Thursday links

September 30, 2009

By Drew Champlin

I wrote this story on Troy defensive end Cameron Sheffield, one of the top players in the league an a guy who will probably get drafted next April. He’s a quiet guy, so that’s why he’s not quoted more often. Great guy, though. Always has a smile on his face. Just not real comfortable with the media spotlight. That’s OK.

Earlier in the week I talked Troy football with WDHN’s Kim Allen. Go HERE for that webcast.

From over at BlueRaiders.com, MTSU thinks its a title contender. Also, a notebook.

Won’t be doing a chat tonight. Might try to get one in Monday night, but will keep you informed.

Around the Sun Belt

By Drew Champlin

Here is this week’s schedule of games. It’s a light one. I’ll make some picks later in the week.

Oct. 3

Arkansas State at Iowa - 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
*FIU at ULM (Sun Belt Network) - 2:30 p.m.
Wyoming at Florida Atlantic - 3 p.m.

Oct. 6

*Middle Tennessee at Troy (ESPN2) - 7 p.m.

* - league game
————————————————————————

Let’s check out some links

FAU has been a disappointment through three games, but gets top WR Cortez Gent back from suspension but lost tight end Jamari Grant for a few weeks.

UL-Monroe could be a dark horse in the Sun Belt race. Usually, the Warhawks have started off way in the hole (though the talent is there), and win a late game or two in the year to make you wonder. Last week, ULM won at FAU. This week, it’s at home vs FIU, a winnable game. Players are confident in a title run.

Florida International had problems executing in its home loss to Toledo. Golden Panthers are now 0-3. Read a more in-depth analysis HERE at Miami Herald beat writer Pete Pelegrin’s blog.

UL-Lafayette is off this week. It’s a good thing because of so many injuries as detailed by Cajuns beat writer Josh Parrott.

Western Kentucky coach David Elson is staying mum on his QB situation, though it’s clear up there that redshirt freshman Kawaun Jakes is outperforming senior Brandon Smith. Smith got hurt against Navy and Jakes played well. It’s a tough deal for the Tops because Smith is a team leader.

Arkansas State is getting ready for a national TV matchup at Iowa this weekend.

Harris owes a lot to Franklin, FAMU

By Drew Champlin

Troy junior running back DuJuan Harris owes a lot to one person and one school for him finding success at Troy.

That’s current Middle Tennessee offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, who recruited Harris to Troy in 2007, and Florida A&M.

Harris had committed to FAMU about two weeks before Signing Day before Franklin called on a Wednesday wanting him to come visit. He had visited FAMU the previous weekend and committed.

“As soon as I got that call, I ran back in the house and said Mama, we’ve got to pack our bags again,“ Harris said. “She couldn’t go that time because she had to work, but I got my oldest cousin and best friend to come with me.“

The Brooksville, Fla., native switched his commitment to Troy the day he arrived, though he said he owes a lot to FAMU, which was his only other offer besides Troy.

“FAMU’s the reason why I made it here,“ Harris said. “They showed me the ropes and how to get through the NCAA clearinghouse. My high school coach was new to it.“

Harris, who scored three touchdowns last year against MTSU in a 31-17 win, has no hard feelings toward Franklin, who left Troy for Auburn after the 2007 season, lasted six games there, and was hired at MTSU this past winter.

“It’ll be weird getting tackled on the sidelines and getting up right next to him,“ Harris said. “I’ll shake his hand. No hard feelings. It is what it is. It’s his job.“

Wednesday links

By Drew Champlin

It’s a beautiful fall Wednesday, as I’m battling a cold (good thing for the extra time to recover) and my lovely wife turns 26 (happy birthday!). Meanwhile, I’ve got some stuff for you to read.

HERE is the story I wrote on how much the defense has improved over the past two games.

Against UAB, Troy slowed down QB Joe Webb. Last week, Troy shut down top running back Reggie Arnold and caused QB Corey Leonard to not play that well. This week, it’s MTSU QB Dwight Dasher.

Over in Murfreesboro, from the Daily News Journal, MTSU should be proud of its 3-1 start. Also, the Blue Raiders are still without top running back Phillip Tanner.

If you get bored, check out the talent from this 2001 game. Easily the best team Troy’s ever played, including this year’s Gators.

Middle Tennessee quotes

September 29, 2009

By Drew Champlin

MTSU had its press conference today. Here are some quotes (rather long) sent by the MTSU media relations.

Head Coach Rick Stockstill

Opening Comments
We are excited about this week. We are excited where we are. We are 1-0 in the conference and set to play our next opponent, Troy. We did not practice yesterday. Instead, we watched the film from the North Texas game. We will practice today and the rest of the week and Sunday and then travel on Monday. We are excited about this game.

On the team forcing turnovers
We have not emphasized it more than any other year. To me that is one of the key ingredients of how you win the game, to protect the ball. We emphasize it on a daily basis offensively, that you protect the ball and do not put it in harms way. And then conversely, on defense, you want to be a ball hawk and do everything you can to knock it loose or pick off a pass and get turnovers. That takes plays away from their offense and gives your offense pretty decent field position most of the time. To me, that is a key factor in winning football games.

On the importance of this week’s game in regards to future conference implicationsIt is the next game, it is no more important than the North Texas game was last week. We understand who we are playing and they are a good football team. We understand we have not beaten them the last three years. We understand how good they are and they won the conference three years in a row. They are a very good football team. We are not going to put all our eggs in this game. It is an important game, but it is no more important than the game we just played against North Texas or the next time we play a conference game.

On Troy being the only team MT has not beaten under Rick Stockstill
They have been better. That first year when they came back and won at the end we were two pretty evenly matched teams. And the last two years they have probably been better. I do not believe we played our best in either one of those games. I think we had chances in both of them, but we did not play as well. The game last year was a seven point game with five minutes left in the game and we could not close it out. They have been a better team in my opinion the last couple years.

On the teams playing better or worse on national television
I do not think a team plays better or worse because they are on television. I know our guys get excited to play on television and I am sure theirs do also. The teams I have been apart of have won on national television and lost on national television. After the first couple of plays you have got to play. Whoever plays the best wins the game. I do not think it has anything to do with being on national television.

On Troy quarterback Levi Brown
He is a good quarterback with a live arm. He can make all the throws for them. He understands their offense and has been doing a good job of protecting the football the last couple of games. He is deserving of the reputation he has gotten the last couple of weeks.

On Troy’s defense
That is the misconception about Troy. Yes, they have been good offensively, but the difference is how they have been on defense. Their front seven guys are as good as anyone in the country. They have always had good defensive end guys and good linebackers that make a lot of plays for them.

On Middle Tennessee looking forward to this game
The only circle on this was to remind the guys that we play on Tuesday not Saturday and change the practice routine. We are not good enough at any point of the season to say this is a game we have got to win. If we did not win against North Texas this game would not mean as much. This is an important game. I am not going to down play it or not emphasize it any, it is an important game. Our players know it is an important game. Our coaches know it is an important game. But when it is over, we still have to play seven more games. We understand the significance of it, but it is no different than any other game we will play.

On Middle Tennessee’s attitude of play each game on at a time
You should not dictate the emotion you play with to how you play. It should not dictate how you prepare. It should not dictate how much passion you play with. Because you are playing Troy, you should not get more fired up to play Troy then if you are to play Siegal High School. You have got to play the same way. That is how you get better. That is how you avoid the highs and lows of a season. You have to play and approach every game the same.

On Middle Tennessee becoming one of the more prominent teams in the Sun Belt Conference
We have played three very emotional games against Clemson, Memphis and Maryland. Then we go out to North Texas and I thought our mental approach was fantastic. We dominated them early, we stopped them on the run, we got turnovers, and played really well. Then we had a lull in the third quarter before we finished it out in the fourth quarter. I was really proud of our team’s approach to the game coming off those three games. To see them come out and play the way they did, I hope people think we have a chance. We think we have a chance. You have got to believe in what you are doing. I truly believe our players believe in each other. There is a unity there amongst themselves that this can be something special. We did not start talking about this after the Memphis game. This is something that started back in the summer and has carried over. I know we believe and I do not care what other people believe. If we keep practicing and getting the work done then we think we have a chance.

On trying to beat Troy for the first time
I do not have a notch on my belt for each team we have beat. I want to beat them because they are the next team on our schedule. I want to win this game because they are the next opponent. There is no personal vindication about beating Troy.

On Middle Tennessee’s running back situation
D.D. (Kyles) and Benny (Cunningham) will get the majority of the work. Marquise (Branton) and Dez (Desmond Gee) will be in the mix as well. That was really the first time Benny had really played. He got a couple of snaps early and I thought he danced a little too much. He has got to put his foot in the ground and go. You can get away with that a little bit in high school but the game is too fast at this level. The same with D.D., who I think is getting better each game, is still too hesitant at times. But when he puts his foot in the ground he has been successful. They have to get better.

On Tony Franklin coaching at Troy previous to Middle Tennessee
It is college football. You have no idea who you are going to coach for and who you are going to coach against. At the time you do not think who you are coaching against and think someday we will be coaching together.

On Dwight Dasher potentially being overused
There is a little bit of concern, but you just want to do what you can to win the game. There is a little bit of concern, but you want to win. We will worry about that when we can. We have gotten him out of the game late against Memphis and North Texas. You have to be cognizant, but you have to win the game. Right now we are going to do whatever we can to win the game.

Senior Defensive Tackle Brandon Perry

On the match up against Troy
We did not play as well as we wanted the last couple years. We are a better team and they are a good team. Going into it, it should be a great game.

On playing on national television
It is a great opportunity playing on television, but you do not want to get too hyped up.

On forcing turnovers
Turnovers win the battle. Everyone has to be hustling to the ball and it will happen. The coaches stress to us to pursue the football, and they mean everybody so that is what we try to do.

On changing practice schedule
In your mind it is a little difficult. However, when you get out there it all makes sense and Tuesday will seem like a Saturday game.

On Troy’s offense being similar to Middle Tennessee
Pass rush will be the big key for the defense this game.

On determining a dominant team in the Sun Belt
It is just the next game. We are not looking it as any other game. I see them as any other game because they are a different team than last year.

Senior Wide Receiver Gene Delle Donne

On playing on national television
It is fun to be the only game on Tuesday night. We know about that, but for us it is like any other Saturday game. My family knows I am going to be on ESPN. Hopefully a lot of people back home will be watching, but I am not approaching it any differently.

On the game having future Sun Belt Championship implications
We do not really read into that too much. We have a very tough league and every game is important. Of course we want to be 2-0 and we have to beat Troy to do that.

On the biggest offensive challenges against Troy
Their front seven is probably some of the best in the country. Their defensive line is big and aggressive. The two linebackers they have are very good with a fast secondary behind them. Hopefully, we can play our best this week.