Troy works out in full pads for first time | News

TROY, AL- The Troy football
team took another step towards its season opener at UAB as the Trojans strapped
on full pads for the first time of fall camp on Monday. The Trojans worked out
for three hours on an overcast and rainy morning in Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans will go through
their first two-a-day practice session on Tuesday. Troy will hit the practice
field for the first time at 8:15 in the morning and then return at 3:15 p.m.

Troy will hold its annual Fan
Day on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. on the west concourse of Veterans Memorial
Stadium. The Trojan Warriors Club will be providing free food and drinks to all
those in attendance at Fan Day.

Troy has won a share of five
of the past six Sun Belt Conference titles and is the only school to represent
the league in five bowl games. Troy has 11 more Sun Belt victories than any
other school in the league since the Trojans joined the Sun Belt in 2004. The
Trojans also have a Sun Belt leading 84 all-conference selections and 38 first
team all-conference selections over that same time period.

The Trojans open the 2012
season on Sept. 1 at in-state rival UAB in Legion Field. Kickoff is scheduled
for 11 a.m. and the game will be televised live by Fox College Sports.

Season tickets for Troy's record six home games are available for purchase by
logging on to TroyTrojans.com or by calling 1-877-878-WINS. Fans can also
purchase tickets to Troy's six road games through the Troy ticket office.

Defensive Coordinator
Jeremy Rowell

"We (defense) got it handed to
us a little bit yesterday and bounced back with a good day today. I'm proud of
them. We've got to keep having good days, keep battling, keep fighting and keep
getting better. We think that we've got a pretty good unit. They have to come
together as a group and do all the things it takes to make a defensive unit and
play that way. We are tweaking in that direction a little bit.

On the depth chart

"It's definitely open right
now. It's just competition; that's one good thing that we've finally got some.
We don't have 11, 12 or 13, we feel like we have 25, 26 or 27 guys that can
help us win ball games. There is nothing better than that. To create
competition, that makes guys work hard and makes guys fight hard.

On feeling better at this
point this year compared to last year

"Yes, definitely. The main
issue is the depth; having some more guys that can play. Being able to play
more than one group of guys and being decent, that's number one. Up front we
are doing better and again we've got more guys and more bodies that can help us
win ball games. Some of them are young, some of them are older, and some of
them just got here, but we've got guys who can play in those positions and we
are getting better at that.

On the new transfers that
have come in

"They are adjusting well. It
is always a little bit of a time period before they settle in comfortably on
learning everything because you are throwing a bunch of stuff at them. They all
have good backgrounds to draw from, and I think they are catching on pretty
good. They are not there yet and haven't been able to totally cut it loose and
feel good about everything yet, but again it's just day five.

Defensive End Tony Davis

"The offense got us yesterday
so we were on a mission today to come out and get our title back today.

On the defensive chemistry

"It's going pretty good. We
are hanging out a lot off the field so we get a chance to get closer to each
other so when we come out here we just try and apply it all to the field.

On feeling better about the
defense this year compared to last year

"Yes, definitely. We are
really deep up front and have a lot guys competing and working hard. I feel
really excited about this group.

INFORMATION SOURCE: Troy Athletics