and they need your support

Remember a week ago Sunday when the Troy State Trojans and all those around the team were mad about the seeding the NCAA Division I-AA selection committee gave them in the playoff brackets? Well, just scratch all that complaining cause everything is just peachy now.

With the big 27-7 win by the Trojans Saturday over the James Madison Dukes and a couple of huge upsets in their side of the brackets (No. 13 Florida A&M over No. 4 Appalachian State and No. 16 North Carolina A&T over No. 1 Tennessee State) TSU is in the driver’s seat with a chance to host their games all the way to the championship game if they can get there.

They are essentially the new No. 1 seed after all the upsets and will have the best chance of any teams left in their side of the bracket to make it all the way to Chattanooga to play for the National Championship.

This Saturday the Trojans will battle with the Rattlers of Florida A&M and we at the Messenger feel it is Troy’s turn to do their part and help this team.

It was Thanksgiving weekend when the Trojans faced James Madison, but it was a little disturbing that there were as few fans on hand Saturday to root the Trojans on.

These guys were fighting for their lives out there and played a very exciting ball game. So, why wasn’t the stadium packed? There weren’t any other games in the state of importance and the weather could have only been described as perfect.

There were people there, but not the numbers you like to see when your team is only three games away from putting on a ring that has "National Champion" engraved on it. It’s imperative these guys get the support of this community and get it immediately.

is supported no matter where it goes, just wait and see the type of fan support they bring with them. The bands will match up well, that’s for sure, but what TSU fans better be worried about are the Rattlers stealing away the home field advantage with fans that can’t be described as anything but loud and excitable.

This is going to be a great game anyway you look at it. It will pit the high-flying, no-huddle offense of the Rattlers against the hard-hitting and physical defense of the Trojans. There will be thrills and spills a-plenty so the small price of admission shouldn’t even be a concern.

There are always excuses for not showing up to a game, but not now. Not this close to something as special as a National Championship, not only for the Trojans and Troy State, but for the city of Troy and this entire area.

The team is doing its part, and the stakes are high. As a community, as a student body and as TSU fans, we need to do ours. Let’s all turn out for another exciting day of football Saturday. The place is Scrushy Field at Memorial Stadium and game time is 1 p.m. We hope to see you there.

Nov. 29, 1999 11 PM