Sports Editor

This isn’t a request, it’s an order.

GET OUT AND SUPPORT THE TROJANS ON SATURDAY!!

Troy State will probably have it’s biggest game of the season at 1 p.m. in the friendly confines of Richard M. Scrushy Field at Memorial Stadium. The McNeese Cowboys are coming to town and this is a critical game for TSU. Both teams are tied for the lead in the Southland Football League and should Coach Larry Blakeney’s team pull off the win, they can claim the league title outright next Saturday with a victory over arch-rival Jacksonville State.

 

Blakeney made a simple appeal to the fans during Monday’s press conference.

"I don’t ask you guys for much," he said, referring to the various news media in attendance. "But make it known to folks we really need them here on Saturday. Pike Countians, Wiregrassians, whoever. I don’t care. As long as they’re holding up a Troy State banner and rooting for our team, we want them here."

Citizens of Troy do you realize that should the Trojans lose on Saturday, then it will have been probably be the last opportunity to see them at home, playing in front of, and for you? Even should Troy State win next week over the Jaguars, the playoff game to follow will likely be on the road.

And what excuses is there to offer?

"Well, Auburn’s playing Georgia…"

Duh. It’s on TV and doesn’t start until 6:30 p.m. Troy State and McNeese kickoff at 1 p.m.

"Alabama’s playing Mississippi State…"

Now there’s a game that’s going to decide the national championship. The Crimson Tide’s season is over, even if they win out. DuBose is history. The Bulldogs are the most obnoxious team around and as much as I’d like to see Bama pull off the upset…don’t hold your breath, Tide fans.

Come to a game that’s going to mean something and bring lots of noise. Cow bells, kazoos, rock-filled milk jugs, horns, pan flutes, whatever.

Do you realize that McNeese has beat the Trojans three straight times,including last year when TSU was ranked No. 1? That cost the Trojans an unbeaten regular season.

And did you know that the Cowboy fans spat on our players once they came out of the locker room, blasted them with all types of obscenities and pretty much raised H-E-double hockey sticks throughout the entire game?

The McNeese sports boosters in the stands were a bit more gracious. They waited until the referee blew the opening whistle before they got rowdy.

Now I’m sure we here in this tiny little southeast corner of Alabama are more classy then that. If you were raised like I was, you replied with "yes’m and no’m", went to church on Sundays, worked your hardest during the week and didn’t act a fool in public.

On Saturday, let’s treat McNeese with some southern hospitality. If you see some Cowboy fans mingling about on Tailgate Terrace, offer them a beer, offer them some barbecue or some cole slaw. Make them feel welcome in the city of Troy.

Then get in Memorial Stadium and scream your lungs out. Be the rowdiest bunch of football fans you can be.

We can make things right with the Lord on Sunday.