AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 30 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTroy likes to scare—and beat—the Big Boys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Troy, Ala.-I’m hitting the road for a couple of weeks for a little mini-tour around the SEC and ACC. We’re going to do a series of stories in August called “Faces of the Fall” that we think you’ll enjoy.
Before I made my first stop at Auburn I took a little side trip to Troy University, located about 40 minutes South of Montgomery. You remember Troy as the team that came into Sanford Stadium last season and rolled up 488 yards of total offense against a good Georgia defense.
You remember Troy as the team that ran the spread offense so well with quarterback Omar Haugabook. Since becoming a Division I-A program in 2001, the Trojans have beaten some BCS teams (Missouri, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State) and scared a bunch of them. Troy’s offense was so impressive that Auburn hired their OC, Tony Franklin, to install the spread for the Tigers.
No matter where I go I am reminded of how many great high school players the state of Georgia produces. And Troy is a perfect example.
I was asked by Sports Information Director Ricky Hazel to come to speak to the Troy football team on the day before their first practice. As soon as I got here I saw Georgia players and Georgia stories popping out all over the place. Here are just four:
**—Out of curiosity, I asked how many members of the team were from the state of Georgia. Over 30 hands shot up.
“We’re not going to beat Georgia on a kid that they want. We understand that,” said head coach Larry Blakeney, who is set to begin his 18th season. “But we’ve had some success in South Georgia and some in Atlanta. I think we’ve got a pretty good product to sell.”
A program like Troy identifies good players who may be a couple of inches too short or a half step too slow to sign with the upper echelon of the SEC. But they can flat play.
“We can give them a chance to play Division I football a little closer to home,” Blakeney said. “We also find that these kids are motivated to show what they can do.”
The kids who come here certainly get a chance to prove themselves at the highest level of football. Last season the Trojans played at Arkansas, Florida, and Georgia. In 2006 they played at Florida State, Georgia Tech and Nebraska. This season they are playing at LSU, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State.
**—Defensive end Brandon Lang was on the same Tucker High School team with Thomas Brown and Asher Allen. All three signed with Georgia. Brown and Allen got into UGA and became stars. Lang struggled academically and had to go to Hargrave Military Academy. Lang tried to get his necessary test score while at Hargrave but just couldn’t get over the hump. So he gave up on the dream of playing at Georgia and enrolled at Troy and paid his own way for a year.
“It hurt,” said Lang about not playing at Georgia. “I had grown up my whole life wanting to play for Georgia and I saw Thomas and Asher go there and do well. But I’m in the right place now.”
Here’s what hurt more. Last season Lang tore his ACL in the third game with Oklahoma State and couldn’t play at Georgia on Nov. 3. Troy gave the Bulldogs a pretty good scare before losing 44-34.
“It broke his heart,” Blakeney said.
Brown has completed his eligibility at Georgia but Lang says he stays in touch with Allen, who should be an All-SEC cornerback this season. “People are really hyping the Bulldogs this season,” Lang said. “Should be an interesting year.”
**—On the cover of the Troy media guide is junior linebacker Boris Lee, a Lombardi Award candidate. Lee (6-0, 231) was a first team All-Sun Belt pick last season and led the team in tackles with 82.
Lee is proud native of Fargo, Ga., and played his high school football at Clinch County. He wanted to be a Florida Gator but when that didn’t work out he started looking around for a place where he could test himself against good competition.
“I just felt comfortable here and I like the fact that we’re not afraid to play anybody,” said Lee. “I’m pretty sure nobody else in the country is playing at Ohio State AND at LSU.”
**—In the Past 10 years Troy has spent over $27 million upgrading its athletics facilities. It’s football stadium, Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium, is a beautiful facility that comfortably seats over 30,000 and has 29 luxury suites. Because of the demand, there are plans to build more.
The man in charge of all his is Steve Dennis, who was Vince Dooley’s defensive captain at Georgia in 1978, and is in his fourth year as athletics director at Troy. Dennis coached at Auburn and Georgia before getting into athletics administration.
There is still a lot of coach left in him. He addressed the team just after I gave my little talk and spoke emotionally about the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead for these guys. I haven’t taped my ankles in a long time but I was starting to get fired up just listening to Dennis.
“We like say that if busy people are happy people then we are ecstatic,” said Dennis, a native of Macon.
It was a fun trip that gave me a chance to see another side of football where the stadiums and the recruiting budgets might not be as big, but the kids work just as hard and care just as much. These guys play with a little chip on their shoulder and that’s fun to watch.
Now I’m off to Auburn where I’m hoping to get new OC Tony Franklin to give me a crash course on the spread offense. I’ll report back tomorrow.
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Comments
By Mike
July 30, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
Everybody around here over-rates the big SEC football programs. Very good, yes? But not as good as their fans and media think they are. Teams like Troy are not far below, and their victories over some solid programs (including an SEC school) show that there is more parity in college football than most SEC fans are willing to admit.
By jason
July 30, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
I have always followed Troy to some degree. Back when I was in highschool, alot of players from our team went to Troy. I believe they were Div.II then. It’s nice to see the little guys compete and come out on top once or twice. I still pull for them to this day. Go TROY !!!
By Eric1
July 30, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this
Nice piece on the newest member of the SEC. Thanks, Mr. College Football. War Eagle!
By m
July 30, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Ask Louisiana-Monroe what they think about the big bad sec. The sec is the mostly hype league….mostly hype….ALL the time.
By jason
July 30, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
I think Troy would make a nice fit to the SEC…
By PTC DAWG
July 30, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
m, I gave you the FACTS on UGA vs the SEC. You must have gotten the message. UGA OWNS the ACC.
But all that said, props to what Troy is trying to do. It’s about time BAMA/AU played them. I’m positive Troy would welcome the competition.
By Huh?
July 30, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
I hate to whine, but I do not remember Troy giving Georgia a “pretty good scare” last year. They were down by 17 with only 5 seconds left in the game. They scored a meaningless garbage touchdown as the clock ran out to make the score look respectable. However, the issue was never in doubt. Yes they scored alot of points and got alot of yards and that is very impressive but your statement simply isn’t true. Nobody was scared.
By Crybaby
July 30, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
What about the garbage TD’s scored by UGA in the last two minutes of the first half?
By Stephen
July 30, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this
TROY continues to prove each and every year what a high caliber of football they play. I’m an alumnus of TROY and the Trojans continue to make me proud!
By Joe Mac
July 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
SEC all hype? * Alabama 12 national championships (at least they count 12) Florida 1996 Tennessee 1998 LSU 2003 Florida 2006 LSU 2007 Auburn unbeaten 2004, 1993 Championships are supposed to be hyped.
By saint nick
July 30, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
9 of 12 teams in bowls last year!!!Thats not hype, that’s simply better!!!Year in year out SEC is always the best!!Troy is a good second tier team, but they need to get in a conference that has more than one bowl bid.
By Oledawg
July 30, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
I’m a Dawg fan who was scared about Troy after Appl. St. took care of Michigan. That was no fluke and neither was Troy’s victories over Mo.,MSU and Ok. St.. We wish you guys luck against OSU and we will be cheering for you. I don’t think they will have anything but respect for you and will play you hard. You should draw from that during the game and I hope you bloody their nose good. Fight’em and win! They can be had.
By Gerald
July 30, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
My son plays receiver and is on a HS football team in north Georgia. We went to the Troy/UGA game with some of his teammates and all they talked about for a week was how this small team was lighting up the scoreboard against the Bulldogs. I think he and some of his offensive friends are giving a serious look at Troy for college. As a UGA alum I want them to be Bulldogs, of course! But after watching that game I can’t blame them really. That was a fun team to watch. Hopefully the Bulldogs will be just as exciting this year!
By CarolinaJacket
July 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Among subjects I wish would become history is how good the SEC is. It is very good, and probably the best by a pretty wide margin. To me, its rather stupid to keep attacking the conference just because one might like a school in another conference. The SEC is a great football conference. Now its up to the ACC and others to work hard at improving and catching up with them. Whinning does no good. Only winning will do that.
By shane #1
July 30, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
Troy has a good program. I enjoyed the game last year and I wish Them well.
By Joshua
July 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Thanks for my home newspaper giving my Alma Mater some props :) Go Trojans!
By Joshua
July 30, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Thanks for my home newspaper giving my Alma Mater some props :) Go Trojans!
By Erk
July 30, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Didn’t Troy’s stadium formerly bear the name of Richard Scrushy, the former HealthSouth CEO who was tried but somehow (tragically) found not guilty of Sarbanes Oxley violations? Alabama residents, what’s the latest story on that guy?
By Everlasting Dawg
July 30, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Huh
If you don’t remember being scared when we played Troy last year then maybe you suppressed the memory. They played us tuff and the game was still in question late in the 4th quarter. What’s even scarier is Auburn will have that offense this year.
By an oberserver
July 30, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this
As a Troy grad and an Auburn fan, it is a shame Auburn and Alabama don’t schedule the Trojans. I would a lot rather see Auburn-Troy than Auburn-Southern Miss. If Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and Nebraska will play you, Auburn and Alabama should. It would be a lot cheaper to bus Troy up U.S. 2 than fly some no-name team in for a non-conference game. But it won’t happen because Auburn and Alabama have too much to lose. They don’t want a bunch of talented kids with chips on their shoulders ruining a Saturday afternoon.
By Andy
July 30, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
You could at least pay Ga Southern a visit. I mean we are in the same state!!
By FLA DAWG
July 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
Glad to see these smaller schools putting some money into their football programs. Glad there are places second tiered or academically ineligible players can play.
But all things considered, I’d rather be in the SEC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By John Cocktosten
July 30, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
An entertaining new blog dealing with delusional Gamecock fans: mindofagamecock.blogspot.com Actual comment from the site:
Well then, I’ll continue to make true statements and you can bash me all you want. 1- Steve Spurrier is a much better gameday coach than Tammy. 2- SS can make medicore players, play way over their heads (i.e. B Mitchell and Eric Norwood) 3- SS can beat UGA on any given day. 4- Once we start renovations on a new stadium, our recruiting will crush yours. 5- Our defense will stop your offense all day long (sorry for speculating - but I couldn’t resist)
*we-gamecocks you clemson
By Dutch
July 30, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this
When will you talk to SABAN??!!!
SABAN is all anyone is interested in. Tony Franklin is a proven cheater and I couldn’t care less what he has to say or what Hal Mumme has to say. But, I would like to know what Widenhoffer’s favorite mixed drink is!
Saban! Saban! Saban! Saban!
Get me some Saban articles. Julio for Heisman!
By Jumbo
July 30, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this
Good article. I’m glad there are schools such as Troy that are an opportunity for kids to play who otherwise may not.
Geaux Tigers! Go SEC!
By Cuz
July 30, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Good luck Troy when you play the STATE. Show em that there are other talented schools in the South that are not in the SEC. Go Trojans.
By SEC "all hype"???
July 30, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this
SEC is now “all hype”??? Out of SEC’s 12 teams… 9 teams went to play in bowls last yr. 7 out of 9 teams won. All hype? Troy is a great program and I love were the program is heading… but don’t get on your high horse thinking that they can come in the SEC and outperform every team in the league.
By SEC, the Best
July 30, 2008 3:39 PM | Link to this
MIKE, your post “Everybody around here over-rates the big SEC football programs. Very good, yes? But not as good as their fans and media think they are” Fun fact for you: The 2008 predictions has FL, GA, LSU and Auburn to be in the Top 10 list. That’s 4 teams from the SEC, followed by OK & Missou (Big12) and one team from each of the other conferences. SEC = Strongest, Enviest Conference
By rerservoirDAWG
July 30, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
Tony, who took Franklin’sw spot and will the run the same spead or a variation of it?
By rerservoirDAWG
July 30, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this
Sorry about the spelling.
By Huh?
July 30, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
“They played us tuff and the game was still in question late in the 4th quarter.”
You call a 17 point lead with 6 minutes to play in the game “in question”? I guess we just have different ideas of when a game is in doubt. It would have been one thing if Troy was slowing OUR offense down, but they weren’t. We scored virtually at will from the second quarter on. And we did them plenty of favors with turnovers that they had no part in creating. No, I was never scared of losing that game. Not for a single second.
Look, I have nothing against Troy. Yes they played us tough and have a good offense. Good for them. Go Troy. Whatever. I just think the media blows the accomplishments of mid majors out of proportion sometimes to try and create a good story to sell papers and get people watching. Does Hawaii ring a bell? That is the source of my angst. Not Troy. Good day sir.
By an oberserver
July 30, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
Ask Michigan if the media blows the accomplishments of mid-majors out of proportion. And I know, I just promoted Appy State to a mid-major. They are of that caliber.
By Huh?
July 30, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
I think Michigan was the team of mid major caliber in that matchup.
By GWJ
July 30, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this
Troy was the BEST football team in the state of Alabama based on each teams play vs UGA last year.
By Jim
July 30, 2008 8:09 PM | Link to this
I think it would be really hilarious if Troy upset Ohio State.
By Don
July 30, 2008 8:57 PM | Link to this
Troy is a great school and a fabulous place to watch a college football game. I live in southeast Alabama, born in Atlanta, die-hard GT fan. My wife has her BS from Troy. Troy has some really great talent. A top notch football coach. They can upset any team at any moment. These kids at Troy really have heart. They play as a team, not as individuals. They should have upset LSU a few years back but a Bullsh** referee made a bad call. You can go to Troy on any Saturday that there playing a home game and get a ticket for $10.00. The tailgating is excellent, traffic isn’t to bad, good parking and you can pretty much sit anywhere you want to. Great family enviroment, just an all around great value. Not much more can be said other then the great southern hospitality that you find when you arrive. BTW the Front Porch is a great place to party after laying the smack down to one of the bigger name schools and the southern girls are pretty nice to look at so I hear!
By War Eagle
July 30, 2008 9:43 PM | Link to this
Tony, thanks for the Auburn trip. Troy is coached by Larrry Blakney, former Auburn QB, who I thought should have took over after Pat Dye, but again political influence with Dye and Bobby Lowder carried it a differnt direction.Terry Bowdon was name HC. Troy will one day be a member of SEC, putting a third Alabama product into the best conference in the country.. Auburn will return to 35 plus points a game and with their traditional defense, trouble ahead for SEC…
By War Eagle
July 30, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
Hey Dutch, smoking that strong stuff again…where has Coach Franklin caught cheating?? Bama fans need treatment….
By Pago Flyer
July 31, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this
Troy State in the SEC? I didn’t know the SEC was expanding??
By BMarkey
July 31, 2008 6:38 AM | Link to this
Huh?
From what school did you graduate? Where did you learn, where did you (or your parents) invest tens of thousands of dollars in your future? Where were your college memories made?
Get on board with Troy! Auburn has more fans than it deserves.
Thanks, Tony, for the column. Please see that the AJC keeps following the Trojans. Lots of Georgia folks do!
Go TROY!
By gadawg1
July 31, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
I would like to say that Troy’s football team has given me and several of my friends the experience of watching them beat Missou and Marshall. It is a great feeling to see a team w/pride like Troy give the hometown fans such a bigtime atmosphere on a beautiful fall Saturday!! Go Trojans
By JR 1983
August 1, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
You guys mention Georgia Southern. Name the only Div 2 school to beat them when Erk was there and they were 1AA. Troy in 1983.
By delicious25
August 5, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Im a huge troy fan. Im a female but I might know more about football then most men do. I have a brother who play for troy on the d-line and his name is dion gales and a cousin that play wide receiver for lsu name ricky dixon. This upcomeing game in our family is being called family feud so watch out for those t-shirts and lsu we will see u soon.
By delicious25
August 5, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Im a huge troy fan. Im a female but I might know more about football then most men do. I have a brother who play for troy on the d-line and his name is dion gales and a cousin that play wide receiver for lsu name ricky dixon. This upcomeing game in our family is being called family feud so watch out for those t-shirts and lsu we will see u soon.
By delicious25
August 5, 2008 10:46 PM | Link to this
Im a huge troy fan. Im a female but I might know more about football then most men do. I have a brother who play for troy on the d-line and his name is dion gales and a cousin that play wide receiver for lsu name ricky dixon. This upcomeing game in our family is being called family feud so watch out for those t-shirts and lsu we will see u soon.
By delicious25
August 5, 2008 10:57 PM | Link to this
Im a huge troy fan. Im a female but I might know more about football then most men do. I have a brother who play for troy on the d-line and his name is dion gales and a cousin that play wide receiver for lsu name ricky dixon. This upcomeing game in our family is being called family feud so watch out for those t-shirts and lsu we will see u soon.
By jgrim
September 4, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
By JR 1983 “You guys mention Georgia Southern. Name the only Div 2 school to beat them when Erk was there and they were 1AA. Troy in 1983”
JR, I was there in in ‘92 when Troy shut Georgia Southern out…might be wrong, but I think it was the first time they had been shutout at home. Go Trojans!
By meyer
September 4, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
Troy State cannot play with the mighty SEC
By Sots_tuba
September 5, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
Well Troy State cant, but Troy is on it’s way to hanging with the big boys. FYI we dropped the State in 2005. We’ve already proven that we can hang with and beat BCS teams in Troy and every year go to their school and play them tougher.