September 9, 2004
Missouri Stunned by Troy State
The first Top 25-ranked team of 2004 has fallen, as #17 Missouri was toppled on the road at Troy State, 24-14. The Tigers made it look easy in the early going, scoring 14 points on its first two drives, but MU didn't score again. The Troy Trojans, outgained by almost 100 yards, took a 17-14 lead into halftime and never looked back.
Mizzou quarterback Brad Smith saw his Heisman campaign suffer a major--if not fatal--blow, as he struggled all night and threw two interceptions. The Tiger defense, which was much maligned in the opener vs. Arkansas State, actually looked better tonight, holding the Trojans to only 237 yards and making key stops in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.
There can be little consolation in such a humiliating defeat, but Tiger fans can take solace in the fact that last season, Kansas State lost at home to Marshall (the team Troy defeated last week) but bounced back to win the Big XII conference.
Missouri (1-1) must rebound to face Ball State at home next Saturday. Troy (2-0) travels to New Mexico State.
Comments:
posted on September 9, 2004 10:47 PM — 12.215.229.182 — link — abuse?Robert Knodell said:
You're exactly right. When they signed the 2-for-1 deal with Troy three years ago, it looked like cupcake city (of course, Maryland thought the same thing when they inked Northern Illinois). In this era of increasing parity and scholarship limitations, there are precious few automatic wins among Division IA foes (there are only so many Louisiana-Monroe's to go around !). It is ironic and important to note that Mizzou opted out of a deal with Miami (FL) to get the Troy games, but tonight, the outcome would've been the same at either place.
posted on September 10, 2004 2:22 AM — 130.13.111.244 — link — abuse?
They should turn that big O-Lineman into a fullback. That was a large, lumbering man who ran some 40 yards ahead of a secondary who either couldn't catch him or couldn't tackle him.
Give that man the ball in short yardage situations.
posted on September 10, 2004 7:16 AM — link — abuse?
Biggest win in Troy history. From now on, you'll always have to pause when you say "the men of Troy" and wonder if you mean USC or Troy State. Well, maybe not, but huge win for Troy State.
posted on September 10, 2004 11:49 AM — link — abuse?
Is it just me, or does anyone else hate the way "Trojans" appears on the Troy State uniforms?
posted on September 10, 2004 12:04 PM — 198.207.0.5 — link — abuse?
It looks funny, but I don't "Oregon puke yellow" hate it.
What bothered me more was that the school couldn't decide whether they are Troy or Troy State.
School website, atheltic site, news stories, all call them Troy State, yet the commercial, and all night on the program, they were called Troy. Pick one and stick with it.
posted on September 10, 2004 12:11 PM — 168.166.54.11 — link — abuse?
The big "J" in the middle of Trojans just didn't do it for me. Perhaps if the first initial of the university was J, it would be fine. I asked myself, "why the big 'J'?"
posted on September 10, 2004 12:23 PM — 198.207.0.5 — link — abuse?
If you look closely, and it's not easy to tell from the pictures, the T and the S are big as well.
So the Unis are supposed to look like TroJanS with the J the biggest letter of all.
Not that I like it, I just understand what they were trying to do.
That's what teams who have no tradition do, shake things up to distinguish themselves.
Jeff said:
posted on September 10, 2004 1:13 PM — 24.197.122.162 — link — abuse?
The Troy State thing is still in transition. My post on this game has a comment from Steven Taylor, a prof at TSU, about the situation.
The name change doesn't officially happen until 8/1/05 and last night was the coming out party for the new logos.
posted on September 11, 2004 8:35 AM — 12.215.229.182 — link — abuse?
I heard something interesting on Paul Finebaum's radio show yesterday afternoon. He was interviewing Troy AD Johnny Williams (mostly about the Mizzou and what it meant for them). Finebaum commented to him that he figured it would be tougher for Troy to schedule BCS opponents after such a high-profile win. Williams replied that yesterday, both Kansas State and Fresno State (non-BCS but, ironically, playing KSU today) called him about scheduling games. Interesting.
Jeff said:
posted on September 12, 2004 11:56 AM — 24.197.122.162 — link — abuse?
Texcat,
Pretty lame... plus if you had paid attention you would have noticed the fact that it's a 3 game set that Missouri picked up after losing a home and home with Miami because of ACC expansion.The Mizzou-Troy series was a 2-for-1 with 2 more games to be played in Missouri.
posted on September 13, 2004 12:58 PM — 168.166.80.205 — link — abuse?
Actually, Jeff, the Missouri vs. Troy contract was inked in 2001, well before the ACC expanded. The MU program was struggling and new AD Mike Alden didn't feel it made sense to take the poundings vs. Miami. The first game of the 2-for-1 series was in 2002, in which Missouri beat Troy at home. Troy still has to play one more at Missouri, but I'm not sure in what season that will be.
posted on September 16, 2004 7:39 AM — link — abuse?
Given the way the season has gone, I don't think the Cocks will have any trouble getting up for the Trojans. Right?
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Josh McClain said:
posted on September 9, 2004 10:34 PM — 130.13.111.244 — link — abuse?Smith was everything he was last year. Fast, strong arm, Very inaccurate.
Don't see him being a player in the Heisman Race unless he's lights out from here on out.
Looks like Missouri's regreting scheduling that cupcake Troy now aren't they Robert? :)