Offensive line

August 30, 2007

By Drew Champlin

Just so you guys will really think sports writers wake up at 6:48 a.m…..(I didn’t, but set the time for this morning)

Here’s some offensive line stuff, most of which came after a conversation with offensive coordinator Tony Franklin Wednesday night. I’ve got an offensive line story planned for Friday.

***It looks like Wes Potter, a JUCO transfer from Snow JC in Utah, will start at right guard Saturday against Arkansas because Steven Merkel is battling a high ankle sprain and hasn’t practiced in the last week. I’m betting Merkel sees some action Saturday because sprains usually magically heal for big games. Who knows, though. Coaches feel like Potter is a pretty good player, but needs to lose some weight to be able to play more snaps. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 339 pounds but that was a month ago.

Will Chambliss is a guy that has been around for a while and the 6-foot-6, 304-pounder is set to begin his redshirt junior season as the starter at left guard. Here’s some stuff from him that won’t make it into tomorrow’s story, but I wanted to put on here.

On making his move to the top and being a guy with tackle-size, but playing guard.
I know everybody expects it out of me, so I need to do it. I want them to feel like they got their money’s worth out of me. I personally want to do good and succeed.

From a coaching point of view, they think I’m more comfortable inside. I like playing inside – I like the comfort of having one guy here and one guy there. You have to watch the linebackers more.

It’s an unproven line, but Chambliss feels like they’ve meshed
There’s unity in that – that’s what you have to have on the offensive line, unity and trust. I really think we’re ready as an offensive line and I think we’re going to end up being better than in years past.

Chambliss’ only career start was last year at Nebraska when James Gardner was hurt. On being ready for full-time duty
I think I’m more ready now. Not to say I wasn’t ready then, but at the same time I can definitely see the difference with how I felt then and how I feel now.
I’m ready for it. I’ve worked too hard with technique and strength.

Red Owl Plantation

August 29, 2007

By Drew Champlin

If you’re sitting in the Stadium Club for Troy home games, you’ll see a new vendor - Red Owl Plantation.

Here’s a story on that from our Accent editor, Linnea McClellan.

At the bottom of the link is a menu for all five games.

Sun Belt picks week 1

By Drew Champlin

Figured I’d better get around to this since the first game is Thursday night.

Thursday
Tulsa@UL-Monroe, 6 p.m. (ESPN2): The Warhawks want to make a statement on ESPN2 tonight. With a ULM win, it would be the second straight Sun Belt win over Todd Graham, the new Tulsa head coach. Troy waxed his Rice Owls last year in the New Orleans Bowl. Paul Smith is a good senior leader and usually those take over. I wish I could see the game, and ULM has a great chance, but….Tulsa 30, ULM 27

Saturday

Florida International at Penn State, 11 a.m. (Big 10 Network): Unfortunately, the woes keep going for FIU. At least early on. Penn State 42, FIU 7

Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic, 3 p.m. I’ve said all along FAU is my surprise team in the Sun Belt and MTSU will finish in the middle of the pack. Now is the time for the Owls to make a statement. FAU 21, MTSU 17

North Texas at Oklahoma, 6 p.m. (FSN): Sooners have a redshirt freshman quarterback, but should pound their way to a relatively easy win, but won’t cover. Oklahoma 38, North Texas 7

Arkansas State at Texas, 6 p.m.: ASU should put up a fight because they have a good defense. Texas will win, but won’t cover. Texas 35, ASU 10

UL-Lafayette at South Carolina, 6 p.m.: Gamecocks start a redshirt freshman quarterback. Cajuns keep it close. South Carolina 24, ULL 17 finally… Troy at Arkansas, 6 p.m.: I like Troy’s team a lot and Arkansas is an unknown. If Troy can move the ball on the ground and protect, they can score some points. Usually in games like this, enough intangibles happen for the home team to escape with a win. Not impossible for Troy to go in there and win, but….Arkansas 24, Troy 20.

This guy doesn’t give much credit to the Sun Belt

By Drew Champlin

Associated Press College Football writer Ralph D. Russo predicts the games of the Top 25….

Arkansas State (plus 39) at No. 4 Texas - Texas WR Limas Sweed (wrist) will play ... TEXAS 66-12.
Western Kentucky (no line) at No. 6 Florida - QB Tim Tebow’s first start for Gators ... FLORIDA 53-10
North Texas (plus 40½) at No. 8 Oklahoma - DeMarco Murray could be Sooners’ next star TB ... OKLAHOMA 54-10.
Florida International (plus 38) at No. 17 Penn State - First game against Big Ten for Golden Panthers ... PENN STATE 45-13.
Troy (plus 24) at No. 21 Arkansas - Darren McFadden’s Heisman campaign starts with bang ... ARKANSAS 50-17.

This moved across the AP wire at the office and I figured I’d share it. I imagine the complete story will be on the internet somewhere sometime, but this is what he said about Top 25 games involving Sun Belt teams.

I’ll have my own Sun Belt predictions at a later time this week.

Today on Hog Radio

By Drew Champlin

I’ll be on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly out of Fayetteville at 4:30 p.m. CST today talking Troy.

http://www.kfayam.com
http://www.espn963.com

Those are the two sites where it will be streamed live.