THREE TROJANS NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-SUN BELT TEAM

Wide receiver Eric Thomas, offensive lineman Terrence Jones and punter Will Scott were named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.

ULM quarterback Kolton Browning was named Preseason Offensive Player of the Year while ULL linebacker Andrew Jackson was tabbed Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Robinson threw for 3,121 yards last season with 12 touchdowns. He will enter the 2013 campaign as the NCAA’s active leader in passing attempts, completions and yards.

Thomas will enter 2013 as the Sun Belt’s active leader with 17 touchdown receptions. He caught 55 passes last season for 667 yards.

Jones, a junior, started all 12 games for Troy at right tackle. He was named to the 2011 Sun Belt Writers All-Freshman Team after playing in all 12 contests.

Troy was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt by the eight coaches in the league. Louisiana-Lafayette and Lafayette-Monroe tied for first with 57 votes each.

TROY TO HAVE SEVEN GAMES BROADCAST IN 2013

Troy will have seven games broadcast in 2013 as announced by the Sun Belt Conference on Monday. The Trojans could have an three more games picked up later.

Road contests against Arkansas State (Sept. 12) and Louisiana-Lafayette (Nov. 7) as well as a home game against ULM (Oct. 31) were already scheduled to broadcast on ESPNU. All three are set for 6:30 p.m. kickoffs.

Additionally, Troy’s games against UAB and Savannah State will both be shown live on ESPN3 and will both kickoff at 6 p.m. A noon homecoming kick against South Alabama will be televised by the Sun Belt Network as well as the Trojans road contest against Georgia State.

The Southeastern Conference will announce its broadcast schedule later which could include Troy’s games with Ole Miss (Nov. 16) and Mississippi State (Sept 21.). Also, Troy’s game with Duke (Sept. 28) is expected to be broadcast which would give Troy 10 televised contests in 2013.

PETRINO EXPECTING BOWL GAME IN WKU’S LAST YEAR IN SUN BELT

As Western Kentucky plays its final season in the Sun Belt Conference before jumping to Conference USA, Bobby Petrino is preparing to coach his first year in the league.

“As we build this program we want to go to a bowl game every year and win the bowl game and then be conference champions. We’ve got a great challenge ahead of us.”

ULL PLAYING WITH CHIP ON SHOULDER

Louisiana-Lafayette has won two consecutive R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowls, the team has won nine game in each of the last two seasons, the one thing they have not done however is win a Sun Belt Conference championship.

Though the Ragin’ Cajuns have put together two successful seasons under head coach Mark Hudspeth, the lack of a conference title has the team motivated for the 2013 season.

“One of our top goals of achieving a Sun Belt Conference championship has not been achieved yet,” Hudspeth said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do. I feel like this team will play with a chip on its shoulder this season.”

ROMELLE JONES READY FOR SUN BELT JUMP

South Alabama defensive lineman says while the level of competition for the Jaguars is about to increase, in the end the game is still the same.

“Football is football. The transition to a bigger level is  going to be different but I think we’re much more comfortable as a team,” he said.

South Alabama is playing a Sun Belt schedule for the second year but are just now eligible for a conference championship or bowl consideration. The Jaguars finished 2-11 overall last season and 1-7 in Sun Belt play.

“We’ve played with them (Sun Belt) and competed with them, I think we’ll be OK,” said Jones.

BLAKENEY EXCITED ABOUT NEW-LOOK SUN BELT

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said at Sun Belt Conference Media Day on Monday that he is excited about the new teams entering the league.

“I think certainly Texas State and Georgia State will add a lot and when you get into the next year with Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Idaho and New Mexico State coming in, there’s a lot to be excited about,” he said.

“It will be fun if we go out and perform as Troy Trojans should, to watch the league grow and compete against other leagues and hopefully get to the point where we have a championship game one day.”

Texas State and Georgia State begin play in the Sun Belt Conference in 2013 while Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Idaho and New Mexico State will join in 2014.

“At the end of the day though, I’m not worried about who is leaving or who is coming in, I’m worried about that team in Troy, Alabama,” Blakeney said.