Coach Larry Blakeney rallies the troops at Brown Bag

If the team is as excited about its first game and first home game of the 2013 college football season as its coach, then the UAB Blazers just might want to stay on the bus.

Larry Blakeney, Troy University’s head football coach, spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming football season and an audience of about 200 provided the verbal punctuation at the Brown Bag on the Square lunch Thursday.

The Troy University Trojans are anxious and ready to take the field Saturday and Blakeney said he is ready to see his team in action.

He encouraged the support of the Troy community at 3:45 p.m. Saturday for the Trojan Walk and again when the Trojan warriors take the field against the UAB Blazers at 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojan Walk will start at Sartain Hall and follow University Avenue to the main gate at the stadium.

Of course, Blakeney said there’s no better way to celebrate the opening of college football season than with a Trojan tailgate party and a big party is expected to be going on from early Saturday until game time.

Blakeney was the special guest at the Brown Bag on the Square lunch. Following his presentation, he took time for the many Trojan fans that wanted just a few minutes with their coach.

“It was a great Brown Bag and we were honored to have Coach Blakeney,” said Shelia Jackson, Troy pubic relations and tourism director. “We appreciate him taking time from his busy schedule to be with us. It was good to see the enthusiasm the crowd had for our Troy University Trojans.

“The City of Troy is encouraging everyone to go out and support the Troy University Trojans and their favorite high school football team. We had tables set up with football schedules for Troy University, Charles Henderson High School and Pike Liberal Arts as a way to let people know when the local teams play and where.”

Johnny Barron was the featured entertainer and everyone enjoyed him and his accompanists, Jackson said.

“Brown Bag was a great way to kick off the football season and the fall Brown Bag season,” Jackson said. “The Brown Bag events have grown in popularity and we plan to continue them as away of bringing the community together and to showcase our great downtown area.”