Troy senior LB Thomas stays patient

TROY — Trinidy Thomas doesn’t have much trouble remembering the names of outside linebackers who were ahead of him or passed him on the depth chart.

Robby Farmer, Bernard Davis, Marcus Richardson, Ryan Babb, Romanique Lewis, Josh Maxwell and Randy Underwood are names of the past. Now, it’s guys like Bear Woods and Donnell Golden.

“He’s always been behind a great player,” Woods said. “A lot of people have that story.”

Woods had that story before this year, but held off Thomas and Golden for his outside linebacker spot.

It meant the fifth-year senior Thomas would again be buried on the depth chart, with not much of a chance of playing except for on special teams.

“A lot of times I did think about transferring, but I love my team,” Thomas said.

But he got his chance last week against Western Kentucky, a 17-7 Troy win. With Woods, the starter, having to be spelled because of a foot injury and his backup, Golden, out for personal reasons, Thomas made four tackles in the win, but the biggest one didn’t even count.

Late in the game, Thomas sacked quarterback Brandon Smith for a loss of eight on fourth down, but referees called him for a personal foul because of a horsecollar tackle — something no one on Troy’s sideline agreed with.

“I wanted to dive on the referee,” linebacker Boris Lee said.

Thomas grabbed him by his jersey — not his neck — and threw him to the ground. Smith was called for intentional grounding, offsetting the penalties and replaying the down, which WKU didn’t convert.

“I didn’t think I horsecollared him,” Thomas said. “I pushed him forward, and when you horsecollar someone, you pull them back.
“I grabbed him by his jersey and rode him down.”

The homecoming was good for Thomas, even if the success may not last. Woods is expected to start again, but if he can’t go, defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said Golden, who is back with the team, would start Saturday’s game at LSU.

But Thomas’ effort eased the pain of Woods’ foot, which has been bothering him for several weeks now.

“I sat back and went like ‘This is Trinidy’s night,’” Woods said. “It was definitely a special night for him and he played great. He told me he said it was the first time in five years that he was extremely excited after a play. It meant a lot to him being his senior night.”