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Following Troy’s fifth loss of the season last week, junior Cheick Kaba stood before the media at the postgame press conference and made a very simple statement that has resonated with teammates and coaches: “this is not a 1-5 culture.”

Troy is coming off a frustrating 38-17 loss to Texas State last Thursday with a rivalry showdown with South Alabama on the horizon next Tuesday.

“This is not a 1-5 culture,” Kaba emphasized. “Every day the coaches push us to work, the players push us to work and the captains (push us). We just have to keep doing our jobs to the best of our abilities. We’re a young team, just bare with us.”

Senior Landon Parker also spoke about the frustrations of the 1-5 start.

“We’re always trying to get more wins and it’s pretty devastating after coming off back-to-back Sun Belt Championships, it’s really tough starting 1-5,” Landon Parker said. “We just have to keep putting our heads down and doing our jobs and grinding. I feel like if everyone does their jobs right, we’ll come out with some wins and hopefully go on a 6-game win streak now.”

On Monday, Troy Head Coach Gerad Parker said he heard what Kaba said after the game and echoed that feeling.

“It tells you that what I’m telling you – and all of our fan base – is the truth. It’s not (a 1-5 culture),” he emphasized. “I’m very aware of what it is on paper but that can’t be taken in a way about how we prepare or what we are doing to get this flipped. I think if our players see that and believe that and are saying those things then it tells you the future is bright. I just have to make sure our staff and players continue to say that and believe that, and that’s why I’m not sleeping right now.”

Parker was also asked about the pressure of his job, especially with comparisons to former coaches and coming off back-to-back Sun Belt Titles.

“It’s a good question and a question I answered a lot when taking the job,” Gerad Parker said of the pressure and comparisons. “I think past jobs help you with that. Handling the pressure of being at Notre Dame and West Virginia in times of trials, and all the places in between, help with that. Also, looking at the realities of where we were coming into the job, and instead of worrying about the narratives of what that looks like or comparisons, helps with that.

“Comparisons are very difficult because it means greater than someone or less than someone. I don’t have the energy, time or heart to worry about comparisons. All we can do is compete and that means to improve.”

Parker also emphasized that there is plenty of work to do and reiterated that he is capable of getting the job done.

“We have much improvement to do and I know I am capable of the job and I know my staff is capable of the job,” he said. “The truth will lie in the work of that. There is a lot of work to be done and we have a lot of holes to fill and we’re going to fill them.

“Doing the work is the quickest way to improve and to not let your mind float to the pressure or to worry about things I simply can’t control. The reason I wanted this job was the success of it and that’s the same reason it’s still a great job. My job is to get it back to that point.”