The Troy Nutrition Center often welcomes special guests into their haven. Sometimes the seniors just get plain giddy about the guest that walks through the door.

Such was the case, Tuesday when Troy University head football coach, Larry Blakeney, made a guest appearance at the nutrition center.

“Everyone was so excited that Coach Blakeney would take time from his busy schedule to visit us,” said Hassie Green, center director. “Football season is right around the corner so this is a busy time for Coach Blakeney. We really appreciate him taking time to come to the center and talk football with us.”

Blakeney explained several of the new rules of the game to the seniors and told them why the rules are needed.

“People get excited about football. “It’s a big sport in several ways,” Blakeney said. “It’s big in popularity and it’s played by big people.”

Blakeney said that, over the years, players have continued to grow bigger in size, stronger, faster, quicker and more agile.

“Training is part of the reason,” he said. “Nutrition, diet and even pre-natal care play a role. And, as players get bigger and stronger, we have to be more concern about their safety as they play the game.”

Blakeney said the rule changes have been made with the players’ safety in mind.

“At Troy University, we want our players to play hard and to be aggressive but we also want them to be safe,” he said.

One of the seniors, laughingly, said that if football is going to be just a game of tag, she’ll watch soccer.

The seniors agreed with Blakeney that the Trojans won’t take the field to play tag.

At age 95, Charlie Terry, was the most senior football player in the house.

“I played a little football but I wasn’t a star,” he said. “I played mostly on the practice team and on the sandlots. That was a lot of fun – on the sandlots. We’d get up a bunch and play. I didn’t get to run the ball a lot. I mostly blocked and tackled.”

Terry said he loves to watch football games, and the Trojans and Alabama are his favorite teams.

“I used to go to Troy’s games when they were here, but, when you’re 95, you don’t go as many places as you used to,” Terry said, laughing. “I’d like to see a Troy game. That stadium looks real good but it’s hard for me to get around. It sure is nice for Troy to have a place like that and a team to root for.”

Green said the Troy Nutrition Center supports Troy University and its athletic programs.

“Our seniors get to go see the basketball teams play and we just might get to go see a football game,” she said. “We sure would like that.”

Green again thanked Blakeney for visiting with the seniors at the Troy Nutrition Center.

“Troy University is supportive of our Center and our seniors throughout the year and we look forward to having faculty members and students as part of our programming,” she said.