A
legacy
of
champions
Celebrating 100 years of troy university football
速
Publisher stephen D. giDDens
Publishing Consultant rob holDer
Managing Editor J e n n i f e r D aw n D ay
Associate Editor h e i D i l . t. t u e y
Project Manager and Text Jim hannaforD
Graphic designer roy roper, wiDeyeDesign
Š2008 by The booksmiTh Group All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher.
Photography K e v i n g l a C K m e y e r , C a s s a n D r a D av i s , george threaDgill, anD the troy university arChives
ÂŽ
published in the united states of America by The booksmith Group, an imprint of Frp a wholly owned subsidiary of southwestern/Great American, inc. p o. box 305124 p. Nashville, TN 37230 1-800-358-0560 www.thebooksmithgroup.com isbN (standard): 978-1-934892-17-6 isbN (premium): 978-1-934892-18-3 Library of Congress Control Number: 2008930647 printed in the united states of America First printing 2008
P u b l i c at i o n o f
A
legacy
of
champions
Celebrating 100 years of troy university football
wa s m a d e P o s s i b l e i n P a r t b y
Pea River Electric Cooperative South Alabama Electric Cooperative Wiregrass Electric Cooperative PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
we would also like to give sPecial recognition to t h e f o l l o w i n g o r g a n i z at i o n s f o r m a k i n g t h i s b o o k a s u c c e s s :
Contents foreword
ix
Chapter one
a C h a m p io n s h i p L e g a C y
1909–present
2
Chapter two
s o m e h i s tory 9
1909–1964
Chapter three
at k i n s C o m e s to to w n 18
1966–1971
Chapter four
f oL Lo w i n g i n at k i n s ’s f o ot s t e p s 27 Chapter five
t h e b r a d s h aw e r a 33
1976–1982
Chapter six
“a C r o w n i n g m o m e n t” 41
1983–1984
Chapter seven
r hoa d e s ta k e s o v e r 62
1985–1987
Chapter eight
C h a m p io n s a g a i n 69 Chapter nine
a new era 75
1991
1987–1990
1972–1973
Chapter ten
the winning traCk 79
1991–2001
Chapter eleven
e a r ly s u C C e s s 84
1991–1995
Chapter twelve
s ho C k e r i n s ta r k v i l l e 87
2001
Chapter thirteen
“Big luke” 102
1996–1999
Chapter Fourteen
ends in sight 110
1999–2004
Chapter FiFteen
M i r a C l e i n M u r F r e e s B or o 123
2006
Chapter sixteen
s p r e a d ’s t h e w or d 127
2006–Present
Chapter seventeen
d o w n i n n e w or l e a n s 134
2006
Chapter eighteen
r i va l r i e s , ol d a n d n e w 140 Chapter nineteen
a Bright Future 145
2006–2007
Foreword
I
n 1909, intercollegiate football was born at Troy
the highest level of NCAA competition. I should add
University, with Dr. Vergil Parks McKinley—a
that the city of Troy has been an excellent partner
member of the faculty—serving as the
as we have expanded our stadium not only to
team’s first coach. One can only specu-
meet NCAA requirements but also to meet
late what Professor McKinley would
community needs.
think of the modern-day Trojan
Great universities stir great emo-
Warriors, crisscrossing the country
tions. Great football teams draw
to face teams from the University of
universities together in ways other
Florida, the University of Nebraska,
campus activities simply cannot.
and Louisiana State University and
Academics will remain our first
competing in the New Orleans Bowl as
priority, but intercollegiate athletics
champions of the Sun Belt Conference.
allows us to reach beyond our campuses
Surely McKinley, whose team played
and engage others. This is especially
on a makeshift field several miles away
critical for a worldwide institution such as
from the present campus, would be impressed
TrO r y rO y. Our football team can provide a rallying
by the sight of the Oklahoma State Cowboys or
point for our students, alumni, and friends from Troy
the Missouri Tigers visiting the TrO Tr y campus for a
to Taiwan, from Montgomery to Malaysia.
nationally televised game in a 30,000-seat stadium.
The years between Professor McKinley’s team
What a difference a century makes! And TrO r y rO
playing Union Springs in 1909 to Coach Blakeney’s
football is still growing. I well recall my first Trojan
team standing triumphantly on the floor of the
home game as Chancellor. The Trojans faced Central
Louisiana Superdome have yielded many exciting
Florida, another university destined to raise its athletics
moments in Trojan football history. This volume,
profile. At the time, I believed our football program
Troy: A Legacy of Champions, captures the highlights Troy
was destined for great things. Thanks to the vision of
of a rich football tradition.
our Trustees, the expertise of Coach Larry Blakeney and his staff, the hard work of our players, and the support of our fans, we are achieving that which we envisioned more than fifteen years ago—success at
Chancellor Jack Hawkins
ix
In
T
a
Word
he word TROY conjures up many associations. Warriors. Champions. Defenders of tradition. In Alabama, tradition runs deep, especially when it comes to football. And so do these things: celebration of life at its best and the future at its brightest. In these fast-paced times—a hundred
years since TROY students first took to the gridiron in sunny, southern Alabama—it’s sometimes hard to stop and find time to reflect on the irreplaceable memories, the past glories, and the greater times ahead. Stop. Savor the moment as TROY takes, and overtakes, the next big stage. It’s an exciting run.
1
Chapter One
A
Championship
Legacy
1909–present
S
ince 1887, this proud little college nestled in
again in 1929 to Troy State Teacher’s College and to
the rolling hills of southeastern Alabama has
Troy State College in 1957. Ten years later, the school
made quite an impression.
First, the goal was to educate teach-
ers to serve the community’s next genera-
became Troy State University, and then in 2004 it became simply Troy University. Since Professor V. P. McKinley fielded
tions. Over the next few decades, the city
the first football team at TrO Tr y—the y
of Troy’s crown jewel—through its many
Teachers in 1909—winning occasions
name changes—has earned glory time af af-
have come a few grudging yards at a time
ter time and level upon level for its proud,
through fast, flashy dashes and bullet-
loyal fans. The school started out in 1887 as Troy State Normal School. It then became Troy State Normal College in 1893. The name was changed
quick passes into the end zone. All of these memories are savored by TrO r y’s true fans, rO who understand the work and sacrifice that it takes to shine on the big stage.
A
legacy
of
champions
Chapter one
|
1909–present
Today, Troy University has around 6,000 students on campus in Troy but has branched out as a learning institution across the country and around the world. There are nearly 30,000 students at teaching sites in seventeen U.S. states as well as eleven foreign countries and territories, including China, Japan, Germany, Guam, and Malaysia. But the heart of the university and its football legacy remain within the friendly confines of Troy in Pike County, Alabama, just forty-five miles from the state capital of Montgomery. And what a legacy it is. Troy University is a bright star in a vast sky of immense talent and power. With a rich history of scrappy competitiveness and a dedi-
Conference titles, six Gulf South Conference (GSC)
cated, unquestioned work ethic, the Troy Trojans
championships, three Southland Football League titles,
have amassed an enviable string of championships
eight appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA play-
going back to the late 1960s. The tally includes a
offs, two NCAA Division II national championships,
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
and—since joining the vaunted NCAA Division
(NAIA) championship, three Alabama Intercollegiate
I-A (now called the NCAA Bowl Championship
Conference championships, three Alabama Collegiate
Division)—two Sun Belt Conference championships and appearances in two postseason bowl games, the Silicon Valley Bowl in San Jose, California, in 2004 and the r+L Carriers New orleans Bowl in New orleans, Louisiana, in 2006. It’s no secret that Troy has gained much ground in the looming shadow of larger-than-life Southeastern Conference powerhouses like Alabama, Auburn, and Florida as well as Georgia, ole Miss, and LSU. And with the increased exposure that Division I-A status has brought to Troy, the Trojans are getting a chance to compete on the field with many of these high-profile teams. From any perspective, it’s clear that Troy roy has something that’s unique. outstanding players from throughout the decades, winning coaches, successful businessmen, and respected civic leaders wouldn’t trade their Troy roy experiences for the world. Many are quick to describe a “family-like” atmosphere that pervades the Troy roy campus. 5
A
legacy
of
champions
“It’s a very special place....It set the stage for my future.” S im B yrd , ’68 NAIA national champion quarterback
“It’s a very special place,” said Sim Byrd, the stellar TROY quarterback who played under Coach Billy Atkins in the groundbreaking 1960s and proudly wears his ’68 NAIA national championship ring. “It just makes you feel comfortable. It’s a nice place to go to school and it’s a nice place to be an athlete.” And there’s more: “It set the stage for my future. I feel like if I hadn’t gone to TROY and gotten under the guidance of Billy Atkins and played with the guys I played with, I may not have been as successful.”
the graduating class of 1943
6
Chapter one
|
1909–Present
Coach Larry Blakeney can be credited for much of
wins starting with the 2001 rain-slicked upset of
TROY’s modern success. A native of Gordo, Alabama,
Mississippi State, their first victory over a fellow
Blakeney took over the program in 1991 and already
Division I-A team. In 2004, the Trojans stunned
had an impressive football pedigree when he arrived
No. 17-ranked Missouri 24–14 on national television.
in Troy. He had played quar-
They repeated history in a way on
terback at Auburn under the
September 14, 2007, when they
legendary Coach Ralph “Shug”
stomped a favored Oklahoma
Jordan and then spent thirteen
State 41–23 at home, again on
seasons on the coaching staff at
ESPN2, with senior quarterback
Auburn after proving his skills
Omar Haugabook leading the
as a head coach at formidable
way with 371 passing yards. After
prep schools such as Southern
that game, a sportswriter in
Academy, Walker High School,
Oklahoma referred to Troy as
and Vestavia Hills High School.
“Ambush City” and suggested
The Trojans have enjoyed
that the Trojans may have trouble
incredible success under Blakeney
finding any nationally ranked
and have gained notice nation-
teams willing to travel to Troy and
wide with a string of landmark
risk such an embarrassing defeat.
7
A
legacy
of
The easygoing, affable Blakeney is TROY’s winningest and longest-serving head coach, but he’s typically modest when asked about his achievements, instead extending the credit to the players he’s been able to recruit and to his own meticulously handpicked staff. “The players win games,” he said. “I think I do my part in making sure we’ve always got good coaches.” Great coaching is another legacy that stretches back through the decades at TROY, significantly with the arrival of Atkins in 1966. Many of Blakeney’s other predecessors have also had great success, including Tom Jones, Charlie Bradshaw, Chan Gailey, and Rick Rhoades. Many TROY veteran head coaches and assistants have also made their marks in the ranks of high school, college, and pro football all over the United States. Notably, Gailey, who led the Trojans to a Division II championship in 1984, became head coach for the Dallas Cowboys (1998–99) and from 2001–2007 had six winning seasons at Georgia Tech. 8
champions
Chapter two
Some
history
1909–1964
I
t wasn’t always packed press conferences, ESPN
on the north side of the old, downtown college cam-
live feeds, and celebrations in the Superdome.
pus. The college moved to its current location in
When the Teachers first took the field in 1909,
1929. Coach George Penton led the team for two
their opponents were diverse—and few. Early oppo-
seasons, 1911–12. He took TROY to a 4-1-1 record
nents included high school teams and military outfits
the first year and to a perfect season his second year,
as well as a few other colleges. “It was club ball, more
with a total of three wins. TROY did not field a team
or less,” said Mike Amos, a TROY alumnus who’s
for eight years, until J. W. Campbell brought the
known as one of the program’s most avid supporters.
program back in 1921 and coached for a combined
In the early years, games were played on a field
record of 12-13-1.
A
legacy
of
TROY’s next coach was Ross V. “Flivver” Ford. He coached for just one season and finished with a record of 2-1-4, but, significantly, TROY’s only loss that year—to Jacksonville State—planted the seed for one of the fiercest rivalries in TROY history. Coach Otis Bynum took over in 1925 and posted twelve victories in just two seasons. His record of 7-1-1 from 1926 stood as the school’s best until Billy Atkins’s 1967 team chalked up eight wins. Other coaches through the years included Gladwin Gaumer (1927–28); Albert Elmore (1931–37), who is credited with giving TROY its first official nickname, “the Red Wave”; Albert Choate (1938–46); Fred “Buddy” McCollum (1947–50); Jim Grantham (1951–54); and Dr. William Clipson (1955–65).
10
champions
Chapter two
|
1909–1964
“Coach McCollum was a very interesting individual,” said Cecil Langcuster, who played for McCollum from 1948–50 and under Grantham in ’51. “He had played at Auburn and served in World War II, retired as a lieutenant colonel, same as I did. He was a fantastic individual. Our friendship lasted as long as he lived.” Langcuster remembers a trip to Lafayette, Louisiana, and back. The Red Wave was washed out by Southwestern Louisiana and headed out early the next morning for the long ride back. McCollum followed the team bus in his station wagon, which the players dubbed “the Batmobile,” and the bus driver waited hours for a signal from the coach for them to stop and eat breakfast. The players were starving, but they didn’t get the sign to pull over until they reached Gulfport, Mississippi. “There was a sign that said all-you-can-eat shrimp, $1,” Langcuster said with a chuckle. “We just about ate everything they had. Man, they just about ran us out of there.”
The Troy universiTy classes (lefT, from Top T To boTTom) om) of 1922, 1924, and 1927, and (above, from Top To boTTom) 1928, 1930, and 1936.
11
A
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The 1948 team was actually the first to represent TROY in post season play, in something called the Paper Bowl in Pensacola. TROY fell 19–0 to rival Jacksonville State. Langcuster said the game had been billed as the Camellia Bowl, but the name was changed somewhere along the way without much explanation. He also recalled that because the game was in mid December, many of the players
and board for three months, and some of them had
had complained that they already had jobs or other
jobs. One of the guys said, ‘Wait a minute, it’s not
plans lined up for the holiday break and weren’t
in our contract,’ and Coach McCollum said, ‘OK,
happy about making another, unexpected road trip.
leave.’ If I’m not mistaken, we took eighteen or
“Scholarships, at that time, were only for room
nineteen players.”
The Troy universiTy class of 1939 (Top) and The sTadium (circa 1950s)
12
13
A
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of
champions
Rudy Argenti, a longtime but now-retired faculty mem-
Troy High School and had also coached basketball at
ber at TROY, was an assistant coach under Clipson
Florida Southern. Unfortunately, he had just one win-
in the early 1960s. Back then, it was a different
ning season, when his Red Wave went 6–3 in 1964.
ball game. The coaches, including Clipson, were
Frank Sadler played as a running back and free
hired as teachers first, coaches second. And many of
safety in those days and still holds records for kickoff
them coached multiple sports. Argenti, for instance,
returns. Like many TROY players, an education was
coached wrestling and golf as well.
at the forefront of his mind when he came to town.
“In those days, we had a limited number of
“TROY was known as a college that emphasized
scholarships that we could offer. In fact, I believe
teaching and education, so it was a good fit for me,”
it was just thirty-three scholarships,” Argenti said.
he said. Sadler went on to coach for forty years on
“So we would split them up and parcel them out to
the college and high school levels and moved back to
different players as partial scholarships.”
Troy to retire a few years back.
Besides Jacksonville State, opponents included
During his career at TROY (1956–59), Sadler
Louisiana College, Delta State, Tennessee-Martin,
ran three kickoffs back for touchdowns, one of them
and Argenti’s own alma mater, Austin Peay, in
for 103 yards, a national record at the time. In his
Clarksville, Tennessee. It made for some long bus
senior season against Florence State (later called
rides with players carrying their uniforms in duffel
North Alabama), he returned kicks for 215 yards.
bags and coaches and managers toting equipment
When asked about his performance, he chuckled
in footlockers. “It was somewhat of a barnstorming
and noted that TROY lost the game by a big margin.
operation,” Argenti said with a laugh. “We would
“Every time they scored, they had to kick off to
ride up on the bus and ride back immediately after
somebody; I just happened to be back there.”
the game. When we traveled, we took twenty-eight players, three managers, and three coaches, because our bus had only thirty-four seats.” Clipson, who was an alumnus of TROY, coached for ten years starting in 1955. He had been coach at
The troy university class of 1953 (middle right)
14
Chapter three
Atkins
comes
to
town
1966–1971
A
major transition occurred with the arrival of
Bills of the then-American Football League. A punter
Coach Billy Atkins, who had made a name
and defensive back, he had also played for the
for himself as a player at Au-
San Francisco 49ers as well as the
burn and as a pro. He came to TROY
New York Titans and the New York
with quite a reputation—and left in
Jets. He had a veteran’s intuition for
1971 with a much larger one.
finding great players, some of them
“For TROY, it all turned around
diamonds in the rough, to fit per-
in 1966, when Billy Atkins came
fectly into the TROY program. Many
to town,” said alumnus Amos, who
of them were transfers from larger
is extremely knowledgeable about
schools, some simply overlooked by
TROY’s storied history.
other recruiters.
A native of Millport, Alabama,
“He just brought in guys who
in Lamar County, Atkins had been a
could play,” said Amos. Among them
key part of the 1957 national championship team at
were receivers Danny Grant and Vince Green and
Auburn and was an All-Pro performer for the Buffalo
defensive stars like Ronnie Shelley and Greg Wright.
Chapter three
|
1966–1971
Sim Byrd recalls that Atkins carried an immediate air of authority with him. “When he came into a room, you knew that somebody important had just walked in. He was strictly business, very demanding, and very tough. But he made us better people.” On the field, Atkins was ahead of his time. He ushered in a style of play that in many ways could be called a precursor to the wide-open West Coast offense that is now well-known and widely used by many teams nationwide. It called for lots of passing—and quickly adjusting to the defense at the line of scrimmage. On the other
continues at TROY. At the end of Atkins’s tenure at
side of the ball, those late-’60s teams were known for a
TROY in 1971, the team moved up from the Alabama
bruising, gang-tackling defensive style that was greatly
Collegiate Conference to the Gulf South Conference
effective against a running game—another legacy that
and prepared to take flight to the NCAA’s Division II.
19
A
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champions
He didn’t demand perfection, but he demanded excellence—and he knew the difference.” The experiences at TROY were indelible for Atkins as well, according to his son, Ace Atkins, who played defensive end at Auburn in the early ’90s and has become a successful novelist in the mystery/ suspense genre. “I think that was the highlight of his professional career,” said Ace Atkins. “He had played in the pros and had been MVP at Auburn and all these things, but being in that role, having the creative freedom to build a team from scratch, is something that stayed Amos, who hosts two sports television shows in Troy,
with him the rest of his life. He was never happier—
recites statistics and details from the glorious Atkins
and I know he was never prouder—than he was at
era off the top of his head as if they happened yesteryester
TROY. I think there was a part of him that wished he
day: “His overall record was 44-16-2 and he won four
had stayed, and not gone on to the NFL. It was really
conference championships and a national championchampion
the ultimate challenge for him—to go to TROY and
ship in the six years he was here. Isn’t that amazing?”
turn it around like he did.”
In addition, he was NAIA Coach of the Year in
Atkins went on to make his mark on the NFL
1968. Five of his players gained All-American honors,
as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Bills, the San
and sixteen made All-Conference. Atkins, who died
Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, and the St. Louis
in 1991 at the age of fifty-six, was inducted post-
Cardinals.
humously into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. “He was a guy who wanted to win and wanted to win big,” said Gary Stogner, sports information director for TROY in the 1970s. “He was very intense, but at the same time a very likable person.
AssistAnt coAch phillip creel, coAch billy Atkins, AssistAnt coAch mAxx howell
20
Chapter three
|
1966–1971
After graduating from TROY, Sim Byrd’s future wasn’t in football, except for a season with the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football League. He became a leader in the competitive wine and beverage industry. But then again, he thought football was a part of his past before he even discovered TROY. After an amazing high school career at Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Byrd headed off to Athens, Georgia, on a scholarship, but he hurt his elbow and decided to enroll “back home” at TROY. He planned to work on a business degree, with no intention of playing football, he said, but Atkins got wind of him and sent some assistants to talk with young Sim. This entreaty led to a remarkable three years with Byrd as quarterback, culminating, of course, with the school’s first national championship. Byrd guided the Red Wave to a 24–8 record, was named first-team All-American and All-Conference his senior year, and set the single-season record for passing yards (3,569) while also setting school records for completions (260) and attempts (414). Against Concord in 1968, Byrd threw for six touchdowns and rushed for another, and then, the following week against Willamette (Oregon), he again threw for six touchdowns while his backup quarterback, Al Head, threw for two more.
23
A
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champions
In the national title game against Texas A&I, Byrd completed twenty-five of forty-four passes, including five touchdown passes, to earn Most Valuable Back honors. Byrd finished his career with 7,619 total passing yards, a record that stood until 2001, when quarterback Brock Nutter passed for 7,791. As of 2007, Byrd still held the record for most passing yards in a game—an astonishing 454. Others racked up impressive numbers during that era, too. Byrd had several solid targets, including wideout Bob Enslen as well as Grant, Green, and tight end Doug Taylor. Grant caught 215 passes for 2,907 yards from 1967–69 while Green, who was just a year behind Grant, caught for 2,300 yards (1,030 of them his senior year) and was a threetime All-American. Taylor caught five passes for two touchdowns in the title game against Texas A&I. On defense, Shelley in the secondary intercepted thirty-one passes during his four-year career, including three in the 1968 title game. Linebacker Wright also was an All-American, being responsible in ’71 for 106 total defensive plays, including fifty-five solo tackles, forty-nine assists, an interception, and numerous knocked-down passes. Before Atkins’s arrival, TROY had suffered through fourteen losing seasons in fifteen years. After his tenure, TROY would never be branded as a losing team. 24
Chapter four
A
following in Cah p s Lt ee g ta km i np si ’o S nfsohoi t pa s cy 1972–1973
T
he 1970s saw many ups and downs for TROY, ultimately producing many performances and achievements to cherish and culminating
with the arrival of a tall, lean, old-school savior in the form of Charlie Bradshaw.
who suggested Jones, according to longtime TROY Athletic Director Robert Earl Stewart. Long and Jones had worked together at Lee High School in Montgomery, where Jones had amassed an impressive 93-12-5 record.
Atkins left TROY after the ’71 season
Jones was also a TROY graduate
to go pro, first to coach at Buffalo and
(class of ’48) and he, too, had ties to
then the San Francisco 49ers, Detroit
Auburn. He had been freshman coach at
Lions, and the St. Louis Cardinals. TROY
Auburn for five years when he came to
officials turned to Tom Jones as his replacement. It was actually band director Johnny Long
TROY as head coach and athletic director in 1972.
A
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of
champions
“Tom Jones was a great recruiter and got some talent in there,” Stewart said. “And they were big players, too, at a time when there weren’t as many big players.” Among them was quick, crushing center Mark King, who had transferred from the University of Florida to play for the Red Wave in Jones’s second season and made the AP All-American team two years in a row. He was a bruiser—and a leader on the field. Stogner remembers that King had been on the roster for the Gators but didn’t see a future for himself there. He decided to go to Livingston UniverUniver The Team of 1972
sity to check out its program and its possibilities for him, but stopped in Troy on the way. “He was just one of those salt-of-the-earth people that had a very special leadership quality about him,” said Stogner. “It was certainly Florida’s loss and our gain.”
28
Chapter four
|
1972–1973
And it turned out that Livingston had a big, strong
Bobby Lee, tailback Sullivan Walker, fullback Ron
middle linebacker when King faced off against him in
Daniels, and linebacker Charles Pickett. Dixon, at six
Jones’s second (and last) season. “Mark just eliminated
foot two and 220 pounds, had speed as well as size;
him,” said Tom Ensey, who succeeded Stogner as TROY’s
he had been the Georgia high school champion in the
sports information director. “He was a nonfactor.”
100-yard dash with a time of 9.6 seconds.
Rick Maxey will never forget his first run-
Many of these standout players were African-
in with King. Maxey came to TROY from Ocoee,
American, but race was pretty much a nonissue at
Florida, as a middle linebacker when King was a senior.
the time, the players said. James Batey, a world-class
That meant squaring off in scrimmage. “My first day
sprinter on TROY’s track team, broke the color
at practice he hit me square in the solar plexus and
barrier when Atkins dressed him out as wide receiver
I couldn’t breathe for ten minutes,” said Maxey. “I
against McNeese State in 1970. The next season,
was put on the scout team and didn’t get to play
running back Cliff Dunham joined the backfield.
until halfway through the season.”
Maxey had experienced racial tension growing
Maxey quickly made a name for himself, though,
up in central Florida, but not at TROY. “It felt like
like others of that era, including wide receiver
it had always been integrated,” he said. “I know it
Perry Griggs, tight end Billy Dixon, quarterback
wasn’t, but that’s how it felt—on the field and off.” 29
Griggs agreed, though there was a mid-game walkout in 1972 by a group of black players who were upset over a lack of playing time. He believes it happened at the September 30 meeting with Ouachita Baptist at home in Troy. The guys had been working hard in practice and felt like they would be rewarded with more time on the field. Six black players ended up losing their scholarships after the demonstration. But Griggs emphasized that he was welcomed with open arms at TROY by fellow players as well as white fraternity members who were glad to have him and other players at their parties. “There was never any trouble from anybody,� he said.
30
A
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of
champions
Jones’s second team at TROY was the first team to have the nickname “the Trojans”— the result of a student vote. The Red Wave had been adopted because of Coach Albert Elmore’s experience at the University of Alabama. But Troy State University, as it was known at the time, was ready to create its own identity. And the name “Trojans,” after all, seemed an obvious choice. Coach Jones had done a solid job at TROY; he
the ’74 season. School officials hired Byrd Whigham
went 11-7-2 overall over the two years and finished
as his replacement. Whigham had coached successfully
the ’73 season at 7-2-1 and just one conference loss—
on the high school level in Florida and had been an
enough to bring home the GSC championship. But he
assistant at Auburn and Georgia. But he wasn’t a good
left TROY unexpectedly just a couple of months before
fit at TROY. He left after two 6–4 seasons.
32
“Sometimes at practice [Bradshaw] would go in and butt heads with the linemen and come out with a bloody head.” G ary S toGner , former sports information director
Chapter five
The
bradshaw
era
1976–1982
C
harlie Bradshaw took over in 1976,
the legendary coach for three years before return-
bringing with him a bit of “the
ing to Kentucky as head coach. He led the
Bear.” Bradshaw had been a
Wildcats for seven seasons before moving to
star player at Kentucky and went on to
Texas A&M. He got off to a great start at
join the staff of the legendary Paul “Bear”
TROY, going 8-1-1, winning the confer-
Bryant there in 1954 after coaching Bart
ence championship his first year, and
Starr at Sidney Lanier High School in
having five straight winning seasons.
Montgomery. Bradshaw stayed at Ken-
“I wish I’d played under Bradshaw all
tucky until 1958, and then followed Bryant
four years,” said Griggs, who made the Kodak
to Alabama, where he was an assistant under
All-American team his senior year in 1976.
33
the
bradshaw
era
Bradshaw had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and taskmaster. When he was hired at TROY, he was even asked to tone down his style a bit. Stogner, the sports information director at that time, remembers that Bradshaw—even as a man in his late 70s—wasn’t afraid to get in and scrimmage with the guys. “Sometimes at practice he would go in and butt heads with the linemen and come out with a bloody head.” “He came in with credentials and as a no-nonsense guy,” said Stogner. “I think that’s what the players expect, and they responded to it; they did really well. He did a good job. He kind of rallied the troops and had five great years.” But not everyone was taken with Bradshaw’s tough style, according to Griggs.
“He would push you to the max,” said Griggs. “He wanted to see you work hard. He would tell us to put everything you can into everything you do and you’ll see what you can do when you get out into the real world. But a lot of guys didn’t take him to heart.” Griggs did—especially after being late to a class. He said Bradshaw sent an assistant coach for him early the next morning, who drove the star player ten miles from campus and had him run back. “Yes, he really did that,” said Griggs. “And he’d also take away meal tickets from guys who missed class. And he’d take away scholarships, too—he kicked a lot of people off the team.” 34
Chapter five
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1976–1982
The fleet receiver finished his career at TROY with 1,975 passing yards and is still remembered for spoiling North Alabama’s homecoming back in 1974. Late in the fourth quarter he caught a pass from Lee for a game-saving touchdown. It was one of nine passes he caught that game for 196 yards, and one of the reasons he was named the Gulf South Conference’s Player of the Year. Griggs had been two years behind the quarterback Lee in high school in Lanett, Alabama. The two were such a smooth duo that Lee often relied on a simple, to-the-point play that he’d call in the huddle: “Pass to Perry.” It was this very play that won the game against North Alabama. “There was about a minute and forty-three seconds left and we had to go at least seventy-five yards to either get a field goal or a touchdown,” Griggs recalled. “I was close to the sideline, then cut across at the hash mark and across the middle. The ball was right there. I went up to get it and the two defenders collided. I realized I hadn’t been tackled, so I just took it on to the house.” Griggs later played for the New York Jets, the
“[Bradshaw]
Baltimore Colts, and the Atlanta Falcons as well as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. After foot-
would tell us
ball, he became a licensed social worker.
to put everything you can into everything you do and you’ll see what you can do when you get out into the real world.” 35
Other TROY stars during the Bradshaw era were quarterback Willie Tullis and wide receiver Virgil Seay, who went on to become famous as one of the “Smurfs” on the NFL’s Washington Redskins in the early 1980s. (He and fellow ’Skins receiver Alvin Garrett were so named because of their small stature.) But the five-foot, eight-inch Seay made his bones in Livingston. That was the night he returned punts for touchdowns—and kept doing it—as TROY pounded Livingston 64–0. By the end of the night (September 29, 1979), everyone in Livingston’s small stadium was focused on Seay. “It was maybe the most impressive individual performance from a football player that I’ve ever seen,” said Tom Davis, who back then was sports editor for the campus’s Tropolitan and who went on to work for years as TROY’s director of university relations. That night, Seay dazzled the crowd with 175 yards on punt returns—three of them for touchdowns.
37
A
legacy
of
champions
“It seemed like every time you looked up, he was running another one back for a touchdown. I was trying to be a hotshot sports writer, and I remember writing something like ‘Virgil Seay turned a football game into a track meet.’ I thought that was really clever at the time.” But back in the moment, Seay’s performance was mesmerizing, said Davis. “It was kind of surreal. It seemed like that at some point Livingston would have kicked away from him—but their punter kept kicking these 40-yard floaters and Virgil would snatch ’em up and run ’em back. “Everybody in West Alabama was thinking, ‘How many times are they going to kick to this guy?’” Davis said.
38
A
legacy
of
champions
Another star during the Bradshaw era who should never be forgotten was tough man Tim Tucker, whom coaches said was really too small to play linebacker— but didn’t know it. Tucker, a native of Enterprise, Alabama, who became a veterinarian, was an intense competitor with incredible strength and drive. He made all-conference honors and was the Gulf South’s Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team AllAmerican as a senior in 1978, when he was credited with 118 tackles (solos and assists). He was also Most Valuable Player in the Blue-Gray Classic. “Tim was a great player, a great person, and certainly a team leader,” said Stogner. A story that survives in TROY’s lore involves Tucker complaining to coaches during a game that his
his time at TROY with disappointing records of 3–7
head was hurting every time he made a hit. Coaches
in 1981 and 2–8 in 1982. When it came time to find
were shocked to see that he had been playing with a
a new coach, TROY officials decided to promote
busted helmet—it was cracked from front to back.
from within—a practice that would pay off hugely
Though Bradshaw had quickly led the Trojans
with two Division II championships in the coming
to success, his winning ways progressively waned.
years and more national exposure than TROY had
After those first five winning seasons, he finished
ever seen.
40
Chapter six
“A
crowning
moment”
1983–1984
C
han Gailey had been a defensive backfield coach under Bradshaw but left in 1978 to coach at the Air Force Academy,
championship in 1984. “When we hired Gailey, it was simply the missing link,” said Stewart, who took over
where he became defensive coordinator in
as athletic director when Jones left. “It was
’81. His time as a head coach at TROY
the crowning moment. We had all of our
was brief, but left a lasting impact. With
programs (including basketball, baseball,
standout, overachieving players like Mike
and track) the way we wanted them, and
Turk, Carey Christensen, Rufus Cox, and
for the next four years we were king of the
Robert Bradley, the thirty-one-year-old
mountain.”
Gailey quickly built a program that within two years would take the college football world by storm to bring home TROY’s first Division II
What did Gailey bring to the team? “Youth, enthusiasm, morals, character—you name it, Gailey had it all,” said Stewart.
A
legacy
of
champions
“Youth, enthusiasm, morals, character—you name it, Gailey had it all.” r oBert e arl S tewart , athletic director 1974–1991
Also with Gailey came the innovative wishbone of of-
of scrimmage. The quarterback can hand off to the
fense, a departure from the classic drop-back-and-
fullback or toss to a halfback, or keep the ball himself
pass offense that offered an exciting, hard-to-control
if he finds a hole and sees green up ahead.
ground game.
Christensen, a walk-on who came from Hinds
The wishbone offense relies less on pass receiv-
Community College near Jackson, Mississippi, was a
ers and more on a crafty, quick quarterback who can
graceful, drop-back passer and a great leader on the
run the ball himself or pitch the ball to a number of
field. But a small, unassuming newcomer named Mike
fast, adept backs moving with him toward the line
Turk soon made a big entrance onto the TROY scene.
42
Chapter six
|
1983–1984
Christensen had grown up in Foley, the land of “the
productive relationship, as Rhoades was promotpromot
Snake,” Ken Stabler, who, in fact, had been one of Sim
ed to lead the Trojans after Gailey went to work
Byrd’s heroes in the earlier generation. Christensen
establishing an incredible pattern of success and
was in some circles known as “the next Snake” for his
reputation in the NFL.
aggressive and elusive, scrambling style.
With Christensen going into his senior year,
Turk, from Montgomery, had his own Snake
Turk expected to be on the sidelines for a bit but was
encounter at a football camp at Marion Military
also excited about an opportunity to continue playing
Institute, where future TROY head coach Rick
football. But there were other talented quarterbacks
Rhoades was giving instruction. It turned out to be a
waiting in line, too.
43
A
legacy
of
44
champions
Chapter six
|
1983–1984
“[Turk] was tremendous....He could run, he could throw, and he was very deceptive.” r udy a rGenti , coach and dean of graduate school 1968–2000
“I knew going into it that I’d have to prove myself,”
“He was tremendous,” said Argenti, the former
said Turk. “The first day at practice, I was the seventh
coach who later became dean of TROY’s graduate
guy on the depth chart. I was able to work myself up
school.
the chart little by little and after three scrimmages
“He was a little guy,” he said of Turk. “Back then,
I got up to number two. Then, Carey got hurt in
they ran the triple option. He would get down be-
practice. He hurt his knee, but it wasn’t serious.”
hind those linemen and they wouldn’t be able to see
At this time, Turk said, “The linemen probably
him and he would squirt through them and be ten or
didn’t even know my name.”
fifteen yards down the field before they even knew it.
Later, Christensen would be sidelined with a
The triple option was really suited for him. He could
more serious foot injury. Turk was suddenly on the
run, he could throw, and he was very deceptive.”
field. He seemed perfectly suited to Gailey’s option
Super-fan Amos put it more succinctly: “He
offense.
was quick as a hiccup.”
45
A
legacy
of
champions
The diminutive Turk, at just five foot six and 150
would result in two Division II championships, one
pounds, almost immediately drew comparisons to
during Turk’s freshman year and another his senior year.
Boston College’s Doug Flutie. He walked on as a fresh-
In that first season under Gailey, the Trojans
man after a disappointing season at Auburn University,
went 7–4 overall and 4–3 in the conference and
and then gave his all to help make TROY football un-
capped off the season with a home-style slaughtering
believably exciting for the next four years—a time that
of Jacksonville State, 45–3.
46
Chapter six
|
1983–1984
Ensey, TROY’s sports information director from 1979–97, was impressed with Gailey and the discipline that he instilled in the players. “Chan always had a motto, and that year it was ‘Do Everything the Right Way.’ And they did,” said Ensey. Turk also recalls that motto, and it had an impact on him. “He was structured and he was detail-
“Chan always
oriented. It was really good for me as a freshman to
had a motto, and
have a coach like that. It taught me the importance of the little things that you need to do that end up
that year it was
making a big difference.”
‘Do Everything the Right Way.’ And they did.”
47
A
legacy
of
champions
A late-night encounter with Gailey on the team bus
that?’ He asked me what I was doing and then
affected Turk, too. Gailey was a dedicated Christian.
asked me to come talk with him. It turned out he
Coming back from a game at Mississippi College
was working on his Sunday School lesson for the
in Clinton, where the brash freshman had scored
next morning.” The players had weekly Bible study
on a quarterback sneak, Turk saw that a light was on
sessions during that time as well.
toward the front of the bus. While most of the
Turk said these approaches have influenced him
teammates were snoozing, Turk quietly made his way
as a coach. He was an assistant at TROY for sixteen
up the aisle to see who might still be awake.
years and in 2007 was in his fourth season as head
“Coach Gailey turned around and said, ‘Who’s
coach of Huntingdon College in Montgomery.
48
Chapter six
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1983–1984
But Gailey wasn’t always strict with rules on the field,
to national championship status with Ted Clem’s
according to Ensey.
solid kick for three points and a place in history. It
“He has a reputation as a conservative coach, but
is probably the most famous play in TROY’s storied
we did a lot of crazy things back then. We ran a no-
past. It even has a name. And a picture.
huddle offense and we would sometimes run the two-
“It was a heck of a way to win a national cham-
minute drill during the middle of the game.”
pionship,” said Ensey, who was sports information
This would pay off many times in ’83 and ’84,
director for eighteen years. “We called it the ‘Miracle
especially in the last game of Gailey’s career at TROY,
in McAllen,’ and it really was.”
when the Trojans were lifted
49
a l-o-n-g-t-i-m-e fa n
e
.C. Oswald and TROY go back a long way. And
To play North Dakota State in what was called the
though he’s pushing eighty years old, he’s hoping for
Palm Bowl, the Turk-led Trojans had to travel to
many more years to come watching the Trojans play.
McAllen, Texas, near the Mexican border. Turk and
Oswald has been a big part of TROY’s first century. By
Christensen had split some time in games as Christensen’s foot was healing. And they had gotten close
2007, the jovial, enthusiastic gentleman had held season
too. They roomed together on the road, and there
tickets for Trojan games for forty-five years. Over these
was no jealousy or animosity between them. Turk
past five decades he’s been up there in the stands mostly
still couldn’t believe his good fortune that he’d been
cheering for, but sometimes jeering for his favorite team.
able to step in as a freshman and lead the team to—
“I wouldn’t take anything for my experiences,” said Oswald, who has lived in Troy since 1958.
can you believe it?—a national championship. But in the title game, Turk wasn’t at his best—
He’s a fixture at basketball and baseball games, too—
something that would happen from time to time
so much so that he’s a member of Troy University’s
but not enough to remove Turk from the hearts and
Baseball Hall of Fame. Once, when he was in the hospital
minds of TROY fans or prevent him from entering
in Montgomery for heart bypass surgery, he persuaded his
the record books for passing and rushing yards.
doctors to let him check out for a few hours on a Saturday so he could see the Trojans play baseball there.
Of the North Dakota game, Turk said: “It was weird because they took the opening kickoff eighty
Robert Earl Stewart, TROY athletic director from
yards for the touchdown. Nobody had ever done that
1974-91, can claim to have attended 242 straight
before.”
TROY football games. But he acknowledged that he’s got nothing on Oswald, who started attending regularly in
TROY immediately marched back down the field,
the early 1960s.
but then Turk fumbled. The Bison scored again. In the second quarter, the Trojans were on the
“I’ve seen them play in eight states,” said Oswald,
edge of field-goal range when Turk got tackled for a
decked out colorfully in the official Trojan colors. “I love
loss. Christensen, his foot healed enough for action,
the game and I love TROY.”
was sent back into the game. And he scored while Turk was resting, anxiously, on the sideline.
51
A
legacy
of
champions
This was the situation that set up one of the most im-
tensen tried, play after play, to find a receiver near
portant and memorable series of plays in TROY history.
a sideline for a quick, automatic time-out. Instead,
It was kicker Ted Clem’s turn to be the hero, and he
the clock kept running as the Trojans moved toward
turned out to be straight and true. But the Trojans were
midfield with a series of short passes.
deep in their own territory and needed to move the ball
“I do remember thinking, man, fifty yards is a
into field-goal position. And they did so barely. It was
long way,” said Ensey. But a helpful, steady Texas
Christensen and his passing expertise that led them to-
wind had come up from behind.
ward victory. Instead of Turk’s effective but clock-eating
It was time to kick, for victory or defeat. The
option offense, the coaches relied on Christensen for a
kicker Clem had missed a crucial last-seconds kick
quick, fluid march into scoring position.
against North Alabama just five weeks earlier, for
“Carey never batted an eye,” said Turk. “He just
the ’84 Trojans’ only loss. Surely this was on lots of
drove us down the field.”
people’s minds. But Turk remembers Clem as being
The kicking team was warming up as Chris-
very calm amidst this storm of pressure.
52
Chapter six
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1983–1984
“It was a perfect kick. He split it right down the middle. It would have been good for at least another ten yards. You knew it was good as soon as he kicked it.” t om e nSey , sports information director 1979–1997
Ensey recalls that another player was reassuring Clem
he touched his thumb to himself, and pointed to Ted.
down by the benches. And he remembers, also, that
As soon as he pointed to Ted he turned around and
Gailey’s lessons for detail were being put into action
held out his hands and the ball hit his hands just
as the seconds were quickly ticking down.
as the buzzer sounded. It was a great hold and Ted
“Wide receiver Lee Hollingsworth was the
hit it just as solid as he’d hit any kick in his life . . .
holder,” said Ensey. “One of the things he was sup-
he drilled it.”
posed to do was to count the number of people
“It was a perfect kick,” Ensey continued. “He
on the field, to make sure there were eleven on
split it right down the middle. It would have been
offense. I could see that he was pointing with his
good for at least another ten yards. You knew it was
finger to count the players on the offensive line. Then
good as soon as he kicked it.” 53
A
legacy
of
After the game, Christensen got the attention from
champions
the game-winning field-goal scenario.
the press as Turk smiled from the shadows. He said he
For Clem, it was sheer exhilaration. “I had a
was not jealous or envious at all that his friend Carey,
feeling that it might come down to that. The initial
rather than he, had helped to pull out the victory.
split second that I kicked it, I knew it was good.”
Instead, he was proud.
What he wasn’t prepared for was turning toward
“I was especially happy for Carey,” he said. “It was
the sidelines and seeing all eighty of the team mem-
supposed to be his team. He deserved it, completely.
bers rushing toward him, pumping their fists in cel-
I was happy for all the guys who were seniors.”
ebration.
And it was poetic justice, in a way, for Clem.
“As a kicker, that’s the kind of moment you
The missed kick against North Alabama was now
dream of,” Clem said, “and when it actually happens
forgotten and Clem was a hero.
it’s so surreal.”
The grace-under-pressure precision the team
Clem had joined the team as a walk-on fresh-
showed was no accident, either.
man. “He wasn’t on scholarship,” Turk said, “but he
“We practiced that every Thursday,” said Turk of
was after that kick.”
54
Chapter six
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1983–1984
Stewart remembers how he felt after the Trojans clinched that championship: “We had come through several years of turmoil and struggles. I felt like we’d finally gotten things in order, and now we were off and running.” Gailey’s success at TROY attracted attention all around. No one could blame him when he left the school to work as a defensive assistant for the Denver Broncos. During his six years there, the Broncos went to the Super Bowl three times. As a testament to his skills, the onetime defensive coordinator ultimately became known as a masterful offensive coach. He left Denver to become head coach of the Birmingham Fire of the World League, then was head coach of Samford University for a year. Gailey then made a name for himself as wide receiver coach and then of offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers before he was hired in 1998 to take over the then-struggling Dallas Cowboys. He became offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins before taking the helm at Georgia Tech.
55
troy still on gailey’s mind
A
Surely it would be an easy decision for a Division II
t the time, the young Gailey had been coaching fewer than ten years and was riding the wave of a national championship at TROY
after only his second year at the helm. Like every
young coach, he had a dream of one day rising to the
football coach to
professional ranks.
make a giant leap
Still, Troy was home to him and his family, and the college, community, and First Baptist Church
to the NFL. But for
were big parts of their lives.
Chan Gailey,
“It was not a hard decision from a professional standpoint, but it was a very hard decision from an
it took a lot of
emotional standpoint,” said Gailey, who in 2007 was
consideration
in his sixth (and final) season as head coach at Georgia Tech. “We had so many friends there. We had
when the
been so successful, and I thought we were going to
Denver Broncos
continue to be successful.”
came calling in late 1984.
56
“[Leaving TROY] was not a hard decision from a professional standpoint, but it was a very hard decision from an emotional standpoint” C han G ailey , head coach 1983–1984
57
A
legacy
of
In 2004, Gailey’s
champions
Gailey coached at TROY for a total of five years, first as a defensive secondary coach under Charlie Bradshaw
championship
in 1976, then returning as head coach after four years
team was honored
at Air Force Academy. As head coach, he led the Trojans to nineteen wins in 1983 and ’84.
at Troy, and
His résumé since then is somewhat staggering.
about forty of
In thirty-three years—sixteen years in the pros and seventeen at the college level—he has left a trail of
the championship
innovation with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami
players showed
Dolphins, and the Dallas Cowboys, as well as the Birmingham Fire of the World League of American
up for the
Football and Samford University.
celebration. In his office at Georgia Tech, Gailey kept a framed picture from that reunion.
58
Chapter six
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1983–1984
He was head coach of the Cowboys in 1998–99,
Jerome Bettis of the Steelers and Emmitt Smith of
when Dallas compiled a regular-season record of
the Cowboys.
18–14, went to the playoffs both years, and cap-
In his four seasons with the Steelers, the team
tured the NFC Eastern Division Title (in ’98). With
won the AFC Central Division crown each time, ap-
the Dolphins in 2000–01, he helped to guide a
peared in the AFC Championship Game three times,
powerful running game that amassed 1,894 yards.
and went to the Super Bowl.
In seven of the eight seasons that Gailey was either
During Gailey’s six years in Denver, the team
a coordinator or head coach in the NFL, he had a
finished first or second in the AFC West five times
player reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark, including
and played three times in the Super Bowl.
59
A
legacy
of
it was at Troy
champions
He called then–TROY coach Bradshaw to see if there were any openings. There was one—as a defensive sec-
that Gailey had
ondary coach. At the time, Gailey had never coached
his first full-time
on defense. “I was just able to pick it up and learn,” Gailey
coaching job.
said.
He had been a
It was a great experience for him, and he confirmed Bradshaw’s reputation as a tough taskmaster
graduate assistant
at TROY.
at the University
“He was the toughest, meanest guy I ever worked for, but I learned more fundamental football from
of Florida (where
him than anybody, before or since,” Gailey said.
he had played quarterback in the early 1970s).
60
Chapter six
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1983–1984
“We had been so successful, and I thought we were going to continue to be successful.” C han G ailey , head coach 1983–1984
Despite his busy schedule as coach at Georgia Tech in recent years, Gailey said he still found time each Saturday to check up on TROY and see how they fared on the field. “I’m extremely proud of what they’ve done there and what Larry [Blakeney] is doing for the program. They’ve really, in my opinion, done extremely well,” he said. And so have the members of his championship team of 1984. “What made it fun was they were such great young men,” he said. “It doesn’t surprise me in the least that a lot of them are being very successful in life.”
61
Chapter seven
Rhoades
takes
over
1985–1987
B
ut the success Gailey had achieved and laid the groundwork for continued at TROY. It was time for Rick
Rhoades to come up through the ranks
picked up immediately where Gailey left off, and it gave TROY—on the precipice of a great triumph—a sense of continuity. And though Christensen had gradu-
and take the reins. Rhoades had served
ated, Turk was back, along with Clem
as defensive coordinator under Gailey
and dashing young defensive back Fred-
and had been offensive coach at TROY
die Thomas, who would become a two-
under Bradshaw in 1978 and ’79, so he
time All-American. All were sophomores.
knew the program and knew both sides of
A freshman in 1985, free safety Gerrick Pi-
the ball. Rhoades had also coached for a bit at North Alabama as offensive coordinator. He
menta would also add considerable strength to the Trojans’ defense in years to come.
Chapter seven
Rhoades was able to amass twenty-seven wins with such great players over three years and take the Trojans again to a national championship. The success didn’t come right away, but it didn’t take long. The Trojans went 6–4 and 5–2 in the conference Rhoades’s first year, 1985. “Coach Rhoades was a great motivator,” said former star Thomas. “He always told us not to settle for second best, whether it’s on the field or in life. One of the things we learned is to be a class act, win or lose—just pick yourself up and get ready for the next play,” said Thomas.
63
|
1985–1987
A
legacy
of
champions
Coming off the 1984 championship season, it was
“That was a huge win for us,” said Turk. “No one on
time for a bit of rebuilding. The Trojans had lost
the team had ever beaten UNA before. I remember
a dozen or more players to graduation, and they
being so excited in the locker room that night. That
had a new head coach. They would have made it to
was definitely a turning point.”
the conference playoffs but for a tough, tight game
Two weeks later, Clem repeated history with
with North Alabama, which edged them 9–7. And,
another dramatic field goal for a 45–43 win over
to add further insult, North Alabama went to the
Jacksonville State. With the victory came the con-
finals that year. The Trojans finished 6–4, 5–2 in
ference championship. Also that season, quarterback
the conference.
Bob Godsey came in to lead the team as Turk was
But revenge came the next year, with TROY
out for two weeks with a separated shoulder. But he
beating North Alabama 38–9 in Florence, Alabama.
would be back.
64
65
A
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of
champions
The Trojans went undefeated in the conference (for the
play haunted me. It still does, to tell you the truth,”
first time ever) to take the GSC title and had a chance
he said.
to claim a successive national title, but the University
The trip to South Dakota haunted Ensey, too.
of South Dakota stood in the way. Vermillion, South
“It was a miserable town with crappy stands and the
Dakota, is a long way from Troy, and the team was far
meanest people I’ve ever met in my life. They even
from being on top of its game.
forgot to unlock the locker room for us after the
“They just ran all over us,” said Turk. “We couldn’t
game, so the players all had to stand out in the cold
stop them. And nobody had ever done that to us.”
until they found the key.”
The teams were tied at 28 at one point, but
Then, in the off-season, Rhoades let it be known
South Dakota moved ahead. Turk fumbled late in the
that he was eyeing a job as an assistant coach at Ole
game and South Dakota took advantage to widen its
Miss. In the spring, college officials told the players
lead to 42–28. It was a devastating loss, and just the
that they would be naming a new coach. A meeting
second one that season—the other being to Nicholls
was held, and the “new” coach was unveiled. It turned
State. Turk said he replayed that fumble in his mind
out to be Rhoades, who had decided to stay at TROY
for months—until the next year’s scrimmages. “That
rather than going off to the SEC.
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Chapter seven
Turk was thrilled
|
1985–1987
Turk was thrilled, especially when Rhoades let him know that he would stick with the option offense.
[that Rhoades was
While many say that Turk was a natural for the
staying at troy],
option, he sees it differently. “I was pretty much running for my life most of the time. It was a self-preser-
especially when
vation thing. I mean, I was only five six and weighed
Rhoades let him
160 pounds.” Turk remembers that Rhoades wanted to create
know that he
team fellowship and unity, so he ordered players who
would stick with
had been living off campus back to the dorm. “It was not a popular decision when it was made,”
the option offense.
said Turk, “but it was maybe the best thing he ever did. It helped us get closer and bond as a team.”
67
A
legacy
of
champions
“Character was always important, and [the 1987 championship team] had a boatload of it.” r iCk r hoadeS , head coach 1985–1987
To Rhoades, his teams at TROY showed a level of
important, and they had a boatload of it.”
teamwork and passion for the game that was
Thomas, he said, was like a defensive counter-
remarkable.
part to Turk, with an unrivaled love for playing the
“They always found a way to make things work,
game and doing his best. Interestingly, Thomas had
and they worked very hard and took care of each
squared off against Turk for years in Montgomery,
other,” Rhoades said. “Those guys weren’t six foot
starting with peewee football and going up through
nine and 350 pounds . . . .We didn’t recruit guys for
high school. But they had never before played on the
height, weight, and speed first. Character was always
same team.
68
Chapter eight
Champions
again
1987–1990
T
he 1987 Trojans started off on a bad foot, with
44–6 victory; Godsey came in to relieve Turk and ran
a close loss to Southeast Missouri and a tie with
for a 66-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Nicholls State. Clem missed field goals in each
“In ’87, we scored at will,” said Turk. “We were a
of the games that could have changed the outcomes.
dominant, efficient football team. Valdosta State had
But TROY found its groove when it blanked West Texas
been undefeated and was ranked No. 3 in the country
State 45–0, and every other game that season was a win
when we beat them 44–7. We were rolling.”
for TROY—most of them huge. In fact, with help from
The Trojans also rolled up big numbers against
shifty, speedy receivers Titus Dixon and Greg Harris
North Alabama and beat staunch rival Jacksonville State
and veteran Freddie Thomas and up-and-comer Tony
at home. Against Tennessee-Martin, TROY broke its
Jackson in the backfield, the offense would average an
own record with 633 yards total offense. That included
astounding 430.4 yards a game. Against West Georgia,
262 passing yards for Turk, including a 97-yard
the Trojans racked up a school-record 621 yards for a
touchdown pass to Dixon.
A
legacy
of
champions
In the semifinals against Central Florida, a game played in the Citrus Bowl Stadium, TROY’s defense forced eight turnovers—four fumbles and four interceptions—as the Trojans won 31–10. The team was 11-1-1 and enjoying its second season without a single conference defeat (with a total of eighteen straight conference wins) when they found themselves in position for a second national championship in four years. This time, the team would play in Florence, Alabama, against Portland State. Turk started out slow but finished big. He had a rough first half but got back into the game in the second half with a new attitude. They rallied from a 10–3 deficit at halftime as Turk set a championship game record with 190 yards on 25 carries and Dixon ran the reverse four times for 111 yards and a 49-yard touchdown. On Turk’s last play of his career, he ran for a touchdown from 51 yards out. “It was an option play,” Rhoades remembers. “He cut back across the grain and got an angle on the safety and just outran everybody else. As he crossed the goal line he shook the ball; it was like he was saying, ‘This is it.’”
70
“That was the patented Mike Turk run,” said
After the championship season, Rhoades again decided
Thomas. “It was the nail in the coffin. Other than
to leave TROY, and this time he made good on his
my daughter being born, that’s probably one of the
promise by taking the head coaching job at Southern
proudest moments I’ve had in my life.”
Illinois. He later coached at Nicholls State, as an
Tragedy struck just ten days later when two
assistant at Alabama, and at several Alabama high
TROY players—brothers Thomas and Sean Miller—
schools before joining the staff of the Birmingham
died in a horrific car wreck on Highway 31 near their
Thunderbolts of the XFL. He then coached for five
hometown of Brewton. Sean’s twin brother, John,
years at Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi, and
and a friend, Wayne Stallworth, also died. “It was just
coached a team in Austria part of the year.
devastating,” said Rhoades.
Hoping to continue with their string of home-
71
n at i o n a l e x P o s u r e
A
Every team in the country wants to be in Sports
fter a rainstorm delayed the season opener for a few hours, TROY officials had to figure out how to finish the game. Robert Earl
Stewart, athletic director from 1974–91, remembers the story:
Illustrated. It’s a
“We were playing Southeast Missouri, and light-
rite of passage.
ning struck the transformer in the middle of the third quarter when we were ahead 13–6. It knocked out
In 1988, the Trojans
the lights, so we had to make a decision.
entered the
“I got together with the coaches, and they were saying things like ‘we could play it again tomorrow’
hallowed pages of
or ‘we could schedule a do-over at the end of the
the nation’s
season’ . . . things like that. “At some point, it occurred to me that we had
predominant
our practice field nearby, and the lights were working
sports magazine
there. We didn’t have to worry about accommodating a crowd because there were only a couple hundred
in a most
people there after that lightning hit.
unusual way.
“And, anyway, we all walked over just a couple hundred feet to the practice field and finished the game.”
72
Chapter eight
The field has a goalpost only at one end
|
1987–1990
loss to the Redhawks the previous season.
and a sharp drop-off not far from one of the end
Tom Ensey, sports information director at the
zones. Stewart said they discussed these factors in
time, was quoted in the magazine as saying: “Coaches
advance and agreed that when the teams changed
always say that games are won on the practice field.
possession they would turn around and face the
Well, this one really was.”
other way.
Stewart said no one was really happy about fin-
The Trojans won 26–13, and the unusual story
ishing the game on the practice field—except for the
was in the next week’s “Scorecard” section of Sports
TROY players. “They were elated that they would get
Illustrated. The victory was a sweet revenge for a close
to play them on their practice field.”
73
A
legacy
of
grown success, TROY officials promoted from within
champions
a head coach who could lead them at this higher level.
once again, elevating Defensive Coordinator Robert Maddox to the top job. Maddox had played for TROY in 1975 and ’76 and was an assistant coach for nine years before taking over as head coach. He led the Trojans for two disappointing seasons of 4–6 before breaking even at 5–5 in 1990. Maddox resigned after the final game of his third season. During this time, and with the arrival of Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. as university chancellor, talk began of a move to the NCAA’s Division I. And a search was on for
74
Chapter nine
A
new
era
1991
W
hen it came time to find a new coach,
“Shug� Jordan and matured as an assistant for Pat
some high-profile applicants came
Dye. As a wide-receivers coach and offensive play-
knocking, but there was a lot about
caller for the Tigers, he had helped lead Auburn to
Larry Blakeney that caught the eyes of university
four SEC titles and coached in nine bowl games.
officials.
This was a man with valuable experience and
Blakeney had developed as a young coach under the wings of legendary Auburn coach Ralph
impressive success under his belt, and, insiders say, a coach on the fast track toward a big future.
Chapter nine
|
1991
“[Blakeney] brought an understanding of major college football, and he also brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the program.” J ohnny w illiamS , defensive-line coach 1985–1987, defensive coordinator 1988–1993, and athletic director 1994–2004
On December 3, 1990, he was hired as the twentieth
years who also coached under Blakeney and went on to
coach in TROY’s history. TROY officials admired
become athletic director at TROY. “He brought an
Blakeney’s track record on the turf as well as his warm
understanding of major college football, and he also
personality and approachability off the field. They
brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the program.”
knew they had found a winner.
Blakeney’s success with the Trojans since he came
“He was just a natural fit,” said Johnny Williams,
on board in 1991 is easy to tally from the stat sheets,
a defensive coach for TROY starting in the Rhoades
but his overall impact in many ways is immeasurable. 77
the big time
J
Johnny Williams came to TROY as a coach in 1984
ohnny Williams capitalized on TROY’s success by heading up the move to the NCAA’s top division as well as leading the fund-raising charge
for a face-lifting of the old Veterans Stadium into a
modern and impressively accommodating showplace.
and, one could
Williams, who started out at TROY as a graduate-
say, made it
assistant under Coach Rick Rhoades in 1984, climbed
a better place.
through the ranks to serve as TROY’s athletic director
He was one of the
in 1994, he became a main architect of TROY’s rise
driving forces
toward the top ranks of college football as well as a
that enabled
Williams secured endorsements and TV time for
TROY to build on
TROY and was at the helm during a fruitful period
for nearly eleven years. Upon becoming athletic director
catalyst in the creation of the Sun Belt Conference.
of precedent-setting growth: the Trojans’ ambitious
its inspiring
move to the NCAA’s Division I, under Williams’ guidance and Coach Larry Blakeney’s skilled leader-
football success.
ship, is in some circles considered a model as a smooth upward transition in college football. “The year I took over, our second year in Division I-AA, we sold about 1,700 season tickets and the stadium held 12,000 people,” said Williams. “The first year in Division I-A, we sold 17,000 season tickets.” Today, the stadium includes twentynine luxury skyboxes, a top-notch weight room and training facilities, and—significantly—a stadium that could hold 30,000 people, and all with an excellent view of the action. Williams left TROY in 2004, and Steve Dennis soon came on as AD. He went on to the University of Alabama and retired in 2007 to work as a college football consultant. 78
Chapter tEN
the
winning
track
1991–2001
F
irst, Blakeney led the team from Division II to Division I-AA, quickly establishing a reputation as a feisty indepen-
to the NCAA playoffs seven times in Blakeney’s first ten seasons. He has more victories under his belt than any previous TROY
dent to be reckoned with while planting
coach, and during his time at TROY,
the seed for three Southland Football
the Trojans would see many stars rise
League championships (1996, 1999,
through its ranks to the pros and
2000). Blakeney was a driving force as
beyond; more than fifty in the past two
TROY ascended in 2001 to the NCAA’s
decades have reported to NFL camps,
distinguished top sports level, Division I-A. By that time, the Trojans had advanced
and many others have had careers in Canadian and arena-league football.
Going into his seventeenth season, Blakeney’s teams had won roughly two-thirds of their games. In baseball, that would be a batting average of .663. In 2007, he was the fourth winningest college coach of all time in Alabama, trailing only the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant, Cleve Abbott of Tuskegee, and Auburn’s “Shug” Jordan. In 2006, when the Trojans claimed the Sun Belt title and won the New Orleans Bowl, Blakeney’s record was an impressive 128-64-1, third best among all programs in Alabama during that time span. Because he had played and coached for Jordan, Blakeney’s coaching style was naturally influenced by the longtime Auburn coach. Blakeney knew and respected Bryant, as well. Personality-wise, he said, the two football giants could not have been more different. Jordan was more a “Southern gentleman” type, albeit with a thick layer of toughness. But Blakeney’s own down-to-earth approach is what has helped to move TROY up through the ranks to gain increasing notice. 80
A
legacy
of
“Larry has a very straightforward style,” said award-
champions
“They think of him as a guy they could ask over
winning sportswriter Tommy Hicks of the Mobile
for steaks or a barbecue,” said Hicks.
Press-Register, a TROY alumnus. “I think the players
Chuck Ash, the Trojans’ trainer since the 1970s,
know he’s going to do what’s necessary to make them
goes further: “Larry loves people. He thinks there’s
better, and they respect that.”
good in every person, and he would do anything he
Because of Blakeney’s personality, the players
could to help any one of them.”
know that he’s not just the hard-nosed master
Omar Haugabook, TROY’s star quarterback
practitioner who’s riding hard on them at practice
during 2006–07, agreed. “He’s kind of like a father
and expecting nothing more or less than their best
figure to us. He understands us as students and as
on game day. He’s a man with a heart—caring and
athletes. He’s hard on us sometimes, but only because
approachable.
he sees the potential of us as a team.” 82
Chapter ten
|
1991–2001
Like many TROY coaches before him, Blakeney also “has a knack for finding guys that just want to play, that are competitive,” Hicks said. A list that could go on and on includes quarterbacks Kelvin Simmons, (future assistant coach) Jeremy Rowell, Brock Nutter, and Stan Black, wide receiver Mareno Philyaw, lineman Cleve Roberts, and defensive stars Al Lucas, Pratt Lyons, Eric Sloan, Reggie Lowe, and Marcus Spriggs. Standouts in recent years have included Osi Umenyiora and Demarcus Ware, who have gone on to become two of the top defensive ends in the NFL. Even more recently, Haugabook, running back Kenny Cattouse, receiver Gary Banks, and punt returner Leodis McKelvin have also exemplified the Trojan legacy of excellence. In 2007, McKelvin was bearing down on the all-time NCAA record of seven career kick returns for touchdowns. “Coach Blakeney cares about all of us guys—on the field and off,” said Cattouse. Besides being what you could call a benevolent overseer to his current and former players, Blakeney also has maintained a sense of humor during tough times. Tom Ensey, the longtime sports information director, recalls a moment during the particularly crushing playoff loss to Montana in 1996, when the Trojans went 12–2 overall and were Southland Conference champs. Way up in Missoula in the Division I-AA semifinals, Montana trounced TROY 70–7. “A reporter came up to Larry (at the end of the second quarter) and said: ‘Coach, you’re behind thirty-five to nothing at halftime. What are you going to say to your team in the locker room?’ and Larry said: ‘I don’t know. Do you have any suggestions?’ ”
83
Chapter eleven
early
success
1991–1995
B
lakeney’s first two years at TROY came
season, and finished up ranked at No. 1 in the nation.
during a transition period, when the team
This 1992 season included an eyebrow-raising 41–7
was moving from the NCAA’s Division II
win over Division I-AA’s Alabama State, giving TROY
to its Division I-AA. It was a complicated situation
where TROY was technically still in Division II but not allowed to compete in playoffs.
fans a glimpse of the greatness that was to come. In 1993, TROY’s first full season of play in Division I-AA, the Trojans finished 12-1-1, earning
Blakeney’s first squad finished with a record of
a chance to play in the I-AA semifinals. The 10-0-1
5–6, but his team was almost undefeated his second year,
regular-season finish was the program’s first undefeated
losing only to Liberty in a close one midway through the
full season in school history.
Chapter eleven
The 10-0-1
|
1991–1995
A key to success in those years was a dynamic quarterback named Kelvin Simmons, a Mobile native who
regular-season
had been actively recruited by many SEC teams and
finish was the
even signed at Alabama, but ended up playing instead at Northwest Mississippi Community College.
program’s first
TROY coaches convinced Simmons that he belonged
undefeated
at TROY instead, and he starred on the field in 1992 and ’93.
full season in
Simmons was a graceful drop-back passer and
school history.
was also elusive. “He was magic,” said Mike Turk, by then an offensive coach for TROY. “When he took the field, you felt like you were going to win.”
85
A
legacy
of
champions
Williams, the former TROY coach and athletic direc-
a few years in the CFL and recently was offensive
tor, said Simmons was soft-spoken but possessed a
coordinator of the Alabama Lightning in the National
quiet kind of leadership that was also noticed by his
Arena Football League.
teammates. “He worked hard on the practice field.
“Very few quarterbacks have been able to
He would stay after practice and have two or three
accomplish what he did,” said Williams. “From the
receivers with him and they would work out drills
time he was a senior in high school to the time he was
on their own. The other players noticed how hard he
a senior at TROY, he lost only a handful of games.”
worked and rallied around him.”
Blakeney’s next season brought an 8–4 record and
Simmons led the Trojans to an undefeated regular
another playoff appearance. The Trojans lost in the first
season in 1993. In a climactic win against Georgia
round to James Madison, but ended the season ranked
Southern in Statesboro, Georgia, he commanded
No. 12. In 1995, the Trojans were 11–0 going into
an amazing third-quarter drive in which TROY
postseason play before losing to Georgia Southern in
controlled the ball for nearly ten minutes as Simmons
the first round while ranked third in the nation.
made numerous third-down conversions.
With the ascension to the top of the NCAA
“Winning that game really put us on the map,”
ranks, the traditional regional rivals started showing
Williams said. “That game showed that we had the
up on TROY’s schedule along with national powers
players that could play.”
like Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Miami,
Simmons, whom Blakeney refers to as “the
Virginia, Missouri, and LSU. And in later years, tough
Natural,” was Most Valuable Player in the Blue-
opponents would include Oklahoma State, Arkansas,
Gray Football Classic in 1993. He went on to play
Florida, and Georgia. 86
C h a p t e r T w e lv e
Shocker
in
Starkville
2001
A
particular landmark—for Blakeney a n d T ROY — w a s t h e 2 0 0 1
David “Fletch” Wilson, a tight end for Troy State from 1974–77, was an assistant
rain-slicked 21–9 victory over
coach for Mississippi State when TROY
Mississippi State of the SEC. It was the
came to town. He recalls that MSU Coach
Trojans’ first-ever win in Division I-A over
Jackie Sherrill asked him to address the
another Division I-A school. Another
Bulldogs as a team before the game to
groundbreaking win was the 2004 upset
make sure they knew that their win-hungry
of Missouri at home on national television.
opponent should not be underestimated.
A
legacy
of
champions
“I told them that TROY is not afraid to play anybody—
Asked how he felt afterward, Wilson admits to
anywhere and anytime,” he said. As it turned
feeling a sense of pride. “As a coach, you never want
out, “it was a legitimate win for TROY . . . and
to give up a game. But I felt real good for them, I
it was also the beginning of a downhill slide for
really did. . . . And every time I see them play, I still
Mississippi State.”
feel that way about TROY.”
88
Chapter twelve
TROY quarterback Brock Nutter, who holds many of
|
2001
between the crosshairs.
the school’s passing records (as well as the record for
Interestingly, Nutter had played high school ball
forty-eight consecutive starts), remembers the game
at Hoover High School and had faced off against MSU
well, too. He said he and his teammates knew they
quarterback Wayne Madkin when Madkin played
would make their mark with an upset that season,
for rival J. O. Johnson in Huntsville. Now they were
and the Bulldogs happened to be the ones that fell
going head to head again, on a much bigger level.
89
A
legacy
of
“We weren’t
champions
“I don’t think he had a clue that I was playing for TROY until he eyed me across the field before the
intimidated at all,”
game,” Nutter recalled. “He looked at me and said,
Nutter said.
‘Nutter?’ I said, ‘Yep,’ and gave him a little smirk as if to say, ‘We’re coming after ya.’”
“Going into that
In fact, Nutter said, he had helped prepare the
game, we knew
TROY defense that week in practice because he was familiar with Madkin’s style of play and tendencies.
we could win.”
“We weren’t intimidated at all,” Nutter said. “Going into that game, we knew we could win.”
90
Chapter twelve
|
2001
“We want to win games, yes, but we also want to see these guys develop into manhood and become successful and responsible.” l arry B lakeney , head coach 1991–present
All these years later, Blakeney’s philosophy seems to
“We try to find the best player that is a good student
retain the simple wisdom that echoes back to
and a good person,” Blakeney said. “We want to win
TROY’s beginnings and continues to make the
games, yes, but we also want to see these guys develop
program successful.
into manhood and become successful and responsible.”
91
t h e s-o-u-n-d o f t h e s-o-u-t-h! troy’s swingin’ band
M
Part of the fun with TROY’s band, the legendary
any times at football games when the band comes on at halftime, the fans get restless. For most, it’s a chance to catch
up with friends, check up on other scores, grab a hot dog or a Coke, or, yes, go to the bathroom. It’s a fact
Sound of the
of college football.
South, is watching
But not at TROY. Ralph Ford, who’s been a big part of the Sound of
opposing crowds
the South’s tremendous success for a quarter-century,
at away games
loves it when that happens. It means that TROY’s band is doing its job.
being stunned
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen that,”
back into their
said Ford, who’s been writing arrangements for the
seats as the
band since 1982 and directing it since 2001. “Everybody freezes in their tracks, turns toward the band,
“Fanfare” starts its
and sits back down.”
mighty blasts.
92
Of course, at TROY’s home games, few would risk
They start work in the spring with fourteen straight
missing a performance of one of the most powerful,
days of eleven-hour sessions and then continue to
musical, and tightly honed marching bands in college
rehearse solidly through the hot summer and another
football. It’s a proud characteristic of TROY: the band
ten hours each week during the season. Remember,
commands as much respect as the young men in
they’re also marching in intricate formation wearing
helmets and pads on what is truly a level playing field.
heavy uniforms of wool and polyester (to stand up to
The band members (usually some three hundred
sweat and dry cleaning). It’s not easy, but the results
strong) take their job—and their legacy—seriously.
pay off as a sonic and visual sensation.
93
“I look at the halftime show as a complete production, almost like a grand epic movie,” said Ford. “I want people to be mesmerized. “We are part of the overall show,” he continued. “It includes the cheerleaders, the mascot, the football team, of course, and the Sound of the South. It’s part of a complete package, and the goal is entertainment. We want the fans to know they can come to a TROY football game and have a great time.” And the announcer, who intones the good advice to “sit back and relax,” is part of it, too. For a long time, this was Phil Kelly. In recent years, Paul McNeeley has been the “Mouth of the South.” The TROY band dates to 1939, when Lawrence Peterson took up the baton as its first director. He held it for years before Gilbert Stephenson took it over in 1947. Others included John P. Graham, James Patrenos, Richard Melvin, and Carl Vollrath.
94
Chapter twelve
|
2001
“I look at the halftime show as a complete production, almost like a grand epic movie. I want people to be mesmerized.” r alph F ord , TROY band director 2001–present
But the band really started to soar in 1965, when it was officially christened as the Sound of the South
band program at TROY. And Wallace pointed right
and legendary band director John M. “Johnny” Long
to Long, whom he considered to be the very best.
came to TROY, highly recommended, from Lee High
Long, who is now a member of the Alabama
School in Montgomery. While leading that band to
Bandmasters Hall of Fame, was with TROY for
five national championships, he had already estab-
thirty-two years and built a national reputation for
lished a reputation with his innovative skills.
excellence as the Trojan band started its own winning
Chancellor Ralph Adams is said to have appealed
traditions. The band started to expand beyond the
directly to his old friend, Alabama Governor George
football field to play outside high-profile events like
Wallace, for increased state funding for a top-notch
music conventions, concert tours, and TV shows.
95
Chapter twelve
|
2001
And under Long, who was a fan of big band music,
And the instrumentation is a bit unconventional
TROY’s marching band started to swing with a jazzy
as well; a bass guitar holds down the bottom end and
flair. The band is known for playing an exciting and
a jazzy drummer plays a trap kit while piccolos, rather
often unexpected variety of music with complex,
than flutes, propel the top end.
unique arrangements; the Sound of the South can
Under Ford, the band has evolved with modern
satisfy with a patriotic mainstay like John Philip
touches while retaining classic traces from Long’s
Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” or surprise all ages
shadow of excellence.
of listeners with nontraditional tunes from Willie
“I respect what came before me, and I try to
Nelson, Harry Belafonte, Kool and the Gang, Count
instill in my students the importance of continuing
Basie, or even the rock band Kiss.
certain traditions,” said Ford.
97
A
legacy
of
For many years, the band’s signature song was an exuberant “Dixie.” It’s been retired from the thirty-five-song repertoire, but the band incorporates a few bars in its star “Fanfare.” Ford, a TROY graduate who served as an assistant director and music arranger since 1982, served as interim director in 1996 when Long was in his last year as director of bands. In 1997, the baton was passed to popular band composer and TROY alumnus Robert W. Smith, who had become a successful composer for Warner Brothers. During Smith’s tenure, the band began playing at professional football games, put on an exhibition at the Bands of America event in Orlando, Florida, and even backed up Grammy Award winners Lee Greenwood and the Temptations.
98
champions
Chapter twelve
|
2001
“We travel to most of the games— certainly those that are within an eight- or nine-hour drive.” r alph F ord , TROY band director 2001–present
They’ve gone to the White House, too. Over the
It is the university’s largest student organization.
years, the Sound of the South has performed at four
“We travel to most of the games—certainly
presidential inaugurations.
those that are within an eight- or nine-hour drive,”
Ford came on board as director in 2001, at the
Ford said.
same time that the Trojans were entering NCAA
The band has been featured on the Warner
Division I-A play. His first mission was to take the
Brothers Marching Band promotional CDs since
band on the road all the way to Lincoln, Nebraska,
1997, which are distributed to more than thirty-eight
for the season opener, TROY’s historic first meeting
thousand schools throughout the United States and
with the Cornhuskers.
Canada. The band also records and releases its own
And, by the way, it takes seven buses and an
CDs, including a recent one called Trojan Jams that’s geared toward tailgaters, Ford said.
equipment truck to transport the Sound of the South.
99
A
legacy
of
champions
In addition to establishing a nationally known program, Long also served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Fine Arts and special assistant to Chancellor Adams. He left his mark on the campus itself, as well; in 1998, the School of Music was renamed in his honor. Another tradition at TROY is the two-hour rehearsals on Thursday nights. As long as many fans can remember, the band has attracted a big crowd of people at the stadium simply thrilled to sit and hear them practice. At times, hundreds of listeners have gathered for it, and this is something that former students, players, coaches, and longtime TROY fans like to reminisce about. That certainly doesn’t happen at most universities. And neither does this: “One of the biggest compliments to me is when I walk into the athletic department and the athletic director calls me ‘Coach,’” said Ford.
100
troy fight song Here’s to the school we love We are Trojans, one and all We will always cheer for victory, And you’ll never let us fall GO! GO! GO! Cheers to T-R-O-Y We are with you all the way So get out there team And fight fight fight And win today
101
C h a p t e r t h i rt e e n
“Big
luke”
1996–1999
I
n 1996, a gentle giant of a defensive end from
loss. He played forty-three games—just five fewer
Macon, Georgia, first took the field as a Trojan.
than record-holder Nutter—and finished his
Over the next four years, Al Lucas would
career at TROY with 255 tackles (thirty-six for losses),
strike fear in the hearts of virtually every offensive
twenty-five quarterback “hurries,” and eleven and a
player the Trojan defense faced. He would go on
half sacks.
to become a two-time All-American and be named
Lucas was big (six foot one and three hundred
the 1999 winner of the Buck Buchanan Award,
pounds) and so quick (he could run a 4.8 second
which is given to the top defensive player in the
40-yard dash) that coaches sometimes put him in at
nation at the I-AA level. As a senior that year, he
fullback in short-yardage situations. He scored seven
finished with 126 tackles, twenty of them for a
touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons.
“He was a remarkable guy, on the field and off,” said former teammate Eric Sloan. “We called him Big Luke. He was the jokester of the team. On those long bus trips, he would keep everybody up, win or lose. He was that kind of guy.” In addition, Lucas had a work ethic that was inspiring. He was constantly working out, even in the off-season. Al’s brother Lenny was tight end during those years. Wide receiver Mareno Philyaw rounded out what Sloan called “the Four Horsemen,” four teammates who were particularly tight. “We had a close bond because we were all from Georgia. We already had that chemistry,” said Sloan. Lucas went on to play for the Carolina Panthers in 2000 and 2001 and became a star in the Arena Football League, first with the champion Tampa Bay Storm and then with the Los Angeles Avengers. In an instant, it all ended. Harsh tragedy struck on April 10, 2005, when Lucas made what appeared to be a routine tackle on a kickoff. But he didn’t get up. He had suffered a spinal cord injury and died. Sloan remembers coming home from church that day and seeing his answering machine blinking with messages from other former TROY players sharing the sad news. Soon, Coach Richard Shaughnessy, TROY’s strength and conditioning coach since 1996, got a call from Sloan. “I’ll never forget it,” said Shaughnessy. “It was a Sunday afternoon, and Eric called me and said, ‘Al’s dead.’ I just couldn’t believe it. It was a devastating blow.” 104
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Big Luke was always
In Shaughnessy’s small office in the corner of TROY’s 10,000-square-foot, million-dollar
thinking of others.
weight-lifting facility, dozens of signed photos
“That’s just the
from former TROY players line the walls. Most of them are in pro football uniforms, and they
kind of guy he was.”
include Sloan and Philyaw, as well as others such as Kerry Jenkins, Reggie Lowe, Cleve Roberts, Matt Allen, Thad Buttone, Branden Hall, Rayshun Reed, Lawrence Tynes, and Brannon Condren. There is one he is particularly proud of: Big Luke in the silver and blue of the Carolina Panthers. The inscription reads: “To Coach Shaughnessy, Thanks for the help & time you’ve sacrificed for all the students at TROY. God Bless, Al Lucas.”
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1996–1999
As the quote reflects, Big Luke was always thinking
parents were prominent public officials in Georgia, and
of others.
the service was moved to the Macon City Auditorium
“That’s just the kind of guy he was,” the coach said.
to accommodate a crowd of mourners numbering
Shaughnessy, Blakeney, and other TROY
nearly two thousand. The Reverend Jesse Jackson was
officials attended Lucas’s funeral in Macon. Dozens
among the speakers. At the time, Blakeney said, “We
of teammates from nearly every team he had played
will hold this light, No. 76, Al Lucas, up to our players
on were there, including many from TROY. Lucas’s
and say, ‘This is how you are supposed to do it.’ ”
a lway s at t h e i r s i d e m i s s a n n k e l ly w i l l i a m s
I
She may have gained more yards than anyone
ndeed, stylishly suited up in TROY’s cardinal and black, Ann Kelly Williams loyally follows the ball along the sidelines, high-heeled and
rushing to monitor each play. One of many unique fans in the TROY foot-
in college
ball family, “Miss Ann” is a comforting presence
football history,
as she gracefully stalks the first row at every home game. She started the practice at the suggestion of
one dainty step
her late husband, former Interim Athletic Director
at a time.
Frank B. “Red” Williams (1991–93). He thought it was important for her to get up close and personal with the players and their families so they would know they had true support from the administration. “He told me to walk up and down the field and see the parents of the boys and watch the players and tell them all how proud and thankful we were to have them play. And I still do that. These boys need me. Young people have it so much harder than we did.” Slim and spry, the former aerobics teacher said, “I follow the ball. When it moves, I move with it so I can see what’s happening and they can see a familiar face.”
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1996–1999
Williams is almost always seen wearing a smart, tailored
woman at the old Troy High School. Instead, she
suit jacket, skirt, and shoes elegantly representing
heralded her school’s teams with her French horn
TROY’s colors.
and high spirit.
She is a Troy native who raised a family, taught
“I’ll be here every time they play, as long as I
school for years, and moved some twenty-two
can,” she said, watching Omar Haugabook launch
times with her Boeing executive husband—and has
another pass. “It makes me feel good, and I think it
flown to “away” games with the Trojans for years.
helps the boys to know I’m here.”
Surprisingly, she was never a cheerleader as a young
It certainly does, Miss Ann. Thank you.
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C h a p t e r F o u rt e e n
Ends
in
sight
1999–2004
O
ther pictures on Shaughnessy’s wall are, of
game. In one play for the Giants in 2007, he basically
course, of two more defensive powers who
did it all: he made a sack, forced a fumble, recovered
arrived a few years after Lucas left his large
the fumble, and returned it for a touchdown.
legacy at TROY. They are Ositadinma “Osi” Umenyiora
At TROY, it was not unusual for Umenyiora,
and Demarcus Ware—two big, quick defensive ends
who arrived in 1999, or Ware, two years behind him,
who both came from Auburn High School, were
to come up with three sacks in a game. In fact, each
bypassed by their hometown team, had stellar careers
of them did that four times. Once, against Florida
at TROY, and, by 2007, had quickly become record-
A&M in 2002, Umenyiora did one better with four
setters and multimillion-dollar successes in the NFL.
sacks—a team record. Over his career, Ware piled up
Each had risen to be among the very best pass
twenty-seven sacks and Umenyiora twenty-two. (The
rushers in the league and league leaders in sacks, with
record is held by Charles Pickett, who made forty-
Umenyiora setting an NFL record for six sacks in a
three in 1974–76.)
Chapter fourteen
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1999–2004
When it came to football, Umenyiora was a relative
And, boy, was he. For a couple of years at TROY,
late bloomer. He grew up in London, England, and
Umenyiora played solidly as an inside defensive
is of Nigerian descent. He had played soccer in
lineman, but he really started to shine when coaches
London, but had played football for only a couple
moved him to end.
of years since moving to Auburn to live with a sister.
“Osi knew what he wanted to do,” said Ash, the
One day, the coach at Auburn High mentioned to
Trojans’ trainer. “He’s probably one of the toughest
TROY coaches that Umenyiora was one to watch.
guys who ever played here.”
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1999–2004
Ware had played all sports most of his life. In fact,
the time he left TROY, he had bulked up to nearly
he grew up just a few blocks from Auburn’s stadium
260 pounds—all muscle—and retained his lightning
and sold soft drinks there as a kid. He starred in
quickness.
high school as a linebacker on defense but also as
“He did everything that I asked him to, and he
a wide receiver. At nearly six foot five, he turned
got bigger, faster, and stronger,” said Shaughnessy,
heads at TROY from day one. He weighed only 195
known for his tough fitness regimen. “He put a lot
pounds then, but kept getting bigger and better. By
of effort into it, and it paid off for him.”
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As a senior, Ware was the Sun Belt’s Defensive Player
pressure from Ware and the rest of the Trojan defense,
of the Year and was a finalist for the Hendricks Award,
struggling most of the night and giving up two
which is given each year to the top defensive end in
interceptions. Many remember that he left the field
the NCAA. Ware holds the school record for most
in tears while TROY fans celebrated the stunning win
career tackles for a loss, fifty-seven. In 2005, the
by tearing down the goalpost.
Cowboys selected him in the first round of the draft,
That win was the second big one for TROY
as the eleventh player overall. This was the highest
that season. A week earlier, they had beaten Marshall
pick of a TROY player in the school’s history.
17–15. But the exciting momentum was halted the
On his road to such success, TROY’s historic
next week when the Trojans fell to New Mexico State
44–17 win over Missouri on national TV in 2004
on the road. Ricky Hazel, who was in his first year
was a landmark day for Ware.
as TROY’s sports information director, remembers
“Demarcus was everywhere,” said Hicks, the
the play-by-play announcer’s odd pronouncement at
longtime sportswriter. Missouri’s quarterback [Brad
the end of the game: “He kept saying, ‘We just beat the
Smith] was being touted as a Heisman candidate, but
team that beat Marshall and Missouri!’ It wasn’t that
the candidacy kind of ended there.”
they had beaten TROY, it was that they had beaten the
For certain, the quarterback was under constant
team that beat Marshall and Missouri.”
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1999–2004
On offense, the Trojans would benefit in those years from many standouts, including swift, hardcharging runners DeMontray Carter, a transferee from Auburn who played in 2000 and 2001, and DeWhitt Betterson, who became a starter as a sophomore in 2002 and within three years became TROY’s all-time leading rusher with 3,441 career yards. (He’s followed by Eddie Coleman with 2,360, Ted Horstead with 2,926, Mike Turk with 2,533, and Joe Jackson with 2,418.) Carter rushed for 801 yards in a single season (2001). Betterson ran for 1,161 yards in 2003 and for 1,286 in 2004, when he averaged 107.2 yards per game.
names and maybe dates corresponding to the images on these pages could go here. dummy copy for now. troy football photos and captions to be written. this is for placement only. it might be about this
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t a i l g at i n g troy style
T
They come
he earliest reports of tailgating come from
1869, when Rutgers played Princeton and
early, and they leave late.
fans traveled to the game in carriages and
wagons and grilled burgers and sausages.
Legend has it that the tradition
In Troy, it started much more recently, in the early ’90s. Before that, in this neck of the woods, tailgating was something that impatient drivers did on the winding highway between Greenville and
of tailgating
Luverne.
at college
In recent years, school officials have set aside a specific area, the Green Davis Tailgate Terrace, for
football games
this custom, which is part family reunion and part
is almost as
dinner on the grounds. The area is named for one of the very first who, inspired by tailgating at other
old as the
schools, dared to set up a tent and start cooking on
game itself.
the TROY campus.
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1999–2004
As the custom has grown, the makeshift camps
Barbecue is big, and so are burgers, and some of
for eating, drinking, and socializing are in fact
the fare is more exotic. But the biggest item on the
spread across the campus. On game day at TROY,
menu is camaraderie. Former players and students,
you’ll find a lot for luxurious RVs, and see that
parents and boosters mingle around the friendly tent
many folks, despite (or maybe because of ) their
city that’s smoky with the flavors of barbecue and
allegiances to TROY, bring flat-screen televisions
burgers and lubricated with conversation fueled by
to monitor other college games.
memories and anticipation.
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“The fraternity members started showing up and would stand around, and Green would cook for everybody.” m ary d aviS l ee , widow of Green Davis and university employee
The “Terrace” is named for a former TROY fan who
“He just had a little pup tent and a grill,” said his
literally was a pioneer in TROY-style tailgating. Green
widow, Mary Davis Lee, a university employee. “He
Davis was a former Marine and city worker who was
would cook things like hamburgers, hot dogs, and
killed in an accident in 1993, just a couple of years
ribs, and people would stop by. Then, the fraternity
after he first staked a tent and started cooking for
members started showing up and would stand around,
himself and others. A bronze bust and a historical
and Green would cook for everybody.
marker remember him with honor.
“It just grew from there . . . and very quickly,” she said.
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1999–2004
Others who joined the scene early were James “Pop” Key and his family and friends. Key and his wife, Paulette, love to cook—and it shows. Key and his self-made smoker, a Gibraltar of a grill that stands more than ten feet tall and can accommodate 100 chickens at once, have been a destination for many fans for years. The Gregg Whibbs Sr. family of Pensacola, along with friends like former TROY football player and local businessman Tim Shirley, have regularly played host to players and their families, and former players, near what used to be the intramural fields and where Shirley took physical education classes in the 1970s.
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“We used to practice archery right here, and that
champions
newfangled version of horseshoes.
archery class is why I bow-hunt for deer today,”
Over at the Keys’ place, a wooden sign hangs
Shirley said with an ironic chuckle. He and his
announcing “Pop’s Greasy Spoon” with the friendly
friends were offering a Saturday afternoon menu of
caviat of “It Ain’t Healthy, But it Sure Tastes Good!”
his own venison as well as dove wrapped in bacon,
Key scuttled about taking succulent pork loins and
pork tenderloin kebabs, grilled chicken breasts, pork
sausages off the smoker, where a blend of hickory
ribs, burgers, and Alabama’s native Conecuh sausage.
and oak had been working its magic all afternoon.
Add to that a bright array of steamed yellow
The Keys’ place is Ground Zero for many returning
squash, tomatoes, and onions and a dessert buffet of
fans. It’s where talent scouts come to taste the
brownies, cookies, and cakes from aunts and sisters,
ultimate homey fare and university dignitaries are
and the informal table was set, complete with decora-
always welcome and known by name.
tions and tablecloths in cardinal and black.
Oval pans large enough to serve cafeteria crowds
The newer generations have been quick to pick
held savory and comforting side dishes, such as two of
up the laid-back style of turf dining and socializing,
her famed offerings: hash-brown casserole and green-
too, with groups of youngsters at a nearby camp
bean casserole. For dessert, a caramel cake towered
playing touch football and what looked to be a
with seven tempting layers.
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“We just have a good time–it’s a wholesome, good time.” J ameS “p op ” k ey , TROY tailgater
Known for their own generosity with food and fellow-
Lee said her late husband, who helped to start
ship, the Keys have no trouble finding people to help
the wonderful tradition, would be very proud of the
with cooking on game day. In fact, a cadre of local
part he played and how much it’s grown, but of course
women sometimes pitches in, following Miss Paulette’s
wouldn’t show it.
recipes to specification and delivering reinforcements
“He would be strutting around. He would be so
of tasty side dishes.
tickled, but he would not take credit for it. That’s just
“When we started out, we would set up under the
the way he was.”
small oak tree by the ticket stand,” said Pop Key. “We
She added: “My kids, every time they come
just have a good time—it’s a wholesome, good time.”
down, they say, ‘I wish Daddy was here.’”
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Chapter fifteen
Miracle in Murfreesboro 2006
I
t had been a long time since Ted Clem’s historic
Alabama at Birmingham and at Nebraska, leaving
last-second field goal to clinch the 1984 cham-
them with a 1–4 record going into conference play.
pionship, but there’s another play that’s often
They rebounded with four straight wins before a
talked about. It happened on November 25, 2006.
loss at home to Arkansas State. They needed a win
The Trojans had experienced near misses
against Middle Tennessee State in the “Battle for the
against Florida State and Georgia Tech early in the
Palladium” to stay in the game for a championship
season, along with tough losses at the University of
title and bowl appearance.
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“I just threw the ball up and he made a great catch between two defenders. He landed on his head and held on to the ball.” o mar h auGaBook , TROY quarterback 2006–2007
Enter Smokey Hampton. He was about to have the
previous play that assured Hampton’s legacy at TROY
game of his life. He would catch seven passes that day
among thankful fans. It was a pass across the middle
for 104 yards and a touchdown, including a thrilling
that earned a first down and kept the Trojans alive.
head-under-heels grab that would set up the Trojans
“I had just gotten sacked, and we basically
for a come-from-behind victory.
had to get the ball into the end zone,” Haugabook
TROY was behind 20–7 with 2:19 to go when
remembers. “At the line of scrimmage, he [Hampton]
Omar Haugabook connected with Hampton for a
stumbled and got back on track. I just threw the ball
nineteen-yard touchdown strike, making the score
up and he made a great catch between two defenders.
20–14. But that is just part of the story. It was the
He landed on his head and held on to the ball.”
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Then Haugabook hit Hampton again for a touchdown.
Trojans got the ball again at the Middle Tennessee
“The Middle Tennessee fans were definitely
forty-two yard line. They covered forty-two yards in
thinking they were going to win the conference
eight plays, including another nineteen-yard catch
championship,” said Hazel. “They were all chomping
by Hampton on fourth down from the Blue Raiders’
at the bit and leaning on the rails, getting ready to
twenty-two yard line with nineteen seconds left. On
take the field and tear down the goalposts. Nobody
the next play, Haugabook threw a three-yard pass to
expected us to come back and win.”
Gary Banks for the winning score with just fourteen
Coaches called for an onside kick, and the
seconds on the clock.
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Chapter Sixteen
Spread’s
the
Word
2006–present
H
otshot Haugabook came to TROY as a
Haugabook racked up some more honors his
transfer from Dodge City Community
junior season, and more appeared to be on the way
College after being recruited by former
in 2007. Among them were the Sun Belt’s Newcomer
Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin. A native of
of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
Belle Glade, Florida, he came on strong his junior
He was also first-team all-conference quarterback
season in 2006, completing 61.3 percent of his
and Most Valuable Player of the New Orleans Bowl,
passing attempts for 2,401 yards and twenty-one
in which he went 14-for-28 for 217 yards and four
touchdowns. A gifted ball carrier, he also rushed for
touchdowns and rushed for ninety-two yards on
313 yards with five scores. It’s no wonder he was
fourteen carries and a touchdown.
named Sun Belt Player of the Year as the Trojans
At TROY’s first home game in 2007, he put
went 6–1 in the conference (losing only to Arkansas
on an astounding display of talent with 371 yards
State) and 8–5 overall (with other losses to Florida
passing and forty-nine rushing for two scores in a
State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, and UAB).
dominating win over Oklahoma State.
A
legacy
of
Haugabook had planned to play at Marshall before he came to visit TROY. He said he had a “gut feeling” that it was the right place for him. Another plus was that TROY was just an eight-hour drive from his mother’s home in Florida, so she could travel to watch him play. He was also attracted to the new spread offense that Franklin was putting in. It emphasizes passing rather than a ground game and was so successful from the get-go that TROY led the Sun Belt Conference in passing in 2006. “It was a fresh, new system,” said Haugabook. “I felt like I could come in and compete.” Despite his achievements at TROY, Haugabook gives the credit to others, including coaches Blakeney and Franklin, as well as the guys holding the line in front of him. “Without the offensive line, nothing would work on offense.”
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champions
the rah-rah raileys They are fixtures in the stands at Troy, and have been since the 1960s. It’s the Railey family, known by everyone in the Troy family as some of the most ardent, loyal—and vocal—fans of the Trojans.
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Chapter sixteen
“G
et him! Get him!” That’s Dawn Railey, who works in the health care industry in Montgomery
and traces her enthusiasm for TROY foot-
ball back to 1968, when she left home in her pajamas to greet the victorious 1968 players returning from their NAIA title win over Texas A&I at the Crampton Bowl. “Our mom got us ready to go and watch the buses roll in from Montgomery,” she said. Her father, Ralph “Bulldog” Railey, played for TROY in 1952. “He growled when he played,” she said, explaining her dad’s nickname.
|
2006–present
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Later, Bulldog Railey was a member of the Pike County
She remembers her first game at TROY. It was
Rescue Unit, which provided security and other staff-
also in 1968, when the Red Wave wiped out Concord
ing at TROY’s home games. Dawn’s brother Chuck is a
76–0. “We just blew them away,” she said. “I was
policeman who also works security at the stadium.
sitting in the east stand at the very top.”
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2006–present
She also was a member of the Sound of the South in
on October 24, 1999, a day after the entire clan,
her own days at TROY. She was color guard captain
including grandchildren, got together to root the
under legendary bandleader Johnny Long, who was
Trojans on at homecoming over Sam Houston State.
the Raileys’ next-door neighbor.
“It was the last thing we did as a family,” she
The rabid Raileys don’t sit still in the stands.
said.
They are constantly jumping up and screaming as the
One of her fondest memories is watching the
Trojans advance—or fail to advance—on the field.
Trojans beat Rice in the 2006 New Orleans Bowl.
But it’s a family experience for them, and always has
“It was almost surreal,” she said. “TROY became so
been. Bulldog Railey died suddenly of a heart attack
much bigger to me that night.”
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Chapter seventeen
Down
in
New
Orleans
2006
I
t was certainly a highlight of TROY’s football
chance of a lifetime. Wright, a punter originally
history, which at that point extended back nearly
from Dothan, Alabama, actually played in two
a century. TROY was heading to the New
bowls with the Trojans. He and just a handful of
Orleans Bowl three days before Christmas in 2006. “For every person who went to that bowl game
others had also played in the Silicon Valley Football Classic.
in New Orleans and watched us win, there are ten
“It’s truly a reward,” Wright said. “The way I
more who have told me, ‘I watched it on TV and I
look at it is that there are only sixty-four teams that
wish I had been there.’” Blakeney said.
get to go to a bowl, so it means we were truly one of
For players like Jason Wright, it was the
the top teams in the country.”
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Chapter seventeen
In 2004, the reward was five days in California that included sightseeing and dinner in San Francisco. In New Orleans two years later, the experience was almost overwhelming in other ways. The players toured areas that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina, visited a children’s hospital, and then played in the massive Louisiana Superdome, the very same building where not only six Super Bowls had been held but had also been the last refuge for the hurricane victims who could not manage to leave the ravaged city. “We met people who went through all that, and then we’re standing where they stood [in the Superdome], except that we were there to play football,” Wright said. Many New Orleans residents joined the TROY faithful to cheer them on. “It had quite an impact,” said Wright. “Only people who play the game of football can know what that means.”
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“For every person who went to that bowl game in New Orleans and watched us win, there are ten more who have told me, ‘I watched it on TV and I wish I had been there.’” l arry B lakeney , head coach 1991–present
Wright said he didn’t know much about TROY grow-
players from earlier and later eras. “It’s a place where
ing up, even though he was from Dothan, but the
everybody knows everybody—you’re not in a class of
win against Mississippi State when he was in high
250 people, you have maybe forty or fifty people in
school put the Trojans on his radar. “Then I came
a class. You’re in a one-on-one relationship with the
up to the North Texas State game later that season,
teachers, and they call you by your first name.
and they won on a last-second field goal. I thought,
“And it’s the same way with the coaches,” Wright
‘That’s something I’d like to be a part of.’ ”
continued. “They care about what you do—in the
His feelings about TROY are similar to those of
classroom, on the field, and in life.”
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Chapter eighteen
Rivalries,
Old
and
New
2006–2007
W
hen TROY marched into Division I-A
strong. There are even stories about “Jax State” fans
and began playing more nationally
leaning from the stands and spitting into the Trojans’
known teams, some fans were sad to real-
Gatorade during a game.
ize that some of the time-honored rivalries had come
“It was intense as any rivalry I’ve ever seen,” said
to an end. Middle Tennessee had certainly stepped up
Tom Ensey. “We always wanted to beat them so bad.
as a lively and vicious opponent, but annual grudge
The benchmark was that if you could beat Jacksonville
matches with old nemeses like Jacksonville State and
State, well that was really something. And the truth
North Alabama had become a thing of the past.
is, if you could beat Jax State you could probably beat
The Jacksonville State rivalry, in particular, was
anybody. They were good.”
Chapter seventeen
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2006–2007
Steve Dennis, athletic director since 2004 and a
dium. Previously, the Trojans have faced off with
former fellow assistant with Blakeney at Auburn,
UAB six times between 1993 and 2006, and stand
worked to restore a sense of in-state competition
at 3–3.
in 2007 when he worked out an agreement with
In the coming seasons, the Trojans’ non-
the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It in-
conference opponents also will include LSU, Ohio
volves four games against UAB at alternating sites,
State, and Oklahoma State, as well as Florida,
starting in 2009 at Movie Gallery Veterans Sta-
Arkansas, and South Carolina.
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2006–2007
“Moving to Division I has really been exciting. I enjoy the crowds and stadiums, and knowing that we’re competing against the highest level.” C huCk a Sh , Trainer 1987–present
“Moving to Division I has really
grounds of the legendary Dol Dol-
been exciting,” said Chuck
phins of the early 1970s and
Ash. “I enjoy the crowds and
the mighty Miami Hurricanes
stadiums, and knowing that
of the 1980s and ’90s and the
we’re competing against the
site of five Super Bowls, not
highest level. It just seems to
to mention the Orange Bowl
mean more.”
itself from 1937–95.
Ash spoke as he was
“I think we’re paying our
packing up and preparing for
dues right now,” Ash said of
a trip to Miami to face Florida International. The
the Trojans’ relative newcomer status in the NCAA’s
game was to be at the historic and scheduled-to-
top division. “It’s gonna happen—we’re gonna see
be-demolished Orange Bowl Stadium, stomping
those rivalries back.”
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high in the draft l e o d i s m c k e lv i n
I
n the earlier days of college football, players had to
But he had plenty of other players to talk up, too—
do it all—they had to be able to run, pass, block,
among them Omar Haugabook, kicker Greg Whibbs,
tackle, and sometimes kick. Later on, players
linebacker Marcus Richardson, receiver Gary Banks,
began to specialize more, training long and hard to
defensive back Elbert Mack, and defensive tackles
be the very best at their chosen position.
Marcus Pittman and Chris Bradwell. As it turned out,
In some ways, Leodis McKelvin is a throwback
Richardson signed with the Houston Texans, Banks
to the old, all-field approach. And that’s why he
with the San Diego Chargers, Pittman with the Kansas
turned (and spun) many NFL scouts’ heads in 2007,
City Chiefs, and Bradwell and Mack with the Tampa
standing out boldly and brashly on a TROY team
Bay Buccaneers. Others, including Josh Allen, Kenny
brimming with talent and NFL potential. McKelvin’s
Catouse, and former TROY standout Zarah Yisrael
accomplishments at TROY were vividly apparent to
were invited for NFL tryouts.
the Buffalo Bills, who picked him first from amidst
McKelvin, a native of Waycross, Georgia, obvi-
a bumper crop of NCAA greats. On April 26, 2007,
ously dazzled the Bills all on counts. Just hours after
he was the eleventh player picked overall in the NFL
being selected so high in the draft, he said he was ready
draft—ironically the same number as Demarcus Ware
to hit the ground running for Buffalo in the competitive
three years earlier—and the first cornerback selected.
AFC East, even if it meant taking some time to adjust
Prowling TROY’s defensive secondary with his
to the colder climate and “make some snow angels.”
unquestionable prowess, McKelvin was a constant
“I just want to go out there and play,” the con con-
fear factor for opposing receivers.
fident and dedicated McKelvin told the
And on the receiving end of a punt or
national press. “Even though I’m a defensive
kickoff, he was simply lethal: he tied
player, I like to have the ball in my hands. I
a NCAA Division I record with eight
like to make things happen for the offense
career return touchdowns and amassed
to give them great field position.”
broke another record with 3,817 career
The Bills’ Terrence McGee and Roscoe Parrish annually rank among
kick-return yards. And in the secondary: “He can
the league’s best in yards per return,
cover man to man with anybody,”
but McKelvin has made it clear that
Coach Larry Blakeney said during
McGee and Parrish won’t keep that job
McKelvin’s senior season.
all to themselves. “They can share it,”
TROY Assistant Coach Richard Shaughnessy,
McKelvin said. “They’re going to have to give me some
who heads up the strength and conditioning program,
time. That’s all I’ve been doing the last four years and
had let on earlier that scouts were after McKelvin.
nothing but great things came out of it.” 144
Chapter nineteen
A
N
Bright
Future
o one knows exactly where Troy Universi-
Rudy Argenti, the former player and longtime
ty is headed with its football prowess, but
faculty member, agreed, as long as the Trojans
many say they expect only greater things,
maintain their tradition of attracting players who
and more attention to be lavished on the scrappy,
can-do Trojans as they overtake the next stage.
give it their all with full-on intensity and desire. “In my opinion, they have sort of set the bar
“I think the future is extremely bright,” said Troy
for the smaller schools. And now, I think TROY is
Mayor Jimmy Lunsford. “I think we’re only going to
moving up. I believe they’re capable of competing on
get better and better.”
any level.”
Chapter nineteen
|
“Certainly there’s the
a bright future
Sportswriter Tommy Hicks said there’s always built-in excitement surrounding the Trojans when they take
David vs. Goliath
the field. “These days, you watch them because they
factor,” said
do play so many big schools and you watch to see if they’ll pull off one of those upsets—like Larry would
Jim Norton, who
say—that would ‘shock the world.’ It’s because of the
has undergraduate
atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the people that follow the team that you want to watch them and see
and master’s degrees
how they’re doing.”
from Troy. “They play all these bruisers, these national
And serious football conversations aren’t limited to the “big two” Alabama teams of the SEC. “Certainly there’s the David vs. Goliath factor,” said Jim Norton, a banker in the Florida panhandle who has undergraduate and master’s degrees from
powerhouses, and
TROY. “They play all these bruisers, these national
you’ve got to like that.” 147
powerhouses, and you’ve got to like that.”
A
legacy
of
champions
“When you’re the TROY guy sitting between the Auburn guy and the Alabama guy, for a long time you weren’t part of the conversation,” Norton continued. “Pretty soon I think TROY will have a place in the conversation.” Freddie Thomas, the star defensive back on the championship teams of 1984 and ’87, said he’s “very, very confident” that the TROY Trojans’ everincreasing success will continue to escalate in the years to come. “It’s one of those things that’s very special,” he said. “I’m very, very proud to be a part of it.”
148