Former foes unite for Troy

MOBILE — After years of being rivals on the field growing up, Sidell Corley and Jacoby Thomas are finally teammates at Troy.

Wednesday, they’ll suit up on the field where the memories were made, as the Trojans (9-3) take on Central Michigan (11-2) in the GMAC Bowl at 6 p.m.
Thomas, a redshirt freshman linebacker, played at Murphy, while Corley, a third-year sophomore who transferred from LSU before this season, went to McGill-Toolen. The two played several games in high school at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, site of the GMAC Bowl, against each other and other rivals, but the Murphy-McGill rivalry was special.

It dates back to 1935, according to Alabama High School Athletic Association historical records, and the winner of the game got to paint a cannon downtown with their school colors.

“The schools are right down the street from each other,” Thomas said. “It was a real big game. We had to win it. If you won, you were the big dogs in the neighborhood and you owned that part of the town.”

Thomas, who graduated a year after Corley, said his team went 2-2 against McGill, while Corley, who transferred to McGill from Baker after ninth grade, went 1-2 against Murphy.

But the two knew each other well before high school, competing against each other when they were little.

“He was tearing everybody up,” Corley said of Thomas. “I knew he was going to be a good one.”

The two took different paths to get here. Thomas signed with the Trojans out of high school and redshirted last season. He had just two tackles this year as he played mostly on special teams with Boris Lee and Xavier Lamb in front of him.

Corley was one of the region’s top-rated recruits and signed with LSU, but he left after two seasons. His mother and uncle both passed away in May, and Corley transferred to Troy in August. He was given a waiver by the NCAA to play immediately and, as a reserve defensive tackle, had 11 tackles.

The biggest thing for Corley, though, was returning to his home state and being around Mobile natives all across the Troy student body.

“It took a while to break in, but school’s going well and everybody — coaches and players — took me in and I was well-received,” Corley said. “I’m comfortable here and having the best time of my life.”

Thomas will have to miss the GMAC Bowl with a foot injury, but he is expected to push for playing time this spring.

“It’s great to be able to play back at my home town and my home field,” Thomas said. “I was teasing with my coach that maybe I’ll get the same locker that I had.”

Head coach Larry Blakeney said both will grow into big-time players at Troy before their time is done.

“I think both of them have a chance to be starters,” Blakeney said. “They’re really good players, and we’ll need them to be.

“Jacoby’s an inside linebacker-type guy that can make plays. Sidell, the sky’s the limit for Sidell. He’s really adjusted well here ,and he’s happy. He’s smiling more. Going through the offseason with us, getting stronger and shaping his body a little bit better and continuing to grow in the defense, he’s got a chance to be a player.”