The Book: 2004 FOOTBALL

[NewsCopy]

Troy's defense holds off UL-L

LOUISIANA La. - Sean Dawkins scored Troy's only touchdown on a 9-yard run, and the Trojans came up with three crucial interceptions and stopped a fourth-and-short play to hold off the Ragin' Cajuns 13-10 on Saturday.

DeWhitt Betterson rushed for 122 yards for Troy (6-4, 4-2 Sun Belt). Quarterback D.T. McDowell used his scrambling ability to keep alive the Trojans' lone touchdown drive.

McDowell was in a shotgun formation on a fourth-and-4 play at the Ragin' Cajuns' 22-yard line when the snap went well to his right and bounced back toward midfield. McDowell rushed back to pick up the ball, evaded several tacklers, then ran left toward the sideline to gain the first down.

Dawkins' touchdown came a few plays later and left Louisiana-Lafayette (4-6, 2-4) down 10-0.

The rest of the story

[troyfan]

Originally posted by SwampHound
with all the hype about newcomers Troy and FAU and the good seasons they have had, people seem to forget that these teams have many seniors and 5th year seniors. They (TU & FAU) will be in rebuilding mode next season.

Don't be so quick to assume that we will be rebuilding next year. We had our best recruiting ever this past year with several of those freshmen already playing. True, we have quite a few seniors, but we have been able to play a lot of the underclassmen as well. So, don't expect us to drop off a lot from this year. Remember that McDowell will have a year's experience under his belt next year!

[Oldman]

and don't forget we also had a good recruiting year and are on our way with another, and oh! by the way we have been playing alot of freshman and soph.....if we don't throw that interception it's a different ball game and i think you know that. GEAUX CAJUNS

[troyfan]

Too many ifs. If we had an offense..... you fill in the blank. I think there are ifs to every game. I am already sick of all the Bama fans saying "if the ref had only called the pass interference in the end zone"!

You guys gave us a great game....just like I thought you would. You guys defended your home turf tough just like I thought you would.

The Troy/Louisiana games in the future should be good ones (if this game is any indication). Do me a favor and please don't play the "what if" scenario.

[1stTake]

Originally posted by troyfan
Too many ifs. If we had an offense..... you fill in the blank.

One single solitary if and you get sick? Wait till next year when all I can remember is the ifs

[troyfan]

No need to get testy over this. I wasn't referring to the Troy/Louisiana game when I said I was sick of all the ifs. I was referring to the Alabama fans that have been saying what if since Saturday night.

There are what ifs in every game. If Troy had lost and I said "what if", you would have called it sour grapes. Feel free to remember all you want. It was not my intention to flame anyone. Sorry to step on any toes.

[CajunCharlie]

You are so right TF. One can "if" themselves into believing anything. It was a very good game, between two good teams that wanted to win badly.... Louisiana to help insure our first winning seasons in ages, and Troy to insure that they are in the hunt for a bowl bid. When someone plays the "if" game with me. my answer is "if" the dog had not stopped to take a dump, he would've caught the rabbit"

Ihave to go. I have an errand to run. Now "if" I can just find the keys to my truck.

[Cajun1997]

Originally posted by troyfan
Don't be so quick to assume that we will be rebuilding next year. We had our best recruiting ever this past year with several of those freshmen already playing. True, we have quite a few seniors, but we have been able to play a lot of the underclassmen as well. So, don't expect us to drop off a lot from this year. Remember that McDowell will have a year's experience under his belt next year!

What I did not say in my post was that we return 9 out of 11 starters on offense and 7 out 11 starters on defense. We will be very tough next season. More experience, more depth, hopefully more (better) recruits, should equal our first winning season in years. Enough about next year, right now we have some Indians to get some revenge on

[NewsCopy]

After looking at film from last week’s game…
“We played a good football game. I think it was defensively our best game. I think Mark (Risher) had his best game. I think guys are learning what we want them to do.”

“Here in the last few weeks some of those guys are just playing better. I’m encouraged by that.”

“We played a very, very good Troy defense. Our offensive line played pretty well. During the course of the game our backs and our line did well, we just didn’t do it in a consistent fashion.”

“We had a couple of opportunities to score touchdowns and we didn’t do that.”

“I don’t want Jerry (Babb) to feel like he has to win a game for us."

“Our receivers have to do a better job of getting away from people jamming them.”

“We did not know that we would be able to run the ball on them as well as we did. I was more pleased with what I saw on film than I was in the game.”

“We couldn’t get enough runs together to score. In close games like that you have to have them get in.”

This week’s game at UL Monroe…
“This is out last game together. This group will never suit up again, never ride a bus together and never eat a pre-game meal together.”

“I don’t care what the record is or what the stats are we are going to put everything in this to win.”

“We’ve lost five football games by a total of 33 points. I‘m just tired of being close. I believe we’ll come out ready to play. We aren’t worried about anything but Monroe.”

On UL Monroe…
“I think their quarterback is a weapon. I think the running back has filled in those shoes pretty well. It will be a great game.”

On comparing Babb and Monroe QB Steven Jyles…
“Jyles may run the ball a little more. They design some plays for him to run. They both throw the ball well and spread the ball out.”

On motivation against ULM…
“I’ve always taken the approach that we don’t talk about who we are playing, it’s just win number five, but this time we are going to focus on Monroe.”

“They’re trying to do the same thing. I just want us to be more emotionally ready to play.”

On practice this week…
“We’re going to make it less of a grind. We want to get on the field, do our work and get off. We want to get an edge on ourselves.”

On ending the season on a high note…
“I don’t want to finish losing three in a row. I’m proud of our team the way they‘ve played these last two weeks."

LOUISIANA SI

[Cajun1997]

Left to Right: Justin Ernest, Bryan Lloyd, Ronnie Harvey, Greg Hodges, Brandon Cox. Young man up front is my stepson Jeff. This was taken at fan day earlier this year. Thanks to rwcajun for mailing this photo to me and for getting Jeff in the picture.

[Turbine]

Nice

Like a true lineman Jeff is blocking Ronnie.

[gridiron]

The only thing I hate more than losing to Monroe is having to play them. Being in the same conference with those hicks makes me want to puke. We better win or it will be a long offseason. Longest ever.