Mike Amos

Sports Columnist

It’s another big weekend in the "T-Town"!

Let’s start with Saturday’s Troy State-McNeese State football game. The 1 p.m. kickoff winner will take a giant step toward the Southland Football League Championship.

These two teams don’t like each other very much especially since the Cowboys knocked the Trojans out of an unbeaten season a year ago in Lake Charles, 24-7. The last time Troy State beat McNeese (16-12) was in 1996 when the Trojans finished 12-2 and lost to Montana in the semifinals of the Division 1-AA playoffs.

I can’t think of a regular season game that holds the importance of this one. These two are the premier programs in the SFL. McNeese fans are some of the rowdiest in college football. In fact their fans make a huge difference when the Cowboys play at home because of all the noise and other distractions that they make. You’re asked this weekend to turn the table on the Cowboys and make Memorial Stadium and very unpleasant place for the visitors to play football.

Bring your noise makers to the game with you and show the Cowboys the other side of the street. Let’s make noise!

Let’s hope Troy State’s offense is kicking on all cylinders this weekend. I’d hate to see our defense have to win it again.

Right now, TSU’s defense is playing good enough to win championships. I can’t say that for our offense. We better get better on offense in a hurry or Saturday is going to be a long day.

Saturday, of course, is Veterans Day and a special treat is in store for all those who buy a ticket to the game. One of the nation’s most patriotic singers, Lee Greenwood, will be here to perform three songs at halftime in front of the Sound of the South Marching Band and present a 75 minute concert immediately after the game. Where else but Troy, Alabama will you here the song "I’m Proud To Be An American" by the man who made it famous?

Thursday and Friday is Brian Meadows Days to benefit the March of Dimes. The young Kansas City Royal right hander will be on hand for all the fun activities.

Friday morning Troy State hosts the State High School Cross Country Championships on the Trojan Oaks Golf Course. Over 1,000 runners from all over the state of Alabama will be in town on Thursday and Friday for that huge event. I can hear the cash registers already ringing at business establishments up and down the 231 bypass. It’s another one of those many events that TSU brings to town that makes money. So will Saturday’s football game.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, is Pioneer Days at the Pike Pioneer Museum. The Lumberjacks will be here again for three great shows.

In high school football, we’ve got two state playoff games in Pike County. Goshen plays host to Samson in Class 2A and Pike County is at home against Springville in Class 3A. Charles Henderson is on the road at Stanhope-Elmore in Class 5A.

Saturday morning is the annual Troy State Baseball Hall of Fame inductions at the Stewart Dining Hall. The breakfast starts at 8:30 and the induction ceremonies are at 9 p.m. Those being inducted this year are all former Troy State pitchers; Dean Cordova, Jason Fawcett, Andy Giannini and Chuck Stanhope. The honorary inductee is long time Trojan supporter and Troy businessman Homer Anderson.

Looks like a great weekend! See you at the game with your noise maker!

Go Trojans!

 

On a sad note, Troy lost one of its most beautiful people, Eleanor Herlong Burnett. Eleanor touched so many young lives as a kindergarten teacher for 40 years. She will be forever remembered by her thousands of former students and friends. Our prayers go out to her husband Barney Burnett and their family. She’ll be missed.

One of Troy High School’s most talented athletes was buried Tuesday at Oakwood Cemetery. Henry Ford "Dugin" Taylor died in Houston, Texas last weekend. Taylor quarterbacked the great Troy High School football teams of 1947 and 1948 coached by Bill Clipson. Taylor was the trigger man in the backfield that included two of Troy’s all time best Bobby Marlow and Charlie Hattaway. Taylor later played at Troy State under "Batman" McCollum. Our prayers go out to his wife Claire May Taylor, their three children in Houston and their families and his devoted brother Rex Taylor of Troy.