Sports Columnist

Troy State has released its 2002 football schedule and in my opinion it’s going to be tougher then last years.

Coming off a 7-4 season with two of its losses to the two teams, Nebraska and Miami, that played for the national title in the Rose Bowl and a third team, Maryland, which played in the Orange Bowl, I think this years schedule is even more imposing.

We start out on Aug. 31 at Nebraska, Sept. 7 at UAB, at Iowa State on Sept. 21, At Missouri on Sept. 28, at Mississippi State on Oct. 12, at Marshall on Oct. 19, Arkansas in Little Rock on Nov. 2, and Florida A&M in Mobile on Nov. 9. That’s seven games that TSU will be definite underdogs in and the other, Florida A&M, will be an even game. Three Big 12 games (Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa State) and two SEC games (Arkansas and MSU) on the road would be tough wins for anybody.

Troy State plays Southern Utah at home on Sept. 14, Austin Peay in Troy on Oct. 5, a homecoming game with Florida Atlantic on Oct. 26 and Utah State is in town to end the season on Nov. 16. Utah State will also be a favorite.

I see only three games, Southern Utah, Austin Peay and FAU, where the Trojans will probably be favored going into the game.

So, we’re jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire with an even tougher schedule for 2002.

Not many people expected TSU to have a winning record last year, but they did. Don’t put anything past a Larry Blakeney-coached team.

They’ll play hard in all 12!

The City of Troy lost another one of their good citizens this past Monday. Matt Boothe died when his truck ran off the road on Shellhorn Highway and turned over on Monday night.

"Matt was a very important member of the Troy Cablevision team. He made things happen and was always full of good ideas that helped us be more efficient," said Dick Freeman, one of Troy Cable’s owners. "He always had a great spirit about him, which was contagious with all of our other employees. We’re going to really miss him."

Matt was also a good man in the community. He headed up Troy Cable’s Relay For Life team each year and was always willing to give his time to work with other local charities. He was also a big Troy State fan. He was a member of the Trojan Club and loved to tailgate before every TSU game. He taught Sunday School at the First Presbyterian Church.

To know Matt Boothe was to love him and many people did.

We’ll miss him, but that great spirit he had will live on in the hearts of everyone that knew him.

So long Matt. I hope to one day see you in the Promised Land.