Observations From The Cheap Seats
Oct 21, 2016 20:35:31 GMT -6
Hemi Man, trojanbrutha, and 5 more like this
Post by Mr. Ho on Oct 21, 2016 20:35:31 GMT -6
The Legacy of LB
Watching last nights performance and this season in general, Mr. Ho has been thinking about something. The one person that doesn't get any credit with this seasons success is........Larry Blakeney.
Say what you want about the last few years under his leadership, but his fingerprints are still all over this team and staff and will be for the foreseeable future. He was a great evaluator of talent and certainly did not leave the cupboard bare. With the exception of the junior college players and transfers, the Seniors, Juniors and red-shirt Sophomores all chose TMTDM because of LB and that includes just a few key players on this team - Chunn, Silvers, the whole offensive line, etc... The coaches too. Neal Brown launched his career under LB. LB hired Matt Moore from high school. He had the sense to hire Al Pogue. Sean Regan spent two years as a Grad Assistant under LB. Cornelius Williams played under LB as did Jordan Lesley and Levi Brown and KD Edenfield. Finally, this is Vic Koenings second go-around with TMTDM. The first was because LB called him up one day while Vic was at the beach to see if he might be interested in returning to coaching the defense at Troy. At the time, I would say it was the biggest hire we had ever made. LB's coaching tree continues to grow as there are a lot and Ho means a lot of successful coaches out there that started either playing at Troy or coaching at Troy while LB was in charge. That only bodes well for the future - post Neal Brown.
The Legacy of Neal Brown
We should immediately extend Neal Brown's contract. I don't see Neal leaving after this season - next season could be even more magical when you look at the roster. And I think he has that date in Red Stick circled. He was after all the OC for that epic meltdown of game....just start taking a knee in the second half and they run out of time. 72 passes? I have digressed. But by extending his contract, the buy-out helps pay for our next Head Football Coach AND Assistants. Make some other school pay for our next head coach. He has a sense of loyalty to Troy and that is unique to Troy.
But sitting in the stands and just watching our fans is his real legacy. Especially the students. The thousands of students that made the trip have made an investment into what Neal Brown has sold them and it paid off last night. How ironic was it that the entire fourth quarter seemed to be played in our end zone. Our players seemed to be drawn to that endzone like the Sirens of the Sea. No way we weren't going to win that game last night. How epic was the 7th Nation Army chant with UAB-Mobile struggling to hear their play calls. What do you think those kids are talking about today with their friends that didn't go? It will only multiply. If TMTDM can somehow beat UMass and AppState, how insane will MGVMS be for that Thursday night game with Ark State? What LB did for fifteen years or so on the field, he could never seem to win the students over. Neal Brown has. Maybe it's his age. I do know that NB has been instrumental in making the players interact with the students and community - calling season ticket holders, delivering tickets to their houses. Troy had real Division I fans last night and we can thank NB for that for sure.
The Legacy of Mr. Ho
OK so, Mr. Ho like 27-0 when he whip out cow bell and bang hard all night and day all week. That fact jack.
For the first time last night, Mr. Ho feel old. He tire real easy, but he fixated on those students. Sure most of you losers have made commitment to TMTDM but what does that give us? Three or Four fans that can actually go to road games and stay at Motel 6? Maybe a handful know the difference between Bourbon and Whiskey. Maybe one or two of them grow up to be a big time Eexecutive. Looking at the students in end zone, Ho thought how many grow up to be another Ho? Chances are odds are better after last night than any previous year that someone emerge from sea of debauchery and take over for Ho. Maybe one day that for sure.
Watching last nights performance and this season in general, Mr. Ho has been thinking about something. The one person that doesn't get any credit with this seasons success is........Larry Blakeney.
Say what you want about the last few years under his leadership, but his fingerprints are still all over this team and staff and will be for the foreseeable future. He was a great evaluator of talent and certainly did not leave the cupboard bare. With the exception of the junior college players and transfers, the Seniors, Juniors and red-shirt Sophomores all chose TMTDM because of LB and that includes just a few key players on this team - Chunn, Silvers, the whole offensive line, etc... The coaches too. Neal Brown launched his career under LB. LB hired Matt Moore from high school. He had the sense to hire Al Pogue. Sean Regan spent two years as a Grad Assistant under LB. Cornelius Williams played under LB as did Jordan Lesley and Levi Brown and KD Edenfield. Finally, this is Vic Koenings second go-around with TMTDM. The first was because LB called him up one day while Vic was at the beach to see if he might be interested in returning to coaching the defense at Troy. At the time, I would say it was the biggest hire we had ever made. LB's coaching tree continues to grow as there are a lot and Ho means a lot of successful coaches out there that started either playing at Troy or coaching at Troy while LB was in charge. That only bodes well for the future - post Neal Brown.
The Legacy of Neal Brown
We should immediately extend Neal Brown's contract. I don't see Neal leaving after this season - next season could be even more magical when you look at the roster. And I think he has that date in Red Stick circled. He was after all the OC for that epic meltdown of game....just start taking a knee in the second half and they run out of time. 72 passes? I have digressed. But by extending his contract, the buy-out helps pay for our next Head Football Coach AND Assistants. Make some other school pay for our next head coach. He has a sense of loyalty to Troy and that is unique to Troy.
But sitting in the stands and just watching our fans is his real legacy. Especially the students. The thousands of students that made the trip have made an investment into what Neal Brown has sold them and it paid off last night. How ironic was it that the entire fourth quarter seemed to be played in our end zone. Our players seemed to be drawn to that endzone like the Sirens of the Sea. No way we weren't going to win that game last night. How epic was the 7th Nation Army chant with UAB-Mobile struggling to hear their play calls. What do you think those kids are talking about today with their friends that didn't go? It will only multiply. If TMTDM can somehow beat UMass and AppState, how insane will MGVMS be for that Thursday night game with Ark State? What LB did for fifteen years or so on the field, he could never seem to win the students over. Neal Brown has. Maybe it's his age. I do know that NB has been instrumental in making the players interact with the students and community - calling season ticket holders, delivering tickets to their houses. Troy had real Division I fans last night and we can thank NB for that for sure.
The Legacy of Mr. Ho
OK so, Mr. Ho like 27-0 when he whip out cow bell and bang hard all night and day all week. That fact jack.
For the first time last night, Mr. Ho feel old. He tire real easy, but he fixated on those students. Sure most of you losers have made commitment to TMTDM but what does that give us? Three or Four fans that can actually go to road games and stay at Motel 6? Maybe a handful know the difference between Bourbon and Whiskey. Maybe one or two of them grow up to be a big time Eexecutive. Looking at the students in end zone, Ho thought how many grow up to be another Ho? Chances are odds are better after last night than any previous year that someone emerge from sea of debauchery and take over for Ho. Maybe one day that for sure.