FIU blog

October 01, 2007

Drew Champlin

Pete Pelegrin covers Florida International for the Miami Herald. Check out his FIU blog if you get some time.

They’re playing in hoops, too

Drew Champlin

From a UAB press release. Copied and pasted

The basketball series with the Trojans will begin in 2008-09 when the teams
play a home-and-home in the same season. In 2009-10, UAB will host Troy
before playing on the road in 2010-11.

³What we wanted to do was create a schedule situation with Troy where if we
are playing them in basketball in Birmingham, we would play football at
their place that year, and vice versa,“ said UAB athletics director Brian Mackin.

Monday notes: Troy-UAB officially back on

Drew Champlin

A paper with a press release officially announcing Troy-UAB again was handed to me at this morning’s press conference. It’s a four-year, home and home deal from 2009-2012 with the first game being at Troy on Sept. 19, 2009.

They say the 2008 schedule is full and an announcement with that “mystery team” will be announced soon. I don’t know who it is but I’ll work hard to find out. Regardless, you guys should know something soon. It would be a 5th home game to go along with Western Kentucky and three Sun Belt games (Arkansas State, FIU, ULL).

“Officially announced” for 2008 are at LSU, at Ohio State and Oklahoma State. In 2009 Troy travels to Florida, Arkansas and Bowling Green and 2010 has Troy going to South Carolina, Oklahoma State and UAB with Bowling Green visiting Troy. This was listed in the media guide back when it was printed, and I had a little blog tidbit way back then.

John Mark Patrick is now listed as a second-team defensive end behind Cameron Sheffield. He was way back in the depth chart at linebacker. Dion Gales is listed as a starter at DT now, with Chris Bradwell as a backup to Marcus Pittman.

Austin Silvoy wouldn’t have played Saturday, car wreck or not. A neurologist told him Tuesday he would have to sit out. He was going to McDonald’s Saturday morning when a car backed out of a parking lot into him. He’s good to go for this week.

I doubt Josh Maxwell plays Saturday, but he’s fine otherwise. Blakeney said he didn’t know when he would be back, but it’s not something where you can just throw them back into the field when they prove they can walk straight. He had a mild seizure after a hit on the opening kickoff. We’ll say “questionable” when we relate to his status.

Boris Lee was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.

JV game

September 30, 2007

Drew Champlin

I wasn’t there, but Troy’s JV squad lost to Georgia Military Sunday afternoon.

It’s a nice recruiting tool, because no doubt the coaches are going after players on the Georgia Military squad. Right tackle Dion Small was there last year. GMC is an outstanding program and produces several D-1 talents every year.

For those thinking “Troy’s future is in doubt,“ remember that most of the guys playing will make minimal contributions to the varsity squad, at best. Not all, but most - especially on defense. That’s why GMC rolled up 52 points. Both QBs - Tanner Jones and Jamie Hampton - obviously have chances in the future, so their development in this was needed. Justin Bray is an exception as well. But when you check out the stats, you see a lot of walk-ons in this game.

Troy-ULM REWIND

Drew Champlin

First off, here’s some links. Here’s my game story, plus a defensive sidebar, and some notes with injury updates to Austin Silvoy and Josh Maxwell.

From The Monroe News-Star, ULM couldn’t complete a game.
Troy’s next opponent, Florida International, took a beating at Middle Tennessee, from the Miami Herald.

We’ll go position by position

OFFENSE

Omar Haugabook wasn’t sharp early but he got a lot better as the game went along. After the game, Gary Banks said that the receivers would notice things in ULM’s coverage, tell it to offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, and Franklin would make the adjustments. Worked out pretty well, I would say. Not a perfect game, but probably a game Troy needed. Those 49-44 wins expose weaknesses.

The offensive line was outstanding, again. Omar had all day to throw even when ULM had pretty good coverage.

I would think Austin Silvoy would be back next week after suffering arm burns in a Saturday morning car accident. The Y was taken out for most of the game except for Josh Allen’s outstanding touchdown catch to make it 21-7, when he was flipped over, landed on his shoulder in the back of the end zone, and held on. Kennard Burton and Gary Banks showed up from the outside positions, Gerald Tate had a long TD called back because of offsetting penalties, and Mykeal Terry showed up a little more.

Troy didn’t go to the run much, but DuJuan Harris showed some burst late in the game.

DEFENSE

Calvin Dawson got his yards, but it seemed like a quiet night. He had a 58 yard run and a 29-yard run and had around 150, but as you see two plays led to half of the yards. Obviously he’d be a first-round pick in Sun Belt Fantasy Football, but Troy stopped the run in large part. The key was that fourth and goal stand on ULM’s second possession.

Boris Lee is making me look good with my vote on the Preseason All-Sun Belt team. I still contend he’s a top 3 league linebacker, no matter that he’s just a sophomore.

Dion Gales got the start at DT, his first. He’ll start to show why he was rated as a five-star recruit. All the sudden, Mo Crain’s got the deepest position on the team. Chris Bradwell, Marcus Pittman, Gales, Maurice Coleman and Steve McClendon can all make plays.

Kenny Mainor and Shawn Todd made some plays from defensive end.

How ‘bout Bear Woods coming in untouched on the linebacker blitz for his first career sack? The junior got a scholarship before the year and is proving his worth as a valuable reserve linebacker and special teams player.

Blakeney mentioned redshirt freshman LB John Mark Patrick as a guy who is showing up on special teams. With two starting linebackers graduating, he’ll have a chance for major snaps next year.

Josh Maxwell had a slight seizure on the opening kickoff after making a face-up hit, but went to the hospital and came back to the game in street clothes. Not sure how long/if he’ll be out, but it was good to see him on the sidelines.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Whibbs was pretty good, again. The return game didn’t get a whole lot of action, to no one’s surprise.

That’s all for now. It’s my wife’s birthday and my fantasy NFL team tries to improve from 0-3 to 1-3. Check back tomorrow for some Monday tidbits/news updates from the press conference.