Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

07-10-2004 06:31 PM

Copied from the MTSU Delphi Board:

Quote:
Well folks I just rolled in here about a half an hour ago and there is much to tell!

First off, the Troy University SGA has assured me their 100% support!  :bluethumb:

Points from the Meeting at Troy University:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I. I made it very clear why Middle Tennessee and Troy need a rivalry with each other every year:

a. Both schools who are fairly new to 1-A need a DIVISION 1-A OPPONENT that provides regional interest that they can compete with every year making it very clear that Vanderbilt would never give us that just as much as UAB would never give them that.

b. Regional bragging rights are important, but the fact that Middle Tennessee and Troy will be members of the same conference for the first time in history is probably one of the really big factors. It's not just for bragging rights, it's for a possible shot at a bowl game as well.

c. Need for increasing fan support for Sun Belt vs. Sun Belt clashes in light of a possible edict passed down by the NCAA saying all 1-A schools must average 15,000 fans over five home games against 1-A opponents

II. After revealing some of our grand ideas here's how they responded:

a. The advisor of the Troy Panhellenic Council recommends that we continue searching more for a cheaper rate on the design of the trophy.

b. There also needs to be a clear division of expenses. Troy wants to know how much Middle Tennessee will put for the trophy if we decide to go with the $1,500 price that was first given to us by MT01.

c. They also suggested perhaps the construction of a Greek column that the statue could sit on that has listed on it the dates and scores from all the contests between the two schools. Personally, I think that's a good idea.

d. The Vice President of Troy University's Campus Activities believes that if the Middle Tennessee SGA thinks a committee should be formed than the members should consists jointly of those associated with both schools.

e. SGA President, Ryan Spry, said that getting the word out is imperative and perhaps the best way is through the student newspapers. For Troy that would be the 'Tropolitan'. For us that would be 'Sidelines'.

It seemed like just about everything I said to them based on all the ideas I've heard from you guys and the Trojan fans drew enormous support from their student leaders including dressing up in togas for "The World's Largest Toga Party", a string of competitions between students of both schools, and a post-game Battle of the Bands.  I feel very confident if we press our SGA to move forward with this we can do some amazing things with Troy for not only our sake and their sake, but also for the Sun Belt Conference.

The meeting went awesome, guys, but I have to tell those of you who have never made a trip to Troy just how exciting it can be.

The trip only took 5 1/2 hours but I went down 1-24 through Chattanooga and back around through Gadsden, AL and through Birmingham and then down to Montogomery and on to Troy. A straight shot down I-65 probably could get you to Troy in 4 1/2 to 5 hours. No joke.

Troy Highway or Alabama Hwy 231 leads to Troy from Montgomery off the South Boulevard exit in Montgomery. The highway is like a rollar coaster with many ups and downs though with little or no turns. It's almost like an interstate. There are no gas stations for maybe 25 miles between a Shell Station and the Citgo Station that sets right on the Troy city limit. I almost ran out of gas. The Citgo station was a Godsend!!

The city of Troy is a quaint town indeed. It is no where near the size of Murfreesboro. I think it may be comparable to a Tullahoma or McMinnville in size. It has your Sonic, Hardee's, Wendy's, McDonald's, and Subway.

Three restaurants I ate at that you may not see in this area, or at least I haven't seen them are:

Buffalo's American Grille which has a little bit of everything almost like a cross between a Hooter's and an O'Charley's. Ryan Spry was very generous enough to buy my meal there for me--very gentlemanly of him!

Barnhill's is an all you can eat buffet. It seems like there may be one in Mufreesboro, but if not there is one in Troy and it does stay pretty packed.

Curly's is a small burger joint very similar to a Checker's. It even looks like a Checker's! However, this restaurant is locally owned by a man named Curly who is an avid supporter of Troy University's Trojans. We even talked for about fifteen minutes. It was very nice. I told him I would refer his restaurant to visiting Raider fans making the trip in November.

Some other restaurants that were there that I didn't have time to eat at were Crowe's Chicken, Brittany's, Zaxby's, and Tony's Italian Restaurant all located on that main strip leading into Troy.

Troy offers many nice hotels to stay at including the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. I stayed at the Holiday Inn and my stay was very nice and affordable. There are also other nice hotels like a Comfort Inn and a Super 8 Motel.

There is a brand-spanking new Hampton Inn that I believe runs for $118 a night which may seem pretty steep, but this hotel is very nice. This hotel is located on the corner of Troy Highway and the road that leads to Troy University. The Hampton Inn located in Troy Plaza is partially owned by Troy University and this is the hotel where our team will be staying when we play on Troy in November. This Hampton Inn is the host hotel for all of Troy's opponents. I have a picture of it from the outside, but and I'll have it available when I get my roll of film developed!

This town really gets behind the Trojans. You would be hard pressed to find any windows in any business without a Troy University banner of some kind!

Right there on the same block as the Hampton Inn and right across the street from the Sonic and across the highway from a Movie Gallery video store you can see a very large sign with video display affects. This is a daktronics sign. I think we could use one probably located right there at the Church Street/Rutherford Boulevard intersection coming off Exit 81. This sign is nice and I have a couple of photos of it.

There is also a very large water tower in the town identical in shape to the one that Middle Tennessee has that says "MTSU" on it. Theirs says, "Troy" and "Trojan Territory" on it with a picture of a Trojan helmet in the center. I have photos of that too.

Let me tell you about the university. It's a very centrally located campus. This is not a very large campus and it certainly is not as big as Middle Tennessee's campus. It is a very picturesque campus though. They have a fountain of a Trojan statue right there between their administration building and a few other buildings. It's very nice. Something I think MTSU could use is a fountain of a winged horse!

They also have a lagoon with a fountain in the center of it located on the edge of their campus with a gazebo and dock at the embankment. This must be sort of like a getaway for students to either study, or at night to hang out and make out!

However, if I had any two questions I could ask they would be, "Where do you park for gamedays?" and "Where do the tailgaters set up shop."  I didn't see too many parking areas on that campus so that's why I was kind of wondering that. Plus, I didn't see any designated tailgating areas either, but I wouldn't no where to find that anyway.

The people in Troy at the university and in the city are very familiar with Middle Tennessee. I talked to a couple of their offensive linemen at the local Hardee's in which they had plenty of questions for me. They wanted to know how our defense was going to be particular the defensive line, defensive ends, and defensive secondary. They were nice guys. While I was on their campus I could here people over my shoulder saying, "Hey, that guy's from Middle Tennessee!"

It was great!

Well, whenever I get my pictures developed, I'll see what I can do about getting them posted here. I do not have any from the meeting, but I do have alot of the town and the university.

I would have to recommend you guys to slate Troy as part of your "I will make" games on the fall season! Very nice to place to visit. You can only imagine how alive that place must come during football season!

SwampHound · 07-10-2004 06:37 PM

Thanks for the excellent report. 04-cheers

You have done a lot of leg work for this project and I truly hope the students and fans will turn out and support what should be a great game and future rivalry.

07-10-2004 07:11 PM

Thanks, SwampHound! One reason why I involve myself in this multi-manned effort is because I believe in Wright Waters and the Sun Belt Conference and I know we can create a relationship between all Sun Belt schools that will last a good long while!

We are the future!!

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY INDIANS

FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY OWLS

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY PANTHERS

MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY BLUE RAIDERS

TROY UNIVERSITY TROJANS

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE RAGIN' CAJUNS

UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE INDIANS

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN

WE ARE THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE !!!

Threaded Mode \| Linear Mode MT vs Troy: Battle for the Palladium
Author	Message