|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 10, 2020 8:59:09 GMT -6
Big game coming up tonight. A win against UNA would be a big boost to this team, especially considering we have some winnable upcoming games against Samford, Auburn, and Carver College. I hope Brent Jones can somehow schedule another game against a non-D1 school before January... this team needs as much game experience as possible.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 10, 2020 8:44:30 GMT -6
Coastal could have some important players out for our game...
Might get very interesting if Coastal has some players that are out, OR if they wind up cancelling the game, which I know Coastal would love to have happen so they can focus on Louisiana.
Don't be surprised one bit if this game gets cancelled by Coastal. My question is, if it gets cancelled, and Troy beats ULM next week... does that place us ahead of Georgia State and Georgia Southern in the bowl pecking order? We would have a higher conference win percentage at that point, assuming we beat ULM.
Here is an excerpt from a Myrtle Beach newspaper about Coastal's COVID/injuries...
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 9, 2020 11:53:15 GMT -6
We either need to:
A. Beat Coastal Carolina AND beat ULM. B. Lose to Coastal Carolina, hope they finish undefeated, and hope Cincinnati loses to Tulsa. C. Lose to Coastal Carolina, hope they finish undefeated, and hope they somehow jump Cincinnati for the NY6 spot. C. Have an SBC team back out of a bowl for financial or medical reasons.
That's every possible hope for Troy to get a bowl.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 8, 2020 8:23:05 GMT -6
LaGrange was so badly outmatched in this game. Troy players manhandled them and stole the ball away multiple times. I almost felt bad for LaGrange because it was such a mismatch of size and talent.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 7, 2020 10:15:30 GMT -6
You can tell there are a lot of freshmen playing... lots of miscommunication and bad screens, on top of shots that shouldn't be taken. Scott Cross has been giving every single guy playing time. I'd imagine Cross is trying to find who his starters are also.
These guys are going to get better as the season progresses though.
Next year and the year after could be special.
I have noticed a few players not playing lately... Jakevan Leftridge and Lydell Geffrard. Both of them are important players.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 4, 2020 23:22:06 GMT -6
Even with a messed up knee and not playing in two years, Milton would probably beat out all of our QB's for the starting job.
He can at least probably pick up a couple of yards running the ball instead of taking a sack like our guys always do.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 2, 2020 8:37:33 GMT -6
Texas Tech played in the national championship just two seasons ago.
This will be a great game to get quality experience.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 1, 2020 11:38:13 GMT -6
I'll take some NAIA/Division III games. Anything to pad the record and give this young team more playing experience.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Dec 1, 2020 11:21:57 GMT -6
Troy women's basketball picked up the #2-ranked JUCO player in the country, Felmas Koranga, in the offseason. Where is she? She's on the roster, but hasn't played at all thus far in town games. Maybe COVID? Anybody know? Before she even stepped foot on a D1 basketball court, she was named to the All-SBC Preseason team a few weeks ago... which is a testament to how good she must be. Koranga is required to sit the first 5 games due to some NCAA rule regarding her international play. Go figure. Good grief.
I wonder if cancelled games count toward the 5?
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 30, 2020 22:21:15 GMT -6
Troy women's basketball picked up the #2-ranked JUCO player in the country, Felmas Koranga, in the offseason.
Where is she? She's on the roster, but hasn't played at all thus far in two games. Maybe COVID? Anybody know?
Before she even stepped foot on a D1 basketball court, she was named to the All-SBC Preseason team a few weeks ago... which is a testament to how good she must be.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 30, 2020 8:18:53 GMT -6
Smooth....... Possibly Rusty. That’s all. This.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 28, 2020 21:43:57 GMT -6
This coaching staff sucks.
I'm beginning to fall back into my old ways of not even watching Troy football games anymore, like I did during the 2013/2014 seasons.
We're not competitive at all against the SBC contenders.
My brother-in-law's family of 5 (member of Trojan Warriors) has already stated he won't be renewing next year. I may be the next one to do so.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 25, 2020 8:27:04 GMT -6
Middle Georgia State has cancelled the game against Troy because of their COVID protocols.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 24, 2020 11:59:13 GMT -6
Probably see more of a look in a scrimmage than a NAIA team but it's a game Most likely. I don't foresee this game being close for multiple reasons. Either way, I'm glad we are starting out with a decently good NAIA opponent... it gives good game experience to the newcomers, and Cross can go ahead and fix any issues that show up on film.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 24, 2020 10:57:11 GMT -6
Troy is opening up their season tomorrow at 1pm CT against Middle Georgia State (NAIA). The game will be televised on ESPN+.
I'm intrigued to see what Troy's lineup looks like. This is such a revamped team, that it makes it hard to predict who the starters could be.
Middle Georgia State is coming into this game undefeated, with a 3-0 record. They're shooting 45% as a team this season, which is pretty decent. They're averaging 40 rebounds per game, which is also pretty decent. They seem to struggle some at shooting the 3-pointer, only hit 34% of those. Free throws is really their Achilles heal, as they are only making 61% of their FT's... that's pretty bad.
I think Troy is going to give them a lot of trouble in the paint, simply because it seems MGSU is so under-sized. They have a 6'7" and 6'8" Forward on their team, but neither of them seem to be getting much playing time. The Forwards that they have been playing thus far this season have been 6'6" and 6'5". Compare that to Troy, who has Forwards that are 6'10" (Rory Pantophlet), 6'9" (Zay Williams), and 6'8" (Lydell Geffrard).
Even MGSU's primary shooters are going to be undersized compared to Troy... MGSU's highest point scorers are 6'2", 5'10", 6'0", and 6'4".
Troy's shooting guard lineup will likely see a mix of Jakevan Leftridge (6'7"), Keiffer Punter (6'5"), Nick Stampley (6'6"), Desmond Williams (6'1"), Duke Miles (6'2"), and Kam Woods (6'1").
It's going to be a good initial test for our new freshmen players to go up against a 3-0 NAIA school. I'm curious to see how well put-together the team looks compared to last years first game.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 20, 2020 16:14:50 GMT -6
I'm very excited for this season.
I don't know how good the men's team will be with so many new players... but I think there will be a new, better attitude among the players, simply because I think they are all-in with the #TakeTheStairs mentality. The talent and potential is there to have a winning season.
I had the vibe last season that there were a few players on the team that had poor attitudes, and it infected the team. I feel like most of those players either quit or transferred.
Now Cross has a bunch of younger players to work with, who also seem to be quite a bit more talented.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 19, 2020 10:53:33 GMT -6
I think (The HC we don’t speak of) (The HC we don’t speak of) is doing all those things on the offensive side of the ball, simply because he has made that known. I do believe Pugh, though, still has some responsibility with helping to manage the offense though... from personnel, to players, to strategies, etc. And maybe Pugh does help (The HC we don’t speak of) from a playcalling perspective sometimes when it comes to seeing the defensive alignments?? I like Sumrall a lot, and I would like to see him be HC at Troy one day. I believe he would bring a lot of the passion and energy back to the program that (The HC we don’t speak of) kind of lacks. I just very simply believe that Sumrall being a coordinator beforehand would prepare him well for that. Itâs clear that being an OC did not prepare (The HC we don’t speak of) to me a head coach. Zero attention to detail. Heâs an OC running the entire show. (The HC we don’t speak of) (The HC we don’t speak of) is an enigma.
Sumrall would actually take away some beneficial things by being an FBS coordinator. Quite honestly, if the current DC at Kentucky (Brad White) winds up getting hired away, I think Sumrall is likely to be Kentucky's next DC.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 19, 2020 9:43:50 GMT -6
Curious as to why we are playing TUNA up there? My guess is because they came to Troy last season.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 19, 2020 8:39:08 GMT -6
Thoughts on how the schedules look?
I like both schedules from a program-building perspective. Mostly boring home games though, which isn't a shock considering how COVID has affected everything.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 19, 2020 8:04:56 GMT -6
A lot, IMO.
As a DC, you manage the defensive players, oversee the assistant coaches, develop the defensive game plan, design plays, and call plays for the defense during the games.
You're given more control and it prepares you to be a head coach. It's simply getting experience before jumping too far ahead. I think Jon Sumrall is a great coach and a great motivator... I think he will be a great HC one day.
But which do you think would serve Jon Sumrall better in preparation for being an FBS-level head coach? Getting experience as an FBS-level DC (maybe even being a head coach of a small FCS school).... or just skipping straight ahead to being an FBS head coach after being primarily a position coach for the past 8 years?
So we went with a OC who never stayed at a school past "ONE" season and expected him to build and maintain a program. He didn't even know how to prepare for season TWO at a school I don't like the fact that (The HC we don’t speak of) hasn't stayed in one place very long. But again, he has at least gotten experience managing an entire unit of a football team... even if his stays were short-lived...
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 19, 2020 8:01:09 GMT -6
A lot.
As a DC, you manage the defensive players, oversee the assistant coaches, develop the defensive game plan, design plays, and call plays for the defense during the games.
You're given more control and it prepares you to be a head coach. It's simply getting experience before jumping too far ahead. I think Jon Sumrall is a great coach and a great motivator... I think he will be a great HC one day.
But which do you think would serve Jon Sumrall better in preparation for being an FBS head coach? Getting experience as an FBS-level DC, or maybe being a head coach of an FCS school.... or just skipping straight ahead to being an FBS head coach after being primarily a position coach for the past 8 years?
You say that but look at the offensive side of the ball for us. Do you think Pugh is doing all those things or that (The HC we don’t speak of) is ha doing most of the duties? Many of those roles we are used to have changed with the way programs have changed. I think (The HC we don’t speak of) (The HC we don’t speak of) is doing all those things on the offensive side of the ball, simply because he has made that known. I do believe Pugh, though, still has some responsibility with helping to manage the offense though... from personnel, to players, to strategies, etc. And maybe Pugh does help (The HC we don’t speak of) from a playcalling perspective sometimes when it comes to seeing the defensive alignments?? I like Sumrall a lot, and I would like to see him be HC at Troy one day. I believe he would bring a lot of the passion and energy back to the program that (The HC we don’t speak of) kind of lacks. I just very simply believe that Sumrall being a coordinator beforehand would prepare him well for that.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 18, 2020 18:29:49 GMT -6
They also play in the weakest division, in the weakest conference, in FBS.
And like you said, Kent State's coach was a Co-OC for three seasons before being a head coach. He still went from being a WR coach to moving up to an OC.
Most first time head coaches were previously an OC or a DC, simply because that's how the rungs on the ladder to being a head coach works.
It's like business management. Are you more likely to hire a regional manager for a CEO position, or a CFO for a CEO position?
The CFO has managed more people, had more responsibility, has more experience... so they're more likely to immediately be successful as a CEO. A regional manager would likely be in over their head until they got enough experience.
That's why I'd rather see Jon Sumrall be an FBS DC before being a head coach.
But what does calling plays as a DC have anything to do with running a program? A lot, IMO.
As a DC, you manage the defensive players, oversee the assistant coaches, develop the defensive game plan, design plays, and call plays for the defense during the games.
You're given more control and it prepares you to be a head coach. It's simply getting experience before jumping too far ahead. I think Jon Sumrall is a great coach and a great motivator... I think he will be a great HC one day.
But which do you think would serve Jon Sumrall better in preparation for being an FBS-level head coach? Getting experience as an FBS-level DC (maybe even being a head coach of a small FCS school).... or just skipping straight ahead to being an FBS head coach after being primarily a position coach for the past 8 years?
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 18, 2020 18:16:03 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 18, 2020 14:03:23 GMT -6
For those who didn't think Jon Sumrall wasn't qualified you better take a look at Kent St currently. 34 year old coach who was a CO/OC and WR coach before getting the Kent St job. Watched them last night and they are looking awesome especially offensively. Having lived 3 miles from the Kent St campus and all my family in Akron I can tell you they have the worst stadium and facilities in the MAC. And they are only paying him $440,000. Turned them around by season two and they look really, really good this season. They play at a pace that is mind boggling They also play in the weakest division, in the weakest conference, in FBS.
And like you said, Kent State's coach was a Co-OC for three seasons before being a head coach. He still went from being a WR coach to moving up to an OC.
Most first time head coaches were previously an OC or a DC, simply because that's how the rungs on the ladder to being a head coach works.
It's like business management. Are you more likely to hire a regional manager for a CEO position, or a CFO for a CEO position?
The CFO has managed more people, had more responsibility, has more experience... so they're more likely to immediately be successful as a CEO. A regional manager would likely be in over their head until they got enough experience.
That's why I'd rather see Jon Sumrall be an FBS DC before being a head coach.
|
|
|
Post by cardinalblacktrojan on Nov 13, 2020 8:52:23 GMT -6
Most hospitals down our way are again on diversion. The numbers are up everywhere. However, do not expect a run as in June and July...…..still a problem. Would not be surprised if our next game is ULM. Possible perhaps to App but do not count on MTSU. I was really hoping to keep ULM and MTSU.... easier games to get to a winning season.
|
|