Phil Paramore: Blakeney deserves everything he's got

Though it may not come for a good long while yet, Troy University will one day face an extremely important hire. And the school can thank its current coach for that potential quandary.

There is little doubt among members of Troy Nation that Larry Blakeney is the most successful football coach in the institution’s history. The numbers speak for themselves. He’s won 136 games in 17 years at the helm, overseeing a move from Division II to Division I-AA and ultimately, to the largest class in the NCAA, Division I-A. Since his arrival in Pike County in 1991, no school in the state of Alabama has had more gridiron success.

To put it mildly, the Troy job is far, far more attractive to Blakeney’s eventual successor than it was when the Gordo native left Auburn for the post. Memorial Stadium seated what was generously estimated at 12,000 or so, and was rarely if ever filled to capacity. The facilities were, well, Division II caliber.

Now, the Trojans own two signature home wins over big-name opponents, Missouri and Oklahoma State. They were played in front of 30,000 fans in person, untold others on national television. There was also a 2001 victory over last year’s Alabama state champion, Mississippi State.

The Trojan pipeline to the NFL has been well documented. Osi Umenyora wears a Super Bowl ring today after helping the New York Giants to their stunning upset of New England. Dallas pass-rush terror DeMarcus Ware has been to the Pro Bowl. Both played for Blakeney.

I sat beside the man every Sunday morning myself for 10 years as host of the Troy Football Review. Space doesn’t allow for the dozens of both comical and serious stories I could relate about that experience, including late-night flights on small planes that would make even the most iron stomach turn.

However, the one issue I get asked about the most deals with why he’s been at Troy this long? The answer in a nutshell? Because he wanted to, and because the school has treated him the way it should treat the winningest football coach it’s ever had.

He rarely talks about it publicly, but there have been other opportunities. San Diego State came calling once, as did Marshall, which at that time was a far better and higher-paying gig than Troy. He had some serious flirtations with LSU just prior to Nick Saban taking that slot.

Did his connections to the Eric Ramsey saga at Auburn in the late 1980’s hurt him? According to agents I’ve talked to, yes. But Blakeney explained to me
once why he remained ever-loyal to his boss during that turbulent time, Pat Dye.

“I had three little girls and a wife to feed when Doug Barfield and the rest of the staff got fired at Auburn,” he said. “I was the only coach that he kept. I’ve never forgotten it.”

There are many compliments a person can receive in life. The most flattering is when your peers refuse to say anything negative about you. In my 25 years in this business, anytime Blakeney’s name has been brought up in coaching circles, it’s been of a flattering nature.

Tonight, he receives another compliment. He will be part of the class inducted in the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame. How can one argue with the selection committee’s decision? He’s brought more football acclaim and attention to this part of the state than anyone in history.

And, he’s set the bar awfully high for the man who follows in his footsteps. Whoever and whenever that may be.

Phil Paramore’s column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in The Dothan Eagle. He can be heard weekday mornings from 7-9 on AM 560 WOOF. He can be reached at www.woofradio.com.