Trojans make it official

TROY — With the Sound of the South marching on and the cheerleaders leading an informal pep rally, Troy’s invitation to the GMAC Bowl was officially offered and accepted Monday.

The bowl will be Jan. 6 at 6 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile against Central Michigan (11-2), the Mid-American Conference champions that are ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press poll.

An excited Steve Dennis, Troy’s athletics director, said at 4 p.m. Monday that 800 tickets had been sold through Troy University, which is how the school makes money from the bowl. Ticket information through the school (877-878-WINS) is available online at troytrojans.com, but Troy students can purchase tickets for $15.

“We’ll have a ton of folks for you,” Dennis said in the direction of GMAC Bowl president Jerry Silverstein. “The challenge is to the students. Man up 15 bucks, get a ticket and make it happen. It’s a piece of cake.”

The challenge was made easier when Troy chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. delayed the start of spring classes from Jan. 6 (Wednesday) to Jan. 8.

“However many (tickets) we have, I hope we buy all of them and fill our side up,” quarterback Levi Brown said. “That shouldn’t be a problem considering we’re in state and not that far away.”

Silverstein said he had presented invitations to other schools who have played in the game, but “this has got to top it,” which drew a loud round of applause from spectators. Along with the band and cheerleaders, most of the Board of Trustees were in attendance.

Call out for Levi: Silverstein rattled off several NFL names that have played in the GMAC Bowl — Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (Miami of Ohio), Jacksonville’s David Garrard (East Carolina), Tampa Bay’s Byron Leftwich (Marshall) and Oakland’s Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo) —then looked in the direction of Brown, Troy’s record-setting quarterback.

“Levi, you’ve got something to live up to,” Silverstein said.

“He called out some big-name quarterbacks that have been in this bowl and gone on to have some NFL success,” Brown said. “Hopefully I can follow suit.”

Brown was invited to the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game, which will be played Feb. 6 at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, but he isn’t sure yet if he’ll play as he awaits word from the Senior Bowl.

“(Strength and conditioning) Coach (Richard) Shaughnessy has told me there is at least some level of interest,” Brown said. “I don’t know if that’s a 90 percent or 5 percent chance. I know they’re aware of me.”

Sheffield to Senior Bowl: Both of Troy’s defensive ends will now play in the Senior Bowl, which will be Jan. 30 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Brandon Lang accepted an invitation two weeks ago and Cameron Sheffield was recently invited.

Both will also have a choice to make, as they have accepted invitations to play in the Jan. 23 East-West Shrine Game in Orlando, Fla., but they could play in both games if they want to.

Fuller scheduled for Thursday surgery: Strong safety Courtland Fuller, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament (knee) against UL-Lafayette, said he is having surgery Thursday in Birmingham.

“I’m 99 percent sure I won’t play in the bowl game,” Fuller said.

He will be replaced in the starting lineup by either Willard Ross or Bryant McKissic, head coach Larry Blakeney said.

“We’ll be scratching around trying to find out can do the best job out there. It’s certainly a problem to lose an experienced player like that,” Blakeney said.

Ross started against ULL, shifting free safety Chris Bowens to cornerback as normal starter Barry Valcin was nursing a hamstring injury. Valcin played some in the game.

The Trojans will lose Fuller and Bowens after this year, but return Valcin and Bryan Willis, the other starting cornerback.

“We think Barry’s going to be a safety, too, but he’s played corner all year, but we’ll try to put him out there (in the spring),” Blakeney said.

Fuller said he hopes to go into coaching after his football days are over.

“College,” he said. “I don’t have the patience to deal with high schoolers.”