Funny

August 29, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Just got back from Tennessee, and checked my e-mail. David Murphy was a sports writer last year for (I think) the St. Pete Times, and he e-mailed me before the year telling me to watch out for DuJuan Harris, since he covered him in high school. Now, Murphy is about 40 degrees colder as far as climate change, but…
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I told you he was for real, didn’t I?

David Murphy
Sports Writer
Philadelphia Daily News

http://go.philly.com/highcheese

EDIT TO ADD - If you think that’s good, check out the link below from Trojan2003 in the comments section

Friday links

August 28, 2008

By Drew Champlin

Alright, first off here is Ken Rogers’ column on Jamie Hampton.

Here is my extended notebook, leading with Bear Woods’ night.

And here is my game story.

For all Middle Tennessee coverage, go to blueraiders.com from the Daily News Journal.

Troy 31, MTSU 17. Drew’s final thoughts

By Drew Champlin

Thanks to those of you who showed up for the late-announced halftime chatter. I will try, internet connections pending, to do that for all of the games.

OFFENSE

****I thought DuJuan Harris was outstanding, save one fumble. I was impressed with how he ran through people and not just around them. Maurice Greer ran it just twice, so I couldn’t get a feel for him.
****Jamie Hampton was OK in his first start, but I guess that’s to be expected. He’s still got potential to be better and never did I feel he’d lose the game for them. He had one interception, but was solid enough on three good drives to lead them to win. It’s 100 times tougher next week. Kennard Burton was pretty good. Hampton made two great passes - one a 30-yard floater to Burton that was right on the money that set up a score, and one a missle to Jernigan between two defenders. I still think he’s a guy that will be much better at the end of the year.
****Didn’t see many breakdowns in the OL. Steven Adams earned the start at RG but offensive coordinator Neal Brown said that situation with him and Wes Potter would be week-to-week and they’ll both play.
****Brown said he did handcuff Hampton a little bit because he knew Troy’s defense would shut down MTSU’s offense, which it did for the most part.

DEFENSE

****Boris Lee and Bear Woods could be the best linebacking duo in the Sun Belt. Boris Lee is probably the best defensive player in the Sun Belt.
****Good to see Steve McClendon have that long fumble return. He’s battled injuries his whole career but is healthy.
****Chris Bowens got picked on a lot at cornerback. I didn’t see the 46-yard touchdown pass as I was walking to the elevator, but the replay looked like he beat Terence Moore. I might be wrong.
****The starters are very good, but there’s no depth in the secondary or at linebacker. The defensive line played well all night and there’s a little depth there. That unit should be fine.

SPECIAL TEAMS

****Michael Taylor was very good on kickoffs. Sam Glusman was very good on XPs and FGs. Will Goggans was OK, had some good kicks, but had a rugby kick that hit a Troy player in the back, giving MTSU about 30 extra yards. I hate the rugby kick. Hate it, hate it, hate it.
****Aside from Taylor and Glusman, there’s no way to sugar coat this, but special teams stunk. Well, the holding of Austin Silvoy looked to be pretty good. Derick Thomas had two bad snaps to Goggans, but was fine in the second half. Must have been nerves, because he’s been solid his career until this point. There’s no punt returner that can cleanly catch a ball, as Jerrel Jernigan fumbled one to MTSU and dropped a kickoff. Jorrick Calvin muffed a punt too, but didn’t give it away. Jernigan looks very smooth as a receiver and offensive player, but not so much as a punt returner.

End three: Troy 24, MTSU 3

By Drew Champlin

If you’re not on the Bear Woods bandwagon by now, you should be.

First career start, and through three quarters, he’s got 14 total tackles, two sacks, three tackles for loss. Boris Lee has 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an INT.

He’s the guy that just stuffed MTSU QB Joe Craddock on 4th and goal from the 1.

DuJuan Harris has 10 carries for 91 yards. Well, now 11 carries for 103.

Troy’s up 24-3.

Troy-MTSU Game updates

By Drew Champlin

Alright guys, I’m set up at the stadium. First of note, here are some guys that are NOT on the travel roster. Redshirt, anyone?

The following newcomers didn’t make the trip to MTSU, meaning they could be on the redshirt list. They are quarterback Dan Parker, quarterback Corey Wilkes, running back T.J. Mitchell, cornerback Bryan Willis, linebacker Jacoby Thomas, offensive tackles Kyle Wilborn and Jacob Creech, wideout Tebiarus Gill, defensive ends Mario Addison and Tony Davis and defensive tackles Tim Lamb and Chigozie Nwankwo. Pending eligibility issues, wideout Josh Jarboe and running back Chris Anderson didn’t travel either. Other older scholarship guys not here are wideout Gerald Tate (I think he’s still hurt), DL Josh Henderson, OL Emeka Okosa, OL Windham Rotunda, OL Tyrell Curtis. Xavier Moreland is injured and not here.

6:29 p.m. CST - For MTSU, Joe Craddock has been announced as the starting quarterback. Mark Fisher, who to my knowledge hasn’t practiced all fall because of a shoulder injury, is starting at right tackle. Troy game captains were Bear Woods, Chris Jamison, Dion Small, Sherrod Martin. MTSU won the toss and elected to receive.

6:38 p.m. - Cameron Sheffield and Kenny Mainor started at defensive end. No. 13 is Chris Bowens at corner, not Josh Jarboe.

I’ll update this thread with other info. Let’s do a HALFTIME LIVE CHAT for those interested or with questions. That’s about the best I can do in that regard, but I’ll post news updates about the game here.