While most Troy University students will be off campus celebrating Thanksgiving this week, the Trojans football team will use the extra time to come together and prepare for the final stretch of the regular season.

The Trojans have two games remaining in the season and with campus basically empty this week the Trojans can concentrate on football.

“We made a point to grow closer as a team. That has been one of our main points of emphasis,” said head coach Neal Brown. “This week allows you to rally the troops. It allows us to get together and have a lot of meals together. I like it, and this is a week that I always look forward to.”

Many of the Troy coaches look forward to this week due to the fact they expect their players minds to be focusing on football.

“This is an awesome opportunity for them,” said offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield. “When they all look back, they will say Thanksgiving is a great time to practice. There is no class all we get to look forward to practice, rest and eating.”

The players look forward to getting away from all the distractions.

“There’s nobody here, but I think that’s a good thing,” said Troy linebacker William Lloyd. “They can prepare better under those circumstances and just focus. All the distractions on campus, I think this is a good opportunity for the football team to come together, put this loss behind us and focus on what’s ahead.”

The players welcome the opportunity to not walk into a classroom over the next few days, but some still have some lingering assignments hanging over their heads.

“I live off campus so I’m either here or I’m at home trying to relax and get off my legs,” said running back Josh Anderson. “It’s good to not have class I can tell you that. I still have a few papers that I have to take care of to finish off the semester.”

“It’s a lot of fun,” said kicker Ryan Kay. “I’m still in online classes, so my classes aren’t over it. I have a couple of midterms this week, so it’s not really an off week for me.”

After practice this week the players will be treated to a special activity following practice. On Sunday night the player took part in a trivia contest and they look forward to seeing what’s to come.

“(It’s) a lot of fellowship,” Edenfield said. “We did a team activity last night and it looked like they enjoyed it. They had a great time. It’s a great time for us to get together and finish off these last two ballgames.”

The Trojans will all come together and eat as a team on Thursday before getting ready to head out to San Marcos Texas to take on Texas State.