Sports Columnist

Troy State’s softball team ended the regular season with probably the biggest win in its history!

The Lady Trojans, coached by Melanie Davis, beat 17th ranked Florida State 2-1 in the second game of a doubleheader played at the Troy Sportsplex.

The Seminoles, now 50-8, had to score one run in the top of the seventh inning of the first game to win 1-0.

I got an opportunity to see the first game and there was not a bit of difference in the way the two teams played. TSU pitcher Kim Unkenholz, now 17-9, pitched a brilliant game in the loss.

Cassie Williamson (14-10) pitched the best game of her career, winning the second game. Peggy Swift’s homer was the difference. Troy State is now 35-21 and travels to Boca Raton, Fla. for the TAAC Tournament. The Lady Trojans draw top-seeded Florida Atlantic in the first game.

Davis has built a strong program at TSU and the future looks even brighter when the Lady Trojans move to their beautiful new ballpark on Elm Street next season.

Everybody’s still talking about Iowa State coming to Troy in 2005. I know that’s five years away but it’s true TSU can attract a top 25 team to play in Memorial Stadium. Just think, Iowa State ranked 23rd in the country and a member of the Big 12 Conference has signed a contract to play a football game in Troy, Alabama. I think that’s big!

Now we’ve got to put enough seats in the stadium to accommodate what should be a crowd of over 30,000 people.

Can you believe it? Troy hosting an event that will draw over 30,000 people on a college football Saturday.

Ladies and gentlemen this is just the beginning.

This contract that TSU thletic Director Johnny Williams has negotiated for is just the tip of the iceberg. If we build it they will come!

Believe you me, the sooner the better. I can see TSU bringing other major schools to Troy even before 2005 if we enlarge our stadium to at least 30,000 seats in the next few years.

What does this big news do for Troy and Troy State University?

First of all it changes the way a lot of people have looked at TSU since the decision was made to move to Division I in football. A lot of the naysayers said that Troy State would not be able to get the big schools to come to Troy. This contracted game proves them wrong.

Of course, we have now got to come up with the funds to enlarge our stadium.

If all this takes place and surely it will, Troy State, the city of Troy and Pike County will grow and prosper because of major college football! Major college football in Troy, Alabama will have a major impact of our city’s economy and our way of life. All you have to do is look at the cities that have big time college football and you’ll see that they are all great places to raise families.

Yes, Troy and TSU will grow because it’s now going to have big time college football.

I can’t wait to watch it happen!

I want congratulate Miss Sherika L. Johnson of Pike County High School and Scott Stetson of CHHS for being named the winners of the J.O. "Tip" Colley Scholastic Christian Athletic Award. This, to me, is the highest honor a student athlete can receive in Pike County.

My hat’s off again to the Troy Civitan Club for putting on this prestigious award banquet for the 10th year.

Johnson and Stetson were among 29 outstanding student athletes from Pike County that were nominated for the award.

TSU head football coach Larry Blakeney was the guest speaker along with former linebacker Nick Colbert. Colbert, who recently signed a free agent contract with Indianapolis, received a standing ovation.

See you next week!