finish out careers with North Texas

By Mike Amos

Sports Columnist

Saturday’s Troy State-North Texas game could be the most exciting game of the year for our Trojans.

Sure, we’ve had some big games – the huge victory over Mississippi State, the big games at Nebraska, Miami, and Maryland – but Saturday’s game has huge importance to both teams.

First of all, the Trojans can win its first game over a Division 1-A school at home. In fact, Saturday’s game will mark the first time a full fledged D-1A football team has ever played in Memorial Stadium. A win by TSU would give the Trojans a very impressive 7-4 record and enhance its chances of one day becoming a member of the Sun Belt Conference. A win would also send our seniors off with a big bang.

North Texas, on the other hand, needs a win to extend its winning streak to six games going into the New Orleans Bowl against Colorado State on Dec. 17. The "Mean Green" is the Sun Belt Co-Champion along with Middle Tennessee. A win by North Texas would also keep them from the embarrassment of being the first team to ever go to a college bowl game with a losing record. North Texas is 5-5 and have been on a roll after beating highly touted Middle Tennessee back in October.

Saturday’s game will pit a powerful rushing attack against a Trojans’ defense that’s been pretty good against the run all season. When you hold Nebraska’s Eric Crouch to 45 yards and Miami’s Clinton Portis to only 18 yards rushing, your defense against the run has to be pretty solid.

The North Texas game is the final game of the 10 outstanding seniors.

Brock Nutter ends his career on Saturday as one of the most prolific passers in TSU history. Nutter set four individual records. He set TSU records for most consecutive games started by a QB (43, 35-12 win-loss record), most passes attempted (942), most yards passing (6,968) and most total offense (7,246).

Nutter can break Sim Byrd’s record for most passes completed in a career if he completes nine against North Texas.

Truly a great career for one of the most durable athletes in TSU history. The four-year starter from Hoover will be missed.

Of course, we’ll also miss the exciting performances of Demontray Carter. Carter has rushed for 652 yards and seven TD’s. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

A great athlete that I think will play at the next level after he’s through here.

Jimmy McClain of Enterprise will go down as one of the top linebackers in Troy State history.

Corey Sears had a great season at weakside linebacker for Troy State. Sears has a team-leading 102 tackles going into Saturday’s game. The former Robert E. Lee star was an outstanding competitor.

Ben Waldrop only played one season for the Trojans after transferring in from Florida State. The Pensacola, Fla., native will be remembered for his vicious licks from his linebacker position.

He, too, will get a shot at the pros.

Vernon Marable is one of the best leaders on the team. An excellent defensive lineman, out of Clay County High School in Ashland, Marable will be sorely missed next season.

Charlie Goodyear was another player who just played one season for the Trojans. Goodyear transferred from Tennessee-Martin and was a great contributor on the offensive line.

Daniel O’Brien, a junior college transfer from Spartanburg, S.C., was an excellent receiver and holder for kicks at TSU.

One of my favorite players ever at TSU is Carlos Stennis. Stennis transferred from Alabama and played a big part on the defensive line at Troy State. A native of Meridian, Miss., Stennis is one outstanding individual who’ll do well in all his future endeavors.

Dewayne McQueen, a big guy from Evergreen, didn’t play a lot, but he contributed in many other ways. McQueen will be a better individual in his future careers for playing college football.

Carl Simmons, from Lineville, was an outstanding special teams player for TSU. He’ll be missed.

I hope you’ll take the opportunity to see these great athletes play for the last time on Saturday. Let’s all get there early for the Trojan Walk at noon and give this group of seniors a great send off.

See you at the game!

Go Trojans!