tough game. After all, Troy plays in the Sun Belt, the worst conference in college football, right? Well you are partially correct in that assumption, the MAC is actually the weakest football conference in America today, and Troy doesn't just play in the Sun Belt, they dominate it. But those are just details, and few die-hard BCS fans care which mid-major is on top or on the bottom. Too bad for them, they are missing out on some of the finest college football out there.

I believe these (BCS) players are beginning to understand that you don't have to play for a Power 6 team to be worthy of respect. Troy has proven they can hang with the big boys plenty of times, and now, it's time to begin knocking them off like dominos. Arkansas comes to mind as I type this out. The Hogs had best be ready, they are about to meet one of the best spread attacks in college football!

So how does the 2009 Troy Trojan football team look so far?

The Trojans look to be ready to field the best team in the program's history this year...again. It seems every season the team is better than the previous season, with fans's expectations growing in accordance.

Neal Brown has adjusted the Trojan Spread Offense a great deal since taking over for his mentor, the now infamous Tony Franklin. Gone is the 5-wide receiver set on the two yard-line, replaced with the I-formation, a set many Trojan faithful painfully remember from the Fleetwood era. But have no fear Trojan fans, Fleetwood is long gone, and we need this "old school" alignment if Blakeney wants to increase his red zone efficiency. Of course, having DuJuan Harris running the ball will also be a big part of this "new" formation's success.

Levi Brown returns for his senior season as the undisputed leader of the offense. He will have Mr. Everything Jerrel Jernigan (All-Sun Belt) moving to the outside receiver position, which should increase his ability to make plays. Also, Josh Jarboe will be available for the first time. If Jarboe can keep out of trouble off the field, he should be a big part of the offense on the field.

The skill position talent is all there, but in the end, it all comes down to an injury-stricken offensive line. If the line can meld and work together well as a unit, the Trojans should be close to unstoppable offensively.

Defensively Troy returns a funhouse of hard hitting headbusters, complete with facepaint.

Cameron Sheffield and Brandon Lang will keep quarterbacks on their heels, which would be ideal considering Jorick Calvin is the lone returning starter in the secondary. Expect to see some fancy footwork in the return game from Calvin. He was quoted as saying "I'm going to make you forget about Leodis McKelvin" to one of his coaches upon arrival. Well Mr. Calvin here is your chance, let's see what you got.

And what is a Troy pre-season blog without the Killer B's, Boris Lee and Bear Woods. You want to talk about a wall for your runningback to run in to, well here it is. Boris and Bear have been widely discussed as being one of, if not the, best linebacker tandom in the country. I certainly wouldn't want to run the ball at them. One has a wingspan the width of the gap and the other paints his face up like a villian from the Mad Max movies. Who would want to meet them head on? No one, and that is why Arkansas is going to have dificulty against the Trojan defense this year.

With all of this being said, I believe Phil's number thirty-one ranking is justified. Sure there are better teams out there, but Troy is poised to snatch up a top-25 ranking this season. It would be the first time either Troy or the Sun Belt reached that plateu.

Here's my prediction: 11-1. A loss to Florida just seems too plausible, but the rest of the schedule is winnable from this team. Great things are ahead of the Trojans, and it is an exciting time to Wear Cardinal!

Troy Sitting Well With Six Commitments

2009-06-29T16:35:00.007-05:00

It was announced a couple of days ago on Drew Champlain's blog that Troy has received a verbal commitment from quarterback Luke Barnes. Luke is the latest commitment for the Trojans 2010 class. As long as I've been following Troy recruiting I can't remember when they had six commitments this early in the year. This is definitely good news for Troy. Players are jumping at the chance to play for Coach Blakeney and the coaching staff is getting the players who will fit their needs.

Troy has received commitments from three high school players, as well as three junior college players. Linemen Dalton Bennett and Tommy Stephens both attend Marianna High School in Florida. They both committed earlier this month at one of Troy's summer camps. The JUCO players include OT Teavis Durgin, LB Talris Brown, and S Aaron Ward. All three were sign-and-place players. They signed with Troy a couple of years ago and went to Junior Colleges to make themselves eligible to play for the Trojans. Troy is fortunate enough to have them re-affirm their commitments. The JUCO players will probably see the playing field early, while the high school commitments will most likely sit for a year or two.

OFFICIAL VISIT
Any visit to a college campus by you and your parents paid for by the college. The college may pay the following expenses:
• Your transportation to and from the college;
• Room and meals (three per day) while you are visiting the college; and
• Reasonable entertainment expenses, including three complimentary admissions to a home athletics contest.

Before a college may invite you on an official visit, you will have to provide the college with a copy of your high school transcript (Division I only) and SAT, ACT or PLAN score and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

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TROY and the SEC

2009-06-14T17:32:00.009-05:00

Living in central Alabama, I hear a lot of talk on the sports radio shows about Auburn and Alabama. Every now and then Troy will find its way on to the air through a caller or a discussion the hosts introduce.

As of late, the opinion of John Longshore and Barry McKnight on Sports Line has been that Troy has the potential to be great this year, and could surprise Arkansas this season. That opinion has met mixed reviews, but one thing that many callers agree on, is that Troy could not compete as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

I catch myself laughing when I hear folks say, "If Troy played in the SEC, they'd get stomped week in and week out." The statement is just not true, and I'll explain to you why I say that.

Since joining the FBS in 2001, the Trojans are 52 and 43. That includes time served as an Independent, with players recruited during the FCS era. Oh by the way, Troy (State) defeated an SEC school in its first year as a "big boy." Pretty good, huh?

Troy has done more with less than any other program in the country.

As a member of the Sun Belt Conference, Troy hasn't necessarily been displayed nationally as a power, or as a destination school for recruits. Television time, post-season opportunities, and out of conference home games have all been limited. All of these short comings impact recruiting and fan support.

So let's play Devil's Advocate here for just a moment. What would happen if Troy were to join the "mighty" SEC? Well first of all, the amount of money pouring into the athletic department would dwarf current numbers. Televised games would jump considerably as well, introducing the Trojans to hordes of new viewers. High school players would take notice and Troy would have the luxery of recruiting as a "big dog."

Basically the new conference affiliation would be a real shot in the arm.

You would take one of the best mid-major teams in the country, one that has upset every BCS team that has come to their stadium, and one that has showcased one of the best spread attacks in the NCAA, and you would infuse it with the money and exposure of a "power 6" conference.

There is no amount of wins or flashy highlights that can compare to the sheer dollar amounts and television exposure that comes with BCS membership. The system is set up to showcase teams in the 6 conferences that control college football. If you're a lucky mid-major, you can impress these Conferences enough to gain admittance. That is really the only way to truely launch your program today.

But in this day and age, the only true difference between BCS and "Mid-Major" programs is really the monopoly of the BCS Conferences. In 2004, Cincinatti, Louisville, and South Florida were all Mid-Major football teams. The very next year they were brought into the Big East Conference, now they are perceived as powers, and their fan bases grow with every passing season.

Thanks to the BCS, college football is a case of the "haves" and the "have-nots." Money stays within the 6 BCS Conferences, adding to already bloated athletic budgets and slowly starving out the Mid-Majors.

Utah went undefeated last season. If they had been a member of the Pac-10, or any other BCS Conference for that matter, do you think they would have been playing in New Orleans? No. They would have been playing for the National Championship.

So when someone says, "If Troy played in the SEC, they would get stomped week in and week out," you remind them that the only difference in our two programs is money. You give us an equal share and we'll see just how bad we'd fare. I'd be willing to bet Troy would do what Troy always does, we'd climb to the top and win it all.

3 National Titles pre-FBS move, 3 Sun Belt Conference Titles post-FBS move. We'll get there, we just have a few people to convince on the way.

Go TROY!

A challenge has been set...

2009-06-08T18:58:00.003-05:00

Most of you know I live in Illinois now instead of the great state of Alabama. You can only imagine being so far from the Yellowhammer State that I don't see much (any) TROY Trojan gear running around here. I do remember several years ago I saw a car with the old TSU car parking permit in Chicago and got very excited. Not that excited, sicko!

So I was pumped to travel to Birmingham this past weekend to teach a track class at Birmingham Southern College. I brought my digital camera to take a picture of the first thing TROY I saw so I could post it in my next blog post. I figured I'd see a shirt, hat, license plate, etc.

I arrived later in the day on Friday, around 3pm, and was driven straight from the airport to the school. I was mildly disapointed that I didn't see any TROY stuff, especially a license plate since I saw several cars travelling on the highway. I wasn't too disapointed though since I wasn't in town long and thought I'd see plenty as Saturday and Sunday rolled along.

Saturday I was treated to Dreamland barbeque. If you've been inside of this place (I do recommend it) you will find a ton of different license plates from all across the country (mainly the Southeast) with all different type of custom lettering. I thought this would be the time. Now I will find an old custom license plate that said something like IM4TSU or TROY 1. Zilch. Nothing. Nada. That's what I found, no TROY plates, no TROY nothing!

Long story short I went through the entire weekend in Birmingham, ALABAMA and didn't see one person wearing a TROY hat, a TROY license plate, a TROY sticker, nothing. The only TROY I saw was on my socks that I wore on Sunday to rep TROY U.

This weekend disapointed me tremendously as a TROY alum and supporter. I'm used to TROYlessness in Illinois, but in the very state my school is located: not acceptable.

So I'm throwing down a challenge to you...REP YOUR SCHOOL. I challenge you to wear your TROY hats, socks, shirts, shorts (I've got mine on right now actually) and let people know about YOUR school.

The more odd the location the better. Going to be on UAB's campus for a conference (I take pity on you)? Wear your TROY socks to show who the REAL school in Alabama is. Driving through Tuscaloosa on your way to Mississippi? Throw your TROY flag out during the trip through T-town. Take a picture of your best TROY REP you can find (I'd love to see a pic of some awesome Trojans with their gear on in front of an Auburn sign!), send it to us at gotroytrojans@gmail.com and show the world you REP THE TROJANS OF TROY UNIVERSITY.

Talk about this post now at www.GoTroyTrojans.com/forums

D Day

2009-06-06T19:29:00.003-05:00

June 6th, 1944. A day to end all days.

Today is a day of rememberance for those who gave their lives for the idea of freedom and democracy. Thousands of young men from all over our nation brought together for the purpose of liberating Europe from a tyrannical regime.

I do not remember this day as a day of sadness, but one of new beginnings.

I mourne our fallen heroes, but I also look at their sacrifice and see our modern world. America emerged from WWII as one of the most powerful nations the world had ever seen. Today, we are the soul true super-power on the planet. All that we have achieved as a nation began with the sacrifice of those brave men.

The horror of war is something that stains our history like red wine on white cloth . It can never be forgotten by those who lived through it, or those who were effected by it. Yet because of the brave who fought during those years, our world has taken a shape that could not have otherwise happened.

So I ask you to take this day to remember the fallen not as lost, but as the ashes which the Phoenix that is our country erose from. Those men, those heroic men, they are the greatest generation our nation has ever known.

I offer you, and all those who serve, my sincere gratitude.

God Bless

A Sun Belt Ban on Oversigning?

2009-06-01T16:07:00.006-05:00

As some of you are probably aware, the SEC recently passed a rule limiting the number of football signees to 28 per year. The SEC also forwarded this legislation to the NCAA in hopes that a nationwide cap will be passed. The passing of such a cap would directly impact the way Troy handles its recruiting.

Currently the NCAA allows schools to only admit 25 scholarship players in a year. There isn't a rule on the number of players that can sign with a school. Troy has used this to their advantage and over the years has perfected the strategy of "sign and place". There are many players out there who want to continue playing football after high school, but do not have the grades to be admitted into a school. The "sign and place" strategy gives these players a second chance.

Players sign with Troy, but are placed in a Community College for a couple of years. They continue to play football for the Community College, against competition that is usually a cut above the high school level. After a couple of years, if the player has worked hard in the classroom and has the grades, he can sign with a FBS school. Many of the players that originally signed with Troy keep a close relationship with the coaches during their time at the C.C. They are more likely to re-sign with Troy when given the opportunity.

Under a ban similar to the one the SEC just passed, Troy would no longer be able to "sign and place" these players. Troy has signed an average of 32.4 players per year since 2005. If this number is reduced to 28 or less it will mean fewer players will get this second chance and Troy will lose out on some talented people. I e-mailed the Sun Belt's Assistant Commissioner, Bryant Carter, about any possible legislation the conference might take to limit the number of signees. Mr. Carter quickly replied, " At this time, the Sun Belt Conference has not discussed such policy."

While the Sun Belt might not be currently talking about a ban, anything the NCAA passes would most likely trump the conference's ruling. I'll try to keep everyone informed on the matter as I learn more details.

NCAA RECRUITING MANUAL
13.02.10 National Letter of Intent.
The National Letter of Intent referred to in this bylaw is the official document administered by the Collegiate Commissioners Association and used by subscribing member institutions to establish the commitment of a prospective student-athlete to attend a particular institution.

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Don't Open the Gates, Burn the Horse...and All Those Inside!

2009-05-27T22:00:00.002-05:00

I’m Greg, or Trojan Delta Chi to those who frequent GTT.com. When Mike asked me to come on board as one of GTT’s official bloggers I happily agreed. Writing has always been a passion of mine.

I graduated from TROY in 2007 with a degree in Print Journalism. I wrote for the Tropolitan, some of you may have glanced over my work at one time or another.

I wasn’t always a TROY fan though. In fact, I grew up a die hard Auburn fan.

*intermission for booing *

My mother graduated from Auburn University in a year she will not permit me to put in print, but I’ll give you a hint…Bo Jackson was playing during her tenure. My family attended Auburn games all my life, up until 2003 when I entered Troy (State).

So there I was, an Auburn fan stuck in Troy, bummer right? I thought so for about one semester. Then there came a time when I realized that Troy would be my team from then on and I never looked back. I had always wanted to be able to honestly claim a college football team and who better than the “up-and-comer?”

In my second year as a student I joined Delta Chi Fraternity. This gave me an opportunity to convert others who were still suffering from the “problem” I had shared my first semester as a student. Some converted, others fought me. One day they’ll learn. ;)

While I was writing for the Tropolitan I had the privilage to be very active in our athletic department. I attended press conferences on Mondays, and was able to interact with Coach Larry Blakeney and players like Omar Haugabook, Greg Whibbs, Marcus Richardson, and later on Jerrel Jernigan. All are outstanding men.

These relationships I developed made me think, what could I do to help our team? Well I certainly wasn’t going to go suit up and throw touchdowns. So I started The Legion. My initial idea was to create an organization that would bring students together, regardless of Greek affiliation (or lack thereof), to support our athletes. It was slow to start, but the sheer presence of the group brought some additional attention to the program.*

I graduated following the 2007 season, one that ended with Florida Atlantic’s Rusty Smith taking my heart and stomping on it. Thanks Owls. Only the LSU game from this past season stings more than that 2007 loss.

Now I’ve taken my love and enthusiasm for Trojan athletics in to the “real world,” doing what I can for the team from the Montgomery area. Things like calling in to the local sports radio morning show from time-to-time is a personal favorite of mine. Oh by the way, the Voice of TROY, Barry McKnight, hosts the show with former Bama player John Longshore. I also purchased season tickets for this upcoming season, something I feel is one of the most important things an alumnus can do.
During the season I will be talking to you, the reader, from the perspective of a recent graduate. I’ll discuss my personal opinions on gameplay, our opponents, public perception, and other issues that excite or annoy me.

Thank you for supporting GoTroyTrojans.com and it’s affiliate blogspot.

*I’d like to recognize Paul of Troy. Paul took over leadership of The Legion and did an outstanding job.

An Introduction from the Recruiting Guru

2009-05-24T22:37:00.005-05:00

Hello fellow Trojan fans and welcome to the blog. I'm Brent, a.k.a. CattouseFan, a.k.a The Recruiting Guru. I plan on bringing an in-depth look at Troy recruiting to this blog. I plan on posting weekly throughout the year. As we get closer to Signing Day I'll post more often to keep everyone up to date with the latest offers and commitments. I'll let you know when prospects visit the campus. I'll also try to keep you informed on the coaching staff's needs. I might occasionally post information on here that I haven't posted in the Recruiting Forum. I would also like to include an interesting NCAA recruiting guideline and/or definition at the bottom of each post to expand everyone's knowledge on the subject.

As with most introductions I would like to talk about myself a little. I was born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana. I've lived here all 23 years of my life. I work full-time as a Receiving Analyst for Caterpillar and I go school part-time. I'm currently taking online courses at a community college in hopes of getting a degree in Business Administration.

I'm sure some of you are probably wondering how a person who has lived 682 miles from Troy his entire life gives a hoot about the school. Most of my friends and relatives wonder about the same thing. It is an interesting story to say the least. Five years ago I had just graduated from high school and just started attending class at Purdue. I lived in a house with two good friends of mine from high school. We are all sports junkies. We watched sports in that house nearly 24/7. I was more of a pro football fan and didn't have a favorite college team. Purdue was doing well back then and it would make sense to cheer for the hometown team, but I just never could get into Boilermaker sports.

One Thursday evening I remember watching the only football game on that evening. It was Missouri at Troy. I remember having to leave during the first quarter to attend a Biology lecture. Troy was losing the game at the time, but I remember telling one of my roommates that they looked like a good team and will have a chance to win the game. The lecture ended and I made it home to watch the forth quarter. I remember the game ending and me asking my roommates how the game played out. I didn't know anything about Troy at the time but I was intrigued.

It wasn't long after the win against Missouri that a group of us started a dynasty on NCAA Football. We all chose different teams. I chose Troy. It wasn't long before I knew the names of most of the players. I started to follow the team more closely. I remember the end of that season and how Troy was bowl eligible. I told my roommates that if they were going to a bowl game then I would attend. They were invited to play in the Silicon Valley Classic and I hopped on a plane to California. I can't think of a better way to see my first Troy game than at their first bowl game. The rest is history.

I soon found GoTroyTrojans.com and started following the baseball and basketball teams. One of my roommates worked for rivals.com at the time and gave me an education in football recruiting. I noticed that no one really followed recruiting in the forum so I thought that I would do my best to keep everyone informed. Information was hard to come by back then. It has become much easier over the last few years and I believe that it is a direct result to the success of the football program.

I hope that it doesn't bother anyone that I have no ties to the school. When I go to games I sometimes get strange looks when I tell people I'm from Indiana. Many that frequent the message board know that I am very passionate about Troy athletics. Over the last few years I have picked up on the school's traditions. I proudly wear shirts and hats with Troy's logo on them. I've even managed to get my friends to watch the games on television and occasionally make a road trip with me. I even took my grandfather to New Orleans in December for the bowl game.

I hope that everyone enjoys this blog. With the recent purchase of this website I believe that we can expect great things in the near future. This is just a small taste of the things to come. I want to thank the new owners for allowing me to share this information with all of you. If you have ideas or information about how I can improve on this blog just send me a message. This blog is for the Trojan faithful, so I see it necessary to get your input. Thanks for reading and GO TROJANS!

DEAD PERIOD - not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on- or off-campus or permit official or unofficial visits.

In the beginning...

2009-04-27T21:33:00.003-05:00

This has to begin somewhere, so it will start here and now. In April of 2009, my brother and I purchased http://www.gotroytrojans.com/. Through my love of Troy (State) University and his love of me, we (mostly he) made this happen.

The site has really become a message board only. The former owners admittedly let the site go, hence they wanted to sell it. The overall goal of the site will be to become the premier place on the Internet for all TROY sports fans. Football, basketball, baseball, track and field, recruiting, etc news will all be easily found and read at GoTroyTrojans.com.

We have set June 1st as our initial roll out date for the homepage. I have a fellow TROY alum (Chip) working on that. He has given me some preliminary looks and let me tell you, it looks great! I'm very excited about his work.

In the meantime, my brother is working on the backdoor message board issues. As of tonight, we have changed the vBulletin logo in the upper left to the GoTroyTrojans.com logo that was designed during the former owners regime. I have a new logo being worked up as we speak and I will choose between the two when I have them both before me.

Tonight also has added an advertising portion of the website. I have a Google AdSense account that will display ads on the message board of GoTroyTrojans.com and on the blog of GoTroyTrojans.com. We will be paid a small commission when visitors click on these ads. The money gained from this will be utilized for the website.

We've got some added costs coming up fairly soon that need to be paid. We have a photo page(s) idea for the homepage that takes a special software package that cost MONEY. We have some business cards that need to be printed up before July that cost MONEY. We have an idea for some special guest star promotions that requires purchasing some GoTroyTrojans.com T-shirts that cost MONEY. We will also be coming down to Troy, Ala. for the home game versus UAB to do some in person advertising that costs MO...well, you get the idea.

So what's the idea behind this blog? My thinking is that we have some really talented Trojans out there that others would like to get to know better. While I can't spill the beans completely, the future idea is to have a set of regular bloggers (3-4, with me being one) that blog on very specific issues relating to TROY. I think this will be some great insider content if I can secure the right people. This will go full bore during the Fall of 2009, so until then you will have to deal with just me.

To close this first blog, congrats to Sherrod Martin on being drafted by the Carolina Panthers. Also, congrats to the other Trojans who signed free agency deals with NFL teams around the country. You made us proud as TROY Trojans, we now look forward to you continuing to make us proud as our NFL Trojans!