Troy State’s transition season of Division I-A football was deemed an overall success by athletic director Johnny Williams, head coach Larry Blakeney and Trojan supporters in general.

However, while the Trojan’ 7-4 record, which included a win over the SEC’s Mississippi State Bulldogs, was a positive step toward making TSU one of college football’s top programs, there’s still much work to be done.

Troy State enters its first "official" year at college football’s highest level of competition, having recently been granted full Division I-A status by the NCAA. And, as he did last year, Williams has made sure that Troy State will once again play one of the nation’s toughest schedules.

Gone is defending national champ Miami and BCS bowl participant Maryland, but back is Nebraska, Mississippi State, another SEC opponent in Arkansas and two additional Big 12 conference foes with Iowa State and Missouri. Throw in rival UAB, Marshall and only four games at home, it’s easy to see why Blakeney considers this schedule to be even more difficult then last season.

While the success Troy State achieved just one year ago was more then anyone could hope for, this season the Trojans face even tougher challenges and even higher mountains to climb. The odds are that the Trojans will take a few lumps this year, maybe even more.

That’s where you as a fan and as a supporter of the university come in.

For years now, the football programs at Alabama and Auburn have been draining Saturday football games at Troy State dry. Now is the time for TSU alumni, fans and supporters to turn their attention away from the northern parts of the state and put their collective seats in the stands of Memorial Stadium. That goes for the tailgater’s as well. There’s nothing quite like barbecue and fun on a fall Saturday afternoon, but when the game is started, people need to make their way towards the entrance and be prepared to cheer on the Trojans.

In the haste to search out the "big time" college football atmosphere of Tuscaloosa, Auburn or Tallahassee, people may miss out on the growth and excitement we have going on right here.

Because a few years from now, as the stadium is expanded, top D-IA athletes start to call TSU their home, and the Trojans begin to square off against programs like Georgia Tech, Marshall and Southern Miss on their own turf…

The chance to say you were a part of Troy State’s success will be long gone.  

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