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Post by Trojan Warrior on Nov 21, 2013 20:02:42 GMT -6
Despite a third straight year of disappointments, Troy athletic director John Hartwell said Thursday that he believes head football coach Larry Blakeney still has the “fire” to continue leading the program. “Are any of us satisfied with the win total? No, but outside Ole Miss and Mississippi State, we’ve had opportunities in the fourth quarter to pull out wins,” he said. “We could very well be 9-2. Do I think Larry still has the fire? Absolutely.” After a string of at least a share of five straight Sun Belt Conference titles, the Trojans have fallen on hard times in recent years. In 2011, they went 3-9 and in 2012, the program still finished under .500 but improved to 5-7. Of those seven losses last season, six were by a touchdown or less. That string of tough luck in close ballgames has continued so far this year. Troy is 5-6 but has lost by a touchdown or less in three road games: Arkansas State, No. 25 Duke and Sun Belt Conference leader Louisiana-Lafayette. Hartwell said the 67-year-old Blakeney, who has one year left on his current contract, has made “absolutely no indication” that he plans to retire at the season’s end. The Trojan AD added he plans to sit down and discuss ways to improve the program at the end of the season – just like he would with any other Troy program. Hartwell noted discussing major changes “are not helpful to any program” in the middle of a season “unless the wheels are falling off.” Despite the mediocre results so far, the Troy AD believes the Trojans still have much to play for this season. A win against Texas State on Nov. 29 would get the Trojans bowl eligible. ( Full Article) sFi_lance
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