Trojans headed to the Big Easy

Published 11:15 pm Monday, December 8, 2008

Now that Troy has wrapped up the third straight share of the Sun Belt Championship and the first ever outright title in school history it is fitting that they are going to New Orleans to have a party.

It should be interesting to go see the Trojans finish off a great season in the Big Easy. But Troy will not have it easy with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles, who have shown flashes of greatness in a somewhat sub par season.

But regardless, this is a time for celebration in Troy. The entire university has shown support for the Trojans through the good times and the bad times this year. Like Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said at the press conference, they overcame a loss.

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A one-point loss to La.-Monroe could not keep the Trojans down and a devastating loss to the LSU Tigers could not keep them down either.

After blowing a big lead to the ranked Bayou Bengals, all the Trojans did was shutdown the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana and the Red Wolves of Arkansas State.

Before each game started the Ragin’ Cajuns and Red Wolves were projected to give the Trojans a tough fight. And in each game, the Trojans outscored the two teams by a combined score of 83-12.

Troy showed the rest of the conference and the rest of the country why they are the best of the Sun Belt and why they deserve to be in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Dec. 21.

The showdown with the Golden Eagles should be a good one and I know all of Troy University is proud of what the Trojans have accomplished.

It is just good to see the Trojans accomplish what they have worked to accomplish for the past three years. They have been on the cusp of Sun Belt glory for the past three years and they finally reached the top of the mountain this season. The joy and satisfaction on the faces of all the players and coaches on the field after the game was a great sight to see.

The embrace Troy mayor Jimmy Lunsford and Blakeney shared during the victory celebration on the field was wonderful. The happiness was a sight to see as well.

Now all you fans out there need to do is go buy your tickets to the big game from the university and support the Trojans trip to the bowl. Everyone go have some fun in New Orleans.

Congratulations Trojans on a job well done and we will see you on the field of battle in the Louisiana Superdome Dec. 21 at 7:15 p.m.

Matt Nascone is the sports editor for The Messenger. He can be reached at 670-6315 or online at matt.nascone@troymessenger.com.