Troy's Newland ready to shine on the big stage

By Drew Champlin
Published: September 29, 2010

TROY — Troy’s game next Tuesday at Middle Tennessee means senior Nate Newland will have more of his family and friends on hand.

This time, they’ll get to see him start on college football’s biggest stage, since the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

Newland, a native of Frankfort, Ky., which is three hours from Murfreesboro, earned his first career start at right tackle in last week’s win over Arkansas State.

He listed parents, grandparents, uncles and friends that would be in attendance. Last year, they saw him when Troy played at Western Kentucky, but only sparingly.
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Trojans Defense is Continuing to Work
Ben Stanfield
9/30/2010 3:26:29 PM



The Troy Trojans defense made some key changes against Arkansas State to fill in for injured players. The changes worked out, and the Trojans are looking to key in on the new scheme and have it perfected for one of the season's toughest tests.

Troy will face the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Tuesday night in a nationally televised game, and in that game lays a challenge that could cause a problem for any defense in the nation. His name is Dwight Dasher, and he is the Blue Raiders quarterback. Dasher sat out the first four games of the season, but he will be back to face the Trojans.

Troy's defense expects to be ready for the challenges Dasher will present.
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Davis makes things happen for Troy

By Drew Champlin
Published: September 30, 2010

TROY — At 5-foot-9 and 205 pounds, Troy sophomore Kanorris Davis doesn’t have the build of a linebacker or a defensive end.

He’s just got that big-play ability — whenever he can stay healthy.

“He creates electricity when he’s on the field,” Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. “Things happen and he’s been hurt so dang much that it’s tough to build anything for him because you may work on it and two plays later, he’s out.”

Davis returned from missing two games because of an injury to a new position. With starting defensive end Mario Addison out, Davis and fellow linebacker Jacoby Thomas rotated at defensive end in Troy’s 35-28 win over Arkansas State.
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Trojans play Middle Tennessee in primetime Tuesday night

By Drew Champlin
Published: October 04, 2010

Jerrel Jernigan has never lost to Middle Tennessee. He’s not about to let that change during his senior season.

For that to happen, Troy must be at its best in all three phases Tuesday at 7 p.m., when the Trojans (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) play at MTSU (2-2, 1-0) in an early but critical game for both teams’ Sun Belt championship hopes.

MTSU was picked to win the league by coaches and media, with Troy at No. 2, despite the fact the Trojans have won or shared the past four league championships.

Troy has beaten MTSU four straight times.

“It’s Middle Tenn,” said Jernigan, Troy’s star player. “That’s all that should be said. It’s a big rivalry game.
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Troy set for tonight's showdown with MTSU

Montgomery Advertiser • October 5, 2010


Wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan and the
Troy Trojans will try to beat Middle
Tennessee for the fifth consecutive
year. (Amanda Sowards)

FOUR DOWN TERRITORY


1 Businesses in Murfreesboro are selling a $15 package to tonight's game which includes a "blackout" T-shirt and a ticket to the game. The school's marketing department is encouraging the blackout, saying it "provides a great visual for ESPN2 viewers." Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill said the concept is kind of neat, but doesn't guarantee a victory. "There is added excitement and juice to it, but it does not make you play any better," he said. "You do not run faster or tackle better because you wear black uniforms."


2 Greek mythology holds that the Palladium is a wooden statue that fell from the heavens. It was kept at the Temple of Athena in the city of Troy. According to legend, as long as the Palladium was preserved within the walls of the city, Troy would be safe and could not be taken. However, a "Raider" bythe name of Odysseus stole the Palladium during the Trojan War leading to the fall of Troy. In the spirit of the Blue Raiders and Trojans Greek mythology link, Middle Tennessee and Troy compete in "the Battle for the Palladium" each year in their Sun Belt Conference game. Legend has it the winner of the Palladium gains an unknown and unexplainable advantage over the other, making it more difficult to regain control during future battles.
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Troy ready for ESPN showdown with Sun Belt rival

The Associated Press • October 4, 2010


Troy players carry the Paladium as they celebrate after defeating
Middle Tennessee in Troy, Ala. on Tuesday October 6, 2009.
(Advertiser)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Troy Trojans call it one of the most important games of the year.

And they've won the last four in their series with Middle Tennessee.

The importance of Tuesday night's game when Troy (2-2, 1-0) visits Middle Tennessee is simple. The winner has gone on to win the Sun Belt Conference championship each of the past four years, though the Blue Raiders managed to share the title with Troy back in 2006.

Troy receiver Jerrel Jernigan said he hasn't lost yet to Middle Tennessee and doesn't want to start now in what he called a big rivalry game.

"Whoever wins will be in the drivers' seat in the conference," Jernigan said. "It will be on national TV, the crowd will be hyped up, and both teams will be hyped up."
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Robinson has big night as Troy blasts Middle Tennessee

By Drew Champlin
Published: October 05, 2010


Troy's Shawn Southward slips past Middle Tennessee State's
Justin Jones as he turns upfield during an NCAA college football
game Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (AP Photo/
Daily News Journal, Aaron Thompson)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — They call it rebuilding when a team has to replace starter after starter because of graduation and injuries.

In the Sun Belt, when Troy is involved, it’s simply reloading.

Troy got started early and barely let up, dominating Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee 42-13 Tuesday night at Floyd Stadium, sending a message that the Trojans are the league’s team to beat for the fifth straight year.

Middle Tennessee (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) was promoting a “Blackout,” where the team wore black jerseys and the crowd, the second-largest in stadium history at 28,010, wore black.
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TROY FOOTBALL: Trojans defeat MTSU

By Adam Sparks • Gannett • October 6, 2010


Troy's Shawn Southward runs with the ball against Mid­dle Tennessee
State University on Tuesday. (Aaron Thompson)

MTSU's Blackout night could have featured a black cat or black cloud. Either would have told the tale of a disap­pointing Blue Raiders' loss.

MTSU fell 42-13 to Troy for the fifth straight time, as quar­terback Dwight Dasher's return from a four-game suspension was spoiled by an early injury.

MTSU's play was already stagnant early on. But then Dasher dislocated his left pinkie finger and sat out most of the first quarter. When he returned, the Blue Raiders trailed 14-0 and never gained enough momen­tum to rally against the four-time defending Sun Belt Confer­ence champions amid a crowd of 28,010, the second-largest in Floyd Stadium history.
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Troy in Sun Belt driver's seat

By Andrea Adelson

Troy completed dominated Middle Tennessee in its 42-13 win Tuesday night, putting itself in the driver's seat in the Sun Belt race.

What else is new?

The Trojans (3-2, 2-0 Sun Belt) have now beaten the Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) five straight times, and have won 12 straight Sun Belt games. They are going for their fifth straight conference title.
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Trojans Continue Dominance of Blue Raiders
Ricky Hazel
10/5/2010 11:25:27 PM



MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Drive for Five is alive and well and the Palladium Trophy is on its way back to Troy after the Trojans dismantled the favored and home-standing MTSU Blue Raiders 42-13 in front of a national television audience Tuesday night.

With the decisive victory, the Trojans sent a message across the Sun Belt Conference that taking the league title away from the four-time defending champions is not going to be easy.

The Trojans improved to 3-2 on the season and 2-0 in league play while the Blue Raiders fall to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Sun Belt. Over the last four years, Troy has manhandled MTSU to the tune of 139-44.
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TROY NOTEBOOK: Jernigan sets Sun Belt record



Troy senior receiver Jerrel Jernigan broke the Sun Belt Conference record for career receiving yards. He needed only 28 yards entering Tues­day's game to surpass former North Texas wideout Johnny Quinn's all-time mark of 2,718 yards. Jernigan broke the re­cord on a 14-yard catch along the sideline in the second quarter.

Heavy heart: MTSU senior defen­sive tackle Dwight Smith played against Troy with a heavy heart Tuesday night.

Smith, a Swainsboro, Ga., na­tive, learned last week that his mother died of a heart attack, and over the weekend his 99-year-old grandmother also passed away. Smith's mother was a primary caregiver for his grandmother.

Smith still opted to play his 40th career game, the third-most on the team. It was also his 27th career start (13th consecutive).
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thanks for being our INsider trojanbrutha. I actually get all my Trojan news through this thread, so keep up the awesome work.

Troy's Davis, Thomas do well as starting linebackers

By Drew Champlin
Published: October 07, 2010

It was one game on national television where the rest of the world learned who Troy’s Kanorris Davis was, but the sophomore linebacker isn’t ready to let up.

The Trojans dominated rival Middle Tennessee 42-13 Tuesday night in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Davis and fellow sophomore linebacker Jacoby Thomas were a big reason the Blue Raiders, led by Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Dwight Dasher, were held to just 207 total yards.

It was the first career starts at linebacker for both players as the Trojans switched to a three-man front. The week before against Arkansas State, Thomas started at defensive end and the two rotated there because of an injury to starter Mario Addison, who returned against MTSU.
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Around the Sun Belt: Where does Troy stand

By Drew Champlin
Published: October 10, 2010

Troy showed it was the team to beat again with a 42-13 win on national television at Middle Tennessee last Tuesday. Sure, the team has flaws, but I’m not looking at this year as a strong year around the league. Let’s look at the rest of Troy’s schedule and see how the Trojans stack up.

OCT. 16 - vs. UL-Lafayette - The Cajuns were good in the first half against Oklahoma State last Friday, but imploded in the second. Troy has scored 48 points in each of the last three meetings with ULL, but the Cajuns have gotten their yards and points as well. This is probably Troy’s toughest Sun Belt game yet in terms of talent, but Troy has won four straight in this series as well. Read THIS UPDATE on ULL.
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Troy players honored again

October 11, 2010
By Drew Champlin

It seems like I’m doing this every week about this time, but Troy had some more players honored for Player of the Week.

OFFENSE - Corey Robinson had 259 yards with 3 TDs and 0 INTs in the 42-13 win over Middle Tennessee on national TV.

DEFENSE - Kanorris Davis had nine tackles, three for loss, with a sack and a forced fumble. He made sure Dwight Dasher knows who No. 44 is.
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Monday notes/what’s in a name?

October 11, 2010
By Drew Champlin

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On a humorous note, the guys in the Troy media relations department pointed out something on UL-Lafayette’s game notes. TROY STATE is referenced three times (see the first three photos below). Despite its official name being University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the school has asked to be called Louisiana or UL. Well, no one outside of Lafayette actually does that, even the Sun Belt, probably because there hasn’t been an official name change. We refer to them as ULL to differentiate between ULM (UL-Monroe), and, well, because that’s the name of the school.

So imagine the surprise when ULL’s game notes for the Troy game are sent this way.
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Troy Notebook: Defense hoping to continue improvement

By Drew Champlin | dchamplin@dothaneagle.com
Published: October 12, 2010

TROY -- Troy made a statement to the rest of the Sun Belt last Tuesday night with a 42-13 thumping over Middle Tennessee.

The Trojan defense played by far its best game of the season, holding the Blue Raiders to just 207 yards of offense.

All of that doesn’t matter now as six more teams stand in the way of Troy’s quest for a fifth straight Sun Belt title. The Trojans (3-2, 2-0 league) host UL-Lafayette (2-3, 2-1) Saturday at 6 p.m.

Troy was picked second behind MTSU in the preseason polls and used that as motivation. However, now that a week has passed, more motivation must be found.
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trojanbrutha
Corey Robinson has 59 votes in the @daveyobrien fan vote! Go vote at http://bit.ly/2gUmn6 #college #football #Troy
43 seconds ago

Troy's Brandon Kent gets his chance

By Drew Champlin
Published: October 12, 2010

TROY — Brandon Kent was undersized, coming off a major knee injury and went to a high school not traditionally known for football success when he tried to walk on at Troy three years ago.

If this was baseball, Kent was close to striking out.

But the Troy junior defensive back has beaten the odds and achieved his dream, earning not only a spot on the Trojans’ roster, but a key spot on Troy’s kickoff team.

The Rehobeth native, who stands just 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds, thanks to a 10-pound weight gain over the summer, made his mark in Troy’s 35-28 win over Arkansas State. Kent forced a fumble and was credited with four tackles.
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Troy WR Jerrel Jernigan can do it all

By Andrea Adelson


Jerrel Jernigan's 2,730 receiving yards is a new
conference record.

Can he catch? Check. Can he run? Check. Can he throw? Check. Can he return kicks? Check.

Not much is missing from the Jerrel Jernigan repertoire. One of the most versatile players in the country, the Troy wide receiver/returner/runner has just about done it all in his career there. In his senior season, Jernigan is poised to have his name etched all over the school and Sun Belt record books.
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