troy middle tennessee live blog

Troy-Middle Tennessee LIVE BLOG

And we're back again for yet another LIVE BLOG. This time we're live

in Troy at Movie Gallery Veterans Stadium (soon to be, given Movie

Gallery's crumbling financial status, just plain ol' Veterans

Stadium), where the Trojans are welcoming Middle Tennessee for a big

Sun Belt tilt. (I like the word "tilt." We used to have a guy who used

it a lot in his game stories. I always thought it livened things up.)

Anyway, we're about 25 minutes away from kickoff here. We'll be back

shortly with witty commentary that makes those ESPN hacks look like

amateurs.

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8:36 p.m.: You know what? I've changed my mind. This is it for me

here. If the Blue, Blue Raiders can pack it in, I can too. And they

have. Troy just scored again, it's 38-7 and MTSU isn't even trying

anymore. I'm out. Check out tomorrow's Montgomery Advertiser for

superb analysis and info from myself and A. Stacy Long. Until then ...

8:29 p.m.: I'm thinking the boys from MTSU have mailed it on in here.

Even the coaches. They're getting nothing on offense. They can't stop

Troy on defense. There's five minutes left in the third and they're

down by 24 on the road. They just wanna go home. And who can blame

them. Things are better in Murphreesboro. The fast-paced world that is

Troy just isn't for them.

8:24 p.m.: Pretty funny. ESPN just had its longest commercial break of

the night after that last TD. It's like someone said, "Hey, we better

get these in now because we'll be down to one guy in Murphreesboro

watching this thing before long."

8:20 p.m.: It's now 31-7 in the third quarter. I hate to break this to

you fine folks, but you've got me for another eight minutes -- that's

game minutes. Of course, that's assuming that MTSU doesn't go just

point-scoring crazy here. If that happens, I'll stick around. If not,

I'm out at the end of the third quarter. I've got real work to do from

this baby.

8:17 p.m.: First and goal -- Notta. Second and goal -- back to first

and goal after a pass interference penalty. First and goal again --

Notta. Second and goal -- TD, Kenny Cattouse

8:14 p.m.: The refs are trying to keep MTSU in this thing with

obviously bogus calls on the Trojans. Oh, I'm joking. This is a nice,

long drive by Troy. Sucked a lot of time off the clock.

8:12 p.m.: I like this Troy offense. It's very efficient and has a lot

of moving parts. If you've got a decent QB, this thing looks

wonderfully confusing for defenses.

8:08 p.m.: Troy's moving again. Up past midfield now. Whatever changes

MTSU (I was told they don't care) made at halftime, they're not

working.

8:04 p.m.: Aight, we're back here at MGVS (that's Movie Gallery

Veterans Stadium to you rooks). Troy's still leading by 17, so nothing

weird happened during halftime.

7:42 p.m.: Finally, halftime. Troy's up by 17.

7:37 p.m.: Well, there's the only real mistake of the night by Omar.

Of course, it doesn't really hurt the Trojans.

7:34 p.m.: Not looking good for the Blue, Blue Raiders. Another fourth

down. They just can't get anything going and they can't stop Troy.

7:31 p.m.: I think MTU/MTSU (I'm figuring this out at halftime) has

decided that it came in with the wrong game plan. The Blue, Blue

Raiders are doing an awful lot of running here before the half. It's

like they're just killing the clock in order to get in the locker room

and regroup.

7:28 p.m.: Couple of TV things here. (Oh, forgot to mention that Troy

scored -- again. Like it was in doubt. 24-7 with 5 minutes to go in

the half.) Back to TV. Just walked by a TV out in the lobby and heard

the musing of Lou Holtz. You poor, poor viewers. If I'm all of you, I

hit the mute button and rely on Josh Moon for my in-game commentary.

7:22 p.m.: You know, this throwing and catching thing is really pretty

cool to watch when it's done properly. Troy's got a third and one at

the MTU/MTSU 3. Bad times for the Blue Raiders.

7:19 p.m.: Bad, bad decision by Blue Raider return man Desmond Gee.

That's why you see coaches screaming "GET AWAY FROM THE BALL" whenever

a punt is bouncing around.

7:15 p.m.: Have you noticed the names on the back of the MTU/MTSU

jerseys? Some schools go with no names at all, believing it promotes

more of a team atmosphere. Not the Blue Raiders. The letters on the

back are twice the size of normal jerseys. It's like they're saying,

"Hey, come to MTU/MTSU and everyone will know when you do something

good."

7:13 p.m.: Bad night all the way around for MTU/MTSU. Just flashed

highlights of the Blue Raiders' basketball game against Tennessee

tonight in Knoxville. 40-12 in the first half. I'm gonna go ahead and

call that one.

7:11 p.m.: Someone needs to talk to the Troy folks about the

scoreboard video screen. They're still running a Napoleon Dynamite

dance vid after TDs. Hey, Troy, 2005 called and wanted to know if

you're about finished with that clip.

7:08 p.m.: Now, about that bus ride back to Murphreesboro. Gonna be a

longun. 17-7, Trojans on an Omar six-yard TD run.

7:05 p.m.: Joe Craddock, Mr. MTU/MTSU QB, just met Sherrod Martin,

blitzing Troy DB, at about 50 mph. Ugly. And then R.J. Roberts, of the

Enterprise Roberts, blocked himself a punt. First down on the 4.

7:00 p.m.: The pressbox here at MGV is packed with scouts. Mostly from

the NFL, but I thought I saw the New York Times scout eyeing me

earlier.

6:58 p.m.: Big News: Troy's punting. I like that Whibbs doesn't even

try to kick it up in the air. It's good to know your limitations. You

don't see me attempting poetry, do you?

6:55 p.m.: OK, second quarter getting started. Started not so well for

the Trojans. Omar sacked for a 10-yard loss.

6:51 p.m.: We're still in the first quarter here. Four hours, minimum.

6:48 p.m.: MTU/MTSU (I hate to keep using that slash, but I can't get

a ruling on the name. Seriously. The guys in the press box "don't

know."), anyway, that team's running back seemed to be very video

game-esque on his last running play. Got a burst of speed as he hit

the hole (right trigger, for you xBoxers out there) and then just as

he was about to be tackled, he dove forward (the x button). I liked

it.

6:44 p.m.: We've got ourselves a field goal -- a 41-yarder by

everyone's favorite kicker, Greg Whibbs. All kickers should have a

name like Whibbs. It just sounds kickerish.

6:42 p.m.: Someone just emailed to complain that I'm not giving the

score and the down and distance enough. Look here, if you're reading

this blog for that stuff, you shouldn't be reading this blog. This

blog is not for information. It's purely entertainment. If you happen

you. Troy's got a second down at the MTU/MTSU 16. Game's tied. (That's

the last time.)

6:40 p.m.: After a couple of drops, Omar decided to handle things on

his own. That must be nice. "No, no. Don't worry about catching the

passes I throw. I'll take this."

6:38 p.m.: Jerrel Jernigan could never play at Auburn. Seriously, the

kid's got all the wrong attributes. He can catch. He can get open. He

can turn a short pass into a long gain. Not someone the Tigers want on

the roster.

6:37 p.m.: If these two teams could manage a decent kickoff, they'd be

dangerous. MTU/MTSU started at the 35. Troy's starting at the 42.

6:35 p.m.: Actually, it's less of a drive and more of a sprint. In

five plays, the Blue Raiders moved 65 yards for the tying TD. The Sun

Belt, it's EXCITING.

6:32 p.m.: Uh, yeah, did someone make comments which might indicate

that this game was going to be a runaway? Idiot, whoever that guy was.

MTU/MTSU (whatever their name is) is driving at the Troy 12.

6:26 p.m.: TD, Troy. These boys don't play around. I get the feeling

that it's gonna be a long bus ride back to Murfreesboro. As if there's

any other kind.

6:24 p.m.: Just witnessed the easiest pass interference call in the

history of the game. Hey, when you're beat, it's better to admit it

early.

6:21 p.m.: Troy's moving here. I can see why AU and UA won't schedule

this bunch. You gotta score to beat the Trojans.

6:18 p.m.: OK, we're back with some modifications. My good friend,

award winning writer Jay Tate, believes the newest post should be at

the top. If Jay thinks so, it must be so. Oh, the Blue Raiders just

went three and out.

6:16 p.m.: I like the rugby kicks. They make punting exciting. That's

hard to do.

6:14 p.m.: Omar Haugabook, who I'll refer to as Omar from here on out,

just threw an out route that I haven't seen completed all year. But

then, I've been covering small-time programs like Auburn and Alabama.

6:11 p.m.: Leodis McKelvin, kick return specialist, just fielded a

ball like a shortstop. I assume that's OK with the Trojan coaches. I

mean, if Leodis thinks it's aight, it's aight.

6:10 p.m.: I see why they're not running. They stink at it.

6:06 p.m.: This is gonna be one LOOOONNNNGGGG game. Six plays. Five

passes. Middle Tenn. uses the pass as a run.

6:03 p.m.: And we're off and running here. Blue Raiders have the ball.