Moore mum about future football game against Troy
August 12, 2008
Alabama athletics director Mal Moore has been around long enough to know how not to answer a question.
I talked to coach Moore Tuesday night before the Dale County Chapter of the university’s alumni association meeting in Ozark.
I noted that the Crimson Tide played La.-Monroe last year and faces Arkansas State this season. Since we were in the Wiregrass, I asked him why not Troy — and if Troy would ever be on Alabama’s schedule.
That’s when the former quarterback showed he can still be elusive.
“Well, our schedules are kind of ... we wait and see how the SEC aligns each game and then decide how we’re going to pick those teams,” he said.
“So we’re ... I think we’re set for 09 and pretty close to set for 10.”
He disclosed the Virginia Tech game, which has looked on and off at different times the past month, is probably on again.
“That’s very close to happening,” he said. “Some things have kind of happened here in the last week that maybe can make that happen.”
I tried to go back for a Troy comment, adding I mentioned them because of the other Sun Belt opponents on the schedule.
“Yeah,” he nodded.
That’s it. No acknowledgement about playing the Trojans.
Nick Saban has a history of playing in-state opponents in the past. When he was at Michigan State, he scheduled Central, Eastern and Western Michigan.
He played Tulane annually at LSU, as well as add one of the other state schools like Lafayette, Monroe and Louisiana Tech.
But Monroe’s victory over Alabama likely made a matchup against Troy more difficult to sell.
A loss to Monroe, while shocking and embarrassing, fades like a badly blackened eye. An in-state loss to Troy, which beat Monroe 24-7 last season, wouldn’t fade. It would leave scars.
